Coronavirus updates from March 16, 2020

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday night polls will be closed Tuesday to prevent in-person voting for the state's scheduled Democratic presidential primary. The governor made the announcement after a judge denied his request to postpone the primary.

"Health Director Dr. Amy Acton will order the polls closed as a health emergency," DeWine said in a statement. "While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State Frank LaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity."

Prior to the announcement, a judge on Monday evening denied the Ohio governor's request for a temporary restraining order to move the state's primary election from Tuesday to early June. Judge Richard Frye said postponing the primary would set a "terrible precedent."  

— Rebecca Kaplan, Eleanor Watson, Jason Silverstein 

Asian shares held steady on Tuesday as fears about the coronavirus pandemic caused U.S. public officials to implement more extreme social distancing restrictions, and indexes on Wall Street had their biggest one-day decline since 1987's Black Monday.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei was down nearly 80 points, or less than half a percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 150 points or 3%. China's Shanghai market was down slightly. The biggest loser was South Korea's Kospi, falling more than 2%.

U.S. stock futures suggest Wall Street indexes will sharply rebound on Tuesday, after plunging more than 12% on Monday. On Monday night, the House overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus spending measure, which seemed to have support from the White House.

Despite the hopes for a U.S. stimulus, economists were rapidly lowering their economic forecasts, as officials around the world imposed more social distancing measures. France announced that its citizens should stay at home except for essential trips for the next 15 days. In the U.S., San Francisco announced a similar measure that would last until April 7.

Influential economist Ian Shephardson of Pantheon Macroeconomics on Monday evening predicted economic activity would fall by 10% in the second quarter, chopping roughly $500 billion from the U.S. GDP. He said that there was likely more pain for investors to come. "Stocks likely haven't yet bottomed," Shephardson wrote in a note to clients on Monday evening.

More than 4,500 people have tested positive for the new COVID-19 disease in the U.S. and at least 88 have died.

Deaths per state:
Washington: 48
New York: 9
California: 9
Florida: 5
New Jersey: 3
Louisiana: 3
Virginia: 2
Nevada: 1
Kansas: 1
South Dakota: 1
Georgia: 1
Colorado: 1
Oregon: 1
Kentucky: 1
South Carolina: 1
Indiana: 1

Globally, more than 7,100 people have died, and more than 181,000 people have caught the virus worldwide.

New measures to seal off borders to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus have left cruise ships stranded in the Caribbean, South America and Europe, with local governments denying permission to disembark as more cases of infected passengers have come to light.
 
Two cruise ships have been turned away from several Caribbean ports, and at least one by Spain, after passengers fell ill with COVID-19. Two other vessels have rerouted to Miami after they were turned away from their home port in Puerto Rico even with no reports of infections. Authorities in Chile and Brazil, meanwhile, have also placed smaller ships on quarantine after reports of positive coronavirus tests.
 
The Cruise Lines Association said that about 40 ships and 90,000 passengers were at sea when President Trump announced a travel ban last week that affects the arrival of many foreigners into the U.S. 

—The Associated Press

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced a coordinated social life shutdown on Monday. More than 30 million people will be without access to theaters, and restaurants and bars will only be open for takeout and delivery. Watch Mola Lenghi's report on how the new rules are impacting residents. 

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act has been sent to the Senate for a vote. The move comes after the House voted by unanimous consent to pass the bill. 

While the bill was technically passed early Saturday morning by a vote of 363-40-1, some technical changes needed to be made to the bill.

The sticking point was that small businesses were concerned about provisions requiring them to offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave to their workers. They argued the tax relief wouldn't come quickly enough for them to make payroll — but President Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have since announced businesses could get the cash upfront.

As it stands, the legislation includes two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave. In addition, funding has been secured for SNAP, student meals and senior meals, as well as increased investment in Medicaid to help local and state governments.

It's not yet clear how much the bill will cost. 

