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Coronavirus Live Updates: Louisiana Official to Propose Delaying Primary as U.S. Aims to Speed Testing Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump to Declare National Emergency and Louisiana Will Delay Primary
(32 minutes later)
新冠病毒疫情最新消息新冠病毒疫情最新消息
The Trump administration moved on Friday to dramatically speed up coronavirus screening, introducing an emergency hotline for private laboratories and new partnerships with companies developing tests that can detect the virus within an hour. President Trump is expected to declare a national emergency on Friday afternoon, a move that would give him authority to use $40 billion of funds allocated by Congress for disaster relief to address the coronavirus crisis.
The unit within the Department of Health and Human Services that does biomedical research will award over a million dollars to two companies, DiaSorin Molecular and Qiagen, to speed up the development of the tests, the department announced Friday morning. Mr. Trump, according to a senior administration official, is expected to invoke the Stafford Act, a law that empowers the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster response and aid state and local governments.
The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that a 24-hour emergency hotline would be created to help private-sector and academic labs authorize new tests and process the ones deployed. The president had indicated in recent days that he had been briefed the law and could use it to address the pandemic, and Democratic lawmakers like Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, have been pressing him to invoke it.
Health and Human Services also made drastic changes to the team overseeing the distribution of tests to public and private labs, installing Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for the agency, to oversee the efforts. “We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “I have it memorized, practically, as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something, I’ll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about.”
Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Stephen Hahn, the F.D.A. commissioner, now must report to Admiral Giroir, said Alex M. Azar II, the health and human services secretary. His decision to employ the Stafford Act to address the coronavirus crisis was first reported by Bloomberg News.
The move was another indication of tension among top health officials as the Trump administration has struggled to catch up with the demand nationally at public health labs. Still, the details of Mr. Trump’s announcement, another official cautioned, were in flux and being finalized ahead of a 3 p.m. news conference that Mr. Trump announced on Twitter Friday morning.
The C.D.C. botched its first attempt to mass produce a diagnostic kit, a discovery made only after officials had shipped hundreds of kits to state laboratories. Louisiana will postpone its upcoming primary election for two months, becoming the first state in the nation to adjust its elections in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
A promised replacement took several weeks, and still did not permit state and local laboratories to make final diagnoses. And the C.D.C. essentially ensured that Americans would be tested in very few numbers by imposing stringent and narrow criteria. The secretary of state, R. Kyle Ardoin, made the announcement at a news conference on Friday afternoon. His press secretary, Tyler Brey, confirmed that the secretary had “statutory authority to say that there’s an emergency in the state and request an executive order that would postpone the election.”
Stocks rebounded on Friday from their worst day in more than 30 years, a rally pinned partly to signs of movement in Washington and a declaration by leaders in Germany, which has Europe’s biggest economy, to spend whatever it would take to support businesses there. Louisiana was scheduled to hold its presidential primary elections on April 4. The next four states scheduled to vote in the primary — Ohio, Arizona, Florida and Illinois — have all indicated that they intend to hold their elections on time, on March 17, though they have instituted safeguards.
By late morning in New York, the S&P 500 was up about 3 percent. The Trump administration moved on Friday to drastically speed up coronavirus testing, rushing to catch up with overwhelming demand for tests as the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. climbed past 1,650, the death toll rose to 41 and hospitals began to be stretched thin by surges in patients.
The buying also swept through markets in Europe, with major indexes rising as much as 10 percent. Oil prices, which have collapsed in recent weeks, rose 7 percent and yields on U.S. government bonds rose. The F.D.A. gave the Swiss health care giant Roche emergency permission to sell its three-and-a-half hour test to U.S. labs, and the Department of Health and Human Services said it was awarding over a million dollars to two companies, DiaSorin Molecular and Qiagen, to speed the development of one-hour tests.
