As Americans across the country adjust to a new way of life amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the number of confirmed cases shot up to more than 10,000 on Thursday, with the death toll reaching 152 in the United States. Concern over the economic fallout created by the pandemic has seen the markets drop precipitously over the last few days, with the Dow Jones Average dropping below 20,000 for the first time since February 2017.
The coronavirus has also prompted Congress to act at lightning speed, as they passed a coronavirus aid bill on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump signing it a few hours later. The bill, which would provide free coronavirus testing and paid emergency sick leave, is one of a series of bills aimed at cushioning the blow of the ongoing pandemic. Lawmakers are now working on another piece of legislation that could see two rounds of checks being sent to Americans and money for some industries that have been hit hardest by the outbreak.
Here is your coronavirus update for Thursday, March 19:
U.S. Government Preparing for Coronavirus Pandemic to Last Up to 18 Months
A 100-page plan put together by the federal government to combat the novel coronavirus warned lawmakers that the pandemic will last "18 months or longer" and could include "multiple waves" that could result in widespread shortages, the New York Times reports.
The plan, dated March 13, shows the administration planning for a scenario in which supply chains and transportation problems could result in "significant shortages for government, private sectory and individual U.S. consumers."
Shortages could include crucial items that would impact health care, emergency services and other critical infrastructure. According to the report, potentially critical shortages of diagnostics, medical supplies, and even staffing could occur.
"This could be due either to illnesses or to exposure (requiring home quarantine) among public health and medical workers, but may also be due to fear of contracting the virus, exhaustion, or the need to take care of sick family members and maintain home isolation as a family unit. State and local governments, as well as critical infrastructure and communications channels," the report says.
On Wednesday, Trump announced he was invoking a 1950 law, the Defense Production Act, as part of his administration's fight against the pandemic. The act allows the government to marshal the private sector to produce items that are desperately needed, such as the Personal Protection Equipment that so many front-line workers will need amid the ongoing pandemic.
While research on a vaccine for COVID-19 is already underway, the government should operate under the assumption that any vaccine will take "extended time to develop."
Two House Members Test Positive For COVID-19
Two House representatives, Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, (R-FL), have become the first two members of Congress to test positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
"On Saturday evening, after returning from Washington, D.C., I developed mild cold-like symptoms," McAdams said in a statement. "My symptoms got worse and I developed a fever, a dry cough and labored breathing and I remain self quarantined."
"On Tuesday, my doctor instructed me to get tested for COVID-19 and following his referral, I went to the local testing clinic," McAdams said. "Today I learned that I tested positive."
McAdams said he's self-quarantined and has been conducting meetings by phone since Saturday.
Diaz-Balart was the first lawmaker in Congress to test positive for coronavirus, and is currently in quarantine in Washington D.C. He will not return to his Florida home to avoid his wife, who is reportedly at a high-risk of the disease due to underlying health conditions.
"On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache," a statement from Diaz-Balart's office read. "Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19."
"I am feeling much better," Diaz-Balart said. "However, it's important that everyone take this seriously and follow CDC guidelines in order to avoid getting sick and mitigate the spread of this virus."
New York Stock Exchange to Temporarily Close Trading Floor, Move to Electronic Trading Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The New York Stock Exchange's trading floor will be closed beginning March 23 following news that two people tested positive for the coronavirus at screenings it had set up this week. All-electronic trading will begin with Monday’s market open.
The NYSE said the closures will include the NYSE equities trading floor in New York, NYSE American Options trading floor in New York, and NYSE Arca Options trading floor in San Francisco. The decision to temporarily close the trading floors was a "precautionary step" made to help protect the health and well-being of their employees and the floor community.
"NYSE’s trading floors provide unique value to issuers and investors, but our markets are fully capable of operating in an all-electronic fashion to serve all participants, and we will proceed in that manner until we can re-open our trading floors to our members," Stacey Cunningham, President of the New York Stock Exchange said in a statement about the closure. "While we are taking the precautionary step of closing the trading floors, we continue to firmly believe the markets should remain open and accessible to investors. All NYSE markets will continue to operate under normal trading hours despite the closure of the trading floors."
The stock market has been closed before - most recently after 9/11 - but this will be the first time the trading floor has been shut down, while still allowing trading to continue.
National Park Service to Waive Entrance Fees at Open Parks
Good news for everyone who's been cooped up lately - Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced Wednesday that the National Park Service would begin waiving entrance fees at parks that are still open across the country in an effort to encourage public social distancing.
“I’ve directed the National Park Service to waive entrance fees at parks that remain open. This small step makes it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors in our incredible National Parks,” said Bernhardt.
While the National Park Service has closed some parks across the country, the vast majority are still fully, or partially, open. However, the release adds that many facilities at the parks will be closed.
“Our vast public lands that are overseen by the Department offer special outdoor experiences to recreate, embrace nature and implement some social distancing.” he added.
Amid a flurry of shutdowns and cancellations meant to curb the spread of the virus, public health officials have also recommended that people stay home and practice 'social distancing.' However, people are still encouraged to go outside for walks or hikes, while still maintaining the proper amount of distance from other people.
President Trump Signs Coronavirus Aid Bill into Law
President Donald Trump signed a second coronavirus aid bill late Wednesday, as lawmakers get to work on a third proposal that could see checks being sent to Americans within the next two weeks.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, passed on a 90-8 vote in the Senate, with President Trump signing it into law a short time later. The bipartisan bill provides free coronavirus testing for all Americans and paid emergency leave for those who become infected with COVID-19. The bill also provided an increase in Medicaid funding, food assistance, and extended unemployment benefits.
The Senate is back to work on Thursday on another bill - this time a stimulus - that would direct up to $500 billion in direct payments to Americans as well as several major companies and industries that have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.
China Reports No New Domestic Cases of Coronavirus, A First Since the Outbreak Began
In a bit of encouraging news about the coronavirus pandemic currently sweeping the globe, China's National Health Commission on Thursday announced that the country had not detected a new domestic case of COVID-19, the first time since the outbreak began.
According to numbers released by China's government health agency, there were 34 new confirmed cases on Thursday, but those represented cases that were "newly diagnosed imported cases."
Eight deaths from the coronavirus illness were reported in China on Thursday. There have been 3,245 reported in mainland China as of Thursday morning - the most in the world.
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Photos: Getty Images