The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members onshore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives. In a memo to Navy leaders, the captain...
Fed Steps in Once Again to Try to Smooth out Lending Markets
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve is intervening once again to try to smooth out the world's lending markets, this time by lending dollars to other central banks in exchange for Treasurys. The Fed's move Tuesday marks its latest aggressive effort to keep borrowing rates down and ensure that financial markets...
White House Turns to Statistical Models for Virus Forecast
WASHINGTON — Like forecasters tracking a megastorm, White House officials are relying on statistical models to help predict the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and try to protect as many people as possible. The public could get its first close look at the Trump administration's own projections Tuesday at the daily briefing....
Some Instacart, Amazon Workers Strike as Jobs Get Riskier
NEW YORK — Some Instacart and Amazon warehouse workers walked off the job Monday demanding greater safeguards against the coronavirus, even as both companies are speed-hiring hundreds of thousands of new workers to handle a surge in delivery orders. The one-day strikes had little impact on consumers, but the unrest...
Macy's Stops Paying Employees as Job Cuts Pile Up
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Monday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus. Air Care Britain’s health service is asking airline cabin crew who have been laid off...
Trump Administration Rules Gun Shops 'Essential' Amid Virus
The Trump administration has ruled that gun shops are considered “essential” businesses that should remain open as other businesses are closed to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Gun control groups are balking, calling it a policy that puts profits over public health after intense lobbying by the firearms...
Small Businesses Ask: When Will Federal Money Arrive?
When will the money arrive? That's the urgent question for small business owners devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. They're awaiting help from the $2 trillion rescue package signed into law Friday. But with bills fast coming due, no end to business closings and an economy that's all but shut down,...
What You Need to Know Today About the Virus Outbreak
The mounting death toll from the virus outbreak in the United States has it poised to overtake China's tally of 3,300 deaths, with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo saying up to 1 million more health care workers are needed in the city. “Please come help us,” he urged. There are more...
How to Get Past the Coronavirus Crisis Without Losing Your Mental Health
The world as we knew it a few weeks ago — remember handshakes? — is now upside down. The coronavirus has sickened untold numbers of us, claimed thousands of lives, and shaken almost every corner of society. Fear of the virus leaves us hyper-aware of every sniffle and cough, of...
Mobile COVID-19 Testing Comes to Merced
Merced County will activate mobile COVID-19 testing sites for those showing symptoms of the disease, according to a news release from the county's health department. Testing will be done in two locations each week — one on the west side of the county and one on the east side. Specific...