Health

Africa sees rapid spread of pandemic, UN says

By Cara Anna, Associated Press

More African countries have closed their borders as the coronavirus' local spread threatens to turn the continent of 1.3 billion people into an alarming new front for the pandemic.

Italian death toll overtakes China's as virus spreads

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

The death toll in Italy from the coronavirus overtook China’s on Thursday, and infections in the United States climbed past 10,000, in a stark illustration of how the crisis has pivoted toward the West.

Met Opera cancels season, stops pay of orchestra, chorus

By Ronald Blum, Associated Press

The Metropolitan Opera is canceling the rest of its season and stopping the pay of the orchestra, chorus and other unionized employees at the end of March due to the new coronavirus.

$10 toilet paper? Coronavirus gouging complaints surge in U.S.

By Reese Dunklin, Justin Pritchard, Associated Press

Chain stores were accused of selling $26 thermometers and face masks at $39.95 a pair, while a convenience store offered toilet paper at $10 a roll next to a sign reading, "This is not a joke."…

Indonesia halts Islamic assembly, quarantining 9,000 people

By Niniek Karmini, Eileen Ng, Associated Press

The four-day gathering of nearly 9,000 Muslim pilgrims at a boarding school in south Sulawesi province wasn't approved by authorities and drew fears it could spread the virus widely in the world's fourth most populous nation.

WATCH: Trump, coronavirus task force speak from the White House

By Jonathan Lemire, Jill Colvin, Associated Press

President Donald Trump has offered mixed messaging while taking a series of other extraordinary steps to steady the nation, its day-to-day life suddenly and fundamentally altered. Watch the latest news briefing here live.

Celebrities get virus tests, raising concerns of inequality

By Associated Press

The concerns over preferential treatment underscore a fundamental truth about inequalities baked into the American health care system.

How social distancing works and what it means for you

By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press

In this time of coronavirus and "social distancing," simple questions have suddenly become complex.

Colleges offering dorms as hospital overflow from virus cases

By Collin Binkley, Associated Press

A growing number of U.S. colleges are preparing to turn empty dorms into temporary housing for patients with the coronavirus as the nation's hospitals brace for a possible surge of cases.

USDA fights to purge food stamps recipients despite pandemic

By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press

The Agriculture Department says it will appeal a judge's ruling that it would be "arbitrary and capricious" to move forward during a global health crisis with food stamp changes that could force hundreds of thousands from the program.