COVID-19 : All 50 States Report Cases; South America Has Nearly 1,000 Cases

West Virginia is not any longer coronavirus-free.

It was the ultimate state with none reports of infection by the highly contagious coronavirus, but on Tuesday evening Gov. Jim Justice announced officials have confirmed the state's first case.

"We knew it had been coming," Justice said at a press conference .

"We've prepared for this and that we shouldn't panic. we should always take care . we should always worry , but we shouldn't panic. We need to be West Virginia mountaineer strong always," he added.

Earlier within the day, President Trump praised Justice for his handling of the spread of the virus, by treating it "differently than a replacement York or California." Calling him "Big Jim," Trump said Justice "must be doing an honest job of that. ... West Virginia is that the just one that has no cases."

Later Justice, who may be a vocal supporter of Trump, attempted to assuage worries that the invention of a case within the state will disrupt lifestyle also because the economy.

"Our nation and our state goes to possess to intensify and keep you whole as best we possibly can. I can assure you that my real friend Donald Trump is completely all on board with trying to try to to just that," Justice said.

The governor ordered the closure of bars and restaurants, while still allowing carry-out and drive-through service to continue. He also mandated the closure of the state's casinos.

He had previously ordered the closure of all public and personal schools, effective Monday, also as, canceling the state's highschool basketball playoffs.

Oklahoma's Senate placed on lockdown for coronavirus testing

Members of Oklahoma's state Senate were placed on lockdown in their offices Tuesday, after the state health department said an employee at the Capitol tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

"In an email, state senators were asked to stay in their offices until they might be tested," Rachel Hubbard of member station KOSU reports from Oklahoma City . "That email came one hour after Oklahoma health officials issued an update saying that the amount of tests for the general public remains limited to the purpose of rationing which health care providers are being asked to check for other illnesses like the flu before requesting a COVID-19 test. These tests are being coordinated with a personal lab."

An email sent to senators and staff asked them to "remain in their offices and await a visit from a health care provider ," KOSU reports.

Hubbard adds, "On Monday, Oklahoma lawmakers passed rules that might allow them to suspend the legislative session until further notice, but the subsequent morning, the parking zone was filled with cars."

A shortage of testing kits is that the reason the trouble at the Senate requires a personal lab, the Oklahoma Department of Health says. The agency says it's about 350 COVID-19 test kits available . The state Senate has 48 members.

"The federal is advising us it might be 48 hours before test kits are often deployed to restock," the health department said via Twitter.

The state Senate's offices are going to be closed for the remainder of the week and employees will telework, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat said Tuesday afternoon.

Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Coronavirus within the U.S.
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Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Coronavirus within the U.S.
Life is undergoing 'radical change'

"As of today, 152 countries across the world are suffering from this new virus and over 7,000 people have lost their lives thereto ," the planet Health Organization's regional director for Europe said Tuesday, describing the reach of a coronavirus that's disrupting lives in countries round the world.

"One-third of worldwide reported cases are within the European region," the WHO's Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge said, reiterating his agency's recent acknowledgement that the COVID-19 pandemic's epicenter lies not in China, where this coronavirus was discovered in December, but in Europe.

"The lives of many people in our region are undergoing radical change. there's quite simply a replacement reality," Kluge said during a briefing that was held during a U.N. building that has been nearly completely abandoned as workers stay home to practice social distancing. As Kluge spoke, an outsized bottle of hand sanitizer sat on the table ahead of him.

The U.S. has quite 5,600 cases of the respiratory virus, as of midday Tuesday, and 94 people have died. ny is reporting some 1,700 cases, and Washington state is reporting nearly 1,000.

South America has nearly 1,000 coronavirus cases

Brazil, Peru and Chile are all reporting many coronavirus cases, as South American governments tighten restrictions on public life to hamper the spread of the deadly COVID-19 respiratory illness . The continent now has quite 940 cases.

"In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro has announced a nationwide quarantine amid deep concern about the havoc the coronavirus could cause during a nation where the health system's collapsed and there is a huge shortage of doctors, equipment and medicine," NPR's Philip Reeves reports from Rio de Janeiro for NPR's Newscast unit.