All of those moves were signals that investors felt a touch better about the outlook for the economy than they did a day ago. Testing has lagged in the country, infuriating the public, local leaders and members of Congress. Sick people across the country say they are being denied tests. While South Korea is testing 10,000 people a day, overall U.S. state and federal testing has yet to log even 15,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But financial markets have been nothing if not inconsistent for the past three weeks, plunging, and then rising, and then plunging again, as each day brought new measures to try to contain the outbreak and new worries that the economy, workers and businesses would take a hit as a result of them. The C.D.C. reports that it has run a total of 3,903 tests and that public health labs in 48 states, New York City and seven California counties have run 9,721.
On Thursday, stocks on Wall Street and in Europe plunged in their biggest daily drop since the stock market crashed in 1987, as President Trump’s ban on entry from most European countries to the United States disappointed investors who had been waiting for Washington to take stronger steps to bolster the economy. The F.D.A. also made drastic changes to the team overseeing the distribution of tests, installing an assistant secretary, Adm. Brett P. Giroir, to oversee the efforts. The move was another indication of tension among top health officials.
But late Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said that she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had “resolved most of our differences” on a package of economic aid for workers and companies, pledging a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday. On Thursday, under persistent questioning about exactly who was in charge of seeing that people who needed tests got them, top health officials were unable to provide a name. One of them, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, finally responded: “The system does not, is not really geared to what we need right now, what you are asking for. That is a failing. It is a failing, let’s admit it.”
Adding to the positive news for markets, the German government said on Friday that it would not put any limit on fiscal stimulus, and that it would take on debt if needed to bolster its economy. “The idea of anybody getting it, easily, the way people in other countries are doing it, we are not set up for that,” Dr. Fauci added. “Do I think we should be? Yes. But we are not.”
A fundamental divide over how many Americans should be paid to stay home from work amid the coronavirus outbreak has emerged as a snag in negotiations over a multi-billion-dollar federal response to the mounting health and economic damage from the virus. Stocks rallied briefly on Friday, after their worst day in more than 30 years, but the gains quickly faded amid continuing fears of a downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Governments in Washington and beyond continued their recent pattern of moves to bolster economic confidence, but it was not enough to calm investors’ nerves. The S&P 500 index gained 5 percent in early trading, but was up only about 1 percent at midday.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said on Friday that it would complete half of its planned $80 billion of government bond purchases for the month today, trying to inject liquidity into markets.
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Major European indexes soared as much as 10 percent early in the day, but then gave up nearly all their gains. Oil prices also jumped and then fell again.
Financial markets have dropped repeatedly in recent weeks, occasionally rallying before plunging again in the face of more coronavirus news.
On Thursday, stocks on Wall Street and in Europe plunged in their biggest daily drop since the stock market crashed in 1987, as President Trump’s ban on entry from most European countries to the United States disappointed investors who had been waiting for Washington to take stronger steps to bolster the economy.
A fundamental divide over how many Americans should be paid to stay home from work amid the coronavirus outbreak has emerged as a snag in negotiations over a multi-billion-dollar federal response to the mounting health and economic damage from the virus.
House Democrats are planning to vote today on a bill, negotiated with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, that includes several measures meant to combat the spread of the virus and cushion its shock to the economy. One of those is a plan to provide paid leave to workers affected by the virus, ensuring compensation for people who do not go to work during the outbreak.House Democrats are planning to vote today on a bill, negotiated with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, that includes several measures meant to combat the spread of the virus and cushion its shock to the economy. One of those is a plan to provide paid leave to workers affected by the virus, ensuring compensation for people who do not go to work during the outbreak.
But Republicans are objecting to the program as overly broad, concerned that it could encourage healthy people to stay home — a measure that many public health officials have recommended — and thus chilling economic activity. Instead, Republicans want to confine the help to workers who have contracted the virus or must care for sick family members or children whose schools have closed.But Republicans are objecting to the program as overly broad, concerned that it could encourage healthy people to stay home — a measure that many public health officials have recommended — and thus chilling economic activity. Instead, Republicans want to confine the help to workers who have contracted the virus or must care for sick family members or children whose schools have closed.
Democrats argue the measure should go further, and protect workers from being forced to expose themselves to the virus.Democrats argue the measure should go further, and protect workers from being forced to expose themselves to the virus.
