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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for 3/12/2020

The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 127 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan)


As of March 13, 2020 at 00:30 GMT, there have been 1716 confirmed cases (up 415 cases from yesterday) and 41 deaths due to coronavirus COVID-19 in the United States.


Trump announces travel ban from most of Europe; NBA cancels season

President Trump announced a ban on travel from most of Europe to the United States for 30 days Wednesday night, marking one of the most sweeping measures yet from the federal government to contain the rapidly spreading virus.



Shortage of crucial chemicals creates new obstacle to U.S. coronavirus testing

The push to increase testing in the U.S. for the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has hit a new stumbling block: shortages of key chemicals needed to start up and run the tests.

In particular, one key product, made by the diagnostics testing giant Qiagen, is in dwindling supply. The chemical is used to isolate the virus’ genetic material, or RNA, so that it can be tested.



California calls for ban on large events as coronavirus spreads

California officials are calling for the cancellation of gatherings of 250 or more people across the entire state to slow the spread of coronavirus, which also prompted a new federal travel ban and the suspension if the NBA season.

The new policy from California Department of Public Health, which will be in effect at least through March, marks the first time the state has issued a request for all residents across California to adopt so-called “social distancing” measures and represents a new sense of urgency in the administration’s approach to fighting the virus in a state with 177 confirmed cases.

Newsom said California public health officials late Wednesday issued an updated policy saying “non-essential" gatherings such as sporting events, concerts and conferences should be postponed or canceled until at least the end of March.

Smaller events can proceed only if organizers can keep people at least six feet apart to avoid transmission of the virus. The policy does not apply to school classes. Gatherings that include those at higher risk for severe illness should be limited to no more than 10 people no closer than six feet apart.



Coronavirus: California nurses slam hospitals, CDC for not doing enough to protect them

Nurses across California are publicly raising concerns about how hospitals are handling coronavirus patients and criticizing the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for loosening its recommendations on what type of face masks can be used to prevent infections.


Tests indicate coronavirus can survive in the air

Federally funded tests conducted by scientists from several major institutions indicated that the novel form of coronavirus behind a worldwide outbreak can survive in the air for several hours.

A study awaiting peer review from scientists at Princeton University, the University of California-Los Angeles and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) posted online Wednesday indicated that the COVID-19 virus could remain viable in the air "up to 3 hours post aerosolization," while remaining alive on plastic and other surfaces for up to three days.

"Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of HCoV-19 is plausible, as the virus can remain viable in aerosols for multiple hours and on surfaces up to days," reads the study's abstract.

The test results suggest that humans could be infected by the disease simply carried through the air or on a solid surface, even if direct contact with an infected person does not occur. That finding, if accepted, would come in stark contrast to previous media reports that suggested the virus was not easily transmittable outside of direct human contact.









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