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The coronavirus is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. (WYDaily/Courtesy of Unsplash)

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic.

So far, 17 Virginians (15 in Virginia and 2 in Texas) have tested presumptive positive for the respiratory virus, prompting several colleges to cancel on-campus classes, including the College of William & Mary and Old Dominion University and other universities opted to play their athletic games without fans.

Gov. Ralph Northam on Thursday declared a state of emergency encouraging cities to avoid holding large events. The governor also suspended all out of state travel for state employees.

As the coronavirus spreads across the state, several localities are prepared or already addressing rumors of local cases.

James City County stepped up Wednesday to dispel local rumors with a post on its Twitter.

In a rapidly evolving situation such as COVID-19, its important that the facts are being spread around, Renee Dallman, the countys spokeswoman, said. We dont want people to panic and we want them to arm themselves with the facts.

Dallman said it can be difficult to stop the spread of rumors on social media because that information is shared at such a rapid speed. However, the county is monitoring social media accounts and information reported by residents to ensure any rumors are stopped quickly.

The county has created a web page where residents can find resources for accurate information, such as the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Iask the public to help because we need the community in situations like this, Dallman said. If they are hearing rumors, we encourage folks to go to those correct sources of accurate information because its going to take all of us to get through this.

In York County spokeswoman Gail Whittaker said there havent been any reports to her department recently about rumors. She clarified though that she only had information on her particular department but other parts of the countys operations could have received calls about concerns.

Whittaker said when the county does receive calls or messages about coronavirus concerns, residents are directed to reach out to the VDH or CDC for information.

We want everyone to stay healthy and safe and the best way to do that is ensure they are getting the right information to lessen their risk of getting this virus, she said.

Lee Ann Hartmann, spokeswoman for Williamsburg, said the city finds out about rumors through phone calls, people stopping by, social media and colleagues from other jurisdictions.

To my knowledge, we have not received anything, she said.

If the city were to hear about rumors, Hartmann said she would speakwith the city manager, probably send out an e-notify an email message alert to city subscribers and put something on the citys website.

Hartmann said she would talk with other localities and community partners like Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary to provide a coordinated response.

Right now, Hartmann is directing people to sources like the VDHs website.

The city also has a website addressing the coronavirus.Hartmann said event cancellations will be posted on the front page of the citys main website under the news tab.

We have no cancellations at this time but its an ever changing situation, she said.

In a text message, Kim Lee, spokeswoman for the city, said the city is working closely with the VDH to disseminate accurate information about the coronavirus to the public using the city website, the 311 call center, social media and daily newsletter.

We are relying on and sharing the guidance developed by VDH and the CDC in an effort to ensure consistent messaging to the public about the current situation and what citizens should do and to minimize confusion, she wrote.

Fred Gaskins, marketing manager for Hampton, said the city has not had to deal with rumors about the coronavirus.

The citys response would depend on what the rumors are, what the source was and how far the rumor is spread.

Our goal is to keep citizens safe, Gaskins said.

He said residents can use the citys website and social media pages for information and for local cases to visit the VDHs website. As of right now, Hampton has not canceled events but Gaskins said if anything is canceled, the city will use social media, the city website and news release to alert the public and media outlets.

The VDH was not immediately available for comment.

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Originally posted here:
Localities on the Peninsula are dispelling rumors about the coronavirus - Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Southold Town is now home to more confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases than any town in Suffolk County, according to County Executive Steve Bellone.

There are now eight residents who have tested positive of a total of 20 countywide, including a total of three Peconic Landing employees.

Meanwhile Riverhead, Greenport, Southold, Mattituck and Oysterponds schools have all closed.

Times Review Media Group will post continued updates as news becomes available here. Continue to scroll below for each update.

Update: Friday 11:30 a.m.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday morning that the state is opening a drive-through testing facility for the coronavirus in New Rochelle the epicenter of the New York outbreak.

The facility, which will test patients by appointment only, will have six lanes of testing where medical staff comes up to a vehicle and performs the swab tests, which will then be tested in a lab. Mr. Cuomo estimated the staff to be able to test patients in 200 cars per day.

The process will take approximately 15 minutes, the governor said.

Its not only faster and easier, its also smarter and safer, Mr. Cuomo said, than a symptomatic person entering a hospitals emergency room facility to seek testing, thus exposing other members of the public and hospital staff.

The governor did say that residents of New Rochelle and vulnerable populations the elderly, and those with underlying immune and respiratory issues will continue to be prioritized for testing.

Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling said during the press briefing that the facility is unique, but said his organization was working with state officials to be on the frontlines of creativity and innovation.

We will deal with this issue practically and we will win, Mr. Dowling said.

The governor also said the challenge remains not so much in test kits, which are the swabs used on a patient. Those are plentiful. Its a matter of having labs with the capability to then process and test those swabs.

(Update: Friday 9:24 a.m.)

