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Coronavirus Live Updates: W.H.O. Chief Warns It’s ‘Time to Act’ Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Cases Pass More than 250
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The University of Washington said on Friday that it would cancel in-person classes and have students take classes and final exams remotely while the Seattle area grapples with a growing coronavirus outbreak, in a move that other colleges around the country are preparing to follow if the virus becomes more widespread.The University of Washington said on Friday that it would cancel in-person classes and have students take classes and final exams remotely while the Seattle area grapples with a growing coronavirus outbreak, in a move that other colleges around the country are preparing to follow if the virus becomes more widespread.
A growing number of universities have mobilized emergency planning teams to envision what a shutdown would look like, especially if students were to bring the virus back with them from spring break, which starts Friday on many campuses. Some students have already been warned that they should be prepared to learn online, as many students in Europe and Asia have been forced to do.A growing number of universities have mobilized emergency planning teams to envision what a shutdown would look like, especially if students were to bring the virus back with them from spring break, which starts Friday on many campuses. Some students have already been warned that they should be prepared to learn online, as many students in Europe and Asia have been forced to do.
The level of concern rose on Thursday with the announcement that a junior at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee who had been studying in Italy had tested positive for the virus after he returned to Chicago when his classes were canceled. The University of California Los Angeles said that three of its students were self-isolating off campus as they awaited test results.The level of concern rose on Thursday with the announcement that a junior at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee who had been studying in Italy had tested positive for the virus after he returned to Chicago when his classes were canceled. The University of California Los Angeles said that three of its students were self-isolating off campus as they awaited test results.
The University of Washington, which has 50,000 students on three campuses across the Seattle region, was apparently the first large college in the United States to shift to online classes amid virus concerns. It said the change would begin on Monday and continue through the rest of the winter quarter, which ends March 20. The university’s president, Ana Mari Cauce, said she was hopeful that normal classes would resume during the spring quarter.The University of Washington, which has 50,000 students on three campuses across the Seattle region, was apparently the first large college in the United States to shift to online classes amid virus concerns. It said the change would begin on Monday and continue through the rest of the winter quarter, which ends March 20. The university’s president, Ana Mari Cauce, said she was hopeful that normal classes would resume during the spring quarter.
The announcement was the most sweeping decision yet for leaders in the Seattle area rushing to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has been linked to at least 13 deaths and 75 infections in the state — all but one announced over the past week.The announcement was the most sweeping decision yet for leaders in the Seattle area rushing to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has been linked to at least 13 deaths and 75 infections in the state — all but one announced over the past week.
“Our goal is to complete this academic quarter with as little disruption to our students and their educational progress as possible,” Ms. Cauce said.“Our goal is to complete this academic quarter with as little disruption to our students and their educational progress as possible,” Ms. Cauce said.
The world’s leading health official implored international leaders to unleash the full power of their governments to combat the new coronavirus outbreak.The world’s leading health official implored international leaders to unleash the full power of their governments to combat the new coronavirus outbreak.
“This is not a drill,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization. “This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops.”“This is not a drill,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization. “This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops.”
But around the world, as the number of cases passed 100,000, governments have displayed signs of paralysis, obfuscation and a desire to protect their own interests, even as death tolls passed 3,200 and global capitals were so threatened by infection that politicians and health officials tested positive for the illness.But around the world, as the number of cases passed 100,000, governments have displayed signs of paralysis, obfuscation and a desire to protect their own interests, even as death tolls passed 3,200 and global capitals were so threatened by infection that politicians and health officials tested positive for the illness.
In the United States, the number of cases passed 245 as public health labs anxiously awaited diagnostic kits, which will allow for a fuller sense of the scale of the crisis. As of Friday, New York State had 33 confirmed cases of coronavirus. In the United States, the number of cases passed 250 as public health labs anxiously awaited diagnostic kits, which will allow for a fuller sense of the scale of the crisis. As of Friday, New York State had 33 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
President Trump signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill Friday morning and decided to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, reversing his decision hours earlier to skip touring the nerve center of the government’s response to the health crisis.President Trump signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill Friday morning and decided to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, reversing his decision hours earlier to skip touring the nerve center of the government’s response to the health crisis.
