Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) CEO Mark Clouse stated on Wednesday that the nonperishable food company s increasing soup production in response to the coronavirus stockpiling. "We made the decision last week to up production in certain areas where we're using a little bit the analogy of weather or natural disasters. and we've upped that level of production to be able to maximize our inventory to be prepared for whatever unfolds here."
Total COVID-19 Cases: More than 95,000
Total Deaths: More than 3,200
Total Recovered: 51,449
What Officials are Saying:
Chinese scientists have identified two strains of the coronavirus. In the study published on Tuesday, scientists at Peking University's School of Life Sciences and the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai found that a more aggressive type of COVID-19 had accounted for about 70% of the analyzed strains, while 30% had were a milder strain of the virus. Researchers reported that their results indicated that the virus has mutated at least once. "These findings strongly support an urgent need for further immediate, comprehensive studies that combine genomic data, epidemiological data, and chart records of the clinical symptoms or patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)," the researchers concluded.
U.S. House of Representatives passed a $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to help combat the virus's spread. The funding described in the bill will provide more than $3 billion in vaccine research and $2.2 billion in prevention and preparedness efforts. If the bill passes in the Senate, it will move to President Donald Trump's office to be signed into law.
United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) announced that it will be cutting international flights by 20% and domestic flights in the U.S. by 10% on April amid slowing demand due to the growing outbreak. The airline may enact a similar cut in May if the virus persists.
Tracking the Spread:
For North America, the United States has announced 30 new cases of the virus and two new deaths. L.A. County has declared a state of emergency as cases in California rise. Canada has also reported 3 new cases, bringing the nation's total to 33.
For Europe, Italy has reported 587 new cases and 28 new deaths, bringing the nation's total cases to just over 3,000. All schools and universities in Italy are closed until March 15. Spain has announced 63 new cases and one new death, Germany has 59 new cases, France has 73, the U.K has 36, Norway has 23, Sweden has 22, the Netherlands has 15, Switzerland has 35, Denmark has 5, San Marino has 5, the Czech Republic has 3, Belgium has 10, Iceland has 12, Romania has 2, Greece has 2, Portugal has 2 and Belarus has 2. Poland has reported its first case on COVID-19 on Wednesday.
For the Middle East, Iran has reported 586 new cases and 15 new deaths. The country has cancelled its Friday prayer this week in order to keep citizens away from one another. Iraq has reported 3 new cases and 2 new deaths, Israel has posted 3 new cases, Lebanon has 2, Bahrain has 3, Oman has 3, and Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates both announced one new case.
For Asia, South Korea has reported 435 new cases and 2 new deaths. China has announced 119 new cases and 38 new deaths, Japan has 38, India has 22 new cases, Malaysia has 14, and Hong Kong reported 2.
For South and Central America, Ecuador has reported 3 new cases, Brazil and Chile both reported one.
For Oceania, Australia has reported 11 new cases and one new death and New Zealand has one new case.
For Africa, Algeria has announced 9 new cases and Senegal has 2 new cases.