March 26 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Joshua Berlinger, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner, Emma Reynolds and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 0252 GMT (1052 HKT) March 27, 2020
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2:05 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

Russia will stop all international flights starting Friday

From CNN's Alla Eshchenko

People sit stuck at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on March 24 after neighboring countries closed borders and stopped flights.
People sit stuck at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on March 24 after neighboring countries closed borders and stopped flights. Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

The Russian government has ordered a ban on all regular and charter international flights starting tomorrow, Russian state media reported Thursday.

An exception will be made only for flights used for repatriation of Russian citizens from abroad.

1:54 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

British diplomat, 37, dies after contracting coronavirus

From CNN's Rob Picheta in London

A senior British diplomat stationed in Hungary has died after contracting coronavirus, the UK's Foreign Office said on Wednesday.

Steven Dick, aged 37, was the Deputy Head of Mission for the British embassy in Budapest.

He died on Tuesday after contracting Covid-19, the Foreign Office said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "I am desperately saddened by the news of Steven's death and my heart goes out to his parents Steven and Carol."

"Steven was a dedicated diplomat and represented his country with great skill and passion. He will be missed by all those who knew him and worked with him."

Read more:

1:44 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

Tokyo's streets are full of people, a day after the governor urged social distancing

From CNN's Will Ripley

Commuters wearing face masks make their way to work on March 26 in Tokyo, Japan.
Commuters wearing face masks make their way to work on March 26 in Tokyo, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Yesterday, the governor of Tokyo held an emergency news conference urging citizens to stay at home and avoid going out unnecessarily.

Today, it appears residents are ignoring the warnings.

Streets around the Meguro River are packed with people gathering to view the blooming cherry blossoms. Some are wearing masks, but just as many people aren't.

It's cherry blossom season -- meaning all week, people have been going to parks and public areas, picnicking outdoors, and gathering in large numbers.

Authorities are urging citizens not to take the pandemic lightly -- Japan reported its largest single-day jump in cases yesterday -- but their pleas for social distancing appear to have had little effect.

1:29 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

Travelers entering South Korea must download a self-quarantine app

From CNN’s Jake Kwon in Seoul

Travelers from the US and Europe entering South Korea will now be required to download a government self-quarantine smartphone app, according to the country’s Central Disaster Relief Headquarters.

The app will remind users to check their symptoms every day, and will monitor their location to confirm they are following the quarantine order.

Those violating quarantine without a proper reason will be immediately reported to the authorities, and deported if they are foreign citizens. Police will immediately respond to the site when a person leaves their quarantine without authorization. 

Violating quarantine is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won ($8,150).

1:16 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

Japan sets up virus task force as cases spike

From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, arrives to speak to journalists in front of the prime minister's residence in Tokyo, Tuesday, March 24.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, arrives to speak to journalists in front of the prime minister's residence in Tokyo, Tuesday, March 24. Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered a government task force be set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic, as the number of cases in the country spiked today. 

The establishment of a task force is a requirement to declaring a state of emergency -- though Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said today that the country was not yet at the point of declaring one. 

Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told media after the meeting that the government feared the number of new coronavirus cases was on the rise, with spikes in cases in big cities and from inbound travelers.

Wednesday saw the highest single-day jump in cases so far, with 98 new cases.

1:06 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

77 people are showing symptoms on a cruise ship headed for Florida 

From CNN's Stephanie Gallman and Rosa Flores

Holland America Line
Holland America Line

A total of 77 people aboard Holland America's cruise ship "Zaandam" are reporting flu-like symptoms, according to a news release on the cruise line’s website. 

The 77 people consist of 30 passengers and 47 crew members.

“Since it is flu season, and Covid-19 testing is not available on board, it is difficult to determine the cause of these elevated cases at this time,” the release said.

The Zaandam left Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7, before the cruise operator announced it would be suspending global cruise operations for a month.

The voyage was scheduled to end in San Antonio, Chile, last Saturday. According to the release, no one has been off the ship since March 14 in Puenta Arena, Chile, where guests were initially told they could disembark for flights but were not permitted to.  

All ports along the Zaandam’s route are now closed to cruise ships. 

A second ship is bringing help: Holland America has deployed a second ship to bring extra supplies, staff, coronavirus test kits and other support to the Zandaam.

The support ship left Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Sunday and will meet with the Zandaam on Thursday night.  

Passengers isolated on board: Passenger Maureen Foran, 75, says she has had no face-to-face contact with anyone, family or crew, since the ship imposed a quarantine onboard. 

“We are forbidden to leave our rooms,” Foran told CNN. “I am thankful for a window but I am getting claustrophobic.”
12:55 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

California's cases are doubling every few days. Officials warn San Francisco could reach New York levels

From CNN's Sarah Moon and Jon Passantino in Los Angeles

Los Angeles residents are administered with a test for the coronavirus while in their vehicles inside the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles Wednesday, March 25.
Los Angeles residents are administered with a test for the coronavirus while in their vehicles inside the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles Wednesday, March 25. Damian Dovarganes/AP

The number of coronavirus cases in California is doubling every three to four days, the state's top health official said.

“We originally thought that it would be doubling every six to seven days and we see cases doubling every three to four days,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, the secretary of California's Health and Human Services Agency, said at a news conference Wednesday. "We’re watching that trend very, very closely.” 

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered most of the state's nearly 40 million residents to stay at home to stop the virus from spreading further. However, public health experts say that it may take up to two weeks to see the results of such travel restrictions, as the virus' incubation period ranges from one to 14 days.

Ghaly said authorities in California are anticipating a surge of cases and patients in a week or two. 

A stark warning for San Francisco: Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed warned Wednesday that if residents don't heed orders to stay at home, the California city could see a surge in coronavirus cases.

“If people who are out on the streets continue to congregate with one another, continue to interact with one another, which increases the spread of this virus, we will not have enough beds, enough ICU units, enough ventilators to support the people that we know are going to need them,” Breed said.

The mayor estimated San Francisco would need at least 1,500 more ventilators and 5,000 extra hospital beds to meet a larger surge of patients.

"It is plausible that despite all these efforts we could have a scenario similar to the one that is playing out in New York this very day," said San Francisco Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax. "If that happens our capacity, our surge capacity will be far exceeded." 
12:45 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

Test for Tokyo as governor urges people to stay at home over the weekend

By CNN's Emiko Jozuka and Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo

Groups gather to celebrate the beginning of the cherry blossom season with traditional "hanami" parties on March 20, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
Groups gather to celebrate the beginning of the cherry blossom season with traditional "hanami" parties on March 20, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike urged residents in the city to avoid making "non-essential outings" this weekend as the city reported an increase in its number of novel coronavirus cases.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Koike said Tokyo is now at a "critical moment" to stop the infection rate from spiking. She asked event organizers to refrain from holding large gatherings and urged Tokyo residents to work from home as much as possible and avoid social meetings and crowded places until April 12.

Koike’s latest remarks will be a test for the city of over 9 million people, which has been reluctant to impose a lockdown on its residents. While other countries have been quick to enforce restrictions on their citizens to contain the spread of the coronavirus, in Japan it’s largely been business as usual. 

Remote working kicks in: Some Japanese companies have adopted the practice of encouraging their employees to work from home to prevent exposing them to the virus on congested public transport and offices, but many still commute to work. 

Precautions urged: On March 19, a central government expert panel called on organizers of large-scale events to exercise caution, including canceling plans, to prevent the spread of the virus. But despite such warnings, over the weekend, many still ventured out to view the cherry blossoms in Tokyo’s parks and public areas. 

Biggest single-day jump: As of Wednesday evening local time, Tokyo reported 41 new cases of novel coronavirus, according to Koike. Japan reported 98 new cases and two more deaths on Wednesday, marking the country's largest single-day jump in new infections since the outbreak began.

12:36 a.m. ET, March 26, 2020

China saw 67 new imported coronavirus cases yesterday, but no new locally transmitted ones

China’s National Health Commission reported 67 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus yesterday.

That brings the total number of imported cases to 541 in mainland China.

China appears to have passed the worst of the pandemic. Nearly all new cases inside the country have been imported in recent days -- no new locally transmitted cases were reported yesterday -- and hard-hit Hubei province has begun lifting some of the stringent measures put in place to stop the virus from spreading.

Total numbers: By the end of Wednesday in mainland China, the country had confirmed 81,285 coronavirus cases and 3,287 deaths. More than 74,000 have recovered and been discharged from hospital.