The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged every European country to take the boldest action to stop the spread of COVID-19. WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge issued in a statement: "These are unprecedented times. Its important that countries work together, learn from each other and harmonize the efforts. The virus can be beaten back by solidarity within communities, within nations and within our region."
Total Global Cases: At least 196,600
Total Deaths: About 7,800
Total Recovered: Over 80,800
What Happened Today:
Leaders of the European Union voted to close off at least 26 countries to nearly all visitors for at least 30 days to slow the spread. Britain has not announced the closure of its boarders at this date. However, the United Kingdom has pledged almost $400 billion in loans to businesses impacted by the coronavirus. The U.K.'s Finance Minister Rishi Sunak stated: "We will support jobs, we will support incomes and we will support businesses...That means any business that needs access to cash...will be able to access a government-backed loan." France has also pledged 45 billion euros ($50 billion) to help small businesses stay afloat.
The Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio warned the city's residents that they should begin preparing for the possibility of a "shelter in place" order within the next 48 hours. "We are deeply concerned...this is quite clear this is a fast growing crisis," Blasio expressed in a press conference. "All New Yorkers, even though a decision has not been made by the city or the state, I think that all New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order."
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) told third-party retailers that the delivery giant will be prioritizing household staples, medical supplies ad other high-demand products for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, Amazon is blocking all shipments of nonessential products to its warehouses.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has announced that it will be providing aid to companies in the form of encouraging banks to issue loans to households and businesses, as well as establishing a Primary Dealer Credit Facility and Commercial Paper Funding Facility to help support the credit needs of households and businesses. In addition, Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) has pledged $100 million in aid for qualified small businesses.
The United Auto Workers asked the Big Three Detroit automakers--Ford (NYSE: F), General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Fiat Chrysler (NYSE: FCAU)--to halt production for two weeks as a safeguard to employees and to help slow the spread of the outbreak. Volkswagen (OTC: VWAGY) has also announced a suspension of European car production at this time.
Tracking the Spread:
Americas: United States-1,560 new cases (17 new deaths), Brazil-94 (1), Ecuador-53, Chile-45, Canada-38 (1), Peru-31, Mexico-29, Venezuela-16, Colombia-11, Costa Rica-9, Lithuania-7, North Macedonia-7, Argentina-3, Barbados-2, Honduras-2, Aruba-1, Bolivia-1, Cuba-1, Curacao-1, Paraguay-1, Trinidad & Tobago-1, U.S. Virgin Islands-1.
Europe: Italy-3,526 new cases (345 new deaths), Germany-2,094 (9), Spain-1,884 (191), France-1,097 (27), United Kingdom-407 (16), Switzerland-389 (8), Austria-314 (1), Netherlands-292 (19), Belgium-185, Norway-122, Portugal-117, Czechia- 90, Sweden-75 (1), Ireland-69, Denmark-63, Poland-61 (1), Luxembourg-59, Romania-49, Iceland-48, Finland-44, Greece-35 (1), Faeroe Islands-29, Armenia-26, Latvia-26, Andorra-25, Slovakia-25, Slovenia-22, Estonia-20, Bulgaria-19, Serbia-15, Croatia-12, Hungary-11, San Marino-10 (2), Bosnia & Herzegovina- 9, Malta-8, Ukraine-7 (1), Albania-4, Montenegro-2, Georgia-1, Moldova-1.
Middle East: Iran-1,178 new cases (135 new deaths), Turkey-51 (1), Israel-39, Saudi Arabia-38, Egypt-30 (2), Iraq-21 (1), Lebanon-15, United Arab Emirates-15, Bahrain-13, Jordan-11, Oman-9, Kuwait-7, Qatar-3, Cyprus-3, Palestine-2, Afghanistan-1, Tunisia-1.
Asia: Malaysia-107 (2), South Korea-84 (6), Japan-45 (1), Pakistan-63, Indonesia-38 (2), Thailand-30, Kazakhstan-23, Singapore-23, Cambodia-21, Russia-21, Sri Lanka-16, India-14 (1), Hong Kong-13, Taiwan-10, Azerbaijan-9, Vietnam-5, Uzbekistan-3, Bangladesh-2, Brunei-2, Macao-1, Mongolia-1.
Africa: South Africa-21, Morocco-7 (1), Cameroon-5, Algeria-1 (1), Ethiopia-1, Ghana-1, Kenya-1, Nigeria-1, Liberia-1.
Oceania: Australia-51, Philippines-45, New Zealand-4, Guam-2.