Trump is concerned about coming into contact with people infected with coronavirus, source says
From CNN
President Trump is telling people close to him that he is indeed concerned about coming into contact with people who have contracted coronavirus, including a Brazilian official who tested positive after coming face-to-face with him at Mar-a-Lago, a source close to the President said.
“He is very concerned about all the people he met who have it including the Brazilian,” the source said.
Earlier today in the Oval Office the President insisted he is not concerned about being exposed.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham later issued a statement saying, “Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.”
The source did not know whether the President has been tested or not.
“A ray of sunshine perhaps in this dark picture is that the coronavirus crisis may lead to a slump in global carbon emissions this year. A word of warning however has come from the International Energy Agency, the global energy watchdog. Their executive director Fatih Birol has said the outbreak could spell a slowdown in the world’s clean energy transition unless governments use green investments to help support economic growth through the global slowdown.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that the annual Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
Here’s what the NCAA said in a statement:
“Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.”
Stocks plummet as Wall Street’s 11-year bull market comes to a screeching halt
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
US stocks recorded their worst day since the 1987 crash Thursday, on rising fears about the coronavirus pandemic.
Wall Street officially fell into a bear market with the S&P 500 dropping more than 20% from its February 19 peak. The Dow, a smaller index than the S&P, fell into a bear market Wednesday.
The S&P 500 closed down 9.5%. It was its worst day since October 19, 1987, known as “Black Monday.”
The index dropped 7% in the first minutes of trading, which triggered a circuit breaker and led the New York Stocks Exchange to suspend trading for 15 minutes.
The Dow finished 2,352 points, or nearly 10%, lower in its biggest one-day percentage drop since “Black Monday.” The index is now at a level not seen since summer 2017.
The Nasdaq Composite closed down 9.4%. It is now also in a bear market.
Sen. Lindsey Graham becomes latest member of Congress to self-quarantine
From CNN’s Matthew Hoye
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of President Trump, on Thursday became the latest member of Congress to announce that he is self-quarantining during the coronavirus outbreak.
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill grapple with how to contain the spread of coronavirus across the United States, nine members of Congress are now taking steps to either self-quarantine or otherwise isolate themselves as a precaution after coming into contact with an infected individual.
Five Republican lawmakers — Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas along with Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Doug Collins of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Mark Meadows of North Carolina — are self-quarantining after interacting with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference who has tested positive for coronavirus.
Two Democrats are also taking precautionary measures. California Rep. Julia Brownley announced on Monday that she and her staff are now working remotely after finding out that she recently came into contact with someone who tested positive. On Tuesday, Virginia Rep. Don Beyer announced that he will self-quarantine after learning that a friend he interacted with recently tested positive.
On Thursday, Republican Sen Rick Scott of Florida also announced he is self-quarantining.
I’ve posted a few things out of Asia that would confirm this over the past 2 months. So much about what we’ve been told is still inconclusive. Err on the side of caution.
Are Asian countries, where wearing masks is much more common, doing the right thing?
"Federally funded tests conducted by scientists from several major institutions indicated that the novel form of coronavirus behind a worldwide outbreak can survive in the air for several hours.
A study awaiting peer review from scientists at Princeton University, the University of California-Los Angeles and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) posted online Wednesday indicated that the COVID-19 virus could remain viable in the air “up to 3 hours post aerosolization,” while remaining alive on plastic and other surfaces for up to three days.
“Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of HCoV-19 is plausible, as the virus can remain viable in aerosols for multiple hours and on surfaces up to days,” reads the study’s abstract."
So if someone’s house is heated with forced air or centrally air conditioned - are our standard filters ok or should a person shut off the vents in and out of a home quarantined person’s room?
Not Jorge Ramos!! Dios mio now it is getting real!
Most likely but the point is to try a slow the spread as much as possible so as to not overwhelm health and public services, you know “flatten the curve”.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a sweeping executive order that allows the state to take over hotels and medical facilities to treat coronavirus patients. Interesting move.
Maryland will close all schools for two weeks starting Monday
From CNN’s Hollie Silverman
All schools will close for two weeks in Maryland starting Monday, State Superintendent of Maryland Schools Karen Salmon said at a news conference today.
The schools will remain closed until March 27, Salmon said.
As a result of the closure, make-up days will take place during spring break, which was scheduled for mid-April, Salmon said.
Students who receive meals will continue to receive food through programs, Salmon said.
The Maryland Department of Education is also working to give childcare options to residents who must continue to work such as health care providers, Salmon said.