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COVID-19 news update for 2/28/2020
Hello everyone who has been reading my updates I post here as I read the news myself. Yesterday, I had to shut the computer off and go wash my truck. I was dumb-struck because I read on the John Hopkins dashboard chart that there were 11 case in Nebraska that disappeared the next day! (I have been using this chart to click on every state for my personal charts) Anyway, I found these cases yesterday after reading the Omaha newspaper:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1063717
John Hopkins Dashboard:
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
The cases in Nebraska, now 13, do not appear on the dashboard, but are included in the total cases for the US. For me to find out what state actually do have this virus I will have to read newspapers from each state.
Anyway, it is now time to read newspapers from around the world.
Times of Israel:
Israel’s coronavirus cases more than double within a day, from 3 to 7 patients
Two returnees from Italy found to carry deadly pathogen; passenger on cruise ship who was hospitalized in Japan with virus but then cleared found to still have it upon return
Israel’s cases of coronavirus patients more than doubled in less than a day, from three people diagnosed with the virus on Thursday evening to seven 24 hours later, and amid efforts by the Health Ministry to contain the spread of the pathogen among those with which the newly diagnosed patients had come into contact.
Another Israeli passenger from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus was diagnosed as a carrier of the pathogen Friday, hours after landing in the country on a commercial flight after being released from hospitalization in Japan.
It was not immediately clear why the man had been released while still carrying the virus. Media reports said he had been cleared by officials there as healthy.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-returns-from-japan-after-bout-of-coronavirus-tests-positive-again/
Israeli cycling team locked down in UAE as race nixed over coronavirus
Riders being tested and may be forced to remain in quarantine in Gulf emirate; tour had hosted Start-Up Nation squad for first time
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A UAE bike race that had been the first to feature an Israeli team in the Gulf emirate was abandoned Thursday after two Italian cyclists tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said, with teams and riders reported to be under lockdown in their hotels.
“The remaining stages of the UAE Tour are cancelled after two cyclists from Italy tested positive for the new coronavirus,” said the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in a statement to the official WAM news agency.
...The United Arab Emirates has so far recorded 13 cases of contamination from the virus.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-biking-team-locked-down-in-uae-as-race-nixed-over-coronavirus/
Two returnees from Italy found to carry deadly pathogen; passenger on cruise ship who was hospitalized in Japan with virus but then cleared found to still have it upon return
Israel’s cases of coronavirus patients more than doubled in less than a day, from three people diagnosed with the virus on Thursday evening to seven 24 hours later, and amid efforts by the Health Ministry to contain the spread of the pathogen among those with which the newly diagnosed patients had come into contact.
Another Israeli passenger from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus was diagnosed as a carrier of the pathogen Friday, hours after landing in the country on a commercial flight after being released from hospitalization in Japan.
It was not immediately clear why the man had been released while still carrying the virus. Media reports said he had been cleared by officials there as healthy.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-returns-from-japan-after-bout-of-coronavirus-tests-positive-again/
Israeli cycling team locked down in UAE as race nixed over coronavirus
Riders being tested and may be forced to remain in quarantine in Gulf emirate; tour had hosted Start-Up Nation squad for first time
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A UAE bike race that had been the first to feature an Israeli team in the Gulf emirate was abandoned Thursday after two Italian cyclists tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said, with teams and riders reported to be under lockdown in their hotels.
“The remaining stages of the UAE Tour are cancelled after two cyclists from Italy tested positive for the new coronavirus,” said the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in a statement to the official WAM news agency.
...The United Arab Emirates has so far recorded 13 cases of contamination from the virus.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-biking-team-locked-down-in-uae-as-race-nixed-over-coronavirus/
Al Jazeera:
Coronavirus: Iraqis seem unwilling to heed new restrictions
Iraq’s government has banned large public gatherings as coronavirus spreads. It’s also ordered cafes, restaurants and clubs to close.
But in Baghdad, life appears to be going on as normal and some business owners think the government's response is exaggerated.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-iraqis-unwilling-heed-restrictions-200228185814927.html
Qatar evacuates citizens from Iran over coronavirus fears
Qatar has evacuated all its citizens in Iran over coronavirus fears and brought them back to Doha, the Government Communications Office (GCO) confirmed in a press release.