“No worker should have to choose between putting themselves at risk of contracting coronavirus and being to pay their bills and support their families,” Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, said in a news release this week.“No worker should have to choose between putting themselves at risk of contracting coronavirus and being to pay their bills and support their families,” Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, said in a news release this week.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is self-isolating after his wife tested positive, and Canada’s Parliament went into recess.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is self-isolating after his wife tested positive, and Canada’s Parliament went into recess.
A top adviser to Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive days after he, Mr. Bolsonaro and other Brazilian officials met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, raising fears that not one but two presidents might have been exposed. Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami, who also met the Brazilian delegation, said on Friday that he tested positive.A top adviser to Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive days after he, Mr. Bolsonaro and other Brazilian officials met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, raising fears that not one but two presidents might have been exposed. Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami, who also met the Brazilian delegation, said on Friday that he tested positive.
The Australian minister for home affairs, Peter Dutton, tested positive on Friday, days after meeting with Attorney General William P. Barr and Ivanka Trump.The Australian minister for home affairs, Peter Dutton, tested positive on Friday, days after meeting with Attorney General William P. Barr and Ivanka Trump.
The reach of the virus into the world’s highest political reaches was a stark reminder — if one was needed — that the pathogen knows no limits and that no corner of daily life was immune.The reach of the virus into the world’s highest political reaches was a stark reminder — if one was needed — that the pathogen knows no limits and that no corner of daily life was immune.
Mr. Bolsonaro said on Friday that he had tested negative, though people in the early stages of infection often do. The White House said Mr. Trump had no need to be tested.Mr. Bolsonaro said on Friday that he had tested negative, though people in the early stages of infection often do. The White House said Mr. Trump had no need to be tested.
Mr. Barr stayed home on Friday as a precautionary measure. The C.D.C. is not recommending that he be tested at this point, according to Kerri Kupec, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department. “The A.G. is feeling great and not showing any symptoms,” Ms. Kupec said.Mr. Barr stayed home on Friday as a precautionary measure. The C.D.C. is not recommending that he be tested at this point, according to Kerri Kupec, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department. “The A.G. is feeling great and not showing any symptoms,” Ms. Kupec said.
Mr. Dutton revealed his diagnosis on Twitter, adding, “I feel fine and will provide an update in due course.”Mr. Dutton revealed his diagnosis on Twitter, adding, “I feel fine and will provide an update in due course.”
The epidemic also touched on the lives of ordinary people who are, for the most part, still in good health, as an avalanche of cancellations and closings gathered speed.The epidemic also touched on the lives of ordinary people who are, for the most part, still in good health, as an avalanche of cancellations and closings gathered speed.
In the United States, Broadway has gone dark and Disney parks are shutting their doors for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In Paris, the Louvre said it will close on Friday.In the United States, Broadway has gone dark and Disney parks are shutting their doors for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In Paris, the Louvre said it will close on Friday.
Nearly every sport has been affected, including soccer, with the English Premier League the latest to announce suspension of play. The Boston Marathon and the Masters golf tournament were also called off. Even Mount Everest was closed to climbers on Friday. Nearly every sport has been affected, including soccer, with the English Premier League and Germany’s Bundesliga the latest to announce suspension of play. The Boston Marathon and the Masters golf tournament were also called off. Even Mount Everest was closed to climbers on Friday.
At least six states and several large school districts moved on Thursday to close schools for at least two weeks, extreme measures that they hope will stem the spread of the coronavirus, but which come at the cost of upending the daily lives of 6 million schoolchildren and their parents.At least six states and several large school districts moved on Thursday to close schools for at least two weeks, extreme measures that they hope will stem the spread of the coronavirus, but which come at the cost of upending the daily lives of 6 million schoolchildren and their parents.
All public schools, and many if not all private schools, in Oregon, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico were told to close beginning next week, and the governor of Washington State ordered all schools shut in three counties near Seattle. The Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas, also said it was closing for two weeks.All public schools, and many if not all private schools, in Oregon, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico were told to close beginning next week, and the governor of Washington State ordered all schools shut in three counties near Seattle. The Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas, also said it was closing for two weeks.
