Re Egypt: Four or five people in Wisconsin who tested positive for the virus are believed to have contracted it while on a cruise in Egypt.
US immigration hearings postponed after coronavirus outbreak
From CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez
New immigration hearings for migrants who are not in detention will be postponed, the US Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review has announced.
The EOIR said in a tweet late on Sunday all non-detained master calendar hearings – cases of immigrants who are not in detention and are just beginning immigration proceedings – will be postponed. Last Friday, the federal agency said those hearings would only be postponed at select immigration courts.
Master calendar hearings often bring large groups of people to the courtroom, raising concern while the country tries to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The move to extend the postponing of these hearings came hours after immigration judges, lawyers and ICE prosecutors called for courts to be closed altogether. EOIR has not gone that far yet, saying that all other hearings will proceed.
The Seattle immigration court will be closed through April 10.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort closes for deep clean after confirmed coronavirus cases
From CNN’s Betsy Klein
After multiple confirmed cases at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort last week, including a fundraiser attendee and an aide to the Brazilian President, the club is undergoing a deep clean, a member told CNN.
Members were notified via email that the club will be closed Monday for cleaning. This includes its grand ballroom but excludes the beach club, which is across the street from the main area and will remain open.
Dinner will be served as usual Tuesday through Saturday.
UN steps up support for refugees in Iran during virus outbreak
From CNN’s Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Hira Humayun in Atlanta
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has enhanced its emergency support to refugees in Iran following the coronavirus outbreak there, it said in a statement on Sunday.
The UNHCR has begun “distributing items such as soap and disposable paper towels to some 7,500 refugee households living in refugee settlements across the country,” according to the statement.
We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people and authorities and are fully mobilized to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable, including refugees,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Iran.
Iran is one of the countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases outside mainland China.
“Refugees, most of whom live side-by-side with host communities in villages, towns and cities, are at the same risk of catching and transmitting the new coronavirus as Iranians,” the statement added.
Germany issues economic warning as Bavaria declares state of emergency
From CNN’s Stephanie Halasz
The German state of Bavaria has declared a state of emergency as the country’s economics ministry issued a stark warning.
Markus Soeder, premier of the southern state bordering Switzerland and Austria, said on Monday in Munich that “the situation is very serious and changing every day, unfortunately not for the better.”
Meanwhile, in a statement released Monday, the German Ministry for Economics said that the coronavirus outbreak was affecting the country’s economy.
“How strong and for how long cannot yet be reliably assessed because no meaningful economic data are available yet,” read the statement.
“It is also still too uncertain how fast and how much the coronavirus will spread. Due to the very dynamic development, however, relevant economic effects must be expected.
"The German economy was in the process of overcoming the phase of weakness which had persisted since the beginning of 2018, related to the global industrial recession and the trade conflicts … This is no longer expected.”
A woman in India fled coronavirus testing. A police case has been opened against her father
From CNN’s Manveena Suri and Esha Mitra in New Delhi
Police in India have opened a case against a man for misleading health officials about the whereabouts of his daughter who tested positive for coronavirus.
The man in the northern city of Agra was booked for “unlawfully or negligently spreading a disease that is dangerous to life," according to police officials.
His daughter, whose husband had tested positive for coronavirus on March 12, evaded testing in the southern city of Bengaluru and fled to her parents home in Agra.
When health authorities began reaching out to close contacts of the husband, the woman’s father said she had already left the city for New Delhi. Later police discovered the woman was still in Agra and has since tested positive for coronavirus, according to Prabhu N. Singh, the city’s district magistrate.
A case was registered against the father for “a malignant act likely to spread infection of disease."
The woman’s husband arrived in India from Greece on March 6, according to B. Sriramulu, Minister of Health and Family Welfare for Karnataka state.
Two US ER doctors in critical condition with coronavirus
From CNN’s Alta Spells
Two emergency doctors in the US are in a critical condition after they were infected with the coronavirus, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
One doctor is in his 40s in the state of Washington, the second is a 70-year-old from New Jersey.
The physician in Paterson, NJ, leads his institution’s emergency preparedness and was admitted to the hospital several days ago with upper respiratory problems. He remains in isolation in its intensive care unit.