—By Kimberly Brown

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" has suspended production until further notice, according to NBC News. The episode originally scheduled for March 28, which would have featured John Krasinski and Dua Lipa, will not air. 

"The safety of our employees continue to be our top priority," an NBCUniversal spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. "We will monitor the situation closely and make decisions about future shows on an ongoing basis as further information develops." 

French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered all citizens to stay home for at least 15 days, beginning at noon Tuesday. Only essential trips to buy food, medical supplies or to go to work if people cannot work from home will be allowed.
 
Macron again called on companies to do everything possible to have employees work from home. He also promised state help for workers temporarily unemployed and for businesses forced to close.
 
Interior minister Christophe Castaner later announced 100,000 police would be mobilized to enforce the regulations. He added that fines of up to 135 euros ($150) would be handed out to anyone flouting the restrictions.
 
Macron also announced that France will close its borders to non-EU citizens for 30 days.
 
France's health minister announced a new jump in cases Monday night: there are now more than 6,600 cases in France, with 148 dead, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Financial markets suffered losses of historic proportions Monday, with the Dow falling almost 3,000 points — the biggest one-day point drop of all time. The tumble comes as President Trump concedes the country "may be" headed for a recession, and as workers around the country fear they won't be able to pay their bills. Watch CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger's report below. 

The first patients were given shots in a clinical trial for a potential coronavirus vaccine in Seattle on Monday. Approximately two dozen potential vaccines are being developed around the world — including one at the National Institutes of Health, and another at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Medical Research. 

At Walter Reed, Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad is testing a potential vaccine that would block the virus from attaching itself to your lung. 

"If it can't get into your lung cells, it can't cause the disease," Modjarrad said. 

But the race to develop a vaccine will take at least 12 to 18 months — so Lieutenant Colonel Mara Kretschman-Dietrick is working on a cure. 

"What we're aiming to develop here is an antiviral treatment that will kill the virus and actually cure them of the disease so that they don't further spread it to the rest of the community," she said. 

Kretschman-Dietrick said an existing drug used against Ebola may work against the coronavirus, too. It hasn't yet been proven effective — but could be used as an emergency treatment. 

Kentucky became the third state to postpone its Democratic primaries in response to the coronavirus. 

So far, Louisiana, Georgia, and Kentucky have officially postponed the Democratic primaries, and the Ohio governor announced on Monday he has recommended its in-person primary voting move from Tuesday to June 2. 

Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear made the announcement at a press conference on Monday afternoon calling it a "necessary step." Originally, the state's primaries were scheduled for May 19.

"I hereby recommend that you declare by executive order that all Kentucky elections scheduled for May 19, 2020 - including the Democratic and Republican primary elections, special elections and local option elections - shall be delayed by thirty-five (35) days, and that such elections shall take place on June 23, 2020," wrote Adams. — Sarah Ewall-Wice and Eleanor Watson

Doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic are concerned about whether America's 6,000 hospitals will have enough beds and supplies to handle the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our hospitals are not prepared," said Bonnie Castillo, the executive director of National Nurses United.

To get through the outbreak, it's estimated that medical workers will need 3.5 billion N-95 medical masks. Currently, there's a national stockpile of only 12 million. And depending on the severity of the outbreak, 200,000 to 2.9 million intensive care beds could be needed — but right now, there are fewer than 65,000 of those beds in the country.

The shortages are already causing some to change the way they treat patients.

"I'm rapidly attempting to convert my practice from an in-house practice to answering patients' concerns on the phone," one doctor said.

In order to keep treating patients, doctors told CBS News it's critical that efforts to slow down the virus succeed. They said if people don't isolate now, hospitals in the country will be overwhelmed.

Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told CBS News that to beat the virus, "It's going to take every American to sacrifice for one another."

In her first interview since the outbreak began, Birx told "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell that "we can conquer this" if Americans follow the new CDC guidelines. 

