Coronavirus live updates: Trump to send off hospital ship; US infections pass 100,000; All Disney parks stay closed – USA TODAY, USA Today

President Donald Trump travels. to Norfolk, Va. on Saturday to give a send-off for a naval hospital ship bound for New York City and a new coronavirus test was approved that could be a “game changer.”

Trump said Saturday he is considering imposing a two-week quarantine on New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut to deal with the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

“We’d like to see New York quarantined because it’s a hot spot,” Trump told reporters from the White House South Lawn as he departed for Norfolk. “I’m thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but there’s a possibility that sometime today we’ll do a quarantine.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had no idea what Trump was talking about: “I don’t even know what means. I don’t know how that could be legally enforceable.”

) A five-minute, point-of-care coronavirus test could be coming to urgent care clinics next week, and experts say it could be “game-changing.”

The US counted more than 179, 06 cases of coronavirus early Saturday, with at least 1, 700 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard. More confirmations are expected as the U.S. ramps up testing.

More than 600, People are known to have been infected globally, and roughly 50, have died.

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Trump to give send-off to naval hospital ship bound for NYC

President Donald Trump travels to Norfolk, Virginia, to give a ceremonial send-off to a naval hospital ship departing for New York City to help with the response to the rapid spread of the virus.

The USNS Comfort is equipped with 1, (hospital beds and will carry more than 1, medical personnel and supplies to New York, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US

The doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, x-ray technicians, orderlies and other medical staff aboard the vessel will support New York City’s medical community and conserve hospital capacity by treating some virus patients aboard the ship, the White House said.

The ship was not scheduled to leave for New York Harbor for another three weeks, but officials pushe d up its departure date because of the rapid spread of the virus.

The USNS Mercy, another naval hospital ship, arrived Friday in Los Angeles to help in the city’s response to the global pandemic.

– Michael Collins

Trump signs historic relief package into law

A bipartisan $ 2 trillion aid package was approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, as the nation wrestles with unemployment and health threats from the coronavirus.

The stimulus provides $ 1, 273 to most Americans along with funds for small businesses and unemployment insurance.

“I want to thank Democrats and Republicans for coming together and putting America first,” Trump said at the signing.

While the president’s signature ended the legislative effort on Capitol Hill, it marked a beginning to the govern ment’s work managing the crisis. Now the Trump administration must rapidly pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy in the form of direct payments, loans and grants to hard-hit industries such as the airlines.

– Christal Hayes

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New coronavirus test could be a ‘game changer’

A five-minute, point-of-care coronavirus test could be coming to hospitals next week.

The US Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorization to Abbott Labs on Friday for a coronavirus test that delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in minutes, the company said.

The company expects the tests to be available next week and expects to ramp up manufacturing to deliver 64, (tests per day.)

“I am pleased that the FDA authorized Abbott’s point of care test yesterday. This is big news and will help get more of these tests out in the field rapidly,” said FDA Commissioner Steve Hahn in a statement. “We know how important it is to get point of care tests out in the field quickly. These tests that can give results quickly can be a game changer in diagnosing COVID – .

– Grace Hauck

Could MLB season go to Thanksgiving?

No one knows when the Major League Baseball season will start this year, or if it is played at all.

If there is a season, there’s no telling whether games will be played in front of fans, in empty stadiums or at neutral sites.

There could be more scheduled doubleheaders than ever before, prolonged stretches with no days off, and for the first time since World War II, no All-Star Game.

No one has the answers yet, but players union chief Tony Clark said Friday that no matter what the conditions – provided it’s safe – the players want to play baseball as soon and for long as possib le.

Yes, even up until Thanksgiving.

“Players want to play, ” Clark said, “That’s what we do. Being able to get back on the field and being able to play, even if that means their fans are watching at home. “

– Bob Nightengale

Last-minute revision allows more low-income Americans to get $ 1, checks

Americans with little or no tax liability will now be able to receive $ 1, () $ 2, for joint tax returns) under the historic, $ 2 trillion economic recovery package.

The original legislation had directed that one-time payments of up to $ 1, will be made to most Americans who file individual tax returns but included a $ 2, 600 minimum income threshold to earn any rebate. That meant that individuals with little income tax liability would have gotten a minimum of $ 600 ($ 1, for joint filers).

But a subsequent version of the bill – approved by the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Friday – dropped the minimum income threshold so that all low-income individuals will now be eligible for the full $ 1, 300 ($ 2, 2020 for joint returns).

