Soldiers spray disinfectant in Seoul. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

March 7 coronavirus news

By Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Rob Picheta, Fernando Alfonso III and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 9:00 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020
110 Posts
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6:41 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

Neither Trump nor Pence made contact with the CPAC attendee diagnosed with coronavirus

From CNN’s Kristen Holmes

There's no indication that President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence "met with or were in close proximity to the attendee” who tested positive for coronavirus after attending the Conservative Political Action Conference last week, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Saturday.

"The President’s physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House Staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First Family and the entire White House Complex safe and healthy," Grisham said.

Trump spoke at the event on February 29.

6:39 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

Pennsylvania reports two new presumptive positive cases of coronavirus

From CNN’s Laura Ly

Pennsylvania announced two new presumptive positive cases of coronavirus Saturday, according to a press release from Gov. Tom Wolf.

“Both individuals are from Montgomery County, have mild symptoms, are in isolation at home and were exposed to an area of the United States where COVID-19 is present,” Wolf said in the release.

There are now four presumptive positive cases in Pennsylvania.

The other two cases are individuals from Delaware County and Wayne County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Both of those earlier cases are individuals with mild symptoms and are in isolation at home, Wolf said.

6:26 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

VP Mike Pence announces changes to cruise line industry to fight coronavirus

From Jason Hoffman and Jamie Crawford

Vice President Mike Pence announced a new plan to combat coronavirus on cruises.

There will be enhanced entry and exit screening for cruise passengers, as well as on-board testing for coronavirus, Pence said. There will also be new quarantine standards for those who took a cruise and need to be quarantined, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will coordinate.

The cruise line industry is working with the CDC, Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard over the next 72 hours to implement the plans.

When asked about reports that he may have come into contact with an infected individual at a conference in Washington earlier this month, Pence said he has “not been tested for the coronavirus.”

“We were able to confirm that I did not come in contact with that young person and we wish them and their family a swift recovery,” Pence said.

6:22 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

2 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Ontario

From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph

Canadian officials confirmed an additional two cases of coronavirus in British Columbia on Saturday, bringing the country wide total to 59.

One of the new cases is a man in his 20s who returned from Italy on March 3 and presented himself to a Toronto hospital’s emergency department, according to a provincial government press release.

The other case is of a woman in her 60s who returned from Iran on March 2 and presented herself to a Richmond Hill emergency department.

In both cases, the “hospital took all necessary precautions and followed standard operating procedures, including testing and assessment,” according to the Ontario government.

Both patients were discharged the same day and remain in self-isolation, officials said.

6:03 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

First presumptive positive case of coronavirus appears in DC

From CNN’s Gregory Clary

The first presumptive positive coronavirus case has appeared in Washington, according to a news release from the office of Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The release says the test came back positive on Saturday afternoon.

6:02 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

CPAC attendee tested positive for coronavirus

From CNN’s Gregory Clary

One of the attendees at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, tested positive for coronavirus, the American Conservative Union said in a press release Saturday.

President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials attended the conference, though the ACU says the attendee did not come into contact with Trump or Pence. The attendee also did not attend events in the main hall, the release said.

The ACU said the Trump Administration “is aware of the situation.”

The exposure occurred prior to the conference, the ACU added.

"A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result. The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.” 

5:57 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

New California coronavirus case may be linked to AIPAC Policy Conference, officials say

From CNN’s Shawn Nottingham 

A new case of coronavirus has been identified in Los Angeles County, according to a press release from the county's Department of Public Health.

The person who tested positive recently attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C., where they may have been exposed.

Earlier this week, AIPAC organizers said two conference attendees from New York tested positive for coronavirus.

There are now 14 coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County, the release said.

5:39 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

CDC provides additional medical staff to Life Care Center in Washington

From CNN’s Melissa Alonso

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided "extra nurses, practitioners and doctors" to the Life Care Center, according to Tim Killian, the center's spokesperson in Kirkland, Washington.

"The amount of work and stress that these staff and employees and caregivers here are under is tremendous," Killian said. "They truly are heroes."  

5:38 p.m. ET, March 7, 2020

Quarantined Egyptian cruise ship has 45 coronavirus cases

From CNN’s Jennifer Hauser 

A quarantined cruise ship in Egypt carrying 171 people now has 45 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to state-run Al-Ahram news agency. 

The Luxor Nile traveled from Aswan to Luxor, where it is now docked.

Of the 45 people infected, 19 were from other countries besides Egypt, said Egypt's health minister Hala Zayed.

"They [all the recently-announced cases] are now on their way to be isolated in a hospital in Marsa Matrouh," Zayed said.

The new cases aboard the cruise bring the total number of cases in Egypt to 48, according to Al Ahram.