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Coronavirus live updates: New York City morgues are almost full amid mounting death toll

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed at least 6,586 people in the United States. With more than 257,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, the U.S. has by far the highest national tally in the world, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Ex-White House candidate Buttigieg forms PAC to support 'forward-thinking' Democrats

The formation of the PAC, called Win the Era, will focus on down-ballot races and represents the former White House hopeful's first steps in outlining his post-campaign future. After dropping out, he endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, who now leads the delegate race for the Democratic nomination over U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Canada signs agreement with Amazon Canada to distribute medical equipment

Canada has signed an agreement with Amazon Canada to ensure medical equipment is delivered where it is most needed in the country's fight against the cornonavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. "Our government has signed an agreement with Amazon Canada to manage the distribution of this equipment to the provinces and territories," Trudeau told reporters during a daily news briefing outside his Ottawa home. Trudeau did not provide details on the value of the contract.

Results of UK clinical coronavirus trials "a few months away": senior medic

Results from clinical trials of possible drugs to treat the coronavirus are likely a few months away, England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said on Friday. Van-Tam said Britain wanted to move on to new medicines in the next round of clinical trials, including those that might be in development for other diseases but might "have a role to play". Health Minister Matt Hancock said that until possible treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, were shown to be effective, the only protection against it was to stay at home.

New York public defenders say unable to reach inmates in federal jails

Lawyers representing inmates in New York federal jails said on Friday they had been largely cut off from their clients since in-person visits were halted last month due to the coronavirus pandemic. "The majority of requests for a telephone consultation result in no response at all," the Federal Defenders of New York wrote in a letter filed in Brooklyn federal court. The group also said jail officials had not followed through on promises last month to set up regular videoconferences.

Coronavirus economic updates: US cuts 701K jobs in March, unemployment rate jumps to 4.4%

The coronavirus pandemic has quickly evolved from a health crisis to a financial one, shuttering businesses, upending entire industries and sending financial markets reeling. For example, many restaurants donate excess food.

Schiff proposes postelection 9/11-style commission to study coronavirus response

Rep. Adam Schiff’s proposal for a 9/11-style commission to study the nation’s response to the coronavirus outbreak "is not an exercise in casting blame or scoring political points, but something that the American people should rightly expect from their government as an exercise in accountability," he said.

Dwayne Johnson raps 'Moana' song to his daughter while washing her hands amid coronavirus

“Before my showers now, Baby Tia (mama mia) demands I sing the rap portion of my song “You’re Welcome” from MOANA, while I wash her hands,” he wrote alongside the post, referencing the 2016 Disney animated film he starred in alongside Auli'i Cravalho. Before my showers now, Baby Tia (mama mia) demands I sing the rap portion of my song “You’re Welcome” from MOANA, while I wash her hands. The CDC recommends lathering and scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds, which is like singing “Happy Birthday” twice -- or, in this case, part of a “Moana” song once.

New York reports deadliest day from coronavirus, makes plea for help

New York suffered its deadliest single day from the novel coronavirus, with 562 additional deaths in the last 24 hours for a total of 2,935 fatalities, by far the most of any U.S. state, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. Cuomo warned that people were "going to die in the near term" due to a lack of ventilators and hospital beds and called for resources from across the United States to be deployed to New York to help it deal with the growing crisis in the state - the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.

Love in time of coronavirus: octogenarians picnic at Danish-German border

Two octogenarian lovers, one living in Denmark and the other in Germany, are determined to keep meeting every day for a picnic and a chat on either side of the border, which has been shut to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Inga Rasmussen, 85, who lives in Gallehus on the Danish side, met Karsten Tuechsen Hansen, 89, two years ago. Like many lovers around the world in this time of the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on free movement, they face obstacles in meeting up but they are not easily deterred.

Sara Bareilles reveals she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is now fully recovered

Sara Bareilles revealed on Thursday that she had the COVID-19 coronavirus and has now fully recovered. In a video posted to her official Instagram account, the 40-year-old Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and Broadway star made the announcement while walking around New York City.

Italy experts say reliable coronavirus antibody test may be ready soon

A reliable antibody blood test to find out who has already had the coronavirus would give a better picture of the extent of Italy's epidemic and could possibly be identified within days, scientific advisers to the government said on Friday. More than 115,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy since the outbreak was discovered in its wealthy northern regions on Feb. 21 and almost 14,000 have died, the highest death toll in the world. Pressure is growing to find out who has been exposed to the virus and whether some people have developed immunity, in order to soften the severe lockdown measures the government has imposed to curb the contagion.

Italian shoe designer Sergio Rossi dies at 84

Famed Italian shoe designer Sergio Rossi, 84, has died. "Today everyone at Sergio Rossi joins me in remembering our dear Sergio, the inspiring founder of our dream," CEO Sergio Rossi Group Riccardo Sciutto said in an Instagram post. "Sergio Rossi was a master, and it is my great honor to have met him and gotten to present him the archive earlier this year," he continued.

IMF, WHO urge leaders to focus on health spending to get virus under control

The IMF and the World Health Organization on Friday urged leaders of developing countries to prioritize paying medical staff, buying protective gear and other health expenditures in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a joint column in the UK's Telegraph newspaper, the heads of the two institutions said getting the new coronavirus under control was a prerequisite to reviving the global economy, and it was critical to strike the right balance in spending emergency aid. "Our joint appeal to policymakers, especially in emerging market and developing economies, is to recognise that protecting public health and putting people back to work go hand-in-hand," wrote International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Trump taps Kavanaugh ally for seat on influential appeals court

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced plans to nominate a vocal ally of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to an influential federal appeals court in Washington. Justin Walker, 37, who has served as a federal district court judge in Kentucky since October, would replace Republican appointee Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit if approved by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. Griffith, appointed by former President George W. Bush, had previously announced his plans to retire.

Lockheed Martin adds jobs, increases supplier payments to counter coronavirus impact

Reuters reported last month the Pentagon was increasing the amount of interim payments it makes to defense contractors in an effort to give them a financial boost. "As we all deal with the challenges of the health crisis, we will continue to perform and deliver critical products and capabilities for the United States and our allies, support job creation and help those in need wherever we operate," Lockheed said.