A caveat: To qualify, they must have filed tax returns in either or 2019 or receive Social Security or veterans’ benefits so the Internal Revenue Service can calculate their rebate, said Garrett Watson of the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based think tank. Read more here.

. – Michael Collins New Yorkers pulled over in Rhode Island over quarantining

The welcome mat is not out for New Yorkers. Governors in Texas, Florida, Maryland and South Carolina this week ordered people arriving from the New York area – including New Jersey and Connecticut – and other virus hot spots to self-quarantine for at least (days upon arrival.)

Connecticut officials have also pleaded with New Yorkers and others from out of state to avoid visiting otherwise absolutely necessary.

But, in the most dramatic steps taken to date, Rhode Island State Police on Friday began pulling over drivers with New York plates so that National Guard officials can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, – day quarantine .

The state police are setting up a “welcome center” to make sure that they get information for tracking people in cars with New York license plates. Police are patrolling the beach. Meanwhile, the ACLU is warning this it’s not constitutional to stop cars simply because they have New York plates.

Gov. Gina Raimondo ratcheted up the measures Friday afternoon, announcing she’ll also order the state National Guard to go door-to-door in coastal communities starting this weekend to find out whether any of the home’s residents have recently arrived from New York and inform them of the quarantine order.

– Providence Journal

Dozens of most popular stores say they will be closed for weeks – or more

Some of America’s most iconic stores that temporarily shut down are now saying closures will last for many weeks – and possibly indefinitely.

The latest casualties from the coronavirus economic deluge include Apple, Express, Urban Outfitters and Guess? stores, all of which are closed “until further notice.” Nike, meanwhile, says company stores “will remain temporarily closed in multiple countries around the world.”

L Brands, parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, announced Friday it is not currently able to predict the timing of store reopening. “

Nordstrom extended its two-week closures “for at least one week, through April 5,” the department store chain said March 28. Kate Spade and Coach stores will stay closed an “additional two weeks” through April 10 While Men’s Wearhouse locations are closed “until at least May 4.”

– Kelly Tyko

Coronavirus cases soar in rural America

Metropolises like New York City and New Orleans have seen a recent explosion of coronavirus cases. But rural counties in Georgia, Colorado, Utah and Idaho are also experiencing some of the highest rates of coronavirus cases per capita in the nation, threatening to overwhelm local hospitals and challenging perceptions of the virus’s reach.

In Dougherty County, Georgia ,, the rate of confirmed cases was the nation’s the highest at . 7 per 105, people, higher than many metro areas, with 179 testing positive for the illness and six deaths . The county is about three hours south of Atlanta and has a population of about 90, .

Its local hospital, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, is maxed out of intensive care beds and on Thursday only had four remaining hospital beds, said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Kitchen. Patients who come into the emergency room and require an ICU bed are being directed to other facilities in the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers Dougherty County “extremely vulnerable ”On the Social Vulnerability Index. The federal Health Resources & Services Administration also nationally ranked the county in the worst third of counties in a list of medically underserved areas.

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Stranded Americans brought home on US immigration jets

Nearly Americans stranded in Central America have returned to the US this week aboard flights used by U.S. immigration authorities to deport people back to their home countries.

The Americans have been brought back to the U.S. on the return legs of three separate removal flights to Central America, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said. Those return flights usually are empty except for pilots and staff.

Since Sunday, 500 Americans have flown back to the US on removal flights, said Mary Houtmann, an ICE spokesperson.

The total includes 200 Americans flown back from Honduras to Alexandria, Louisiana on Sunday, (Americans flown back from El Salvador to San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday and Americans flown back from El Salvador to Mesaon Wednesday.

– The Arizona Republic

Disney parks to stay closed indefinitely

Citing an “luxurious complex crisis,” Disneyland and Disney World are going to stay closed “until further notice” due to the pandemic, the Walt Disney Company said Friday.

The decision dashes hopes that the theme parks would reopen by next month, as had been previously announced. Earlier this week, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood announced they were extending their closures through April .

“The safety and well-being of our guests and employees remains the Walt Disney Company’s top priority,” Disney said in a statement.

The company said the decision was “in line with direction provided by health experts and government officials.”

– Bryan Alexander and Chris Woodyard British PM Boris Johnson is self-isolating after testing positive

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after announce he tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. He’s the first world leader to contract COVID – . Johnson, , said he developed mild symptoms over the last hours. “I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government response via video-conference as we fight this virus,” he said.

Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II’s son and heir to the British throne, tested positive for the coronavirus this week and was self-isolating in Scotland, according to his office. He only displayed mild symptoms, his office said.

– Kim Hjelmgaard