March 17, 2020
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has sickened at least 167,515 people and killed 6,606, according to the latest World Health Organization data release 16 March 2020. The total number of cases of infection is believed to be higher than what has been reported due to limited testing.
Countries around the world have restricted travel and are urging citizens to avoid crowds which could spread the virus. The Grasswire team is bringing together information from around the world highlighting how governments and private organizations are reacting to the disease.
Verified government information sources
- World Health Organization and daily Situation Reports
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Coronavirus testing
Limiting the spread of viruses and diseases
During an address to the nation, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar urged the people of Ireland to “come together as a nation by staying apart from each other.” Varadkar said that despite the number of cases in the country being “relatively small” so far, the government believes that the number will “rise to fifteen thousands cases or more by the end of the month and rise further in the weeks thereafter.”
The prime minister announced that large public gatherings have been cancelled while pubs and bars have been shut down.
“Viruses pay no attention to borders.. race… nationality… or gender,” Varadkar said. “They are the shared enemy of all humanity. So it will be the shared enterprise of all humanity that finds a treatment and a vaccine that protects us.”
Las Vegas Sands Corp. is closing The Venetian, Palazzo and the Sands Expo and Convention Center. Sands says “team members” will continue to be paid and not have health care eligibility impacted. No layoffs/furloughs being considered.https://t.co/A3u5Ij5B6E
— David Fucillo (@davidfucillo) March 17, 2020
#BREAKING First death from coronavirus in Turkey, says health minister pic.twitter.com/1Fs8sshWm0
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 17, 2020
Many newsrooms will unfortunately wind up with confirmed cases of COVID-19. CBS, ABC, NBC, NYT, Vox all have, and now CNN: An employee who works at CNN NYC has tested positive. According to a memo to CNN NYC staffers, "the employee is in very good health as of today."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 17, 2020