Coronavirus live updates: Washington state weighs mandatory measures to contain outbreak

FAN Editor

In this image from video, provided by the California National Guard, a helicopter carrying airmen with the 129th Rescue Wing flies over the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California Thursday, March 5, 2020.

California National Guard | AP

This is CNBC’s 24-hour live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. All times below are in U.S. eastern time. This will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks. 

  • Global cases: More than 107,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University
  • Global deaths: At least 3,648, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University
  • U.S. cases: At least 437, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University
  • U.S. deaths: At least 19, according to data compiled by NBC News

11:05 am: Washington state is considering mandatory containment measures

Washington state is considering whether mandatory measures are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Governor Jay Inslee said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Washington state is among the hardest-hit areas in the U.S. The virus has infected more than 100 people in the state, according to the state health department, and killed at least 16. 

“We certainly are contemplating requirements for what we call social distancing,” Inslee said Sunday. “We are contemplating some next steps, particularly to protect our vulnerable populations, and our nursing homes and the like, and we are looking to determine whether mandatory measures are required.” —Feuer

10:49 am: Cases in the UK rise to 273 and 2 more die

The number of COVID-19 cases in the U.K. rose to 273, the Department of Health and Social Care announced, adding that two more people in the country have died of the virus. There were 209 confirmed cases in the country on Saturday. U.K. health officials have tested just over 23,500 people in the country. —Feuer

10:30 am: German health minister urges public to cancel large gatherings

All public events with more than 1,000 participants should be called off, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said, adding that up until now organizers had been too reluctant to do this.”Given how fast things are developing, that should change quickly,” he told news agency DPA. —Reuters

9:45 am: New Hampshire reports two news cases of coronavirus 

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported two new presumptive positive test results for the coronavirus. 

One patient is a man from Grafton County who was in contact with an infected person at Hope Bible Fellowship, a church in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. The second patient is a man from Rockingham County who traveled to Italy. —Newburger 

9:40 am: Passengers on Grand Princess cruise ship in California will face quarantine

The Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship will be transferred to military facilities for medical screenings and a 14-day quarantine. California officials said earlier this week there are more than 3,500 people aboard the ship, which has been idled at sea, about 50 miles from San Francisco, since Wednesday.

The ship will move to the port in Oakland, California on Sunday to begin disembarking guests. The nearly 1,000 passengers who are residents of California will be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base and Miramar Naval Air Station, HHS said, and residents of other states will complete the mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Vice President Mike Pence said Friday there were at least 21 people infected by COVID-19 on the ship, 19 of whom were crew members. HHS did not say whether crew members will face quarantine or disembark from the ship. —Feuer 

9:30 am: US Army restricts travel to Italy, South Korea over virus

The U.S. Army said it has decided to restrict travel to and from Italy and South Korea due to coronavirus outbreaks, and will also prohibit foreign troops from participating in U.S. exercises, exchanges and visits in the most affected nations.

The decision, described to Reuters by an Army spokeswoman, follows the confirmation on Saturday that two additional U.S. service members have tested positive for the virus: a sailor in Italy and a Marine at Fort Belvoir, Virginia – an important military base in a Washington D.C. suburb.

One additional U.S. service member, a soldier in South Korea, has also tested positive for the virus. —Reuters 

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