Americans struggled to make sense of conflicting information from Mr. Trump and members of his own cabinet. Vice President Mike Pence, who previously vowed that “any American could be tested,” conceded on Thursday that “we don’t have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward.”Americans struggled to make sense of conflicting information from Mr. Trump and members of his own cabinet. Vice President Mike Pence, who previously vowed that “any American could be tested,” conceded on Thursday that “we don’t have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward.”
Dr. Tedros warned that time to contain the virus was running out. “Now is the time to act,” he said. China’s draconian measures to stem the outbreak showed more signs of success on Friday, when Hubei province — the place were the coronavirus first emerged — reported that it had no new cases of infection outside its capital, Wuhan, for the first time.Dr. Tedros warned that time to contain the virus was running out. “Now is the time to act,” he said. China’s draconian measures to stem the outbreak showed more signs of success on Friday, when Hubei province — the place were the coronavirus first emerged — reported that it had no new cases of infection outside its capital, Wuhan, for the first time.
Still, some political leaders around the world seemed more interested in pointing fingers at one another and complaining about tit-for-tat travel restrictions. Japanese citizens have been outraged by the hands-off approach of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as cases have continued to climb. Lending more outrage, testing has proceeded slowly, leaving many fearful that many infections are going undetected.
In the center of the outbreak in China, residents of Wuhan who have been confined to their homes for weeks heckled the visiting vice prime minister Thursday, with some shouting from their windows: “Fake! Everything is fake!”
At least 45 people on the cruise ship idling off San Francisco who were showing symptoms of the coronavirus could learn the results of their diagnostic tests on Friday.
The panic on the ship, the Grand Princess, began after a 71-year-old man who had traveled on a previous leg of the cruise, a round trip from San Francisco to Mexico, died after leaving the ship. It was the first death from the coronavirus in California. Another passenger from that leg of the trip also tested positive for the virus.
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There are 3,533 people currently onboard Grand Princess, including 1,111 crew members. Passengers onboard said they had been confined to their rooms while crew members have canceled large gatherings and were cleaning surfaces more often, among other precautionary measures. Still, some political leaders around the world seemed more interested in pointing fingers at one another and complaining about tit-for-tat travel restrictions. Japanese citizens have been outraged by the hands-off approach of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as cases have continued to climb. Lending more outrage, testing has proceeded slowly, leaving many fearful that many infections are going undetected.
As the coronavirus, which broke out in China last year, has spread across the globe, the West Coast has taken the brunt of the caseload in the United States. In the center of the outbreak in China, residents of Wuhan who have been confined to their homes for weeks heckled the visiting vice prime minister Thursday, with some shouting from their windows: “Fake! Everything is fake!”
In Washington State, 13 people have died from the virus, most from a Seattle-area nursing home. Also in the Seattle area, two Microsoft employees were being treated for the coronavirus, the first from the company to get the diagnosis, a company spokesman said overnight Thursday. And in California, 56 people have been treated for the coronavirus, the most of any state. New York State confirmed 11 new cases of the coronavirus, all of them linked in some way to a Westchester County man who was the second person in the state to test positive for the virus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Friday.
In Southern California, three students at the University of California, Los Angeles are being tested for the virus by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the school’s chancellor said on Thursday night. The students were self-isolating off campus. While the public health department has expedited the test results, university officials decided to keep the campus on its normal schedule of classes and activities. The new cases included one Manhattan man in his 50s with “very mild symptoms,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a radio interview on Friday morning.
President Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to confront the coronavirus outbreak and decided to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, reversing his decision hours earlier to skip touring the nerve center of the government’s response to the health crisis. That Manhattan man’s family was being tested for the virus and disease specialists were monitoring his associates, Mr. de Blasio said. Officials have not specified the association between the new patient and the man from Westchester, who lives in New Rochelle and works as a lawyer in Midtown Manhattan.
