"We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public. We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary, but prudent, decision," the sergeants said in a statement.
12:44 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
Coronavirus won’t go away by itself, WHO says. It needs to be pushed down.
From CNN's Amanda Watts
Coronavirus will not go away by itself and rather it needs to be pushed down using public health care measures, said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization health emergencies program.
Everyone has talked about flatting the curve, Ryan said, but “the question is how do you go down? And going down, isn’t just about a lockdown and let go. To get down from the numbers, not just stabilize, requires a re-doubling of public health efforts, to push down. It won't go down by itself, it will be pushed down.”
“We have to now push the virus down and that will not happen by itself,” Ryan said.
Speaking on Monday, Ryan said lockdowns are essential, because it means fewer people will be exposed to the virus, “so there are less people at risk from any individual case. If you get those cases out of the community quickly, they’ll expose even less people, and that’s how you get ahead of an epidemic.”
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, World Health Organization infectious disease epidemiologist, added we need to focus on the now, “we need to focus on what must be done now to get us out of this.”
12:36 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
NYC mayor to Trump: "Thank you, and we need more help"
NYC Media
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was just asked what he wanted to stay to President Trump after the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort arrived in New York City.
"Thank you and we need more help," de Blasio said.
The mayor said he had an “emotional moment” and felt “a sense of peace” with the ship’s arrival to New York City, but “the toughest weeks are ahead.”
The federal government is the only force that can help New York City reach the level of preparedness it needs to save every life that it can, de Blasio said.
12:19 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
300 ventilators from national stockpile are on the way to New Jersey, governor says
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that hundreds of ventilators will be provided to the state from the federal government's stockpile.
Murphy tweeted Monday:
“After multiple conversations with the White House, we just received word that 300 ventilators are on their way to New Jersey from the national stockpile. Ventilators are our number one need right now. I won’t stop fighting for the equipment we need to save every life we can."
12:18 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
More than 100,000 coronavirus cases reported in Italy
From CNN's Nicola Ruotolo in Rome
The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy, including those who have recovered and those who have died, has reached at least 101,739, the Civil Protection Agency said Monday.
However, the number of new cases of coronavirus in Italy has decreased for the fifth day in a row.
Italy recorded 1,648 new cases on Monday, bringing the total of active cases to 75,528. The percentage increase of new active cases — 2.2% — is the lowest since the start of the outbreak in the country.
The number of deaths increased slightly to a total of 11,591 (812 more than Sunday). There are also 1,590 people who have recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, the biggest daily increase since the beginning of the crisis. A total of 14,620 people have recovered.
12:05 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
More than 22,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK
From CNN’s Sarah Dean
The UK Department of Health announced today that 22,141 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.
The government also published its UK death toll as 1,408 as of noon ET on Sunday.
12:02 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
New York mayor: We need to triple the amount of hospital beds by May
NYC Media
New York City needs to triple its hospital bed capacity by May, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press conference today, as the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort arrived in New York City.
"Our nation has heard our plea for help in New York City," he said, referring to the ship’s arrival.
The ship is expected to be operational soon.
11:56 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020
The US Navy Hospital Ship is "like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," mayor says
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said they expected it would take two full weeks to get the ship — which has 12 fully-equipped operating rooms and 1,000 hospital beds on board — to the city. It ended up only taking eight days.
"That means help has arrived quicker and we'll be able to do the lifesaving work right now.," de Blasio said.
"This is like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," he added.
Remember: The ship is not expected to treat coronavirus patients. Rather it will be used to relocate shore-based patients undergoing treatments that are not coronavirus-related.
11:32 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020
Maryland governor tells residents to stay at home
From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen
Maryland Governor’s Office
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan hasinstituted a stay-at-home directive that will go into effect at 8 p.m. ET today.
By executive order, Maryland residents should not leave their homes unless...
They’re traveling for an essential job
They're traveling for an essential need, such as food or medicine
"We are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home. We are directing them to do so," he said.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the order is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject to prison no more than one year or a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.
As of Monday morning, there have been 15 coronavirus-related deaths and 1,413 positive cases across the state.