All those brought back on Thursday will be quarantined in a local hotel for 14 days.
"A hotel has been set up as a quarantine facility to be used by the Qatari citizens for a 14-day period and will be cared for and monitored by medical. Additionally, they have also been provided with all necessities," the statement read.
The GCO reiterated that no cases of the novel coronavirus had been diagnosed in Qatar and "encouraged individuals to refer to official information and to not rely on or distribute unconfirmed or unofficial information".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/qatar-evacuates-citizens-iran-coronavirus-fears-200228120852905.html
Coronavirus outbreak 'getting bigger': All the latest updates
WHO warning comes after Nigeria records first case in sub-Saharan Africa, as number of cases worldwide surpass 83,000.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200227234556140.html
Iraq’s government has banned large public gatherings as coronavirus spreads. It’s also ordered cafes, restaurants and clubs to close.
But in Baghdad, life appears to be going on as normal and some business owners think the government's response is exaggerated.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-iraqis-unwilling-heed-restrictions-200228185814927.html
Qatar evacuates citizens from Iran over coronavirus fears
Qatar has evacuated all its citizens in Iran over coronavirus fears and brought them back to Doha, the Government Communications Office (GCO) confirmed in a press release.
All those brought back on Thursday will be quarantined in a local hotel for 14 days.
"A hotel has been set up as a quarantine facility to be used by the Qatari citizens for a 14-day period and will be cared for and monitored by medical. Additionally, they have also been provided with all necessities," the statement read.
The GCO reiterated that no cases of the novel coronavirus had been diagnosed in Qatar and "encouraged individuals to refer to official information and to not rely on or distribute unconfirmed or unofficial information".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/qatar-evacuates-citizens-iran-coronavirus-fears-200228120852905.html
Coronavirus outbreak 'getting bigger': All the latest updates
WHO warning comes after Nigeria records first case in sub-Saharan Africa, as number of cases worldwide surpass 83,000.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200227234556140.html
DW:
Coronavirus updates: WHO upgrades global virus spread risk to 'very high'
Stock markets around the world have plunged amid mounting concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on business. The virus has continued to spread, with 27 new cases in Germany. DW has the latest here.
European and US stock markets slumped again on Friday, putting them on track for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.
Germany logged 27 new cases of the COVID-19 virus overnight, with several eastern European countries reporting their first cases.
A foreign national in Nigeria became the first known case in sub-Saharan Africa.
China reported 327 new cases on Thursday, the lowest daily figure in a month.
The latest global figures are at 83,700 people infected, with more than 2,800 dead.
All updates in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC/GMT).
As Friday comes to a close, figures indicate over 83,000 people have been infected, with some 2,800 deaths in China and 57 deaths in 46 other countries. With that comes the end of today's updates. Be sure to check dw.com for coronavirus news, as well as the other goings on from across the globe.
22:58 The phrase "38% of Americans" has been trending on Twitter following a survey showing that more than a third of beer drinkers "would not buy Corona under any circumstances now," according to public relations firm 5W. Nevertheless, Constellation Brands, the company which owns the Mexican-heritage beer label, has said that sales have been unaffected since the outbreak.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-updates-who-upgrades-global-virus-spread-risk-to-very-high/a-52566672
Afghan Muslims say faith can prevent coronavirus
In Afghanistan, phylacteries are printed out Koran verses blessed by an imam and worn on clothes to ward off disease and evil spirits. Now that coronavirus is spreading there, there has been a boom in sales.
https://www.dw.com/en/afghan-muslims-say-faith-can-prevent-coronavirus/av-52576515
Coronavirus: How Africa has been preparing for outbreak
Health officials in Nigeria moved quickly to quarantine the first confirmed case of coronavirus. They, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, have been gearing up for this scenario — but how prepared are they?
As countries across the globe respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus, attention is shifting to the African continent where Nigeria this week reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the region.
Nigeria's health minister, Osagie Ehanire, was quick to point out that the government had been anticipating this scenario.
"I wish to assure all Nigerians that we've been beefing up our preparedness and capabilities since the first confirmation of cases in China," Ehanire said at a press conference in Lagos on Friday.