The actions came as the number of people who have been infected with the coronavirus in the United States jumped by nearly 400 on Thursday. The virus has been diagnosed in more than 1,650 people in 46 states and has killed at least 41 people, according to a New York Times database. The closings could have a severe effect on parents who will need to find child care, and on the many students who depend on the cafeteria for food and the school for shelter.The actions came as the number of people who have been infected with the coronavirus in the United States jumped by nearly 400 on Thursday. The virus has been diagnosed in more than 1,650 people in 46 states and has killed at least 41 people, according to a New York Times database. The closings could have a severe effect on parents who will need to find child care, and on the many students who depend on the cafeteria for food and the school for shelter.
In Kentucky, for example, 75 percent of public school students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. In Ohio, there are more than 25,000 students who are defined as homeless.In Kentucky, for example, 75 percent of public school students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. In Ohio, there are more than 25,000 students who are defined as homeless.
Some of the largest school districts in the country have remained open amid the coronavirus threat. Officials in New York, home to the nation’s largest school district, have said closing its schools would be a last resort. In Los Angeles, the second-largest district, the superintendent said on Thursday night that schools would remain open for the time being, despite the teachers’ union calling on him to close it.Some of the largest school districts in the country have remained open amid the coronavirus threat. Officials in New York, home to the nation’s largest school district, have said closing its schools would be a last resort. In Los Angeles, the second-largest district, the superintendent said on Thursday night that schools would remain open for the time being, despite the teachers’ union calling on him to close it.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said on Friday that the country would be placed under a state of emergency for 15 days, which could allow his government to restrict the movement of citizens, ration goods and impose other measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said on Friday that the country would be placed under a state of emergency for 15 days, which could allow his government to restrict the movement of citizens, ration goods and impose other measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision came as Spain reported about 4,200 confirmed infections, the most in Europe after Italy. The Spanish death toll reached 120 on Friday.The decision came as Spain reported about 4,200 confirmed infections, the most in Europe after Italy. The Spanish death toll reached 120 on Friday.
Earlier Friday, Spain ordered its first mandatory lockdowns, of four towns in Catalonia, with about 70,000 people.Earlier Friday, Spain ordered its first mandatory lockdowns, of four towns in Catalonia, with about 70,000 people.
In a brief televised address, Mr. Sánchez said that the state of emergency would come into force on Saturday, after a ministerial meeting, and that it was designed to use “all the resources of the state to protect better the citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable to the virus.”In a brief televised address, Mr. Sánchez said that the state of emergency would come into force on Saturday, after a ministerial meeting, and that it was designed to use “all the resources of the state to protect better the citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable to the virus.”
Mr. Sánchez said that Spain and other European countries were “only in the first phase of the fight against the virus.” He warned that Spain could reach 10,000 cases in coming weeks.Mr. Sánchez said that Spain and other European countries were “only in the first phase of the fight against the virus.” He warned that Spain could reach 10,000 cases in coming weeks.
But Mr. Sánchez did not specify what kinds of measure would be imposed under a state of emergency. “We will take weeks,” he said. “It will be very hard and difficult, but we will overcome the virus, that’s certain.” The government has already closed museums and sports centers, and students nationwide were sent home from school this week.But Mr. Sánchez did not specify what kinds of measure would be imposed under a state of emergency. “We will take weeks,” he said. “It will be very hard and difficult, but we will overcome the virus, that’s certain.” The government has already closed museums and sports centers, and students nationwide were sent home from school this week.
The coronavirus has spread at an alarming rate in Spain over the past week, with the Madrid region becoming the center of the health crisis and two of Mr. Sánchez’s ministers testing positive for the virus.The coronavirus has spread at an alarming rate in Spain over the past week, with the Madrid region becoming the center of the health crisis and two of Mr. Sánchez’s ministers testing positive for the virus.
Under the Spanish Constitution, the government can maintain a nationwide state of emergency for 15 days. The law also allows the government to requisition factories and other infrastructure. Parliament must approve an extension.Under the Spanish Constitution, the government can maintain a nationwide state of emergency for 15 days. The law also allows the government to requisition factories and other infrastructure. Parliament must approve an extension.
