Update 8/26/2020: Confirmed cases 24,111,616 with 824,702 fatalities. The US has 5,961,971 cases with 182,635 fatalities. Washington state has 71,705 cases and 1,876 deaths, Benton Franklin Health District has 7,871 cases with 177 fatalities; the largest number of cases by age range is the 20-29 age range with nearly one thousand cases. Yakima Health District has 11,490 cases with 224 fatalities. Relief workers for flooding in South Asia say that coronavirus restrictions are hampering relief efforts. Brazil has reported over 3.6 million cases and 112,000 fatalities. India reports over 3.2 million cases and nearly 60,000 fatalities.
Update 8/7/2020: Confirmed cases 19,319,011 with 718,765 fatalities. The US has 5,036,881 cases with 162,873 fatalities. US daily fatalities may have begun to decline again. The Univ. of Washington forecasts 300,000 US fatalities by December 1st. Washington state has 62,709 cases with 1,657 deaths. Benton Franklin Health District has 7,044 cases with 145 fatalities. The Prosser School District expressed concerns at their board meeting this week about low fall enrollment as parents choose other schooling options and over budget deficits. Yakima Health District has 10,742 cases with 203 fatalities. Brazil is nearing three million cases with over 98,000 fatalities. India has passed two million cases with 41,912 fatalities. South Korean study finds that asymptomatic Covid cases can carry as much of the virus as those with symptoms; transmission role undetermined. Iran reported case and fatality numbers found to be falsely reported; Iran government records show 451,024 cases with nearly 42,000 fatalities as opposed the health ministry’s publicly reported 278,827 cases with 14,405 fatalities. Cases are surging in Spain, leading to a lockdown in the northwestern parts of Castile and Leon.
Update 7/29/2020: Confirmed cases 17,300,759 with 672,366 fatalities. The US has 4,590,809 cases with 154,364 fatalities. Florida added 9,956 new cases and a record 252 deaths yesterday. Arizona also set a record for daily deaths. Daily new cases in the US may be tapering off as re-openings were rolled back, but daily deaths are still increasing as expected from the lag between new cases being identified and the deaths therefrom. Former Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and former Presidential candidate Herman Cain passed away from COVID complications today. Italy recorded its largest new daily cases since early June. Hong Kong also set a new record for daily cases. Melbourne, Australia set a new daily record almost 40% higher than its previous record. Germany’s new cases are at a six week high. Poland also recorded a new daily record. In Harare Central Hospital in Zimbabwe, seven babies were stillborn on one day earlier this week attributed to staffing shortages due to COVID; one doctor said, “These are not isolated incidents. This is repeated every day and all we can do is watch them die.”
Update 7/18/2020: Confirmed cases 14,242,950 with 600,487 fatalities. The US has 3,773,089 cases with 142,105 fatalities. New cases in the US have been steadily increasing over the past month, recording numbers over 72,000 for the past three days — more than double the daily highs during the April/May wave. While fatalities remain lower, they have started increasing over the past few days as well. Washington state has 46,506 cases with 1,442 fatalities. Benton Franklin health district has 5,372 cases with 129 fatalities; 15 of the deaths have been recorded in just the past week. Yakima Health District has 9,275 cases with 179 fatalities.
Update 7/15/2020: Confirmed cases 13,671,199 with 585,929 fatalities. The US has 3,615,355 cases with 140,091 fatalities. Washington state has 44,309 cases with 1,421 fatalities. Benton Franklin health district has 5,176 cases with 122 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 8,831 cases with 176 fatalities. Alabama hospitalizations are at a record, with 41% of cases between 25 and 49 ys old. Pennsylvania rolls back reopening after 1,000 new cases recorded. California sets record for new daily cases with over 11,000. Florida passes 300,000 cases. Oklahoma governor tests positive for virus. Brazil should pass two million cases tomorrow, and India should pass one million cases. South Africa passes 300,000 cases.
Update 7/9/2020: Confirmed cases 12,270,729 with 554,375 fatalities. The US has 3,183,618 cases with 135,240 fatalities. Florida reports record COVID fatalities and hospitalizations for the day. Arizona also had record hospitalizations and reported 75 fatalities. The NYT calls Arizona the worlds largest COVID hot spot. Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia also set records for new infections. The US as a whole announced over 60,000 new infections for the first time. Covid fatalities in the US for the past two days have been highest since early June. The US reported 1.3 million job new jobless claims as reopening plans were paused or rolled back. The WHO acknowledges that the virus may be airborne indoors.
Update 7/6/2020: Confirmed cases 11,624,867 with 538,132 fatalities. The US has 2,996,027 cases with 132,664 fatalities. Washington state has 36,708 cases with 1,359 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 3,606 cases with 106 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 7,855 cases with 146 fatalities. India has passed Russia to take third most cases in the world. Brazil exceeds 1.6 million cases.
Update 6/29/2020: Confirmed cases 10,409,518 with 508,091 fatalities. The US has 2,681,811 cases with 128,783 fatalities. The US has added over 40,000 new cases per day for the last five days. Yakima Health District has 7,316 cases with 138 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 3,332 cases with 101 fatalities. New cases in Benton county exceed what is required to proceed with re-opening. California and Texas both had record spikes in new cases today. China identified a new influenza strain which also has “pandemic potential.” WHO warns that the worst may yet be to come. The US has been excluded from the EU’s list of countries deemed safe enough to allow to travel to the EU.
Update 6/27/2020: Confirmed cases 9,979,992 with 498,598 fatalities. The US has 2,569,139 cases with 127,774 fatalities. The US has had its third straight day of record new cases, with Florida adding over 9,000 new cases. Texas governor wishes he hadn’t opened re-opened bars because of new cases linked to them. The positive test rate is increasing in the US. Washington state has 31,863 cases with 1,305 fatalities. Prosser, WA appears to highest case rate (cases per capita) in the Benton/Franklin counties given available data. Brazil, with the second most cases globally, has reached around half as many cases and fatalities as the US and still appears to be increasing exponentially. Russia, with the third most, appears to have flattened their curve. India, with the fourth most, is also increasing exponentially still. Scientists are still increasing their knowledge of the virus, now concluding that it is not only a respiratory virus, but attacks the pancreas, heart, liver, brain, kidney, and other organs, can cause blood clotting disorders, strokes, and neurological disorders, among others.
Update 6/24/2020: Confirmed cases 9,527,124 with 484,972 fatalities. The US has 2,462,554 cases with 124,281 fatalities. The most recent one million cases of COVID-19 were reported in just one week, WA Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that the state is imposing a mandatory requirement that people wear masks when they are outside their homes; not wearing a facial covering would amount to a misdemeanor crime. Kittitas County, WA approved for Phase 3 reopening.
Update 6/22/2020: Confirmed cases 9,073,969 with 471,199 fatalities. The US has 2,356,841 cases with 122,250 fatalities. The US added over 33,000 cases on both Friday and Saturday, the highest daily totals since May 1st. Only seven other days have had higher totals in the US. Washington state has 29,097 cases with 1,270 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 6,476 cases with 124 fatalities. The Benton Franklin Health District has 2,452 cases with 96 fatalities. WA Gov. Jay Inslee will issue a proclamation ordering Yakima County residents to wear masks while in public places in an effort to halt the spike of coronavirus cases there. Yakima’s Virginia Mason Hospital has no beds available; nearly 20% of beds are Covid patients. Brazil added a record 55,209 cases on Friday and now has 1,086,990 cases with 50,659 fatalities. WHO warns that virus is still accelerating. In Germany, 1,300 test positive in slaughterhouse outbreak.
Update 6/19/2020: Confirmed cases 8,618,655 with 457,267 fatalities. The US has 2,264,879 cases with 120,707 fatalities. Washington state has 28,028 cases with 1,248 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 6,062 cases with 116 fatalities. The Benton Franklin Health District has 2,345 cases with 95 fatalities. Hospitalization rates in Benton and Franklin counties have nearly doubled in the past two weeks. Most Tri-City ICU beds are full. Outbreak in Yakima County jail.
Update 6/14/2020: Confirmed cases 7,981,486 with 435,155 fatalities. The US has 2,161,366 cases with 117,849 fatalities. The US is seeing a resurgence of cases across the south. South Carolina just had its fourth straight record day of new cases. Florida reported over 2,000 new cases today. Texas and Arizona are also seeing spikes in cases. Oregon has also spiked sharply upwards in the past two weeks. The Oregon Supreme Court determined Friday that a Baker County Circuit Court judge erred when he ruled that Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus restrictions had extended past a 28-day statutory time limit and were therefore expired. China reports outbreak of several dozen cases around Beijing market after nearly two months with no new cases. India has taken the fourth place position globally and new cases are continuing to rise exponentially. Brazil is in second; cases there are also still rising, but might be starting to flatten though it is too early to say for sure.
Update 6/10/2020: Confirmed cases 7,437,250 with 417,867 fatalities. The US has 2,064,377 cases with 115,090 fatalities. Benton County, WA commissioners have sent a phase 2 application to the state health secretary. Second person tests positive after attending Kittitas County, WA protest. Brazil added over 30,000 cases in the past 24 hours bringing its total over 770,000 with over 39,000 fatalities.
Update 6/8/2020: Confirmed cases 7,189,800 with 408,240 fatalities. The US has 2,026,425 cases with 113,055 fatalities. Washington state has 25,117 cases with 1,170 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1,793 cases with 86 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 4,929 cases with 96 fatalities. In the Tri-Cities, WA area, food banks say that demand is still increasing. Some US cities and states have started to see a rise in cases again, but it is unclear if the numbers are because of increased testing, reopening and associated increased social interactions, or spread through recent protests. India’s daily new cases continue to rise and it will soon enter the top five countries for number of cases. Lockdowns have saved more than three million lives from coronavirus in Europe, an Imperial College study estimates. There are also increasing reports that many people suffer a variety of serious effects from Covid for months.
Update 6/7/2020: Confirmed cases 7,013,727 with 402,746 fatalities. The US has 1,990,046 cases with 112,113 fatalities. Washington state has 24,481 cases with 1,162 fatalities. In the Tri Cities, WA, new cases have shifted to younger ages, with almost 50% of new cases under 40 years old. A Kennewick, WA church has filed suit against the state, citing “unequal treatment” of churches during the reopening process. Washington state had its largest increase in new cases on June 6 since April 10. Global new cases continue to rise rapidly after being relatively flat for most of April and early May; deaths are mostly flat after declining over the same period.
Update 6/5/2020: Confirmed cases 6,737,872 with 393,784 fatalities. The US has 1,925,346 cases with 110,218 fatalities. Yakima continues to see increasing numbers of cases with Virginia Mason Hospital recording all time high new cases earlier this week. Benton Franklin Health District advised all residents to wear a face mask in indoor or confined public settings and stay 6 feet apart from anyone not in your household. The US added 2.5 million jobs this week as businesses reopen.
Update 6/2/2020: Confirmed cases 6,468,841 with 381,593 fatalities. The US has 1,879,229 cases with 108,009 fatalities. Washington state has 21,250 cases with 1,135 fatalities. The Benton Franklin Health District has 1,785 cases with 84 fatalities. The Yakima Health District has 3,891 cases with 90 fatalities. The Associated Press says the WHO actively covered up for China‘s lies and failures to cooperate on the virus.
