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Police in Texas are investigating an 18-year-old woman’s claim she tested positive for coronavirus and is “willfully spreading it,” authorities said. According to a tweet by the Carrollton Police Department, Lorraine Maradiaga went on social media and said she tested positive for COVID-19, KTBC reported. Authorities said Maradiaga is facing a charge of terroristic threat for her claims, the television station reported. In a follow-up tweet, Carrolltown police said they have not confirmed whether Maradiaga actually has tested positive for the virus. “We are, however, taking her social media actions very seriously,” police said in their tweet. A Snapchat video circulating on social media shows a woman, later identified as Maradiaga, going to what appears to be a drive-thru testing site, KXAS reported. In the video, a nurse tells Maradiaga she needs to go home while awaiting results, the television station reported. In a subsequent video, Maradiaga is shown shopping at a store she claims is a Walmart, KXAS reported. “I’m here at Walmart about to infest every (expletive), because if I’m going down, all you (expletive) are going down,” Maradiaga said. Later in the video, Maradiaga is back in her car, coughing in the direction of the camera, KXAS reported. The video later shows the woman in her car, coughing into the camera. “If you want to get the coronavirus and (expletive) die, call me,” Maradiaga said. “I’ll meet you up and (cough, cough) and I will shorten your life.” A Carrollton Police Department spokesman told the television station officers went to Maradiaga’s home Sunday, but she was not there.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Saturday that it has begun studies to determine how many people in the United States have already been infected with COVID-19. The new testing will look for the presence of antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. The test results will be important in detecting infections in people who have had few or no symptoms of the virus. Some health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, believe that up to 50 percent of the people who have contracted the virus have had no symptoms while the had the virus. Someone infected with the COVID-19 can show mild symptoms similar to a cold or have more severe symptoms like high fever, severe cough and shortness of breath, which often indicates a person has pneumonia. However, more scientists are saying that perhaps a larger number of people have virtually no symptoms at all when they have the virus. Could you have had the disease in the past few months and not known it? Here’s what we know about spreading the virus, mild or no symptoms and if there’s a test that can tell you if you have already had COVID-19. 1. Could I have had COVID-19 in the past few months and not known it? The answer is yes, you could have had the virus and not shown symptoms or perhaps had symptoms so mild you assumed you had a cold or allergy. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, said last week that up to 25% of people who have been infected with COVID-19 may never show symptoms. “We have pretty much confirmed” that “a significant number of individuals that are infected actually remain asymptomatic,” Redfield told NPR last week. If a person is asymptomatic it means they have an infection but are not suffering any symptoms of the virus. Fauci said Sunday during a briefing by the White House Coronavirus Task Force that he believes the number of people infected with COVID-19 but show no symptoms is likely “somewhere between 25 and 50 percent.”He emphasized that until more testing information is available, that estimate is a guess. The list of symptoms that have been associated with the virus is not a small one. According to the CDC, symptoms such as a dry cough, fatigue, low-grade fever, body aches, nasal congestion and sore throat are the most common with COVID-19. In addition, symptoms such as the loss of the senses of taste and smell, diarrhea and the appearance of conjunctivitis – commonly known as “pink eye” – have also been seen. 2. Is there a test that can tell me if I had it? The CDC testing to identify who has been infected with the virus began last week, STATnews and The New York Times reported. The first phase of testing is aimed at identifying people in COVID-19 “hot spots” who weren’t diagnosed with the infection. These tests are different from the tests conducted now to find out if a person is positive for COVID-19. Those tests are called PCR and they look for the presence of the virus in people at the time they are tested. If a person has had the virus and recovered, the PCR test would show no virus in the person. The PCR test result does not mean that the person never had the virus, only that there is no virus in them at the time the test was taken. The tests the CDC began look for something different. When a person is infected with a virus, the body begins to fight it by producing antibodies. Antibodies, which are a protein in the blood, will combine chemically with viruses to kill them. After the virus is dead, some antibodies remain in the blood, ready to fight the virus should it