Coronavirus briefing: Virus reaches 49 states and other updates for Saturday, March 14
Alaska announced its first case of the coronavirus this week, making it the 49th state to confirm a case of the disease, according to sites tracking the spread of the pandemic. West Virginia is the only state that has not reported a case of the virus.
Almost 150,000 cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed worldwide with more than 5,500 deaths as of March 14, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 2,100 confirmed cases with 47 deaths.
The virus, first reported in China, has swept across Asia and now has sparked new outbreaks in Europe and the United States.
The World Health Organization this week declared the COVID-19 virus a global pandemic.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on travel from Europe to the United States. Events across the nation have been canceled or postponed as a result of the outbreak, including the pro basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer seasons.
COVID-19 now reaches 49 states
The number of new cases of the coronavirus reported each day continued to climb, with more than 500 new cases reported in 24 hours between Friday and Saturday.
This week Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy confirmed the first patient to test positive there. “No reason to panic, no reason to get upset. We’re going to have more cases as time goes on,” he said.
Washington state, where the outbreak was first found in the United states, has been the hardest hit so far. Almost 570 people have tested positive for the virus there, and 37 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
New York has 420 cases, but no deaths so far. California has seen more than 280 cases and four people have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins.
Apple shutters stores for two weeks
On Friday, Apple announced it will shut down all of its stores worldwide until March 27, expect in China. The company just re-opened its stores in China as the coronavirus slows there.
“As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement Friday.
“All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations. We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 — including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures,” Cook said.
House passes coronavirus relief
Early Saturday morning, the U.S. House passed a coronavirus relief bill after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump were able to make a deal that both parties could support. The bill passed 363-40, according to CNN, showing broad bipartisan support in an era when that’s been the exception, not the norm.
The bill expands free testing for COVID-19 and sets aside $1 billion for sick leave benefits and food aid, Politico reports.
In a letter to Democrats before the bill passed, Pelosi said, “This legislation is about testing, testing, testing. To stop the spread of the virus, we have secured free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured. We cannot fight coronavirus effectively unless everyone in our country who needs to be tested can get their test free of charge.”
“Good teamwork between Republicans & Democrats as the House passes the big CoronaVirus Relief Bill. People really pulled together. Nice to see!” Trump tweeted Saturday morning.
What about the Olympics?
The prime minister of Japan said the Olympics should go on as scheduled despite some qualifying events already being canceled, the BBC reports.
“We will overcome the spread of the infection and host the Olympics without problem, as planned,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, according to the BBC. But, he said, the final decision will be made by the International Olympic Committee.
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo are scheduled to start July 24.
“Nineteen weeks before the opening ceremony of the Games we are strengthened in our commitment by many organizations around the world taking significant measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” IOC President Thomas Bach said, according to CNN.
Tips to help protect yourself from coronavirus
There’s no vaccine for the COVID-19 virus, and experts say one may be months away from mass production.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, staying home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The agency also advises washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
The CDC does not advise that healthy people wear face masks, but says they should be worn by coronavirus patients to help avoid spreading the illness.
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 7:46 AM.