Section XI announced Friday morning that all games and scrimmages have been suspended until April 3. At that time, the situation will be reassessed.

Individual districts can still decide whether to conduct practices.

The first slate of spring sports games were scheduled to begin toward the end of March. The first day of spring sports practice was March 9.

Read more about sports on hold here.

(Update: Friday, 8:45 a.m.)

Three days after ceasing visitation at Suffolk County correctional facilities, Sheriff Earl Toulon announced Friday that volunteer programs at the jails will also be put on hold.

By limiting the number of people entering our facilities, we can better protect our staff, inmates, and the general public from community spread of COVID-19.

The sheriff said there are no confirmed cases within correctional facilities in Suffolk.

(Update: Friday, 8:30 a.m.)

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Paul Connor released a memo Thursday evening detailing proactive measures being taken at the hospital regarding COVID-19 coronavirus.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all non-hospital personnel will be verbally screened upon entry to the hospital.

Visitation has been significantly halted with no visitors allowed for adult patients, emergency patients and outpatient and ambulatory surgeries, with some exceptions for emergency and surgical patients requiring assistance. Pediatric patients will be allowed one adult visitor.

The hospital also shared links for information.

For updated Coronavirus FAQs and information from Stony Brook experts, visit https://elih.stonybrookmedicine.edu/Coronavirus.

New York Department of Health Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/

(Update: Friday, 6 a.m.)

The coronavirus outbreak has led to heightened awareness and precautions for first responders who are already trained to protect themselves when responding to calls of sick patients.

Mike Caron, assistant chief with the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said the process begins with an initial 911 call.

Dispatchers will ask a particular line of questioning to determine if any patients calling 911 are exhibiting signs and symptoms potentially related to the current virus, COVID-19.

The EMS agencies responding are then notified if the call is flagged if theres a potential risk factor, Mr. Caron said.

What Id like to tell everybody is we operate in a constant state of vigilance against any potential threat or come in contact with any pathogen, he said. With the recent outbreak, were taking a few extra precautions. Were reminding our personnel of the importance of hand washing and wearing proper protective equipment, if the need does arise.

Read the full story

(Update: Friday, 6 a.m.)

Members of Southold/Greenport Robotics Team R.I.C.E. 870 were left feeling disappointed Thursday after they traveled on a bus all the way to Rochester for a competition only to be told after they unpacked their equipment that the event had been cancelled.

A group of over 35 students and faculty from the North Fork team climbed aboard a coach bus Wednesday morning and headed to the Rochester Institute of Technology for the regional robotics competition, scheduled March 13 and 14. Last year, the team nailed down a first-place victory and was invited to attend the FIRST Robotics world championship in Detroit, MI.

In high spirits, team members traveled from their hotel to RITS Gordon Field House Thursday morning and unloaded the robot, only to be informed the regularly scheduled practice had been cancelled. That was followed by word that the entire event the 2020 Finger Lakes Regional FIRST Robotics Competition was cancelled as a precautionary measure in the wake of the coronavirus.

Read the full story

(Update: Thursday, 10 p.m.)

The Mattituck School District and Oysterponds schools both announced they will be closed Friday and Monday.

(Update: Thursday, 4:23 p.m.)

Southold Town buildings will be closed to the public effective 4 p.m. Thursday and a State of Emergency goes into effect, Supervisor Scott Russell announced. All public meetings, hearings and town-sponsored programs are also canceled until further notice. Various departments can be accessed by phone or email.

Residents who are sick are urged to stay home for their own safety and safety of others.

Mr. Russell said since the first diagnosis was in Southold Town, it was inevitable that infections would spread faster than in other towns.

The state of emergency gives the town authority to act in what they believe is the publics best interest, including seizure of supplies and equipment, imposing policy on public assembly and sets aside procurement and bidding policy of New York State, he said. He added that restricting public assembly would only be done if absolutely necessary.

(Update: Thursday, 4:13 p.m.)

Two additional employees at Peconic Landing has been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total to three, the retirement community announced Thursday afternoon.

The Suffolk County Department of Health notified Peconic Landing Thursday morning of the positive tests. The health department is undergoing an investigation to identify individuals who may have had direct contact with the employees. They will be contacted directly by the health department.

As a cautionary measure, we are suspending outside visitation until further notice, the notice from Peconic Landing said. We are not under quarantine. We are, however, identifying additional opportunities to protect our members and employees safety and well-being.

At this time, our focus is on ensuring the safety and well-being of our members and our employees. We are communicating all updates to our members and employees via a multitude of internal communication channels. We will be providing on-going updates via our webpage and social media channels for families, media and the greater community.

A per-diem employee at Peconic Landing was the second confirmed case in Suffolk County and that was announced Tuesday night. At least eight confirmed cases in Suffolk are among the 20 countywide total.