return. Antibodies have properties unique to the virus it is fighting and those properties allow scientists to develop tests to see if a person’s body has fought off a certain virus. According to a story from STATnews.com, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City have also developed tests that look for the antibodies created to fight COVID-19. “It seems very easy to be able to say yes or no, somebody was infected or wasn’t infected,” Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine, told Stat. According to the article, Krammer and several colleagues posted a paper describing how they developed the test. The paper has not been through the peer review process yet. A website Krammer’s group has started directs labs on how they can order the ingredients they need to conduct the tests. Other laboratories around the world are also developing antibody tests. 3. If I had no symptoms but had the virus, was I contagious? Scientists believe that people without symptoms can spread the virus.”There’s significant transmission by people not showing symptoms,' Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, told Business Insider. In the interview with NPR, Redfield said it appears people with the virus are most contagious about 48 hours before symptoms appear. “This helps explain how rapidly this virus continues to spread across the country because we have asymptomatic transmitters and we have individuals who are transmitting 48 hours before they become symptomatic,” Redfield said. A CDC study of coronavirus patients in a nursing home in Washington showed that of 23 people who tested positive for COVID-19, only 10 had shown symptoms on the day of their diagnosis. Of the 13 others, 10 developed symptoms a week after being found to be positive for the virus. 4. If I have mild or no symptoms, how am I spreading the virus? The virus is believed to be spread by droplets that come from an infected person’s body. Even if you do not feel ill or do not have severe symptoms, you can have a high virus “load,” or amount of virus in your body. People shed the virus (pass it to others) through touching their mouths or noses and then touching a surface where it can stay for minutes or hours, or by coughing or sneezing. Some researchers believe that just by being near someone and talking can spread the virus. 5. If I’ve had it, can I get it again? Researchers say that having the virus and recovering from it will likely give a person immunity from the new coronavirus, at least for a time. 'It is reasonable to predict we will have some immunity. To say you will have lifelong immunity? We just don’t know yet,” Frances Lund, professor and chair of the department of microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told NBC News. “But I think it’s a reasonable conclusion that you will have immunity for the rest of this season.” Viruses can and do mutate in order to survive. If the COVID-19 virus does mutate, a person could get the virus again, albeit a slightly different version of the virus.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act has officially been enacted. But what does it mean for workers and businesses who may fall under the law? What does FFCRA do? The FFCRA allows for leave related to COVID-19, providing new regulations for the size of businesses and how much time employees may take. How long is the FFCRA in effect? The FFCRA runs through Dec. 31. Who is eligible? If a business has fewer than 500 employees then the employees are eligible. Federal government employees are not. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt from some of the requirements if complying can jeopardize the business. What do employees get? Employees can get two weeks, up to 80 hours, of paid sick leave at their regular pay if an employee can’t work because they are quarantined or have COVID-19 symptoms and are trying to get diagnosed. Employees can get two weeks, up to 80 hours, of paid sick leave at two-thirds their regular pay because they have to care for someone who is subject to quarantine or to care for a child whose school or child care is closed because of COVID-19. If an employee has been on the job for at least 30 days, employers must provide up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave, paid at two-thirds the regular rate, if the employee can’t work due to having to provide care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed because of COVID-19. For more on how the FFCRA covers workers, including part-time employees, click here.

An Illinois inmate serving a life sentence in the slaying of an 11-year-old boy died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus, prison officials said. According to WLS-TV, Ronald Rice, 66, who was incarcerated at the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, died at a hospital in Morris, the Grundy County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. Prison officials did not release any other information about Rice’s death, the television station reported. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Rice had been an inmate since 1984 and was not eligible for parole until 2048, the Chicago Tribune reported. Rice was originally sentenced for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy from Calumet City, the newspaper reported. In 2010, Rice pleaded guilty to the 1980 sexual assault and murder of Eddie Gulbransen, 11, of Oak Forest, the Tribune reported. Rice is the second inmate at the prison to die from coronavirus, WTVO reported. On Sunday, 26 staff members and 56 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19, the television station reported.