Update 6/1/2020: Confirmed cases 6,300,444 with 374,527 fatalities. The US has 1,839,679 cases with 106,261 fatalities. Brazil has over 510,000 cases and Russia over 410,000 cases. Washington state has 22,471 cases with 1,126 fatalities. Washington State’s stay at home order expired yesterday; individual counties now have more flexibility to move through phased reopening plans. Yakima county will remain in phase 1; Benton and Franklin counties also stay in phase one.
Update 5/27/2020: Confirmed cases 5,876,936 with 360,648 fatalities. The US has 1,766,762 cases with 103,296 fatalities. Washington state has 21,526 cases with 1,104 fatalities. WA state announces new measures for nursing homes and farm workers. Franklin County, WA child diagnosed with coronavirus-related inflammatory illness. Tri-cities, WA Independence Day fireworks canceled; Pasco Grand Ol’ 4th parade canceled. Around 25% of the entire US workforce is now jobless, but continuing claims have fallen from 25 million to 21 million, indicating that some business activity is picking up. South Korea reinstates some social measures after recording its largest single day increase in cases in nearly two months.
Update 5/27/2020: Confirmed cases 5,763,756 with 355,996 fatalities. The US has 1,742,758 cases with 101,887 fatalities. Washington state has 21,368 cases with 1,092 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1,265 confirmed cases, 287 probable cases, and 81 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 3,252 cases with 87 fatalities. New cases in Richland, WA jumped 15% over the past week. Sixteen inmates and staff infected in Connell, WA prison. Grant County, WA 2020 fair cancelled. Brazil has over 399,600 cases and over 25,000 fatalities. India and Peru are rapidly increasing case numbers, adding over 6,000 per day. The Intercept reports that scientists believe that anti-viral medication Remdesivir does not help Covid patients.
Update 5/26/2020: Confirmed cases 5,684,684 with 352,223 fatalities. The US has 1,725,275 cases with 100,572 fatalities. Washington state has 21,209 cases with 1,086 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1,251 confirmed cases, 295 probable cases, and 78 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 3,123 cases with 87 fatalities. In the US over 11,000 cases have been tied to meat packing plants; updates on these outbreaks are being suppressed, according to the NY Times, in order to alleviate bad news. US pork production capacity expected to return to 90% by August. Yakima County, WA coroner says that suicide rate has increased 30% during pandemic. The Indian Council of Medical Research has found that consuming the drug hydroxychloroquine reduces the chances of getting infected with Covid-19, and so will expand its use.
Update 5/21/2020: Confirmed cases 5,188,924 with 334,059 fatalities. The US has 1,620,204 with 96,282 fatalities. Washington state has 20,013 cases with 1,049 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1145 confirmed cases, 271 probable cases, and 77 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 2684 cases with 79 fatalities. Michigan begins allows gatherings of ten or fewer people. A quarter of Americans say they won’t take a coronavirus vaccine. CDC warns that Covid-19 is cyclical and outbreaks in the southern hemisphere will return to the north later in the year. US pork production up to 81% and beef production up to 85% capacity. Brazil has moved into the spot for third most cases.
Update 5/20/2020: Confirmed cases 5,058,629 with 328,254 fatalities. The US has 1,588,260 with 94,773 fatalities. US DHS extending border closures through 22 June. The continent of Africa now has over 88,000 cases, with the virus spreading to all 54 countries. Ford Motor Co shut down two plants shortly after re-opening because of new cases. Leaked Pentagon memo warns coronavirus pandemic could last until summer 2021. China is worried that a new mutation may be spreading in the northeast; patients there are carrying the virus longer and taking longer to test negative.
Update 5/19/2020: Confirmed cases 4,982,762 with 324,523 fatalities. The US has 1,570,470 with 93,521 fatalities. Washington state has 19,639 cases with 1,029 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1116 confirmed cases, 263 probable cases, and 75 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 2517 cases with 77 fatalities. Washington state’s Yakima County may not move into phase 2 with the rest of the state because of growing cases. An Oregon judge declared the state’s restrictions “null and void” but the state supreme court has temporarily reinstated the restrictions pending review. Russia has the second most cases with 299,941 cases. Brazil has moved into fourth with 271,885 cases, and will likely pass Spain for third tomorrow.
Update 5/17/2020: Confirmed cases 4,793,076 with 316,341 fatalities. The US has 1,524,542 cases with 90,902 fatalities. U.S. health secretary says no spikes, yet, in locations that are reopening. Fed chairman says economic recovery may depend on vaccine. Russia takes over second most cases spot.
Update 5/16/2020: Confirmed cases 4,716,928 with 312,902 fatalities. The US has 1,507,773 cases with 90,113 fatalities. Washington state has 19,211 cases with 1,015 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1080 confirmed cases, 257 probable cases, and 72 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 2349 cases with 76 fatalities. Santiago, Chile imposes lockdown as cases rise. US says it will restore 10% of its funding for WHO. American foodbanks experience 70% increase in number of persons seeking food assistance since crisis began. Tree Top temporarily shuts down Selah, WA plant after second employee tests positive. Washington state retracts requirement for restaurants to collect customer info. Brazil enters top five countries for cases after adding nearly 15,000 cases. Russia set to move to second most tomorrow.
Update 5/15/2020: Confirmed cases 4,617,176 with 307,988 fatalities. The US has 1,481,834 cases with 88,400 fatalities. Washington state has 18,901 cases with 1,008 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1056 confirmed cases, 256 probable cases, and 72 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 2308 cases with 76 fatalities. Washington state delays unemployment payments after $1.6 million in fraudulent claims for covid jobless benefits. Yakima County commissioners seek more local control of business reopenings. Americans drinking more during lockdown and defying bans on public drinking to let off steam and help local businesses. Brazil adds over 15,000 new cases, and should pass Italy to land in the top five worst countries for cases by tomorrow.
Update 5/14/2020: Confirmed cases 4,516,246 with 302,877 fatalities. The US has 1,454,181 cases with 86,809 fatalities. Washington state freezes most hiring, personal service contracts and equipment purchases, expecting massive revenue decline. Kidney injuries seen in one third of hospitalized patients. Nearly one in four American workers now claiming jobless benefits. Russia continues to add approximately ten thousand new cases per day and is expected to rise to second most confirmed cases in the world this weekend.
Update 5/13/2020: Confirmed cases 4,429,223 with 298,165 fatalities. The US has 1,430,348 cases with 85,197 fatalities. Washington state has 18,281 cases with 975 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1025 confirmed cases, 238 probable cases, and 69 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 2121 cases with 69 fatalities. Washington state issues guidance for phase two of reopening plan; restaurants must keep logs of customer info. Washington governor threatens Selah mayor over stay at home order defiance, saying it is illegal. Wisconsin state supreme court rules their stay at home order unconstitutional. EU promises to be open for tourist season. Russia has moved into the third position for most cases in the world behind the US and Spain. Brazil has moved into sixth.
Update 5/12/2020: Confirmed cases 4,339,840 with 292,809 fatalities. The US has 1,408,636 cases with 83,425 fatalities. Washington state has 18,064 cases with 964 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1013 confirmed cases, 240 probable cases, and 69 fatalities.Yakima Health District has 2025 cases with 67 fatalities. Sunnyside, WA confirms covid case in jail. Lockdown led to 50% fewer motor vehicle accidents in April in Washington state. The Tri-Cities, WA airport will not require people to wear masks in the terminal, but all airlines servicing the airport require passengers to wear masks. Los Angeles County stay at home order likely to stay in place until early or mid-August. Students in France begin returning to school.
Update 5/11/2020: Confirmed cases 4,242,959 with 286,536 fatalities. The US has 1,381,342 cases with 81,545 casualties. Washington state has 17,890 cases with 953 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 1004 confirmed cases, 235 probable cases, and 68 fatalities.Yakima Health District has 1966 cases with 63 fatalities. US VP Pence isolates himself after exposure. Wuhan has first case since April 3. Germany and S. Korea see uptick in new cases as they reopen; S Korea delays reopening schools. Tanzania kicks out WHO. UK police reportedly investigating those who post tweets critical of lockdown. In Russia, which now has the third most infections worldwide, medical students in their fourth, fifth and sixth years are being sent to complete their medical training in coronavirus clinics.
Update 5/9/2020: Confirmed cases 4,100,788 with 280,432 fatalities. The US has 1,347,309 cases with 80,037 casualties. Washington state has 17,426 cases with 922 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 978 confirmed cases, 230 probable cases, and 64 fatalities.Yakima Health District has 1827 cases with 60 fatalities. Three children in New York have died from a rare inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to Covid-19. The transmission rate in Washington state has been rising since early April. Possible outbreak at Twin City Foods plant in Kittitas county, Washington; plant closed while employees undergo testing.
Update 5/8/2020: Confirmed cases 4,009,911 with 275,934 fatalities. The US has 1,321,122 cases with 78,577 casualties. Washington state has 17,154 cases with 914 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 954 confirmed cases, 228 probable cases, and 64 fatalities. Oregon governor says any large gatherings through September should be cancelled or significantly modified. US unemployment rate surged to 14.7%, highest rate since 1982. Meat suppliers in US still can’t get product to market. US military permanently disqualifies anyone with past Covid-19 diagnosis. The model that had estimated 74,000 total fatalities in the US by Aug. 4th just ten days ago, now estimates 134,000 by Aug. 4th. The UK passed Italy for greatest number of fatalities outside of the US with 30,615 fatalities. Russia has moved into worst five countries for number of cases, passing France.
Update 5/7/2020: Confirmed cases 3,904,476 with 270,061 fatalities. The US has 1,288,051 cases with 76,729 fatalities. Washington state has 16,360 cases with 870 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 939 confirmed cases, 223 probable cases, and 64 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1658 cases with 57 fatalities. New, confirmed cases yesterday were the highest in two weeks, perhaps reflecting increased infections as countries reopen. Yakima hospital has highest day of new cases with seven being put on ventilators.
Update 5/6/2020: Confirmed cases 3,778,252 with 261,321 fatalities. The US has 1,263,092 cases with 74,799 fatalities. Washington state has 16,360 cases with 870 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 925 confirmed cases, 222 probable cases, and 62 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1597 cases with 52 fatalities. Spain extends state of emergency to May 23. WHO warns of new lockdowns if transition not managed carefully.
Update 5/5/2020: Confirmed cases 3,715,003 with 257,309 fatalities. The US has 1,234,487 cases with 72,054 fatalities. Washington state has 16,360 cases with 870 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 910 confirmed cases, 219 probable cases, and 57 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1506 cases with 52 fatalities. Florida state records record fatalities for the day as they continue to reopen and loosen restrictions. Tyson Foods will resume limited operations at Pasco, WA facility.
Update 5/4/2020: Confirmed cases 3,640,195 with 251,810 fatalities. The US has 1,210,935 cases with 69,583 fatalities. Washington state has 16,136 cases with 846 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 900 confirmed cases, 213 probable cases, and 50 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1440 cases with 49 fatalities. Yesterday’s global case increase was the largest yet for a Sunday, but the additional deaths have declined for five days. A US intel leak appeared to confirm that China withheld information – like the confirmation of human-to-human transmission – and used the time to hoard PPE and other medical supplies. Likewise, a Chinese report now recommends that China prepare for armed conflict with the US over virus backlash.
