March 14 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Brett McKeehan, Ivana Kottasová and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 1024 GMT (1824 HKT) March 15, 2020
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5:52 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Mississippi governor declares state of emergency

From CNN’s Hollie Silverman

Gov. Tate Reeves speaks at a news conference, in Jackson, Mississippi on March 4.
Gov. Tate Reeves speaks at a news conference, in Jackson, Mississippi on March 4. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in response to coronavirus.

Thirty-two states, including Mississippi and the District of Columbia, have declared a state of emergency since February 29.

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Reeves said the state is prepared and has a pandemic plan that’s being “followed to the letter.”

 

The declaration will release funding and resources to respond to the pandemic, Reeves said.

Reeves has also asked all public schools to extend their spring breaks for at least another week.

Reeves will be working from home for the next 14 days and has asked other state offices and business to do the same if possible.

5:23 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

NBA player infected with coronavirus pledges $500K to arena employees and social services

From CNN’s Kevin Dotson

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert plays in an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 7 in Salt Lake City.
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert plays in an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 7 in Salt Lake City. Rick Bowmer/AP

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who is infected with the coronavirus, is donating over $500,000 to Vivint Smart Home Arena hourly employees and coronavirus-related social services in Utah, Oklahoma City and his native France. 

“I know there are countless ways that people have been impacted. These donations are a small token that reflect my appreciation and support for all those impacted and are the first of many steps I will take to try and make a positive difference, while continuing to learn more about COVID-19 and educate others," Gobert said in a statement.

Gobert was seen on video Monday playfully touching microphones and phones at a press conference two days before he found out he had tested positive for coronavirus.

5:12 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Israel further tightens coronavirus restrictions, limits gatherings to 10 people

From CNN’s Andrew Carey, Oren Liebermann and Amir Tal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at his Jerusalem office on March 14, regarding the new measures that will be taken to fight coronavirus in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech at his Jerusalem office on March 14, regarding the new measures that will be taken to fight coronavirus in Israel. Gali Tibbon/AFP/Getty Images

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further tightened restrictions on Israelis Saturday in an attempt to combat the spread of coronavirus, including limiting gatherings to 10 people and closing all leisure and entertainment venues effective Sunday morning.

Netanyahu said all cafes, restaurants, theaters and other such venues would close. He urged Israeli citizens to work from home if possible and to refrain from non-essential travel.

We are at war against an invisible enemy,” Netanyahu said. “Defeating it depends on the steps that each of you takes. We must do everything in order not to infect and not to become infected.”

There was no indication of how long these measures would remain in effect.

Pharmacies, supermarkets and all essential services would remain open, Netanyahu said. He also promised there would not be shortages of food, medicine, fuel and money.

Netanyahu said he planned to utilize counterterrorism tools to fight the virus’s spread. The tools would provide digital and electronic monitoring of coronavirus patients to see where they had been and whom they might have put at risk. Such tools, Netanyahu said, have never been used for civilian purposes, only for combating terrorism, and he said he was seeking permission from the Ministry of Justice to use them.

Israel currently has 193 identified cases of coronavirus, according to Health Ministry officials.

5:12 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Spanish Prime Minister announces tighter restrictions on travel

From CNN’s Laura Perez Maestro and Jennifer Hauser

A worker cleans while people wait for trains at the Principe Pio Metro Station in Madrid on March 14.
A worker cleans while people wait for trains at the Principe Pio Metro Station in Madrid on March 14. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced at a news conference Saturday that people in Spain are banned from leaving their houses with the exception of:

  • Going to work
  • Buying food or essential supplies
  • Going to a hospital
  • Supporting an elderly person or a minor under their care

If people do leave their houses for any of those exceptions, they must go out by themselves, Sanchez said.

5:02 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

North Carolina closing schools for at least 2 weeks

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, on March 14.
Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, on March 14. WNCN

All public schools in North Carolina will be closed for at least two weeks starting Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced during a Saturday news conference.

The governor is issuing an executive order banning any gatherings of 100 people or more, he said.

The executive order is in response to people not following the guidance previously given by the governor’s office, Cooper said.

4:58 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

US now has over 2,500 cases of coronavirus

From CNN's Shawn Nottingham

Nurses work at a drive-through coronavirus testing center at the University of Washington Medical Campus in Seattle on Friday.
Nurses work at a drive-through coronavirus testing center at the University of Washington Medical Campus in Seattle on Friday. John Moore/Getty Images

There are at least 2,548 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A total of 50 people have died as of Saturday afternoon.

According to the CDC, there are 70 cases from repatriated citizens.

According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through public health systems, there are 2,548 cases in 49 states, the District of Columbia and US territories.

4:45 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

South Carolina medical and nursing boards to issue emergency licenses

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners and the state's Board of Nursing will begin issuing temporary licenses to out-of-state medical professionals during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a news release from Gov. Henry McMaster.

This is another great tool to combat this virus' potential impact to our state," McMaster said. "The ability to expedite this licensure process gives us greater assurance that we will have the medical health professionals and resources we need in order to keep South Carolinians safe."

The Medical Board can issue temporary licenses for out-of-state physicians, physician assistants and respiratory care practitioners within 24 hours, the release said. There is no fee for these 90-day temporary licenses, the release said.

For nurses, South Carolina is part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), meaning registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) from 32 other states can work in South Carolina at any time, the release states. The SC Board of Nursing can also expedite licenses of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), as well as RNs and LPNs from non-compact states. The license is good for 15 days, but may be renewed, the release said.

4:33 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Dallas Municipal Court rescheduling trials and jury duty because of coronavirus

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

The Dallas Municipal Court is rescheduling trials and jury duty in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus, according to a news release from the city of Dallas.

All cases set for trial from Monday to April 3 will be rescheduled to a later date, the release said.

All other hearings -- including pre-trial, contested and show cause hearings -- will continue as normal, according to the release.

4:09 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Bahamas won't permit cruise ship to dock due to coronavirus

From CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana

The Bahamas is not allowing the MS Braemar cruise ship, which has five coronavirus cases on board, to dock.

"The Ministry of Transport and local government reiterates that the MS Braemar cruise ship will not be permitted to dock at any port in the Bahamas and no persons will be permitted to disembark the vessel ... the government of the Bahamas will provide the Braemar with humanitarian assistance," a statement from the Bahamas Ministry of Transport said.