Glenn gives the latest coronavirus numbers, updating YOU on everything needed to know as Americans and officials monitor China's new COVID-19 virus:
Daily Stats as of 5:30 AM CT (from John's Hopkins)
- Total Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 225,237 (up from 202,272 yesterday)
- Total Confirmed Deaths Worldwide: 9.276, up from 8.012 yesterday)
- Total Confirmed Recovered Worldwide: 85,823 (up from 82,813 yesterday)
- 176 Countries have confirmed cases (up from 167 yesterday) 7 more have suspected cases
- 5% of Active Cases are considered serious (requiring hospitalization) down from 6% yesterday and down from 19% just 3 weeks ago
- US has 9,464 Confirmed Cases and 155 Deaths, up from 6,524 cases and 116 deaths yesterday
- In one province, at least 64 people died of Alcohol poisoning and hundreds more were hospitalized by drinking pure ethyl alcohol, according to Bloomberg News.
- An Iranian website had posted an article quoting a local Cleric that implied ethyl alcohol could kill Coronavirus.
- In that same Province, COVID-19 had killed 31 people as of yesterday.
- In total more than 1,000 Iranians have been hospitalized and more than 100 are dead due to alcohol poisoning.
- Officially, Iran has a total of 1,135 COVID-19 Deaths through this morning, although many analysts believe the actual number of Iranian deaths is 10 times higher.
- Everlywell, an at-home medical testing company based in Austin, TX launches first of its kind COVID-19 home testing kit.
- The Company specializes in at-home testing for allergies, metabolism, HIV, Thyroid function, and over 35 other conditions.
- Home test kits include instructions as well as a video-conference based consultation with a registered-nurse to ensure proper use of the kit.
- The kit is then mailed to LAB, results are emailed to customers.
- The kit will be available next week for a total price of $129 including shipping and consult.
- Initially, the company will launch 30,000 test kits, but expects to be able to test over 250,000 per week by mid-April.
- Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) and Ben McAdams (D) become first members of Congress to test positive for COVID-19
- "On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms including a fever and headache. Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19," his office said in a news release Wednesday night.
- The Florida Republican said in a statement that he is "feeling much better" but urged the public to take the virus "extremely seriously."
- Later on Wednesday evening, Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat, said he too had been diagnosed and was Quarantined away from his family to keep them safe from being infected.
- A federal government plan to combat the coronavirus warned policymakers last week that a pandemic "will last 18 months or longer" and could include "multiple waves," resulting in widespread shortages that would strain consumers and the nation's health care system.
- The 100-page plan, dated Friday, the same day President Trump declared a national emergency, laid out a grim prognosis for the spread of the virus.
- The plan outlined a response that would activate agencies across the government and potentially employ special presidential powers to mobilize the private sector (those he evoked yesterday, Wednesday)
- The plan was shared with key members of the US House of Representatives and US Senate on Friday last week as part of a briefing at the White House.
- Key shortages would be across Medicine & Drugs as well as some shortages in food supplies (especially specific brands) as Global supply chain disruptions would prevent imports from many countries.
- "State and local governments, as well as critical infrastructure and communications channels, will be stressed and potentially less reliable. These stresses may also increase the challenges of getting updated messages out and coordinating guidance to these local jurisdictions directly," the plan stated.
- The Italian Costa Luminosa cruise ship stranded at sea with over 200 U.S. citizens onboard due to the coronavirus has recorded dozens of "sick" crewmembers and passengers, according to ship logs obtained by the Miami Herald on Wednesday.
- At least 24 crew members are sick and are isolated.
- More than 50 passengers are also classified as sick, or are roommates of passengers who are classified as sick, the paper reported. All passengers showing symptoms are being isolated.
- The "sick" designation doesn't mean they have COVID-19, but the vessel has been at sea shortly after some disembarked passengers tested positive for the virus.
- The vessel, carrying over 1500 passengers, is nearing France and hopes to dock there today.
- $20/barrel marks the lowest price in nearly 20 years.
- At $20/barrel, US Shale producers are taking an average net-loss of $8/barrel over production costs.
- In oil-dependent countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, etc. the implications are far worse: those nations rely on State or Sovereign oil income to actually run the country (state-owned oil = government income).
- According to estimates from the World Bank, Saudi Arabia's "Revenue per Barrel" needs for break-even government budgets is $82/barrel. Russia's is $68/barrel and Iran's is $64.
- At $20/barrel, many countries risk complete government default on sovereign bond payments and may require massive bailouts from the IMF or World Bank to cover bond payments to debt holders.
- Restrictions would completely close the country to non-New Zealanders.
- Exceptions can be made to spouses or children of New Zealanders who are outside the country, but strict 14-day Quarantine would be enforced.
- New Zealand has only had 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19, all of which were identified during Quarantines required due to overseas travelers returning to New Zealand.
- There is no known Community Spread of COVID-19 in the country.
- The 14-Member cast had been in complete media isolation due to the format of the show.
- The crew was forbidden from discussing the Virus with contestants until yesterday.
- The 14 contestants, who have been secluded in Cologne, Germany, since February 10, were told about the widespread coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday, March 17.
- Big Brother host Jochen Schropp told the cast that "a disease called Covid-19 had spread across the world" and "reached Europe."
- Some contestants burst into tears while others questioned the greater effects the pandemic would have on the world, including the economy.
- The group was also allowed to receive video messages from their family and friends.
- Producers have yet to determine if the season will be canceled or production will continue.
