Canada just announced they’re closing their borders to non-citizens.
Not sure where these low interest loans for SBA disaster are. In their site it’s 3.75 % and the same as any bank. Whitehouse is spewing fake news… (sorry couldn’t resist).
If someone sees something else let me know
Don’t flush wet wipes or anything that even says it is flush able that is not TP. Avoid using your garbage disposal IMO too. we need to make sure we do not overload infrastructure. The UK probably has way better infrastructure than much of the neglected USA. Humans are horrible. I can’t tell you how many camp sites have people throw bags of garbage down the long drops.
Flights and trains suspended between Portugal and Spain
From CNN’s Mia Alberti in Lisbon
Portugal and Spain have agreed to suspend all air and rail travel between the two countries.
The measure was announced by Portuguese Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita on Monday, and it follows a previous decision to close the land border between the two countries.
The measure will start at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and last at least until April 15. The decision seeks to stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in the region.
Trump urges governors to secure additional medical equipment on their own
From CNN’s Kaitlan Collins
President Trump urged governors on a call today to try to secure additional medical equipment on their own without waiting for the federal government to intervene, though he did say they would try to help.
“We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves,” Trump said on the call, according to a person familiar.
He was discussing what health experts say is a serious need for more respirators and ventilators to deal with the influx of coronavirus patients.
[ Seriously?! 
Don’t you think they are pretty busy with a lot of other stuff right now? So, in addition to securing stuff impossible to find, you’ll have 50 states vying against each other (and the rest of the world) for equipment? This is asinine. ]
Here’s what the UK is telling its citizens about self-quarantining
From CNN’s Lauren Kent and Sarah Dean in London
The UK government is now advising people to stay at home for 14 days instead of seven days if they – or anyone in their household — has coronavirus symptoms: a new persistent cough or fever.
“If one person in the household has symptoms, the whole household should stay at home,” the UK’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said.
He reassured the nation that “the chances of dying from coronavirus is very low” and that “some people will get it and will have no symptoms at all."
“For those that do have symptoms the majority will be mild and be able to managed at home,” Whitty said.
Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said they are focused on delaying the spread of coronavirus in the community and keeping people safe.
He said people in the most vulnerable groups should follow social distancing measures for “12 weeks or so.”
“These measures have a big effect. This is not a series of small interventions. This could have a dramatic effect to reduce the peak and to reduce deaths,” Vallance said.
The officials comments came at a news conference alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson who acknowledged people would question why such “draconian” measures hadn’t been introduced sooner but he said they were part of a gradual plan.
[ I never understood the previous 7 day recommendation which flew in the face of what every other country is doing and WHO recommendations. ]
All talk, no action. Maybe eventually but I’m sure they haven’t gotten around to putting it up. How about the people that will need to buy food/pay mortgage and pay employees/lease in the next month or two?
Hungary will its close borders to foreigners at midnight
From CNN’s Milena Veselinovic
Beginning at midnight tonight, people who do not have Hungarian citizenship will not be allowed to enter the territory of Hungary, the country’s international communication office tells CNN.
“Immediate family members of Hungarian citizens, if they hold a residency permit, will be allowed to enter the country,” the communication office told CNN via email.
The number of people infected with coronavirus in Hungary is 39, according to the Hungarian government.
Here’s the latest on the coronavirus situation in the Arab world
From CNN’s Tamara Qiblawi
Arab countries are scrambling to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in the crisis-ridden region, taking sweeping measures to slow the spread of the virus, and trying to avoid an Iran-like outbreak.
Here’s what we know:
Saudi Arabia: The government has partially shut shopping malls, banned eating and drinking inside restaurants and cafes, and closed public spaces. Apart from Saudi nationals, passengers who have transited through or have been in Bahrain, China, Taiwan, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter.
The United Arab Emirates: The country has suspended tourist visas and cultural activities, and the country has taken a series of measures to promote social distancing, including the closure of bars, clubs and lounges in the country’s commercial hub, Dubai.
Qatar: Only nationals are permitted entry into the country. The gas-rich state is largely composed of expatriates, with Qataris making up a minority of the population.
Kuwait: Last week, the country closed its borders after seeing a surge in reported cases that originated in Iran. Social media videos showed Kuwaiti mosque leaders urging believers to “pray at home” through megaphones.
Lebanon: The government has announced a two-week lockdown, banning public and private gatherings and closing all commercial companies, except for those that produce food. The country, which is also embroiled in its worst economic crisis since its civil war, has closed aerial, naval and land borders.
Iraq: Authorities announced a six-day curfew on Sunday, prompting people to throng supermarkets and stockpile on essential goods. The curfew is set to begin on late Tuesday.
Egypt: The World Health Organization has praised the country’s coronavirus response. Authorities have been “very well guided by the World Health Organization – they practiced well in order to contain the clusters from the beginning of the occurrence.”
