A collection of key developments in the fight against COVID-19 (the actual virus is SARS-COV-2), posted throughout the week for those who just want the signal and not the noise. If there’s something you think we should include, sound off in the comments thread attached to the post.
Visit our Wuhan coronavirus status page and learn how to prepare for possible spread to your area. Scenarios, shopping lists, background info, and everything else you need, all in one place.
Previously: The previous day’s key developments post is here.
7,229 cases were added to the global count in the last 24 hours. There were nearly 200 deaths in Italy since yesterday. Italy’s daily growth and daily deaths are approaching Wuhan’s at the peak of its outbreak crisis.
PM Conte has extended quarantine measures throughout all of Italy. Only grocers, pharmacies, or other critical businesses may stay open. Public transportation within cities continues for now. The people of Italy must stay at home and request special permission for critical work-related travel.
WHO declares pandemic. The US stock market responded accordingly.
Increasing numbers of airport staff are getting infected on the job. Dozens of workers are on leave.
The Strategic National Stockpile of medicine and medical supplies was not repleted after the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. There are a mere 12 million N95 respirators in supply, which falls far short of what is needed for the current pandemic. The critical shortage of masks means health care workers may be left to use only face-shields when delivering close-contact care to COVID-19 patients. Nurse unions are not happy about this.
The National Security Council has ordered a number of Health and Human Services deliberations on the COVID-19 pandemic to be classified. State and local officials decry the lack of transparency and lack of Federal response.
Serious measures were taken to transport a Nebraska COVID-19 patient safely to a higher level of care. She is suffering from acute respiratory distress:
Here's how you're transported between hospitals if you're a Nebraska coronavirus patient https://t.co/wEeATg7QNd pic.twitter.com/0PqJ0WDCEV
— New York Post (@nypost) March 8, 2020
Merkel says 60-70% of Germans may become infected with SARS-CoV-2. Merkel aims to slow the spread of the virus so that health care systems remain intact.
The US continues to follow Italy’s curve:
Here's the last 8 days of US #covid19 testing mapped to Italy's numbers starting on 2/22. The trend looks awful similar. pic.twitter.com/zZ3ng396Jf
— Eli Pariser (@elipariser) March 11, 2020
As of Wednesday evening, at least 1,209 people in 41 states and Washington, D.C., have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a New York Times database, and at least 37 patients with the virus have died. https://t.co/FJ3ujxyLnC
— Harry who (@HarryJoebanks34) March 11, 2020
Former CDC Director says half the population of the US may get infected and one million or more may die. US officials are working with scores of academics to model the potential scenarios the country may face. Fauci maintains that this pandemic is more dangerous than seasonal flu.
The UK plans to escalate their response to the pandemic. Boris Johnson plans to take action to delay the spread of the virus.
The White House Coronavirus Task Force released mitigations strategies for Seattle-King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties in Washington, and Santa Clara County in California. Strategy recommendations include protective measures, social distancing, telework, expanded sick leave policies, cancellation of faith-based gatherings, and health care triage.
Updated US testing capacity by state:
We just updated our log of total #coronavirus testing capacity in U.S. for additional labs. Across U.S., we're now able to test about 16,000 patients a day. Capacity isn't evenly distributed. Providers in some states still face difficulty accessing tests. https://t.co/8N5tyoWDL2
— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) March 11, 2020
Actor Tom Hanks and his wife are both infected, per their spokesperson.
Trump has announced a 30-day ban on passengers from Europe. The ban isn’t supposed to apply to cargo, only people, but passenger planes are actually a critical link in the cargo supply chain.
The NBA has suspended this basketball season.
