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Coronavirus live updates: Trump considers enforceable quarantine in NY, NJ; 200 US cities lack face masks

The amount of novel coronavirus cases around the world and in the U.S. continues to skyrocket. By Saturday morning, the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases around the world surpassed 615,000.It was just Thursday that the globe reached 500,000 cases, which was double the number of coronavirus cases from the week before.The U.S. surpassed 100,000 diagnosed coronavirus cases Friday night, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 1,711 deaths in the country. ...

Coronavirus cases in Greece pass 1,000

Greece confirmed 95 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to health authorities, bringing the total to 1,061 since the country's first recorded infection on Feb. 26. Health ministry representative Sotiris Tsiodras said 32 people have died due to COVID-19. It has also shut its borders to non-EU nationals and Italy and Spain to contain the spread of the virus.

Another UK Cabinet member has COVID-19 symptoms

Another member of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet has developed symptoms of COVID-19, as the number of people with the coronovrius to die in the U.K. passed the 1,000 mark Saturday. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he had symptoms of the disease and was self-isolating a day after the prime minister and Britain's health secretary revealed they tested positive for the virus and were experiencing mild symptoms. Business Secretrary Alok Sharma said Johnson continues to show only "mild symptoms" of coronavirus.

Trump said he may quarantine New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

President Trump said Saturday he was considering imposing a quarantine on New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Trump said he was mulling the quarantine, while at the same walking back urging to quickly reopen the economy. Trump said he was unsure about whether the United States will reopen for business by April 12th following shutdowns in major cities across the country.

Coronavirus behind bars: Prisoners being freed to slow spread in 'virus vectors'

Advocates warn that inmates and correctional workers are "sitting ducks" for infection.

Arrest, fine or shame: What people who break coronavirus stay-at-home orders face

Several people who failed to heed police warnings at a park in Hawaii were fined.

Arrest, fine or shame: What people who break coronavirus stay-at-home orders face

Several people who failed to heed police warnings at a park in Hawaii were fined.

Coronavirus death toll in Italy's Lombardy rises by around 542 in a day: source

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy's contagion, has risen by around 542 in a day to some 5,944, a source familiar with the data said on Saturday. The number of cases in the region, which includes Italy's financial capital Milan, increased by some 2,117 to roughly 39,415 the source said.

Whales face more fatal ship collisions as waters warm

Climate change is imperiling the world's largest animals by increasing the likelihood of fatal collisions between whales and big ships that ply the same waters. Warming ocean temperatures are causing some species of whales in pursuit of food to stray more frequently into shipping lanes, scientists say. The phenomenon already has increased ship strikes involving rare North Atlantic right whales on the East Coast and giant blue whales on the West Coast, researchers say.

Coronavirus forces cancellation of Paris fashion weeks: statement

Organizers have canceled the men's and haute couture fashion weeks in Paris because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said. "In light of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic worldwide, strong decisions are required to ensure the safety and health of (fashion) houses, their employees and everyone working in our industry," the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode said in a statement.

Cast of 'Contagion' issues PSA on coronavirus pandemic

The cast of the 2011 global outbreak thriller "Contagion" banded together to create a public service announcement on the novel coronavirus pandemic that has infected hundreds of thousands across the globe.Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Ehle were featured in the video, published Friday in partnership with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.Each actor filmed themselves speaking about the importance of staying home, practicing social distancing when you do go out for essentials and listening to scientists. ...

Shellshocked Spain reports record 832 new coronavirus deaths

Spain's coronavirus fatalities rose by a record 832 people overnight to 5,690 as hospitals and morgues were overwhelmed and a police chief fought back tears announcing a colleague's death. Second only to Italy in fatalities, Spain also saw infections rise to 72,248 on Saturday from 64,059 the day before. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the epidemic appeared to be reaching its peak in some areas, but the nation was short of intensive care unit beds.

Rhode Island's governor calls to quarantine New Yorkers to prevent the spread of COVID-19

The governor of Rhode Island is taking extreme measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in her state by sending law enforcement officers door-to-door to quarantine New York residents. The effort is to stop the spread of the coronavirus to Rhode Island residents by people who were in the epicenter of the viral disease. The number of confirmed cases in the Ocean State reached over 200 as of Friday which pales in comparison to the over 26,000 in New York City.

As Louisiana braces for surge of coronavirus cases, state pleads for federal help

During a private teleconference with governors this week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told President Donald Trump the state needs significant federal resources as it braces for an expected surge in COVID-19 infections. Louisiana has only 381 ICU beds available, Edwards said, and he expects the need will overwhelm the supply in hospitals by early April. "We believe by April 7 we will lack capacity in our hospitals," Edwards told the president.

In the coronavirus pandemic, carbon emissions have fallen, but climate change remains an existential threat

In a world desperate for good news about the coronavirus, a dip in global carbon emissions caused by the outbreak’s economic downturn might be seen as a silver lining. But climate scientists and policy experts aren’t encouraged.   

Beating lockdown inertia: French city-dwellers keep fit on balconies

As dusk fell over Nantes in western France, dozens of residents of an apartment block came out onto their balconies for a half-hour fitness session to beat the inertia of life under lockdown while the coronavirus sweeps across the country. The workout caught on after Pierre Planchenaud began exercising alone. France has been under virtual lockdown since March 17 and on Friday Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the unprecedented peacetime restrictions on public life would remain in place until at least April 15.

Swiss virus death toll hits 235 as official says worst case scenario `not yet materialized'

The death toll in Switzerland from coronavirus had climbed to 235 while total cases stand at 13,213, the health ministry said on Saturday, though officials said their worst fears have so far not materialized. "Many of those who pay taxes are now partially unemployed, their jobs are in question, and now we take the money away from them and distribute it somewhere where there are also problems."