Minister warns that being black is no protection as Kenya records first coronavirus case
Kenya has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, prompting its health secretary to warn that being black is no protection against COVID-19.
Secretary of Health Mutahi Kagwe rejected rumors that “those with black skin cannot get coronavirus” at a news conference, adding that the patient was African.
The government said the patient was a 27-year-old woman who traveled from the United States through London on March 5. The case was identified on March 12 and the government said it had traced all those who had come into contact with her.
Kagwe told reporters the patient is “stable, her temperature has gone down to normal, she’s been eating -- but she can’t be released until the test comes back as negative.”
The government said in a statement that it was strengthening “measures to ensure no further transmission of the disease" in Kenya.
Kenya’s Secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala, said the country’s economy would be “hit badly,” and that the tourism sector would be the most affected.
Balala said the government has allocated 500 million Kenyan shillings ($4.8 million) for “PR and marketing post-coronavirus.”
Kazakhstan confirms first two coronavirus cases
Kazakhstan has confirmed the country's first two cases of the novel coronavirus as two citizens who had been in Germany.
"Unfortunately, we should inform that two nationals of Kazakhstan have tested positive for the coronavirus. They both arrived from Germany," said Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov on Friday, according to state news agency Kazinform.
Birtanov added: "Both of them were hospitalized. Neither of them has clinical symptoms, they feel well."
Earlier on Friday, Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee announced it had suspended international flights to countries including the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the UK.
Iran rejects Trump’s offer of coronavirus help as "hypocritical" and "repulsive"
Iran has rejected an apparent offer by US President Donald Trump to help the nation in the fight against coronavirus, calling it “hypocritical” and “repulsive” and accusing the US of “economic and medical terrorism.”
“Instead of hypocritical displays of compassion and repulsive bragging, you should end your economic and medical terrorism so that medicine and medical supplies can reach medical staff and the Iranian people,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Friday, according to state-run Press TV.
“We do not need American doctors,” Mousavi said on Friday, adding that Iran has “the best, bravest and most component medical staff in the world.”
During a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister at the White House on Thursday, Trump said the US was offering “assistance” to Iran.
“We have the greatest doctors in the world, we offer Iran assistance,” Trump said.
There are 10,075 confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran and 429 deaths, according to the latest Health Ministry numbers.
English Premier League side Everton self-isolating after player reported symptoms
English Premier League side Everton confirmed on Friday that their entire first-team squad has been placed into self-isolation following medical advice after a first-team player reported symptoms consistent with coronavirus.
The football club said it was in regular contact with the player in question and is monitoring the wellbeing of all players and staff and had closed down all of its workplaces, including its Goodison Park stadium and USM Finch Farm training ground.
Everton joins Premier League sides Arsenal, Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester City in having players tested or in quarantine.
Premier League side Watford confirmed on Friday that one player is awaiting test results on his symptoms.
“We've had players who have had symptoms of not being well," manager Nigel Pearson said at a news conference. "We've got one player awaiting tests results on his symptoms. We are trying to be proactive and hopefully the Premier League will make a strong decision based on what is good for everybody.”
With the exception of Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Arsenal, which has already been postponed, all games in the English Premier League this weekend are currently due to go ahead as planned.
London tube driver tests positive for coronavirus
A London Underground driver has tested positive for coronavirus, Transport for London has confirmed.
A TfL spokesperson said: “A train driver on the Jubilee line has tested positive for COVID-19. They are receiving support from health services and are self-isolating.
"Their duties mean they were not working in a customer facing area. The safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and we are taking all necessary precautions.
"The areas where the driver worked are being cleaned, including the depot and the trains, in line with guidance from Public Health England with whom we are working closely.”
This is the second confirmed case among TFL workers, after an office worker tested positive on Monday.
At least 1,666 coronavirus cases and 41 deaths confirmed in US
There are now at least 1,666 novel coronavirus cases in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are 70 cases of repatriated citizens who have the coronavirus, according to the CDC.
CNN Health’s tally of US cases that have been detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems shows there are 1,596 cases in 47 states and the District of Columbia, bringing the total number of cases to 1,666.
In total, 41 people have died.
This includes presumptive positive cases that tested positive in a public health lab and are pending confirmation from the CDC, and cases confirmed by the CDC.
Singapore restricts entry to cruise vessels
Singapore will cease port calls for all cruise vessels, effective immediately, according to the country's Maritime and Port Authority.