As late as 9 p.m. Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence publicly indicated that the trip was still on, telling reporters traveling with him to Washington State that the president would formally approve the spending measure while in Atlanta. “President Trump is expected to sign the legislation tomorrow as he visits the C.D.C. in Atlanta,” Mr. Pence said. With the new test results, New York State has 33 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the vast majority of them linked to the cluster in Westchester County. Five of those infected with the virus have been hospitalized, Mr. Cuomo said on Friday.
About 4,000 people in the state have been asked to isolate themselves as a precaution, Mr. Cuomo said. Forty-four people were placed under mandatory quarantine, including 33 people in Westchester County, nine in New York City, one in Nassau County on Long Island and one in Erie County upstate.
Mr. Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to confront the coronavirus outbreak and decided to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, reversing his decision hours earlier to skip touring the nerve center of the government’s response to the health crisis.
As late as 9 p.m. Thursday, Mr. Pence publicly indicated that the trip was still on, telling reporters traveling with him to Washington State that the president would formally approve the spending measure while in Atlanta. “President Trump is expected to sign the legislation tomorrow as he visits the C.D.C. in Atlanta,” Mr. Pence said.
But by 11:30 p.m., when the White House issued the president’s public schedule, the visit was no longer on the calendar. A White House official initially said the president had canceled the visit because he did not want to interfere with the work there. But then Mr. Trump told reporters it was called off because of a suspected case of coronavirus at the C.D.C. itself.But by 11:30 p.m., when the White House issued the president’s public schedule, the visit was no longer on the calendar. A White House official initially said the president had canceled the visit because he did not want to interfere with the work there. But then Mr. Trump told reporters it was called off because of a suspected case of coronavirus at the C.D.C. itself.
As he signed the spending bill at the White House on Friday, Mr. Trump said the report of an infection at C.D.C. turned out to be negative. “So I may be going,” he told reporters. “We’re going to see if they can turn it around.”As he signed the spending bill at the White House on Friday, Mr. Trump said the report of an infection at C.D.C. turned out to be negative. “So I may be going,” he told reporters. “We’re going to see if they can turn it around.”
En route to Nashville on Friday to visit the site of a deadly tornado, the White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, told reporters that the C.D.C. visit was back on.En route to Nashville on Friday to visit the site of a deadly tornado, the White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, told reporters that the C.D.C. visit was back on.
“What the president said is true,” Ms. Grisham said when asked about the last-minute reversal. She added that test results from the woman at the C.D.C. who was suspected to have the coronavirus came back negative.“What the president said is true,” Ms. Grisham said when asked about the last-minute reversal. She added that test results from the woman at the C.D.C. who was suspected to have the coronavirus came back negative.
The president is to travel to Atlanta after his visit in Nashville and then head to Florida, where he is to headline campaign fund-raising events. He is expected to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate.The president is to travel to Atlanta after his visit in Nashville and then head to Florida, where he is to headline campaign fund-raising events. He is expected to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, reported on Friday that there were no new infections outside its capital, Wuhan. The news is a major milestone in the government’s all-out campaign to combat an epidemic that has gripped the country since January.Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, reported on Friday that there were no new infections outside its capital, Wuhan. The news is a major milestone in the government’s all-out campaign to combat an epidemic that has gripped the country since January.
In a daily update on its website, China’s National Health Commission reported 126 new infections in Hubei on Friday, but for the first time all of them were in Wuhan, the city of 11 million where the virus is thought to have originated. In total, the country reported 143 new cases on Friday, a sign that Wuhan appears to be the only obvious hot spot of new infections in China.In a daily update on its website, China’s National Health Commission reported 126 new infections in Hubei on Friday, but for the first time all of them were in Wuhan, the city of 11 million where the virus is thought to have originated. In total, the country reported 143 new cases on Friday, a sign that Wuhan appears to be the only obvious hot spot of new infections in China.
