Here are some of today’s top stories.
Live updates: Coronavirus cases top 218,000 globally – CNN
On Thursday, Fiji’s Prime Minister confirmed the country has its first coronavirus case. That came as Samoa — another Pacific island nation — announced it had a suspected case. According to the Ministry of Health’s news release, it could be days before the case can be confirmed.
UK considers partial lockdown in London
The UK government is considering a partial lockdown in London to stem the spread of novel coronavirus, amid concerns that residents in the capital are not heeding advice to stay at home, multiple sources have told CNN.
The coronavirus pandemic began in China. Today, it reported no new local infections for the first time
China has reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the first time since the the pandemic began, marking a major turning point in the global battle to contain Covid-19.
Facebook has a coronavirus problem. It’s WhatsApp.
Governments and medical officials are scrambling to provide the public with accurate and timely information about the novel coronavirus. But those efforts are being undermined by the spread of medical misinformation and fake cures on one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms.
Italian doctors hope for a sign the coronavirus lockdown is working, because there’s no plan B
Italy is entering its fourth week of the worst national crisis since World War II with no end in sight.
US government is preparing for coronavirus pandemic that could last up to 18 months and ‘include multiple waves of illness’
Nearly two months since the first US coronavirus case, the federal government is now preparing for a pandemic that could last up to 18 months or longer and “include multiple waves of illness,” a report obtained by CNN shows.
Coronavirus kills 3 family members and sickens 4 others after a dinner in New Jersey
“We need to start treating every person as though they have this,” one doctor says, urging the public to keep a safe distance from others.
Stranded US travelers express frustration as lawmakers call for answers
Americans stranded around the world after transportation shutdowns and border closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic say they are struggling to get help from the State Department, with their distress potentially set to become the biggest test of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s tenure.
The new coronavirus can last on surfaces for up to three days, study says
The coronavirus driving the current pandemic can live on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to three days, researchers say in a study published as a letter to the editor in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Oil collapses by another 24% to $20. It hasn’t been this low since 2002
The nightmare in the oil industry keeps getting worse. It’s now facing the weakest oil price since the first term of President George W. Bush.
Trump Signs Coronavirus Aid Bill
WASHINGTON ― After some changes that watered down its paid sick leave provisions over the weekend, a bipartisan bill offering financial relief to vulnerable Americans affected by the coronavirus was passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by Trumpon Wednesday. Forty-five Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to send the measure to his desk.
Tokyo Olympics & coronavirus: Lord Coe says too early to decide on cancellation
It is too early to decide whether to cancel the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, says World Athletics chief Lord Coe. The International Olympic Committee has said the Games could still begin on 24 July despite the coronavirus pandemic causing other events to be cancelled.
Coronavirus: Your questions answered, live – BBC News
Those were Boris Johnson’s words earlier this week. And it’s true. Not many of us have gone through an experience like coronavirus before. And at times like this, it can be hard to know who and what to trust.
Coronavirus: Premier League set to push to complete the season
The Premier League is expected to reiterate its commitment to completing the season in Thursday’s emergency board meeting held via conference call. All games have been postponed until at least 4 April because of coronavirus. But with the pandemic set to continue much longer than that, the league is expected to acknowledge there will be no action for several weeks after that.
What’s it really like being in lockdown with the virus? – BBC Reel
Two local filmmakers have been recording life inside Wuhan, the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak, for over 50 days since the city went under lockdown in January. Produced and Edited by: Natalia Zuo Filmed by: Lin Wenhua, Cai Kaihai, ErGeng TV, Chuanchuan Co-producers: Jane McMullen, Yitsing Wang Executive producer: Ben Allen Follow BBC Reel on Twitter for all our latest videos and exclusive content.
New York Stock Exchange closes trading floor
The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is set to shut in the latest coronavirus-related closure. The Intercontinental Exchange, which operates the NYSE, said all buying and selling of shares will happen electronically from 23 March. Much of the trading is already electronic.
Samsung shuts down stores in the U.S. and Canada
Samsung has shut down its branded stores in the U.S. and Canada, the company said in notices on its U.S. and Canadian websites. Citing the “health and safety of our employees, customers and partners” as its “top priority,” Samsung said the measure became effective on Tuesday, March 17.
PS5’s audio is so advanced, you might have to take a test for it
We’re still quite a ways off from the expected holiday 2020 launch of the PlayStation 5, but Sony gave us some nuggets of information to chew on this week while we’re all cooped up in our homes. Sony held a live-streamed briefing called “The Road to PS5” on Wednesday afternoon.
Zuckerberg tries to prevent Facebook server ‘melt down’ as WhatsApp call volume spikes
In countries where the novel coronavirus has disrupted daily life, the digital phone’s been ringing off the hook. That news comes directly from Mark Zuckerberg who, on a Wednesday conference call regarding Facebook’s response to COVID-19, told members of the press that the voice call volume for WhatsApp and Messenger in Italy, and other countries significantly affected by the coronavirus is more than double normal levels.
This song about coronavirus, written by 2 little kids, is surprisingly touching
Remember that little kid’s song about dinosaur extinction that went viral a few weeks ago? Well, four-year-old Fenn just released a follow-up. This time it’s a collaboration with both her father and her six-year-old sister, Bess. The title is “Virus in the Tree.”
Jimmy Kimmel hides from the coronavirus and his kids in a home office monologue
“Yesterday our president Donald Trump gave himself a 10 out of 10 for the way he’s handled this situation,” said Jimmy Kimmel from his home office on Tuesday. “Gave himself a 10. Which, incidentally, is the same amount of testing kits that are currently available in the United States right now.”
