NO TESTS FOR TRUMP, PENCE AFTER MEETING WITH BRAZILIAN
WASHINGTON» President Donald Trump will not be tested for the coronavirus after coming into contact with a Brazilian official who tested positive for the virus just days after participating in meetings with him in Florida, the White House said Thursday.
Fabio Wajngarten, a top communications aide to President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, tested positive days after accompanying him to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and posing for a photo with the president and Vice President Mike Pence.
Trump attacks Democrats hours after calling for bipartisanship.
WASHINGTON» On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump implored the nation’s political leadership to “stop the partisanship” and come together to confront the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday morning, he woke up and immediately issued partisan attacks on Democratic congressional leaders.
Trump’s call for a suspension of partisanship lasted just nine hours, at least some of which he was presumably asleep.
The first of the partisan jabs came before dawn Thursday and had nothing to do with the coronavirus or anything that had happened in the past few days. Instead, he reached back to revive a controversy from a week ago when Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, assailed two conservative Supreme Court justices over abortion rights.
Iran accuses U.S. of “economic terrorism,” urges sanctions end.
UNITED NATIONS» Iran’s foreign minister demanded Thursday that the United States immediately halt what he called a “campaign of economic terrorism” and lift sanctions, saying they have made it increasingly difficult for the country to export oil and virtually impossible to import medicine and medical equipment, including to identify and treat coronavirus patients.
Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that U.S. sanctions have left thousands of Iranians stranded abroad and severely disrupted air links with Europe. And he said they have led to what he called “Google’s immoral censoring” of a new government app designed to help Iranians identify potential symptoms of the COVID19 virus.
Also on Thursday, Iran asked the International Monetary Fund for a $5 billion loan to fight the coronavirus, the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that it has sought such assistance.
Omaha-area public school districts close to deal with virus. OMAHA» Several Omaha-area schools have announced they are canceling classes a day before spring break and closing buildings.
Governor orders every school in Ohio to close for three weeks.
OHIO» Gov. COLUMBUS,
Mike DeWine on Thursday ordered every school in Ohio to close for three weeks beginning at day’s end Monday.
DeWine and Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton acknowledged the hardships and disruptions that the order will create but said it’s necessary to help Ohio through the current crisis.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also urged people not to resort to panic shopping in grocery stores. “Look, folks, you don’t need four cases of toilet paper,” he said.
Ohio has confirmed five cases of COVID-19.
France closes schools. PARIS» France ordered the closing of nurseries, schools and universities from the beginning of next week, following Italy in locking down key parts of public life to combat what President Emmanuel Macron called the worst health crisis in a century.
Seeking to contain a broader outbreak, France urged people to work from home, limit travel, and keep the most fragile citizens and people over 70 in their houses. Municipal elections will go ahead on Sunday, Macron said.
Alex Jones accused of selling phony cures.
NEW YORK» The state attorney general is demanding that conspiracy monger Alex Jones stop hawking phony coronavirus treatments.
Attorney General Letita James’ office sent a ceaseand-desist letter Thursday, saying it’s “extremely concerned” by Jones’ claims that toothpaste, dietary supplements, creams and other products sold on his website can prevent and cure the disease, known as COVID-19.
Princess Cruises suspending global operations for 60 days. MIAMI» Princess Cruises, which had one of its ships quarantined off the coast of Japan last month, is suspending global operations through early May. The cruise line, part of Carnival Corp., said Thursday that 18 cruise ships will cease voyages that were scheduled to depart between March 12 and May 10.
Trudeau’s wife tests positive. TORONTO» Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife has tested positive, his office announced Thursday night.
It said Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was felling well and would remain in isolation.
“The Prime Minister is in good health with no symptoms. As a precautionary measure and following the advice of doctors, he will be in isolation for a planned period of 14 days,” the statement added.
New virus slow to spread in Africa, but cases creep up. JOHANNESBURG» The new coronavirus has been slow to spread in Africa but cases are increasing on the continent, with South Africa reporting 17 confirmed infections Thursday, including its first transmitted locally.
Across Africa, 12 of the continent’s 54 countries have registered COVID-19 cases, the most recent being Ivory Coast, which announced one case.
Algeria’s president ordered all schools closed immediately Thursday after the North African country saw its first death from the virus. Algeria has 25 cases so far.
Wyoming woman with “mild to moderate” COVID-19 improving. CHEYENNE» A woman infected with Wyoming’s first known case of the coronavirus has been improving while staying in voluntary isolation at home, health officials said Thursday.
“She had fairly mild to moderate symptoms,” said Dr. John Addlesperger, chief medical officer at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. The woman from Sheridan County recently traveled inside and outside the state but kept within the U.S. She tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.