"This is a roadmap to prevent your grandmother from having to be hospitalized," she said, warning that the U.S. could potentially face an outbreak like Italy's if the guidelines aren't followed. 

Birx also emphasized that millennials will play a key role in beating the virus — and that the new guidance to keep social gatherings to less than ten people was especially directed towards them. 

Restoration work on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has stopped because of fears for the safety of workers on the site. The spokesman for the cathedral confirmed to CBS News that it was impossible to guarantee that workers could stick to a new rule that people stay at least three feet away from each other because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Workers on the cathedral's roof often need to work in close proximity either because of the task or for their own safety. Workers, inspectors and visitors to the site have had to shower and then dress in protective gear before entering the site.

The showers are close together and cannot be moved three feet apart. The site has therefore been closed until further notice with only security guards on site and occasional checks of the stability of the building, which is still considered unstable.

The church was engulfed in a massive fire last April, which toppled the steeple and left gaping holes in the wooden roof.

The first Monday in May is regarded in the fashion world as one of the most important dates of the year — but this year, it will be just another Monday. The 2020 Met Gala, which was scheduled to take place May 4, has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Monday.

In complying with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the Met decided "all programs and events through May 15 will be canceled or postponed," according to a Met spokesperson. The decision comes after the museum announced last Thursday it would shutter its doors temporarily after two employees showed coronavirus symptoms.

The CDC recommended Sunday that gatherings of 50 or more people should be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks. At a Monday press conference, President Trump made that recommendation more stringent, saying groups of 10 or more people should not meet.

Amazon is looking to hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of online orders as the coronavirus spreads and keeps more people at home, shopping online.

The online retailer said it will also temporarily raise pay by $2 an hour through the end of April for hourly employees, who work at its warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores. Hourly workers in the United Kingdom and other European countries will get a similar raise.

"We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year," Dave Clark, who oversees Amazon's warehouse and delivery network, told The Associated Press.

Amazon said this weekend that a surge of orders is putting its operations under pressure. It warned shoppers that it could take longer than the usual two days to get packages. It also said it was sold out of many household cleaning supplies and is working to get more in stock.

The Seattle-based company said the openings are for a mix of full-time and part-time jobs and include roles such as delivery drivers and warehouse workers, who pack and ship orders for shoppers.

—The Associated Press

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham is working from home on Monday, she told CBS News. She said she's "feeling great and looking forward to returning to the White House."

The College Board announced Monday that it has canceled both the May SAT and makeup exams for the March 14 test. The exams were initially scheduled for May 2 and March 28, respectively.

The College Board cited "the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus" as the reason for the decision. It said registered students will receive refunds, and that it has not yet canceled the June 6 test.

"The College Board will provide future additional SAT testing opportunities for students as soon as feasible in place of canceled administrations," the organization wrote.

The College Board added that it is finalizing options for AP exams that could allow students to take the tests at home.

"We're working to give every AP student the opportunity to claim the college credit they've earned," College Board wrote, adding that the details of that plan will be available on March 20.

Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday announced the closing of all restaurants, clubs and bars in Washington, D.C., beginning at 10 p.m. Monday. Those businesses will now be pickup and delivery only. The new order will last until April 1. 

U.S. airlines are asking the federal government for grants, loans and tax relief that could easily top $50 billion to help them recover from a sharp downturn in travel due to the new coronavirus.

Airlines for America, the trade group representing the carriers, disclosed its request for financial help on Monday, just as more airlines around the world were announcing ever-deeper cuts in service and, in some cases, layoffs.

The trade group is asking for $29 billion in federal grants, with $25 billion for passenger airlines and $4 billion for cargo carriers. The airlines are also seeking up to $29 billion in low-interest loans or loan guarantees, and they want federal excise taxes on fuel, cargo and airline tickets to be suspended through the end of next year.

That package would easily surpass the $5 billion in grants and up to $10 billion in loan guarantees that Congress approved after the terror attacks of September 2001, which temporarily grounded all U.S. flights and led to a long slump in domestic travel.