The downward trend is a result of an all-out effort by the Chinese government to contain the spread of the disease. Since January, the government has enacted nationwide quarantine and travel restrictions and placed Hubei under a strict lockdown, effectively penning in 56 million people.The downward trend is a result of an all-out effort by the Chinese government to contain the spread of the disease. Since January, the government has enacted nationwide quarantine and travel restrictions and placed Hubei under a strict lockdown, effectively penning in 56 million people.
The new numbers reflect a steep decline from just a few weeks earlier. At one point in early February, Hubei reported more than 1,400 new cases outside Wuhan in one day. One of the government-appointed Chinese researchers working to control the outbreak told the state-run newspaper People’s Daily on Thursday that, based on the data, he expected Wuhan to hit zero new infections later this month.The new numbers reflect a steep decline from just a few weeks earlier. At one point in early February, Hubei reported more than 1,400 new cases outside Wuhan in one day. One of the government-appointed Chinese researchers working to control the outbreak told the state-run newspaper People’s Daily on Thursday that, based on the data, he expected Wuhan to hit zero new infections later this month.
Stocks plunged on Friday, and investors rushed to the safety of government bonds, as Wall Street was gripped by another wave of panic over the coronavirus.Stocks plunged on Friday, and investors rushed to the safety of government bonds, as Wall Street was gripped by another wave of panic over the coronavirus.
The most dramatic move in financial markets on Friday was a sharp drop in yields on government bonds. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note sank to 0.7 percent for the first time. Yields move inversely to bond prices, and their slide has come as investors have fled risky investments and put their money into low-interest but safe Treasury bonds.The most dramatic move in financial markets on Friday was a sharp drop in yields on government bonds. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note sank to 0.7 percent for the first time. Yields move inversely to bond prices, and their slide has come as investors have fled risky investments and put their money into low-interest but safe Treasury bonds.
A strong report on the American job market on Friday did not change the direction of the markets. The U.S. government said that employers added 273,000 jobs in February, but the data was a snapshot of a point in time when the prevailing sentiment was that the United States would remain relatively unaffected by the coronavirus.A strong report on the American job market on Friday did not change the direction of the markets. The U.S. government said that employers added 273,000 jobs in February, but the data was a snapshot of a point in time when the prevailing sentiment was that the United States would remain relatively unaffected by the coronavirus.
Oil prices also sank on Friday as major producers gathered for a critical meeting to try to agree on production cuts to try to manage the falling demand for crude as concerns about coronavirus spread across the globe.Oil prices also sank on Friday as major producers gathered for a critical meeting to try to agree on production cuts to try to manage the falling demand for crude as concerns about coronavirus spread across the globe.
Russia, if official figures are to be believed, has waged one of the world’s most successful campaigns to halt the spread of the coronavirus, reporting just 10 cases across a vast country with 11 time zones and a border with China more than 2,600 miles long.Russia, if official figures are to be believed, has waged one of the world’s most successful campaigns to halt the spread of the coronavirus, reporting just 10 cases across a vast country with 11 time zones and a border with China more than 2,600 miles long.
So it came as a surprise this week when the city authorities in Moscow suddenly announced a raft of sweeping precautionary measures.So it came as a surprise this week when the city authorities in Moscow suddenly announced a raft of sweeping precautionary measures.
In a decree published late Wednesday, the capital’s mayor, Sergei S. Sobyanin, ordered all residents who visit China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, or other unspecified “states with an unfavorable coronavirus situation” to report to the municipal government upon their return to the capital and to “self-isolate” for two weeks. The United States has now been added to the list, too.In a decree published late Wednesday, the capital’s mayor, Sergei S. Sobyanin, ordered all residents who visit China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, or other unspecified “states with an unfavorable coronavirus situation” to report to the municipal government upon their return to the capital and to “self-isolate” for two weeks. The United States has now been added to the list, too.