More than 1.27 million people worldwide – including more than 337,000 people in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. Officials are attempting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. as hospitals brace for unprecedented patient surges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the U.S. here. Live updates for Monday, April 6, continue below:  Canadian official accuses US of blocking delivery of 3 million masks Update 2:10 p.m. EDT April 6: The premier of Canada’s most populous province said U.S. officials have stopped 3 million masks from getting to Ontario from manufacturing giant 3M but he said 500,000 of them are being released Monday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said getting masks across the U.S. border has been difficult since the Trump administration announced it would prevent the export of N95 protective masks. Ford says he’s hopeful Canada will get an exemption and said he felt better about that after speaking with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Ford said he’s grateful for anything he can from the U.S. after delays in global shipments and recent restrictions at the U.S. border left Ontario with about a one-week supply of critical protective equipment for health care workers. Canadian health care workers — like those in the U.S. — are in dire need of the masks that provide more protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. 38% rise in fatal coronavirus cases reported in Louisiana  Update 1:50 p.m. EDT April 6: The number of fatal coronavirus cases reported in Louisiana jumped by 38% over the weekend, according to ABC News and numbers from the Louisiana Department of Health. Numbers released Monday showed 512 fatal coronavirus cases have been reported in the state. Officials said 14,867 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state. Pennsylvania officials report nearly 13,000 COVID-19 cases Update 1:25 p.m. EDT April 6: Officials in Pennsylvania said Monday that nearly 13,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, according to WPXI. Numbers released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health showed 12,980 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, a majority in Allegheny County. WPXI reported 150 people have died of COVID-19 in the state. 636 new fatal coronavirus cases reported in Italy Update 1 p.m. EDT April 6: Officials in Italy reported 636 new fatal coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the country’s total number of COVID-19 deaths to 16,523. The number is slightly higher than the 525 new fatal cases reported Sunday. Officials said that as of Monday, 93,187 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Italy. The cases included 18,976 which were serious enough to require hospitalization. One Monday, officials said 3,898 people were in intensive care units. More than 60,000 people had been placed under isolation. US death toll tops 10,000 Update 12:50 p.m. EDT April 6: Newly released numbers from New York brought the death toll from coronavirus in the United States over 10,000 on Monday with half of the deaths reported in the Empire State. “The number of deaths are up once again,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference, though he added that the reports appeared to be lower and might be plateauing. “While none of this is good news, the flattening -- possible flattening of the curve -- is better than the increases that we have seen.” Florida officials report more than 13,000 COVID-19 cases Update 12:20 p.m. EDT April 6: Officials in Florida said Monday that 13,324 coronavirus infections have been reported in the state, WFTV reported. The infections include 1,592 which were serious enough to require hospitalization, according to the Florida Department of Health. Fifteen new fatal coronavirus cases were reported Monday, according to WFTV, bringing the state’s total number of deadly cases to 236. Over 130,000 coronavirus infections reported in New York Update 12:15 p.m. EDT April 6: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said Monday that 130,689 coronavirus cases have been reported thus far in the state. Cuomo said 4,758 people have died statewide since the coronavirus outbreak began. He noted that the number of reported daily deaths appeared to be slowing over the last two days though he said it was too early to say for certain. “If we are plateauing it’s because social distancing is working,' Cuomo said. 'We have to make sure that social distancing continues.” ‘Jaws’ actress Lee Fierro dies from complications from coronavirus Update 12 p.m. EDT April 6: Lee Fierro, a stage actress best known for her role as Mrs. Kintner in 1975′s “Jaws,' has died of complications from coronavirus, according to CBS News and The Martha’s Vineyard Times. She was 91. Fierro had been living at an assisted living facility in Ohio, the Times reported. Friends remembered her as a dedicated teacher, mentor and performer. “She’s the reason I followed my dreams. That’s such a hackneyed phrase, but it’s true,' novelist Nicki Galland told the Times. 