COVID-19 as of 03-08-20 (summary is my own):

[Some Quick Definitions for Commonly Used Terms, skip ‘em if ya know ‘em:

Community Spread – Illness with an unknown source. This typically means that there are more cases in the community that have not been detected. May also be called community acquired or local transmission.

Cumulative Confirmed Case Fatality Rate – The total number of patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19 and died, divided by the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, from the beginning of the outbreak to today.

Patient Under Investigation (PUI) – A person who is showing one or more COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) who has not yet received test results.

Presumptive Positive – The first test back for a PUI is positive, but another test is still needed to confirm this. Confirmed means that two tests have shown that the case is positive.]

Countries Bulgaria, Maldives, and Republic of Moldova, and the Denmark territory Faroe Islands all report their first COVID-19 cases. More than half of the countries in the world now have laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. The newest countries reporting community spread are Cambodia, Austria, Hungary, the Maldives, Egypt, Brazil, and Peru. Less than 48 hours ago, the world hit 100,000 laboratory-confirmed cases across the world; today, it exceeded 110,000. [1, 2]

Italian virologists (scientists who study viruses) trace the current outbreak in northern Italy back to a car parts manufacturer in Germany, a contradiction to Germany’s claim that it had successfully contained its COVID-19 outbreak. [3]

An article in the British Medical Journal warns that 90% of COVID-19 patients will hit the country’s National Health Service over the next nine weeks in a “heavily concentrated” burst. Another article states that communication in the UK has been mixed, as the government has been boycotting national broadcast media outlets that it considered “unfriendly” during last year’s general election campaign; no UK minister was willing to appear on BBC Radio 4’s show “Today” to discuss how best to prepare for COVID-19. [4, 5]

An opinion piece in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology states that pregnant women may be more likely to develop severe illness as a result of COVID-19. They show statistics from the 2009 H1N1 outbreak as an example; pregnant women accounted for 1% of all cases, but 5% of all deaths. They also cite a recent study on four pregnant women in China who contracted COVID-19 in their third trimester; none of their babies tested positive for the disease after birth, but as this is a small number of people studied, the possibility of a pregnant woman passing the disease to her baby cannot yet be ruled out. [6]

China’s official state-run press agency calls the United States’ travel restrictions on Chinese citizens “very unkind,” and suggests that China could retaliate by announcing a travel ban on US citizens and ban exports of medical products to the US. [7]

Saudi Arabia locks down access to Shiite Muslim towns and villages in the east of the kingdom, particularly an area in the Qatif Governorate where all 11 of the country’s confirmed coronavirus cases have been identified so far. The country’s local media also announced that all schools would be shut down for the time being. The country had already banned pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina. The same day, local Iranian media reports that the country is suspending flights to all of Europe. [8]

France bans gatherings of more than 1,000 people in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 (it had banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people a few days prior). The country’s health minister states that elections on March 15 will go on as planned. Protests, exams, and public transportation may be excluded from the ban, as the health minister states that they are “useful to the life of the country.” [9]

Malta turned a cruise ship away carrying more than 2,000 passengers, as an Austrian individual who disembarked the ship in Italy on February 28 tested positive for COVID-19 four days later. The ship was undergoing a voluntary quarantine, but has since docked in Greece, where passengers and crew were allowed to disembark, seven days after the COVID-19 case did. Malta’s health minister and deputy prime minister call on the prime minister to temporarily stop flights from northern Italy into Malta, but the prime minister refuses to do so, stating that the responsibility for the decision is his. [10, 11]

Six South Korean individuals reportedly donated blood within two weeks before testing positive for COVID-19. Although the donated blood has been recalled since workers were alerted, half of it had already been transfused to nine recipients. [12]

In an interview on Fox News, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says that people in the US should avoid crowded places, think twice before taking a long plane trip, and “for goodness sake don’t go on any cruises.” He continues with advice for those over 60 and those with chronic health conditions/weakened immune systems: “Don’t wait for community spread. Now is the time to do social distancing, whether there is spread in your community or not.” Social distancing includes staying 6 feet away from people when you are out in public and avoiding handshakes, instead opting for elbow bumps or waving. As more cases from community spread are identified in the US, federal public health officials begin to indicate that the virus may no longer be able to be contained, and that the public should instead begin focusing on mitigation. Mitigation means taking steps to minimize deaths from the disease and slow its spread so that the healthcare system does not become overwhelmed. [13]

