Ohio governor thinks it's possible schools could be closed for the rest of the academic year
From CNN's Amanda Watts
An empty classroom at Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio, on March 12. Tony Dejak/AP
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine thinks it’s possible schools may be closed for the rest of the academic year, according to an interview he gave this morning on "State of the Union."
"Absolutely. Look, the projections — and again, this is all projections, I'm just going by what medical experts are telling us. You know, this may not peak until the latter part of April or May. So we've informed the superintendents, while we've closed schools for three weeks, that the odds are this is going to go on a lot longer and it would not surprise me at all if schools did not open again this year," DeWine said.
9:52 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
Top US infectious disease doctor doesn't rule out supporting temporary national lockdown
From CNN's Alison Main
CNN
The top infectious disease expert in the US did not rule out support a temporary national lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, would like to see a "dramatic diminution of personal interaction," including interactions in bars and restaurants, according to an interview he did this morning on CNN's “State of the Union."
“I would like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction that we see in restaurants and in bars. Whatever it takes to do that, that's what I'd like to see,” Fauci said.
9:22 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
This pandemic risks bringing out the worst in humanity
Analysis from CNN's Angela Dewan
French police officers face demonstrators in Le Port on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion on March 1. Richard Bouhet/AFP via Getty Images
Never mind that Australia's toilet paper supply is plentiful, that the Singaporean has no links to the virus and that not a single passenger on the Princess cruise ship that docked in Reunion was infected.
Irrational and selfish incidents like these are likely the exception, not the rule, but an everyone-for-themselves mentality -- or each family, even each country -- appears to be growing, putting into question the world's ability to unite and slow the coronavirus' spread.
An Italian Carabinieri car checks the traffic of the street around ancient Colosseum, in central Rome on March 14, 2020. Photo: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images
Italy has reported 3,497 new novel coronavirus cases and 175 deaths on Saturday, the highest number of new cases reportedin a single day since the outbreak began.
Italy has now confirmed 21,157 cases, second highest in the world after China.
The Italian Ministry of Health said Saturday evening that 1,966 people have recovered from the virus and 1,441 have died. The ministry said 1,518 are being treated in intensive care units.
Correction: This post has been updated to include the correct number of new cases and deaths on Saturday, as reported by the Italian Ministry of Health.
9:12 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
UK advises against all but essential travel to the US
From Samantha Tapfumaneyi in London
A view of the near empty departure area at London's Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 departure, Thursday March 12, 2020. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA via AP
The UK Foreign Office said Sunday that it was advising against “all but essential travel to the USA” in light of the travel restrictions placed by the US government on visitors from the UK.
“The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the USA, due to restrictions put in place by the US government with effect from 03:59 GMT 17 March in response to the outbreak of coronavirus,” the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on its website.
The UK was initially excluded from travel restrictions introduced by the US, but Vice President Mike Pence announced Saturday that all travel from the United Kingdom and Ireland will also be suspended effective midnight on Monday.
9:12 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
Austria ramps up movement restrictions
From CNN's Nadine Schmidt in Berlin
Police at a roadblock stop a bus from driving out of Paznauntal, Austria, on March 14. The towns of St. Anton am Arlberg in the Paznauntal area are isolated for 14 days. Kerstin Joensson/AP
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz escalated the country's responses to the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday.
Kurz announced major restrictions on movement in public spaces, urging Austrians to self-isolate. He also banned gatherings completely and put further limits on who can enter the country.
The measures will be based on a special law to be passed by the Austrian Parliament on Sunday, a government spokesperson told CNN.
"We have already announced that Austria must shut down to an emergency operation. We will also have to take further measures. Public gatherings will be completely prohibited for the time being," Kurz said on Twitter.
The freedom of movement will be "massively restricted." Sports grounds, playgrounds and other public meeting places will be closed completely.
Starting Tuesday, restaurants in Austria will be closed.
Entry requirements to Austria will be tightened further. Travellers from the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine will no longer be allowed to enter Austria directly.
Flight connections to these countries will be discontinued.
In order to secure supplies in the long term, the retirement of military personnel is halted and a special task force will support the police.
Austria's Ministry of Health said Sunday there were a total of 800 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country. So far one death has been reported.
9:12 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
O'Hare International Airport responds to long lines issue
From CNN's Alta Spells
The arrival area in the international terminal at O'Hare Airport on March 13, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
In a series of tweets, O'Hare International Airport thanked passengers for their patience during the "longer than usual" customs processing occuring at the airport Saturday.
Passengers arriving from overseas reported having to wait hours in long lines at the Chicago area airport.
"So it took 3 hours to get through customs, it took another 2 hours to get through the health check and then it took another hour to get through the CDC and then all they do is they find someone to pair you with, scan your temperature real quick, ask how you feel and send you on your way." said passenger Emma Reusch who flew in from Portugal.
The airport attributed the longer wait times to the "enhanced #COVID19 screening for passengers arriving from Europe."
In one tweet the airport announced they were looking for more support from federal partners saying: "We have strongly encouraged our federal partners to increase staffing to meet demand."
During the delay, airport personnel and the Chicago police department were on hand to distribute water and snacks to travelers who were waiting to be processed, said the airport's tweet.
9:12 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
More flight cancellations in Europe
More European airlines have announced cancellations of flights to and from Spain, where the government announced strict restrictions on public life on Saturday.
9:11 a.m. ET, March 15, 2020
Latest case numbers from the US
From CNN's Alta Spells in Atlanta
Motorists drive past a coronavirus traffic reminder on a southern California freeway on March 14, 2020 in Los Angeles. Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
There are at least 2,885 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC there are 70 cases from repatriated citizens.
According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the United States through US public health systems, there are 2,815 cases in 49 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 2,885 in total, while 60 people have died.
West Virginia remains the only state yet to report a case of coronavirus.