In a news release today, the Maritime and Port Authority said that the new measure barring cruise ships was implemented to minimize the risk of community spread of the coronavirus.
Singapore has 187 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
The measure comes after several cruise ships, most famously the Diamond Princess, were docked under quarantine with infected cases found on board.
Just this week, the Grand Princess cruise ship docked off the California coast had cases confirmed aboard and all passengers were sent to government quarantine centers.
Missed CNN’s latest coronavirus town hall? Here are 5 important questions that were addressed
1. Will the outbreak end during the summer?
Dr. Leana Wen, the former Baltimore Health Commissioner, echoed what many experts have said at the town hall: we just don't know yet.
2. If you had the coronavirus and recovered, can you still can still transmit the disease?
Just because someone who had the coronavirus is feeling better does not mean they can't spread the disease, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious disease doctor and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"You can become infected, get symptomatic, resolve the symptoms, feel well, and still share the virus. You can go back to your normal life when you have two consecutive tests for the coronavirus that are negative, separated by 24 hours. That is an excellent question. Just because you feel better or feel well does not mean you are not sharing the virus," Fauci said.
3. If you get the coronavirus once, can you contract it again?
The answer to that is not yet clear, according to Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious diseases epidemiologist with the World Health Organization.
"Studies are ongoing now. Across a number of countries. We'll have to get back to you on that," she said.
4. Should you travel?
Fauci said he "certainly wouldn't get on a plane for a pleasure trip. It would have to be something that was really urgent."
"I'm a pretty healthy guy for 79," Fauci said. "If it (the trip) had to do with the public health and I needed to do something for the public health, I might do that because I'm quite healthy. However, if it was just for fun -- no way I would do it."
And here's the CDC's latest coronavirus advice for travelers
5. What does the Trump administration's latest travel ban mean for me?
The restrictions will ban travel to the US from 26 European countries -- a group in Europe called the Schengen Area -- Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The ban will be in effect for anyone who is transiting through the listed countries, not just arriving from them, according to CNN correspondent Richard Quest -- meaning, for instance, someone in Paris could not travel to London and then go to the US.
The ban does not apply to US citizens in Europe. They are allowed to return, but the procedure is not exactly clear. They will need to go to designated airports to fly back. It's unclear whether they will have to immediately self-isolate once they arrive, or whether that may only apply to symptomatic people.
First women’s golf major of the year postponed due to coronavirus
The next three tournaments on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LGPA) Tour -- including the first women’s golf major of the year -- have been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The LPGA is the American organization for female professional golfers.
The Founders Cup in Arizona, the Kia Classic and the ANA Inspiration in California – which were due to take place in March and early April – have been suspended. The LPGA says it hopes they can be rescheduled for later in the season.
“This is a difficult situation and as we navigate these uncertain times, we appreciate the support of all those involved with the LPGA. I am fully committed to rescheduling these important events on our 2020 schedule, especially our first major, the ANA Inspiration,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.
Men's tournaments have also been postponed: The men’s PGA Players Championship in Florida was canceled after one round, with organizers saying it was “the right thing to do” during the coronavirus outbreak.
The event is not a major championship but is often referenced as “The Fifth Major” given its status in the golfing calendar.
The PGA Tour has also stopped all play until the Valero Texas Open, which is scheduled to begin on April 2.
The Masters – the first men’s major of 2020 – is due to start a week later at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Formula E temporarily suspends its season after Formula One cancels opener
Organizers of the all-electric Formula E racing series confirmed on Friday that they will be temporarily suspending the 2020 championship because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Races in Sanya, China and Rome had already been postponed, while Indonesian capital Jakarta delayed a race scheduled for June 6 over concerns about the virus.
“This decision has not been taken lightly, but we feel it is an essential one to protect the health and well-being of staff, teams, partners and suppliers - as well as their families - who travel together with Formula E," said a Formula E statement.
"As an international events-based series that races in the heart of city-centres, we also have a moral and social responsibility to protect the people and citizens in the locations we race and we do not want to exacerbate the already concerning situation.”
Formula E said it would remain under “red flag” conditions in March and April, meaning that the Paris race on April 18 would also be postponed. Then, it would move to a "yellow flag" in May, meaning the Seoul race on May 3 would also have to be postponed while keeping the option open to rearrange races later that month.
It said it hoped to host races in June and July and potentially add additional rounds depending on the situation.
Formula One cancelation: The Formula E announcement comes after Formula One's season was thrown into turmoil earlier today, with the cancelation of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The race was canceled after a McLaren team member tested positive in Melbourne.
