- U.S.Yahoo News
Trump tweets blame in all directions over ventilators for coronavirus, except at himself
Hours after a Fox News interview in which he downplayed a national shortage of hospital ventilators to treat patients infected with the coronavirus, President Trump fired off a number of tweets Friday blaming General Motors and its CEO, Mary Barra, for not manufacturing more of them. The president explained in a later tweet that “P” stood for the Defense Production Act, which many U.S. governors have been demanding Trump use to compel businesses to produce badly needed medical supplies and equipment. Although he invoked the act as a standby, Trump hasn't issued any specific orders under it, claiming that just the threat of it has prompted companies to step up production on their own.
- WorldYahoo News
Americans stranded in India fear for their safety and wonder when they can return home
Firefighter and paramedic Michael Cannon and nurse Rose Barnes told Yahoo News they traveled to New Delhi March 13 on what should have been one of the happiest trips of their life, to bring the two-and-a-half year old girl home with them to Murrieta, Calif. But instead, they faced suspicion from locals and are now stuck in India awaiting news on when they can return home, and whether the child they hoped to welcome into their family can accompany them. India issued its official first day of a nationwide lockdown on March 25, with police enforcing the strict measures on its 1.3 billion people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “total lockdown” was to “save India, to save its citizens, your family.”
- WorldBusiness Insider
A Wuhan seafood vendor believed to be one of the first coronavirus patients says 'a lot fewer people would have died' if the Chinese government acted sooner
STR/AFP via Getty Images Wei Guixian, a 57-year-old seafood vendor in Wuhan, China, was among the first 27 people to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, which originated from the wet market where she worked. Wei first began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms on December 10 and was admitted to the hospital less than a week later, with doctors describing her illness as "very serious" and "ruthless." Other vendors from the same market began to check into the hospital soon after.
WorldAFPPope faces coronavirus 'tempest' alone in St Peter's Square
Pope Francis stood alone in vast Saint Peter's Square Friday to bless Catholics around the world suffering under the coronavirus pandemic, urging people to ease their fears through faith. "Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by," he said. In a historic first, the Argentine performed the rarely recited "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the steps of the basilica to an empty square, addressing those in lockdown across the globe via television, radio and social media.
- WorldReuters
South Korean test kit makers swamped as coronavirus cases explode in U.S., Europe
Last year, South Korean biotech firm SolGent made diagnostic kits for 300,000 tests. SolGent, which is one of the five firms that have received fast-track approval to make test kits for South Korea, is capitalizing on the country's success in containing its outbreak to boost exports, with cases slowing down at home. SolGent has even got offers from three U.S. biotech firms to license its technology so that they can manufacture test kits in the United States, You said, adding nothing has been decided.
- WorldAssociated Press
China sends medical aid to Pakistan to combat virus outbreak
China sent a plane loaded with medical personnel and supplies Saturday to help Pakistan fight the spread of the coronavirus in one of the world's most populous nations. Across the Middle East and elsewhere, the outbreak has raised concerns that health systems strapped by multiple wars, refugee crises and unstable economies won't be able to handle the growing number of cases. In Iran, which is battling the worst outbreak in the region, state TV said Saturday another 139 people had died from the virus.
- BusinessLA Times
Are you a healthcare worker? Crocs will give you a free pair of shoes
The Colorado-based maker of Crocs announced Wednesday that it was prepared to donate — and ship free — up to 10,000 pairs a day of its colorful, molded-resin clogs to members of the medical community workers across the country. The "Free Pair for Healthcare" program will work like this: Every day, at approximately 9 a.m. Pacific, the Crocs' website will begin taking orders for one pair of shoes per healthcare worker from select classic clog or Crocs At Work styles up to a daily limit of 10,000 pairs. “Like everyone, we've been closely monitoring the news and working hard to map out a way to most effectively help where we can," Crocs President and Chief Executive Andrew Rees said Wednesday in announcing the initiative.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
Coronavirus stimulus package: Who will get $1,200 checks and when will they be sent out?
CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article contained outdated information on how much money some low-income Americans would receive under the $2 trillion economic recovery package. A late-hour change to the legislation made Americans with little or no tax liability eligible for $1,200 ($2,400 for joint returns). WASHINGTON – The checks are coming.
- U.S.INSIDER
A 90-year-old woman in Washington state recovered from the coronavirus, and she credits family, God, and potato soup
The Family of Geneva Wood Geneva Wood had a stroke in December that left her recovering in a Washington state nursing home. Last month, Life Care Center at Kirkland went on lockdown after several of its residents were diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Wood, who was one of them, was hospitalized and declined ventilation.
U.S.Yahoo News VideoTrump criticizes governors who have not been 'appreciative' of the administration's efforts to fight the coronavirus
At a coronavirus task force briefing on Friday, President Trump attacked some governors for their criticism of him, saying, “I want them to be appreciative.
- U.S.Yahoo News
New Yahoo News/YouGov coronavirus poll: 59 percent of Americans say Trump's Easter timeline is 'too soon' to restart economy
A large majority of Americans disagree with President Trump that the nation's battle against the coronavirus is winding down and that normal economic activity should resume sooner rather than later, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll — and that divide appears to be eroding public trust in Trump's leadership during the pandemic. As the virus continues to spread exponentially — the U.S. now leads the world in cases, with more than 85,000 — the poll found that 59 percent of Americans think that Easter, which falls on April 12, is too soon to “open the country up for business,” even though the president has repeatedly said he hopes to do just that.
