March 14 coronavirus news

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

Updated 1024 GMT (1824 HKT) March 15, 2020
105 Posts
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7:37 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

White House says President Trump tests negative for coronavirus

From CNN's Kevin Bohn

President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions as he leaves the room following a press conference at the White House on Saturday morning.
President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions as he leaves the room following a press conference at the White House on Saturday morning. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

President Donald Trump's coronavirus test came back negative Saturday, according to White House physician Sean P. Conley.

"One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, the President remains symptom free," Conley's note read.

7:37 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Georgia postpones Democratic Primary

From CNN's Dianne Gallagher

Voting equipment is prepared for testing in Atlanta on February 14 before being shipped to various counties throughout Georgia.
Voting equipment is prepared for testing in Atlanta on February 14 before being shipped to various counties throughout Georgia. Jeff Martin/AP

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is postponing the state's Democratic Primary scheduled for March 24 because of concerns about coronavirus, according to Walter Jones, Secretary of State spokesman.

The primary is being re-scheduled for May 19.

"In light of the public health emergency posed by COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, in-person voting presents increased risk to voters and poll workers,"  Raffensperger said. "Governor (Brian) Kemp has declared a public health emergency. President Trump has declared a national emergency. Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large.”

Georgia is the second state to delay its primary. Louisiana postponed its primary earlier this week.

Raffensperger said all votes already cast in person and all absentee ballots will be counted. He also said every eligible voter who has not yet had a chance to cast a ballot in the March 24 elections will be able to do so on May 19, along with the elections already scheduled for that date.

7:38 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Vail Resorts suspending North American operations

From CNN’s Hollie Silverman and Kim Bui

Vail Resorts, a management company that owns 37 resorts across 15 states and three countries, is suspending all of its North American operations from Sunday to March 22 as a result of coronavirus, according to a news release from the company.

"All our scheduled employees, both seasonal and year-round, will be paid during this upcoming eight-day period, without needing to use any vacation or sick time," the company said in the release.

Lodging and property management operations will remain open to service guests who are already on location or have existing reservations, according to the release.

8:11 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Georgia governor authorizes up to 2,000 National Guard troops to address coronavirus concerns

From CNN’s Hollie Silverman 

Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday.
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday. Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order Saturday authorizing Adjutant Gen.Thomas Carden to call up as many as 2,000 Georgia National Guard troops to state active duty to address coronavirus concerns, according to a news release from the Governor’s office.

The troops will assist with returning Georgians housed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to their homes, the release said.

Troops will also be available to ensure a steady supply of medical equipment, food, shelter and other materials as needed, according to the release.

The Georgia National Guard was already assisting with the transfer of 31 Georgians -- all formerly passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship -- from Dobbins to their homes Saturday for isolation and monitoring by Department of Public Health officials, the release said.

7:05 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Baseball Hall of Fame closes indefinitely

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

The National Baseball Hall Of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. 
The National Baseball Hall Of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.  Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, has announced they will close their doors indefinitely starting at 5 p.m. ET Sunday.

"This precautionary measure is being implemented in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and government officials to limit opportunities for large gatherings and the further spread of the COVID-19 virus," the museum's website said.

7:04 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

German cities shut down public venues to fight the spread of coronavirus

From CNN’s Jennifer Hauser and Nadine Schmidt 

People walk through Alexander Platz, a shopping area in Berlin, Germany, on March 14.
People walk through Alexander Platz, a shopping area in Berlin, Germany, on March 14. Markus Schreiber/AP

The German cities of Berlin and Cologne ramped up their responses to the coronavirus pandemic Saturday, ordering the shutdown of all bars, nightclubs, theaters and concert halls and public venues.

“The Berlin Senate decided today that from now on all public and non-public events in Berlin with more than 50 people or more participants are forbidden," Berlin’s state government said in a statement, adding that swimming pools, museums, gyms and brothels will also close.

The city of Cologne said in a statement that bars, discos, theaters as well as amusement arcades will shut until April 10. The city is also banning church and religious services.

Both cities said that restaurants will remain open.

Earlier on Saturday, Germany's health ministry urged citizens returning from Italy, Switzerland and Austria to self-isolate for up to two weeks to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, even if they don't have symptoms.

6:19 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Vice President Mike Pence pens letter telling White House employees to 'avoid physical contact'

From CNN’s Kristen Holmes

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a briefing on coronavirus on Saturday at the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a briefing on coronavirus on Saturday at the White House. Alex Brandon/AP

Vice President Mike Pence urged the Executive Office staff to follow some guidelines to reduce the spread of coronavirus, according to a letter to Pence wrote that was obtained by CNN.

It’s imperative each one of us do our part to take the proper precautions to keep ourselves and our colleagues safe," Pence wrote. "As an employee aboard the White House Complex, we have an additional duty to protect the health of our Executive Branch and those working with us."

Some of the steps listed to reduce transmission included:

  • Washing hands for 20 seconds
  • Social distancing, or limiting oneself to large, in-person gatherings
  • Avoiding physical contact
  • Wiping down personal work stations
  • Staying home if sick
6:08 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

Virginia reports first coronavirus death

From CNN’s Hollie Silverman 

Virginia reported its first coronavirus death Saturday, according to a news release from the state Department of Health.

The patient was a male in his 70s who died from respiratory failure and contracted the infection from an unknown source, the release said.

6:08 p.m. ET, March 14, 2020

US now has over 2,600 coronavirus cases and 56 deaths

From CNN's Shawn Nottingham

Colorado National Guard medical personnel perform coronavirus tests at a drive-through testing site in Denver on March 14.
Colorado National Guard medical personnel perform coronavirus tests at a drive-through testing site in Denver on March 14. David Zalubowski/AP

There are at least 2,655 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A total of 56 people have died.  

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 US public health systems, there are 2,655 cases in 49 states, the District of Columbia and US territories.