Update 5/3/2020: Confirmed cases 3,562,426 with 248,101 fatalities. The US has 1,187,288 cases with 68,568 fatalities. Washington state has 15,773 cases with 836 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 848 confirmed cases, 210 probable cases, and 50 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1411 cases with 48 fatalities. Yakima County has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases on the West Coast. More in the US turning to hunting for meat and sanity. Russia adds over 10,000 new cases and should be in the top five countries case-wise in a few days. Officials in Saudi Arabia believe most of Mecca population may be infected.
Update 5/2/2020: Confirmed cases 3,484,176 with 244,778 fatalities. The US has 1,160,774 cases with 67,444 fatalities. Washington state has 15,512 cases with 836 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 807 confirmed cases, 209 probable cases, and 50 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1351 cases with 48 fatalities. Washington state extends stay at home order to May 31st; will gradually ease outdoor restrictions during that time. About 20% of workers tested so far from the Tyson Meat plant between Tri-Cities and Walla Walla are positive for the virus. Russia adds nearly 10,000 new cases.
Update 5/1/2020: Confirmed cases 3,400,607 with 239,586 fatalities. The US has 1,131,280 cases with 65,766 fatalities. Washington state has 14,637 cases with 832 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 759 confirmed cases, 205 probable cases, and 50 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1293 cases with 48 fatalities. Russia adds nearly 8,000 new cases, UK and Brazil each add 6,000+. Alaska Airlines to require all passengers to wear face masks.
Update 4/30/2020: Confirmed cases 3,305,806 with 233,966 fatalities. The US has 1,096,019 cases with 63,856 fatalities. Washington state has 14,327 cases with 814 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 713 confirmed cases, 201 probable cases, and 47 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1237 cases with 49 fatalities. The Eastern Washington Tyson Beef plant will remain closed as related cases rise to 130. US jobless claims have risen to 30 million since March 21.
Update 4/29/2020: Confirmed cases 3,205,878 with 227,290 fatalities. The US has 1,055,455 cases with 61,112 fatalities. Washington state has 14,070 cases with 801 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 696 confirmed cases, 203 probable cases, and 45 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1197 cases with 48 fatalities. In Washington state, the majority of restrictions will remain in place after expiration of current stay-at-home order on May 4th. The Yakima County Veterans Program launches hotline for covid assistance. Antibody testing is now available in Kennewick, Richland and Umatilla. Costco requires all shoppers to wear a face mask. New York City announces it will start issues summons or arrest those who violate social distancing.
Update 4/28/2020: Confirmed cases 3,138,115 with 217,970 fatalities. The US has 1,035,765 cases with 59,266 fatalities. Washington state has 13,842 cases with 786 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 673 confirmed cases, 197 probable cases, and 43 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1135 cases with 48 fatalities. Russia continues to add 6,000+ new cases per day. More US livestock culled. President Trump says that he will order meat plants to stay open, despite Senator Murray’s admonishment of Tyson for closing their plant too late. The state of Washington eases some outdoor restrictions. France makes wearing masks on public transportation mandatory.
Update 4/27/2020: Confirmed cases 3,064,895 with 211,609 fatalities. The US has 1,010,507 cases with 56,803 fatalities. Dr. Deborah Birx, the US Coronavirus Response Coordinator, said some form of social distancing will probably remain in place through the summer. Washington state has 13,686 cases with 765 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 656 confirmed cases, 197 probable cases, and 43 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1098 cases with 46 fatalities. Colorado, Nevada, Washington, California and Oregon have formed a Western States Pact for coordinating virus response. Washington State’s Benton-Franklin Health District says that it is too soon to ease restrictions as cases are still increasing. Tyson Foods warns that food supply chain is breaking. New Zealand will end their lockdown at midnight; claims they have eliminated transmission of the coronavirus. Italy and Britain are investigating possible links between covid and an increase in severe inflammatory disease among infants.
Update 4/26/2020: Confirmed cases 2,994,731 with 206,990 fatalities. The US has 987,160 cases with 55,413 fatalities. Washington state has 13,521 cases with 749 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 649 confirmed cases, 192 probable cases, and 42 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1085 cases with 45 fatalities. The outbreak on US destroyer USS Kidd increases to 18. The US will divert funds previously given to the WHO to other foreign assistance programs, cutting out the middleman. Potato market is now facing similar problems to dairies. Poultry is also facing concerns as millions of chickens have been culled because of virus-related staffing shortages.
Update 4/25/2020: Confirmed cases 2,920,961 with 203,272 fatalities. The US has 960,651 cases with 54,256 fatalities. Washington state has 13,319 cases with 738 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 631 confirmed cases, 191 probable cases, and 42 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1066 cases with 44 fatalities. Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska have lifted some restrictions. People in their 30s and 40s are having covid-caused severe strokes even though they have little to no symptoms of the virus. WHO warns that so far there are no studies proving that having antibodies confers protection from re-infection.
Update 4/24/2020: Confirmed cases 2,830,082 with 197,246 fatalities. The US has 925,038 cases with 52,185 fatalities. Washington state has 13,176 cases with 723 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 617 confirmed cases, 187 probable cases, and 42 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 1005 cases with 44 fatalities. Some grocery store shortages expected from closure of meat plants in US; Tyson meat plant near Tri-Cities, WA to close today and WA Beef plant in Toppenish, WA has outbreak. The Pasco, WA Second Harvest food bank has been assigned 25 national guardsmen to help deal with the flood of demand.
Update 4/23/2020: Confirmed cases 2,725,920 with 191,061 fatalities. The US has 886,709 cases with 50,243 fatalities. Washington state has 12,753 cases with 711 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 585 confirmed cases, 178 probable cases, and 42 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 952 cases with 42 fatalities. Yakima County has the highest per capita rate of infection in Washington state. Some University of Washington medical experts are recommending that the governor extend the lockdown an additional three weeks to May 26th. The UK has 138,078 cases with 18,738 fatalities.
Update 4/22/2020: Confirmed cases 2,637,673 with 184,217 fatalities. The US has 848,994 cases with 46,676 fatalities. Washington state has 12,494 cases with 692 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 567 confirmed cases, 173 probable cases, and 39 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 886 cases with 38 fatalities (not updated today). President Trumps says that he will today sign an executive order banning immigration. A new study study out of China has found mutated versions of the virus which are more deadly than the strain that hit Wuhan.
Update 4/21/2020: Confirmed cases 2,557,183 with 177,641 fatalities. The US has 819,164 cases with 45,340 fatalities. Washington state has 12,282 cases with 682 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 557 confirmed cases, 170 probable cases, and 38 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 886 cases with 38 fatalities. The state of Georgia announces that some restriction will ease on Friday and many businesses will be allowed to reopen on Monday. Most Tennessee and Ohio businesses are expected to be free to open on May 1st. Spain has 204,178 cases with 21,282 fatalities. Italy has 183,957 cases with 24,648 fatalities. UK has 129,044 cases with 17,337 fatalities. Russia adds another 5600 cases. Singapore extends lockdown until June as cases continue to rise. Facebook CEO says that protests against stay-at-home orders organized on the social site qualify as “harmful misinformation’ and are removed from the platform. Ireland extends its ban on large gatherings until at least August.
Update 4/20/2020: Confirmed cases 2,481,026 with 170,423 fatalities. The US has 792,759 cases with 42,514 fatalities. Washington state has 12,085 cases with 652 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 523 confirmed cases, 166 probable cases, and 37 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 868 cases with 38 fatalities. Thousands protested in Olympia yesterday against the lockdown. More meat processing closures in the US. Protests in the US to end restrictions/lockdowns continue. Spain has 200,210 cases with 20,852 fatalities. Italy has 181,228 cases with 24,114 fatalities. France has 155,383 cases with 20,265 fatalities. UK has 124,743 cases with 16,509 fatalities.
Update 4/18/2020: Confirmed cases 2,332,568 with 160,791 fatalities. The US has 738,923 cases with 39,015 fatalities. Washington state has 11,802 cases with 624 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 483 confirmed cases, 153 probable cases, and 37 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 804 cases with 36 fatalities. Italy has 175,925 cases with 23,227 fatalities. France has 151,793 cases with 19,323 fatalities. UK has 114,217 cases with 15,464 fatalities, adding well over 5,000 new cases. Russia also adds nearly 5,000 cases, bringing its total to 36,793. The situation in Ecuador remains unclear but appears grim. Spain extends its lockdown for two weeks. Singapore has seen a resurgence of cases after re-opening from its lockdowns, adding nearly one thousand cases. The US and Canada extend their border closure for another 30 days. People in Texas demonstrate against stay at home orders. Japan warns of health system breakdown; one ambulance carrying a patient with coronavirus symptoms was turned away by 80 hospitals before he could be seen.
Update 4/17/2020: Confirmed cases 2,250,709 with 154,256 fatalities. The US has 710,021 with 37.158 fatalities. Washington state has 11,445 cases with 603 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 457 confirmed cases, 145 probable cases, and 37 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 759 cases with 34 fatalities. While fatality numbers are leveling or improving in New York City, they are now spiking higher in the rest of the state of New York and in New Jersey and Michigan, leading to the overall US fatality numbers to begin climbing again for the last three days. Texas and Illinois cancel the remainder of the school year. Spain has 190,839 case with 20,002 fatalities. Italy has 172,434 cases with 22.745 fatalities. France has 147,969 cases with 18,681 fatalities. UK has 108,692 with 14,576 fatalities. Professor Luc Montagnier, 2008 Nobel Prize winner for Medicine, claims that SARS-CoV-2 is a manipulated virus that was accidentally released from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Wuhan, China revises citywide coronavirus death toll 50% higher than previously reported.
Update 4/16/2020: Confirmed cases 2,173,206 with 145,059 fatalities. The US has 674,829 cases with 34,475 fatalities. In the US, 22 million jobs have been lost in the last four weeks – the same number added to the economy over the last ten years. Washington state has 11,152 cases with 583 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 435 confirmed cases, 136 probable cases, and 36 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 707 cases with 29 fatalities. New York extends stay at home order for an additional two weeks. Spain has 182,816 cases with 19,130 fatalities. Italy has 168,941 cases with 22,170 fatalities; new cases rose for the first time in five days. The UK added 4600 cases for a total of 103,093 cases with 13,729 fatalities. UK extends their lockdown for at least three weeks. Russia added nearly 3,500 new cases, rising to almost 28,000 cases; they’ve been adding large numbers of cases in recent days. Fox news reports that virus began in a Wuhan lab.
Update 4/15/2020: Confirmed cases 2,083,304 with 134,616 fatalities. The US has 645,089 cases with 28,529 fatalities. President Trump claims we have passed the peak of new cases. Washington state has 10,910 cases with 567 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 410 confirmed cases, 133 probable cases, and 34 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 674 cases with 29 fatalities. Spain has 177,633 cases with 18,579 fatalities. Italy has 165,155 cases with 21,645 fatalities. France has 147,863 cases with 17,167 fatalities. UK has 98,476 cases with 12,868 fatalities.
Update 4/14/2020: Confirmed cases 1,990,097 with 125,859 fatalities. Washington state has 10,795 cases with 547 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 400 confirmed cases, 130 probable cases, and 31 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 635 cases with 29 fatalities. Spain has 172,541 cases with 18,056 fatalities. Italy has 162,488 cases with 21,067 fatalities. France has 143,303 cases with 15,729 fatalities. UK has 93,873 cases with 12,107 fatalities. WHO says vaccine is still at least twelve months away. India’s lockdown extended to May 3rd.