In the US, here are states and territories that have updates for today, in alphabetic order:

California is now reporting 114 positive COVID-19 cases (up from 88 yesterday); it now has 24 from repatriation flights (no change), 37 travel-related (6 new), 23 due to person-to-person contact with a known case (4 new), 14 from community spread (4 new) and 16 from currently unknown sources being investigated (12 new). 19 public health labs now have test kits and 15 of them are already testing as of today. Public schools in the San Francisco Unified School Districts are cancelling all nonessential events, in accordance with the mayor’s recent recommendations and call for social distancing. [CA1, CA2]

Colorado did not identify any new COVID-19 cases today; their case count remains at 8. They are now aware of a woman in Australia who visited Aspen, CO last week before returning to Australia and testing positive for COVID-19. Some Colorado residents had contact with her while she was experiencing respiratory symptoms and are now being followed by the state’s public health department. [CO]

The District of Columbia announces that a small public magnet high school will be closed for an indefinite amount of time, as it also announces its second COVID-19 case. This case had recently traveled to Nigeria, and then spent one night in DC before continuing to Maryland, where he was later diagnosed. One of the case’s close contacts is a teacher at the high school, and is currently testing negative for the illness; however, the school will still be closed and deep cleaned before students are allowed back. DC’s public health department also recommends that Christ Church at Georgetown be closed for now, as the area’s first case is a cleric there. [DC1, DC2, 3]

[TWO PARAGRAPHS] Later last night, Florida announced an additional presumptive positive COVID-19 case in a Manatee County resident; their total case count appears to still be 17 (which is the same as yesterday - they may have added the case to their count but not have announced it until later). This individual had recent international travel and is isolated. Officials are working to identify contacts of this case.

Later today, Rocky Bayou Christian School, a private school in Niceville, FL, announces that due to a new COVID-19 case in a member of a church widely attended by its students and families, the school will close for a week, and resume classes on March 23 after its planned spring break holiday. Okaloosa County school officials state that public schools in the area will be open this week. [FL1, FL2, FL3]

Georgia announces four new presumptive positive cases; this brings the state’s total to 11 (6 presumptive and 5 confirmed). One case is from Fulton County, one from Cherokee County, and two from Cobb County; they are unrelated and their sources of exposure are unknown. All four are hospitalized. [GA]

Hawaii announces its second presumptive positive case in an individual who recently traveled to Washington State. The case was taken by ambulance to a hospital on March 7 and had a positive test result today; he is isolated at a Kaiser Permanente facility. [HI]

Illinois announces an additional presumptive positive case, bringing their case count to 7. At this point, the individual’s source of exposure is under investigation; he is isolated and hospitalized in serious condition. [IL]

Iowa reported their first three presumptive positive COVID-19 cases. All three cases were part of a recent cruise in Egypt and are in Johnson County; two are self-isolated and recovering at home, and one is hospitalized. [IA]

Massachusetts announces 15 new presumptive positive cases, bringing their total to 28. All 15 cases are connected to the Biogen conference in late February, and all are self-isolating and recovering at home. [MA]

Minnesota announces their second presumptive positive case. This individual had recent travel to Europe; she is self-isolating and recovering at home. She developed symptoms on March 2 and sought treatment on March 7. [MN]

Nebraska announces two new presumptive positive cases, bringing their case count to 3. Both cases were close contacts of Nebraska’s first case, had limited contact with the public, and are self-isolated and recovering at home. [NE]

New Hampshire gives a press briefing to announce further details of their COVID-19 outbreak, which is currently at 4 cases. 5 more tests for patients under investigation (PUIs) are currently pending. [NH]

New York announces 16 new cases today, bringing the state’s total to 105. The governor calls on the federal government to expedite approval of private labs and both automated and manual testing to improve New York State’s testing capacity. He also encourages New Yorkers to work from home, telecommute and avoid densely populated spaces whenever possible to help contain the spread of the virus. [NY]

Oregon announces 7 new presumptive positive cases, bringing the state’s total to 14. Four of the new cases were contacts to known cases in the state. The three other cases are being investigated as community spread. The governor announces emergency measures to help limit the spread of the virus, including: expanding locations where safe testing of COVID-19 samples can be conducted, preparing Oregon’s medical reserve corps to mobilize and provide emergency support for vulnerable populations, expand telemedicine options to provide diagnoses and treatment for patients at home, mobilizing providers of services for older people so that they can protect this at-risk population, and get more funding to help assist the state in its outbreak response efforts. This afternoon, a case is identified in a student at South Meadows Middle School; it is unclear if this case is part of the seven or an additional case. The school is being deep cleaned tonight, as the student attended school one day this week while displaying mild symptoms; it will be open tomorrow morning. [OR1, OR2]

