Florida's Miami-Dade County suspends all mass gatherings
From CNN's Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt
One of Florida's largest counties is suspending all mass gatherings in an attempt to prevent community spread of coronavirus, its mayor said Thursday.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez also recommended that smaller gatherings, "if they're not essential, also be reconsidered."
I have decided to suspend the operation of the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair, the Miami Open tennis tournament, the MIA 5K run, and all major events at the American Airlines Arena. The March 22 NASCAR race at the Homestead Miami Speedway is postponed at this time. NASCAR officials will decide whether or not to hold the race without fans.
10:17 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
Your coronavirus questions, answered
CNN is collecting your questions about coronavirus. We'll be answering some of them here throughout the day.
10:41 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
NHL tells hockey teams to skip morning skates, practices and meetings
North America's National Hockey League has announced that teams should not hold their usual game-day morning skates, practices or team meetings.
There are ten games on the NHL schedule tonight.
"Given the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs are advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today," the league said in a statement.
A Los Angeles Kings fan reaches for hand sanitizer before a game against the Ottawa Senators at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on March 11. Credit: Harry How/Getty Images
10:07 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
Czech government declares state of emergency over coronavirus
From CNN’s Ivana Kottasova
Workers wear protective clothes as they test a new disinfectant on a tram in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday. Credit: Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images
The Czech government declared a state of emergency Thursday over coronavirus, partly closing borders to prevent people from at-risk locations from entering the country.
The state of emergency imposes a ban on gatherings of more than 30 people and puts restrictions on public places such as restaurants, libraries and gyms.
It is due to last for 30 days.Â
10:06 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
Trump may sign a disaster declaration today
From CNN's Kevin Liptak, Phill Mattingly and Jim Acosta
President Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Republicans the President may sign a disaster declaration under the Stafford Act this afternoon, three people familiar with the matter told CNN.Â
Aides have been weighing such a move for the past several days as a way to provide more resources for combatting the coronavirus outbreak.Â
9:57 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
US senators shut down DC offices
From CNN's Lauren Fox and Kristin Wilson
At least two senators have closed their DC offices as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney is telling his staff to work from home. He added that he has a cold.
Sen. Ted Cruz is also temporarily closing his office "to protect the health and welfare of staff, constituents, and colleagues in Congress," his staff said in a statement.
Cruz is currently in self-isolation after he attended the Conservative Political Action Conference, where someone tested positive for coronavirus.Â
“Sen. Cruz feels healthy and is at home in Texas, where he is completing his self-quarantine today after a brief interaction 14 days ago with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Offices in Texas remain open, and Sen. Cruz is continuing to closely monitor the situation and take every precaution necessary to keep staff healthy and help reduce the spread of this virus to others," his office said in a statement.
10:25 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
Public access to the Capitol Complex has been suspended
From CNN's Phil MattinglyÂ
On the floor just now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell officially announced the suspension of public access to the Capitol Complex through the end of March.
Specifics of the restrictions were announced in a letter from the office of the Sergeant at Arms, including having office workers escorting official business visitors to and from the entrances. All tours are also on hold, the email noted.
10:11 a.m. ET, March 12, 2020
Europe coronavirus travel ban: Your questions answered
From CNN's Tamara Hardingham-Gill
Passengers speaks with a staff member at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in France, on Thursday. Credit: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images
The announcement, which was made on Wednesday, has understandably left tourists with impending travel to the US booked, as well as American citizens, with many concerns.
"While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus," Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf said in a statement after the ban was revealed.
Here's everything you need to know about the US coronavirus travel ban for Europe:
Who does the ban apply to?
The travel restrictions apply to foreign nationals who have visited countries in the Schengen zone -- an area of open-border travel within Europe -- during the past 14 days.
These include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The UK and Ireland are both omitted from the restrictions.
Italian cardiologist says surgical department has been shut down to make room for coronavirus patients
The head of an Italian cardiac surgery department said the coronavirus outbreak has forced his department to suspend operations to make room for coronavirus patients.
Dr. Lorenzo A. Menicanti, the head of cardiac surgery department at IRCCS Policlinico San Donato in Milan, told CNN's Becky Anderson cardiac surgery has been "completely shut down" — except for pediatric cases.
"The big, big issue is the cardiac surgery for adults. It is completely shut down," he said.
He added:
"So it's really an uneasy situation for us, for the patient, for the hospital, because to stop so large a program of cardiac surgery is really difficult because we have to think that after that we have to reopen all things and sometimes not so evident."