— AP

Residents across six San Francisco Bay Area counties on Monday were ordered to "shelter in place" until early April.

The order applies to all residents in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco. The six counties are home to more than 6.7 million people. Napa, Solano and Sonoma were not included in the order, CBS San Francisco reported.

The order goes into effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. People were told to stay home and keep away from others as much as possible over the next three weeks.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he will close the country's borders to anyone who is not a citizen, an American or a permanent resident due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even those who are allowed into the country will have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. 

"Let me be clear: If you are abroad, now is the time to come home," the prime minister said. "If you've just arrived, you must self-isolate for 14 days." He also said those already in the country should stay home "as much as possible." He spoke outside his residence, where he is self-isolating after his wife tested positive for the virus.

Trudeau said the exemption for Americans, despite the rapid rise of cases in the U.S., was due to "the level of integration of our two economies." The U.S. accounts for 75% of the country's exports.

—The Associated Press

Financial markets in the U.S. plunged Monday amid mounting investor fears over the coronavirus pandemic and President Trump's assessment that country may enter a recession. The freeze came despite this weekend's emergency cut in interest rates to nearly zero by the Federal Reserve.

The Dow plummeted 2,997 points, or 12.9%, to 20,189. The broader S&P 500-stock index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq both fell around 12%.

Trading was halted briefly on Monday after stocks plunged sharply minutes into the session — the third trading halt this month as investors weigh the economic impact of the pandemic.

President Trump urged Americans on Monday to avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 people or more to slow the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. The White House issued new guidelines from the president that also call for Americans to avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants and food courts.

Instead, people were encouraged to use takeout or delivery options. A document titled "The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America" that was distributed to reporters in the White House briefing room said, "Even if you are young, or otherwise healthy, you are at risk and your activities can increase the risk for others. It is critical that you do your part to slow the spread of the coronavirus."

The guidelines also encouraged Americans to work or attend school from home whenever possible. People were also discouraged from visiting nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless they were providing critical assistance.
 
Seniors were urged to stay home.

Major League Baseball delayed the start of its regular season until May at the earliest. The league said in a statement Monday the move was made in accordance with new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.

Last week, the league canceled the rest of its spring training games and delayed opening day for at least two weeks from its original date of March 26. "MLB will keep fans updated on decisions regarding plans for the 2020 schedule in the days and weeks ahead," the league said. "The Clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins."

Actor Idris Elba, known for his roles in "The Wire" and "Luther," has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 47-year-old made the announcement Monday on Twitter.

"I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.  Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I'm doing ???? No panic."

NBC News announced Monday that a staffer on the "Today" show who worked in the network's headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test led to two of the show's stars, Al Roker and Craig Melvin, spending the day off air as a precaution.

"Last night we learned a colleague of ours on the third hour of 'Today' has tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus," anchor Savannah Guthrie said on the show Monday morning. She said Roker and Melvin took the morning off "out of an abundance of caution."

Guthrie and fellow anchor Hoda Kotb sat six feet apart from each other during Monday's broadcast, in compliance with social distancing recommendations.

NBC News president Noah Oppenheim said in a statement that the staffer, who has not been publicly identified, is experiencing "mild symptoms" and receiving medical care. NBC said other employees who were in close proximity to the staffer will be asked to self-isolate.

Federal authorities are investigating a possible cyberattack on Health and Human Services networks as the agency puts its energy into addressing the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, the National Security Council acknowledged a cyber incident and said HHS networks are operating normally now.

"We are aware of a cyber incident related to the Health and Human Services computer networks and the federal government is investigating this incident thoroughly," NSC spokesman John Ullyot said. "HHS and federal government cybersecurity professionals are continuously monitoring and taking appropriate actions to secure our federal networks. HHS and federal networks are functioning normally at this time."

It's not yet clear what the intent of the cyberattack was and what its effects were.

Sara Cook contributed to this report.

Luxury brands conglomerate LVMH, which owns high-end fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Fendi, will be repurposing its perfume production lines to start making hand sanitizer as a response to the coronavirus outbreak. LVMH says it wants to tackle a nationwide shortage of anti-viral products in France, BBC News reports.

The company announced Sunday it will produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gels and deliver them, free of charge, to health authorities. 

The White House has called off this year's Easter Egg Roll as public health officials across the country implement new measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The annual event, which takes place on the South Lawn, was scheduled to take place April 13, but was canceled "out of an abundance of caution," the White House said.

"The health and safety of all Americans must be the first priority, especially right now," first lady Melania Trump said in a statement. "I deeply regret this cancellation, but we need to make difficult decisions in the short-term to ensure a healthy country for the long-term."

The Supreme Court is postponing oral arguments scheduled for late March and early April in response to the coronavirus outbreak, marking the first time the high court has pushed back arguments since the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918.

The court announced in a statement Monday that it would be delaying arguments scheduled for its March session, during which the justices were set to hear disputes March 23 to March 25 and March 30 to April 1.

It's unclear when the oral arguments will take place, and the Supreme Court said it "will examine the options for rescheduling those cases in due course in light of the developing circumstances."

Cuba's Foreign Minister confirmed Monday that Havana has authorized a British cruise ship with a "small number" of coronavirus patients on board to dock.

Minister Bruno Rodríguez said in a tweet Cuba had agreed to let the MS Braemar, reportedly carrying more than 600 people, dock after receiving a request from the British government. He said passengers and crew would be received in accordance with sanitary protocols established by the WHO and Cuba's Health Ministry. 

A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office told CBS News on Monday that it was "working around the clock to arrange evacuation flights from Cuba to the U.K. as soon as possible for passengers" on the ship.

The Foreign Office said the evacuation was being coordinated with the ship's owner, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, and the British passengers were being kept informed "as the plans progress."

Michigan has become the latest state to order the closure of virtually all non-essential entertainment and recreation facilities in a bid to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Michigan's schools were already shuttered last week, through at least the first week of April.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the order Monday to temporarily close theaters, bars, and casinos, and limit restaurants to carry-out and delivery orders only.  

The order, which takes effect at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, covers restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas, and casinos, according to the governor's office.

Six CBS News employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, including foreign correspondent Seth Doane. Appearing Monday on "CBS This Morning" from his home in Rome, Italy, Doane described his symptoms, testing and coronavirus diagnosis, and his experience living under quarantine.

He said he got tested after he "coughed a little bit, just enough to worry the people I was with."

"For the most part, I feel okay," Doane said, adding that he has had colds with worse symptoms. 

"The psychological part for me has been worse than the physical part," Doane said. Watch the video above to see Doane's full report from Rome.

Parisians were fleeing the French capital in droves Monday amid fears that President Emmanuel Macron could announce a nationwide lockdown in the coming days. Macron was to address his nation later Monday.

Many Parisians with weekend homes in the countryside or family outside the capital started heading out when the government ordered all cafés, restaurants, cinemas and non-essential stores to close from Saturday.

Mainline rail links and airline services have been severely reduced, and people fear a total ban on free movement could be just around the corner. Commuter transport in and around Paris was running as normal early Monday, but with schools and universities closed and people being encouraged to work from home, the metro system in particular was emptier than usual.

Paris city hall announced that all city parks would be closed at least through Tuesday.

There were lines outside supermarkets and pharmacies, made longer by shoppers heeding the government's call to keep at least three feet between people in public. That call seemed to go largely unheeded in Paris on Sunday as thousands strolled in the sun, gathered on park benches, or picnicked by the Seine river, prompting criticism from health officials.

Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. said Monday that one of its doctors and a young patient had tested positive for the new coronavirus.