'This is going to stick with me for a long time.” Fierro was survived by her five children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, according to the newspaper. Coronavirus infections top 1,000 in DC Update 11:55 a.m. EDT April 6: Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C. said Monday that 99 new coronavirus infections have been reported in the area, bringing the total number of cases in the capitol to 1,097. Bowser said Monday that two women also died of COVID-19, one who was 67 and the other who was 69. Twenty-four people in Washington D.C. have died of coronavirus, officials said. US Open golf tournament postponed until September Update 11:45 a.m. EDT April 6: Organizers on Monday announced plans to postpone the 120th U.S. Open Championship until September as the country grapples with the impact of the coronavirus. The event had been scheduled to take place June 18 - 21 in New York. Officials said Monday the tournament will instead be held from September 17 - 20. “We are hopeful that postponing the championship will offer us the opportunity to mitigate health and safety issues while still providing us with the best opportunity to conduct the U.S. Open this year,” Mike Davis, CEO of the U.S. Golf Association, said Monday in a statement. Masters Tournament rescheduled for November Update 11:35 a.m. EDT April 6: Organizers on Monday announced the 2020 Masters Tournament has been rescheduled to take place in November. Officials had announced the postponement of the Masters and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament on March 13, citing “the ever-increasing risks associated with the widespread coronavirus.” “In collaboration with the leading organizations in golf, Augusta National Golf Club has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters,” organizers said Monday in a news release. “While more details will be shared in the weeks and months to come, we, like all of you, will continue to focus on all mandated precautions and guidelines to fight against the coronavirus. Along the way, we hope the anticipation of staging the Masters Tournament in the fall brings a moment of joy to the Augusta community and all those who love the sport.” New York City considering ‘temporary interment’ for COVID-19 victims Update 11:30 a.m. EDT April 6: Mark Levine, chair of the New York City health committee, said Monday that officials are preparing for the possibility that some people may need to be temporarily interred as morgues and funeral homes become overwhelmed during the coronavirus pandemic. “Soon we’ll start ‘temporary interment,’” Levine said Monday in a tweet. “This will likely be done by using a (New York City) park for burials. ... Trenches will be dug for 10 caskets in a line.' In a follow-up tweet, Levine highlighted that officials are only preparing for the possibility and that “if the death rate drops enough it will not be necessary.” Earlier Monday, he said the city morgue, hospital morgues, funeral homes and cemeteries had been dealing with “the equivalent of an ongoing 9/11.” “Nothing matters more in this crisis than saving the living,” he said. “But we need to face the gruesome reality that we need more resources to manage our dead as well. Or the pain of this crisis will be compounded almost beyond comprehension.” Allstate to return $600M in auto premiums to customers Update 11:10 a.m. EDT April 6: The Good Hands People plan to put money back in their customers’ hands. Insurance giant Allstate announced Monday that it would return more than $600 million in auto insurance premiums to customers, who have been driving less as states have implemented stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders to battle the coronavirus. 533 new coronavirus cases reported in Indiana Update 11:05 a.m. EDT April 6: Officials in Indiana announced 533 new reported coronavirus cases Monday, raising the state’s total number of cases to 4,944. Officials also reported a dozen new fatal COVID-19 cases. Statewide, 139 people have died of coronavirus. British Open Championship golf tournament canceled for 1st time since WWII Update 11 a.m. EDT April 6: Organizers on Monday announced the cancellation of golf’s oldest championship tournament due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The R&A announced the decision to cancel The Open Championship based on guidance from the U.K. government, health officials and others. Officials said the 149th Open will be played July 11 - July 18, 2021. Coronavirus cases among active duty military members tops 1,000 Update 10:35 a.m. EDT April 6: The Pentagon said the number of COVID-19 cases in the active duty force topped 1,000 over the weekend. There are a total of 1,132 confirmed cases as of Monday morning. The total was 978 on Friday. There also have been 303 cases among members of the National Guard. Among the military services, the Navy has the most cases, with 431. That includes