Mr. Sobyanin’s decree, which declared a “regime of heightened readiness” for the capital, created uncertainty and dismay rather than reassurance, raising questions about why a city with just five officially reported cases had suddenly instituted such stringent controls.Mr. Sobyanin’s decree, which declared a “regime of heightened readiness” for the capital, created uncertainty and dismay rather than reassurance, raising questions about why a city with just five officially reported cases had suddenly instituted such stringent controls.
Russia last month sealed its border with China and then barred all Chinese citizens from visiting, hammering a tourism industry heavily reliant on travelers from China. The flag carrier, Aeroflot, on Wednesday said it was canceling all flights to and from Hong Kong starting this weekend.Russia last month sealed its border with China and then barred all Chinese citizens from visiting, hammering a tourism industry heavily reliant on travelers from China. The flag carrier, Aeroflot, on Wednesday said it was canceling all flights to and from Hong Kong starting this weekend.
The jitters have grown so severe, despite the tiny number of officially confirmed cases, that a newsreader on state television suggested late Wednesday that it might be necessary to introduce martial law if the virus were to spread unchecked in Russia.The jitters have grown so severe, despite the tiny number of officially confirmed cases, that a newsreader on state television suggested late Wednesday that it might be necessary to introduce martial law if the virus were to spread unchecked in Russia.
The moves in Moscow follow an alarm this week in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-biggest city, after an Italian exchange student who returned to Russia on Feb. 29 tested positive for the virus. Fellow students in the Italian’s dormitory at the North-Western State Medical University said that they had been ordered not to leave the building.The moves in Moscow follow an alarm this week in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-biggest city, after an Italian exchange student who returned to Russia on Feb. 29 tested positive for the virus. Fellow students in the Italian’s dormitory at the North-Western State Medical University said that they had been ordered not to leave the building.
Officials denied that the dormitory, which houses around 700 students, had been placed under quarantine, saying that its residents were simply under “medical supervision.”Officials denied that the dormitory, which houses around 700 students, had been placed under quarantine, saying that its residents were simply under “medical supervision.”
Another casualty of Russia’s pre-emptive actions has been the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual event that is usually presided over by President Vladimir V. Putin. This year’s forum in June has been canceled.Another casualty of Russia’s pre-emptive actions has been the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual event that is usually presided over by President Vladimir V. Putin. This year’s forum in June has been canceled.
A rabbi at a synagogue linked to a Westchester County man who had tested positive for the coronavirus, announced that he had also tested positive for the virus, as New York City officials announced a new confirmed case in Manhattan on Friday morning. At least 45 people on the cruise ship idling off San Francisco who were showing symptoms of the coronavirus could learn the results of their diagnostic tests on Friday.
The new case in Manhattan, a man in his 50s, is also linked to the Westchester cluster, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday morning on WNYC-FM. “We are testing his family” and disease specialists were monitoring that man’s family and associates, the mayor said. He added that the man “has very mild symptoms.” The panic on the ship, the Grand Princess, began after a 71-year-old man who had traveled on a previous leg of the cruise, a round trip from San Francisco to Mexico, died after leaving the ship. It was the first death from the coronavirus in California. Another passenger from that leg of the trip also tested positive for the virus.
Mr. de Blasio did not specify the association between the new patient and the man from Westchester, who lives in New Rochelle and works as a lawyer in Midtown. There are 3,533 people currently onboard Grand Princess, including 1,111 crew members. Passengers onboard said they had been confined to their rooms while crew members have canceled large gatherings and were cleaning surfaces more often, among other precautionary measures.
Public health officials had ordered the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue to halt services and many of its congregants to isolate after learning that a lawyer who lives in New Rochelle and who tested positive — the state’s second confirmed case — had attended services there last month. As the coronavirus, which broke out in China last year, has spread across the globe, the West Coast has taken the brunt of the caseload in the United States.
It is not clear if the rabbi was part of the count of confirmed cases officials had announced on Thursday. In Washington State, 13 people have died from the virus, most from a Seattle-area nursing home. Also in the Seattle area, two Microsoft employees were being treated for the coronavirus, the first from the company to get the diagnosis, a company spokesman said overnight Thursday. And in California, 56 people have been treated for the coronavirus, the most of any state.