"Colombia and Argentina have closed their borders to arriving foreigners; Chile follows suit tomorrow (Wednesday). Ecuador and Paraguay have nighttime curfews," Reeves says, "and in Brazil, firemen using megaphones are patrolling beaches in Rio de Janeiro, asking people to travel home. Tourists must cancel plans to go to Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain and therefore the statue of Christ the Redeemer — like such a lot else here, they're now closed."

Here are the countries in South America reporting the foremost coronavirus cases as of 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, consistent with a dashboard created by the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering:

Brazil: 321 cases
Chile: 201
Peru: 117
Argentina: 68
Colombia: 65
Ecuador: 58
Venezuela: 33
Uruguay: 29
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Italy: Rate of latest cases slows, whilst price rises

More than 2,500 people have died of COVID-19 in Italy, the guts of the outbreak in Europe, the country's health ministry announced Tuesday afternoon. Italy is now reporting 31,506 total cases, including nearly 13,000 people that are hospitalized.

Despite the large numbers of infected people, Italy's 24-hour rise of three ,500 new cases is that the slowest rate of increase the country has seen in weeks.

"One week after the govt put the country in lockdown, health officials stress that they are doing not expect to ascertain a considerable decline within the number of positive cases until the top of next week," NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome. "After consultations with unions and business leaders, the govt has announced an outsized aid package dubbed 'Heal Italy' to assist families, workers and industries. It includes suspended tax payments, workers' compensation and export credits."

Poggioli adds that the Lombardy region, which is that the epicenter of Italy's coronavirus cases, has just received an outsized shipment of medical gear, including respirators and protective clothing, from China.

Uber and Lyft cancel shared rides

Uber and Lyft will not offer users the choice of sharing or pooling rides, because the companies attempt to limit customers' potential exposure to the coronavirus.

Both of the ride-hailing companies announced the temporary change on Tuesday.

"The health and safety of the Lyft community is our top priority, and we're dedicated to doing what we will to slow the spread of COVID-19," Lyft said via Twitter.

Lyft is halting the utilization of shared rides "across all markets." Uber is suspending its "Pool" option within the U.S. and Canada, also as in London and Paris.

"Uber and Lyft let passengers carpool, in exchange for cheaper fares," NPR's Shannon Bond reports from San Francisco . "These features are being placed on hold as cities tell people to avoid nonessential travel and occupy least 6 feet faraway from one another . the businesses are still operating their regular ride services, and UberEats remains offering food delivery."

Bus drivers in Detroit refuse to figure , citing lack of protections

Bus service was canceled in Detroit on Tuesday, after many drivers refused to figure out of concern for the coronavirus. Their complaints range from the capacity of buses to hold much more than the ten people federal health experts currently recommend as a maximum for public gatherings to insufficient cleaning and sanitizing measures.

"Due to the driving force shortage, there'll be no DDOT bus company today," the Detroit Department of Transportation announced.

The city says it's working to deal with the drivers' concerns.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says that additionally to worries directly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the drivers also are dealing with the loss of the many of their restroom break sites. due to new restrictions at hospitals and restaurants, drivers who relied on those facilities at the top of their routes "found themselves unable to scrub up and use restrooms as they came back," Duggan said, consistent with local television station Click On Detroit.

Michigan has reported 58 coronavirus cases, as of midday Tuesday ET.

Hospital in Massachusetts are going to be dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients

The Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Mass., is being remade into what's believed to be the primary U.S. hospital devoted entirely to caring for COVID-19 patients, during a process which will begin on Tuesday.

"The 135-bed hospital on Dorchester Avenue are going to be converted immediately to reinforce 'patient isolation protocols' and to marshal equipment like ventilators and private protective equipment on site," member station WBUR reports.

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Steward Health Care, which operates Carney Hospital, says the changes also will include the creation of negative pressure patient wards.

Steward, which is predicated in Dallas, "operates 35 hospitals in nine states and serves quite six million patients annually," consistent with its website.

The company says its all-COVID-19 conversion has two main goals: to determine a model for care that's dedicated to fighting the pandemic and to release other medical facilities, including emergency rooms, to assist people with other urgent conditions. Steward also says it's working to line up more drive-through testing sites.

"While we've only treated 10 confirmed COVID-19 inpatients across our quite 7,000 beds nationwide so far , we are prepared for an influx," the corporate says.

