USA Today - 18.03.2020

NEWS USA TODAY ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 ❚ 5D

News from across the USA

ALABAMABirmingham: Public
health officials in the state’s largest
county ordered restaurants to switch
to takeout service only and ordered
child care centers closed and nursing
home visits restricted. Seventeen of
the 29 confirmed virus cases in Ala-
bama were in Jefferson County.

ALASKAJuneau: The mayor signed
an order closing gyms and entertain-
ment venues and barring restaurants,
bars and other establishments from
offering dine-in service through the
rest of March. Gov. Mike Dunleavy
said he has not yet felt the need to
enact such restrictions statewide.

ARIZONAPhoenix: Attorneys repre-
senting the 34,000 inmates in Arizo-
na’s prisons asked a judge Monday to
order the state to develop an ade-
quate plan for confronting coronavi-
rus behind bars, arguing housing
conditions and a lack of preparation
put the lives of older prisoners with
chronic illnesses at risk.

ARKANSASLittle Rock: The city is
imposing more restrictions, including
a curfew, as the number of infections
in the state continues to rise. The
state Department of Health an-
nounced the number of coronavirus
cases had risen by six to 22.

COLORADODenver: The state’s
12,000 bars and restaurants are lim-
ited to takeout and delivery orders
under a ban on gatherings of 50 peo-
ple as the state expands testing to try
to brake the spread of the coronavi-
rus, Gov. Jared Polis said Monday.
Polis also announced the closure of
all theaters, gyms and casinos until
further notice. At least 160 people
had tested positive as of Monday, and
20 were hospitalized, Polis said.

CONNECTICUTHartford: About 200
employees of a health care system
are staying home because they may
have come into contact with the coro-
navirus, according to Gov. Ned La-
mont. He said the workers are with
Nuvance Health, whose system in-
cludes Danbury Hospital, where the
first Connecticut resident who tested
positive for COVID-19 was treated.

DELAWARESmyrna: Gov. John Car-
ney has directed restaurants and bars
to restrict their operations to takeout,
drive-thru and delivery services.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAWashing-
ton: Mayor Muriel Bowser has or-
dered bars and some restaurants
closed, WUSA-TV reports. Drive-
thru, carryout, takeout and food de-
livery remain available.

FLORIDAFort Lauderdale: Gov. Ron
DeSantis ordered all bars and night-
clubs closed for 30 days starting at
5 p.m. Tuesday, upending St. Pat-
rick’s Day revelries as the state acts
more aggressively to contain a new
strain of coronavirus that has in-
fected more than 170 people in Flori-
da, killing five.

GEORGIAAtlanta: Gov. Brian Kemp
on Monday ordered public schools
and colleges closed from Wednesday
until at least March 31, after law-
makers ratified his weekend emer-
gency declaration to fight the virus.

HAWAIIHonolulu: State lawmakers
on Monday voted to indefinitely sus-
pend the current legislative session
to prevent the spread of the new
coronavirus. The announcement
came as Honolulu reported Hawaii’s
first case of an individual testing
positive for the disease without hav-
ing traveled out of state.

IDAHOBoise: State health officials
say two more people have tested
positive for COVID-19, bringing the
total number of Idaho residents
known to be infected with the coro-
navirus to seven.

ILLINOISChicago: Election workers
were delivering hand sanitizer at
polling places Tuesday as the state’s
presidential primary got underway
amid a global pandemic. State offi-
cials declined to postpone the elec-
tion despite concerns about low turn-
out during the COVID-19 outbreak.

INDIANAIndianapolis: A second
person has died in a coronavirus-
related death, state health officials
announced Tuesday.

IOWADes Moines: Gov. Kim Rey-
nolds on Tuesday ordered restau-
rants, bars, fitness centers, theaters
and casinos to close for two weeks as
part of a public health emergency
plan to reduce the community spread
of coronavirus. Reynolds’ proclama-
tion prohibits social, community,
spiritual, religious, recreational, lei-
sure and sporting gatherings.

KANSASTopeka: The state has at

least 14 confirmed cases of the coro-

navirus. After a Kansas House panel

approved a bill to give laid-off work-

ers another 10 weeks of unemploy-

ment benefits, the chamber can-

celed all its remaining committee

meetings until further notice.

KENTUCKYLouisville: The Ken-

tucky Derby was postponed until

September on Tuesday, the latest

rite of spring in sports to be struck

by the virus. The Derby, America’s

longest continuously held sports

event, had been set for May 2.

LOUISIANANew Orleans: A dozen

residents of a retirement home are

infected by coronavirus, which has

proven more lethal for older people

than other age groups, the governor

said. Dr. Jennifer Avegno, leader of

the city health department, stressed

that the virus was spreading much

faster in New Orleans than in other

U.S. cities. “This is a rapidly chang-

ing situation,” she said. “There is

substantial community spread.”

MAINEAugusta: More than 30 peo-

ple have tested positive for the coro-

navirus across seven counties in the

state, officials said Tuesday.

MARYLANDAnnapolis: Gov. Larry

Hogan postponed the state’s

April 28 primary to June 2 on Tues-

day, but the state is moving forward

with a vote-by-mail special general

election April 28 to fill the congres-

sional seat that was left vacant by

the death of Elijah Cummings. The

Republican governor said his two

main priorities are keeping Mary-

landers safe and protecting their

constitutional right to vote.

MASSACHUSETTSBoston: Biogen

Inc., the Massachusetts biotech

company linked to a cluster of

COVID-19 cases stemming from a

meeting last month at a Boston

hotel, is donating $10 million to fight

the pandemic.

MICHIGANDetroit: Bus riders in the

city suddenly were stranded Tues-

day after most drivers didn’t report

to work, apparently concerned

about the spread of the coronavirus

and whether Michigan’s new re-

strictions on gatherings include

vehicles loaded with commuters.

The city said it reached an agree-

ment with unions to address anxi-

eties and restore service.

MINNESOTASt. Paul: The state

House passed a bill early Tuesday

that provides $200 million to com-

bat the coronavirus pandemic in

this state where the number of

cases has grown to 54.

MISSISSIPPIJackson: Legislators

said Tuesday that they will suspend

their session until at least April 1

because of the coronavirus pan-

demic, in accordance with a recom-

mendation from the state health

officer. Mississippi reported 21 con-

firmed cases of the virus as of Tues-

day, up from 12 on Monday.

MISSOURILee’s Summit: A clinical

lab in the state says it has devel-

oped a test for the novel coronavirus

that is more than 99% accurate.

KCUR reports Viracor Eurofins

claims it is capable of performing

more than 1,000 tests per day and

returning results the same day.

MONTANAHelena: The Irish flag

flew over the Capitol on Tuesday,

keeping alive one St. Patrick’s Day

tradition even as celebrations and

parades were canceled across the

state. With ample space between

them, a nod to the precautions be-

ing taken to curb the virus’s spread,

Gov. Steve Bullock and Lewis and

Clark County Commissioner Jim

McCormick read proclamations on

the Capitol steps in Helena before

raising the Irish flag.

NEBRASKAOmaha: Eight state

residents who were on a cruise ship

forced to idle off the California coast

because of COVID-19 cases aboard

have returned to Nebraska and will

isolate themselves for 14 days, offi-

cials said.

NEVADAReno: All bars, nightclubs,

restaurants and gyms will close in

the city by 5 p.m. Friday, Mayor

Hillary Schieve announced. Officials

for the neighboring city of Sparks

and surrounding Washoe County

said Tuesday they have no immedi-

ate plans to follow Reno’s lead. The

mayor of Las Vegas said a manda-

tory closure of bars and restaurants

there would be devastating.

NEW HAMPSHIREConcord: State

residents unable to work or those

facing reduced hours because of the

coronavirus pandemic will have

access to immediate unemployment

benefits, as well as temporary pro-

tection from losing their homes or

having their utilities shut off, after

Gov. Chris Sununu issued several

executive orders Tuesday.

NEW JERSEYTrenton: A third per-

son in the state died from COVID-19

on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy said,

while casinos, gyms and theaters

weathered their first night of an

indefinite shutdown. “I’m reminded

of Sheriff Brody in ‘Jaws,’ ” he said.

“When he finally had a good look at

the shark, he turned around and

said, ‘We’re going to need a bigger

boat.’ And what you’re hearing from

us today is a bigger boat. We have

seen the enemy, and we do not want

to be dragged by the enemy.”

NEW MEXICOAlbuquerque: Two

more people in the state have tested

positive for the coronavirus, health

officials said Tuesday, bringing the

total number of cases to 23.

NEW YORKNew York: The city

ground to a halt Tuesday, the first

full day without restaurants except

for takeout orders amid the growing

coronavirus crisis. State officials

scrambled to bring more hospital

beds online as the number of con-

firmed cases in the state rose above

1,300. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at

the current rate of spread, the state

would need 55,000 to 110,000 hos-

pital beds – it only has 53,000 now

• and 18,600 to 37,200 ICU beds.

NORTH CAROLINARaleigh: Gov.

Roy Cooper is ordering all restau-

rants and bars be closed to dine-in

patrons as movement restrictions

keep getting ratcheted up.

