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“Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities,” the new guidance from the CDC said. “Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies.”
The CDC recommended organizers “cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.”
[Previous story, published at 6:40 p.m. ET]
As of Sunday, there were at least 3,349 coronavirus cases in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Washington DC. At least 65 people have died. West Virginia remained the only state without any confirmed cases.
The US can expect more cases and deaths, Fauci said at a White House briefing Saturday. “We have not yet reached our peak.”
Remote learning will begin March 23, and there will be special sites for children of crucial healthcare workers and first-responders. Meals will be available for students.
New York City school closures will last until at least April 20 following spring recess, the mayor said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that schools in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties will close for two weeks beginning Monday.
Cuomo said New York City officials are working to develop a plan in the next 24 hours to support children who rely on school meal programs and provide childcare access to parents, especially those who are healthcare workers and first responders.
Restrictions placed on bars and restaurants
And the restrictions and closures keep coming.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the state’s Department of Health Director Amy Acton would sign an order mandating bars and restaurants in the state close at 9 p.m. Sunday night. Carryout and food delivery will still be allowed, the governor said.
The order, DeWine said, “will be in effect until as long as it needs to.”
A similar order was announced in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Sunday that bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs will be closed. Restaurant capacities must also be reduced by half.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker also ordered bars and restaurants to close, beginning at close of business Monday until March 30, he said Sunday. State officials are working to help coordinate food delivery with restaurants and delivery services. Drive-thru and curb-side pickup will also be allowed, the governor said.
In Boston, restaurants and bars will need to close by 11 p.m. every night, Mayor Marty Walsh said Sunday. These establishments must also reduce their capacity by 50% by removing and spreading out tables and chairs. The restrictions on hours do not apply to delivery or takeout services.
Officials in Hoboken, New Jersey announced a city-wide curfew starting Monday. Residents will be required to stay in their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., with exceptions for people who are required to report to work, Mayor Ravinder Bhalla said Saturday.
Bars and restaurants in Hoboken won’t be allowed to serve food inside their locations as of Sunday at 11 a.m. They “will be permitted to conduct food takeout and food delivery service only,” Bhalla said.
In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order Saturday requiring downhill ski resorts close for a week due to the presence of coronavirus in the mountain communities with limited care capacity. Officials will continue to monitor the outbreak and may amend the executive order, the governor’s office said.
Los Angeles County will temporarily suspend all jury trials through March 30, according to a source and an internal police memo obtained by CNN. Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein confirmed the contents of the memo to CNN.
“The courts will re-examine the suspension decision continuance prior to March 30th,” the police memo states. “Personnel will be resubpoenaed through the courts for new jury trial dates.”
Travelers returning to US find long airport lines
President Donald Trump expanded restrictions on entry into the US from Europe to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. The travel restrictions go into effect Monday at midnight.
US citizens and their family members are exempt from both sets of restrictions, but they are subject to enhanced medical screenings upon arrival.
Some passengers returning from Europe said they faced long lines and confusion upon landing at US airports.
Katherine Rogers landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Saturday. After waiting in line for about five hours to be screened by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she was told she had an hour more to go.
“No one seems prepared,” she said. “To take us off planes from all over the world and put us together for hours seems counterproductive.”
“Last night, as people were flooding into O’Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area. Hundreds and hundreds of people. And that’s exactly what you don’t want in this pandemic,” the governor said.
“And then today,” he added, “it’s going to be even worse. There are a larger number of flights with more people coming. And they seem completely unprepared.”
Long lines also greeted travelers arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers said they were instructed to share pens to fill out paperwork even as Americans are being urged not to come in close contact with one another.
“They didn’t have pens and told us to share, which sounds like a great thing in the middle of the pandemic,” passenger Katelyn Deibler said.
“CBP continually adjusts its resources, in real time, as needed,” Morgan said, “and we will continue to do so.”
“With this national emergency, there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers,” Morgan said. “CBP is working around the clock to minimize these inconveniences.”
Trump says more tests will be available
“No resource will be spared, nothing whatsoever,” he said.
The Trump administration said Friday it was partnering with the private sector to also boost testing capacity with both more tests and drive-through testing.
The country’s testing system has received stark criticism from health officials and people who said they were turned away despite showing symptoms. Fauci said earlier this week the US testing system was failing to meet the public’s needs.
On Friday, Trump said 5 million coronavirus tests would be available within a month. He also said American retail executives would be donating resources to facilitate drive-through testing across the country.
Trump told reporters Saturday that he took a coronavirus test Friday night. The White House later said the test was negative.
CNN’s Christina Maxouris, Nicole Chavez, Hollie Silverman, Holly Yan, Amanda Watts, Devan Cole and Alison Main contributed to this report.
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