Update: Thursday 2:45 p.m.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said were in a public health emergency at his Thursday afternoon media briefing, where he outlined a variety of actions the state will take in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus and treat the growing number of people infected.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

328 residents are now infected across the state, including 112 new cases.

A total of 2,314 individuals have been tested for the virus across New York state.

The state is contracting with national labs in an effort to increase the number of tests to 5,000 per day by next week.

Broadway is being effectively shut down due to a ban on gatherings at gathering spaces with 500 or more seats.

The state is considering canceling elective surgeries to free up 25 to 35 percent of the hospital beds across New York.

Retired doctors and nurses are being urged to contact their former hospitals and medical practices to work on an on-call basis if needed.

(Update: Thursday 2:10 p.m.)

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Suffolk County doubled from Wednesday into Thursday as more test results come in, County Executive Steve Bellone said at a media briefing Thursday. Gov. Cuomo later clarified the total Suffolk County number as 20.

Eight of those cases are in Southold Town.

Mr. Bellone also announced a State of Emergency in Suffolk County, which will allow for the government to more quickly respond with purchasing of supplies like sanitizer, protective gear and to move employees where staffing needs are required.

Ten of the people with a confirmed diagnosis remain hospitalized and in mandatory isolation. Six others are in mandatory isolation at home.

Investigators have begun a thorough analysis looking at patients contacts and it is believed these cases, each of the 16, were contacted in community transmission, Mr. Bellone said.

An additional 49 people are under mandatory quarantine, the county executive said. Another 76 people are being monitored under precautionary quarantine and those are travel related cases. Those people remain asymptomatic.

Mr. Bellone also announced that the health commissioner recommended all St. Patricks Day parades over the weekend be postponed. Organizers of the Cutchogue St. Patricks Day Parade had already announced a cancelation earlier Thursday. The county will also not issue any mass gathering permits for events with more than 5,000 people. The county typically issues about 25 in a year.

Weve been in contact with each of our towns, he said. We remain in close contact with local officials as well as school superintendents. Weve spoken to them about senior programs and services provided and recommended they alter operations to encourage social distancing.

As the virus continues to spread, we need to remind the public that were going to get through this, were going to get over this. We will ultimately come out in a good way.

The situation remains fluid, but people should not panic, he added.

(Update: Thursday 12:48 p.m.)

New York State is taking testing for the novel coronavirus into its own hands.

During a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State will contract with 28 private laboratories to increase testing capacity.

Our testing capacity is nowhere near what it needs to be, the governor said Wednesday, pointing out that countries like China, where the virus originated, had been processing up to 200,000 tests per day. To date, Gov. Cuomo said, there have been just 5,000 tests performed nationwide.

What changed the trajectory of the incline of the number of caseswas a tremendous amount of testing and investigation, he said.

The 28 private labs, Gov. Cuomo said, specialize in virology and have experience working with the New York State Department of Health.

The labs will require some approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which could complicate the situation, the governor said, emphasizing the urgency of ramping up testing efforts in order to contain the spread.

Were not in a position where we can rely on the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] or the FDA to manage this testing protocol, he said.

Meanwhile, Northwell Health Labs in Lake Success has now begun semi-automated testing for COVID-19 that will dramatically increase the speed of testing and results back to the patient. Manual testing began at the Northwell lab on Sunday night that saw 133 tests completed by midweek. The FDA Tuesday issued an emergency use authorization for automated testing, which spokesperson Terry Lynam said will allow for 150 tests per day to be conducted, with the results sent back to the provider almost immediately.

By comparison, manual testing in a lab can handle about 60-70 lab tests a day. Mr. Lynam said by the weekend, the semi-automated system will allow for up to 500 a day and they are expecting to be fully automated by next week, when they will be able to do 2,000 a day. They are the first facility on Long Island to implement this system.

Though efforts are being made to expand testing capability, County Executive Steve Bellone said Wednesday that people should not have an expectation that if they are felling ill, they will automatically be tested for the coronavirus. Tests will be done based on specific CDC guidelines, he said.

Northwell officials said testing will continue to be reserved for those at risk for severe disease or those who have had confirmed close contact with an infected person.

Only people who meet that criteria will be tested, and that testing is currently being performed at hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers, said John DAngelo, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Northwell, in a statement. Even as our testing capacity increases, we will continue to screen people judiciously so we can focus our attention on those most at risk for severe COVID-19 infection who require more immediate and intensive medical attention. All others who are concerned about exposure but who have mild or no symptoms should recuperate at home.

What to do if youre symptomatic:

Practice social distancing and isolate at home if youre feeling ill. Avoid public areas and large gatherings.

Monitor yourself for symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, for a 14-day period.

Alert your healthcare provider, who will guide you in your next steps. But seek immediate medical attention if your conditions are worsening or if you have difficulty breathing.

Call the state coronavirus hotline: 1-888-364-3065 for information about the virus, or Suffolk County 311.