US testing logjam symbolizes the administration's struggle to handle the coronavirus pandemic
As America effectively shuts down, failures over coronavirus testing kits and President Donald Trump's disastrous bid to calm the markets are coming to symbolize a federal government that increasingly seems outmatched by the global pandemic.
Shuttered sports leagues, darkened Broadway theaters, mass school closures, packed grocery stores, shrinking 401(k)s amid a stock market meltdown, and emptying cities hint at social disruption perhaps not seen since World War II.
How bad is the outbreak?
The administration's public health experts have no idea how bad the US coronavirus outbreak will get, since bottlenecks in lab testing and faults with diagnosis kits mean they can't know how many infections there really are.
"We are flying blind," warned Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, one of many lawmakers of both parties who emerged furious from a Capitol Hill briefing Thursday with government officials about the situation.
A source inside the meeting told CNN that lawmakers were told that only 11,000 tests had been conducted, prompting many to ask why South Korea can manage to test 10,000 in a single day.
Contradictions on testing
The administration has been boasting for several weeks that it is sending millions of testing kits to states and local authorities. But those officials say long waits for kits and issues with the reagent used in diagnosis mean they are able to test only the most high-risk patients. They are left in the dark about the true extent of the coronavirus' spread through the community.
But after his European travel ban announced in an Oval Office address on Wednesday night and mix-ups in his speech over how much virus treatment will cost, Trump stuck to happy talk and falsehoods.
"Frankly, the testing has been going very smooth. If you go to the right agency, if you go to the right area, you get the test," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
The President's comments contradicted his own government's head of infectious disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who admitted on Thursday that protocols under which doctors request tests for patients were not working.
"The system does not, is not really geared to what we need right now," Fauci said. "It is a failing. Let's admit it."
Read the full analysis here.
Empty stadiums expected for major Australia sports leagues
Several sporting events in Australia will proceed behind closed doors, with other public events being canceled as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement released on Friday, the National Rugby League said that the first round of the Premiership "will proceed but the second round will be played behind closed doors," in accordance with the advice from Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier today to cancel public gatherings of more than 500 people.
The Australian Football League released a similar statement today, announcing that from March 14 onwards, "matches will only host players, coaches essential club officials, umpires, AFL officials, broadcast teams, media and required venue staff with no supports permitted to attend."
The Sydney Royal Easter Show, a large annual agricultural show that boasts an amusement park, was also canceled on Friday due to "increased public concern" and "to protect the health of stakeholders and visitors."
The last time the Royal Easter Show was canceled was in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic, according to the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.
Cases and deaths: As of today, there were 156 cases of the novel coronavirus in Australia, according to the Department of Health -- more than double the number from last week. The death toll remains at three.
Just tuning in? Here's what you may have missed
Latest numbers: There are now more than 132,500 cases of the coronavirus and nearly 5,000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Over 68,000 patients have recovered globally, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
European markets opened higher: European shares have opened higher today after yesterday's huge losses. The main markets in Europe were all up, with the FTSE 100 up more than 6%, the French CAC 40 up 4% and the German Dax gained more than 3%.
Infection rate in hard-hit Asian continues to slow: Mainland China reported only eight new infections Thursday, with five in Wuhan, ground zero for the pandemic. China has reported 80,813 cases and 3,176 deaths since the outbreak began last December. More than 64,000 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
South Korea, which is home to the second-biggest outbreak in East Asia, only reported 110 new cases on Wednesday -- the lowest daily increase since February 22.
Meanwhile, India reported a first coronavirus-related death today, and Hong Kong recorded its fourth.
Australia takes big steps: Australian Minister Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced today the government now advises against mass gatherings of more than 500 people. Several sporting events in the country will go ahead behind closed doors.
Australia has identified more than 150 coronavirus cases, including Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and celebrity couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.
Coronavirus fallout continues in US: Daily life in the United States has been turned upside down as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
The effects now go beyond Wall Street and travel. Schools are shutting and businesses are asking employees to work from home. Mass gatherings are being called off. Sports leagues have suspended operations. Stores in some parts of the country are running low on certain goods. The novel coronavirus is, essentially, putting America on hold.
As of the end of the day Thursday, there were 1,665 cases in the US. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have all reported infections. Forty-one people have died.
Canada's first lady tests positive: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement from Trudeau’s office. She is feeling well, only has mild symptoms, and will remain in isolation, the statement said.
