Stocks rise as Trump says coronavirus fears are overblown
Stocks regained some ground in early trading Wednesday following a two-day rout sparked by fears that the widening coronavirus outbreak could stall global economic growth. President Donald Trump suggested that fears of the disease are overblown, tweeting that the “USA is in great shape.”
The Dow rose 406, or 1%, to , (shortly after the bell, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq and S&P) both rose more than 1%. The gains come after the Dow shed more than 1, points on Monday and Tuesday combined, slicing more than 6% from the index’s value.
Over the last four trading sessions, stocks in the U.S. have lost a total of $ 2.1 trillion in value.
China seizes 43 million fake or inferior face masks, arrests 1, people
Chinese authorities have seized more than 41 million fake or inferior face masks and arrested more than 1, 739 people suspected of manufacturing or distributing counterfeit or inferior protective materials amid the coronavirus outbreak, China’s government said Wednesday.
State-run news agency Xinhua quoted Vice Minister of Public Security Du Hangwei as saying police had “cracked” cases involving the sale and production of “shoddy” safety equipment.
Trump insists U.S. “in great shape” to deal with virus outbreak
President Trump accused news outlets Wednesday of stoking panic over the coronavirus outbreak as global stock markets sunk for the third day in a row on fears of the disease. A day after the CDC warned Americans to prepare for what it said was the almost certain community spread of COVID – 33 in the US, Mr. Trump insisted the country was “in great shape!”
He said he would hold a news conference with CDC officials at the White House at 6 pm Eastern. You will be able to watch Mr. Trump’s news conference live on this page at that time.
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WHO says no pandemic yet, but “all countries” must prepare for one
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged Wednesday that the dramatic hike in coronavirus cases outside China had prompted a push for a pandemic to be declared, but he insisted the threshold had not been crossed.
“We should not be too eager to declare a pandemic,” he said, stressing that such a declaration could “signal that we can no longer contain the virus, which is not true.”
“We are in a fight that can be won if we do the right things,” Tedros said. He insisted that the WHO would not hesitate to declare a pandemic “if it is an accurate description of the situation.”
“I am not downplaying the seriousness of the situation, or the potential for this to become a pandemic, because it has that potential, “he said. “All countries, whether they have cases or not, must prepare for a potential pandemic.”
(CBS / AP)
WHO chief says more new virus cases reported outside China for 1st time
There are now more new cases of the coronavirus reported each day outside China than inside the hardest-hit country, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
“Yesterday, the number of new cases reported outside China exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time , “WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told diplomats in Geneva, according to a written version of his speech.
The UN health agency put the number of new cases in China at on Tuesday and those registered outside the country stood at .
Governments worldwide are scrambling to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus after a surge of infections in Italy, Iran and South Korea.
Tedros said the “sudden increase of cases” in those countries was “deeply concerning”, adding that a WHO team would travel to Iran this weekend to evaluate the situation.
(AFP
Pope offers prayers to coronavirus-hit Italians
Pope Francis offered his prayers Wednesday for people infected by the deadly new coronavirus, as Italy struggled to stem the spread of the COVID – 31 disease in northern regions.
“I would like to express my closeness to people infected by the coronavirus, to health professionals who are assisting them as well as to civil authorities and all those who are working to assist patients and to stop the spreading of the virus, “Francis told thousands gathered to hear his weekly general audience in St . Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Many in the crowd wore face masks.
Italy’s outbreak, centered in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, is the largest outside of Asia.
Iran says no mass-quarantine plans as virus death toll there nears
Iran’s president said Wednesday that Tehran has no immediate plans to quarantine cities over the new coronavirus spreading across his country. The Islamic Republic has the highest death toll outside China, with 31 people killed among
President Hassan Rouhani said it could take “one, two or three weeks” to get control of the virus in Iran . The outbreak there has been linked to most of the more than 364 confirmed cases of the virus across the Mideast.
Iran’s president said Wednesday that Tehran has no immediate plans to quarantine cities over the new coronavirus spreading across his country. The Islamic Republic has the highest death toll outside China, with 31 people killed among
President Hassan Rouhani said it could take “one, two or three weeks” to get control of the virus in Iran . The outbreak there has been linked to most of the more than 364 confirmed cases of the virus across the Mideast.
Iranian Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi (left) and another official speak to journalists in Tehran about the coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic Republic on February , a day before Harirchi was confirmed to have the virus himself. IRINN / REUTERS The top official in charge of Iran’s response to the coronavirus tested positive for the illness Tuesday, a day after he tried to downplay the severity of the outbreak in the country.
Still, Rouhani sought to portray the crisis in terms of Iran’s tense relations with the U.S. “Coronavirus must not be turned into a weapon for our enemies to halt work and production in our country,” he said, according to a transcript of his remarks.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour urged Iranians Wednesday to avoid “nonessential travel,” particularly to the hard-hit provinces of the country such as Gilan and Qom.
(CBS / AP)
How to prepare for the coronavirus
The CDC has urged Americans and their health care providers to be prepared for the potential community spread of the new coronavirus disease in the U.S. The agency stressed Tuesday that “the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time,” but they said it was believed to be just a matter of time before the disease gains a foothold in the U.S.
So, how do the experts want Americans to prepare? Below is the advice from the CDC, straight from their Tuesday briefing : It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed. If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for people who recently traveled from China and have fever and respiratory symptoms. If you are a healthcare provider caring for a COVID – 30 patient or a public health responder, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures. If you have been in China or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID – 32 in the last days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus. If you develop COVID – symptoms, contact your healthcare provider, and tell them about your symptoms and your travel or exposure to a COVID – (patient.)