- PoliticsYahoo News
In shadow of coronavirus, Congress contemplates 'one of the biggest rule changes in the last century'
As the House of Representatives prepares to pass a historic $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces a bigger challenge: figuring out a way for 435 members to cast votes in the time of social distancing. The pandemic has left multiple members of Congress in quarantine and led to restrictions on movement that could prevent the House from voting. While House leadership has indicated they hope to pass the initial coronavirus aid bill quickly using a voice vote, the likely need for further relief and other legislation has led Pelosi to consider new procedures, including measures for remote voting that a report from the House Rules Committee described as “one of the biggest rule changes in the last century.”
WorldAFPAsia virus latest: People return to China epicentre, security talks off
Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Wuhan eases travel rules - Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged last year, partly reopened on Saturday after more than two months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million. People are now allowed to enter the city but not leave. AFP saw crowds of passengers arriving at Wuhan railway station, most wheeling suitcases alongside them.
- WorldReuters
Ex-Venezuelan spy chief Carvajal discussing surrender with U.S. authorities: sources
The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence unit, Hugo Carvajal, is discussing his possible surrender with U.S. authorities, three people familiar with the matter said on Saturday, after prosecutors charged him this week with drug trafficking alongside Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Carvajal, a former general and ally of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, has been in hiding since a Spanish court in November approved his extradition to the United States. It was unclear when or if he would surrender as the people said talks were ongoing.
- WorldBusiness Insider
Germany has a remarkably low coronavirus death rate — thanks largely to mass testing, but also culture, luck, and an impressive healthcare system
Germany's death rate from the coronavirus is substantially lower than that seen in Italy, Spain, and the UK. Spain's rate is 7.6% and Italy's is 10.2%. This is because Germany is testing as many as 120,000 people a week, identifying many milder cases that don't end in death.
- LifestylePopular Mechanics
Stay In the Lines With These Neat Science Coloring Pages
No money required—all you need is a printer and some colored pencils. From Popular Mechanics
- WorldAssociated Press
Virus prevention measures turn violent in parts of Africa
Virus prevention measures have taken a violent turn in parts of Africa as countries impose lockdowns and curfews or seal off major cities. Health experts say the virus' spread, though still at an early stage, resembles the arc seen in Europe, adding to widespread anxiety. Cases across Africa were set to climb above 4,000 Saturday.
- U.S.USA TODAY
Coronavirus: 3 migrant children in US custody in New York test positive
Three unaccompanied minor children in U.S. custody in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Thursday. The children, whose ages and nationalities weren't released, are in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency said it is doing an evaluation of the children and will not release them from New York care provider facilities.
- WorldBBC
Coronavirus: India defiant as millions struggle under lockdown
The Indian government has defended its handling of the coronavirus outbreak after a strict lockdown - introduced with little warning - left millions stranded and without food. The country's response had been "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded", it said in a statement. India's population of 1.3 billion was given less than four hours' notice of the three-week lockdown on Tuesday.
- PoliticsYahoo News
Trump demands appreciation from governors for coronavirus response
President Trump used his daily coronavirus briefing to attack Democratic governors who in his estimation had shown insufficient gratitude for his administration's response to the pandemic. “I want them to be appreciative,” Trump said, arguing that failing to show appreciation was insulting not just to him but to the Army Corps of Engineers, which has been part of the federal response to the pandemic. The president said he has told Vice President Mike Pence not to call governors who haven't shown proper deference to his administration.
- U.S.NBC News
Catholics allowed to eat meat on Lenten Fridays
Some Roman Catholic bishops around the country are relieving the faithful of giving up meat on Fridays since they're already deprived of some foods and other pleasures during the coronavirus pandemic. During Lent, the about six weeks between Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday, many Catholics practice self-denial and sacrifice as they repent their sins and pray in preparation for Easter. Some choose certain pleasures to give up for the full 40 days, and all Christians are instructed not to eat meat on Ash Wednesday, and all Fridays during Lent in addition to Good Friday.
WorldAFPS.African police fire rubber bullets at shoppers during lockdown
South African police fired rubber bullets towards hundreds of shoppers queueing outside a supermarket in Johannesburg as authorities battled to keep people at home in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus. With 1,187 confirmed infections and one death, the country has the highest numbers of confirmed infections on the continent. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a 21-day lockdown for the country's 57 million inhabitants, deploying police and the military to enforce the restrictions.
- WorldReuters
Russia confirms coronavirus case in Putin's administration, tightens curbs
The Kremlin confirmed a coronavirus case in President Vladimir Putin's administration on Friday and the government said measures imposed in Moscow to fight the virus should be extended across Russia. The Kremlin said it was taking measures to stop the virus spreading further after a staff member in the presidential administration contracted the virus. It said the person had not come into contact with Putin, but declined to identify them.
- U.S.Business Insider
The UK government claims it failed to take part in an EU scheme for coronavirus ventilators because it didn't see the email asking it to take part
Getty The UK government claims it failed to take part in an EU scheme to secure ventilators to tackle the coronavirus outbreak because it did not see the relevant emails. Downing Street initially claimed it was not taking part in the scheme because 'we are no longer a member of the EU,' prompting claims on social media that Boris Johnson was putting 'Brexit over breathing. But it later backtracked and claimed that it had not taken part because it did not receive emails from the EU, insisting that the decision was not ideologically motivated.
- WorldBusiness Insider
Without any interventions like social distancing, one model predicts the coronavirus could have killed 40 million people this year
Without intense government intervention, the novel coronavirus could infect 7 billion people and kill 40 million this year, according to a new report from researchers at the Imperial College of London. Without implementing strategies like lockdowns to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, there would have been 7 billion infections and 40 million deaths in 2020 alone, according to a report published Thursday from researchers at the Imperial College of London. The report, according to co-author Charles Whittaker, is meant to project the impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