Update 4/13/2020: Confirmed cases 1,915,863 with 119,042 fatalities. The US has 582,065 cases with 23,414 fatalities. Spain has 169,496 cases with 17,489 fatalities. Italy has 159,516 cases with 20,465 fatalities. France has 136,779 cases with 14,967 fatalities. The UK has 88,621 cases with 11,329 fatalities. Belgium passes 30,000 cases with almost 4,000 fatalities. Amazon pauses grocery deliveries due to unprecedented demand.
Update 4/12/2020: Confirmed cases 1,853,155 with 114,247 fatalities. The US has 560,433 cases with 22,115 fatalities. Washington state has 10,530 cases with 508 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 359 confirmed cases, 119 probable cases, and 27 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 535 cases with 21 fatalities (no update today). Spain has 166,831 cases with 17,209 fatalities. Italy has 156,363 cases with 19,899 fatalities. France has 132,591 cases with 14,393 fatalities. The UK has 84,279 cases with 10,612 fatalities. Smithfield shuts plant and warns of meat shortages.
Update 4/11/2020: Confirmed cases 1,779,842 with 108,779 fatalities. The US has 532,879 cases with 20,577 fatalities. Washington state has 10,448 cases with 494 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 349 confirmed cases, 115 probable cases, and 27 fatalities. Link for resources for senior citizens in need of face masks in Tri-Cities area. Yakima Health District has 535 cases with 21 fatalities. Spain has 163,027 cases with 16,606 fatalities. Italy has 152,271 cases with 19,468 fatalities. France has 129,654 cases with 13,832 fatalities. The UK has 78,991 cases with 9,875 fatalities. India extends nationwide lockdown without giving an end date. Guangzhou provincial authorities order bars and restaurants to refuse service to those who appear to be of African origin. WHO is investigating reports of recovered COVID patients testing positive again.
Update 4/10/2020: Confirmed cases 1,697,356 with 102,664 fatalities. The US has 501,880 cases with 18,699 fatalities. Washington state has 10,132 cases with 482 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 330 confirmed cases, 113 probable cases, and 27 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 511 cases with 20 fatalities. New York City is reportedly using a mass grave on Hart Island for those with no next of kin or who cannot afford funerals. New York has first drop in ICU patients. Seattle closes city parks for the Easter weekend. 16.78 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits. Spain has 158,273 cases with 16,081 fatalities. Italy has 147,577 cases with 18,849 fatalities. France has 124,869 cases with 13,197 fatalities. The UK has 73,758 cases with 8,958 fatalities. Turkey adds almost 5,000 new cases. Amneal Pharmaceuticals running out of raw ingredients to make hydroxychloroquine because of export restrictions.
Update 4/9/2020: Confirmed cases 1,601,302 with 95,630 fatalities. The US has 466,969 cases with 16,636 fatalities. A number of cases have been confirmed on the USS Nimitz. Washington state has 9.652 cases with 455 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 307 confirmed cases, 107 probable cases, and 27 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 447 cases with 19 fatalities. In Ellensburg, WA a pastor is the first fatality in Kittitas county. Spain has 153,222 cases with 15,447 fatalities. Italy has 143,626 cases with 18,279 fatalities. France has 117,749 cases with 12,210 fatalities. The UK has 65,077 cases with 7.978 fatalities. Iran has 66,220 cases with 4,110 fatalities.
Update 4/8/2020: Confirmed cases 1,518,719 with 88,502 fatalities. The US has 435,128 cases with 14,795 fatalities. Washington state has 8,977 cases with 407 fatalities. The field hospital constructed at Century Link Field will be moved to a state more in need. Benton Franklin Health District has 263 confirmed cases, 80 probable cases, and 22 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 433 cases with 18 fatalities. Yakima Memorial hospital expects 100,000 cases in the county. Oregon state has cancelled in person classes for the remainder of the school year. Spain has 148,220 cases with 14,792 fatalities. Italy has 139,422 cases with 17,669 fatalities. Germany has 112,113 cases with only 2,208 fatalities. The UK has passed 60,000 cases and 7,000 fatalities. Confirmed cases across the continent of Africa pass 10,000.
Update 4/7/2020: Confirmed cases 1,424,101 with 81,889 fatalities. The US has 394,564 cases with 12,748 fatalities. Washington state has 8,682 cases with 400 fatalities. Alaska Airlines has seen an 80% drop in demand for services. Fred Meyer and Kroger groceries are also beginning to limit the number of customers in stores at one time. Spain has 141,942 cases with 14,047 fatalities. Italy has 135,586 cases with 17,127 fatalities. The UK has 55,242 cases with 6,159 fatalities. France has 109,069 cases with 10,328 fatalities. Russian cases appear to be increasing, adding over a thousand new cases. Three hospitals in India were closed after staff tested positive; staff may only leave after testing negative.
Update 4/6/2020: Confirmed cases 1,346,035 with 74,654 fatalities. The US has 367,004 cases with 10,871 fatalities. Washington state has 8,326 cases with 381 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 239 confirmed cases, 77 probable cases, and 18 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 380 cases with 12 fatalities. Washington state, despite falling far from its early US lead in cases, now has rising case rate, going from 7% of all tested two weeks ago to 8.6%. All Washington state Safeway and Albertsons grocery stores will begin limiting the number of customers inside the store. Washington state has cancelled on-site school for the remainder of the school year. Spain has over 136,000 cases and 13,341 fatalities. Italy has over 132,000 cases and 16,523 fatalities. France has 98,010 cases with 8,911 fatalities. The UK has 51,608 cases with 5,373 fatalities. UK Prime Minister after being admitted to hospital yesterday has now been moved to intensive care after his condition worsened.
Update 4/5/2020: Confirmed cases 1,273,499 with 69,451 fatalities. The US has 336,673 cases with 9,616 fatalities. Washington state has 7,984 cases with 338 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 220 confirmed cases, 63 probable cases, and 14 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 326 cases with 9 fatalities. Spain has 131,646 cases with 12,641 fatalities. Italy has 128,948 cases with 15,887 fatalities. Germany has 100,123 cases. Iran 58,226 cases. UK has 47,806 cases with 4,934 fatalities. A second migrant facility in Greece has entered quarantine after a resident tested positive for coronavirus. The Netherlands is still trying to avoid a complete lockdown and trying instead “intelligent lockdown.”
Update 4/4/2020: Confirmed cases 1,201,933 with 64,716 fatalities. The US has 311,854 cases with 8,452 fatalities. Washington state has 7,591 cases with 314 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 197 confirmed cases, 59 probable cases, and 14 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 363 cases with 12 fatalities. More than 850 hospital employees in Massachusetts have tested positive for COVID-19. Spain passes Italy in case total with 124,870 to Italy’s 124,632. Italy still has higher fatalities with 15,362 to Spain’s 11,818. Germany has 95,614 cases. France has 89,953 cases with 7,560 fatalities.
Update 4/3/2020: Confirmed cases 1,098,762 with 59,172 fatalities. The US has 277,467 cases with 7,402 fatalities. The CDC recommends that all Americans wear a mask when the must go out in public. The US unemployment rate rose to 4.3%. US dairy farmers being asked to dump their milk because of supply chain woes. US Navy captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt was relieved of command after publicly criticizing naval response to the outbreak on his carrier. The captain’s exposure of the incompetence of high military leadership was deemed by those leaders to be “extremely poor judgment.” Washington state has 6,966 cases with 291 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 181 confirmed cases, 54 probable cases, and 14 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 289 cases with 7 fatalities. Italy has 119,827 cases with 14,681 fatalities. Spain has 119,199 cases with 11,198 fatalities, drawing close to Italy. Germany has 91,159 cases. The UK has over 38,000 cases with 3,605 fatalities. France has more than 64,000 cases with 6,507 fatalities.
Update 4/2/2020: Confirmed cases 1,015,877 with 53,218 fatalities. The US has 245,193 cases with 6,088 fatalities. A record 6.6 million jobless claims were filed last week. Washington state has 6,585 cases with 272 fatalities. Washington state extends stay at home order to May 4th. Yakima Health District has 240 cases with 6 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 171 confirmed cases, 52 probable cases, and 9 fatalities. New Jersey authorizes the commandeering of services and property necessary to fight the virus. NY governor says that new projections show the virus tapering off by August. New York City tells people to wear masks in public. Amazon has banned the sale of N95 and surgical masks to the general public. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the military will kill quarantine violators on the spot. Spain has over 112,000 cases and over 10,000 fatalities; Spain’s numbers may be starting to level. Iran passes 50,000 cases. Germany has over 84,000 cases. Italy has 115,242 cases and 13,915 fatalities, but new cases and deaths appear to be leveling out. Italy’s fatality rate remains around 12.1%.
Update 4/1/2020: Confirmed cases 935,189 with 47,192 fatalities. The US has 215,003 cases with 5,102 fatalities. Washington state has 5,844 cases with 250 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 224 cases with 6 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 141 confirmed cases, 48 probable cases, and 7 fatalities. A six-week old infant has passed away in Connecticut from the virus. Florida issues a stay at home order. Hawaii says everyone should wear a mask when leaving home. Yesterday, President Trump warned the US to get ready for two very painful weeks. Italy has 110,574 cases with 13,155 fatalities. Spain has 104,118 cases with 9,387 fatalities. Germany has 77,981 cases. France 56,989 cases. Iran over 47,000 cases. Japan closes borders to UK and US citizens and 71 other countries. Jia county in China locks down movement after a new outbreak. Israel has asked all Israelis to wear face masks in public.
Update 3/31/2020: Confirmed cases 854,039 with 42,017 fatalities. The US has 185,270 cases with 3,780 fatalities. Washington state has 5,300 cases with 223 fatalities. Benton County cases are testing positive at a rate 16%, more than double the state average. Franklin county is at double the state rate at 15%. This could be because of limited testing or a deeper problem. In Washington state, Snohomish County is opening an isolation and quarantine site in downtown Everett. Firefighters and first responders are seeking donations of protective gear. Social distancing appears to be slowing the spread in the Seattle area. The number of US deaths has surpassed those from the 9/11 attacks. NY governor says, “It’s more powerful, it’s more dangerous than we expected.” Italy has 105,792 cases with 12,428 fatalities. Spain has 95,923 cases with 8,464 fatalities. France and the US pass China’s total fatalities. Brazil, Portugal and Canada all record over 1,000 new cases, joining eight other countries adding at least four-digit increases per day.
Update 3/30/2020: Confirmed cases 785,409 with 37,807 fatalities. The US has 164,121 cases with 3,163 fatalities. Washington state has 5,250 cases with 210 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 161 cases with 3 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 97 confirmed cases, 42 probable cases, and 5 fatalities. New York state passes 1,300 deaths. The USNS Comfort hospital ship has docked in New York. Washington, DC issues stay at home order. Italy has 101,739 cases with 11,592 fatalities. Spain has 87,956 cases with 7,716 fatalities. Germany has 66,885 cases. South Korea begins seeing sustained increases in cases again. In some areas of the US and the world, officials are cracking down on what kinds of products may be sold by the stores that remain open, demanding that only “necessities” be allowed for purchase, i.e. no entertainment, educational, or luxury items. EasyJet airline stops all commercial flights. India’s lockdown causes a mass exodus of city day-workers trying to get to their home villages.