(Update: Thursday, 12:09 p.m.)

Southold Superintendent David Gamberg said the Southold School District will be closed Friday and Monday. There has been no positive COVID-19 case in the district, he said.

This is out of an abundance of caution and will allow the District to complete a deep, thorough cleaning of the buildings. We will remain in constant contact with the Suffolk County Department of Health, Mr. Gamberg said in a statement.

I will continue to keep staff and families apprised of any additional information we receive.Please continue to check the District Website, social media, email, etc. for next steps after Monday, March 16th.

Thank you and have a good afternoon.

As of now, Greenport remains on schedule to reopen Monday.

(Update: 10:22 a.m.)

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Coronavirus on North Fork: Live updates from Times Review Media Group - The Suffolk Times - Suffolk Times

Basel, 13 March 2020 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test. It is intended for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples from patients who meet COVID-19 clinical and/or epidemiological criteria for testing. Hospitals and reference laboratories can run the test on Roches fully automated cobas 6800 and cobas 8800 Systems, which are widely available in the U.S. and around the world.

The CE-IVD test is also available in markets accepting the CE mark for patients with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 disease and living in affected areas where the SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to be present.

"Providing quality, high-volume testing capabilities will allow us to respond effectively to what the World Health Organization has characterized as a pandemic. It is important to quickly and reliably detect whether a patient is infected with SARS-CoV-2, said Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. Over the last weeks, our emergency response teams have been working hard to bring this test to the patients. CE-mark certification and the FDAs granting of EUA supports our commitment to give more patients access to reliable diagnostics which are crucial to combat this serious disease.

The widely available Roches cobas 6800/8800 Systems, which are used to perform the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test, provide test results in three and half hours and offer improved operating efficiency, flexibility, and fastest time-to-results with the highest throughput providing up to 96 results in about three hours and a total of 1,440 results for the cobas 6800 System and 4,128 results for the cobas 8800 System in 24 hours. The test can be run simultaneously with other assays provided by Roche for use on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems.

Upon authorisation Roche will have millions of tests a month available for use on the cobas 6800 and 8800 systems. Roche is committed to delivering as many tests as possible and is going to the limits of our production capacity.

About Emergency Use Authorization StatusThe cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an EUA for use by laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. 263a, to perform moderate and high complexity tests. The test has been authorised only for the detection of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 virus and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, not for any other viruses or pathogens. It is only authorised for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorisation of the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb- 3(b)(1), unless the authorisation is terminated or revoked sooner

About SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a new strain which has not previously been identified in humans.1

Signs of infection include respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and fever. In more severe cases, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death can occur.

To control the spread of the infection, WHO recommends regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs and avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.

About cobas SARS-CoV-2 Assay The cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test is a single-well dual target assay, which includes both specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 and pan-sarbecovirus detection for the sarbecovirus subgenus family that includes SARS-CoV-2. The test is a real-time RT-PCR test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acids from SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples from patients who meet the CDC SARS-CoV-2 clinical criteria.The test runs on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems and has a full-process negative control, positive control and internal control.

Negative results do not preclude SARS-CoV-2 infection and should not be used as the sole basis for patient management decisions. Negative results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information.

The cobas SARS-CoV-2 is intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel specifically instructed and trained in the techniques of real-time PCR and in vitro diagnostic procedures. In the United States, the cobas SARS-CoV-2 is only for use under the FDAs Emergency Use Authorization.

About the cobas 6800/8800 Systems Since 2014, the cobas 6800 and cobas 8800 Systems have established the new standard for routine molecular testing by delivering fully integrated, automated solutions that serve the areas of viral load monitoring, donor screening, sexual health and microbiology. Based on Nobel prize-winning PCR technology, the systems deliver proven performance with full automation, increased throughput, fast turnaround time and complete track connectivity validated for molecular testing, providing users with greater flexibility to consolidate their IVD and LDT testing to a single system while increasing overall workflow efficiencies.

Our global install base for the cobas 6800 and 8800 Systems is 695 and 132 respectively. The systems provide up to 96 results in about three hours and a total of 1,440 results for the cobas 6800 System and 4,128 results for the cobas 8800 System in 24 hours. Both make it possible for labs to perform up to three tests in the same run with no pre-sorting required. The systems also enable up to eight hours (cobas 6800 System) and four hours (cobas 8800 System) of walk-away time with minimal user interaction. cobas 6800 and cobas 8800 Systems are the only fully automated molecular systems designated as moderately complex by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).

