Ohio health official estimates 100,000 people in state have coronavirus

Source: The Hill

A top health official in Ohio estimated on Thursday that more than 100,000 people in the state have coronavirus, a shockingly high number that underscores the limited testing so far.

Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said at a press conference alongside Gov. Mike DeWine (R) that given that the virus is spreading in the community in Ohio, she estimates at least 1 percent of the population in the state has the virus.

"We know now, just the fact of community spread, says that at least 1 percent, at the very least, 1 percent of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," Acton said. "We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly."

She added that the slow rollout of testing means the state does not have good verified numbers to know for sure.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/487329-ohio-health-official-estimates-100000-people-in-state-have-coronavirus

NPR: Trump blocked more COVID-19 testing in January to help his election chances

BREAKING: Biden campaign to send all workers home; switches to virtual fundraisers

Animation of COVID-19 spread

Major League Baseball delays opening day by at least two weeks

Source: CNN

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that the start of the season will be delayed by at least two weeks and has canceled the remaining Spring Training schedule.

The MLB season was set to start on March 26.

"Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our players, employees and fans. MLB will continue to undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts. We send our best wishes to all individuals and communities that have been impacted by coronavirus," the MLB said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-12-20-intl-hnk/h_ae3d9f06459fcac6477c2f36b866d9be

Israeli airline El Al suspends most operations

Source: CNN

Israeli airline El Al announced that it is suspending most of its operations beginning this Sunday, the company said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

The airline will maintain connections to New York, Newark, Toronto, London, Paris and Johannesburg, but flights to other locations, such as Moscow, Mumbai, and most destinations in Europe will be suspended.

The statement made no mention of when flights may resume.



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-12-20-intl-hnk/h_ae3d9f06459fcac6477c2f36b866d9be

Virus Shutters Nordic Schools as Number of Cases Hits 2,000

Source: Bloomberg

Denmark and Norway are closing schools while large gatherings have been banned across the Nordic region and swathes of workers sent home, as the number of people contaminated by the coronavirus approaches 2,000.

“We’re in uncharted territory here,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at an emergency press briefing convened late on Wednesday. “We’ve never tried anything like this before.”

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-11/denmark-shuts-down-schools-sends-home-non-critical-staff

Macron shuts all schools in France until further notice

Source: Washington Post

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the French public late Thursday, announcing that all schools and universities in France would be closed from Monday until further notice and that those over age 70 should stay home as much as possible.

Macron said that France’s borders would remain open and that any future closures would not be imposed without coordination with the European Union. But he urged every French citizen to make sacrifices in confronting what he called the most serious epidemic the country has faced in a century.

In recent months, Macron’s government has been the target of a slew of violent demonstrations against his reforms to France’s famously generous retirement system.

But on Thursday, Macron — often criticized in the French press for seeming aloof — promised a generous slew of provisions for those whose lives were most likely to be disrupted by the coronavirus. Chief among them was waiving penalties for late March tax payments.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/12/coronavirus-live-updates/

"Bill De Blasio: "I think we'll be at 1,000 [COVID-19] cases next week."

Live press conference

ALL Maryland and Ohio schools closing...