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Coronavirus

COVID-19 Update 2020-03-18

Coronavirus

There are currently 218,131 of COVID-19 confirmed globally, up from 142,783 last Friday, with 8,937 deaths and 84,383 recoveries.

Global confirmed cases outside of China topped 100,000 on March 15th with 117,340 total cases reported as of yesterday. Outside of China, the number of cases ruffly doubled over the last 4 days, with 53,763 total cases reported March 12th. There were 8,555 confirmed cases outside China on March 1st.

Iran reported +1,192 new confirmed cases today bringing their total to 17,361. Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology, is warning that, if people cooperate now, Iran will only see 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the outbreak is over, but if their people fail to cooperate, 3.5 million of their people will die.

Italy reported +4,207 new confirmed cases today, their largest case increase to date, bringing their total to 35,713.

Italy continues a dramatic nation wide “lockdown”, barring their 60 million citizens from all all public events, including school, entertainment and worship.

Spain continues similar measures, forcing people to stay indoors, with exemptions only for so-called exceptional circumstances. Spain reported 11,826 total cases yesterday, up from 525 on March 7th.

France is the third European country to go on “lockdown”, taking similar measures to stop the virus spread.

Germany has shut down all theaters, clubs, bars, museums, movie theaters, gyms and playgrounds.

The EU has closed all borders with non-EU states for 30 days.

The disease is truly global at this point, with 140 countries having confirmed cases out of 195 countries in the world. South Africa reports +31 new cases for the day, bringing their total to 116.

Researchers at Australia’s University of Queensland Center for Clinical Research have “seen two drugs used to treat other conditions wipe out the virus in test tubes”. “One of the medications, given to some of the first people to test positive for COVID-19 in Australia, had already resulted in “disappearance of the virus” and complete recovery from the infection.” The researchers are pushing for a “large clinical trial across Australia”.

There are +2,579 new confirmed cases in the US so far today, bringing the total to 8,990.

The US had +106 new cases on March 8th and +461 new cases on March 12th.

Total US cases more than doubled in the past 4 days again, while Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan have all controlled their local disease spread to a manageable rate.

Dallas County has three cases in critical condition, two of whom are young, with no underlying conditions, one in their 20’s, another in their 30’s.

The US Treasury is working on plans which would, among other provisions, make direct payments to citizens based on family size and income. Payments would start April 6th.

As the Senate rushes to pass the House bill, with provisions for free coronavirus testing, secured paid emergency leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, strengthened food security initiatives and increased federal Medicaid funding to states, Senator Rand Paul halted the process by forcing a vote on an amendment, which would “require a social security number for purposes of the child tax credit, and to provide the President the authority to transfer funds as necessary, and to terminate United States military operations and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.”

California is offering support for workers losing wages due to COVID-19. It is possible to file for partial wage replacement benefits with the state, if you have lost your job or had your hours reduced.

Bay Area hospitals are preparing for a surge in cases, patients with respiratory illnesses are being treated in drive through clinics.

Like most of the Bay area, Santa Cruz is under a Shelter In Place order, continuing until Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

All public Santa Cruz County schools remain closed.

Governor Newsom is warning parents to be prepared for schools to remain closed until after the summer break.

There are 499 confirmed cases in the Bay Area today, up from 210 last Friday.

The total cases confirmed in Santa Cruz county is 13.

Many local department stores had unusually busy days over the weekend. Several stores limited the number of certain items per customer to prevent hoarding. Some stores are offering pick up or delivery services.

Amazon announced that some customers will see shipping delays, due to a dramatic increase in orders and new preventative measures taken at their facilities.

There is no reason to expect food shortages. During the worst of China’s lockdown, family members were allowed to purchase food or food was delivered.

Montage Health in Monterey is offering free eVisits for locals who think they may have COVID-19.

Visit the Coronavirus Daily Update Page on KSCO.com for more info.

You can find out more from the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, by going to santacruzhealth.org.

If you experience Fever, Cough or Shortness of Breath, please call your Health Care Professional.

Regardless of how healthy you are, to protect the most vulnerable, don’t be a disease vector. Take action by staying home as much as possible.

As is always true to prevent any communicable disease, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your elbow, avoid touching your face, and remember, don’t pick your nose!!

– The COVID-19 Update from KSCO’s Director of Digital Media, Jonty McCollyer

Sources And Further Info

Dr. John Campbell’s Daily Report

California Gov. Gavin Newsom warns parents to be prepared for schools to not open until after summer break


https://abc30.com/california-governor-gavin-newsom-warns-parents-to-be-prepared-for-schools-to-not-open-until-after-summer-break/6022808/

Coronavirus Australia: Queensland researchers find ‘cure’, want drug trial

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-australia-queensland-researchers-find-cure-want-drug-trial/news-story/93e7656da0cff4fc4d2c5e51706accb5

Senate coronavirus vote delayed after Rand Paul pushes doomed amendment

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-coronavirus-bill-vote-delayed-after-rand-paul-pushes-doomed-n1162356

Treasury Proposal: Deliver $500B to Americans Starting April

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/coronavirus/trumps-economic-rescue-package-could-approach-1-trillion/2245253/

Local hospital provides free COVID-19 eVisits

https://www.ksbw.com/article/local-hospital-provides-free-covid-19-evisits/31673723

As coronavirus spreads, 6 Bay Area counties will be ordered to ‘shelter in place’

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-16/nine-san-francisco-bay-area-counties-ordered-to-shelter-in-place

EU To Shut Borders As France, Germany Tighten Restrictions To Control Coronavirus

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/17/816994811/eu-to-shut-borders-as-france-germany-tighten-restrictions-to-control-coronavirus

Iran warns virus could kill ‘millions’ in Islamic Republic

https://news.yahoo.com/hard-line-shiites-storm-iran-075259798.html

Locations with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, by WHO Region

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/world-map.html

Mnuchin pitches Senate Republicans to approve $850 billion economic package

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/congress-coronavirus-package-senate/index.html

Paid sick leave: Who gets it during the coronavirus outbreak

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/16/paid-sick-leave-coronavirus-house-bill/

Worldometer Coronavirus Cases

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

Map: Coronavirus cases in the Bay Area, Northern California

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/04/map-coronavirus-cases-in-the-bay-area-northern-california/

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