Update 3/29/2020: Confirmed cases 721,562 with 33,965 fatalities. The US has 142,004 cases with 2,484 fatalities. President Trump extends federal mitigation efforts/social distancing recommendations until the end of April. US healthcare workers are beginning to speak out about the shortages of protective equipment, ventilators, and conditions in hospitals. Washington state has 4,392 cases with 195 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 140 cases with 2 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 72 cases and 5 fatalities. Florida has opened checkpoints on the border to prevent infected individuals from hot spots from entering the state. Texas has opened checkpoints to ensure Louisianans entering the state register and quarantine for 14 days. See one such interview below. Italy has 97,689 cases with 10,779 fatalities. Spain has 80,031 cases with 6,802 fatalities. Germany has 62,095 cases. France has passed 40,000. The UK is now approaching 20,000 cases with 1,228 fatalities.
Update 3/28/2020: Confirmed cases 662,852 with 30,847 fatalities. The US has 123,428 cases with 2,211 fatalities. The first US infant death has been confirmed in Chicago. A 25-year old man with no underlying health conditions has passed away in California from Covid-19. Washington state has 4,310 cases with 189 fatalities. A doctor in Bellingham has been fired for criticizing the hospital’s virus response. The Yakima Health District has 82 cases with 2 fatalities. The Benton Franklin Health District has 54 confirmed cases and 5 fatalities and and another 21 probable cases. Italy has 92,472 cases with 10,023 fatalities. Spain has 73,235 cases with 5,982 fatalities. Germany has 57,695 cases. The city of Wuhan, China partially re-opens after two months of lockdown. Russia is fully closing its borders beginning Monday. The first NHS surgeon in UK dies from coronavirus after volunteering to work frontline. In India, the lockdown only gave four hours notice; millions have been left jobless, foodless and without money by the shutdown, sparking an exodus from major cities.
Update 3/27/2020: Confirmed cases 594,280 with 27,246 fatalities. The US has 102,338 cases with 1,603 fatalities. Washington state has 3,700 cases with 175 fatalities. The Yakima Health District has 72 cases with 2 fatalities. The Benton Franklin Health District has 54 confirmed cases and 5 fatalities. The US Army Corps of Engineer will convert CenturyLnik Field into a temporary field hospital for non-coronavirus patients. Rhode Island announces that National Guard will go door to door in coastal communities checking for travelers from New York. The mayor of New Orleans blames President Trump for her not cancelling Mardi Gras (which became an incubator of the virus). Italy has 86,498 cases (becoming the second country to exceed China’s total) and 9,134 fatalities. Spain has 65,719 cases. Germany has 50,871 cases. The UK prime minister and UK health secretary have tested positive. Residents of Hubei province have rioted against police forces of neighboring Jiangxi province, who had set up roadblocks to prevent the people of Hubei from returning to work in Jiangxi. Ireland warns that its ICUs will be at capacity in a number of days. Bolivia implements extreme quarantine measures. A new study indicated that the coronavirus may halve the testosterone levels of males – long term studies needed.
Update 3/26/2020: Confirmed cases 529,071 with 23,967 fatalities. The US has 83,144 cases, surpassing China’s total for most cases in the world, with 1,201 fatalities. Washington state has 3,012 cases with 148 fatalities. Washington state’s infection rate may be slowing, but the stay at home order may be extended. The Yakima Health District has 53 cases with 2 fatalities. The Virgina Mason Memorial hospital in Yakima is near capacity. The Benton Franklin Health District has 26 confirmed cases and another 11 probable cases along with 4 fatalities. New York state currently has 5,327 hospitalized cases with 1,290 being in ICU, overwhelming some hospitals. Refrigerated trailers are being deployed for use as temporary morgues. US unemployment claims hit a weekly record of 3.3 million. Louisiana appears to be adding cases faster than anywhere else in the world. The US Navy reports an outbreak on the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. Spain jumps to 56,188 cases. Italy has 80,589 cases with 8,215 fatalities.
Update 3/25/2020: Confirmed cases 471,035 with 21,283 fatalities. The US has 68,203 cases with 1,027 fatalities. Washington State has 2,588 cases with 132 fatalities. Benton Franklin Health District has 21 cases with 4 fatalities. Yakima Health District has 53 cases. Washington state closes all public lands for two weeks because of crowded trails and large gatherings. The US Army’s 627th Hospital Center will deploy to Washington State to back up local doctors and nurses. Most Pacific Northwest national parks close. Alaska records first Covid-19 death. Maryland closes schools until at least April 24. Spain has over 49,000 cases and 3,647 fatalities, surpassing China’s total deaths. Italy over 74,000 should surpass China’s total cases in a day or two; Italy has over 7,500 fatalities. Iran passes 27,000 cases and 2,000 fatalities. Thailand declares a state of emergency. The US Congress agreed on a $2 trillion bailout package. Nearly one third of the global population is currently locked down.
Update 3/24/2020: Confirmed cases 422,613 with 18,891 fatalities. The US has 54,808 cases with 775 fatalities, having added over 100 deaths yesterday for the first time and 222 today. Washington state has 2,469 cases with 123 fatalities. In Washington state’s Yakima county, enforcement of the stay at home order going into effect tomorrow will begin with education but will move to tickets or citations as necessary. Yakima Health District has 47 cases with one fatality. The Benton-Franklin Health District has 19 cases with 3 fatalities. Yakima Valley health care systems are seeking donations of supplies. 16 states have issued stay at home orders. Anyone leaving the NYC metro area has been asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. The first child under the age of 18 to die from the novel coronavirus in the US has passed away in Los Angeles. Spain has well over 39,000 cases, after a big jump today. Italy has over 69,000 cases with 6,820 fatalities. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic games have been postponed for one year. India orders a 21 day lockdown for all 1.3 billion citizens.
Update 3/23/2020: Confirmed cases 378,741 with 16,501 fatalities. The US has 43,718 cases with 551 fatalities. Last night Yakima County issued a stay at home order for all county residents effective immediately. Washington state has 2,221 cases with 110 fatalities. Washington state issues a stay at home order to last at least two weeks beginning in 48 hours. Yakima health district now has 32 cases. The Benton-Franklin Health District has 16 cases with 3 fatalities. Indiana has issued a stay at home order. Michigan issues shelter in place order. Maryland has closed non-essential businesses. Italy is closing in on 64,000 cases. Spain 33,000. Germany 29,000. Iran 23,000. France 20,000. Mexico is handing over hospital control to the military. The UK has issued a stay at home order. South Africa will begin a 21-day lockdown on Thursday. Greece imposes lockdown. Nigeria closes borders.
Update 3/22/2020: Confirmed cases 336,075 with 14,613 fatalities. The US has 32,783 cases with 416 fatalities. Nearly 25% of Americans are under stay at home orders. Washington state has 1996 cases with 95 fatalities. The Benton-Franklin Health District has 11 cases with three fatalities. Ohio, Louisiana and Delaware issue stay at home orders. Senator Rand Paul has tested positive. Italy has nearly 60,000 cases and bans movement outside of people’s home municipality. Spain has over 28,000 cases with 1725 fatalities. Germany has over 24,000 cases, and bans gatherings of more than two people. Chancellor Merkel has been quarantined after contact with an infected person. UK PM Johnson warns that the National Health Service may be overwhelmed in just two weeks. People at high risk in the UK will get letters telling them to stay at home for twelve weeks. India will have a test curfew today from 7am to 9pm to see how well it works.
Update 3/21/2020: Confirmed cases 307,720 with 13,051 fatalities. The US has 26,711 cases with 341 fatalities. Washington state has 1524 cases with 83 fatalities. The Benton-Franklin Health District has ten cases with three fatalities. Yakima Health District has twenty cases. Yakima’s Virginia Mason Hospital called on people in Yakima County to stay at home to prevent local hospitals from being overwhelmed. On Friday, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois joined California in requiring residents to stay home and only go outside for necessities such as food and medicine. US Army Corp of Engineers is preparing to renovate buildings to prepare more space for COVID-19 patients. Italy has over 53,000 cases with 4,825 fatalities. Italy has ordered all non-essential businesses to close. Germany and Iran have exceeded 20,000 cases. Spain is over 25,000 cases. Jakarta, Indonesia declares a state of emergency. Bangkok, Thailand closes most shops. NATO cancels Defender Europe 2020 military exercise. Italy is now also using its army to staff critical manufacturers. British technology firm Smiths Group says it is making the details of one of its ventilators available for other manufacturers to produce, in an attempt to tackle the shortage of equipment. Western medicine is just starting to look into chloroquine as a possible treatment, despite it being reported from China as an effective treatment a month ago and longer.
Update 3/20/2020: Confirmed cases 275,118 with 11,376 fatalities. The US has 19,375 cases with 256 fatalities, adding over 5,000 cases in the past twenty four hours. A staffer for Vice President Pence has tested positive. Yesterday evening the Washington state governor halted all elective surgeries and dental work, unless delaying would cause harm. The governor also requested that one of the navy hospital ships be sent to Seattle because area hospitals would be “in crisis by the end of the month.” Also yesterday evening, the California governor issued a state-wide “stay at home” order of indefinite length. NY governor orders 100% of workers to stay home and all non-essential businesses to close. All non-essential traffic over the US-Mexico border has been halted. Italy is now using the army to enforce coronavirus lockdown in Lombardy. Italy nearly 6,000 cases today. In France, citizens must fill out a form explaining why they are outside and present it to the police on demand. Germany adds over 4,500 new cases. Argentina goes on lockdown through March 31st.
Update 3/19/2020: Confirmed cases 244,919 with 10,031 fatalities. The US has 13,816 cases with 207 fatalities. Late last night a second US Congressman tested positive. Locally, the Benton Franklin Health District added two additional positive cases. Hospitals in the Seattle area are running out of basic supplies like masks and test sample preservation fluid; workers are having to reuse their masks. King County, Washington is building a temporary field hospital at the Shoreline soccer field. Florida, Alabama and Texas have shut down popular spring break beaches. The entire Georgia state legislature has been asked to self-quarantine. NY institutes a 90-day relief period to delay mortgage payments due to financial hardship. Amazon shut a NY warehouse for cleaning after a worker tested positive. 2,000 national guardsman have been deployed across the US. US to add 30-70 million barrels to strategic oil reserve. The US State Department issues a Level 4 travel advisory today applying to all international travel, instructing Americans abroad to either return home or to shelter in place. The US military is pausing troop movements into Afghanistan, which may cause extended deployments for those already in country. The US census bureau suspended field operations yesterday. TSA officers in Florida, NJ, and NYC have tested positive. Carnival cruise lines has offered its ships to the US as temporary hospitals. Spain adds another 3,308 cases to bring its total to 18,077. First coronavirus death in Northern Ireland. Russia and Mexico report their first deaths. Australia and New Zealand close their borders to foreign visitors. Italy adds more 5,322 new cases, bringing their total to 41,035 with 3,405 total fatalities – exceeding China’s total deaths.
