March 13 coronavirus news

New York now has at least 421 cases of coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. That’s an increase of at least 96 cases since the state's last update.

The governor said 50 patients are currently hospitalized, which is a 12% rate. Eighteen are in intensive care.

The governor said 28 labs will be authorized for testing in New York state. By next week, when they are up and running, the state will be able to run 6,000 tests per day. It will be a “dramatic increase” as New York is currently processing about 3,000 tests per day, Cuomo said.

Pakistan announced Friday it will be “completely” closing its borders with Afghanistan and Iran, according Dr. Zafar Mirza, a special assistant to the country’s prime minister of health.

Mirza added that all major gatherings in the country are to be canceled. Movie theaters across the country will be closed indefinitely and wedding halls will be closed for the next two weeks.

To limit ports of entry, Mirza said only three airports will be open for international travel.

At least 28 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pakistan.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Friday that classes for students attending K-12 public schools will be canceled next week.

Spring break for students in K-12 public schools will be moved to this upcoming week, Raimondo said. It was previously scheduled to start in April.

School staff will be working with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to prepare distance learning plans during this school closure. 

The closure will also be used to come up with plans for cleaning protocols, she said. The governor encouraged childcare and daycare facilities to remain open for the week.

The New York Stock Exchange says it will remain open for the time being, but that some employees will work from home. 

That includes employees who are “not required to support floor trading or a limited number of building activities, will work from home,” the NYSE said in a statement.

The exchange added that “this measure will greatly reduce the number of personnel who are entering the building and interacting with members of the floor community.” 

The NYSE also said its “has been engaged in ongoing conversations with city, state, and federal government officials, including SEC Chairman Jay Clayton” about the future of the exchange, adding that staying open is “symbolically important to public confidence and maintaining an orderly market during these volatile times.”

The London Marathon, originally scheduled to run on April 26, has been postponed to Oct. 4.

The London Marathon’s announcement follows Friday’s news that the Boston Marathon was postponed to a later date as well.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed an order Friday prohibiting gatherings of more than 250 people.

These gatherings are “subject — but not limited to — community, civic, public and leisure gatherings, faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, fundraisers, parades, fairs, festivals and any similar event or activity that brings together 250 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time,” Baker said at a news conference.

Transpiration hubs, medical facilities, shopping centers, polling centers and other spaces where more than 250 people are in transit are exempt from the order.

The order also doesn’t include restaurants, “provided that they should, whenever possible encourage social distancing”

Sportswear giant Nike announced on Friday that they are encouraging US-based employees to work from home through March “if their jobs allow,” according to a statement. 

The company’s world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon will remain open, Nike said.

California's two largest school districts — Los Angeles Unified School District and the San Diego Unified School District — will close starting Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The districts said the decision was made in part "to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

In a joint statement, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten said the following: 

The coronavirus pandemic has continued to impact local attractions and recreation in Southern California.

The latest theme parks in California to announce closures are Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.

The theme parks will temporarily close tomorrow through the end of March. 

Elsewhere, “Hamilton” and “The Spongebob Musical” ticketholders will be refunded for canceled performances at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater.