Youngstown

Virus lockdown changes how Hindus celebrate holy period

Rukmani Sharma fears the virus that has turned the world upside down. COVID-19 restrictions mean that the 71-year-old woman won't be allowed to go to temple Thursday to celebrate the birthday of the Hindu god Ram, and she says she’s “feeling guilty.” Hindus around the world are in the midst of a nine-day period called Chaitra Navaratri that began with what for many is considered the Hindu New Year and will culminate with the festival of Ramanavami.

COVID-19 infections growing exponentially, deaths near 50,000: WHO

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) voiced deep concern on Wednesday about "the rapid escalation and global spread" of COVID-19 infections with the new coronavirus, which has now reached 205 countries and territories. "In the past 5 weeks there has been a near exponential growth in the number of new cases and the number of deaths has more than doubled in past week," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told a virtual news conference in Geneva. "In the next few days we will reach 1 million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths worldwide," Tedros said.

U.S. senators join calls for Americans to don masks to slow coronavirus spread

Two U.S. senators joined a growing call on Wednesday for Americans to cover their mouths and noses when they venture outside, as health officials consider recommending that everyone in the country don face masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado said his wife, Susan Daggett, was among the many Americans sewing handmade protective masks and promised to send one to Senator Pat Toomey, the Pennsylvania Republican joining him in the push for wider mask use. "We really want to get some traction behind this," Toomey told reporters on a conference call with Bennet.

Coronavirus drives domestic violence calls up — but also brings barriers to protection

Mecklenburg County’s largest domestic violence advocacy group has stopped in-person services just as stress at home ramps up.

Coronavirus can spread one to three days before symptoms appear: CDC study

The study looked at 243 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, reported in Singapore between January 23 to March 16 and identified seven "clusters" where pre-symptomatic transmission was likely. In four such groups, where the date of exposure could be determined, pre-symptomatic transmission occurred one-to-three days before symptoms started showing in the source patient, researchers said. The findings from the study suggest that it might not be enough for people showing symptoms to limit their contact with others to control the pandemic, the researchers wrote in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which was published online on Wednesday.

Math teacher visits student's front porch for some homework help

A South Dakota teacher is getting praise for going above and beyond to help a student with her math homework after schools switched to virtual learning because of the coronavirus pandemic. Chris Waba, a sixth grade math teacher in Madison, South Dakota, said he had been emailing back and forth with a student to help her figure out a problem after a lesson he taught by Zoom earlier that day. When the student, Rylee Anderson, 12, told him in an email that she was still struggling with the problem, Waba, a 27-year teaching veteran, grabbed a whiteboard he'd taken home with him from his classroom and walked to her front door.

Coronavirus live updates: Cuomo pushes for at-home tests

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 44,000 people around the world, including at least 4,127 people in the United States. Globally, more than 887,000 people have been diagnosed and over 185,000 of those patients have recovered, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Among the nursing homes facing COVID-19 outbreaks is CareOne at New Milford in New Jersey, where five residents who tested positive have died, the center said.

Haircare brand providing $1 million to support small businesses affected by COVID-19

The novel coronavirus pandemic has left many small businesses searching for financial relief, and haircare brand SheaMoisture has stepped up with a generous grant. On Monday, the brand posted on Instagram that it was creating a Community Commerce fund to support women-of-color entrepreneurs and small minority-owned businesses. On Wednesday, SheaMoisture announced its Community Commerce initiative includes a pledge of $1 million.

NASA call for astronauts draws 12,000 spaceflight hopefuls

NASA said Wednesday that Americans from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories applied to be part of the space agency's next astronaut class. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said this next class of astronauts will help explore the moon and pave the way to Mars. NASA's previous call for astronauts, in 2017, attracted a record 18,300 applicants.

'Everybody has to stay in one place': Watch Carole King update 'So Far Away' for the COVID-19 quarantine

A self-quarantining Carole King is bringing some comfort to fans by performing a Facebook video version of her classic "So Far Away." The hit's lyrics are suddenly very relevant to everyone who is missing friends, family and loved ones amid the COVID-19 pandemic.In her video, which is also posted on her social media accounts, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wishes everyone well and gives a special thanks to "all the medical professionals who are doing such important and difficult work."She also praises "all the people [who] keep the groceries coming in, the trash being picked up... ...

Pastor charged with violating coronavirus order vows to keep Louisiana church open

Pastor Tony Spell is accused of violating the stay-at-home order six times in just two weeks.

Pastor charged with violating coronavirus order vows to keep Louisiana church open

Pastor Tony Spell is accused of violating the stay-at-home order six times in just two weeks.