"Yesterday we informed our staff that one of our physicians tested positive for COVID-19," the hospital said in a statement, adding that "additional testing capabilities" at the renowned pediatric facility had yielded a positive test on a patient treated in its emergency department.

"The ED team followed all infection control protocols to protect other patients, families and staff and the child did not need to be admitted," the hospital said.

The hospital was working with government officials to trace people who had come into contact with both the doctor and the patient. It was not immediately clear whether the two had been in contact with each other.

As of Monday afternoon there were 4,838 reported cases of COVID-19 in Germany and 12 reported deaths. Bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theaters and other public venues were to be closed across much of the country from Tuesday as it tries to rein in the coronavirus outbreak there.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned German citizens to travel abroad only in emergency situations, noting: "There is a high risk that you will not be able to return given the travel restrictions being introduced in many countries."

Chancellor Angela Merkel told her country in a video message that people should avoid social contact as a gesture of solidarity with the elderly and others considered at high-risk of contracting the disease. 

Germany has closed its borders with Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France and Denmark to all but essential travelers and Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has promised Germany's military will lend its support in combating the spread of COVID-19 if called upon.

— Anna Noryskiewicz

Concern over anticipated shortages of food and other supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic is driving people to supermarkets and big-box stores. But one expert says people shouldn't worry and that shelves will be restocked.

Shelves were picked to the bone at a Walmart in Washington state, over-the-counter medicines were bought out from a Target in Virginia and long lines and bare shelves were seen at a Whole Foods in New York City, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports.

"Panic mode, people are terrified and they're unsure of what to do, and there's no sign of it getting better," one customer said. 

But Doug Baker, a vice president at the Food Industry Association, said the shortages are simply because of unexpected demand.

"There is no chance that they will not be able to fill," he said. "There could be periodic shortages, and there might be times where consumers might not be able to get it for a couple of days, but supply is flowing, machines are running and the product will make it's way back to the shelf."

Stock trading was halted on Monday after the Federal Reserve's emergency action to slash its benchmark interest rate to nearly zero failed to quell Wall Street's fears of a recession that could emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. Across the country, states and cities are closing schools, bars and restaurants in an effort to slow the disease but which leaves millions of Americans vulnerable to income losses. 

The Dow plunged 2,250 points, or 9.7%, to 20,935 when trading opened at 9:30 a.m. The broad-based S&P 500 slumped 8.1% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 6.1%. 

The steep plunge in the S&P 500 triggered a "circuit breaker" that halt trading when stocks decline by 7%, 13% or 20% in a single trading session. It's the third trading halt since last Monday. The measures were first adopted after the 1987 crash, and until this week hadn't been tripped since 1997. 

Two more major European airlines announced broad cuts to flight schedules Monday as the coronavirus pandemic takes an increasingly devastating toll on the aviation industry. President Trump's move over the weekend to extend a U.S. entry ban on travelers with recent time spent most European nations to cover the U.K. has further sapped already meagre demand for transatlantic travel.  

Britain's Virgin Atlantic said Monday that it would ground 75% of its entire fleet within 10 days and as much as 85% of its planes during April.  Virgin said it would also ask employees to take eight weeks of leave without pay over the next several months to try to avoid having to lay people off.

At Norwegian Air, the cuts were even deeper. The carrier slashed 85% of its flights and said it would temporarily lay off 7,300 staff.

Major U.S. airlines have also announced significant reductions in flight schedules.

Jack Ma, founder of the Chinese tech giant Alibaba, says his foundation is donating 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits and 1 million protective face masks to the U.S. He said in a tweet Monday that the first shipment was already on its way from Shanghai. 

"Drawing from my own country's experience, speedy and accurate testing and adequate personal protective equipment for medical professionals are most effective in prevent the spread of the virus," Ma said in a statement posted online Friday. "At this moment, we can't beat this virus unless we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons."

His donation comes as health workers across the U.S. continue to report difficulties getting hold of the COVID-19 tests they need, and as many voice concerns over new guidelines from the CDC on what type of protective masks should be worn.