Puerto Rico announces that an Italian woman who recently arrived on a cruise ship from Fort Lauderdale, FL and was recently diagnosed with pneumonia is being tested for COVID-19 (it is unclear whether she is a presumptive positive case or is being tested for the first time). She and her husband are both isolated in a hospital; it is unclear whether the husband is showing symptoms or being tested at this time. [PR]

South Carolina announces four new presumptive positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the state’s total to 6. Two of these cases are close contacts of a previously identified case, and two do not currently have a source of exposure identified; the state is investigating to find out whether they can link them a known case or if these are from community spread. One of the new cases had already been hospitalized for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 and is currently isolated; the other three are self-isolated and recovering at home. [SC]

Tennessee announces two new COVID-19 cases in Davidson and Shelby counties; it is unclear whether they are presumptive or confirmed. This brings the state’s total count to 3. It is also unclear what their sources of exposure are, and whether they are hospitalized or self-isolating at home. [TN]

Texas senator Ted Cruz announces that he shook hands with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference who was later diagnosed with COVID-19; he is self-quarantining for four days, as the interaction occurred 10 days ago and the incubation period for the disease (the time from exposure to the time a person develops symptoms) is 14 days at most. [TX]

Virginia announces its second presumptive positive case; this case was exposed via the Nile River cruise that cases in multiple states were also exposed on. The case is hospitalized in stable condition. [VA]

Washington’s King County Public Health Department announces 12 new cases, bringing the county’s total to 83; its Snohomish County Public Health Department announces 9 new cases (all with their sources of exposure under investigation), bringing that county’s total to 26 – though the Washington State Department of Public Health now states that there are 31 there. All told, the state now has 136 confirmed cases and at least 18 deaths. King County continues to update its recommendations for residents in the area, reminding those over 60, those with chronic health conditions or otherwise weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant to stay home and avoid large gatherings of people as much as possible. A project backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is currently working on a mail-in test that people in the Seattle area can use to determine whether they have COVID-19; the results would be communicated to them by their local health department in one or two days. Individuals who think they may have the illness will be able to fill out an online questionnaire, after which a test would be delivered to their home in 2 hours, and then the swabs would be collected and sent to a lab facility for processing. [WA1, WA2, WA3, WA4, WA5]

[1] WHO COVID-19 Situation Report, 03-08-20

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200308-sitrep-48-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=16f7ccef_4

[2] Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Map

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

[3] Coronavirus live updates: State Department warns against cruise travel; Ted Cruz shook hands with CPAC patient

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/08/coronavirus-live-updates/

[4] Covid-19: 90% of cases will hit NHS over nine week period, chief medical officer warns

https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m918

[5] Covid-19: are we getting the communications right?

https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m919

[6] Righteous, the world should thank China

http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-03/04/c_1125660473.htm

[7] Countries turn to stronger measures to contain outbreaks

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/world/coronavirus-news.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#link-2fe4c395

[8] Novel coronavirus infection and pregnancy

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/uog.22006

[9] France bans gatherings of more than 1,000 people to contain coronavirus

https://www.france24.com/en/20200308-france-bans-gatherings-of-more-than-1-000-people-to-contain-coronavirus

[10] Coronavirus: cruise ship denied entry to Malta

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/coronavirus-doctors-threaten-industrial-action-if-cruise-ship-docks-in.776117

[11] Coronavirus in Cabinet: Abela and health minister disagree over stopping flights

https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/100842/coronavirus_in_cabinet_abela_and_health_minister_disagree_over_stopping_flights?fbclid=IwAR0ZYQLprC8NBy_C3HpqdLwBmvNjvsyUsSWLsTsQSFcTfXWG9Tt-ACgxuKI#.XmTJrUjTU0N

[12] Coronavirus: Infected patients in South Korea donated blood before testing positive

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/coronavirus-infected-patients-in-south-korea-donated-blood-before-testing-positive

[13] U.S. Health Experts Say Stricter Measures Are Required to Limit Coronavirus’s Spread

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/health/coronavirus-spread-united-states.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[CA1] State Health & Emergency Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR20-015.aspx