ACEP President William Jaquis said: “I am deeply saddened by this news, but not surprised. As emergency physicians, we know the risks of our calling. We stand united with our colleagues and our thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery are with each of them and their families. “It is my hope that these colleagues and their cases serve as a reminder to each of us to stay vigilant. This virus is dangerous, and its impact is still unfolding,” Jaquis added.
“As emergency physicians, we answer the call to care for our most vulnerable, even at great personal risk. Knowing that, I urge each of you to meticulously follow the recommended precautions to protect yourself.”
UK’s coronavirus response sparks backlash in Asia
Chinese state media has criticized the UK and other Western nations’ response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, alleging they have adopted a policy of “total surrender.”
In several articles over the weekend, Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times questioned the UK’s decision to not introduce stricter social distancing measures – unlike Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
UK government ministers estimate that the outbreak may not peak until 14 weeks from now and have argued that it would be detrimental to implement such measures at this stage of the outbreak.
“Such a laissez-faire mindset and lax measures are considered extremely irresponsible and risk causing a rebound in China due to the growing number of imported infections,” one article in Global Times said.
Second wave: There are growing fears in Asia of the possibility of a second wave of infections from imported cases.
Undoing the work: Asian countries including China, South Korea, and Singapore have seen caseloads stabilize in recent weeks, thanks largely to a combination of aggressive containment and social distancing measures. But a rise in infections linked to overseas travel has led to concerns that those sacrifices could be undone.
Stricter measures: Governments across the region are now stepping up quarantine and travel restrictions. From Monday, all overseas travelers arriving in the Chinese capital Beijing will be sent to quarantine facilities for 14 days at their own cost, according to state media. And from March 19, Hong Kong will expand it 14-day mandatory self-quarantine to include the UK, alongside 30 other countries and regions.
Singapore has also had success at containing the virus. Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Singapore’s Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said the city state’s concern with cases in countries such as the UK and Switzerland is that it “isn’t just about the numbers.”
"It is that these countries have abandoned any measure to contain or restrain the virus,” Wong said. “If there’s no attempt to contain, we estimate the number of cases in these countries to rise significantly in the coming days and weeks.”
On Friday, the World Health Organization’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Europe had become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. “More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic,” he said.
Restaurant chain Chick-fil-a is temporarily closing dining room seating
Chick-fil-a is temporarily closing its dining room seating to help limit person-to-person contact amid the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant chain announced in a post on its website today.
Customers will still be able to use drive-thru services and, in some locations, takeout, delivery and mobile order options will still be available.
The restaurant did not say when the dining room service might resume, but thanked customers for their patience.
“Our highest priority continues to be the health and well-being of everyone who comes into our restaurants,” Chick-fil-a said in the statement.
High-ranking Iranian cleric dies from the coronavirus
From CNN’s Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Hira Humayun in Atlanta
Iranian cleric Ayatollah Hashem Bathaie Golpayegani has died after being infected by the coronavirus, state news agency IRNA said today.
He was a high-ranking clergyman and one of the 88 members of the Assembly of Experts, a key government body of top clergymen which determines Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Golpayegani was hospitalized in Qom on Saturday.
Several political and religious figures have been infected by the coronavirus in Iran. Some have died, including newly-elected female politician Fatemeh Rahbar.
Iran has recorded nearly 14,000 infections and 724 deaths from the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization.
Coronavirus outbreak in France is “very worrying,” top health official says
From CNN’s Barbara Wojazer in Paris
The situation in France is “deteriorating very quickly,” the head of the country’s public health authority said in a radio interview this morning.
Jerome Salomon said that the coronavirus epidemic was “very quick,” with the number of cases currently doubling “every three days.”
“The epidemic in France is very worrying,” he said. "The situation concerns children as well as elders.”
Salomon did specify that there were relatively few cases concerning children.
“We can all counter the epidemic by respecting the measures, the barrier measures that French people know but that they’re not applying now,” he said.
French measures: France has closed restaurants, cafes, cinemas and clubs, and issued a ban on large gatherings to contain the spread of the virus. More than half of the country’s 300 coronavirus patients in intensive care are under the age of 60, Salomon said on Saturday.
There are more than 5,300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in France, including 127 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Florida, Alabama and Hawaii announce dozens of new coronavirus infections
With cases across the United States continuing to rise, Florida, Alabama and Hawaii all announced new infections today.
