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Sunday, March 15, 2020

11:00 p.m. update

The CDC is recommending that any event with 50 people or more be cancelled or postponed for the next eight weeks.

The new guidelines were shared on the public health agency’s website Sunday.

Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies.

5:15 p.m. update

The Federal Reserve on Sunday announced it would cut its target interest rate to zero. This hasn’t happened since the global financial crisis over a decade ago.

Illinois governor closes bars and restaurants through March 30

4:15 p.m. update

Ohio’s Department of Health confirms 37 cases in the state

4 p.m. update

Gov. Mike DeWine ordered bars and restaurants to close at 9 p.m., switch to carry-out and delivery only

3 p.m. update

Ireland’s government has called for the closure of all pubs and bars through March 29

2 p.m. update

The Ohio Department of Health reports there are 36 total cases in the state

1:45 p.m. update

Italy reports 3,590 more cases in 24 hours

24,747 people infected in the country

1,809 deaths in Italy

1:30 p.m. update

More than 3,000 coronavirus cases nationally; West Virginia is the only state without a confirmed case

House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff announced on Sunday that a former staffer, who left his office 10 days ago, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Vice President Mike Pence is not planning on getting a coronavirus test after consulting with his doctor

1 p.m. update

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says there are 729 cases of coronavirus in New York State, the most in the nation. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says a citywide lockdown is possible

New Jersey is considering a statewide curfew. Hoboken has implemented one from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Monday.

12:45 p.m. update

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is closing March 16

12:15 p.m. update

Gov. Mike DeWine will update the state’s actions and coronavirus numbers at 3 p.m.

12 p.m. update

The Medina County Health Department confirms an individual in their county has tested positive for COVID-19. They’re in their late 60s and hospitalized. The health department says that case will be announced with new statewide totals Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Minor league player in the New York Yankees system tests positive for coronavirus, according to ESPN

A minor league player in the New York Yankees system has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell ESPN. He is the first known case in baseball. He was quarantined Friday morning after saying he was running a fever. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 15, 2020

11:45 A.M. UPDATE

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is temporarily closing, effective Monday, March 16

11:45 A.M. UPDATE

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus says the administration has “not seriously discussed” restricting travel within the United States.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, said on ABC’s “This Week” that the idea of domestic travel restrictions have come up during administration deliberations but such action is unlikely “right now or in the immediate future.”

11 A.M. UPDATE

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says it is possible schools will not reopen this year.

Summit County reports its second case of coronavirus is a woman who has not traveled and has now known exposure to anyone who has been infected.

10 A.M. UPDATE:

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican says all Holy Week ceremonies will take place without the “physical presence of the faithful” because of the health emergency over the coronavirus.

The Vatican tweeted Sunday citing an announcement by the office of the pontifical household said that until April 12, when Easter Sunday is celebrated this year, all the general audiences on Wednesday as well as Pope Francis weekly Sunday noon prayer will be streamed by the Vatican.

Earlier on Sunday, a Vatican spokesman said the ways of how people might participate in the ceremonies were under study. Among popular Holy Week ceremonies is the Good Friday Way of the Cross torchlit procession at Rome’s Colosseum.

Holy Week ceremonies usually draw tens of thousands of people to Rome, but with Italy the European center of the COVID-19 outbreak, tourism in the country has vanished.

9 A.M. UPDATE:

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Thousands of police officers and army troops have started sealing the Philippines’ densely populated capital at the start of one of Southeast Asia’s most drastic containment moves against the new coronavirus.

Under a monthlong lockdown imposed in the entire Manila metropolis — home to more than 12 million people — residents are compelled to stay at home, except when they need to leave for work or go on urgent errands, including medical emergencies.

Police and soldiers set up checkpoints at entryways to Manila to check commuters for fever with thermal thermometers on Sunday, snarling traffic all day. But despite the delays, most commuters remained patient, with troops politely apologizing.

8 A.M. UPDATE:

(CNN/WJW) — America hasn’t hit the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, a top US health official said, even as the number of cases nears 3,000 and officials across the country impose a slew of restrictions to curb the virus’s spread.

Pointing to the way the coronavirus has spread in other countries, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said that the US can still expect more cases and deaths, primarily among older and vulnerable individuals,

“We have not yet reached our peak,” Fauci said at a White House briefing Saturday.

As of Sunday morning, there were at least 2,885 coronavirus cases in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Washington DC. At least 60 people have died. As of Saturday, West Virginia remained the only state without any confirmed cases.

As of Saturday afternoon, there are 26 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Here is the breakdown of local cases:

Cuyahoga County: 11

Lorain County: 1

Stark County: 3

Summit County: 2

Trumbull County: 2

The patients range in age from 31 to 86. Twelve of them are female and 14 are males. Seven people remain hospitalized. There have been no coronavirus-related deaths in Ohio.

There are 264 people under investigation, meaning they have been tested for the virus and are awaiting results. In Ohio, 85 people have already tested negative for COVID-19.

Map based on state departments of health as of March 15. Map based on state departments of health as of March 15.

With the threat of further spread on the horizon, state and local governments have encouraged residents to stay home and practice social distancing. Some, including Ohio, have banned large gatherings.

Governor Mike DeWine announced that all Ohio K-12 schools would be on an extended spring break, beginning Monday and lasting until April 3. Many Ohio colleges are closing university housing and moving to online instruction for the remainder of the spring semester as concern over the coronavirus rises.

Meanwhile, worship services and recreational and entertainment events across Northeast Ohio have also been canceled or postponed.

Increased travel restrictions

Also in an effort to slow the spread, President Donald Trump expanded the restrictions on entry into the US from Europe to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. The travel restrictions go into effect Monday at midnight.

Restrictions from 26 other countries in Europe went into effect Friday.

US citizens and their family members are exempt from both restrictions, but they are subject to enhanced medical screenings upon arrival.

Millions more tests available

President Trump declared a national emergency Friday, freeing up $50 billion in federal resources to combat the outbreaks.

“No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever,” he said.

The Trump administration said Friday it was partnering with the private sector to also boost testing capacity — with both more tests and drive-through testing.

The country’s testing system has so far received stark criticism by health officials and residents who say they were turned away despite showing symptoms. Fauci said earlier this week the US testing system was failing to meet the public’s needs.

“The idea of anybody getting it (a test) easily, the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that,” he told a congressional committee Thursday. “Do I think we should be? Yes, but we’re not.”

On Friday, Trump said 5 million coronavirus tests would be available within a month, adding American retail executives would be donating resources to facilitate drive-through testing across the country. But those companies later said they had few details on what they could offer or when test kits would be available.

Trump took a coronavirus test Friday night, he told reporters Saturday, after facing questions about whether he had been tested at a news conference the day before. The White House later said the test was negative.

Trump had his temperature taken before Saturday’s briefing, and it was normal, he said.

Meanwhile, facilities in New York, Illinois, Colorado and here in Northeast Ohio have begun offering drive-through testing.

The Cleveland-area testing site, located at the garage of the Walker Building in University Circle on Euclid Avenue, will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Patients can stay in their car for the nasal and throat swabs. Results will be available in about 24 hours.

“It’s is an all-hands-on-deck approach from both health systems to care for this health crisis in our community,” said Dr. Robyn Strosaker, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center chief medical officer.