[CA2] Non-Essential Events at All Schools Cancelled

https://www.sfusd.edu/announcements/2020-03-07-non-essential-events-all-schools-cancelled

[CO] No additional presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 identified in Colorado today

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/news/no-additional-presumptive-positive-cases-covid-19-identified-colorado-today-1

[DC1] School Without Walls High School to Close on Monday, March 9

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/release/school-without-walls-high-school-close-monday-march-9

[DC2] Update from DC Health on Precautionary Measures at Christ Church Georgetown

https://coronavirus.dc.gov/release/update-dc-health-precautionary-measures-christ-church-georgetown

[FL1] Department of Health Announces New Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Case in Florida

http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/03/030720-department-of-health-announces-new-presumptive-positive-covid19-case-florida.pr.html

[FL2] 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

[FL3] CORONAVIRUS: Rocky Bayou Christian School cancels classes, Okaloosa to remain open

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20200308/coronavirus-rocky-bayou-christian-school-cancels-classes-okaloosa-to-remain-open

[GA] Additional Presumed Positive Cases of COVID-19 in Georgia

https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2020-03-08/additional-presumed-positive-cases-covid-19-georgia

[HI] Elderly man who recently traveled to Washington state becomes Hawaii’s second COVID-19 case

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/08/breaking-news/2nd-hawaii-resident-tests-positive-for-covid-19/

[IA] COVID-19 Presumptively Confirmed in Three Iowa Residents (3/8/20)

https://idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158296/COVID-19-Presumptively-Confirmed-in-Three-Iowa-Residents-3820

[IL] Public Health Officials Announce New Presumptive Positive Case of COVID-19 and Provide Updates on Ongoing Investigation and Response

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/public-health-officials-announce-new-presumptive-positive-case-covid-19-and-provide-updates

[MA] 15 New Presumptive Positive Cases of COVID-19 Identified by Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory

https://www.mass.gov/news/15-new-presumptive-positive-cases-of-covid-19-identified-by-massachusetts-state-public-health

[MI] Health officials confirm second case of novel coronavirus in Minnesota

https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2020/covid19030820.html

[NE] Two Additional Presumptive Positive Cases Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Reported To Nebraska DHHS

http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Two-Additional-Presumptive-Positive-Cases-of-Coronavirus-Disease-2019-Reported-to-Nebraska-DHHS.aspx

[NH] NH DHHS Issues Summary Of March 8th Media Briefing

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/media/pr/2020/030082020-covid-19-media-briefing-summary.htm

[NY] Governor Cuomo Confirms 16 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 105

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-confirms-16-additional-coronavirus-cases-new-york-state-bringing-statewide-total

[OR1] OHA adds 7 new presumptive positive cases to Oregon’s COVID-19 count

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/OHA-adds-7-new-presumptive-positive-cases-COVID-19.aspx

[OR2] Hillsboro confirms first student case of COVID-19

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/hillsboro-confirms-first-student-case-of-covid-19/283-232141de-7fa0-44af-960f-4115f739f3a3

[PR] Puerto Rico takes Preventative Measures for Possible Case of COVID-19

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/puerto-rico-takes-preventative-measures-for-possible-case-of-covid-19/2202458/

[SC] DHEC Investigating Additional Possible Cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in South Carolina

https://www.scdhec.gov/news-releases/dhec-investigating-additional-possible-cases-2019-novel-coronavirus-south-carolina

[TN] TDH Confirms Two Additional Cases of COVID-19

https://www.tn.gov/health/news/2020/3/8/tdh-confirms-two-additional-cases-of-covid-19.html

[TX] Tweet, Ted Cruz, 4:06 pm, 03-08-20

https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1236790420253954050?s=20

[VA] Virginia Department of Health Confirms Second “Presumptive Positive” Case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in State

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/2020-news-releases/virginia-department-of-health-confirms-second-presumptive-positive-case-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-in-state/

[WA1] Update: King County COVID-19 case numbers for March 8, 2020

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/March/8-covid-19-case-updates.aspx

[WA2] Novel Coronavirus 2019

https://www.snohd.org/484/Novel-Coronavirus-2019

[WA3] 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

[WA4] Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health recommendations to protect our community

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus/protection.aspx

[WA5] Gates-funded program will soon offer home-testing kits for new coronavirus

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/gates-funded-program-will-soon-offer-home-testing-kits-for-new-coronavirus/