Amid a shortage of the N95-type masks known to shield against the virus, the CDC has lowered the standard for clinicians, suggesting normal surgical masks can be worn instead.

"This will become a tragedy, lots of nurses and doctors will die, and make this country look incompetent," one U.S. doctor told CBS News in an email.

Thirty-three states are closing public schools to stop the spread of the coronavirus, affecting at least 32.5 million K-12 students.

New York City's school system, the largest in the nation, was closed from Monday. The sudden closures are forcing parents and guardians to find child care at a moment's notice.

The closures come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says closing for at least eight weeks may help mitigate the virus' spread.

As CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver reports, the closures are forcing parents to grasp not only for childcare, but in some cases also just to keep their children fed.

Spain has become the fourth most virus-infected country in the world, surpassing South Korea with a sharp curve of contagion, and closing its borders is a "real possibility" being considered.

The topic will be discussed by European Union members on Monday, according to the country's interior minister.

Coronavirus cases in Spain rose by roughly 1,000 cases in 24 hours to 8,744 on Monday, and the number of fatalities reached 297. 

Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska said a total lockdown could be the next step, after deploying the army to the streets and to clean train stations, ordering 46 million to stay at home and taking over control of private hospitals.

CBS News' Imtiaz Tayab reports that Spain, France and Italy all saw their highest single-day death rates from the virus on Sunday. In Italy the jump came in spite of a whole-country lockdown. 

-CBS/AP

A man who became aggravated on an American Airlines flight and shouted about having the coronavirus disease delayed the Dallas to Nashville journey for everyone on board by eight hours.

The customer reportedly refused to stow his tray table as the plane was taxiing to the runway in Dallas, arguing with crew members and yelling "corona" and saying he had the virus. That led the pilots to return to the gate at Dallas Fort Worth, where the entire plane full of crew and passengers had to wait for crews in protective gear to board and remove the man.

Medical workers evaluated the man and determined he was exhibiting no signs of the COVID-19 disease and did not have a fever. He apparently told officials he was just tired and needed to take his medication. He was arrested by law enforcement.

An official then re-boarded the plane and explained to the other passengers the circumstances before the flight was allowed to carry on, but some crew members were apparently uncomfortable remaining on the aircraft. Those staffing issues contributed to what ended up being an eight-hour delayed arrival in Nashville.

A second British lawmaker confirmed she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Member of Parliament Kate Osborne said she was diagnosed with the disease after already self-isolating.

"I will continue to self isolate until I have fought off the illness, but in the meantime I would encourage everyone to band together and support the most vulnerable in our communities," she said in a tweet.

Osborne's diagnosis came after another MP, Health Minister Nadine Dorries, confirmed her positive COVID-19 test result last week. A number of lawmakers have self-isolated after coming into contact with her.

Britain has reported 1,372 confirmed cases of COVID-19, though officials believe the number of infected people in the country could be much higher. As of Monday, 35 people have died of the disease in the U.K.

The National Security Council has denied rumors spreading via text messages and social media that the entire country might be put under a mandatory two-week quarantine.

A tweet send Sunday evening by the NSC said the "rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown."

The NSC urged Americans to get the latest official guidance on the coronavirus from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, which has not even recommended wide-scale local quarantines. It has urged all gatherings of more than 50 people be cancelled or postponed. 

The CDC has recommended that gatherings of 50 people or more in the U.S. be canceled or postponed over the next eight weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing," the CDC's statement reads. "When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual."

The CDC added that its advisory does not apply to places of business and schools, but many of those have been closed across the country, too.

While most American professional sports leagues had already suspended play for the time being, the CDC's recommendations will likely further delay play. 

-CBS/AP

Global stock markets were falling fast after the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate to near zero Sunday evening to help blunt the economic damage from the fast-spreading novel coronavirus. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell called the actions "strong measures" but the emergency rate cut — the second in two weeks and an unusually large one-percentage-point cut, at that — seemed to unnerve investors.

