March 27 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, James Griffiths, Steve George, Amy Woodyatt, Mike Hayes and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 8:04 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
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3:25 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Florida governor says travelers coming from Louisiana must self-isolate

From CNN's Stephanie Gallman

Brendan Farrington/AP
Brendan Farrington/AP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said travelers coming from Louisiana to Florida must do a mandatory 14-day self-isolation, as New Orleans becomes a potential coronavirus “hotspot.” 

DeSantis said he plans to extend his executive order and the guidelines.

The governor said he’s also suspending vacation rentals in Florida for the next two weeks.

3:13 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Los Angeles County is closing all public beaches

From CNN's Cheri Mossburg

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

All public beaches in Los Angeles County are being closed in an effort to thwart the spread of coronavirus, County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced.

“We want you to enjoy outdoor spaces, but keep six feet apart,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a news conference Friday.

Just last weekend, the shores were packed with beachgoers.

“The crowds we saw at our beaches last weekend were unacceptable,” Hahn said. “In order to save lives, beaches in L.A. County will be temporarily closed. I understand that this is a huge sacrifice for everyone who enjoys going to our beaches. But we cannot risk another sunny weekend with crowds at the beach spreading this virus. This closure is temporary and we can always reopen these beaches when it is safe to do so.”
3:24 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Trump will sign the stimulus bill this afternoon

From CNN's Jason Hoffman

Andrew Harnik/AP
Andrew Harnik/AP

President Trump will sign the Senate's coronavirus stimulus package at 4 p.m. ET today in the Oval Office.

About the bill: The far-reaching legislation stands as the largest emergency aid package in US history. It injects a massive financial boost into a struggling economy with provisions aimed at helping American workers, small businesses and industries grappling with the economic disruption.

Key elements of the package include sending checks directly to individuals and families, an expansion of unemployment benefits, money for hard-hit hospitals and health care providers, financial assistance for small businesses and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies.

3:08 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

51 Italian doctors who contracted coronavirus have died since the start of the pandemic

From Sharon Braithwaite in London

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis in Italy, 51 doctors who tested positive for the disease have died, the Italian Association of Doctors said Friday.

The news of the death toll comes after an urgent call for medical protective equipment from the president of the association, Filippo Anelli, on Thursday.

By the numbers: Since the beginning of the epidemic, 6,414 health workers have been infected by coronavirus as of Thursday, according to the Italian National Institute of Health.

Out of the 51 deceased doctors, 32 were working in Lombardy, the Italian region worst-hit by coronavirus.

2:59 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Today marks the most reported coronavirus deaths in the US in a single day

From CNN's Chuck Johnston

There have been at least 265 reported coronavirus deaths in the US on Friday, according to a count by CNN. 

This is the most reported deaths in the United States since the pandemic outbreak.

  • Thursday: There were 253 reported deaths in the US.
  • Wednesday: There were 233 reported deaths in the US.
  • Tuesday: There were 164 reported deaths in the US. 

There have been at least 1,451 total reported deaths in the US.

2:36 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

There are now at least 95,000 coronavirus cases in the US

John Minchillo/AP
John Minchillo/AP

There are at least 95,174 cases of novel coronavirus in the United States, according to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems.

At least 1,451 people have died. 

The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.

2:32 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Virginia does not have enough personal protective equipment or testing material, governor says

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Virginia does not have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) or testing material to keep up with demand, Gov. Ralph Northam said during a news conference Friday.

A disruption in the supply chain in China coupled with the increased demand have resulted in a global shortage, Northam said.

Some context: Virginia is competing with their own health care system, as well as other states and the federal government for more PPE, Northam said.

Northam said they need a national solution and hope that manufacturers in the US can produce more equipment. 

2:29 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Doctors from all specialties joining the US coronavirus response, official says

From CNN's Jacqueline Howard

Even physicians who are not infectious disease specialists or pulmonologists are training and joining the frontlines in response to the US coronavirus crisis, Dr. Janis Orlowski, chief health care officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, said during a teleconference with reporters on Friday.

"We are hearing that there are individuals from other specialties being drawn into clinical care," Orlowski said.

"All physicians have a foundational understanding of health care and medical practice and our expectation is that active physicians keep this knowledge up," Orlowski said. "I’ve seen very quick training programs to get people back up to speed in the use of PPE, in the use of ventilators."

Orlowski added that such trainings are to ensure that physicians are safe to work in areas that might not be their specialty. 

"It is always the physician's and people around them's responsibility to make the decision if they’re ready to practice in that expanded area," Orlowski said. "Safety and quality remains a high priority — the number one priority — even though people are having to work fast and work smart."

2:29 p.m. ET, March 27, 2020

Democratic congressman tests positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Alex Rogers

Carolyn Kaster/AP
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Rep. Joe Cunningham has tested positive for Covid-19.

Cunningham, a Democrat from South Carolina, said he's been in self-quarantine since March 19, when he "received word from the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress that I had been in contact with a member of Congress who had since tested positive for COVID-19."

"While I otherwise feel fine, since March 17th I have been unable to smell or taste, which I learned this week is a potential symptom of COVID-19. I have been in contact with my doctor since I entered self-quarantine," he said in a statement.

Several other members of Congress have previously tested positive for coronavirus, including Sen. Rand Paul. Cunningham did not say which lawmaker he had contact with.