March 30 coronavirus news

By Amy Woodyatt, Julia Hollingsworth, Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 11:41 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
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12:18 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

More than 100,000 coronavirus cases reported in Italy

From CNN's Nicola Ruotolo in Rome

The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy, including those who have recovered and those who have died, has reached at least 101,739, the Civil Protection Agency said Monday.

However, the number of new cases of coronavirus in Italy has decreased for the fifth day in a row. 

Italy recorded 1,648 new cases on Monday, bringing the total of active cases to 75,528. The percentage increase of new active cases — 2.2% — is the lowest since the start of the outbreak in the country. 

The number of deaths increased slightly to a total of 11,591 (812 more than Sunday). There are also 1,590 people who have recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, the biggest daily increase since the beginning of the crisis. A total of 14,620 people have recovered.

 

12:05 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

More than 22,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK

From CNN’s Sarah Dean

The UK Department of Health announced today that 22,141 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.

The government also published its UK death toll as 1,408 as of noon ET on Sunday.

12:02 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

New York mayor: We need to triple the amount of hospital beds by May

NYC Media
NYC Media

New York City needs to triple its hospital bed capacity by May, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press conference today, as the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort arrived in New York City.

"Our nation has heard our plea for help in New York City," he said, referring to the ship’s arrival.

The ship is expected to be operational soon.

11:56 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

The US Navy Hospital Ship is "like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," mayor says

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

The US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort has docked in New York City.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said they expected it would take two full weeks to get the ship — which has 12 fully-equipped operating rooms and 1,000 hospital beds on board — to the city. It ended up only taking eight days.

"That means help has arrived quicker and we'll be able to do the lifesaving work right now.," de Blasio said.

"This is like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," he added.

Remember: The ship is not expected to treat coronavirus patients. Rather it will be used to relocate shore-based patients undergoing treatments that are not coronavirus-related.

11:32 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Maryland governor tells residents to stay at home

From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen

Maryland Governor’s Office
Maryland Governor’s Office

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has instituted a stay-at-home directive that will go into effect at 8 p.m. ET today. 

By executive order, Maryland residents should not leave their homes unless...

  • They’re traveling for an essential job
  • They're traveling for an essential need, such as food or medicine

"We are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home. We are directing them to do so," he said.

Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the order is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject to prison no more than one year or a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.

As of Monday morning, there have been 15 coronavirus-related deaths and 1,413 positive cases across the state.

11:27 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Macy's is furloughing a majority of its 125,000 employees

From CNN's Jordan Valinsky

 Al Bello/Getty Images/FILE
 Al Bello/Getty Images/FILE

With its stores closed and sales slowing as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Macy's said it will keep the "absolute minimum workforce needed to maintain basic operations."

That means a "majority" of its 125,000-strong workforce will go on furlough beginning this week, it said in a press release. Affected employees will still receive health care.

Macy's said there will be "fewer furloughs in our digital business, supporting distribution centers and call centers so we can continue to serve our customers online."

Macy's, which also owns Bloomingdales and Bluemercury, stock fell 3%. It's down 70% for the year.

11:21 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Vermont governor asks anyone entering state to quarantine for 2 weeks

WPTZ
WPTZ

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced a new order today that tells anyone who enters Vermont from another state to self-quarantine for 14 days.

“That means heading directly to where you’re going with no stops in-between,” Scott said in a news conference.

Scott said the new order he signed also clarifies the types of lodging that he suspended last week.

The order suspending lodging applies to hotels, bed and breakfasts, as well as short-term rentals such as Airbnb and campgrounds, Scott said.

“This is a violation of the stay at home order,” Scott said, adding they are suspending online reservations today.

11:13 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

English football club lends its London stadium to Covid-19 relief effort

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Shaun Botterill/Getty Images/FILE

​Tottenham Hotspur F.C. announced that the club has made its London stadium and facilities available to officials to assist in local Covid-19 relief efforts beginning today.

The football club has been in contact with the Haringey Council, the Greater London Authority and the National Health Service.

"As a club, we have always been clear about our commitment to the wider community — never has this been more important than it is now," Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy said.

The stadium's basement car park will be set up as a storage base and distribution hub for London Food Alliance, which helps get food supplies to people most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

11:04 a.m. ET, March 30, 2020

FEMA is working with manufacturers around the world to get critical supplies 

From CNN's Leyla Santiago

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with global manufacturers for critical supplies and distributing them domestically. 

“We are working with manufacturers from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Honduras and Mexico. Contracted flights arrived at private sector distribution hubs this morning in Chicago, and more will be arriving in Ohio on Tuesday. From there, supplies are being sent to other states through private sector distribution networks,” a FEMA spokesperson said in a statement to CNN today.

The first flights landed this past weekend at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport and the personal protective equipment is "being distributed to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut,” the spokesperson said.