The only other time that Spain declared a state of emergency was in 2010, when the government ordered the military to break up a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers that brought to air traffic to a standstill.The only other time that Spain declared a state of emergency was in 2010, when the government ordered the military to break up a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers that brought to air traffic to a standstill.
Iran’s supreme leader has ordered the military to take charge of fighting the coronavirus epidemic, citing what he called the possibility that the scourge was a “biological attack” and the potential need for “biological defense.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s written order on Thursday called on the armed forces to create a military base for health care and preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease in Iran, which has one of the world’s worst outbreaks.
Satellite photos appear to show the digging of mass graves in Qom, the holy city where the outbreak began.
President Hassan Rouhani’s government has struggled to contain the spread and has been heavily criticized for its management of the crisis, which has been cloaked in secrecy. The mobilization of the military by Mr. Khamenei, who commands the armed forces, amounts to an admission that the response has been inadequate.
Iran’s government reported on Thursday that the new virus had infected 10,750 people and killed 429. But a tally of deaths reported by local governors and health officials in 30 provinces places the number of fatalities closer to 800 people, according to a report by BBC Persian.
At least 30 officials, including vice presidents, cabinet ministers and Parliament members, have been infected, including members of Mr. Khamenei’s inner circle. The supreme leader’s chief foreign policy adviser and his chief accountant have both tested positive, Iranian state media have reported.
Iran’s economy, already strained under U.S. economic sanctions, has taken a further hit from the epidemic. Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for a $5 billion emergency loan — the first time since 1962 that Iran has sought such assistance.
Germany is making a package of economic assistance worth more than $600 billion available to help companies in Europe’s largest economy survive the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, the country’s economy minister, Peter Altmaier, said on Friday.Germany is making a package of economic assistance worth more than $600 billion available to help companies in Europe’s largest economy survive the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, the country’s economy minister, Peter Altmaier, said on Friday.
“There will be no upper limits for the amount of credit” from the government-owned lender KfW Bankengruppe, Mr. Altmaier said. “This is the time for working together.”“There will be no upper limits for the amount of credit” from the government-owned lender KfW Bankengruppe, Mr. Altmaier said. “This is the time for working together.”
As new infections have risen across the Continent, and daily life has ground to a halt in many places, businesses have been left reeling.As new infections have risen across the Continent, and daily life has ground to a halt in many places, businesses have been left reeling.
Olaf Scholz, the German finance minister, said that the government could take further steps, including taking stakes in companies, if deemed necessary. “We can’t forget the lessons of the previous financial crisis,” Mr. Scholz told reporters in Berlin.Olaf Scholz, the German finance minister, said that the government could take further steps, including taking stakes in companies, if deemed necessary. “We can’t forget the lessons of the previous financial crisis,” Mr. Scholz told reporters in Berlin.
Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to citizens to reduce their social contacts “wherever possible,” as the number of infections in Germany passed 3,000, with six deaths.Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to citizens to reduce their social contacts “wherever possible,” as the number of infections in Germany passed 3,000, with six deaths.
“Exceptional situations call for exceptional measures,” Ms. Merkel said on Thursday after meeting with state governors. “This is anything but a little blip in the course of history. It is a break that will challenge all of us.”“Exceptional situations call for exceptional measures,” Ms. Merkel said on Thursday after meeting with state governors. “This is anything but a little blip in the course of history. It is a break that will challenge all of us.”
Today, we look at how the places you interact with daily are ensuring they stay safe while still being able to function, including how gyms should be disinfecting their equipment, new guidance for building managers, and how needed changes may affect workers.Today, we look at how the places you interact with daily are ensuring they stay safe while still being able to function, including how gyms should be disinfecting their equipment, new guidance for building managers, and how needed changes may affect workers.
Broadway will go dark for at least a month beginning Thursday, after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York announced restrictions on public gatherings in an extraordinary step to fight the growing outbreak of the coronavirus. Broadway started going dark for at least a month beginning Thursday, after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York announced restrictions on public gatherings in an extraordinary step to fight the growing outbreak of the coronavirus.