Stock-market futures indicated the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 would be sharply lower when stocks begin trading in the U.S. on Monday morning. Those futures began dropping almost immediately after the Fed announced the rate cut on Sunday. The central bank also said it was upping what's known as purchases of Treasuries and other bonds by $700 billion, a policy known as "quantitative easing," to encourage lending by financial institutions. 

"The Fed's latest move does not change our expectation that the economy will slow dramatically in the near term," Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist with High Frequency Economics, told investors in a report after the Fed's rate cut.

The Peace Corps is telling its volunteers around the world that it's suspending all operations globally and evacuating all volunteers in light of the spread of the new coronavirus.

In an open letter to volunteers posted Sunday on its website, the federal agency's director, Jody Olsen, says the decision follows recent evacuations in China and Mongolia due to the outbreak. Olsen says that with evacuations now underway at other posts and travel becoming more challenging by the day, the agency decided to expand the suspension and evacuations.

"As COVID-19 continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day, we are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where Volunteers are unable to leave their host countries," Olsen says.

- Associated Press

The White House has put in place new measures to protect President Donald Trump and his staff during the coronavirus outbreak. Starting Monday, the White House will take the temperature of anyone entering the complex, from visitors to members of the press corps.

The new measures expand on screenings the White House began Saturday for anyone who will get close to Mr. Trump or Vice President Mike Pence. 

-Associated Press

Los Angeles has joined the growing list of major U.S. cities to order the closure of bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues and other non-essential businesses in a bid to stem the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced late Sunday that, as in New York City and Chicago, grocery stores would remain open and restaurants could continue to sell food for takeout and delivery.

The closures in Chicago were part of state-wide measures in Illinois, which have also been implemented in Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington state.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that all schools in New York City's public school system, the country's largest, would be closed starting this week. The city's mayor, Bill de Blasio, said they would reopen April 20 at the earliest. 

-CBS/AP

Thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and packs of antibacterial wipes and medical masks have been donated after a failed attempt by two Tennessee brothers to resell them for huge profits profit during the coronavirus outbreak.

Boxes were taken Sunday from a storage unit and the home of Matt Colvin of Hixson, Tennessee, news outlets reported. The items, including 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer, were donated to a local church and some supplies will head to Kentucky, where Colvin had cleared store shelves.

Colvin and his brother, Noah Colvin, had cleared store shelves of the items before online retailer Amazon stopped their sales and the state attorney general sent a cease-and-desist letter.

The purchases were first featured in a story in a story in The New York Times that reported the brothers drove to stores scooping up supplies around Chattanooga, Tennessee, on March 1, the day after the first U.S. coronavirus death was announced. 

- The Associated Press

Senator Lindsey Graham announced Sunday on Twitter his test for coronavirus came back negative. 

"I'm very grateful and like everyone else will follow the best practices to stay negative," the senator added.

Both Oklahoma and Maine declared states of emergency Sunday amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Oklahoma reported its eighth confirmed case of the coronavirus, according to a statement from Governor Kevin Stitt. 

Maine Governor Janet Mills advised in a press conference Sunday that all hospitals should halt elective surgeries, according to CBS affiliate WABI. Mills also recommended closing all schools in the state.

Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International said Sunday they are temporarily closing their casinos in Las Vegas.

Wynn operates the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, and expects the closure to last at least two weeks beginning Tuesday. It said it would pay full-time workers during that time.

MGM runs several casinos, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and Mirage, and said it would suspend operations "until further notice."

"Despite our commitment to dedicating additional resources for cleaning and promoting good health, while making difficult decisions to close certain aspects of our operations, it is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression," said MGM CEO  Jim Murren. "Accordingly, we will close all of our Las Vegas properties as of Tuesday, March 17th, for the good of our employees, guests and communities."