The pandemic’s march

GLOBAL: A reporter-friend noted to me, “There’s no place to go for outside perspective. Everyone is in this.” So true, and it’s a unique moment in my three decades of journalism, and we’ll try to keep you abreast of some of the too many latest events related to the coronavirus (including some heavenly perspective), plus the usual mix of mayhem and redemption. What it looks like when the world empties.

ITALY: On Feb. 21, 30 jurisdictions were reporting the novel coronavirus, and by Thursday midday, more than 150 countries report infection, with cases topping 229,000 (two days ago it was under 200,000). Italy crossed the 10,000-case threshold on March 10, the 20,000 mark on Saturday, and by Thursday it had 35,713 confirmed cases. With a nationwide lockdown now in place for 10 days, Italy is not yet seeing a downturn: Wednesday saw the highest number of new cases so far: 4,207.

“We need something good to happen, so we know we’re doing the right thing,” said Carla Maestrini, a nurse in Cremona. And one good thing has happened: a new mobile hospital in Cremona delivered by U.S. aid group Samaritan’s Purse.

UNITED STATES: Republicans and Democrats with Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin are working to come together to pass a stimulus bill aimed at bolstering a tanking U.S. economy—as two lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing many others into quarantine.

SWITZERLAND: The UN will suspend refugee resettlement worldwide.

CHINA: Officials report no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, but there is evidence China is covering the extent of its spread—including expelling American journalists who might report on it.

IRAN also continues to downplay the scale of its coronavirus crisis. Satellite photos appear to show mass graves being dug for virus victims, and leaders blame the West, calling it an “American biological invasion.”

ISRAEL is taking a tough approach to battling the coronavirus, including hefty surveillance and tracking, but has not been spared a viral spread.

CUBA has confirmed its first COVID-19 death, and one American on the island is sick with the disease, but the Cuban government is minimizing the seriousness, with no quarantines in place and plans to continue welcoming cruise ships.

NIGERIA: A 17-year-old Christian abducted in January has escaped and returned to her family.

NEW ZEALAND: Parliament passed a law decriminalizing abortion, allowing women to terminate their pregnancies up to 20 weeks of gestation (voting record and details here).

STAYING IN: There are 2,500 world-class museums you can visit this weekend without leaving your home.

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