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NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is setting up hospitals at convention centers and sports complexes and bringing in medical workers as its battles the coronavirus. Public health experts projected Tuesday that the number of U.S. deaths could range from 100,000 to 240,000 even if Americans continue to practice social distancing. They said they hope the figure won't soar that high if everyone does their part to prevent the virus from spreading. Hard-hit New York is parking refrigerated morgue trucks on the streets to collect the dead. Italy has reported that the infection rate appears to be leveling off, while Spain is struggling to fend off the collapse of its hospital system.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has started taking tougher measures against the coronavirus after weeks of its president hugging followers and saying religious medals would protect him. Some experts warn the sprawling country of 129 million is acting too late and testing too little to prevent the type of crisis unfolding across the border in the U.S. Last week it banned non-essential government work as confirmed cases climbed. But it waited until late Monday to extend that to other business sectors, and to bar gatherings of more than 50 people. By Tuesday, Mexico reported 1,215 confirmed cases and at least 29 deaths — figures experts say greatly understates the true number of victims.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council is urging Afghanistan’s warring parties to heed the U.N. secretary-general’s call for an immediate cease-fire to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country. The council issued a press statement after a closed briefing Tuesday by U.N. deputy special representative Ingrid Hayden. She said the country faces “a defining moment” _ whether its feuding leaders can join together “”to engage in meaningful talks with the Taliban to achieve a sustainable peace.” She said the choice is “made stark" by the threat of the coronavirus to Afghans and Afghan institutions.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A large earthquake struck north of Boise on Tuesday evening, with people across a large area reporting shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m. It was centered 73 miles northeast of Meridian. A restaurant owner in Stanley near where the quake hit said his whole house was rattling from the force of it. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The bipartisan partnership that propelled a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package through Congress just days ago is already showing signs of strain. And that is raising questions about how quickly calls for massive followup legislation may bear fruit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is collecting ideas for Congress' next stab at stabilizing an economy knocked into free fall by the coronavirus outbreak. But top congressional Republicans say that first, it's time to pause and see how the $2.2 trillion measure is working. Republicans will have their own ideas about what the next bill should look like.
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