There are now 149 cases of the coronavirus in Florida, by CNN’s count, after the state announced 34 new infections on its website Sunday night. Four people in Florida have died of the disease.
Meanwhile, 10 new cases were reported in Alabama on Sunday, according to the state’s health authority. In total, 22 people have been infected in Alabama. No deaths have been reported there.
In Hawaii, there have been three new positive cases of the virus in recent days, according to the state’s health department, bringing the statewide total to seven. No deaths have been reported.
More than 3,400 coronavirus infections and 65 deaths have been reported across the US. (CNN)
Tennessee closes all schools
From CNN’s Devon Sayers and Jessica Jordan
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced today that all schools statewide will be closing by this Friday in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
“Every Tennessean has a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and I urge Tennesseans to be quick to help neighbors as new needs surface with the closure of schools,” Lee said in a statement.
He added: “We understand the tremendous burden school closure places on families and we will continue to work with both the federal government and school districts to ensure we continue essential supports like meals for students in need.”
I just scored a jacket I’ve been wanting for 66% off from REI Outlet online last night.
I’ve noticed many of the brands I like that rarely have sales (e.g. Tumi, Mizzen + Main, 7 for All Mankind) have been having sales. So now’s a great time to support your favorite vendor and their employees with an online order and score a deal.
Let the package sit unopened for a day if you’re concerned about viruses on the outside of the box from handling and wash hands immediately after opening and discarding the packaging. Time in transit should be plenty to kill off anything on the item itself, although waiting a few days couldn’t hurt for those especially concerned.
Maryland Governor is giving a press conference right now announcing similar measures in Maryland beginning at 5pm tonight.
IMF says it’s ready to ‘mobilize its $1 trillion lending capacity’ to fight coronavirus
The International Monetary Fund on Monday said it “stands ready” to use its $1 trillion lending capacity to help countries around the world that are struggling with the humanitarian and economic impact of the novel coronavirus.
“As a first line of defense, the Fund can deploy its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency response toolkit to help countries with urgent balance-of-payment needs,” wrote Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Roughly 5 million people in China lost their jobs in the first 2 months of 2020
Roughly 5 million people in China lost their jobs amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the first two months of this year, according to data published Monday.
China’s official, but highly doubted, urban unemployment rate jumped in February to 6.2%, its highest on record, the National Bureau of Statistics said. That’s up from 5.3% in January and 5.2% in December.
Coronavirus impact will last at least until third quarter, Germany’s economy ministry says
The German economy ministry said the impact of the coronavirus meant it no longer expected an economic upswing in the first quarter, Reuters reported. The ministry added that the economy was unlikely to stabilize before the third quarter at the earliest.
“The strength and duration of the impact cannot yet reliably be forecast,” the ministry said. “But given the very rapid pace of developments we have to anticipate significant economic impacts.”
CNBC
Warren Buffett’s daughter, Susie Buffett, is in self-quarantine
Susie Buffett, Warren Buffett’s 66-year-old daughter, is in self-quarantine for 14 days, the Omaha World-Herald newspaper reported.
She sat next to someone at a meeting who returned from Spain, according to the report. The person developed symptoms the following day and later tested positive, the newspaper reported.
Susie Buffett said she has not been near her billionaire investor father —the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway — since being exposed, according to the report.
Supreme Court postpones arguments, citing Spanish flu precedent
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will postpone arguments scheduled for March and early April because of health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The top court cited its actions during the Spanish flu epidemic of the early 19th century and the yellow fever outbreaks of the 18th century as precedents.
The postponement will delay arguments in three blockbuster cases over whether President Donald Trump may shield his financial records, including tax returns, from state and congressional investigators, among other matters. Those cases were set to be argued on March 31.
CNBC
Millions could lose their jobs in a coronavirus recession. Many won’t get severance pay
The odds of slipping into a recession are increasingly likely as the global coronavirus outbreak puts acute stress on the U.S. economy. That could be bad news for American workers, who may lose jobs by the millions in a downturn. For those workers who don’t receive severance pay, the financial impact could be especially devastating.
Economic cracks are beginning to emerge. Small-business owners are starting to report supply-chain problems and lost sales. The travel industry is reeling. Big oil and gas companies are slashing spending and cutting dividends amid a plunge in oil prices. Consumer spending has fallen as Americans pull back from their daily routines.