Update 3/18/2020: Confirmed cases 218,723 with 8,943 fatalities. The US has 9,261 cases with 150 fatalities, adding over 2,700 cases. There are now cases in all 50 states. In this morning’s briefing, President Trump says that he will invoke the Defense Production Act to marshal the production/manufacture of needed supplies within the country. Locally, the Benton-Franklin Health District announced its first death from the virus. NY state says businesses must have more than 50% of workforce working outside of their home. The mayor of NYC claims that the military’s assistance is necessary to combat the virus in the city. Palm Springs, CA has issued a shelter in place order. All US automakers to close factories. Florida representative Mario Diaz-Balart is the first member of the US Congress to test positive. The NY Stock Exchange is temporarily closing the trading floor, and all transactions will take place electronically. JP Morgan is closing 1000 branches across the US. US suspending visa services in most countries. US Restaurant Association projects loss of five to seven million jobs over three months. The American Dental Association is recommended the postponement of all elective procedures. Germany has passed 10,000 cases. The US and Canada have mutually agreed to close the border to non-essential traffic. The UK reported 700 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing their total over 2,600. The UK has ordered all schools to close. Italy adds more than 4,200 new cases with over 35,000 total cases and may exceed China’s fatalities by tomorrow. Spain and Germany both add over 2,700 new cases. Iran and France add more than 1,200 new cases each.
Update 3/17/2020: Confirmed cases 198,164 with 7,965 fatalities. The US has 6,437 cases with 109 fatalities. Washington state has 1,012 cases and 52 fatalities. Locally, the Benton-Franklin Health Department has confirmed its first case, though at least one patient from out of the area has been previously hospitalized in the tri-cities. Yakima Health District has five cases. New York state’s unemployment website was unavailable after being swarmed with tens of thousands of unemployment seekers. Florida closing all bars and nightclubs for 30 days, but allowing restaurants to remain open. New York City says a shelter in place order is coming in the next 48 hours, but the mayor says that that is not a quarantine. The US is postponing the April 15 tax-payment deadline by 90 days. The US Navy is readying its two hospital ships to help with response. Amazon announces they are suspending shipment of all non-medical or household staples, or at least “temporarily prioritizing” them. Macy’s closes stores nationwide. The UK changes its approach from doing little in order to develop herd immunity to encouraging “extreme social distancing” after a study said hundred of thousands would die if they didn’t change. Italy is allowing 10,000 student doctors to graduate without final exams in order to cope with the pandemic. Italy adds another 3500 cases, passing 31,000 total cases and 345 deaths. Italy adds threat of 12 years imprisonment for violating quarantine if they are judged to be reckless. The EU has closed the external borders to non-EU citizens.
Update 3/16/2020: Confirmed cases 182,383 with 7,144 fatalities. The US has 4,599 cases with 86 fatalities. The US has added nearly a thousand new cases in the last 24 hours and 18 deaths. US Surgeon General Jerry Adams said that the country will likely need 6-8 weeks for the virus to run its course. The US Supreme Court is postponing oral arguments. Washington state has 769 cases with 42 fatalities. King County Washington’s Executive Director said late Sunday night that “it’s time, right now, for people to assume that they and everyone they meet is infected.” Pennsylvania is shutting down all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants at midnight; pharmacies, grocery stores and medical facilities may remain open. US airlines have asked the government for $50 billion in aid for passenger carriers and an additional $8 billion for cargo lines in addition to tens of billions in tax relief in order to make it through the year. Amtrak and US airports are also seeking aid. The number of infections outside of China is now greater than the number reported inside China. Italy has nearly 28,000 cases with 2158 fatalities, but the Lombardy region may be peaking. Canada has closed its borders to all non-citizens with the exception of US citizens.
Update 3/15/2020: Confirmed cases 169,612 with 6,518 fatalities. The US has 3,782 cases with 69 fatalities. WA Gov. announced that he will be signing an emergency proclamation to temporarily shut down bars and restaurants. Oregon state confirms its first fatality. The CDC is recommending in-person events with 50 or more people should be canceled in the next 8 weeks. Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have made plans to close all schools. California issues an executive order allowing the government to commandeer hotels/motels for COVID-19 patients. West Virginia is the only remaining state without a confirmed case. Sweden and the Netherlands have exceeded 1,000 cases. Belgium and Austria will probably exceed 1,000 tomorrow. Malaysia nearly doubled its cases overnight to 428. Iran has nearly 14,000 cases and Spain over 7,700 as both add over a thousand new cases. Italy jumps 3,500 cases to almost 25,000 with 1,809 fatalities.
Update 3/14/2020: Confirmed cases 156,730 with 5,839 fatalities. The US has 2,976 cases with 60 fatalities. The WA state dept of health has asked the federal government to help with a shortage of personal protective equipment, including gowns, gloves, face shields, surgical masks, and N95 masks. Mississippi declares a state of emergency. Italy now has over 21,000 cases and over 1,400 fatalities. The mayor of New York City says he hopes someone nationalizes or federalizes key factories and industries. France has closes all bars, cafes, discos, cinemas, and restaurants. Norway, the UK, and Switzerland have all passed 1,000 cases. Sweden and the Netherlands will probably exceed 1,000 tomorrow. Spain has banned people from leaving their homes except work, buying food and supplies, and going to a hospital.
Update 3/13/2020: Confirmed cases 145,640 with 5,436 fatalities. The US has 2,289 cases with 50 fatalities. President Trump declares a national emergency. Confirmed cases are now in 46 states. Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Maryland, and Ohio states have closed all schools. Washington state closes all K-12 schools from next week through April. WA state has 568 cases in 19 of 39 counties. In Washington state, EvergreenHealth in Kirkland is suspending elective surgeries to conserve resources, supplies, and free up staff. The hospital will continue surgery for people in critical condition. The Los Angeles and San Diego school districts are closed for two weeks. Louisiana has delayed its presidential primary. Texas declares a state of disaster. Maryland and Ohio have activated National Guard. Italy now has 17,660 cases with 1,266 fatalities. Italy is now reporting cases of people stuck at home with the corpses of family members for days, unable to get funeral homes to take the bodies. The USO is closing it’s airport centers in the US beginning today and evaluating whether to cancel or postpone entertainment tours. India announces its first coronavirus death. Spain declares state of emergency. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have closed their borders. Romania’s prime minister and his entire cabinet have been placed in quarantine. Germany is offering unlimited loans to businesses in order to get them through the pandemic. France has banned gatherings of over 100 people. 2020 Masters golf tournament has been postponed. Boston marathon postponed. Austria cancels flight to/from Spain, France and Italy.
Update 3/12/2020: Confirmed cases 134,768 with 4,983 fatalities. The US has 1,762 cases with 41 fatalities. Washington state has 457 cases with 31 fatalities. It is now in 15 of 39 counties in Washington after Yakima county confirmed its first two cases, and Columbia county confirmed its first case. Yakima county declares a state of emergency. Washington governor closes all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, public and private, K-12 to shut from March 17 through April 27. Carnival cruise lines has suspended cruise operations for sixty days. Businesses in Seattle continue to suffer impacts from the pandemic; chef Tom Douglas, owner of several Seattle restaurants, has suspended operations because of slow business. Seattle says they will run of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers if they don’t receive replenishment from the national stockpile soon. A staffer in Senator Maria Cantwell’s office has tested positive. As a result, all Capitol tours are suspended, as well as public access. California released a statement that said non-essential gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed and smaller events could only proceed if people distance themselves from each other by at least 6 feet. Oregon bans gatherings of 250 people or more statewide until April 8. Ohio is closing all K-12 schools for three weeks beginning on Monday. Maryland is also closing K-12 schools. The US State Department has issued a Level 3 Global Health Advisory advising citizens to reconsider travel abroad. Wall Street trading was paused by an automatic cutout when the S&P fell 7%. Miami Open tournament suspended. European soccer league postponing 2020 tournament. US professional soccer league is suspending play. The NHL has paused the season. Rumors that MLB will delay the start of the season. The NCAA cancels men’s and women’s tournaments after earlier saying they would be played without an audience. The Olympic torch was lit but with only 100 allowed spectators instead of the usual 12,000. India suspends all visas for a month. Italy now has over 15,000 cases and over 1,000 fatalities. Ireland announced that all schools, universities and other public facilities will be closed and teaching will be done online or remotely for the next two weeks. Norwegian Air has cut 4,000 flights and laid off half of its employees because of travel restrictions. France will close schools and universities beginning on Monday.
Update 3/11/2020: Confirmed cases 126,273 with 4,633 fatalities. The WHO declares a global pandemic. “We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The US has 1,322 cases with 38 fatalities. Trump considering national emergency declaration. The US has banned all travel from the EU; travel from UK still allowed. The Washington governor announces a ban this morning on gatherings and events of more than 250 people in the three counties of the Seattle metropolitan area – King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties – home to approximately 4 million people. King County officials go further and prohibit gathers of fewer than 250 people unless organizers can prove they have followed public health recommended steps. At least three restaurants in Seattle have permanently closed already because of coronavirus effects on customer attendance. All Seattle, Lake Washington and Bellevue schools will close for at least two weeks, beginning on Friday. The CDC has released a list of recommendations (pdf) for King, Pierce and Snohomish County residents for the next 30 days. San Francisco health officials ban gatherings exceeding 1,000 people. CDC Director says “the worst yet to come.” The deployment of the National Guard to New Rochelle, NY by Governor Cuomo continues to be confusing as he says, “We are not containing people,” Cuomo said. “We are containing facilities.” It is unclear where the facilities would go if not kept stationary in the one mile containment zone, nor how people are protected if infected people are not being contained. The NCAA basketball tournament will only have essential staff and limited family in attendance. The NBA has suspended the basketball season after tonight’s games. Washington, D.C. declares a state of emergency. Poland is closing all schools, universities, cinemas, theaters and museums for two weeks. Italy now has 12,462 cases with 827 fatalities. Italy is closing all stores in the country other than those that sell food and medicine. All restaurants and bars must close, too. Iran has 9,000 cases. Denmark is closing all schools and universities until further notice. There are coronavirus cases in 122 countries around the world.
Update 3/10/2020: Confirmed cases 119,179 with 4,295 fatalities. New Jersey declares state of emergency. The US has 978 cases with 30 fatalities. There are confirmed cases in 36 states plus the District of Columbia. In Washington state, ten of thirty-nine counties have confirmed cases, plus five additional cases with no location provided. WA governor says state is expanding benefits to cover workers who need to isolate, quarantine or are temporarily laid off. NY state deploys National Guard to create one-mile containment area in New Rochelle. Massachusets declares a state of emergency, and Boston cancelled the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The CDC Director tells Congress that “the US is beyond virus containment in some areas.” Italy now exceeds 10,000 cases with 631 fatalities. Italy announces that payments on mortgages will be suspended across the country. Italian lenders are offering debt moratoriums for small firms and households. Spain surges past France and Germany as it adds over 400 new cases today. Austria bans all travelers from Italy in spite of the EU Schengen Area open borders agreement. Denmark and Serbia have cancelled all inbound flights from Italy.
Update 3/9/2020: Confirmed cases 114,285 with 4,009 fatalities. The US has 624 cases with 26 fatalities. Iran joins South Korea with over 7,000 cases; Italy now has over 9,000. Spain joins Germany and France with over 1,000 cases. Amtrak suspends non-stop train service between NYC and Washington, D.C. US State Department warns Americans not to travel by cruise ship. The governor of Washington warns that he is weighing “mandatory measures.” The WHO in a press conference today says it is “starting to look like a pandemic” and also called it a “global epidemic.” Italy has quarantined the entire country, closing schools and universities until April 3rd; likewise, all sporting events have been cancelled, and people are only permitted to travel for work and emergencies.
Update 3/8/2020: Confirmed cases 109,838 with 3,805 fatalities. The US has 529 cases with 21 fatalities. There are now confirmed cases in 32 states. The Grand Princess cruise ship with 21 confirmed cases aboard will be allowed to dock in Oakland, and passengers will be taken to quarantine. Italy has quarantined 16 million people in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, and has surpassed South Korea (7,313) having 7,375 cases. France and Germany have each exceeded 1,000 cases.