It isn't the only country to do so. Faced with two undeniable realities — frequent air traffic between Africa and China, and a weak health care infrastructure — health officials have been implementing precautionary measures across several countries for at least a month.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-africa-has-been-preparing-for-outbreak/a-52576674
Stock markets around the world have plunged amid mounting concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on business. The virus has continued to spread, with 27 new cases in Germany. DW has the latest here.
European and US stock markets slumped again on Friday, putting them on track for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.
Germany logged 27 new cases of the COVID-19 virus overnight, with several eastern European countries reporting their first cases.
A foreign national in Nigeria became the first known case in sub-Saharan Africa.
China reported 327 new cases on Thursday, the lowest daily figure in a month.
The latest global figures are at 83,700 people infected, with more than 2,800 dead.
All updates in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC/GMT).
As Friday comes to a close, figures indicate over 83,000 people have been infected, with some 2,800 deaths in China and 57 deaths in 46 other countries. With that comes the end of today's updates. Be sure to check dw.com for coronavirus news, as well as the other goings on from across the globe.
22:58 The phrase "38% of Americans" has been trending on Twitter following a survey showing that more than a third of beer drinkers "would not buy Corona under any circumstances now," according to public relations firm 5W. Nevertheless, Constellation Brands, the company which owns the Mexican-heritage beer label, has said that sales have been unaffected since the outbreak.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-updates-who-upgrades-global-virus-spread-risk-to-very-high/a-52566672
Afghan Muslims say faith can prevent coronavirus
In Afghanistan, phylacteries are printed out Koran verses blessed by an imam and worn on clothes to ward off disease and evil spirits. Now that coronavirus is spreading there, there has been a boom in sales.
https://www.dw.com/en/afghan-muslims-say-faith-can-prevent-coronavirus/av-52576515
Coronavirus: How Africa has been preparing for outbreak
Health officials in Nigeria moved quickly to quarantine the first confirmed case of coronavirus. They, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, have been gearing up for this scenario — but how prepared are they?
As countries across the globe respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus, attention is shifting to the African continent where Nigeria this week reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the region.
Nigeria's health minister, Osagie Ehanire, was quick to point out that the government had been anticipating this scenario.
"I wish to assure all Nigerians that we've been beefing up our preparedness and capabilities since the first confirmation of cases in China," Ehanire said at a press conference in Lagos on Friday.
It isn't the only country to do so. Faced with two undeniable realities — frequent air traffic between Africa and China, and a weak health care infrastructure — health officials have been implementing precautionary measures across several countries for at least a month.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-africa-has-been-preparing-for-outbreak/a-52576674
BBC:
Coronavirus: Risk of spread upgraded to highest level
he World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to "very high" - its top level of risk assessment.
But the UN body said there was still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission were broken.
WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also stressed that fear and misinformation were the biggest challenges to overcome.
More than 50 countries have now reported cases of coronavirus.
And sources within Iran's healthcare system told BBC Persian that, as of Thursday evening, at least 210 people had died from the virus. This is more than six times higher than the official government figure.
At a press conference in Geneva, Dr Tedros said that most cases could still be traced, and there was no evidence of the virus "spreading freely in communities".
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51680560
Coronavirus: Iran's deaths at least 210, hospital sources say
At least 210 people in Iran have died as a result of the new coronavirus disease, sources in the country's health system have told BBC Persian.
Most of the victims are from the capital, Tehran, and the city of Qom, where cases of Covid-19 first emerged.
The figure is six times higher than the official death toll of 34 given by the health ministry earlier on Friday.
Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour insisted it was being transparent and accused the BBC of spreading lies.
It comes after a member of parliament for Qom accused the authorities of a cover-up and the US expressed concern that they may not be sharing information.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51673053
Coronavirus: Where are we with a vaccine?
...What's the progress so far on finding one for coronavirus?
Researchers have developed vaccines and are starting to test them on animals.
If one is found, how quickly could it be made available?
Realistically it is going to be mid-way through next year at best.