Many workers don’t have an adequate financial backstop in layoff situations, experts said. Half of U.S. adults expected to be living paycheck to paycheck this year and 53% did not have an emergency fund that covers at least three months of expenses, according to a financial planning survey conducted prior to the coronavirus outbreak by First National Bank of Omaha in Nebraska.
Federal law doesn’t require American companies to pay severance in the event of layoffs, leaving it up to the discretion of business owners.
NYSE implements new procedures for floor participants
CNBC’s Bob Pisani reports that while entering the New York Stock Exchange Monday morning a medical team was at the entrance. An attendant took his temperature and he was asked to fill out a one-page questionnaire on whether he was feeling ill or had traveled out of the country.
Uber is delivering free meals to health-care workers and first responders
Uber is giving away free meals to health workers and first responders who are helping combat the coronavirus pandemic, Nelson Chai, the company’s chief financial officer, told CNBC on Monday.
“We’re going to deliver over 300,000 meals for health officials and first responders who are on the front line,” Chai said in a “Squawk Box” interview. “We’re doing what we can.”
The company’s Uber Eats segment is also waiving delivery fees for small businesses in some of its markets.
CNBC
@anomander… Way to help the economy!! ?. Just put it in your garage, spray the outside and open in 2 weeks. Through out packaging before bringing it in.
Ex-FDA chief sees US peak late April to early May
Former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that he believes the COVID-19 outbreak will peak in the U.S. around late April to early May. That’s a timeline suggesting a longer crisis than some U.S. politicians are indicating.
Roche CEO says it will provide over 400 tests this week
In an effort to boost screening capacity to help contain the growing epidemic, the Food and Drug Administration issued emergency authorization last week for a COVID-19 test made by Swiss diagnostics maker Roche. The company says automated tests can provide results in 3.5 hours as opposed to a few days. The company will begin its rollout with over 400 tests this week, Roche CEO Dr. Severin Schwan told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
“We are of course ramping up supply as much as we can,” he said, adding that the tests go first where they’re most needed. “For that purpose, we are closely working together with the authorities, the CDC, in particular, to allocate tests to those labs and to those regions where we can make the biggest impact during this crisis.”
[ 400? Wasn’t it supposed to be a lot more? I wish the administration would start being realistic and honest instead of over-promising and under-delivering. ]
CNBC
How Moscow is responding to the coronavirus outbreak
From CNN’s Nathan Hodge and Mary Ilyushina in Moscow
The Moscow mayor’s office announced new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus today. These include a ban on events with crowds larger than 50 people and mandatory self-isolation for those arriving from Europe, the UK and the US.
The measures ban sporting events, public gatherings and entertainment involving more than 50 people. This will stay in place until April 10.
Schools and institutions of higher learning will be closed from this Saturday through April 12.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement the measures were taken after 20 people fell ill with the virus in the city over the weekend.
“I ask parents whose children are not attending schools to prevent their appearance in shopping centers, parks and other public places,” he said. “Closing schools does not mean extra holiday, but voluntary self-isolation at home.”
Individuals arriving from United States, the UK, the European Union, Ukraine, Belarus and all European countries outside the EU must undergo a self-isolation at home for 14 days after arrival. (CNBC)
EU suspends non-essential travel
The EU is suspending all non-essential travel for 30 days, the president of the EU commission has announced.
I’m a little stunned by this. The crowds at Disneyworld on their last night were enormous prior to the closing of the park. What in the world are people (including Disney execs) thinking?
Over 200 British and American passengers are among 609 people on a cruise ship in isolation in Recife in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, Dom Phillips reports from Brazil.
Two passengers have been removed for coronavirus testing from the Silver Shadow - a Canadian male passenger, aged 78, tested positive and an Irish woman tested negative, local media reported.
Sailing from Buenos Aires to Fort Lauderdale after stopping in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, the Silver Shadow docked in Recife on March 12 and has been isolated there since the Canadian passenger left the ship, felt sick and was taken to a local private hospital.
According to a ship’s manifest seen by The Guardian, there are 109 British passengers – 62 female and 47 male – among the 318 passengers and eight British nationals among the 291 crew. There are also 103 US passengers.
A spokeswoman for the ship’s owners Silversea, part of the Royal Caribbean group, said:
Two guests aboard the Silver Shadow have been medically disembarked in Recife, Brazil, and one has tested positive for COVID-19. We have asked guests on the ships to temporarily remain in their cabins in accordance with our medical isolation protocols.
