promoearn: The party's canceled

Monday, March 16, 2020

The party's canceled

Monday, March 16

A drive-thru coronavirus testing station in Wilmington, Delaware, on Mar 13, 2020.

San Francisco is under near-lockdown. US stocks nosedived. And Trump says Americans could be hunkered down until summer. It's Monday's news.

As the coronavirus pandemic gains momentum, consider some advice from Taylor Swift: You need to ~~calm down~~ stay in. "This is the time to cancel plans, actually truly isolate as much as you can," the singer said. So let's all just stay home (if we can) and save lives, shall we?

It's Ashley with the latest news to know.

But first, move aside pizza rat: The "Egg McMuffin rat" is the latest star of the subways. Seriously, look at the size of this thicc* boy.

*It's how the kids write thick. I don't make the rules.

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Can we go back to December?

President Donald Trump issued guidelines Monday, calling on Americans to avoid social gatherings involving groups of 10 or more for the next 15 days to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Trump also said that Americans could be hunkered down and practicing social distancing at least until July or August to confront the pandemic.

Other important updates on coronavirus:

The Bay Area is under near-lockdown:

In an attempt to slow the coronavirus outbreak, officials from six counties across the Bay Area in California, including San Francisco, issued a "shelter in place" order on Monday for all residents – requiring roughly 6.7 million people to not leave their homes.

Idris Elba has coronavirus

The actor revealed Monday that he has tested positive for coronavirus. "This morning I tested positive for COVID-19. I feel OK, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus," the actor said.

Checking in on that relief bill

The sweeping coronavirus relief bill (including paid sick leave) the House rushed to pass Saturday is being delayed over technical issues and could take days to reach Trump's desk.

How coronavirus is affecting Tuesday's election

Tuesday's primary elections in four states are still happening, but not quite as planned due to the coronavirus outbreak. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is requesting to postpone in-person voting in the state until June 2.

Have a dry cough or a sore throat?

It could be allergies, but maybe not. Here are nine actions recommended by health experts if you think you might have COVID-19. The first step? Take a deep, cleansing breath.

What these federal rate cuts mean for you

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rattle Wall Street even after the Federal Reserve lowered borrowing costs to zero on Sunday in an emergency move to lend the economy an assist. The Dow fell nearly 3,000 points on Monday – its second-worst percentage loss in history behind the "Black Monday" stock market crash in 1987. But there's a silver lining in the economic anxiety Americans face. Experts say borrowers are poised to benefit from the combination of lower rates and a drop in bond yields in the coming months, conditions that are likely to cut borrowing costs on everything from mortgages to student loans.

Just because the market has dropped does not mean you should panic.

Getty Images

What everyone's talking about. Yep, it's coronavirus

•	The Supreme Court, for the first time since 1918, postponed oral arguments.
•	Disney World officially closed its doors. Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip are closing, too.
•	A "war" between your body and the virus: Here's what the coronavirus infection does to your body.
•	Desolate store shelves, empty streets: These 16 eerie images depict coronavirus in America.
•	Add the United Kingdom and Ireland to the list of European nations on Trump's travel ban list.

Wait, there's something good to look forward to this week: Spring

Ready for some good news? Something in 2020 finally worked in our favor. Spring is coming earlier this year than it has since 1896. The vernal (spring) equinox – which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere – will take place Thursday. This is "earlier than any other equinox in the last 124 years," AccuWeather said. We'll take it.

Real quick

•	Ahead of Florida's primary, 1.4 million former felons are unsure whether they can vote in 2020.
•	Will we see a female vice president on the Democratic ticket? Both Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders signaled "yes" at Sunday's debate.
•	NFL free agency: Winners and losers as franchise tag window closes and negotiating period begins.

Now for some unsettling news from the other global crisis

Greenland and Antarctica are now melting six times faster than in the 1990s, a rate that could cause flooding that affects hundreds of millions of people by the end of the century, NASA said in a statement. In all, Greenland and Antarctica have lost 6.4 trillion tons of ice in the past three decades.

A break from the news, social distancing edition

•	Staying indoors? We've compiled 100 suggestions to make your time quarantined as interesting – and productive – as possible.
•	Parents, we got you: 13 things to keep kids entertained if you're quarantined.
•	The 5 best Amazon deals you can get Monday.