March 20 coronavirus news

When asked if it was fair to say the White House has postponed all non-coronavirus-related events and travel, deputy press secretary Judd Deere told CNN that there has been a scaling back in activities as they continue to follow the President's coronavirus guidelines.

Deere added: "The complex has also implemented temperature checks at all entrances and for those in close contact with the President and Vice President, paused the internship and volunteer program, canceled all east and west wing tours and more to keep the campus safe and healthy.”

But a White House official stressed to CNN that the situation is fluid and that they are constantly evaluating the situation.

"This is a constantly changing, evolving situation," the official said.

For now, large scale social events — things that require logistical support and travel arrangements — are on hold.

There are still events on the calendar in the month of April, for instance, but the schedule is being evaluated "day by day," the official said.

Earlier Friday, the White House announced that the Presidential Medal of Freedom event scheduled for Monday for Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player had been postponed.

Canada will return so called "irregular migrants" to the United States saying it is doing so to keep migrants and Canadians safe as its planning for the pandemic strains resources of border and health officials.

Trudeau called these "exceptional measures" as they try to deal with an influx of migrants who must be processed and quarantined when they enter the country from the United States. Trudeau said most of the asylum seekers are in the US legally.

Asylum seekers are already returned to the US when they attempt to claim asylum at official border crossings in Canada under the Safe Third Country Agreement. For more than three years, migrants have been using a loophole to that law which means it does not apply at unofficial border crossings. 

Canada also said the border with the US would close to all non-essential travel as of midnight Friday. 

“This decision will be implemented on March 21, 2020, at which time the U.S. and Canada will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the US-Canada land border. The measure will be in place for 30 days, at which point it will be reviewed by both parties,” said the statement released by the Canadian government.

Canada took steps to place the country on more of a wartime footing announcing its new industrial policy would refocus to fight Covid-19. 

"Our objective is to increase domestic supply so that we have Canadian solutions ready to protect Canadians," Industry Minister Navdeep Bains said.

Canada also announced its goal was to be "over-prepared" and announced that it had secured 11.5 million N95 masks and will continue to procure health protective equipment.

The novel coronavirus outbreak in Italy — whose health care system has more hospital beds per 1,000 people than the United States — could signal a lack of preparedness on the US front, according to commentary published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Despite hospitals in Italy canceling elective surgeries and turning operating rooms into temporary intensive care units, the country has seen limited capacity in treating an influx of COVID-19 patients, Rosenbaum said. And doctors have had to ration care.

Experts, including US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, have widely cautioned that the US could "become Italy" as the outbreak worsens stateside.

An Air Force service member and Air Force contractor who had been in the Pentagon within the last three weeks have tested positive for the coronavirus in what is believed to be the first cases involving Pentagon personnel.

"Military public health and local civilian public health officials have notified those in which the individual came in contact. All have been asked to adhere to Center for Disease Control guidance,” the statement added.

Additionally an Air Force contractor has also tested positive for coronavirus and has been in quarantine for nearly two weeks. 

“A defense contractor who works for the Air Force in the Pentagon has tested positive for Covid-19. The last time the infected member was in the Pentagon was March 2. The individual has received medical treatment and has been self-quarantined at home since March 7,” the statement said.

The individual also attended a symposium at a Joint Base Andrews in early March but the statement said, “The Virginia Department of Health has provided a 'low risk rating' based on the individual being asymptomatic at the symposium.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order mandating all restaurants and food establishments in the state to suspend all food and alcohol consumption on site Friday.

Restaurants will only be allowed to provide delivery or takeout, the executive order said.

The order also allows restaurants to provide alcohol to delivery and take out customers who provide identification.

Gyms and other fitness centers were also ordered to be closed.

Famed hedge fund Bridgewater predicts the coronavirus will lead to $4 trillion in lost corporate revenue for both public and private businesses in the US, according to a report the firm published Friday.

In Bridgewater’s model, companies will have a shortfall of $2 trillion “concentrated in energy and travel and leisure, and about equally divided between large and small companies.”

The firm projects a 6% decline in US GDP for 2020, with the biggest hit during the second quarter.

The firm also estimates a decline of $12 trillion for global businesses in 2020.

“Since this hit to revenues is happening throughout the world, the total hole globally will be roughly three times that—about $12 trillion. Governments are responding, of course, but in most cases these responses will just mitigate some of the ripple. Governments’ capacities to deal with this hit vary greatly and will be a major driver of markets going forward," the report stated.

“Many companies will try to fill this gap by drawing credit lines, increasing their debt positions,” said the investors.

If government policies don’t help fill the gap, companies are likely to dramatically cut spending, which would result in meaningful cuts in employment.

Ray Dalio, who founded Bridgewater, is famous for predicting the 2008 financial crisis.

The World Health Organization has distributed 1.5 million coronavirus lab tests around the world and they will need 80 to 100 times that, according to Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization health emergencies program.

Speaking at a WHO briefing on Friday, Ryan said, “If we look forward in this epidemic, and we project ourselves forward a number of months, and the amount of testing that is going to be needed, we need to scale that up approximately 80 to 100 times.” 

Addressing the impact on health systems, Ryan said, “Look at the intensive care units, completely overwhelmed, the doctors and nurses utterly exhausted. This is not normal. This isn't just a bad flu season. These are health systems that are collapsing under the pressure of too many cases. This is not normal, this is not just a little bit worse than we're used to."

The World Health Organization is urging everyone to maintain healthy habits during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"If your local or national guidelines allow it, go outside for a walk, a run or a ride and keep a safe distance from others. If you can’t leave the house, find an exercise video online, dance to music, do some yoga, or walk up and down the stairs," Tedros said. "Get your information from reliable sources once or twice a day.” 

Tedros recommended to maintain a healthy diet, don't smoke, limit your alcohol intake, avoid sugary drinks and stay physically active. 

"WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults, and one hour a day for children," Tedros said.

"If you’re working at home, make sure you don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Get up and take a 3-minute break every 30 minutes," Tedros said. "We will be providing more advice on how to stay healthy at home in the coming days and weeks.”

Non-essential medical and dental procedures are temporarily restricted across Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said in a statement Friday.

Non-essential medical treatments include joint replacement, bariatric surgery and cosmetic surgery, “except for emergency or trauma-related surgery where postponement would significantly impact the health, safety, and welfare of the patient," the statement said. 

According to the statement, non-essential dental procedures also include cosmetic or aesthetic procedures, like veneers, teeth bleaching or cosmetic bonding, as well as all routine hygiene appointments.