Olimar Cardoso, Pernambuco director of Brazil’s sanitary vigilance agency, ANVISA, told reporters on Saturday that passengers are only allowed to circulate around the ship in small groups and meals are left outside their cabins. “It is a situation nobody likes to go through,” he said.
A spokesman for the British embassy said it is working closely with Royal Caribbean on “how best to get British nationals home.” The US Consulate in Recife said it is “in contact with Brazilian authorities regarding the well-being and safety of U.S. passengers”.
A Pernambuco government spokesman said it has been meeting with health ministry, embassies and the navy to find a “safe way to return everyone to their countries.” (Guardian)
Germany closes shops
In Germany the federal government has announced the closure of a range of non-essential retail outlets in its latest bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Tom Nuttall
@tom_nuttall
· 43m
German media reporting that federal govt will recommend closure of most shops.
Tom Nuttall
@tom_nuttall
Confirmed: federal govt and state leaders agree to close German retail outlets.
Exceptions: food & drink, pharmacies and medical supplies, banks, petrol stations, drug stores, post offices, hairdressers, newsagents, launderettes, gardening and pet supplies, wholesalers. (Guardian)
My medical office is definitely feeling the pinch now. This plus being slow due to high deductibles. We are usually slow in the winter months since no one wants to start to use their insurance . We are elective treatment and surgery. But we have our own operating room. We are thinking of promoting that since hospitals can’t do elective surgery now but have to relook at our stock of surgery gowns etc not to over promise. Have surgery on Wednesday and that could be the last one for while. It is a minor one but what if he gets infected and needs hospitalization? Will he be able to get it? I am seriously thinking of just canceling it and putting it off to May or so. Plus might have to go to get my son at college 5 hours away on Wednesday… Just remember… Doctors with independent offices are just a small business like any other mom and pop shop. You don’t pay your deductibles/co-pays etc… We have a harder time paying the staff, insurance, rent, supplies, just like any other business.
Sorry… Just needed to vent but it is a dilemma.
There are hopes supermarket delivery services could ease tensions by getting supplies to those advised to self isolate and also avoid lots of people going to shops for their supplies, Vikram Dodd reports.
But on Monday morning they were buckling under the pressure.
Sainsburys had no delivery slots for the next three weeks, Ocado was closed to new customers and had introduced a “virtual queue” for existing customers and Waitrose was off line altogether. (Guardian)
[ this is in the UK. In my town, the earliest you can get a pick-up spot (no delivery) is Sunday at 8pm. ]
Humanitarian groups warn of Covid-19 “carnage” among refugee camps
Humanitarian organisations are warning of the risk of “carnage” when the coronavirus reaches the millions of people currently living in cramped refugee camps and other sites hosting displaced people, Damian Carrington reports.
Syria, Yemen and Venezuela in particular danger, they say, with Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Greece also at risk.
The lack of medical facilities at such sites and the poor health of the refugees means Covid-19 infection is likely to have a more serious health impact, according to UOSSM, which provides free medical aid to the people of Syria and runs 12 hospitals and 120 clinics.
Dr Hussam Al Fakir, chairman of UOSSM International, said:
It is not a question of if, but when an outbreak will occur. We cannot let it start: there will be no stopping it. Our staff are still recovering from a relentless bombing campaign, how can they be expected to manage a pandemic without any protective gear?
The Syrian medical system already suffers from a shortage of masks, gloves, gowns, disinfectant and thermal scanners, Al Fakir said. and other medical supplies. He called on the international community to immediately provide supplies to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe.
Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said:
There will be carnage when the virus reaches parts of Syria, Yemen and Venezuela where hospitals have been demolished and health systems have collapsed. And when the virus hits overcrowded settlements in places like Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Greece, the consequences will be devastating. We must act now.
Iran is already a coronavirus hotspot and a coronavirus case was reported last week on the Greek island of Lesbos, which hosts the overcrowded Moria refugee camp. Syria’s government says there have been no officially registered cases of the virus so far, nor has Yemen reported cases. But cases have been reported in the neighboring nations of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Israel and Turkey. (Guardian)
@doschicos for local example, do you mean Sunday 3/22, if ordering today 3/16? Yikes!!!