For more information about the tests and system, please visit http://www.diagnostics.roche.com

About Emergency Use Authorization StatusThe cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an EUA for use by laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. 263a, to perform high complexity tests, or by similarly qualified non-U.S. laboratories. The test has been authorized only for the detection of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 virus and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, not for any other viruses or pathogens. It is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.About RocheRoche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve peoples lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the worlds largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the eleventh consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2019 employed about 98,000 people worldwide. In 2019, Roche invested CHF 11.7 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 61.5 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

References[1] https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus. Accessed 23Jan2020

Roche Group Media RelationsPhone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com- Nicolas Dunant (Head)- Patrick Barth- Daniel Grotzky- Karsten Kleine- Nathalie Meetz- Barbara von Schnurbein

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Roche's cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test to detect novel coronavirus receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization and is available in markets accepting the CE mark -...

During an epidemic, a crucial function of leadershipgovernmental, scientific, and medical leadershipis to provide citizens with important and accurate information. Panic needs to be averted. Fears need to be addressed. Risks need to be assessed. And necessary action must be taken, collectively and individually, to save lives and prevent or reduce other damage to society. All of this is predicated on the dissemination of solid information. And the main transmission mechanism for such information is, of course, the medianews outlets that broadcast and publish what knowledgable government officials and experts have to say about the crisis. Yet Donald Trump, the person in charge of the governments response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, has ramped up his effort to discredit the media at the very moment its most vital. And his reelection campaign has decided to place his political interests over the health and safety of the nation, disseminating a message that could threaten the lives of Americans.

On Monday morning, as the coronavirus crisis intensified, the Trump campaign zapped out an email to thousands, if not millions, of people, with the subject: Its all FAKE NEWS all the time. The lettersent jointly by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committeewas a full-throated screed against the mainstream media. It decried the media as UNHINGED, and exclaimed, They are deceiving the public and knowingly making up their facts and sources in order to protect their partners,the Democrats. They are so corrupt and have gone totally insane. It continued: They are truly the Enemy of the People! Liberal reporters cant accept the fact that America wants FOUR MORE YEARS of President Trump and now theyre spiraling out of control.

Trumpworld slamming the media is nothing new, but what makes this email different from similar missives is that this one doesnt focus on any particular subject of the medias supposed wrongdoing. In the past, the president and his campaign have tended to excoriate the media for reporting on the Russia scandal, the Ukraine scandal, impeachment, and other matters. You know, the usualhoaxes, lies, conspiracies, political attacks. But this time around, the campaign is declaring the major media outlets cannot be believed on anything. These journalists peddle only constant lies and attacks, and their sole desire is to destroy Trump: Theyve spent YEARS spewing LIES about OUR President to try and take him down,the email proclaims. They no longer care about accurate reporting and its time we do something about it.

The email does not request a donation. Instead, it asks the recipient to take the Official Mainstream Media Accountability Survey. This is the sort of device that campaign marketers use to capture information from potential contributors. And if you click on the Take the Survey Now button, you are transported to a website with a series of loaded questions: Do you believe the mainstream media is biased against President Trump?; Do you believe the mainstream media wants America to fail under President Trumps leadership?; Do you believe the media sensationalizes and exaggerates stories in order to make President Trump and Republicans look bad?; Do you believe the media hates President Trump?

Get the picture?

The whole point is to encourage people to view the media as the enemy within and consider news outlets as nothing but anti-Trump deception machines. For years, this strategy has helped Trump rouse and solidify his base, as he has convinced his loyal supporters there was nothing to the Russia scandal, the Ukraine scandal, the pay-off-the-porn-star scandal, the obstruction-of-justice scandal, and so many other scandals. But the difference now is that this tactic places the nation in direct danger.

The Trump campaign is telling the public it should disregard whatever the media puts forwardespecially when that reporting suggests the Trump administration is not adequately managing the crisis. This could well lead to Americans ignoring sound advice and taking actions that place them at risk and worsen the situation. Just a few days ago, for instance, Trump, who has looked to downplay the crisis, suggested that infected people could go to work.

Not surprisingly, Trump is employing his all-powerful Twitter feed to attack the media during the coronavirus outbreak. Hours before his campaign sent its do-not-ever-believe-the-media email, he tweeted: The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Later in the day, he insisted that Fake News was the reason for the dramatic decline in the stock market (that is, not his response to the crisis). And on Monday afternoon, he shot out this simply put tweet: So much FAKE NEWS!

Trumpslong assault on the press has always been reprehensible. In the midst of a public health crisis, it iswell, whats beyond reprehensible? Horrendous? Disgraceful? Reckless? Irresponsible? Disgracefully horrendous and recklessly irresponsible? Whatever the adjective, Trump and his campaign have opted to smear and vilify the organizations that are needed to keep the public informed about a national emergency that has the potential to turn into a national disaster.

By now, Trump whacking the media has become a running jokea fan favorite at his rallies. In front of his adoring crowds, he denounces the press and claims that the TV cameras are being turned off at this moment (to censor his censure), even as the networks broadcast the spectacle. Many Americans have become inured to these sort of attacks. But with the country engaged in a full-on crisis that threatens individuals, communities, and the entire economy, Trumps crusade to torpedo the media has become a grave threat.

