March 10 coronavirus news

By Meg Wagner, Joshua Berlinger, Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton and Sheena McKenzie, CNN

Updated 0215 GMT (1015 HKT) March 11, 2020
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9:12 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Woman in Italy is stuck with the body of her husband who died from coronavirus

From CNN’s Helena de Moura in Atlanta

An Italian woman has been unable to leave her apartment where her husband’s dead body is being kept due to quarantine restrictions, Giancarlo Canepa, mayor of Borghetto Santo Spirito, told CNN Tuesday.

The husband, who had tested positive for coronavirus previously, died Monday at 2 a.m. local time. 

“Yes, it is true she is still there with the body and we won’t be able to remove it until Wednesday morning,“ the mayor said. Canepa said quarantine protocol states that no one is allowed to approach the body.

“Unfortunately, we have a security protocol we must follow,” he said. The mayor also said that the man refused to be taken to the local hospital for recovery, which led to this situation. “Otherwise, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

The story made headlines in Italy as stories emerged of the wife’s despair at remaining locked up with her husband’s dead body for hours on end.

Local television station IVG.IT posted video interviews with the woman’s neighbors who had just found out that their neighbor had passed away.

“Right now the most important thing is to think about this lady, alone with the body of her husband… No one can come close to help her nor comfort her. We hope this is quickly resolved. Our thoughts are with her and on what she is living through,” the neighbor said on video and whose name was not made public.

IVG.IT reported that the man’s family members are desperate and that his widow has been crying for help from her balcony.

9:03 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

California universities are holding online classes because of coronavirus

From CNN's Sarah Moon

UCLA
UCLA Credit: Shutterstock

Schools in the University of California (UC) system are canceling in-person classes and transitioning to online classes due to coronavirus, according to the universities’ websites.

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) will suspend in-person classes and transition to online platforms through April 10, the end of the second week of spring quarter. Final exams will be offered remotely, and nonessential gatherings of more than 100 people will be canceled, the university announced. UCLA’s university housing will remain open through spring break for those who need it.

Final exams for winter quarter at the University of California Riverside will not be held in-person. Classes for spring quarter will be online through April 3, the university said. Instructors should prepare to continue online instruction through the remainder of the quarter as needed, UCR added.

The University of California Santa Barbara is transitioning to remote instruction for the remainder of winter quarter and the start of spring quarter through at least the end of April, the university said. They are also recommending students traveling for spring break to be prepared for possibly remaining away from campus through the month of April.

The University of California Davis is also canceling in-person final exams next week and is urging all events with more than 150 people to be canceled or postponed. While UC Davis has not officially canceled in-person classes this week, they strongly encouraged faculty to go online. 

CNN has previously reported changes made at UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego.

7:45 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Portugal suspends flights to Italy for 14 days

From CNN's Isa Soares in London

Portugal is suspending all flights to Italy for a period of 14 days, ANAC, Portugal’s Civil Aviation Regulator, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The order will become effective on March 11, ANAC said.

7:27 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Chile announces quarantine for people entering from Spain and Italy

From CNN's Jackie Castillo

Chile announced a new measure to quarantine people entering the country from Spain and Italy, according to Health Minister Jaime Mañalich.

During a news conference in Santiago Tuesday, Mañalich said people coming to Chile from Spain and Italy would be required to complete a 14-day period of isolation from their home.

The health minister also confirmed that medical care will be provided to those in need during the isolation period.

7:24 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals postponed until October

From CNN's Jon Passantino

Festivalgoers are seen during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 20, 2019 in Indio, California.
Festivalgoers are seen during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 20, 2019 in Indio, California. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella

The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been postponed until October due to the threat of novel coronavirus, concert prompter Goldenvoice announced Tuesday evening.

“At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns,” Goldenvoice said in a statement. “While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.”

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will now take place on October 9, 10, 11 and October 16, 17 and 18.

Stagecoach will take place on October 23, 24 and 25.

Goldenvoice said all purchases for the April dates will be honored for the rescheduled October dates and purchasers will be notified by Friday on how to obtain a refund if they are unable to attend.

7:17 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

UK's junior health minister has contracted coronavirus

From CNN's Milena Veselinovic and Isa Soares

Nadine Dorries, the UK's junior health minister, has tested positive for coronavirus, UK Department of Health told CNN on Tuesday.

Dorries, who is an MP and health minister for patient safety and suicide prevention, is now in self-isolation and "the usual contract tracing has begun," a spokesperson for the health ministry told CNN. 

UK health minister Matt Hancock tweeted about Dorries, saying: "Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus. She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. We all wish her well as she recovers."

6:43 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Democratic congressman will self-quarantine after contact with coronavirus patient

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) speaks during a discussion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) September 26, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) speaks during a discussion on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) September 26, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Rep. Don Beyer will self-quarantine after having dinner with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.

The Virginia Democrat said he was contacted by the Virginia Department of Health. 

He said in the 10 days since the interaction neither he nor his wife, who was also at the dinner, have had any symptoms. 

Beyer has been on Capitol Hill this week and in meetings with members.

“My office will close for public business and I will not attend votes or hearings until Monday, when medical advisers say I should be clear to return,” Beyer said in a statement.
6:40 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

Pence says task force discussed recommending additional travel advisories

From CNN's Maegan Vazquez 

Vice President Mike Pence speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March, 10, about the coronavirus outbreak.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March, 10, about the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that the White House coronavirus task force thoroughly discussed the potential for recommending additional travel advisories.

“I will tell you, we had a very thorough discussion today of the prospect of recommending to the President additional travel advisories,” Pence said in the White House press briefing room.

“We’re going to be bringing those recommendations forward in the time and manner that we as the White House coronavirus task force determine are appropriate. It’s literally a day to day consideration,” Pence added.

6:38 p.m. ET, March 10, 2020

South Dakota reports one coronavirus death

From CNN's Rebekah Riess

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced that five people in the state have coronavirus and one of the infected people has died.

The person who died today was a man in his 60s, who had underlying medical conditions that complicated the situation, according Kim Malsam-Rysdon, South Dakota Secretary of Health.

The other four cases are not in the hospital at this time, but are at home recovering, Malsam-Rysdon said.

According to Malsam-Rysdon, these cases include two men in their 40s, one man in his 50s, and one woman in her 30s.