Virus Outbreak, ADVISORY
Desperate travelers are choking European border crossings after countries implemented strict controls to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Officials at Johns Hopkins University say the virus has now infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and killed more than 8,000. They also said more than 82,000 people recovered from the virus, which causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people, although severe illness is more likely in the elderly and those with existing health problems. European leaders have closed borders to nonessential traffic, while leaving many open to cross-border workers and trucks carrying critical goods like food and medicine. That has led to massive backups of travelers and trucks alike.
The AP plans the following coverage. For up-to-the minute information, visit AP Newsroom's coverage hub at https://newsroom.ap.org/page/Coronavirus
UPCOMING:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-DELAYED CARE: Cancer patients are being told to delay some surgeries. An infertility association has told its members to delay helping couples who are trying to get pregnant. Doctors in virtually every field are scrambling to adjust medical practices and advice as the new coronavirus spreads. UK has ordered all non-virus stuff to end. UPCOMING: 800 words by 3 p.m., photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FOOD BANKS: Food banks across the country are taking a hit amid the coronavirus outbreak. On a typical day at the vast food bank warehouse in San Jose, California, 80 to 100 volunteers pack food into boxes to be shipped out to distribution sites. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos, by 1 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SUPPLIES: The federal government is rushing protective equipment to states for medical workers who will be on the front lines of the growing coronavirus pandemic. But at least in two states promised deliveries are falling far short of requests and even include expired items. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos, by 4 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPANISH SPEAKERS: As government officials continue to ring the alarm bell about the coronavirus, all over the nation, they’re doing so predominantly in English. They’re potentially not reaching the millions of Spanish speakers in the U.S. who aren’t proficient in English. In Arizona, state officials say they're still translating material. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos, by 5 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEDIA: News organizations across the country are dropping paywalls to keep their communities in the loop, a move that might also pay business dividends. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos, by 3 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVING ROOM CONCERTS: John Legend says if he can’t perform live for his fans because of social distancing and the growing coronavirus, he’ll livestream a performance from his living room. Chris Martin, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, Miley Cryus, OneRepublic and more stars are performing concerts and communicating with their fans from their homes via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram while the world hunkers down. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos, by 5 p.m.
SENT/DEVELOPING:
VIRUS OUTBREAK: Desperate travelers are choking European border crossings after countries implemented strict controls to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Officials at Johns Hopkins University say the virus has now infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and killed more than 8,000. SENT; developing. WITH VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST and VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING
FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks are falling sharply on Wall Street as fears spread that the coronavirus is causing a global recession. SENT; developing. WITH FINANCIAL MARKETS-THE LATEST and VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS FALLOUT
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECONOMY ANALYSIS: No one knows how long it will last or how much it will hurt. But the U.S. economy is either sliding into a recession for the first time since 2009 or is already in one — a sudden victim of the coronavirus outbreak. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA-US-MEXICO: The U.S. and Canada have agreed to temporarily close their shared border to nonessential travel and the Trump administration is considering a plan to turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is using Twitter to air his grievances and boasts even as he announces new measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. SENT; developing.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: The Senate is turning to a House-passed coronavirus response bill, as lawmakers and the Trump administration work behind the scenes to draft a separate massive federal measure to help blunt the virus' effect on the economy. SENT; developing. WITH VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS VOTING.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP BUDGET: President Donald Trump has sent lawmakers a $46 billion emergency funding request to help the government fight the coronavirus. It reverses cuts proposed just last month to the Centers for Disease Control, the front-line agency in fighting the battle. SENT; developing.
UNITED STATES-CHINA: Badly strained ties between the United States and China are deteriorating further with harsh accusations and bitter name-calling over responsibility for the spread of the novel coronavirus. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST: Iran says the new coronavirus has killed 147 more people, a nearly 15% spike that raises the death toll to 1,135 people amid 17,361 infections in the country. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BETTER RESULTS: As the coronavirus spreads ever further, it's clear some strategies are more likely to contain it: pro-active efforts to track down and isolate cases, access to basic, affordable public health care and clear, reassuring messaging from leaders. SENT: 1200 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA'S POOR: For India’s homeless and urban poor, maintaining the hygiene level needed to prevent the spread of the virus can be nearly impossible because of a lack of access to clean water. SENT: 700 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MOST VULNERABLE: Long-running wars and conflicts in the Mideast have wrecked potential defenses against outbreaks such as the new coronavirus, leaving millions vulnerable in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere. SENT: 1150 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-VOTE BY MAIL: The head of the Democratic National Committee and several voting rights groups are calling on states to mail ballots to all voters to keep remaining primaries running as the coronavirus pandemic is keeping millions of Americans at home. SENT: 660 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-A DIFFERENT RESOLVE: The arrival of the coronavirus, and the muted methods being recommended to the public to arrest its spread, are a hard sell for some Americans, and that’s not surprising. The central mythology across much of the country’s history has been about getting up and going out to do what needs to be done — not staying home, being quiet and practicing what can look a whole lot like inaction. SENT: 850 words, photos.
ALSO:
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH KOREA: North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un admitted the country lacked modern medical facilities in a rare assessment of its system and said improving its health care was “crucial” as he marked the construction of a new hospital. SENT: 800 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GHOST TOWN: Arizona’s moment in the presidential political spotlight disappeared as the nation mobilized to confront the coronavirus outbreak. It left an anticlimactic election that didn’t feel much like an election. SENT: 650 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RIO CHRIST: Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue closed to the public at day-end Tuesday and will remain closed for at least a week to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. SENT: 660 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-TOM HANKS: Tom Hanks says he has the “blahs" but no fever as he and his wife Rita Wilson remain in isolation after contracting the coronavirus. SENT: 550 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PHILIPPINES: The Philippine government has lifted a 72-hour deadline for thousands of foreign travelers to leave the country’s main northern Luzon region. SENT: 400 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOCIAL DISTANCING-PHOTO GALLERY: A new virus has rapidly redefined the concept of respecting personal space for tactile Italians, as well as for South Koreans, Filipinos, Americans, Spaniards and citizens of many other crowded parts of the wordl. SENT: 460 words.
TRUMP-SPAIN: The White House is postponing an upcoming state visit by Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia because of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 300 words.