All but 1 U.S. states have reported a coronavirus case

As lately Monday, West Virginia was the sole state that has not reported a coronavirus case. But the state was also among the last to realize the power to check for the virus that causes COVID-19 — reflecting a wider problem within the U.S., where the rollout of a national testing system has been slowed by critical problems at the federal level.

West Virginia's public health lab "has tested 84 residents for COVID-19, with 80 results returning negative and 4 tests pending," the state Department of Health and Human Resources said Monday afternoon.

Like many other states, West Virginia's public lab is now being bolstered by the testing efforts of economic laboratories and a few hospitals.

UEFA postpones Euro 2020 tournament

The Union of European Football Associations is postponing its biggest tournament, Euro 2020, for 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition, which pits national teams against each other , was to possess been played in June and July.

UEFA has 55 member countries. In announcing the choice to place off the Euro tourney, it said the choice to place off the favored tournament was made not only out of concern for the security of fans of players, but also to avoid the strain its matches would placed on public services and infrastructure. In recent days, Europe has emerged because the epicenter of the pandemic, with tens of thousands of latest cases within the past week.

"We are at the helm of a sport that vast numbers of individuals live and breathe that has been stricken by this invisible and fast-moving opponent," UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said. "It is sometimes like these that the football community must show responsibility, unity, solidarity and altruism."

Under the plan, UEFA playoffs and international friendly matches that had been scheduled for the top of this month will now be played in early June, the league says, although it acknowledged that the dates are subject to further scrutiny.

Kentucky Derby is postponed

The Kentucky Derby had been scheduled to be run on May 2 – but the assets of horse racing's Triple Crown will instead be postponed until September, the Churchill Downs racetrack announced Tuesday.

The race traditionally takes place on the primary Saturday of May; this year, it'll happen on Sept. 5.

People who have already bought tickets for the race will automatically have those tickets transferred to the September date; anyone who's unable to attend can seek a refund online, the racetrack said during a statement posted on its website.

Churchill Downs attracts quite 150,000 spectators for the race. But new federal guidelines recommend limiting public gatherings to a way smaller size – on Monday, the Trump administration advised Americans to avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more.

"The most up-to-date developments have led us to form some very difficult, but we believe, necessary decisions and our hearts are with those that are or still be suffering from this pandemic," Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said of the choice .

Coronavirus: Know the fundamentals (And Wash Your Hands)
What is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19?

The name comes from the crownlike spikes the virus has on its surface — "corona" is Latin for "crown." Common human coronaviruses cause mild to moderate upper respiratory symptoms, including the cold , while more severe types can cause pneumonia and death.

This particular virus, officially referred to as SARS-CoV-2, is merely the third strain of coronavirus known to frequently cause severe symptoms in humans. the opposite two are Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

What are the symptoms?

The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some people also experience fatigue, headaches and, less frequently, diarrhea. Cases can range from mild to moderate to severe. About 80 percent of cases thus far seem to be mild, consistent with the planet Health Organization.

To prevent the coronavirus from spreading, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds or employing a hand sanitizer if a sink isn't available. The WHO says people should wear face masks as long as they're sick or caring for somebody who is.

What should I do if i feel I'm sick?

If you think that you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms, call your doctor. Many state and native health departments have found out hotlines to answer questions, so that's another good place to start out . it is vital that you simply don't expose others. Call your doctor before you attend their clinic in order that they can take necessary precautions.

How do I protect my home?

Wash your hands as soon as you rehearse the door. Avoid sharing personal items such dishes, cups, utensils. Clean and disinfect "high-touch" surfaces like door handles and cellphones a day .

How does coronavirus spread?

The virus is assumed to spread mainly between people that are in close proximity to at least one another: within about 6 feet. It spreads primarily through respiratory droplets that are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Those droplets can land within the mouth or nose of somebody nearby, and possibly infect them.

Does coronavirus spread through contact with surfaces?

According to the CDC, it's going to be possible for an individual to become infected by touching a surface or object that has the virus thereon then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes. But experts believe the virus spreads mostly through contact with people .

How do I self-quarantine? And what does it mean?

The CDC features a guide for caring for yourself reception if you've got a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.