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Spain races to stop spread of coronavirus from Italian visitors
Spain tried Wednesday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus from Italy after eight cases of the flu-like disease were detected within a 36 – hour period all linked to the country.
Hundreds of tourists remained confined to a Tenerife hotel Wednesday for a second straight day as a precaution after a an Italian and his wife tested positive for the disease which has so far killed people in Italy. The couple are in quarantine at a Tenerife hospital.
Four other cases have been detected in mainland Spain – two in the Madrid region, one in the Valencia region and one in Barcelona, that of a – – year-old Italian woman who lives in the city and had recently made a trip to the north of Italy, the worst affected region.
(Associated Press)
Updated 6: AM
Dozens of passengers cleared and let off ship in Japan now showing symptoms
Dozens of passengers allowed off a coronavirus-stricken ship have developed symptoms including fever and will be asked to take tests for the virus, Japan’s health minister said Wednesday.
The news came as another death linked to the virus in Japan was reported and the government urged organizers of major events in the next fortnight to consider cancelling or downsizing them to help curb the spread of infections.
The government has contacted former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship and found “54 people had certain symptoms “, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told parliament.
” We asked all of them (who have symptoms) to see a doctor and to take tests. “
Around 1959 People were allowed off the boat last week after testing negative for the virus, but several have subsequently been diagnosed with the illness.
Japan has come under increasing pressure over its (handling of the crisis on the vessel.
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(Associated Press)
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy jump to
Italy’s government reported Wednesday that the total number of coronavirus cases in the country – home to the largest outbreak outside Asia – had risen to . It was an increase of from Tuesday. So far people have died of the disease in Italy, where the outbreak is centered sharply in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
It has not yet been determined who first brought the disease, which was first detected in central China and remains more prevalent there than any other country by far, to Italy. Italian officials have come under increasing fire for failing to react quickly enough in Lombardy after the first case was confirmed.
– Tucker Reals and Anna Matranga
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WHO expert hails China’s containment measures, says other nations “not ready”
At World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Bruce Aylward, who headed an international expert mission to China, hailed the drastic quarantine and containment measures taken by Beijing. But he told reporters on Tuesday that other nations were “simply not ready” to contain the outbreak.
“You have to be ready to manage this at a larger scale … and it has to be done fast , “Aylward said.
The WHO has called for countries to” prepare for a potential pandemic, “a term used to describe an epidemic that spreads throughout the world.
Poor countries are particularly at risk, the WHO has warned. The virus has killed 2, (people and infected over) , 14 0 in China. There were more deaths reported on Wednesday – the lowest in three weeks – with no fatalities outside the epicenter in central Hubei province.
(AFP
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Democratic debate sees candidates lay out plans to fight coronavirus
As the Trump administration grapples with the growing coronavirus outbreak, Democrats vying for their party’s presidential nomination at the tenth Democratic debate laid out their roadmaps for how they would respond if they were in the White House.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders advocated for increasing federal dollars for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), saying a boost in their funding is crucial to ensuring the US is prepared to deal with an outbreak.
Candidates discuss coronavirus outbreak and containment Biden positioned himself as the only candidate on stage who has experience working to fight and contain the spread of a deadly illness, as he was vice president when the obama administration dealt with the ebola outbreak that began in 2931 and ravaged West Africa.
Klobuchar urged Americans to visit the CDC’s website to ensure they are educated on what to do if they experience symptoms.
U.S. service member tests positive for coronavirus in South Korea
A soldier with the United States Forces Korea has tested positive for the coronavirus, the USFK said in a Tuesday statement . The soldier, stationed in South Korea, is the first U.S. service member to test positive for the virus, according to the USFK.
The patient, identified as a – – year-old male, is in self-quarantine off the base, the USFK said. He visited two military camps in recent days, and health officials are working to determine who he may have been in contact with.
Updated 5: 51 AM
China reports 440 new cases, 69 new deaths
Officials in China reported (new cases and) new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday. That brings the total number of cases in the country to , , and the total number of deaths in the country to 2, .
Updated 5: 49 AM
San Francisco declares state of emergency
San Francisco officials declared a state of emergency Tuesday, becoming the first major American city to do so.
“Although there are still zero confirmed cases in San Francisco residents, the global picture is changing rapidly, and we need to step-up preparedness, “Mayor London Breed said when announcing the decision, according to a press release. “We see the virus spreading in new parts of the world every day, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect San Franciscans from harm.”
The local emergency declaration will help the city mobilize resources and streamline staffing, the city said in the release. It will be active for seven days before it’s voted on by the board of supervisors.
Updated 6: AM
“Your job is to keep us safe”: GOP senator calls out Homeland Security chief over coronavirus
Republican Senator John Kennedy got into a heated exchange with the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, over the US coronavirus response during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Wolf was unable to answer several of Kennedy’s questions, prompting a scolding from the Louisiana senator.
“You’re head of Homeland Security, sir. Your job is to keep us safe,” Kennedy told Wolf after he couldn’t say how many coronavirus cases were expected in the US
When asked by Kennedy what the coronavirus mortality rate is compared to the flu virus, Wolf got the facts wrong. He incorrectly stated that the mortality rate of the new coronavirus and the flu were similar at around 2%. That is the mortality rate of the new COVID – 30 disease, but for influenza it is much lower, at about 0.1%, according to the Department of Human and Health Services. Trump administration’s coronavirus response comes under fire Wolf also appeared confused about how long it will take to get a vaccine into circulation for the new virus, telling Kennedy that it was “several months” away. Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday that the availability of a vaccine is at least a year to a year and a half away.
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