Louvre Museum closes as coronavirus cases, fears grow abroad and in U.S.

Coronavirus fears are gripping the globe as France’s famed Louvre Museum closed its doors Sunday, Italy reported a dramatic rise to over 1,500 reported cases, and U.S. officials attempted to quell fears after the nation’s first death from the virus and new infections emerged from coast to coast.

The Louvre, where a majority of the museum’s 9.6 million visitors last year came from abroad, did not open as scheduled Sunday after a staff meeting delayed the morning opening.

“We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere,” said Andre Sacristin, a Louvre employee and union representative. “The risk is very, very, very great.”

The decision followed a decision by the French government Saturday to ban indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people.

In neighboring Italy, officials said the number of cases rose 40% in 24 hours to 1,576, including five deaths, while 10 quarantines have been set up in the Lombardy region, whose capital is Milan, and one in Veneto.

A church in Rome was also closed Sunday after a priest was infected with the virus after traveling from Paris by car. The developments in Italy have prompted U.S. officials to urge Americans to not travel to Italy, as a Rhode Island man was flagged as a presumptive positive case Sunday after returning from Italy.

A case was also reported in Chicago, and Washington state announced two new coronavirus cases, including a man in his 60s in critical condition. The total number of cases in the Seattle area now stands at six, including one resulting in a man’s death. More than 50 people in a Kirkland, Wash., nursing facility are sick and also being tested for the virus.

The U.S. secretary of Health and Human Resources said Sunday the risk from coronavirus remains low for the “average” American.

“They should know we have the best public health system in the world looking out for them,” Secretary Alex Azar said.

Vice President Pence, named by President Trump to helm the government’s response, said Sunday 15,000 virus testing kits had been distributed while a commercial provider is working to distribute 50,000 more.

A situation report Sunday by the World Health Organization said 87,137 cases have been confirmed globally across 58 countries, while 2,977 people have died.

The U.S. has 70 known coronavirus cases as of Sunday, with Saturday’s lone death. Trump on Saturday said there is “no reason to panic” about the virus. The U.S. also banned travel to Iran and urged Americans to also avoid South Korea where the virus has been prevalent.

Azar also walked back Trump’s suggestion of closing the Mexican border, citing the new number of coronavirus cases there.

“We will take whatever measures are appropriate and necessary to protect the American people, but we don’t forecast doing that any time soon,” he said of closing the border.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2VAnpfV