Update 3/7/2020: Confirmed cases 104,102 with 3,526 fatalities. The US has 335 cases with 17 fatalities after two deaths were reported in Florida overnight. South Korea now has over 7,000 cases. Iran has 5,823 cases. A five story building used for quarantine in China has collapsed, trapping seventy.
Update 3/6/2020: Confirmed cases 102,224 with 3,495 fatalities. The US now has 321 confirmed cases and 15 deaths. The US now has cases in 22 states. The University of Washington has cancelled classes until the end of the winter quarter. On the Grand Princess cruise ship off the California coast, 19 crew and 2 passengers have tested positive for Covid-19. S Korea – 6,767. Iran – 4,747. Italy – 4,636. Germany and France are each over 650 cases. A cruise ship traveling the Nile River in Egypt has confirmed 12 cases. Switzerland has its first fatality from COVID-19. The UK has its first two fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Update 3/5/2020: Confirmed cases 96,946 with 3,310 fatalities. South Korea has over 6,000 cases. Iran has over 3,500 cases. Italy has over 3,000 cases. The US now has 163 cases with 11 fatalities as California reports its first death; the other 10 deaths have been in Washington. The Northshore School District in the greater Seattle metro area has closed for two weeks, affecting 33 schools and 23,000 students. Many of the schools already had direct or indirect exposure to COVID19, and there was already a 20% student absentee rate. The states of Tennessee, Nevada, and New Jersey report their first cases. New York City confirms its third and fourth cases. The California fatality was from a cruise ship passenger on the Grand Princess. The Grand Princess will not be allowed to dock until everyone aboard has been tested.
Update 3/3/2020: Confirmed cases 92,870 with 3,168 fatalities. The WHO today said that the global mortality rate for COVID19 is 3.4%, which is higher than the previously thought 2.3%. The US now has 9 fatalities, all in Washington state. Washington state has 27 cases total. Italy has over 2,500 confirmed cases today with 79 fatalities. Iran has 2,336 cases with 77 fatalities. South Korea has 5,186 cases.
Update 3/2/2020: Confirmed cases 90,932 with 3,119 fatalities. The US now has six fatalities, all in Washington state, and 103 cases total. The governor of Washington says not to be surprised if large public events start to be cancelled. South Korea has nearly 5,000 cases. Italy has nearly 2,000 cases. A patient in San Antonio, one of the evacuees, appeared to recover from the coronavirus illness and had been released from a health care facility after having tested negative twice in more than 24 hours was placed back into isolation, even after the CDC’s Dr. Anthony Fauci insisted that there was no evidence that people could be ‘reinfected’ after recovering from the virus.
Update 3/1/2020: Confirmed cases 88,591 with 3.050 fatalities. South Korea now has 3.736 cases. Italy has 1,701 cases. Iran has 978 cases. Two additional cases has been confirmed in Washington state at one long term care facility in Kirkland; 52 additional people at the facility are showing symptoms. Alameda County, CA declared a state of emergency after two medical workers tested positive. 124 additional health care workers in the county have been asked to self quarantine.
Update 2/29/2020: First US fatality in Washington state. Washington state declares a state of emergency.
Update 2/28/2020: Confirmed cases 84,188 with 2,876 fatalities. The CDC confirms three additional US cases, one of which is a second case of unknown origin. A sixth Diamond Princess cruise ship passenger has passed away. Mexico confirms first case. Nigeria confirms first case. South Korea cases increase to 2,337. Italy now has 888 cases, surpassing the Diamond Princess ship outbreak. The US has issued a travel advisory for Italy. Iran now has 388 cases. The WHO says the virus will soon be in all countries and raised the global alert from High to Very High. The WHO continues to say that they see no “community transmission” outside of China and so have no yet declared a pandemic. A dog in Hong Kong tests positive for coronavirus; two dogs in Japan have also tested positive. Health officials don’t know if the dog is actually infected or is carrying the virus because of environmental contamination.
Update 2/27/2020: Confirmed cases 83,105 with 2,858 fatalities. The US of case of unknown origin yesterday has been revealed to be in Solano County, CA (not Sonoma as earlier reported). The UC Davis Medical Center where that patient is being treated has sent some employees home to be monitored for symptoms as the infected patient was in the hospital for four days before being tested for coronavirus. The US now has 60 confirmed cases. New York has asked 700 people to self-isolate. Saudi Arabia has halted pilgrimages to Islam’s holy sites. China will extend school closures for another month. Australia has initiated its emergency response plan saying, “While the WHO is yet to declare the nature of the coronavirus and its move toward a pandemic phase, we believe that the risk of a global pandemic is very much upon us and as a result, as a government, we need to take steps to prepare.” South Korea has has 1,766 confirmed cases and yesterday exceeded China’s daily total of new cases for the first time. Japan closed all schools until the spring holidays in late March. Switzerland cancels the Engadin Ski Marathon, the country’s largest annual sporting event. The WHO says that it believes that Iran’s 10% fatality rate is due to undetected cases rather than a higher actual virulence. Italy now has 655 confirmed cases. Norway had its first case yesterday, and now adds three more today. Northern Ireland confirmed its first case. The Trump Administration announced that it plans to use Defense Production Act to force American companies to start manufacturing protective masks and other medical supplies. Germany announced it first case two days ago and now has 26 cases. France’s confirmed cases more than doubled today to 38. The Netherlands confirms its first case.
Update 2/26/2020: Confirmed cases 81,412 with 2,773 fatalities. France confirmed its second fatality from the virus. Italy reported its twelfth fatality. Hokkaido prefecture in Japan is temporarily closing schools as it tried to contain an outbreak. Nice, France has cancelled the last day of Carnaval celebrations. Iraq has closed schools and universities for ten days. Brazil confirms its first case. Greece confirmed its first case. North Macedonia confirms its first case. Norway confirms its first case. Pakistan reports its first two cases. Lebanon and Finland confirm second cases. Iran reports 19 new fatalities. Italy confirms twelfth fatality and 400 confirmed cases. The US has found six new cases among the passengers evacuated from Japan aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. 83 people are being monitored for the infection in Long Island’s Nassau County and another 8 under quarantine in Westchester county, NY. Orange County, CA declares a local health emergency. President Trump announces that VP Pence will lead the virus response as coronavirus czar. The CDC has confirmed the first US case of unknown origin in Northern California, but doesn’t reveal the exact location. Researchers have found that COVID-19 has an “HIV-like mutation” which makes it extremely infectious – up to 1,000 times more than the SARS virus. Chinese researcher Wang Chen, director of China’s Academy of Medical Sciences says that only 30 to 50 percent of infected patients test positive with the current diagnostic kits because COVID-19 is difficult to detect using nucleic acid testing.
Update 2/25/2020: Confirmed cases 80,598 with 2,712 fatalities. San Francisco has declared a state of emergency in order to prepare for the virus. The CDC says that a pandemic is not a question of “if” but “when” and also “circumstances suggest the virus will cause a pandemic.” Warnings of mask shortages in the US. The US Association of Public Health Laboratories says that that they still have no diagnostic or surveillance test outside of the CDC. Italy now has 322 confirmed cases with 10 fatalities. Germany confirms its first two cases. Austria places an Alpine hotel under lockdown after a receptionist contracted the virus. South Korea now has over 1,100 cases.
Update 2/24/2020: Confirmed cases 80,087 with 2,699 fatalities. Italy reports its seventh fatality and 219 confirmed cases. In Iran the official death toll is 12, but there have been reports from members of the government that it is actually as high as 50. The US has 53 confirmed cases.
Update 2/23/2020: Confirmed cases 79,744 with 2,629 fatalities. Italy reports a third fatality and over 100 confirmed cases. California has 8,000 people under “self-imposed quarantine” who have traveled to China but have no contacts with confirmed cases.
Update 2/22/2020: Confirmed cases 78,966 with 2,468 fatalities. South Korea is now reporting 556 confirmed cases. Italy has 76 confirmed cases and had a second fatality; Italy has declared a national emergency.
Update 2/21/2020: Confirmed cases 77,811 with 2,360 fatalities. There have been several reports now of cured patients in China having been reinfected with the virus. The director of the WHO says that the world is at a tipping point and time is running out to stop the virus before things get much worse, as infections in new countries continue to appear. Italy reports the country’s first COVID-19 fatality. In Italy’s Lombardy region, 50,000 in ten towns have been asked to self quarantine and public activities have been temporarily banned.
Update 2/20/2020: Confirmed cases 77,253 with 2,250 fatalities.
Update 2/19/2020: Confirmed cases 75,676 with 2,123 fatalities. A total of 621 people on the Diamond Princess have tested positive for coronavirus as Japan has started to release passengers from quarantine. A Japanese epidemiologist, Professor Kentaro Iwata, who spent a day on the ship described it as “completely inadequate in terms of controlling infections. There was not a single infection control professional on the ship, nor anyone professionally involved in infection prevention. The bureaucrats were in charge of everything.” In China, companies are telling workers that there is no money to pay them wages or that they shouldn’t have to pay full salaries to quarantined employees who don’t come to work.
Update 2/18/2020: Confirmed cases 75,198 with 2,009 fatalities. Japan has confirmed another 88 cases aboard the Diamond Princess, bringing the total of cruise infectees up to 542. The US state department and CDC have barred the US citizens who declined to board the evacuation flight from returning to the United States until next month. The original quarantine time is set to expire tomorrow. An analysis of over 44,000 laboratory confirmed cases of coronavirus has found the fatality rate to be 2.3%. Russia has banned all Chinese from entering the country. The UK-based Jaguar Land Rover factory will run out of Chinese parts in two weeks, which may halt production lines. Thousands of shipping containers of frozen meat imports are piling up in China’s ports as a lack of truck drivers and closed transportation network severely slow their dispersal. In Tokyo, Japan, several companies are asking tens of thousands of employees to work from home in order to avoid an outbreak in the populous city. World health officials fear that Japan may be on the cusp of a large outbreak.
Update 2/17/2020: Confirmed cases 73,258 with 1,868 fatalities. There are now 896 cases outside of China. The numbers outside of China are currently doubling every six days. Of the US citizens evacuated from the Diamond Princess in Japan, fourteen have now tested positive for coronavirus. There are now 454 confirmed cases from that cruise ship.
Update 2/16/2020: Confirmed cases 71,244 with 1,770 fatalities. 760 million people are under quarantine in China. The US has chartered two 747 airplanes in order to evacuate approximate 400 US citizens quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
Update 2/15/2020: Confirmed cases at 69,270 with 1,669 fatalities. Doctors working on the front lines of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak have told the Taiwan Times that it’s possible to become reinfected by the virus, leading to death from sudden heart failure in some cases. The cruise ship quarantined in Japan now has 355 confirmed cases.
Update 2/14/2020: Confirmed cases 67,100 with 1,526 fatalities. The numbers had come down a little from yesterday early in the day because of a reported counting error in China. Now the new numbers for today have been added. China has announced that everyone returning to Beijing from the LNY holidays will need to quarantine for 14 days. Japan has four new cases, including one man who had just returned to Japan from Hawaii. The cruise ship quarantined in Japan now has 218 confirmed cases. The US CDC director believes that we will get community-based transmission in the US. The CDC also announced that people experiencing flu-like symptoms in the US will be screened for the coronavirus. Egypt confirms their first coronavirus case; the first reported in Africa. A Chinese scientist at the South China University of Technology has written a paper which posits that “the killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan.” Wuhan has increased the severity of their quarantine measures; residents are now required to stay in their homes except to receive treatment or provide government sanctioned services. Chinese people frustrated with their government’s lack of transparency have taken to making jokes:
How many monkeys died?