There are now more than 132,000 coronavirus cases worldwide
There are now 132,567 cases of the coronavirus worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
The global death toll is nearing 5,000, standing at 4,947 fatalities.
The majority of cases are still in China, which has reported 80,981 infections, according to the WHO. Italy is next with more than 15,000 cases, and Iran third with more than 10,000 cases.
At least 64,000 patients have recovered from the virus and been discharged from hospital, according to China's National Health Commission. Johns Hopkins University estimates the global number of recovered cases is more than 68,000.
European markets open higher after this week's global panic
European shares have opened higher today after yesterday's huge losses. The main markets in Europe were all up, with the FTSE 100 up more than 6%, the French CAC 40 up 4% and the German Dax gained more than 3%.
In Italy, the FTSEMIB opened 2% higher after falling nearly 17% on Thursday. Regulators in Italy have banned short selling on stocks amid the market turmoil.
Some context: The latest rout began after President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 30-day ban on travel from most of Europe, which further fanned fears about economic disruptions, particularly for the travel industry.
The broader markets were hammered by coronavirus fears, even as policymakers tried to cushion the blow from the crisis. The S&P 500 entered a bear market on yesterday during its worst performance since "Black Monday" on October 19, 1987. All three major Wall Street indexes are now in a bear market, and European stocks suffered their worst day on record.
Five US states are closing all schools over coronavirus fears
Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan and New Mexico have become the first US states to shut all K-12 schools over coronavirus concerns.
Washington may be next; Gov. Jay Inslee told school districts across the state to prepare to close, while some large school districts have already shut.
In Maryland, all schools will close for two weeks, from March 16-27.
In Ohio, all schools -- including public, private, and, charter -- will close from March 16 through at least April 3, a closure that impacts 1.66 million students.
In Kentucky, all public and private schools are suspending in-person classes starting March 16, for at least two weeks. If approved by the state's education department, school districts may use “non-traditional instruction” instead, like remote learning.
In New Mexico, all public elementary and secondary schools will close starting March 16, for three weeks.
In Michigan, all K-12 schools will be closed from March 16 through April 6.
It's not just states -- many cities have also decided to close entire school districts, including San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, and New Rochelle in New York state.
Will warmer weather help fight the coronavirus? Singapore and Australia suggest maybe not
As the coronavirus began spreading around the world this year, one common refrain from skeptics was that it was just like the flu -- dangerous to sensitive groups but routine and not something to get into lockdown over.
We now know that assessment is wrong. At its lowest estimated fatality rate based on current data, Covid-19 is thought to kill some 1-2% of known patients, compared to around 0.1% for winter influenza, and it appears to be about as infectious as the flu, if not more so.
There is one area in which experts hope the virus will still behave like influenza, however, by tapering off in spring.
Warm weather slows the flu: Influenza thrives in cold and dry conditions, and behavioral differences in winter can also have an effect.
Nelson Michael, a leading US military medical researcher, predicted the coronavirus may behave like the flu and give us "less trouble as the weather warms up," but, he cautioned, it could come back when the weather gets cold again.
But warm countries around the world still have outbreaks. More than 100 cases have been confirmed in Singapore, where it's hot and muggy pretty much year round. Australia, Brazil and Argentina, all currently in the middle of summer, have also reported dozens of cases. And some of the worst hit areas around the world -- from Wuhan, where the virus was first detected, to Iran, Italy and South Korea -- are on more or less the same latitude, with similar temperatures and relative humidity
A variety of other factors also affect how this pandemic will play out, making influenza an inexact comparison -- for instance, the infectiousness of the virus and behaviors to reduce its spread.
"We are not dealing with a virus like influenza that behaves predictably every year," said Debra Chew, an assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers.New Jersey Medical School.
Read the full analysis here.
Shanghai reopens skyscraper viewing platforms as coronavirus outbreak stabilizes in China
As the coronavirus outbreak stabilizes in China, attractions and hotels are slowly getting back to business.
According to Ctrip, China’s leading travel site, about 25% of the China-based attractions on its platform have begun receiving visitors again.
These attractions include the Top of Shanghai Observatory at Shanghai Tower -- the tallest building in China -- and the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower observation deck, both of which reopened doors to tourists on Thursday.
Visitors to both towers are required to wear face masks and will have their temperatures taken at the door. They must also show their personal color-coded mobile QR code -- a system recently implemented by China to monitor citizens’ quarantine status -- before entering.