At least two New Yorkers — a health care worker who tested positive after visiting Iran, and her husband, who tested negative — are under mandatory quarantine in their Manhattan home. In Southern California, three students at the University of California, Los Angeles are being tested for the virus by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the school’s chancellor said on Thursday night. The students were self-isolating off campus. While the public health department has expedited the test results, university officials decided to keep the campus on its normal schedule of classes and activities.
Two other New York City patients, a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s, were hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus, officials said on Thursday. More than 2,770 New Yorkers are currently in home isolation, according to the city’s Department of Health.
The rabbi was in self-quarantine before testing positive for the virus, he said in his email to the congregation.
“I have the virus and am doing reasonably well,” he wrote. “But I must caution all of you who have had personal contact with me to seek counsel from your health practitioner as to how to proceed.”
Following news that a French lawmaker had been placed in intensive care after testing positive for the coronavirus, President Emmanuel Macron of France urged citizens to avoid visiting retirement homes and the elderly “as much as possible.”Following news that a French lawmaker had been placed in intensive care after testing positive for the coronavirus, President Emmanuel Macron of France urged citizens to avoid visiting retirement homes and the elderly “as much as possible.”
“Our absolute priority is to protect people who are most vulnerable to the virus,” Mr. Macron said on Friday said after visiting a retirement home in Paris, noting that seniors and people who have other illness were most at risk.“Our absolute priority is to protect people who are most vulnerable to the virus,” Mr. Macron said on Friday said after visiting a retirement home in Paris, noting that seniors and people who have other illness were most at risk.
Mr. Macron said that his government was ready to “confront this epidemic over time.”Mr. Macron said that his government was ready to “confront this epidemic over time.”
“The measures that we take have to be rigorous and reasonable, and we have to be able to stay the distance together,” Mr. Macron said, as the number of infected patients in France increased to 577, with nine deaths.“The measures that we take have to be rigorous and reasonable, and we have to be able to stay the distance together,” Mr. Macron said, as the number of infected patients in France increased to 577, with nine deaths.
Speaking to staff members at the retirement home, Mr. Macron said that shutting down entire sections of the French economy or society was not feasible over a long period of time and that such actions would have unintended ripple effects. As an example, he said that closing all schools would prevent many health care workers from going to work.Speaking to staff members at the retirement home, Mr. Macron said that shutting down entire sections of the French economy or society was not feasible over a long period of time and that such actions would have unintended ripple effects. As an example, he said that closing all schools would prevent many health care workers from going to work.
“You have to be able to last,” Mr. Macron said. “If you take measures that are very restrictive, at some point, it isn’t tenable over time. If it isn’t tenable over time, you have to backtrack, and if you have to backtrack without any scientific justification, that’s when you create a panic.”“You have to be able to last,” Mr. Macron said. “If you take measures that are very restrictive, at some point, it isn’t tenable over time. If it isn’t tenable over time, you have to backtrack, and if you have to backtrack without any scientific justification, that’s when you create a panic.”
The lawmaker who fell ill, Jean-Luc Reitzer, represents Haut-Rhin, an area that has become a source of growing concern for the authorities. Laurent Touvet, the top official in Haut-Rhin, said at a news conference on Friday that the district had 81 confirmed cases — an eightfold increase in just 48 hours.The lawmaker who fell ill, Jean-Luc Reitzer, represents Haut-Rhin, an area that has become a source of growing concern for the authorities. Laurent Touvet, the top official in Haut-Rhin, said at a news conference on Friday that the district had 81 confirmed cases — an eightfold increase in just 48 hours.
The health authorities have traced many of those cases to an evangelical religious gathering that was held in the city of Mulhouse in February, and there are concerns that attendees might have spread the virus to other regions.The health authorities have traced many of those cases to an evangelical religious gathering that was held in the city of Mulhouse in February, and there are concerns that attendees might have spread the virus to other regions.
