Columbiana

Coronavirus live updates: US death toll crosses 2,000; Trump won't use enforceable quarantine in NY, NJ

The U.S. surpassed 121,000 diagnosed coronavirus cases Saturday, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. After threatening it earlier in the day, President Donald Trump now says he will not be using an enforceable quarantine in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Mexico's President says will comply with public vote to halt brewery project

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Saturday said his government will comply with a public consultation to halt the construction of U.S. brewer Constellation Brands Inc's more than $1 billion brewery project in the border city of Mexicali. "The citizens of Mexicali decided and we will comply with their will," Lopez Obrador said.

Clothing rental service Rent the Runway lays off workers amid coronavirus outbreak

"Like many businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rent the Runway has had to make some difficult decisions in the short term to thrive in the long term which include temporary store closures and retail role eliminations," a company spokeswoman said in an emailed statement on Saturday. "We are striving to make this transition as seamless as possible for our employees, from compensation to continuation of health insurance coverage," it said, adding that it did not know for how long its business would be impacted.

Australia government says growth rate of coronavirus infection slows

Australia's health minister said on Sunday there were "early, positive signs" of a slowdown in the growth rate in new coronavirus infections in the country, with the growth rate approximately halving over the past week. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the slower growth in new inflections showed social distancing measures were working. "This time last week the rate of increase on cases was up around 25% to 30% a day," Morrison told a press conference.

Pence says virus taskforce soon to deliver recommendation on whether to re-open economy

Pence told the Fox News Channel that the taskforce he heads would base its decision on data and scientific advice. "Ultimately the president will make a decision that he believes in the best interest of the American people," he said.

Man coughed on customers in NC Walmart and claimed he had COVID-19, police say

Nursing staff at the Gaston County Jail found the man had no COVID-19 symptoms.

Ackman says Pershing Square no longer has hedges on stocks

Pershing Square earned roughly $2.6 billion by hedging its stock portfolio in early March through credit protection on investment grade and high yield credit indices. "Today, we are unhedged, and we no longer own any insurance", Ackman said in a Twitter thread https://bit.ly/2xsAEFA, adding that he continues to believe the sooner the entire United States is shut down, the more lives will be saved and the sooner the economy will recover.

Website allows people to report coronavirus symptoms, track spread

As health experts and public officials have warned that confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus are likely nowhere near the actual number of people infected, medical professionals in Boston have created a website to help close the gap. Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children's Hospital who helped develop the website, said that with more data it would be easier to identify emerging hotspots. "It's so important to understand the mild illness," said Brownstein, an ABC News Medical Unit contributor.

Brazilian rapper warns of coronavirus danger in Brazil's slums

Brazilian rapper MV Bill added his voice to a chorus of criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro for downplaying the gravity of the new coronavirus epidemic in a video clip that urges people to protect themselves. "The World Health Organization warned, people paid little heed, head of state downplayed, delayed, they lost time on things that do not matter," he rapped. COVID-19 is not "a small cold" as Bolsonaro has claimed and more Brazilians will become infected due to the leader's "ignorance" and "arrogance," the singer said.

Trump struggles with tone in virus crisis, aides urge more empathy

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing President Donald Trump to show empathy to console Americans under siege, and it's not easy for a brash leader more accustomed to bellicose politics. Trump, who initially dismissed the pandemic as "under control," is having to adjust his messaging to fit grim times, and some of his allies are pushing him to show more heart. "It's not usually his first go-to emotion," said a former senior administration official who remains close to the White House.

Police killing of man they say was armed sparks riot

Police wanted to question the man in connection to a shooting when a struggle ensued, according to the Orange County District Attorney, who said the man had a gun and fired at officers.

Police killing of man they say was armed sparks riot

Police wanted to question the man in connection to a shooting when a struggle ensued, according to the Orange County District Attorney, who said the man had a gun and fired at officers.

Spread of coronavirus accelerates in U.S. jails and prisons

Sean Hernandez says he covers his mouth and nose with a t-shirt or towel when he leaves his cell, the only defense he can improvise against the coronavirus outbreak now sweeping through New York’s Rikers Island jail system. As of Saturday, at least 132 inmates and 104 staff at jails across New York City had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Across the United States, jails and prisons are reporting an accelerating spread of the new disease, and they are taking a varied approach to protecting the inmates in their charge.

New York presidential primary postponed amid record numbers of coronavirus cases

New York -- which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic's spread in the U.S.-- will now be on June 23, the latest state to postpone or drastically change the status of its April 28 presidential primary. Six states slated to vote that day have delayed or moved to expand absentee voting to continue on with their elections in the midst of the health emergency. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a press conference on Saturday that he's postponing the state's presidential primary from April 28 to June 23, the date of the state's down ballot primary elections.

Coronavirus cases in Greece pass 1,000

Greece confirmed 95 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to health authorities, bringing the total to 1,061 since the country's first recorded infection on Feb. 26. Health ministry representative Sotiris Tsiodras said 32 people have died due to COVID-19. It has also shut its borders to non-EU nationals and Italy and Spain to contain the spread of the virus.