Here’s the latest information on the COVID-19 coronavirus as of 9:30 a.m. ET.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 801,400
Global deaths: 38,743
Number of countries/regions: at least 178
Total patients recovered globally: 172,657
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
At least 164,610 diagnosed cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam. This is now more than any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 3,170
Total U.S. patients recovered: 5,896
Latest reported deaths per state
Visit https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.htmlfor the latest numbers.
School closures
For a state-by-state interactive map of current school closures, please visit the Education Week website, where numbers are updated once daily.
There are 98,277 public schools and 34,576 private schools in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Those schools educate almost 50.8 million public school students and 5.8 million private school students.
The latest headlines
Global COVID-19 cases top 800,000; US leads with the most confirmed infections
Global COVID-19 coronavirus infections exceeded 800,000 Tuesday in a total of 178 countries, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University. Just over 20% of those cases are in the United States, which has 164,601 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The second-highest number of confirmed cases is in Italy. China, where the virus originated, currently has the fourth-highest number of reported confirmed cases, with 82,276, after posting the greatest number of cases just over a week ago.
Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patient used to treat critical patient
As researchers worldwide work hard to develop a COVID-19 treatment, WFAA in Dallas reports doctors at Harris Methodist Hospital treated a 42-year-old man in critical condition from the virus with plasma from a recovered patient. The hope is that antibodies from the recovered patient will help the sick patient recover. Pulmonologist Dr. John Burk, who oversaw the infusion, said it’ll be a few days before it can be determined whether the treatment is having any positive effect. Similar experimental infusions are being administered across the country.
Deputies arrest Florida pastor who ignored social-distancing mandate
The Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff’s Department Monday announced the arrest of Rodney Howard-Browne, the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for ignoring state and county mandates to stay at home and avoid social gatherings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a news conference that Howard-Browne “intentionally and repeatedly chose to disregard the orders set in place by our president, the governor, the CDC and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group. His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger.” Chronister said the arrest decision was made only after repeated contacts with the pastor and his attorneys failed to result in a resolution. Church officials claimed they should officially be declared an essential service, like medical personnel and law enforcement, and so should be exempt from any prohibitions. “Our goal is not to stop anyone from worshiping but the safety and well-being must always come first,” said Chronister. Howard-Browne was charged with unlawful assembly assembly in violation of public health emergency order.
Good news!
General Motors to deliver 20,000 face masks by April 8; nurses sew N95 mask covers
General Motors, which has begun manufacturing medical face masks March 20, said today it’ll deliver some 20,000 of them to healthcare workers by April 8. The automaker further said it expects to manufacture an estimated 50,000 masks per day, or 1.5 million masks per month, once it ramps up mask-producing operations to full capacity at Detroit-area facilities. Nurses at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado aren’t waiting for GM or anyone else to provide the much-needed masks. As KMGH reports, Kristen Dirksen and Brady Heuer set up a sewing room in the hospital to create modified surgical masks that are designed to me worn over N95 masks, hypothetically extending the latter’s life up to five times. Using the fabric they use to sterilize surgical instruments, they’ve created 5,000 of the mask covers so far.
NCAA to give spring-sport athletes extra year of eligibility
Some college athletes received some good news Monday. ESPN reports the NCAA will permit Division I spring-sport athletes to have an additional year of eligibility, since their current year has been prematurely ended by the COVID-19 virus. Spring sports include baseball, softball, lacrosse and others. The NCAA Division 1 Council vote covers all spring-sport athletes, regardless of their current year in school, but doesn’t guarantee financial aid to current seniors if they elect to return to school next year to play and recover their lost year of eligibility.
NYC restaurant names a dish after Dr. Anthony Fauci
You know you’ve made it in New York when a restaurant names a menu item after you. WABC in NYC reports Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park, Long Island, NY, now proudly serves Fauci linguini, named after the 79-year-old Brooklyn, NY native who’s served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health since 1985. Fauci’s been the public face of COVID-19 information and prevention in White House briefings and press interviews since the coronavirus pandemic began. The dish features white clam sauce, which the restaurant claims was created in Sciacca, Italy, Fauci’s ancestral home. It’s only available for take-out only, per social isolation protocols. By the way, Peter’s Clam Bar also donates Manhattan and New England clam chowder to all healthcare workers fighting COVID-19.
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