March 19 coronavirus news

American Airlines is grounding nearly half of its fleet and canceling 55,000 flights next month, according to an internal message sent to employees obtained by CNN.

The airline also expects “demand to fall even more before it gets better," the message stated.

The striking numbers in an internal email from American Airlines President Robert Isom include a reduction of international flights by 75% and domestic flights by 30% in April, “with plans to reduce it even further in May.”

The message said American would park 130 wide body and 320 narrow body planes. The airline has told regulators that its core fleet includes 942 aircraft.

The airline, which is the world's largest, also said it is continuing efforts to reduce the number of employees it pays, by expanding voluntary leave programs and “offering an early out” to employees with at least 15 years of service.

The note did not disclose any furloughs or layoffs, and the airline has declined to comment on whether it is considering such cuts.

Italy has just surpassed China for the most number of deaths related to COVID-19.

The total number of cases in the country rose to 41,035 on Thursday, which includes 5,322 new cases, the Italian Civil Protection Agency said at a news conference.

The number of deaths in Italy has reached 3,405. Italy has become the deadliest center of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The current number of deaths in China stands at 3,242, according to the World Health Organization.

The coronavirus measures in place in the hard hit Lombardy region of northern Italy are “not strict enough,” according to Chinese medical experts helping the country deal with the crisis.

The situation in Lombardy right now "is similar to what we experienced two months ago in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of COVID-19," the Chinese Red Cross vice president, Sun Shuopeng, said Thursday in a press conference in Milan, Italy.

He advised Italians to stop all “economic activities and cut the mobility of people.”

Everyone should just stay at home, he added.

Ventura County is ordering residents ages 70 and older to shelter-in-place until at least April 1, joining other regions of California attempting to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The order adds: "Exceptions shall only exist as necessary to seek medical care, nutrition, or to perform essential work in healthcare or government."

Violation of this order is a misdemeanor and could result in a fine or imprisonment.

“We have no plans on arresting 75-year-olds,” said Ashley Bautista, a Ventura County spokesperson. However, the cost for violation is to illustrate how serious coronavirus is to the community.

By the numbers: Ventura County has 13 cases of coronavirus. The state of California has 834 cases, including 17 deaths.

The Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Bruno Bruins, has resigned, the Dutch government said in a statement to CNN.

The announcement comes one day after he collapsed during a parliamentary session.

Bruins was responsible for the Netherlands’ COVID-19 response.

After collapsing Wednesday, Bruins tweeted last night that he had been suffering from “faintness because of over-exhaustion and intensive weeks.”

He said at the time that he was doing better, and was looking forward to “getting back to work to fight the corona crisis as well as possible.”

Until a new appointment is made, Minister Hugo de Jonge will take over Bruins’ responsibilities.

In a message put out by Buckingham Palace Thursday, Queen Elizabeth said "we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals" as the UK battles to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Here's the Queen's complete message:

President Trump said he is considering “repercussions” for the Chinese government’s handling of coronavirus, after days of placing the blame for the virus on the country. 

Some context: Trump was initially very complimentary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s handling of the outbreak, but in recent days he has taken to calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus.”

After consulting with medical experts, and receiving guidance from the World Health Organization, CNN has determined that that name is both inaccurate and stigmatizing.

The President also expressed skepticism of China’s claim that they had no new cases of coronavirus Thursday.

“As far as believing what they’re putting out now, I hope it’s true,” he said. “Who knows? But I hope it’s true.”

When asked if he was considering repercussions on the country, Trump answered: “We’re working on that right now.”

President Trump on Thursday reacted to news that multiple members of Congress have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

“I know all of them. I don’t know if they’re sitting like you people are sitting, you’re actually sitting too close,” Trump said, apparently joking that he’d like to “get rid” of about 75-80% of the reporters in the briefing room.

“But look, I know all of them. They tested positive. Hopefully they’ll all going to get better. It’s one of those things, it’s Congress,” Trump said.

He noted that many members have self-quarantined and that “most people” diagnosed with the virus “are getting better… doesn’t mean it’s not a tough one.” He praised the measures many members have taken.

“I think Congress has behaved unbelievably well in that regard,” he said.

##Healths

President Trump wasn’t able to provide any specifics when asked when life will get back to normal for Americans who are practicing social distancing.

Asked later whether he expects the 15-day guidelines to be extended, he said, “I can only tell you on the 14th day. We’ll have to see.”