So there are vaccines being tested in animals, if that goes well there could be human trials later in the year. But even if scientists can celebrate having developed a vaccine before Christmas there is still the massive job of being able to mass-produce it.
All of this is happening on a unprecedented timescale and using new approaches to vaccines so there are no guarantees everything will go smoothly.
Remember there are four coronaviruses that already circulate in human beings. They cause the common cold and we don't have vaccines for any of them.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51665497
he World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to "very high" - its top level of risk assessment.
But the UN body said there was still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission were broken.
WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also stressed that fear and misinformation were the biggest challenges to overcome.
More than 50 countries have now reported cases of coronavirus.
And sources within Iran's healthcare system told BBC Persian that, as of Thursday evening, at least 210 people had died from the virus. This is more than six times higher than the official government figure.
At a press conference in Geneva, Dr Tedros said that most cases could still be traced, and there was no evidence of the virus "spreading freely in communities".
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51680560
Coronavirus: Iran's deaths at least 210, hospital sources say
At least 210 people in Iran have died as a result of the new coronavirus disease, sources in the country's health system have told BBC Persian.
Most of the victims are from the capital, Tehran, and the city of Qom, where cases of Covid-19 first emerged.
The figure is six times higher than the official death toll of 34 given by the health ministry earlier on Friday.
Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour insisted it was being transparent and accused the BBC of spreading lies.
It comes after a member of parliament for Qom accused the authorities of a cover-up and the US expressed concern that they may not be sharing information.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51673053
Coronavirus: Where are we with a vaccine?
...What's the progress so far on finding one for coronavirus?
Researchers have developed vaccines and are starting to test them on animals.
If one is found, how quickly could it be made available?
Realistically it is going to be mid-way through next year at best.
So there are vaccines being tested in animals, if that goes well there could be human trials later in the year. But even if scientists can celebrate having developed a vaccine before Christmas there is still the massive job of being able to mass-produce it.
All of this is happening on a unprecedented timescale and using new approaches to vaccines so there are no guarantees everything will go smoothly.
Remember there are four coronaviruses that already circulate in human beings. They cause the common cold and we don't have vaccines for any of them.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51665497
CBC:
What's next for Canada if the WHO calls COVID-19 a pandemic?
As global tensions mount over the spread of COVID-19, Canada is crafting its own plan to respond to what could become a pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, an international health emergency. But so far it has resisted using the label "pandemic" — in part because of the panic that could inspire.
On Friday, the WHO elevated the global risk level to "very high," but Canadian officials maintain the risk here remains low. Fourteen cases have been confirmed to date — seven in British Columbia, seven in Ontario and another unconfirmed case in Quebec.
...Pandemic plans have been developed already and will adapt to any evolving scenario, she said.
"There are going to be some tough decisions that health systems have to make when there are a lot of patients, including prioritizing your beds for those who are most in need. You may need to cancel elective surgeries and that type of thing," she told host Vassy Kapelos.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Michael Gardam said a basic premise of any public health pandemic plan is "social distancing," which could include closing schools and universities and cancelling public gatherings.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/coronavirus-covid19-tam-pandemic-preparations-1.5480034
Milan at a standstill: Life in a city when coronavirus fears take over
Residents describe this economic hub as 'sleepy' and 'dead' amid moves to control spread of COVID-19
...Milan has ground to a halt under preventative restrictions currently in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Italy, the worst-affected European country, has reported 821 cases and 21 deaths — the vast majority in the country's north.
It's a notable spike for the global virus that has infected more than 83,000 people worldwide and led to some 2,800 deaths, primarily in China.
...Milan itself hasn't seen its own cluster of COVID-19 cases yet, and it is not under lockdown. But some of the towns in Italy's so-called red zone — a handful of communities placed under quarantine due to confirmed infections — are just 50 kilometers away.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/milan-italy-coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19-1.5478457
As global tensions mount over the spread of COVID-19, Canada is crafting its own plan to respond to what could become a pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, an international health emergency. But so far it has resisted using the label "pandemic" — in part because of the panic that could inspire.
On Friday, the WHO elevated the global risk level to "very high," but Canadian officials maintain the risk here remains low. Fourteen cases have been confirmed to date — seven in British Columbia, seven in Ontario and another unconfirmed case in Quebec.
