Experts: Coronavirus on Verge of U.S. “Explosion”; Retailers Will See Empty Shelves by Mid-April; 2nd Cruise Ship Turned Away From Multiple Ports

By Olivia Messer. [E]xperts on deadly diseases say Americans should be prepared to see an overnight boom in cases that mirror the skyrocketing outbreaks in Italy and South Korea . . .

In Italy, officials have not been able to trace the origin of infections, which skyrocketed from just four on Friday to more than 528 by Thursday, killing at least 14 people. While each country faces its own health and containment challenges, experts say, there is little reason to believe the United States won’t soon face a similar coronavirus surge, even as President Trump on Wednesday urged calm and put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the disease’s containment. . .

Earlier this month, experts suggested some patients of this virus are ultra-contagious “super-spreaders.” That is, they more easily transmit the infection to others in a manner similar to the way “Typhoid Mary” became notorious for transmitting the bacteria that causes typhoid to at least 50 other people before she died in 1938.

“It would spread very rapidly on a crowded subway or metro system,” [medical expert Dr. Adrian] Hyzler said. (Read more HERE)

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By The Hill. A second cruise ship has been refused entry at multiple ports over fears of coronavirus among those on board.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the MSC Meraviglia was refused entry in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands after a crew member reported flu-like symptoms, raising fears from health officials in the two countries of a possible coronavirus transmission.

“In an abundance of caution, in order to provide protection to the health and safety of the residents of the Cayman Islands, the government has denied permission for the cruise ship to call on Grand Cayman as previously scheduled,” said Cayman Islands health minister Dwayne Seymour.

“The crew member had a cough, fever and associated muscle pains with a travel history to a country of interest relating to the Covid-19,” added Jamaica’s health ministry in a statement to the Times. (Read more from “Second Cruise Ship Turned Away From Multiple Ports Over Possible Coronavirus” HERE)

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Coronavirus Epidemic: U.S. Retailers Could See Some Empty Shelves by Mid-April

By NBC News. Coronavirus has the potential to become a global pandemic, temporarily emptying retail store shelves in the coming months and depressing some consumer-facing businesses, experts say, with government officials advising families to take measured steps to stock up on certain essentials.

A pandemic is the rapid spread of an infectious disease to a large amount of people in a short period of time across international boundaries.

Ahead of any pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security says families should check their prescription drug supplies, store two-week supplies of water and food and have non-prescription drugs and health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, cough and cold medicines and fluids with electrolytes. (Read more from “Coronavirus Epidemic: U.S. Retailers Could See Some Empty Shelves by Mid-April” HERE)

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