Morocco: The country’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday that it would suspend all international flights to and from its territory “until further notice.” That move has reportedly left a number of tourists stranded in the country, considered a global tourist hotspot.
There are 3,910 cases of coronavirus in the US
From CNN’s Amanda Watts
There are at least 3,910 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, there are 70 cases from repatriated citizens.
According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems, there are 3,840 cases in 49 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 3,910. In total, 70 people have died.
This Chinese billionaire will donate masks, test kits and protective gear to all countries in Africa
From CNN Journalist Anita Patrick in Lagos
Jack Ma, Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, will donate 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks, and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields to all 54 countries in Africa to help the continent fight the novel coronavirus.
Ma’s foundation will also work with local medical institutions on the continent to provide online training material for coronavirus clinical treatments.
“The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa,” he said in a statement tweeted Monday.
Africa has so far confirmed more than 300 cases, Egypt being the hardest hit with 110 cases.
The items will be delivered to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will oversee the distribution of the supplies to other African countries, Ma said.
On Friday, the billionaire founder of Alibaba said he would donate 500,000 coronavirus testing kits and one million face masks to the United States. He has also shared his plans to give to Europe as well as Iran.
“Now it is as if we were all living in the same forest on fire. As members of the global community, it will be irresponsible of us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts, or fail to act,” Ma said.
Airlines will request $50 billion assistance package
From CNN’s Greg Wallace
Airlines slammed by the coronavirus are requesting a package of aid from the US government that could amount to $50 billion, according to Airlines for America, the industry group, and two sources.
The aid is requested in the form of loans, grants and tax relief. The ask includes up to $25 billion in grants for passenger air carriers and $4 billion in grants to cargo carriers, and the same amounts in loans or loan guarantees, Airlines for America outlined in a briefing document.
“US carriers are in need of immediate assistance as the current economic environment is simply not sustainable,” the group said in a statement. “This is compounded by the fact that the crisis does not appear to have an end in sight.”
The aid package has been discussed with key lawmakers and staff, on Capitol Hill and the Trump administration, the sources said. The discussions were described as being at an early stage. But one source noted there is a growing recognition from the federal government that conditions “are getting very bad, very fast.”
The airline group predicted the seven US airlines it represents “run out of money completely sometime between June 30 and the end of the year.” It predicted losses could be as high as $53 billion this year.
Wow- Canada closed its border. Thats serious.
Well, re New Jersey and all the other states making these tough decisions, I wish Seattle had done so earlier.
@“Cardinal Fang” . Right there with you. My son’s at Michigan in a campus apartment on North campus. He couldn’t find TP since he waited to long but can make use of his resources…lol… He has his first online class today and then a final tomorrow. Then we are considering going to get him. My wife is getting antsy but he is provably better off where he is at. If we go it will be like move out part 1 then go back in a few weeks to finish off. He states he is fine and most likely just study better in his own apartment. Its just him and his roommate and they are both more of less homebodies and do lots of zoom etc for meetings they currently have anyway so life is not so much different for him…if sick no where better then University of Michigan health services/ hospital but will see. We can’t really talk about it till after his test on Tuesday. But my daughter is coming home for a few days with some friends that need a place to go. Her school is still set to reopen next Monday but will see. She has an off campus apartment and likes her independence and job.
UK government will not legally enforce its new social distancing measures
From CNN’s Lauren Kent and Sarah Dean in London
The UK government will not enforce its new social distancing coronavirus measures with fines or legal threats because the UK is “a mature and grown up democracy where people understand the advice being given to them,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“On powers, you may be amazed to know, this government already has tremendous powers in this field,” Johnson said.
He explained: “Don’t forget that other countries are in different stages in their movement up the curve. The crucial things is timeliness. Our interventions should be timely to have the maximum effect… when you come to more extreme measures like curfews and things we’ve seen in other countries, we’re keeping all things under review… we’re keeping school closures under review.”
The UK is not currently testing everyone with coronavirus symptoms, a strategy that has been questioned by experts.
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said they would "continue to scale up testing, but I think it’s important to realize the scale for testing which has been substantial, and we will continue to scale up from here.”
He said “the next level out” will be for healthcare workers and other critical workers with symptoms to be tested.
“People should be thinking of a minimum of weeks to months, people should realize we are in this for the long haul,” Whitty said, in regards to how long the new social distancing measures might last.
[ The UK responses have been perplexing. Initially they were testing a lot - much more than the US. The response has seemed to stall. I don’t get the response of waiting instead of acting sooner. ]
@knowsstuff there’s a lot of smaller stores in AA still plenty stocked with things. There’s a fb group called “washtenaw county mutual aid resources” that has a bunch of resources and is constantly being updated with what is available where.