But Trumps remarks and this campaign email prove that the commander in chief cares about only one particular threat, and that is the political threat he faces. He realizes the truth is not on his side. And in the middle of this crisis, that makes Trump an immediate menace and a risk for everyone.

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Trump's Media Attacks Are Always Shameful. But in the Middle of the Coronavirus Crisis, They're Dangerous. - Mother Jones

The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team.

All times below are in Eastern daylight time.

The U.S. travel and tourism industry could lose at least $24 billion in foreign spending this year because of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, according to data produced by Tourism Economics and first seen by CNBC.

That would be equivalent to about seven times more than the industry lost during the SARS outbreak in 2003, according to the data.

Tourism Economics, which tracks all travel spending including on hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions based its projections on the assumption that the coronavirus would be contained in six months. Foreigners typically spend around $256 billion on U.S. travel and tourism a year.Hirsch

Italian soccer giants Juventus said defenseman Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, the club confirmed in a statement Wednesday.

The club said it is "activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including the census of those who have had contact with him."

On Monday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the stoppage of sporting events across Italy, including play in Serie A, the league in which Juventus competes. The Italian Olympic Committee called for all sporting events to be canceled until April 3.Eudaily

Joe Biden's presidential campaign has announced that it has formed a new advisory committee to counsel the campaign on the risks posed by the new coronavirus, just hours after theWorld Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic.

The Public Health Advisory Committee will provide "science-based, expert advice regarding steps the campaign should take to minimize health risks for the candidate, staff, and supporters," the campaign said in a statement.

"The campaign's top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public," the statement said. "Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions."Higgins

Late-night TV shows filmed in New York will now be tapped without a live audience as the coronavirus pandemic spreads. On Wednesday,CBS'"Late Show With Stephen Colbert,"NBC's "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night With Seth Meyers," Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" andTBS' "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" all said they would tape their broadcasts without audience members.

The shows said that their staff is safe and there are no concerns about contamination in their studios and theaters, but producers worried that performing with live crowds would not be a smart choice as the number of confirmedcoronaviruscases in New York City is rising. Whitten

AmazonCare, the company's virtual medical clinic for employees, is in talks with local public health organizations about using its logistics expertise to help deliver at-home coronavirus testing kits to people's homes in the Seattle area.

The discussions have been going on for more than a week, say three people with knowledge of the plans. The people declined to share their names because Amazon Care's involvement is still confidential, and they have not been authorized to do so.

Specifically, Amazon Care has offered the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation its assistance with aproject that aimsto provide kits to Seattle residents who suspect they have symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The test kits include nose swabs that can be mailed to the University of Washington for analysis. Farr

A waiter closes a pizza shop due to few tourists attraction at 6 pm. in Rome, Italy, on March 11, 2020.

Riccardo De Luca | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Italy's premier says all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are being closed nationwide in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak.

Premier Giuseppe Conte thanked the public for cooperating with the already unprecedented travel and social restrictions that took effect Tuesday.

But he said Wednesday night on Facebook Live that Italy must " go another step by closing all shops and businesses except for food stores, pharmacies and other shops selling essential items.

The tighter restrictions on daily life are the government's latest effort to respond to the fast-moving crisis that took Italy's number of cases from three to 12,462 in less than three weeks. Associated Press

Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, said he expects 70 million to 150 million people in the United States will become infected with COVID-19, NBC News reported, citing two sources.

Monahan made the comments to Senate staff during a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon, according to NBC News. The meeting did not include senators and was for administrative office staff and personnel from both parties, NBC News reported. Lovelace

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced the upcoming men's and women's basketball tournaments will be played with "only essential staff and limited family attendance," NCAA president Mark Emmert said.

"The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel," Emmert's statement said. "Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

"While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.

"We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed." Young

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the news media during a meeting with bankers on COVID-19 Coronavirus response, inside the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, March 11, 2020.

Tom Brenner | Reuters

CitigroupCEO Michael Corbat said that the current turmoil caused by the coronavirus isn't stemming from the financial system.

"This is not a financial crisis," Corbat said during the White House meeting. "The banks and the financial system are in strong shape and we are here to help."

Leaders of the biggest U.S. banks weresummonedto Washington by President Trump to discuss ways to support small businesses and markets. Brian Moynihan ofBank of America, Charles Scharf ofWells Fargo, David Solomon ofGoldman Sachsand Stephen Schwarzman of alternative investments giant Blackstone were among the CEOs present at the meeting.Son

The Dow Jones Industrial Averagetumbled 1,467 points, or 5.9%. The 30-stock average closed more than 20% below the record highs set last month.A 20% decline is considered a bear market on Wall Street. However, most investors don't recognize it officially until the index does it on a closing basis. The Dow did so on Wednesday,whereas the S&P 500 is just above that closing threshold.