The governor’s decision to limit gatherings of more than 500 people was a blow to the theater industry, a crown jewel of New York City’s tourist trade. Last season, the industry drew 14.8 million patrons and grossed $1.8 billion.The governor’s decision to limit gatherings of more than 500 people was a blow to the theater industry, a crown jewel of New York City’s tourist trade. Last season, the industry drew 14.8 million patrons and grossed $1.8 billion.
All 41 Broadway theaters have at least 500 seats, and most have more than 1,000.All 41 Broadway theaters have at least 500 seats, and most have more than 1,000.
At a later news conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency for New York City, which will empower him to take expedited measures to control the outbreak; he could, for example, implement a curfew, limit traffic to emergency vehicles or suspend certain laws. At a later news conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency for New York City, which empowers him to take expedited measures to control the outbreak; he could, for example, implement a curfew, limit traffic to emergency vehicles or suspend certain laws.
Mr. de Blasio said that New Yorkers should prepare themselves for restrictions that could last as long as six months.Mr. de Blasio said that New Yorkers should prepare themselves for restrictions that could last as long as six months.
Cases in New York State grew to 325, with 95 cases in New York City. Mr. de Blasio suggested that there would be 1,000 positive cases by next week as testing increased.Cases in New York State grew to 325, with 95 cases in New York City. Mr. de Blasio suggested that there would be 1,000 positive cases by next week as testing increased.
China is pushing a new theory about the origins of the coronavirus: It is an American disease that might have been introduced by members of the United States Army who visited Wuhan in October.China is pushing a new theory about the origins of the coronavirus: It is an American disease that might have been introduced by members of the United States Army who visited Wuhan in October.
There is not a shred of evidence to support that, but the notion received an official endorsement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose spokesman accused American officials of not coming clean about what they know about the disease.There is not a shred of evidence to support that, but the notion received an official endorsement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose spokesman accused American officials of not coming clean about what they know about the disease.
China, under diplomatic pressure for the early missteps in handling the outbreak, has sought to deflect attention from those failings at home and abroad and now turned to a well-worn practice of blaming internal problems on foreign actors.China, under diplomatic pressure for the early missteps in handling the outbreak, has sought to deflect attention from those failings at home and abroad and now turned to a well-worn practice of blaming internal problems on foreign actors.
“The conspiracy theories are a new, low front in what they clearly perceive as a global competition over the narrative of this crisis,” Julian B. Gewirtz, a scholar at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard, said of the Chinese.“The conspiracy theories are a new, low front in what they clearly perceive as a global competition over the narrative of this crisis,” Julian B. Gewirtz, a scholar at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard, said of the Chinese.
In the United States, a number of politicians and media personalities have promoted comparably preposterous conspiracy theories.In the United States, a number of politicians and media personalities have promoted comparably preposterous conspiracy theories.
Speaking on Fox News, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, raised the possibility that the virus was manufactured by the Chinese government in a high-security biochemical lab in Wuhan. Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist and Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio talk show host, have also pushed this theory, which has been dismissed by scientists.Speaking on Fox News, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, raised the possibility that the virus was manufactured by the Chinese government in a high-security biochemical lab in Wuhan. Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist and Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio talk show host, have also pushed this theory, which has been dismissed by scientists.
China said on Friday there had been eight new officially confirmed infections from the virus in the past 24 hours, and seven deaths from it. It was its lowest official tally since the country imposed emergency measures in January.China said on Friday there had been eight new officially confirmed infections from the virus in the past 24 hours, and seven deaths from it. It was its lowest official tally since the country imposed emergency measures in January.
First came a tickle in her throat. Then, a hacking cough. Then, a shortness of breath she had never experienced before. Hillary King, a 32-year-old consultant in Boston, who lives down the street from a hotel where dozens of Biogen executives contracted the new coronavirus, decided she had better get tested.