Honestly, your S is probably safer where he is than trying to go and get him. Driving to get him requires stops at gas stations, food places, restrooms, etc. Better to just stay put.
Pentagon puts “a bubble” around civilian leaders during coronavirus pandemic
From CNN’s Mike Conte
The Pentagon is keeping the two top civilian leaderships posts “physically separated” in order to create “a bubble around them” with limited personal interactions.
“Starting today, the secretary and the deputy secretary are remaining physically separated, so we are attempting to put a, for lack of a better term, a bubble around the two of them. That means they and their staffs will only interact via teleconference. We’re screening people that are entering the secretary’s suite and limiting the number of people who have access as well,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathon Hoffman said Monday.
Israel prepares convert 4 hotels to quarantine sites
From CNN’s Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem
Israel is preparing to open four hotels across the country as quarantines sites for confirmed cases of coronavirus, Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett announced Monday night. The hotels will be used to treat people exhibiting mild symptoms of the virus.
The first two hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are expected to be ready for use as quarantine sites by Tuesday, the head of Israel’s Home Front Command told reporters in a conference call. The other two hotels — one in the north of the country and one in the south — will be ready by the end of the week, the Defense Minister said.
Each hotel is expected to hold up to 500 patients but capacity could be increased up to 2,000 in each hotel if necessary, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai told reporters.
On Sunday, Bennett said in a news conference, “We have to tell the public the truth: we simply don’t know how many cases there are.”
“We currently do not have a vaccine for corona. The real vaccine is awareness, caring, and responsibility,” he added.
^ THIS!
Idris Elba tests positive 
The actor Idris Elba has announced he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Idris Elba
@idriselba
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing ??? No panic.
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Last week it emerged that Elba met Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at an event in London just over week before she tested positive.
The wife of the Canadian prime minister was photographed at the Wembley Arena We Day event on 4 March alongside the F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and the actor Elba. Video of the event showed Grégoire Trudeau embracing the former Australia prime minister Julia Gillard. A spokesman for Gillard said she is self-isolating as a precaution.
On the same day Grégoire Trudeau also went to an International Women’s Day conference attended by the former supreme court president Lady Hale. (Guardian)
Germany closes places of worship, bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas
Angela Merkel has announced a raft of further drastic measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Germany, including the closure of places of worship, playgrounds and non-essential shops.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin on Monday afternoon, the German chancellor issued new guidelines for restricting social gatherings, which the country’s federal state are expected to enforce in the coming days. She said:
These are measures that we have never had in our country, but they are necessary to reduce the number of illnesses and severe illnesses and avoid overwhelming our health services.
The more individuals stick to these rules, the quicker we will get through this phase. The benchmark [for these measures] isn’t what we want to do, but what scientists tell us is the right response”.
The measures include the closure of bars, clubs, theatres, museums, cinemas, trade fairs and brothels, as well as a ban on services of worship at churches, mosques and synagogues.
A number of shops will be exempted from the restrictions and may be allowed to open their doors on Sundays, the chancellor said. They include supermarkets, corner stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, post offices, hairdressers, hardware stores and delivery services.
Restaurants are to open their doors from six am until 6pm.
The southern state of Bavaria had already announced on Monday morning it would implement state of emergency measures to the same effect from this Wednesday.
The UK has defended its record on testing in response to that call by the WHO’s director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to ‘test, test, test.”
Tedros told a press conference in Geneva that government’s cannot fight the pandemic blindfolded. Johnson was challenged about this at his Downing Street briefing, but left it to his chief medical officer, Chris Whitty to answer.
Whitty said:
Of course, we completely agree with the secretary general that testing is absolutely critical.
And within the UK, we have three levels of testing at the moment. We have testing in intensive care systems, which is across the whole system. We have testing in hospitals for people who have got pneumonia for people got milder disease, and we have the GP network, which is testing in the community.
The one thing which we did stop doing was testing based on geography … at this stage geography is much less important in the disease.
We do intend to continue to scale up testing. But I think it’s important to realise the scale of UK testing which has been substantial. Over 44,000 tests conducted, of which over 42,000 were negative, and we will continue to scale up the testing every single week from here in moving out into the wider community.
The test we have at the moment only tests for people who’ve currently got disease. The thing which will be transformational would be a test to reliably tell us if someone has previously had disease, so we can pick up and find out what proportion of people get this infection without any symptoms. Currently, such a test is not reliable, but it’s being developed very rapidly by Public Health England. (Guardian)
@Knowsstuff I wish we could go get my son in Michigan, but we live in California. (I seriously considered it anyway, but I’d have to remember how to drive again, and it’s three days each way over two snow-covered mountain ranges, so it’s a ridiculous idea.) He’s happy to stay, anyway.