NORTH DAKOTAFargo: Cass Coun-

ty is planning to reduce the number

of inmates in its jail to deal with a

possible coronavirus outbreak. Jail

administrator Andy Frobig says

reducing the population will allow

single bunks for every inmate.

OHIOColumbus: Drive-up testing

offered by hospitals was available

Tuesday in Cincinnati, Cleveland and

Dayton, among other cities. Ohio

State University and Capital Univer-

sity in Columbus, Youngstown State

University, and the University of

Findlay were among those announc-

ing the cancellation of May com-

mencement ceremonies.

OKLAHOMANorman: Bars, some

restaurants and other businesses in

Tulsa and Norman are being closed

by mayors in an effort to slow the

spread of the coronavirus.

OREGONPortland: Authorities in

Multnomah County – home to Port-

land – announced Tuesday that they

will be opening hundreds of new

shelter beds in public buildings to try

to stem the virus’s spread in the

homeless community. The most vul-

nerable homeless residents have

been given vouchers for hotel and

motel rooms, and those businesses

will not be allowed to kick them out

or turn people away, officials said.

PENNSYLVANIAHarrisburg: The

state’s Department of Health is work-

ing on a plan to open public testing

sites for the coronavirus, as Penn-

sylvania’s health systems and hospi-

tals increasingly operate their own

sample-taking sites or testing labs.

RHODE ISLANDProvidence:Two

charitable organizations teamed up

Tuesday to help support nonprofits

serving vulnerable populations af-

fected by the pandemic. The Rhode

Island Foundation and United Way of

Rhode Island jointly established the

COVID-19 Response Fund, quickly

raising $1.5 million from individual

and corporate donors.

SOUTH CAROLINAColumbia: State

senators are set to approve $45 mil-

lion in emergency funding to fight the

coronavirus and will debate whether

to go ahead and pass a plan to keep

government operating if they can’t

meet enough to approve a budget.

SOUTH DAKOTASioux Falls: One

more person has tested positive for

COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to

11, officials said Tuesday. Sioux Falls

also is setting up a fund to help peo-

ple financially affected by the out-

break. So far, businesses and non-

profits have donated $700,000.

TENNESSEENashville: State law-

makers acknowledged they were

shirking federal health recommenda-

tions by sitting in close quarters as

they conducted business Tuesday.

They also drew questions about

whether they were staying focused

on only the most necessary legisla-

tion, as promised, during their sprint

toward a recess by the week’s end.

TEXASAustin: The city on Tuesday

joined other major counterparts

across the state in closing bars and

restaurant dining rooms.

UTAHSalt Lake City: The state’s two

largest hospital systems have delayed

elective surgeries and other non-

urgent medical procedures to save

space and equipment for future pa-

tients with the new coronavirus.

VERMONTBennington: The first

Vermont patient with a confirmed

case of COVID-19 has improved to

stable at the hospital where he is

being treated, officials said.

VIRGINIARichmond: Restaurants,

gyms and theaters will not serve

more than 10 customers at a time

under an order from the governor.

WASHINGTONSeattle: The death toll

from the coronavirus in the state

reached 50 on Tuesday morning

when Clark County health officials

announced their first fatal cases, a

husband and wife in their 80s.

WEST VIRGINIACharleston: Gov. Jim

Justice declared a state of emergen-

cy, even as West Virginia remains the

last state in the U.S. without a con-

firmed coronavirus case. He said he

wants to be on the “safe side,” citing a

high elderly population and people

with existing health problems.

WISCONSINMadison: Gov. Tony

Evers ordered a statewide ban on all

gatherings of more than 10 people as

of 5 p.m. Tuesday and closed all bars

and restaurants, except for delivery

and pickup orders.

WYOMINGCheyenne: Testing has

revealed the coronavirus in seven

more people in the state, all of them

tied to an assisted living center resi-

dent who tested positive previously.

From USA TODAY Network and

wire reports

HIGHLIGHT: CALIFORNIA

Shelves are picked bare at a grocery store in Burbank, Calif., on Saturday.AP

Encinitas: Disturbed by empty store shelves and reports of hoarding, a man

stood on a Southern California street corner and held up a homemade cardboard

sign with a simple request: “Share your toilet paper.” Jonny Blue told the San

Diego Union-Tribune the response to his impromptu toilet paper exchange in

Encinitas was immediate and positive. Drivers honked horns in support and

stopped to drop off rolls of toilet paper. Just as quickly, Blue would hand rolls to

those in need. Blue, a physical therapist, said he planned to head out to the cor-

ner again to “encourage people to be better” amid the global pandemic.