Egypt's health sector races to scale up coronavirus readiness

Egypt has ramped up efforts to fight the coronavirus, ordering manufacturers to channel medical protective equipment to public hospitals and announcing 1 billion Egyptian pounds ($64 million) in extra funding for its health services. Decades of underinvestment left many of Egypt's public hospitals dependent on donations for some services and supplies. Poor quality in primary healthcare facilities and public hospitals means that in recent years more than half of patients have sought private medical care, according to the World Bank.

Man who said he has coronavirus attempts 'suicide by cop,' police say

The man is overweight, has diabetes and thought he was going to die, a New York Police Department official said. "He wanted the cops to shoot and kill him."

Man who said he has coronavirus attempts 'suicide by cop,' police say

The man is overweight, has diabetes and thought he was going to die, a New York Police Department official said. "He wanted the cops to shoot and kill him."

Canada shocked by double murder of Indigenous hunters

Two Métis men were found shot dead in rural Alberta after what police believe was an ambush Police in Canada are investigating the murders of two Indigenous men who they suspect were ambushed after returning from a successful hunt in rural Alberta.The bodies of Jake Sansom, 39, and his uncle Morris Cardinal, 57, were found early on 28 March beside Sansom’s pickup truck on a country road near Glendon, a farming town 160 miles north-east of Edmonton. Both had gunshot wounds.Sansom, who recently lost his job as a heavy-machinery mechanic due to coronavirus-related layoffs, was out hunting with Cardinal to help provide food for family members.After successfully shooting a moose, which promised a bountiful supply of meat, the two took a selfie, smiling in the woods. Both men were Métis – a distinct group that traces lineage to both Indigenous nations and European settlers – and had permission to hunt the area out of season.News of the murders has shocked friends and family.“All the kids in the community loved him and everyone knew who he was, knew he had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back for anyone,” Sarah Sansom said of her husband in a statement. A volunteer firefighter, he left behind three young children.“Firefighter Sansom was always willing to be involved in the dept, community, fundraisers, and continually showed his love for his family and fellow firefighters,” the Nobleford fire department said in a Facebook post.Cardinal, a keen hunter and outdoorsman, had three stepchildren and five grandchildren.“One day I was complaining about my feet being cold and the next morning he showed up with a nice warm pair of brand new socks for me! Took them straight from his stash of socks,” Anna Thompson, who previously worked with Cardinal, told the National Post.The results of an autopsy conducted on the two men on Tuesday 31 March were not made public. The RCMP declined to provide information on the number or nature of gunshot wounds, citing a need to “preserve the integrity” of the investigation.Police have said they believe the men were ambushed at a junction – but cautioned the investigation was in its preliminary stages. The RCMP said there was no evidence at this point that suggested the killings were racially motivated.Police have appealed to anyone with dashboard or trail camera footage from the area to come forward.“I just don’t get why somebody could murder two people for no reason like that,” Michel Sansom, Jake’s brother, told CBC News. “They didn’t rob them. The cops said nothing was missing. They pulled up just to kill them, just because. I just don’t understand that.”

New York Governor closes city playgrounds to combat virus

Cuomo said that New York, which had already shut playgrounds outside of the city, needed to clamp down further because young people continue to gather even as the virus takes a devastating toll on the city, the epicenter of the nation's outbreak. "You still see too many situations with too much density by young people," Cuomo told a daily briefing. Cuomo called on the city's police force to "get more aggressive" in enforcing social distancing efforts but added that open spaces in parks would remain available for people to "walk around, get some sun."

Wilhelm Burmann, master teacher to ballet stars, dies at 80; tested positive for coronavirus

Wilhelm Burmann, a master teacher and coach for the world's top ballet dancers for more than four decades, has died of renal failure after his treatment was complicated by the coronavirus, a close friend said. Burmann died peacefully on Monday, five days before his 81st birthday, in Mount Sinai West hospital in New York City, where he tested positive for the virus, said his health care proxy and friend, Jane Haugh. Burmann's classes in New York City attracted a Who's Who list of not just ballet stars, but also Broadway and modern dancers seeking to hone their craft under his meticulous eye.

Cruise ship passengers await Florida deal allowing them to disembark

The U.S. government and Florida were working on a plan on Wednesday to allow thousands of cruise ship passengers exposed to an onboard coronavirus outbreak to disembark, a day after President Donald Trump urged the governor to drop his opposition to their docking. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he was not opposed to them docking in his city. One of the two Dutch cruise ships involved is Holland America Line's MS Zaandam.