(NEW YORK) — Here’s the latest information on the COVID-19 coronavirus as of 9:30 a.m. ET.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 487,648
Global deaths: 22,030
Number of countries/regions: at least 175
Total patients recovered globally: 117,749
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
At least 69,197 diagnosed cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam.
At least 1,046 dead
Latest reported deaths per state
Visit https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.htmlfor the latest numbers.
School closures
For a state-by-state interactive map of current school closures, please visit the Education Week website, where numbers are updated once daily.
There are 98,277 public schools and 34,576 private schools in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Those schools educate almost 50.8 million public school students and 5.8 million private school students.
At least 29 states and the District of Columbia have announced or implemented closures of non-essential businesses.
The latest headlines
Senate passes $2 trillion stimulus bill; House to vote Friday
After much closed-door bipartisan negotiation, the Senate Wednesday night unanimously passed the proposed $2 trillion economic relief package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 96-0 vote now goes to the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised a vote Friday morning, after which the bill will go to President Trump, who has promised to sign it into law.
Record number of unemployment claims filed in one week
A record 3,283,000 Americans filed for unemployment last week as the COVID-19 pandemic shutters businesses nationwide, resulting in mass layoffs. That’s the highest one-week number in 38 years, far exceeding the previous one-week record of 695,000 claims in 1982. That number doesn’t include people who attempted to file for unemployment but were unable due to overburdened state websites crashing, nor does it include undocumented workers. It also doesn’t include self-employed workers or small business owners, who aren’t permitted to file for unemployment. The number of claims could climb even higher when this week’s numbers are tallied.
Dr. Fauci: “You don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, had a straightforward message Wednesday night about how long the COVID-19 coronavirus could affect daily life in the US: “You don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.” Fauci further told CNN’s Chris Cuomo, “You’ve got to be realistic… [Y]ou’ve got to respond, in what you see happen. And if you keep seeing this acceleration, it doesn’t matter what you say. One week, two weeks, three weeks — you’ve got to go with what the situation on the ground is.” President Trump has said he would like to see U.S. businesses back open by Easter, about three weeks from now.
Feds arrest California man in fraudulent coronavirus cure investment scheme
Special agents with the FBI Wednesday evening arrested a Southern California man on a federal fraud charge alleging he solicited investments in a company he claimed would be used to market pills that would prevent coronavirus infections, and an injectable cure for those already suffering from COVID-19. Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 53, is charged with one count of attempted wire fraud, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The complaint alleges that Middlebrook claimed to have personally developed a “patent-pending cure” and a treatment that prevents coronavirus infection, even though every major health authority has warned that there is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and no vaccine to prevent coronavirus infection.
Hospitals debate universal ‘do not resuscitate’ orders for COVID-19 patients
The Washington Post reports increasing numbers of hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are debating the ethics and practical necessity of forgoing the standard practice of attempting to resuscitate patents who are dying from the coronavirus, even if family members insist. The safety of health care workers and rapidly dwindling medical resources that could be used to treat other patients is driving the discussion. Some hospitals are considering blanket do-not-resuscitate directives, while others are modifying existing procedures.
Good news!
Major League Baseball celebrates ‘Opening Day at Home’
Today would have been Opening Day for Major League Baseball, but you can still celebrate America’s Pastime online. MLB is staging ‘Opening Day at Home.’ According to the MLB website, “a full slate of 30 games” will be “broadcast nationally across various platforms, including digital streaming and social media, creating a full-day event on what would have been Opening Day. The experience is intended to invite fans to feel a sense of community and unity on a day many were looking forward to, while underscoring the importance of staying home to stop the spread of the coronavirus.” Visit MLB.com for details.
Chicago couple livestreams wedding for quarantined friends and family
WLS Chicago reports Paige Bonk and Matt Ptack were able to invite friends and family to witness their nuptials last Saturday, thanks to livestreaming. The couple’s wedding at Chicago’s St. Gregory the Great Church included the maid of honor and two best men, other than the happy couple and the wedding officiant – everyone else watched online as they self-isolated amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The official reception, however, has been postponed until the pandemic is over, when loved ones can attend in person.
Convenience store chain bumps pay by $3, looks to hire 1,300 workers amid increased demand
On the heels of the news that a record number of people filed for unemployment last week, WTVD in Raleigh, North Carolina reports convenience store chain Sheetz is looking to hire 1,300 new people to help respond to increased consumer demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pennsylvania-based chain is also bumping the hourly pay for its 17,000 workers by three dollars, through at least April 23. “Our employees are the heart and soul of Sheetz and their commitment to serve our customers and communities as an essential business during this critical time has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Travis Sheetz, president and COO of Sheetz, Inc. “This special compensation is just one way to express our gratitude during this difficult time.”
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