March 15 coronavirus news

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order today that will temporarily impose enhanced restrictions on the excessive pricing of goods, materials, emergency supplies and consumer food items. 

Executive order 2020-8 states that if a business or individual has acquired any product from a retailer, the business or individual must not resell that product in Michigan at a price that is in excess of the purchase price of the product, the governor's office said in a news release.

These restrictions go into effect on March 16 at 9 a.m. and will remain in place until April 13 at 11:59 p.m.

There are at least 3,010 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the US 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 public health systems, there are 2,940 cases in 49 states, Washington, DC, and territories, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 3,010. 

In total, 61 people in the US have died. 

West Virginia remains the only state yet to report a case of coronavirus.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks and simulcast betting facilities to the general public indefinitely today.

The order does not apply hotels adjacent to the casinos.

The following properties are affected by the governor’s emergency order, which takes effect at midnight on March 16 and will remain in effect until the state of emergency has been terminated or until superseded by other orders:

Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted about voting on Tuesday, saying “the right to vote is the most sacred American right there is.”

However, recognizing the concerns facing Americans now due to the coronavirus, Biden added “state election officials are working closely with public health officials to hold safe elections.”

Biden finished his tweet saying “if you are feeling healthy, not showing symptoms, and not at risk of being exposed to COVID-19: please vote on Tuesday.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders also tweeted about the coronavirus today, reminding everyone “it is at this moment that we must remember that we are all in this together.”

Both men will debate tonight in Washington, DC.

Read Biden and Sanders' tweets below:

Miami Beach city officials are closing portions of South Beach in an effort to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus, according to a city press release. 

City officials are "closing the beach from 7 to 10 streets," areas highly frequented by beach-goers. To enforce this, Miami Beach Police began clearing the beach at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, the release said.  

Iraq is extending the suspension of commercial trade through its land borders with Iran and Kuwait effective Sunday “until further notice” amidst coronavirus fears, Iraq’s Border Ports Commission (BPC) announced on Saturday.

Returning Iraqis have until March 15 to enter through the land crossings after undergoing “preventive health measures," the statement added.

The BPC did not specify what those measures are.

After Sunday, Iraqis wanting to return to their country will have to enter through Baghdad, Basra, Najaf and Erbil airports, the BPC said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that the state's schools will close for eight days starting Wednesday, according to a press release from his office. 

Schools will be closed to students by March 18 through March 27, during which school staff and administrators will plan the next steps, according to the release.

When asked if hundreds of thousands of Americans could die from coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said “it could happen, and it could be worse."

Fauci's comments were made this morning on CNN’s “State of the Union” where he also discussed how the challenge "is to try and make that not happen.”

Some context: There are at least 2,826 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States as of Saturday evening, according to the state and local health agencies, governments and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vice President Mike Pence told reporters yesterday he would consult with the White House physician about whether he needed to be tested for coronavirus since President Trump was. 

A White House official says he did consult and the doctor recommended that he didn’t need to be tested at this time based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.