Coronavirus pandemic spreads around the globe
South Africa announces travel restrictions to combat COVID-19, declares a national disaster
From CNN’s David McKenzie and Brent Swails in Johannesburg
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation Sunday evening to announce "urgent and drastic measures" to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Ramaphosa also declared a "national state of disaster" for South Africa and said the country was now dealing with internal transmission of the virus.
“There can be no half measures,” he said.
Ramaphosa announced that travel will be prohibited from the following high-risk countries: Italy; Iran; South Korea; Spain; Germany; US; United Kingdom and China starting March 18.
Existing visas from citizens of those countries will also be cancelled. Any foreigner who visited high risk countries in the past twenty days will also be denied a visa.
Effective immediately, South African citizens are also advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.
South African government officials are barred from international travel as well.
9 min ago
German company working on coronavirus vaccine denies Trump is trying to acquire its scientists
From CNN’s Nadine Schmidt, Claudia Otto and Fred Pleitgen in Berlin
A German company working to develop a coronavirus vaccine is denying a report in a German newspaper that President Trump is trying to lure German scientists working on an experimental coronavirus vaccine to the US.
German company CureVac, working to develop mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine, did not deny being in touch with Trump or the US government, but did reject rumors of an acquisition in a statement issued on Sunday.
The self-described clinical state biopharmaceutical company said: “…internal efforts are focused on the development of a coronavirus vaccine with the goal to reach, help and to protect people and patients worldwide. As a consequence, the company is in contact with especially CEPI and many other organizations and authorities worldwide, however abstains from commenting on speculations and rejects allegations about offers for acquisition of the company or its technology.”
The story first emerged earlier Sunday when German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag reported that Trump was trying to lure CureVac with "large sums," also saying Trump was working to acquire the vaccine but “only for the US”, citing anonymous German federal government sources.
The report reads: ''The US president is allegedly offering the company a large sum of money to secure their work exclusively. Trump would do anything to get a vaccine for the US. ‘But only for the United States,’ according to the federal government.''
Germany’s Health Ministry responding to a CNN question about the German newspaper report said: "The federal government is very interested in the fact that vaccines and active substances against the novel corona virus are also being developed in Germany and Europe. In this regard, the federal government is in intensive exchange with the company CureVac."
21 min ago
Germany to restrict border access
From CNN’s Fred Pleitgen in Berlin
Germany will initiate border controls at borders with France, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced at a Sunday press conference.
Border crossings will be restricted except for cross-border work commuters and cargo transports, Seehofer said.
32 min ago
Kenya imposes travel restrictions
From CNN's David McKenzie in Johannesburg
A health worker wearing protective gear in Ongata Rongai, Kenya, disinfects the minibus on March 14 in which the first Kenyan patient of the COVID-19 travelled. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images
Kenya's government announced new travel restrictions Sunday after confirming two more cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country's total cases to three.
The government is denying anyone traveling to Kenya "from any country with reported coronavirus cases," according to a press release from Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's office.
"Only Kenyan citizens, and any foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to come in provided they proceed on self quarantine or to a government designated quarantine facility," the press release read.
These new measures will take effect in the next two days and will remain in place for the next 30 days, according to the press release.
The government is also shutting down all of Kenya's schools beginning Monday and encouraging most employees to work from home. The president also advised citizens to avoid crowds and gatherings.
Kenya is also advising for citizens to use "cashless transactions," to reduce risk of transmission of the coronavirus.
41 min ago
Former Intelligence Committee counsel says he has tested positive for coronavirus
From CNN's Kevin Bohn
Daniel Goldman testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in December 2019. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Daniel Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who played a major role in the impeachment proceedings, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is recovering, according to a tweet he sent.
Goldman was counsel to the Intelligence Committee and a fixture on television during President Trump’s impeachment hearings.
"My #COVID19 test came back positive. I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support. It means a lot to my family and me. I am almost back to 100%. I’m lucky enough not to fall in the vulnerable category and, for me, it was just like the flu," Goldman tweeted.
Read Goldman's tweet:
Daniel Goldman
✔
@danielsgoldman
FINAL UPDATE (thread): My #COVID19 test came back positive.
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support. It means a lot to my family and me.
I am almost back to 100%. I’m lucky enough not to fall in the vulnerable category and, for me, it was just like the flu. 1/
22.2K
2:26 AM - Mar 16, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
6,667 people are talking about this
36 min ago
What the US military could and couldn't do in the fight against coronavirus
From CNN's Ryan Browne and Barbara Starr
Members of the New York Army National Guard and U.S. Air Force prepare to hand out food to residents at a distribution station outside New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York, on March 12.
Members of the New York Army National Guard and U.S. Air Force prepare to hand out food to residents at a distribution station outside New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York, on March 12. Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Many pundits and politicians have been asking why the US military isn't doing more to help combat the spread of the coronavirus in the US.
On Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on President Trump to mobilize the military to help deal with the outbreak. This follows after former Vice President Joe Biden said the Department of Defense should be planning to deploy.
"The Department of Defense should be planning now, should have been planning to prepare for the potential deployment of the resources provided, medical facility capacity and logistic support that only they can do," Biden said Thursday.
Defense officials say their first priority is maintaining the health, welfare and "readiness" of the 1.36 million members of the active duty military, as well as the 800,000 members of the National Guard and Reservists in addition to some 730,000 civilian employees in the Department of Defense.
And while some National Guard units have been involved in helping with logistics and planning at the state level, the US military's capacity to provide medical support is limited.
By the numbers: There are 51 military hospitals compared to some 6,000 civilian hospitals nationwide, according to one US defense official, meaning the US military has only about 1% of the nation's hospital capacity.
Military hospitals admit some 200,000 patients annually as compared to civilian hospitals which admit about 36 million.
Coronavirus pandemic spreads around the globe By Jessie Yeung, Jenni Marsh and Ivana Kottasová, CNN
Updated 2:32 p.m. ET, March 15, 2020 |