...Pandemic plans have been developed already and will adapt to any evolving scenario, she said.
"There are going to be some tough decisions that health systems have to make when there are a lot of patients, including prioritizing your beds for those who are most in need. You may need to cancel elective surgeries and that type of thing," she told host Vassy Kapelos.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Michael Gardam said a basic premise of any public health pandemic plan is "social distancing," which could include closing schools and universities and cancelling public gatherings.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/coronavirus-covid19-tam-pandemic-preparations-1.5480034
Milan at a standstill: Life in a city when coronavirus fears take over
Residents describe this economic hub as 'sleepy' and 'dead' amid moves to control spread of COVID-19
...Milan has ground to a halt under preventative restrictions currently in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Italy, the worst-affected European country, has reported 821 cases and 21 deaths — the vast majority in the country's north.
It's a notable spike for the global virus that has infected more than 83,000 people worldwide and led to some 2,800 deaths, primarily in China.
...Milan itself hasn't seen its own cluster of COVID-19 cases yet, and it is not under lockdown. But some of the towns in Italy's so-called red zone — a handful of communities placed under quarantine due to confirmed infections — are just 50 kilometers away.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/milan-italy-coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19-1.5478457
AP:
Outbreak starts to look more like worldwide economic crisis
NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak began to look more like a worldwide economic crisis Friday as anxiety about the infection emptied shops and amusement parks, canceled events, cut trade and travel and dragged already slumping financial markets even lower.
More employers told their workers to stay home, and officials locked down neighborhoods and closed schools. The wide-ranging efforts to halt the spread of the illness threatened jobs, paychecks and profits.
“This is a case where in economic terms the cure is almost worse than the disease,? said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “When you quarantine cities ... you lose economic activity that you’re not going to get back.?
The list of countries touched by the illness climbed to nearly 60 as Mexico, Belarus, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Iceland and the Netherlands reported their first cases. More than 83,000 people worldwide have contracted the illness, with deaths topping 2,800.
https://apnews.com/7d1a054f19cf1f33b4ee22c244603ebe
NOT REAL NEWS: An outbreak of virus-related misinformation
False posts online have distorted symptoms of the virus and peddled miracle cures. Members of the public are urged to follow the advice of established institutions like WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to beware of claims suggesting ways to prevent the virus.
Here are some of the claims spreading online, and the facts you need to know about them.
___
CLAIM: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people shave off facial hair to protect against the new coronavirus.
THE FACTS: Reports that the CDC published an infographic recommending that men shave their beards to protect against the coronavirus circulated widely as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to 60 in the U.S. The CDC did not release this graphic in relation to preventing the new coronavirus, nor did the agency recommend that people shave off their facial hair to protect against it. The graphic dates to 2017 and depicts the types of facial hair that do and do not work well when wearing filtering facepiece respirators. Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the CDC, told the AP in an email that the graphic “was developed several years ago and is intended for professionals who wear respirators for worker protection. CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators outside of workplace settings (in the community).” In the midst of the new coronavirus outbreak, many people began wearing masks to cover their nose and mouth. In most cases, they are surgical masks, as opposed to more advanced respiratory masks. Surgical masks are loose-fitting, compared to tight fitting N95 respirators. Surgical masks also don’t fully protect people from inhaling smaller airborne particles, unlike respirators which filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles. The CDC also notes that when it comes to the new coronavirus people should only wear a face mask if they’re experiencing symptoms or are being investigated for possibly having the virus.
(More) https://apnews.com/f8c382a5234bc12ec6d4f5430f8ec2e3
NEW YORK (AP) — The coronavirus outbreak began to look more like a worldwide economic crisis Friday as anxiety about the infection emptied shops and amusement parks, canceled events, cut trade and travel and dragged already slumping financial markets even lower.
More employers told their workers to stay home, and officials locked down neighborhoods and closed schools. The wide-ranging efforts to halt the spread of the illness threatened jobs, paychecks and profits.
“This is a case where in economic terms the cure is almost worse than the disease,? said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “When you quarantine cities ... you lose economic activity that you’re not going to get back.?