The S&P 500 is more than 19% from its closing record and ended the day 4.9% lower. The Nasdaq Composite fell 4.7% and was also about 19% below its all-time high. Imbert

The coronavirus outbreak is hitting the entertainment industry hard.

China and Italy's theaters are closed, French cinemas are only open at 50% capacity (every other row must be empty) and South Korea has seen its lowest box office tally in years.

And more countries could be next as the pandemic spreads and large gatherings become taboo.

Already analysts have predicted that the global film industry is facing a $5 billion loss because of diminished box office revenue and the impact of restrictions on production, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That number could grow even more if more countries add countermeasures that force people to remain home or order public gathering places, like theaters, to shutter.

Around 44% of U.S. adults said they would oppose the temporary shutdown of movie theaters, but around 38% said they would support closures, according to a report from Morning Consult and The Hollywood Reporter. The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults was conducted from March 5-7. Whitten

Lobbyists representing the oil and gas industry met with White House policy staffers Wednesday morning to discuss coronavirus, state of the economy and the market, a representative for the American Petroleum Institute told CNBC.

The meeting comes as the market has been roiled by fears of coronavirus and deteriorating OPEC talks. After negotiations between OPEC and Russia fell apart on Friday,OPEC's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday slashed its oil prices and announced plans to increase production. This led to a selloff in oil markets and pressure on U.S. energy producers.

Oil prices on Monday plunged 24%, marking the worst day since 1991.Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has said that the kingdom plans to supply a record 13 million barrels per day in April. Oil fell 4% Wednesday. Hirsch

Amazon is asking employees at its Massachusetts offices to work from home if they can through the end of the month, the company confirmed to CNBC.

"We continue to work closely with public and private medical experts to ensure we are taking the right precautions as the situation continues to evolve," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.

Amazon previously told workers at its offices in New York, New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area, Madrid and Italy to work from home during the month of March. The directive came after an employee in one of its Seattle offices tested positive for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The spokesperson told CNBC that Amazon will continue to pay all hourly employees that support its offices in Seattle, Bellevue, the Bay Area, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. This includes food service employees, security guards and janitorial staff.

Last month, Amazon restricted all nonessential travel in the U.S. in response to the continued spread of the coronavirus. Palmer

The Golden State Warriors will play their next home game without fans after San Francisco placed a ban on large events.

The Golden State Warriors will play Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets without spectators due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the team announced.

The decision comes after San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned public gatherings of 1,000 or more people as coronavirus continues to affect U.S. cities and sporting events around the world. Young

A man wears a mask as he passes the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 9, 2020.

Mark Lennihan | AP

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced 39 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total to 212. The largest cluster of cases remains in Westchester where there are 121 confirmed cases, followed by 48 total cases in New York City.

Cuomo said he's asked 28 state labs to "get up, get running and start moving forward" with coronavirus testing after he criticized the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration for being unprepared to test in the quantities necessary.

The City University of New York and The State University of New York have also been instructed to hold classes online starting March 19 until the end of the semester, affecting nearly 700,000 students combined. Higgins-Dunn

The coronavirus-induced sell-off has reached a new low as Wall Street grapples with the rapid spread of the virus as well as uncertainty around a fiscal response to curb slower economic growth from the outbreak.

TheDow Jones Industrial Averagetraded 1,400 points lower, or 5.6%, and was 20% below its record high set earlier last month. A 20% decline is considered a bear market on Wall Street. The S&P 500 is 19.2% from its closing record and traded 5.1% lower on the day. Imbert

The New York Stock Exchange is taking measures to separate traders from NYSE employees in order to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, according to an internal memo. Traders and employees of the NYSE and its parent Intercontinental Exchange Inc will use separate entrances and eat in different areas, according to what NYSE Chief Operating Officer Michael Blaugrund said in the memo. These steps are designed to minimize the likelihood that an event in the building's office will impact operations on the trading floor. "Given the critical work by our NYSE and NYSE American floor communities to underpin the orderly function of global markets, all of these efforts, and others, will remain ongoing until further notice," the memo said. Miller

A man wearing a face mask walks past a Nike store in Central Business District, Beijing, China on February 17, 2020.

Andrea Verdelli | Getty Images

Coronavirus may lead to the first U.S. recession in more than a decade, but it could be a bonanza for the companies competing in the streaming wars.

If Americans are stuck at home in the coming months as schools close and events are canceled, they'll likely be starved for entertainment options and new ways to keep kids entertained. It so just happens that several new streaming services NBCUniversal's Peacock, WarnerMedia's HBO Max, and Quibi will be debuting between now and May.

