US nightlife capitals New York and Los Angeles ordered bars and restaurants to close or go take-out only as the country scrambled to contain the coronavirus pandemic and the Federal Reserve slashed rates to stem the fallout.
The fast-spreading outbreak has claimed almost 70 lives in the United States, disrupting every walk of life as Americans”•watching Europe plunge into lockdown and panic-buying at home”•brace for what is to come.
Faced with an economic shutdown, the Fed announced a raft of emergency measures to shore up confidence and keep the financial sector running, including cutting the key interest rate to 0-0.25 percent.
Across Canada
The new coronavirus has spread across Canada with a total of 313 cases confirmed Sunday in its 10 provinces, the chief public health officer told a news conference.
Atlantic coast provinces were the last to be hit. Major metropolitan centers”•Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver”•remain the most affected.
“I’m asking everyone to take strong action to prevent the spread of the virus,” chief public health officer, said, warning that a window of opportunity to mitigate its spread was “quickly narrowing.”
New virus
A new coronavirus cluster linked to a South Korean religious group emerged on Monday, with 46 cases at a church near Seoul that defied calls to suspend services.
The Grace River Church in Seongnam, south of the capital, finally closed its doors on Sunday after nearly a third of its 135 worshipers tested positive”•including the pastor and his wife.
It continued holding services despite repeated government requests for the public to avoid group activities, including religious meetings.
Exclusive opening
An Australian supermarket chain will start opening its doors exclusively to customers over 60 years old for one hour a day as part of an effort to ease the burden of panic-buying on the most vulnerable.
“Woolworths Supermarkets will be opening exclusively for the elderly and those with a disability to shop from 7am to 8am,” the company said in a statement Monday.
The measure is expected to come into effect on Tuesday and run for the rest of the week when the policy will be reviewed and potentially extended.