The Vatican suspended most medical services on Friday so that facilities could be sanitized after a patient tested positive for coronavirus — the first case in the city-state.The Vatican suspended most medical services on Friday so that facilities could be sanitized after a patient tested positive for coronavirus — the first case in the city-state.
A Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said in a statement that the Italian authorities had been informed and that “appropriate sanitary protocols” had been taken to track down those who had come into contact with the patient. The Vatican’s emergency room remained open, he said.A Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said in a statement that the Italian authorities had been informed and that “appropriate sanitary protocols” had been taken to track down those who had come into contact with the patient. The Vatican’s emergency room remained open, he said.
The patient tested positive on Thursday. Mr. Bruni did not specify whether the patient was a member of the clergy, a resident of Vatican City, an employee living outside or had some other link.The patient tested positive on Thursday. Mr. Bruni did not specify whether the patient was a member of the clergy, a resident of Vatican City, an employee living outside or had some other link.
As of Thursday evening, 3,858 people had tested positive for the virus in Italy, and 148 had died. Lazio, the region that includes Rome and Vatican City, had registered relatively few cases, with 44 so far.As of Thursday evening, 3,858 people had tested positive for the virus in Italy, and 148 had died. Lazio, the region that includes Rome and Vatican City, had registered relatively few cases, with 44 so far.
Pope Francis has had a cold for over a week, and on Thursday, Mr. Bruni said that the pontiff’s illness was “running its due course.”Pope Francis has had a cold for over a week, and on Thursday, Mr. Bruni said that the pontiff’s illness was “running its due course.”
He also told reporters that the Vatican was “studying measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” the disease caused by the new coronavirus, that could affect coming activities involving the pope.He also told reporters that the Vatican was “studying measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” the disease caused by the new coronavirus, that could affect coming activities involving the pope.
Churches in Rome were still open, but other activities, including catechism classes and retreats, have been suspended.Churches in Rome were still open, but other activities, including catechism classes and retreats, have been suspended.
Masses were being offered, but holy water fonts have been emptied, and worshipers have been discouraged from shaking hands during the moment in the Mass when they exchange a sign of peace.Masses were being offered, but holy water fonts have been emptied, and worshipers have been discouraged from shaking hands during the moment in the Mass when they exchange a sign of peace.
Egypt has detected 12 new cases of the coronavirus on a cruise ship on the Nile, all of them asymptomatic, the World Health Organization and the Egyptian Health Ministry said in a joint statement released on Friday.
All 12 are Egyptian crew workers on the ship, which operates between Luxor and Aswan on the Nile. The statement did not identify the ship nor say whether it is currently in service.
The 12 crew members will be placed in an isolation facility, and anyone who has been in contact with them will be placed in a 14-day quarantine, the ministry said.
Egypt previously said it had confirmed three coronavirus cases, although at least 16 foreign tourists tested positive after visiting the country, raising suspicions that the real number of infections inside Egypt is much higher.
Egypt says that it is taking all precautionary measures, including monitoring airports and other entry points. Some travelers at the Cairo airport have reported only cursory checks.
Reporting was contributed by Peter Baker, Andrew Higgins, Declan Walsh, Michael Gold, Alan Yuhas, Adeel Hassan, Aurelien Breeden, David Halbfinger, Mohammed Najib, Marc Santora, Benjamin Mueller, Russell Goldman, Amy Qin, Elaine Yu, Javier C. Hernández, Max Fisher, Ben Dooley, Mike Isaac, David Yaffe-Bellany and Karen Weise.Reporting was contributed by Peter Baker, Andrew Higgins, Declan Walsh, Michael Gold, Alan Yuhas, Adeel Hassan, Aurelien Breeden, David Halbfinger, Mohammed Najib, Marc Santora, Benjamin Mueller, Russell Goldman, Amy Qin, Elaine Yu, Javier C. Hernández, Max Fisher, Ben Dooley, Mike Isaac, David Yaffe-Bellany and Karen Weise.