Add to that the relatively recent launches of Disney+ and Apple TV+, and streamers could see a significant subscriber boost if Americans are forced to hunker down to slow the spread of COVID-19. Sherman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving over $560 million to state and local jurisdictions to help them respond to the coronavirus, according to a statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Our state, local, tribal and territorial public health partners are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response," said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. "The action we are taking today will continue to support their efforts to increase public health capacity where it's needed most." Miller

Public officials banned large gatherings in San Francisco and the Seattle area to try to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak that's infected more than 121,000 people across the world since December.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is banning large gatherings in several counties across the state to try to contain the COVID-19 outbreak that that has killed at least 23 residents, he announced Wednesday.

Moments after Inslee announced the order, San Francisco health officials announced that they are also banning gatherings of 1,000 or more to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) walk from the House floor where members debate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the speaker's office in the U.S. Capitol on December 19, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Sarah Silbiger | Getty Images

With Congress pushing back against President Donald Trump's emergency proposal to eliminate the payroll tax, the idea may be dead in the water.

In response to the deadly coronavirus, Trump on Tuesday pitched Republican lawmakers on a 0% payroll tax rate

for employers and employees that would last through the rest of this year, and possibly longer. The stock market staged a late-day rally on the news.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, told the New York Times that Trump's proposal to cut payroll taxes, which are used to fund Medicare and Social Security, is a "non-starter," suggesting that the plan has no chance of passing.Dzhanova, Hirsch

Lawmakers concerned about possible drug shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak are pressing pharmaceutical companies to bring manufacturing to the U.S.

Senators Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., are among lawmakers pushing for longer-term solutions. The senators on Wednesday introduced a bill that would funnel $100 million to develop U.S. manufacturing of drugs.

About 72% of manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients supplying the U.S. are overseas, including 13% in China, according to FDA testimony last year. That could make U.S drug companies vulnerable to shortages if COVID-19 forces factories to shutter and shipments to the United States to stall, experts have warned. Hirsch

Boeing told employees that it was immediately suspending hiring and implementing other measures to preserve cash as the rapid spread of coronavirus roils the air travel industry.

Boeing is already reeling from the damage of two fatal crashes of its 737 Max and the worldwide grounding of the planes, which hits the one-year mark on Friday.

"On top of the work of safely returning the 737 MAX to service and the financial impact of the pause in MAX production, we're now facing a global economic disruption generated by the COVID-19 coronavirus," Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun and CFO Greg Smith wrote in a note to employees on Wednesday.

The company will also limit travel and discretionary spending as well as employee overtime tied to the 737 Max's return-to-service "other key efforts in support of our customers," said the company.Josephs

A Starbucks location in Santa Ana, California.

Scott Mlyn | CNBC

Starbucks said it is offering "catastrophe pay" to U.S. baristas who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The global coffee chain, which implemented similar measures in China, will pay employees for up to 14 days if they have been diagnosed with, exposed to or in close contact with someone with the coronavirus. Workers who may be considered higher risk because of underlying health conditions are also eligible for catastrophe pay with a doctor's note.

The Seattle-based company is the latest corporation to adjust its policies as the number of U.S. cases of the virus climbs. Darden Restaurants extended paid sick time to all hourly employees on Monday, and Walmart has instituted an emergency sick leave policy.Lucas

As coronavirus spreads around the U.S., the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) said it "strongly recommends" companies holding NewsFronts events in New York City during April and May present online instead of in person.

YouTube is one of the first companies to heed the IAB recommendation. It said that it will stream its "Brandcast" event on YouTube instead of hosting an in-person audience.

Google, which owns YouTube, told employees in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday to work from home until at least April 10.Graham

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the new coronavirus, which was unknown to world health officials just three months ago, has rapidly spread to more than 121,000 people from Asia, to Europe, the Middle East and now parts of the United States.

WHO officials have been reluctant up until now to categorize the virus as a global pandemic, which is generally defined as an illness that spreads far and wide throughout the world.

Declaring a pandemic is charged with major political and economic ramifications, global health experts say. It can further rattle already fragile world markets and lead to more stringent travel and trade restrictions.Kopecki, Lovelace, Feuer

With the spread of the new coronavirus causing cancellations of large events and conferences, U.S. sports leagues have started to feel the impact, even if most leagues are still allowing fans to show up.

Ticket prices for leagues like the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have all fallen since January, according to data from TicketIQ, an online secondary market for event tickets.

According to Ticket IQ data provided to CNBC, secondary market prices for NBA games are down 4.3% since January, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets both seeing 30% declines.

NHL ticket prices are down 5.6%, with the most significant drops coming to the New Jersey Devils ( down 33%), New York Islanders (down 32%) and LA Kings (down 31%). Young

The Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast where a small number of medical procedures are not going ahead in preparation for Coronavirus cases.

Liam McBurney | PA Images via Getty Images

An elderly woman with an underlying illness who contracted the coronavirus became the first to die from the virus in Ireland on Wednesday, local media including national broadcaster RTE and the Irish Times reported.

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Coronavirus updates: Trump meets with Wall Street execs, March Madness closed to fans - CNBC