Millions of American children were stuck at home, the stocks rollercoaster plunged once again and the fate of domestic travel hung in the balance Monday as the coronavirus pandemic gained momentum across the nation.
The CDC says gatherings of 50 or more people should not take place in the U.S. for the next eight weeks. The recommendation does not apply to businesses or schools.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will limit all bars and restaurants to takeout and delivery services, part of a series of steps the states are taking collectively and separately to fight the spread of coronavirus. The states will also shut down all casinos, gyms and movie theaters, their governors said in a joint announcement. Grocery stores will remain open.New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy went further, urging state residents not to leave their homes from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.
Markets halted trading for 15 minutes moments after opening Monday when stocks immediately fell more than 7%. When trading resumed the drop continued.
There were slivers of light in the darkness – U.S. health officials on Sunday pledged to ramp up testing efforts by the tens of thousands. Additionally, testing of a possible vaccine was reportedly scheduled to begin.
But the U.S. death toll rose to 69, with more than 3,770 known cases as of Monday morning. The global death surged past 6,500.
In an attempt to slow the virus, more than 30 states ordered the shuttering of all schools. The White House Coronavirus Task Force, let by Vice President Mike Pence, was meeting Monday at the White House. Pence and President Donald Trump then planned to teleconference with governors on the crisis.... Keep reading
Source: Columbia Daily Herald