March 19 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Helen Regan, Adam Renton, Emma Reynolds and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 10:42 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

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1:41 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

TJMaxx and Marshals closing all stores globally due to coronavirus outbreak

From CNN's Richard Davis

The parent company of retail stores TJMaxx and Marshals announced on Thursday that it is temporarily closing all stores globally to “prevent the further spread of this virus.”

Ernie Herrman, CEO and president of TJX Companies, wrote in a letter that the company is also temporarily closing its online business platforms as well all as its distribution centers and offices.

During closures, the company plans to pay all store, distribution and office associates.

“We thank our customers for shopping our stores and e-commerce sites and look forward to serving you again in the near future,” Herrman said.

1:35 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Indiana will close schools until at least May 1

From CNN's Carma Hassan

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the state would be closing schools until May 1.

“As we get nearer to May 1, we may have to close permanently,” he said.

There are 56 cases of novel coronavirus in Indiana. Of those cases, two deaths have been reported.

1:48 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

American Airlines will ground about half its fleet next month

From CNN’s Joshua Replogle and Greg Wallace

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.

“With minimal operations, we need a smaller staff,” Isom wrote.

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

2:06 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Italy surpasses China in number of coronavirus deaths

From CNN's Mia Alberti, Nicola Ruotolo and Valentina Di Donato

Health workers provide first Aird in front of Sant'Orsola Hospital on Wednesday, March 18, in Bologna, Italy. Massimo Cavallari/Getty Images

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.

1:12 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Chinese coronavirus experts warn northern Italy's lockdown measures are not enough

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London and Nicola Ruotolo in Rome

Sun Shuopeng, left, Vice President of China's Red Cross leaves the Red Cross headquarters in Rome after a press conference on Friday, March 13. Alessandra Tarantino/AP

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.

"In the city of Wuhan after one month since the adoption of the lockdown policy, we see a decreasing trend from the peak of the disease," Sun Shuopeng said. "Here in Milan, the hardest hit area by COVID-19, there isn't a very strict lockdown: public transportation is still working and people are still moving around, you're still having dinners and parties in the hotels and you're not wearing masks. We need every citizen to be involved in the fight of COVID-19 and follow this policy.”

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

Everyone should just stay at home, he added.

1:07 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

California's Ventura County issues shelter-in-place order for senior citizens

From CNN's Stella Chan

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.

“All individuals currently living within Ventura County, equal to or older than 75 years of age, or equal to or older than 70 years of age with an active or unstable comorbidity, are ordered to shelter at their place of residence from March 18, 2020 to April 1, 2020," the country said in its order.

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.

1:08 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Dutch Health minister resigns one day after fainting in parliament

From CNN’s Mick Krever in London

Dutch Minister Bruno Bruins speaks during a debate about the developments surrounding the coronavirus, in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Wednesday, March 18. Phil Nijhuis/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

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.

1:02 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Queen Elizabeth: "We all have a vitally important part to play as individuals"

From CNN’s Max Foster

Queen Elizabeth leaves Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic, in London, Thursday, March 19. Aaron Chown/PA via AP

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:

"As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty.
We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.
At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.
We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months.
Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part."

1:03 p.m. ET, March 19, 2020

Trump on repercussions for China: "We're working on that right now"

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

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.

“It would have been much better if we had known about this a number of months earlier,” the President said at a news conference Thursday. “It could have been contained to that one area in China where it started. And certainly the world is paying a big price for what they did.”

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.”