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All times below are in Beijing time.
- Global cases: More than 720,100
- Global deaths: At least 33,925
- Top 5 countries: United States (139,675), Italy (97,689), China (82,122), Spain (80,031) and Germany (62,095)
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of 7:50 a.m. Beijing time.
7:42 am: South Korea considering financial support for 10 million households
South Korea is considering providing financial support to 10 million lower-income households as part of emergency measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, Yonhap reported on Sunday. The plan would provide a four-member household, whose income falls below the median income, with a one-time lump sum of up to 1 million Korean won ($820), Yonhap said, adding the proposal is set to be discussed at an emergency economic council meeting.
Travelers wearing protective masks and suits walk through Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Monday, March 9, 2020.
SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images
South Korea has more than 9,500 reported cases to-date, but mass testing and rigorous quarantine measures appear to have slowed down the virus outbreak from last month. — Saheli Roy Choudhury
7:36 am: Global cases surpass 700,000
The total number of coronavirus infection cases globally has crossed 700,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. As of 7:36 a.m. on March 30, there were at least 720,117 reported cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and 33,881 deaths. The United States had the highest tally of infections at more than 139,600 while Italy’s numbers were over 97,600.
About 149,076 people have recovered, JHU data showed; more than 75,500 of them in China. — Saheli Roy Choudhury
All times below are in Eastern time.
6:55 pm: Consolidating flights to US cities could help stem airline industry losses
U.S. airlines and the Department of Transportation may soon have to consider consolidating service to dozens of cities around the country in a bid to help carriers cut losses, several airline industry executives told CNBC.
Executives with U.S. airlines are expected to meet with leaders of the Transportation Department this week to discuss the state of the industry following approval of a $50 billion bailout package. The aid package requires airlines to not furlough employees for the next six months, while also maintaining service, to the best of their ability, to the cities the airlines currently serve. The problem with maintaining service is that many planes are virtually empty. — Phil LeBeau, Meghan Reeder
6:14 pm: President Trump extends national social distancing guidelines through April 30
President Donald Trump on Sunday extended the national social distancing guidelines to April 30 after suggesting that the coronavirus death rate would likely peak in two weeks.
“Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory has been won,” Trump said at an evening press briefing. “Therefore we will be extending our guidelines to April 30.”
The president has previously said he wants to reopen the country for business by Easter, on April 12, despite warnings from public health experts that doing so would result in more deaths. — Emma Newburger
Read CNBC’s coverage from the U.S. overnight: Trump accuses hospitals of hoarding ventilators, field hospital set up inside Central Park