26 caves collapsed.
How many monkeys died?
Only 5K trees ruined.
How many monkeys died?
All alive moneys transferred to safe places.
How many monkeys died?
Relatives of the dead monkeys are emotionally stable.
How many monkeys died?
We saved one today. https://t.co/KUh9O5IqiG— 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 14, 2020
Update 2/13/2020: Confirmed cases 65,246 with 1,487 fatalities. The CDC is preparing to announce the 15th US infection. The first fatality in Japan has occurred. Dr. Wang Guiqiang in Beijing says that it can take as little as two seconds to contract the virus in areas of high concentration. China’s National Health Commission authorizes war-time conditions on quarantine, supplies management, control and discipline. News reports that US administration sources suspect China of underreporting the number of cases by at least 100,000. An epidemiologist who advises the WHO said that the virus could infect two-thirds of the world population if it isn’t contained soon. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship has been quarantined in Sydney while a Singaporean passenger is tested for coronavirus. Norwegian cruise lines has denied that the person being tested has any coronavirus symptoms.
Update 2/12/2020: Confirmed cases 60,310 with 1,368 fatalities. Two days after returning to work, a Chinese business has quarantined 200+ employees after an employee was found with the virus. First case has been confirmed in London. It is the UK’s ninth case.
Update 2/11/2020: Confirmed cases 45.171 with 1115 fatalities. The Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan now has 174 confirmed cases.
Update 2/10/2020: Confirmed cases 43,101 with 1018 fatalities. President Xi warns China to be prepared for a long and grim battle with the virus. China’s National Health Commission has changed their definition of a “confirmed case” — a patient who tests positive by lab but shows no symptoms will no longer be counted as a confirmed case. This is contrary to the WHO definition of a confirmed case. The cruise ship quarantined in Japan now has had 136 confirmed cases of coronavirus – far more than any country outside of China. Some Chinese workers are returning to work today after the extended Lunar New Year holiday. Research firm Capital Economics says that the outbreak could cost the world $280 billion during the first quarter of 2020 based on projections for lowered GDP. In an interview, a Wuhan doctor relates his experiences saying that he saw a 4-5% fatality rate at least in the early cases and that the second week was when a patient would either start getting better or start getting much worse. There are reports that North Korea is concealing a large outbreak.
Update 2/9/2020: Confirmed cases at 40.553 with 910 fatalities. The WHO director-general warns, “There’ve been some concerning instances of onward nCoV spread from people with no travel history to CN. The detection of a small number of cases may indicate more widespread transmission in other countries; in short, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg.” Exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui claims that the death toll is closer to 50,000 with 1.5 million infected.
Update 2/8/2020: Confirmed cases at 37,207 with 809 fatalities.
Update 2/7/2020: Confirmed cases at 34,394 with 720 fatalities. The city of Guangzhou, population 15 million, has imposed a quarantine, making it 400 million people quarantined in China. A cruise ship has docked in New Jersey with twelve passengers who are Chinese nationals quarantined over coronavirus fears after exhibiting symptoms. Royal Caribbean Cruises has banned the boarding of any passengers who have traveled through China, Hong Kong or Macau within fifteen days, or any China, Hong Kong, or Macau passport holder regardless of prior travel history. The cruise ship quarantined off Japan now has a total of 61 confirmed cases. A team of German scientists have determined that the coronavirus can survive for up to nine days on a surface, making it much more hardy than the common flu. Hong Kong and Taiwan report panic buying of food and antiseptics.
Update 2/6/2020: Confirmed cases 30,829 with 635 fatalities. Scientists now report that the antibodies patients produce don’t necessarily last very long, meaning that you can potentially catch the coronavirus multiple times and also meaning that a vaccine may difficult to produce. Dubai confirms a coronavirus death, the third outside of China. More than 7,000 remain quarantined on the two cruise ships (Japan and Hong Kong) reported earlier. So far forty-two of the passengers on the ship in Japan are confirmed with coronavirus while eight former passengers of the Hong Kong ship have tested positive for the coronavirus. More are expected to be confirmed. Dali City in China is accused of stealing a shipment of facemasks that was intended for Chongqing as shortages continue. According to the NY Times, a senior Chinese official has ordered the authorities in the city of Wuhan to immediately round up all residents who have been infected with the coronavirus and place them in isolation, quarantine or designated hospitals. City investigators should go to each home to check the temperatures of every resident and interview infected patients’ close contacts. “Set up a 24-hour duty system. During these wartime conditions, there must be no deserters, or they will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame forever,” Ms. Sun Chunlan, vice premier for coronavirus response, said.
The Chinese doctor who tried to raise the alarm about the new coronavirus has died of the deadly virus.
Dr. Li, 34, was hospitalized on January 12 after contracting the virus from his patient. He was confirmed to have the coronavirus on February 1, and The World Health Organization has just confirmed his passing…
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did on #2019nCoV – @DrMikeRyan
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 6, 2020
Dr. Li Wenliang – who warned the public of a potential “SARS-like” disease in December 2019 – was questioned by local health authority, and warned:
“We solemnly warn you: If you keep being stubborn, with such impertinence, and continue this illegal activity, you will be brought to justice – is that understood?”
Dr, Li was later summoned by Wuhan police to sign a reprimand letter in which he was accused of “spreading rumors online” and “severely disrupting social order.”
Update 2/5/2020: Confirmed cases at 28,276 with 565 fatalities. A newborn in Wuhan tested positive for coronavirus; the first case of mother-to-child transmission. Hong Kong is testing 1800 cruise ship passengers and crew after reported fevers and other symptoms. Reports of pets in distress/starving in Wuhan after being left in homes while owners went on what was supposed to be brief holidays but who have been prevented from returning for ten days, now. The WHO reiterates that there are currently “no effective remedies” for coronavirus after stocks surge on reports that various companies are working on vaccines. Honk Kong closes crossings into mainland China.
Update 2/4/2020: Confirmed cases at 23,874 with 492 fatalities. The city of Wuhan is reportedly “effectively under martial law.” Japan confirmed 10 cases on board a cruise ship that had been quarantined.
Update 2/3/2020: Confirmed cases at 20,629 with 427 fatalities. There are over 171,000 cases under observation. The US currently has 11 confirmed cases plus 198 people quarantined at March Air Base after being evacuated from China. The CDC is preparing as if coronavirus were the next pandemic. Hong Kong confirms their first death due to coronavirus – the second outside of mainland China. Thousand of Hong Kong medical works went on strike, demanding that the border with China be closed.
Update 2/2/2020: Confirmed cases at 17,205 with 362 fatalities. Eastern port city Wenzhou (pop. 9 million) is the first city outside of the central province of Hubei to impose quarantine restrictions. As with Huanggang yesterday, one person per residence is allowed to leave the house every two days to shop for necessities. The US director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci said, “It’s very, very transmissible, and it almost certainly is going to be a pandemic. But will it be catastrophic? I don’t know.” Twenty French citizens evacuated from Wuhan are showing symptoms of coronavirus.
Update 2/1/2020: Confirmed cases at 14,550 with 304 fatalities. The city of Huanggang has banned residents from leaving their homes, in other words a home quarantine for everyone. One person per residence is allowed to leave every other day in order to shop for necessities. Huanggang is the first city to do this after Wuhan. Australia joined the US in temporarily blocking all foreigners who have recently visited China. China also confirmed a case of H5N1 bird flu in Hunan, prompting authorities to cull 17,828 chickens as a precaution. First fatality outside of China occurs in the Philippines.
Update 1/31/2020: Confirmed cases at 11,948 with
259 fatalities. India outlaws the shipping abroad of facemasks and other supplies to fight an epidemic. Russia announces first confirmed cases. A study in The Lancet claims that up to 75,000 might already be infected in the city of Wuhan. Iran cuts all flights to and from China. Some US airlines allowing pilots to decline flights to China. CDC officially quarantines 195 passengers, mostly Americans, who returned from Wuhan, China – first federal quarantine in fifty years. The United States declares a Public Health Emergency nationwide.
Update 1/30/2020: Confirmed cases at 9,821 and 213 fatalities. The number of suspected cases has risen to 15,238. On board an Italian cruise ship, 6,000 passengers have been quarantined after a passenger began showing signs of coronavirus (This turned out to be H1N2 virus). The UK and Hong Kong report shortages of facemasks. WHO says “whole world needs to be on alert now.” WHO declares a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Human to human transmission of the coronavirus in Chicago confirmed by the CDC. A doctor in France has been hospitalized after treating a coronavirus patient, suspected of having contracted coronavirus himself.
Update 1/29/2020: Confirmed cases at 7,811 and 170 fatalities. China’s National Health Office suspects another 12,167 cases. Lines for face masks more than a kilometer long in Changhua City. Most shops in Guangzhou are closed and public transit empty. WHO reconvenes emergency committee on the novel coronavirus to decide whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Update 1/28/2020: Confirmed cases now 6049 with 132 fatalities. North Korea and Mongolia have closed their borders with China. Travel much restricted between Hong Kong and mainland China. San Francisco activated their emergency operation center to prepare for coronavirus outbreak. Thai woman living in India may be first coronavirus death outside of China. CDC issues a level 3 warning to avoid all non-essential travel to China. UK Foreign Office warns Britons to avoid all non-essential travel to mainland China. Hong Kong researchers announce they have developed a vaccine which should be ready in about a year. Japan and Germany confirm that they each have a case of an infected citizen who did not travel to China but was exposed, in their own country, to infected persons through their work. The White House is considering suspending all flights between China and the US. The number of confirmed cases has now surpassed the total of the nine month, 2003 SARS outbreak.
Update 1/25/2020: Confirmed cases now 1400. Wuhan is attempting to build a new hospital in just six days. A doctor working with patients has died from the coronavirus. Many videos, unconfirmed, have shown up on social media showing bodies “piling up” in hallways in Wuhan hospitals.
Summarized at Zero Hedge on 1/24/2020:
Here’s a glimpse of new virus-related developments that occurred overnight.
- China announces another 15 deaths in Hubei province
- Total number of confirmed cases now 1,000+, 41 dead.
- China restricts travel for 46+ million people across 16 cities as the death toll surges.
- AFP reports that the virus has jumped to Europe, with three confirmed cases now in France.
- Two deaths have been reported outside Wuhan.
- Some residents displaying symptoms are being turned away from hospitals.
- Hospitals in Wuhan make urgent pleas for help and supplies.
- Beijing orders PLA medics to assist in Wuhan treating patients
- UK and US governments tell citizens to avoid outbreak zones.
- 63 suspected cases in US, Senator says 3 confirmed, with two reported so far in Illinois and California, and two suspected in Minnesota
South China Morning Post: Wuhan residents describe ‘doomsday’ scenes as patients overwhelm hospitals
Business Insider: Woman tracked down who gloated on social media about cheating airport detection while returning from Wuhan to France
Organic Prepper: It’s Not the Virus You Need to Worry About: It’s the System
Alt-Market: The Lies We Are Being Told About The Coronavirus
Lower Valley Assembly 