Diplomat at the UN tests positive for coronavirus
A staffer from the Philippine Mission to the United Nations who tested positive for coronavirus met two delegates from another mission at the UN on Monday.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed the meeting in a statement Thursday, saying that UN medical services officials are reaching out to the two delegates. The individual did not have contact with UN staff, he said.
"The delegate was last in UN headquarters on March 9 for about 30 minutes around mid-day and visited only one meeting room, which has gone through three cleaning cycles since then," the statement said.
"The delegate did not have contact with UN staff but met two delegates from another mission. UN Medical services is reaching out to them."
Acting Philippine Ambassador to the UN Kira Azucena said in a letter that the staffer was asymptomatic during the visit.
The next day, she had flu like symptoms and did not go to work, according to the letter. She saw her doctor, tested positive for the flu and was prescribed Tamiflu. She tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday, according to the letter.
The Philippine Mission is in lockdown, and all personnel are instructed to self-quarantine and to seek medical attention should they develop the symptoms.
"We are assuming that all of us have been infected," Azucena said.
The CIA has identified a suspected case in its workforce in Washington
An employee of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Washington metro area is suspected to have coronavirus and is showing symptoms, intelligence officials told CNN on Thursday.
The employee doesn't work at agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in the Washington suburbs, but does work in the area and the individual's condition is not a result of CIA-related travel.
People this person came into contact with were notified and deep cleaning took place where they work.
There's been no impact so far at CIA headquarters. A workforce email said all non-mission-critical domestic US travel is postponed until further notice; all ceremonies, internal events and conferences canceled or postponed until further notice but some waivers are possible; and all non-mission-critical visits to agency facilities in the Washington metro area are postponed through April 10.
"CIA's first priority is the safety of our officers, and we continue to enact measures consistent with CDC guidelines and our mission to protect the health and well-being of our global workforce," said CIA spokesperson Tim Barrett.
South Korea virus cases continue to slow
South Korea’s coronavirus cases continue to slow, with the country reporting 110 new infections on Wednesday -- the lowest daily increase since February 22.
The national total now stands at 7,979, according to the South Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The KCDC also confirmed one additional death, bringing the national death toll to 67.
The southern city of Daegu, which lies at the heart of the national outbreak, also saw its lowest daily increase since February 23. Some 61 of Wednesday's new cases came from Daegu.
Nearly 90% of all cases nationwide are from Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang province.
Signs of slowdown: The country's health minister told CNN earlier this week that he hopes the recent slowdown in cases meant they had "passed the peak" of the outbreak.
The country saw its cases skyrocket in February, with most cases linked to a religious group based in Daegu -- but the past month has also seen widespread, aggressive testing that experts credit for South Korea's success in early detection and containment.
Australia's home affairs minister has contracted the coronavirus
Australia's Minister for Home Affairs has confirmed that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
In a statement released today, minister Peter Dutton said that he woke up this morning "with a temperature and sore throat" and was "subsequently tested for COVID-19."
Dutton was advised by Queensland Health that his tests returned positive this afternoon.
Under the policy of Queensland Health, "anyone who tests positive is to be admitted into hospital and I have complied with their advice," Dutton said. He added that "I feel fine and will provide an update in due course."
China's coronavirus case numbers and death toll continue to fall
China continues to report a drop in daily cases and a lower death toll from the novel coronavirus, with the latest tallies for both categories in single digits.
Seven more people died in mainland China yesterday, according to the country's National Health Commission (NHC).
There were eight new confirmed cases, five of which were in Wuhan, the epicenter of the pandemic.
The drop in new daily cases is especially striking given that just a month or two ago, the country was reporting thousands of new cases per day.
Total cases: China has reported 80,813 cases and 3,176 deaths since the outbreak began last December.
Total recoveries: 64,111 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital, according to the NHC.
Metro Manila is suspending land, sea, and air transport in and out of the city for one month
All land, sea, and air transport will be suspended in the Metro Manila region from Sunday through April 14, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said in an address to the country yesterday.
Metro Manila, also known as the National Capital Region, is home to 12.8 million people across 16 cities.
Duterte said the Philippine National Police and military will work with a coronavirus task force to implement the restrictions, adding that these measures do not constitute martial law. He also called for neighborhoods to go into quarantine when cases are confirmed.
Duterte added that public transportation would remain operational but social distancing must be enforced, according to state-run Philippine New Agency.
The country has 52 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organziation, most of which were reported in the past week.
Duterte is being tested: The President is also undergoing testing, after some cabinet members were exposed to infected patients, according to a Facebook post by presidential aide Bong Go.
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