more than 150 among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to take applications beginning Monday Update 10:25 a.m. EDT April 6: The National Restaurant Association has set up the Restaurant Employee Relief fund to give grants of $500 full- or part-time restaurant employees struggling as the coronavirus pandemic shutters restaurants nationwide. Officials with the National Restaurant Association said the fund was supposed to open for applications earlier, but the server hosting the application process was overwhelmed shortly after opening. “We are deeply humbled by and grateful for the opportunity to provide support to restaurant employees. Almost immediately after opening the application process, extremely high user volume overwhelmed the application platform. We are continuing to upgrade our system to improve site functionality and expand capacity,' the group said on the application website. Stocks rise on signs of progress battling COVID-19 Update 9:50 a.m. EDT April 6: Stocks jumped in markets around the world Monday after some of the hardest-hit areas offered sparks of hope that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak may be on the horizon. U.S. stocks climbed more than 3% in the first few minutes of trading, following similar gains in Europe and Asia. In another sign that investors are feeling more optimistic about the economy’s path, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was headed for its first gain in four days. Oil prices fell after a meeting between Russia and OPEC aimed at defusing a price war was pushed back a few days. Wells Fargo closes application window for Paycheck Protection Program Update 9:35 a.m. EDT April 6: Officials with Wells Fargo announced Monday that the bank will no longer be accepting applications for a new federal program aimed at helping small businesses retain and pay workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.  In a statement Sunday, bank officials said they aimed to distribute $10 billion in loans under the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. Funding for the program was included in a $2.2 billion economic relief package to help Americans struggling in the pandemic.  Wells Fargo officials said Monday in a statement that they expected to “fill the company’s capacity to lend under the program” with the applications they’ve already received. The application window had opened Friday.  “Given the exceptionally high volume of requests we have already received, we will not be able to accept any additional requests for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program,” company officials said in a notice posted Monday. “We will review all expressions of interest submitted by customers via our online form through April 5 and provide updates in the coming days.” Without precautions ‘we could have another peak in a few weeks,’ US official says Update 9:10 a.m. EDT April 6: Admiral Dr. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Monday that people need to continue to take social distancing and other measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “Everyone is susceptible to this and everyone needs to follow the precautions that we’ve laid out,” Giroir said during an appearance on NBC’s “today” show Monday. “If we let our foot off the gas and start doing things that are ill-advised, we could have another peak in a few weeks. ... We have to completely keep our efforts going.” Officials recommend that Americans stay home as much as possible and keep at least 6 feet of distance from other people. They’ve also urged that people wear cloth face masks in public to stymie the spread of the virus. UK prime minister says he’s in ‘good spirits’ after hospitalization Update 8:55 a.m. EDT April 6: Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom said in a tweet Monday morning that he’s “in good spirits” after being hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms. Ten days before his hospitalization, Johnson had tested positive for COVID-19. “Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms,” Johnson said. “I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.” Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, out of isolation Update 7:55 a.m. EDT April 6: Britain’s Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is no longer in self-isolation, ITV and other news outlets are reporting. Although the 72-year-old, who is married to Prince Charles, tested negative for coronavirus, she went into self-isolation for two weeks because her husband had tested positive for COVID-19. Charles, 71, spent seven days in quarantine after displaying mild symptoms and left self-isolation March 30. Camilla and Charles have been staying in Scotland, ITV reported. Death rates in Spain, Italy appear to be slowing Update 7:21 a.m. EDT April 6: The rates of coronavirus deaths in Spain and Italy, the two European countries hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, appear to be slowing. According to CNN, Spanish health officials said Monday that 637 people died from the virus in the past day, an increase of 5.1% from the number of deaths reported Sunday. That marks “the lowest daily rise, percentage-wise, since early March,” CNN