March 10 coronavirus news

Five Broadway shows will sell remaining tickets for $50 for all performances beginning Thursday through March 29, according to a statement from the shows' producers.

The five plays and musicals are: 

Producer Scott Rudin said in a statement that this is a great opportunity for affordable theater and that we all “could all use a few hours away from the evening news."

“As long as New York City is open for business, its beating heart remains the Broadway stage,” Rudin said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says the state is taking two new steps to prepare for the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The state has six confirmed cases of coronavirus.

US stocks rallied at today's opening bell. The market is set to rebound from its worst day since 2008, which included the worst point-drop on record for the Dow.

Stocks bounced back after the White House indicated it will propose a payroll tax cut to ease the burden from the coronavirus fallout.

Here's what the market looks like now:

Watch:

Saint Peter's Square and Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City are now closed to tourists starting Tuesday because of the coronavirus, the Vatican press office said in a statement.

The Vatican's employee cafeteria will be closed to visitors starting tomorrow, but a delivery service will be available.

The pharmacy and the grocery store in the Vatican will remain open, the office said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says "older adults" and people with serious chronic medical conditions "are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness."

Anyone over 60 and those with underlying health problems should try to avoid places with large crowds — such as movie theaters, busy malls and even religious services, top infectious disease experts say.

"This ought to be top of mind for people over 60, and those with underlying health problems," said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University professor and longtime CDC adviser.

"The single most important thing you can do to avoid the virus is reduce your face to face contact with people."

But why is age 60 often used as a threshold for those who need to be extra cautious?

"We now know more about who is at risk," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams said.

"(The) average age of death for people from coronavirus is 80. Average age of people who need medical attention is age 60."

British Airways has canceled all its services to and from Italy after the Italian government placed the country on lockdown to try and contain the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, British Airways said: “In light of the Italian Government's announcement and the UK Government's official travel advice, we have contacted all customers who are due to travel today. Any travellers due to fly to or from Italy between now and April 4 can rebook to a later date up until the end of May, move their destination to Geneva or Zurich or receive a full refund.”

Italy has the highest number of confirmed virus cases outside China, with 9,172 infections, and 463 people have died.

President Trump’s economic team will head to Capitol Hill this afternoon for closed-door policy luncheons with Republicans, a senior administration official told CNN.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Director of the United States National Economic Council Larry Kudlow will try to sell Republicans on new economic relief measures after major losses on Wall Street Monday. 

US markets plunged yesterday as panic triggered by the escalation of the coronavirus epidemic spread.

The President is not expected to attend the meeting today himself, but that could change. He told reporters yesterday that he would give a press conference signaling his priorities some time on Tuesday.

A coronavirus briefing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, but it’s not clear if the President will attend.

Coronavirus has no doubt put the travel industry into a tailspin.

Airlines alone could lose $113 billion in sales if the virus continues to spread, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Hotels, too -- both big brands like Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels as well as small family-run properties -- are hurting as reserved guests cancel their stays for fear of traveling and don't rebook.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and the founder of Atmosphere Research Group, estimates that hotels could lose more than $30 billion worldwide because of coronavirus.

But while the outbreak's trajectory has been speedy, there is a windfall for travelers: substantially reduced airfares and free extras at hotels and from tour operators that are worth hundreds of dollars -- even during the upcoming peak summer travel season.

Read the full story here

Pope Francis during mass today said that he has asked priests to have the courage to visit those sick with coronavirus.

Here's how he put it:

Pope Francis is live-streaming from his private residence every morning.