Health

'How are we going to eat?' Novel coronavirus tests Europe's social nets

By Aritz Parra, Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

Governments across Europe are deferring tax payments, approving short-term unemployment schemes and paid sick leave to try to cushion the economic blow to businesses and blue collar workers alike from virus-containment measures.

WATCH: Confronting Coronavirus -- A PBS NewsHour Special

To offer context around these uncertain times, the PBS NewsHour will shed light on what health precautions everyone should take, as well as the pandemic’s economic impact. Watch live here on Thursday, March 19, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

WATCH: Pentagon to provide 5 million respirators to health authorities

By Associated Press

Secretary of Defense, Dr. Mark T. Esper, provided an update on how the Pentagon is responding to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Why don't viruses make their original hosts sick? 5 questions answered

By Marcos E. García-Ojeda, The Conversation

Many new diseases evolve to jump from wild animals to people.

State and local officials take harder line on novel coronavirus

By Tim Sullivan, Chris Rugaber, Associated Press

Nearly 7 million people in the San Francisco area were all but confined to their homes Tuesday while Florida put a damper on spring break by ordering the closing of all bars, as state and local officials took an increasingly…

White House seeks $850 billion economic stimulus amid virus crisis

By Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller, Associated Press

The White House is proposing a roughly $850 billion economic rescue package Tuesday amid the coronavirus outbreak, a sweeping stimulus for businesses and taxpayers amid unseen since the Great Recession of 2008.

Government issues historic restrictions amid virus outbreak

By Tim Sullivan, Chris Rugaber, Associated Press

The official reaction to the coronavirus emergency varied dramatically from place to place in the U.S., despite new, more urgent warnings from the Trump administration, which called on Americans not to gather in groups of more than 10 and advised…

Nearly half of Americans think Trump is mishandling coronavirus, poll says

By Laura Santhanam

The percent of Americans who are concerned about the spread of novel coronavirus in their cities, towns and neighborhoods has nearly doubled since early February as cases rise nationwide, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll.

U.S. airlines seek billions in aid as outbreak cripples travel

By David Koenig, Associated Press

U.S. airlines are asking the federal government for grants, loans and tax relief that could easily top $50 billion to help them recover from a sharp downturn in travel due to the new coronavirus.

Asylum seekers attend border court amid outbreak

By Cedar Attanasio, Associated Press

U.S. immigration courts sharply scaled back operations Monday but have stopped well short of a total shutdown demanded by employees, including judges and government attorneys.