The list of countries touched by the illness climbed to nearly 60 as Mexico, Belarus, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Iceland and the Netherlands reported their first cases. More than 83,000 people worldwide have contracted the illness, with deaths topping 2,800.
https://apnews.com/7d1a054f19cf1f33b4ee22c244603ebe
NOT REAL NEWS: An outbreak of virus-related misinformation
False posts online have distorted symptoms of the virus and peddled miracle cures. Members of the public are urged to follow the advice of established institutions like WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to beware of claims suggesting ways to prevent the virus.
Here are some of the claims spreading online, and the facts you need to know about them.
___
CLAIM: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people shave off facial hair to protect against the new coronavirus.
THE FACTS: Reports that the CDC published an infographic recommending that men shave their beards to protect against the coronavirus circulated widely as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to 60 in the U.S. The CDC did not release this graphic in relation to preventing the new coronavirus, nor did the agency recommend that people shave off their facial hair to protect against it. The graphic dates to 2017 and depicts the types of facial hair that do and do not work well when wearing filtering facepiece respirators. Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the CDC, told the AP in an email that the graphic “was developed several years ago and is intended for professionals who wear respirators for worker protection. CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators outside of workplace settings (in the community).” In the midst of the new coronavirus outbreak, many people began wearing masks to cover their nose and mouth. In most cases, they are surgical masks, as opposed to more advanced respiratory masks. Surgical masks are loose-fitting, compared to tight fitting N95 respirators. Surgical masks also don’t fully protect people from inhaling smaller airborne particles, unlike respirators which filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles. The CDC also notes that when it comes to the new coronavirus people should only wear a face mask if they’re experiencing symptoms or are being investigated for possibly having the virus.
(More) https://apnews.com/f8c382a5234bc12ec6d4f5430f8ec2e3
Reuters:
Exclusive: U.S. postpones summit with ASEAN leaders amid coronavirus fears - sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has decided to postpone a meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries it had planned to host on March 14 due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump had invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to meet in Las Vegas after he did not attend a summit with the group in Bangkok in November.
“As the international community works together to defeat the novel coronavirus, the United States, in consultation with ASEAN partners, has made the difficult decision to postpone the ASEAN leaders meeting,” one of the sources, a senior administration official, told Reuters.
The official added that the United States values its relationships with ASEAN member nations and looks forward to future meetings.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asean-coronavirus-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-postpones-summit-with-asean-leaders-amid-coronavirus-fears-sources-idUSKCN20M3D9
North Korea's Kim guides military drills, warns 'serious consequences' if virus breaks out: KCNA
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said on Saturday, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.
North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.
...In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus.
“In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences,” Kim was quoted as telling the meeting. “No special cases must be allowed within the state anti-epidemic system.”
He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles/north-koreas-kim-guides-military-drills-warns-serious-consequences-if-virus-breaks-out-kcna-idUSKCN20M38I
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has decided to postpone a meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries it had planned to host on March 14 due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump had invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to meet in Las Vegas after he did not attend a summit with the group in Bangkok in November.
“As the international community works together to defeat the novel coronavirus, the United States, in consultation with ASEAN partners, has made the difficult decision to postpone the ASEAN leaders meeting,” one of the sources, a senior administration official, told Reuters.
The official added that the United States values its relationships with ASEAN member nations and looks forward to future meetings.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asean-coronavirus-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-postpones-summit-with-asean-leaders-amid-coronavirus-fears-sources-idUSKCN20M3D9
North Korea's Kim guides military drills, warns 'serious consequences' if virus breaks out: KCNA
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said on Saturday, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.
North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.
...In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus.
“In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences,” Kim was quoted as telling the meeting. “No special cases must be allowed within the state anti-epidemic system.”
He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles/north-koreas-kim-guides-military-drills-warns-serious-consequences-if-virus-breaks-out-kcna-idUSKCN20M38I
Well, that's all the news I have time for today. Isn't it warming to know that Afghani Muslims can take the Mike Pence approach to this virus and 'pray it away'? And boy oh boy had that virus shows up in North Korea where Kim will personally see to the 'serious consequences'! Argh! My head hurts now.
Until the next time I read the news from around the world.
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