But getting tested is far easier said than done, even as testing slowly ramps up nationwide. Just days after President Trump announced that anyone who wanted a test could get a test, Ms. King’s experience shows how difficult it can be in the United States to find out if you have the coronavirus. Many who fear they have the virus have faced one roadblock after another as they try to get tested, according to interviews with dozens of people across the country.
Some have been rejected because they had no symptoms, even though they had been in proximity to someone who tested positive. Others were told no because they had not traveled to a hot spot abroad, even though they had fevers and hacking coughs and lived in cities with growing outbreaks. Still others were told a bitter truth: There simply were not enough tests to go around.
“The system is not really geared to what we need right now, what you are asking for,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday. “It is a failing. I mean, let’s admit it.”
The inability to test widely in the United States — which is far behind other countries in this regard — has severely hampered efforts to contain the outbreak. An early test rolled out to states by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was flawed, and delays have continued ever since. Public health experts have warned that each day people do not know whether they have the virus, they risk spreading it more widely.
The mayor of one town complained that doctors were forced to decide not to treat the very old, leaving them to die. In another town, patients with coronavirus-caused pneumonia were being sent home.The mayor of one town complained that doctors were forced to decide not to treat the very old, leaving them to die. In another town, patients with coronavirus-caused pneumonia were being sent home.
In less than three weeks, the coronavirus has overloaded the heath care system all over northern Italy. It has turned the hard hit Lombardy region into a grim glimpse of what awaits countries if they cannot slow the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve” of new cases — allowing the sick to be treated without swamping the capacity of hospitals.In less than three weeks, the coronavirus has overloaded the heath care system all over northern Italy. It has turned the hard hit Lombardy region into a grim glimpse of what awaits countries if they cannot slow the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve” of new cases — allowing the sick to be treated without swamping the capacity of hospitals.
If not, even hospitals in developed countries with the world’s best health care risk becoming triage wards, forcing ordinary doctors and nurses to make extraordinary decisions about who may live and who may die. Wealthy northern Italy is facing a version of that nightmare already.If not, even hospitals in developed countries with the world’s best health care risk becoming triage wards, forcing ordinary doctors and nurses to make extraordinary decisions about who may live and who may die. Wealthy northern Italy is facing a version of that nightmare already.
“This is a war,” said Massimo Puoti, the head of infectious medicine at the Niguarda hospital in Milan, one of the largest in Lombardy.“This is a war,” said Massimo Puoti, the head of infectious medicine at the Niguarda hospital in Milan, one of the largest in Lombardy.
This week Italy put in place draconian measures — restricting movement and closing all stores except for pharmacies, groceries and other essential services. But they did not come in time to prevent the surge of cases.This week Italy put in place draconian measures — restricting movement and closing all stores except for pharmacies, groceries and other essential services. But they did not come in time to prevent the surge of cases.
Reporting was contributed by Ian Austen, Ernesto Londoño, Melissa Eddy, Aurelien Breeden, Constant Méheut, Elisabetta Povoledo, Ivan Nechepurenko, Raphael Minder, Steven Erlanger, Marc Santora, Megan Specia, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Steven Lee Myers, Andrew Higgins, Damien Cave, Farah Stockman, Hannah Beech, Heather Murphy, Gillian Wong, Jorge Arangure, Bhadra Sharma, Emily Cochrane, Jeanna Smialek, Jim Tankersley, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Neil Vigdor, Jason Horowitz, Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman, Katie Benner and Rick Gladstone.Reporting was contributed by Ian Austen, Ernesto Londoño, Melissa Eddy, Aurelien Breeden, Constant Méheut, Elisabetta Povoledo, Ivan Nechepurenko, Raphael Minder, Steven Erlanger, Marc Santora, Megan Specia, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Steven Lee Myers, Andrew Higgins, Damien Cave, Farah Stockman, Hannah Beech, Heather Murphy, Gillian Wong, Jorge Arangure, Bhadra Sharma, Emily Cochrane, Jeanna Smialek, Jim Tankersley, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Neil Vigdor, Jason Horowitz, Peter Baker, Maggie Haberman, Katie Benner and Rick Gladstone.