reported. Meanwhile, Italian officials on Sunday reported that 525 people died from the virus in the past 24 hours, marking the country’s “lowest death rate in two weeks,' according to CNN. As of Monday morning, Spain had reported the second-highest number of infections worldwide, with 131,646 cases and 12,641 deaths, while Italy had reported the third-highest number of infections, with 128,948 cases and 15,887 deaths, Johns Hopkins University reported. Only the United States had reported more overall cases. London’s West End theaters cancel all shows through May 31 Update 6:23 a.m. EDT April 6: London’s West End theaters are canceling all shows through May 31 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Society of London Theatre announced Monday. The theaters previously had announced a shutdown through April 26, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “We are now canceling all performances up until and including 31 May 2020 to help us process existing bookings whilst we wait for further clarity from the government in terms of when we will be able to reopen,” the society said in a statement. As of Monday morning, at least 48,440 coronavirus cases and 4,943 deaths had been reported in the United Kingdom, according to Johns Hopkins University. Read more here. FedEx pilots removed from duty following ‘inconclusive’ COVID-19 test results Update 5:14 a.m. EDT April 6: FedEx flew some pilots back to the United States after they received inconclusive test results for COVID-19. According to WHBQ in Memphis, Tennessee, the pilots were removed from service and are self-isolating while follow-up testing and evaluation is being performed, according to FedEx. The exact number of pilots removed is unclear. The company released a statement Sunday: “Some FedEx pilots were flown back to the U.S. after receiving inconclusive test results for COVID-19. They have been removed from duty and are self-isolating while follow-up testing and evaluation is performed. All areas where these team members worked are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The safety and well-being of our employees remains our first concern. FedEx continues to take all necessary precautions and follow guidance from the FAA, CDC and other public health organizations related to reporting and containment of COVID-19. We continue our operation in China and remain committed to providing the best possible service to our customers.“ Dozens of Massachusetts firefighters test positive for COVID-19 Update 4:32 a.m. EDT April 6: At least 87 firefighters in Massachusetts have tested positive for coronavirus as of Sunday, according to The Professional Fire Firefighters of Massachusetts. Boston’s WFXT reports that 1,814 firefighters have a documented exposure to COVID-19, 831 have been tested for the virus and 583 are currently under quarantine. In Taunton, nine firefighters have tested positive for coronavirus. “These numbers are alarming, but firefighters across Massachusetts and the United States will continue to answer your calls for service,” the labor union posted on Twitter on Sunday night. “Please help us help you – Stay home.” >> See the tweet here The numbers encompass 201 locals representing 11,106 members, which account for 97% of the union’s membership. On Sunday, a coronavirus testing site for only first responders opened at Gillette Stadium. Duran Duran’s John Taylor recovers after testing positive for COVID-19 Update 3:30 a.m. EDT April 6: Duran Duran’s John Taylor is feeling better weeks after he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, he wrote Sunday in a post on the band’s Facebook page. According to USA Today, the 59-year-old bass player said he was diagnosed three weeks ago and has since recovered. “After a week or so of what I would describe as a ‘turbo-charged flu,’ I came out of it feeling OK – although I must admit I didn’t mind the quarantine as it gave me the chance to really recover,” he wrote. “I am speaking out in answer to the enormous amount of fear being generated by the pandemic, some of it entirely justified, and my heart goes out to everyone who has had to deal with real loss and pain. But I want to let you know that it isn’t always a killer, and we can and will beat this thing.” >> See the post here Taylor added that he “cannot wait to be back onstage again, sharing new music, love and joy.” Singer-songwriter Christopher Cross tests positive for COVID-19 Update 2:35 a.m. EDT April 6: Singer-songwriter Christopher Cross has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, he said in an Instagram post Friday. “I’m sorry to report that I am among the growing number of Americans who tested positive for the COVID-19,” he wrote in the post. “I’m not in the habit of discussing medical issues on social media, but I do so in the hopes that this will help other people to understand how serious and how contagious this illness is. Although I am fortunate enough to be cared for at home, this is possibly the worst illness I have ever had.” >> See the post here Cross, 68, also urged his fans to take the virus seriously and stay home, wash their hands and avoid touching their faces. “For those of you who still do not believe the COVID-19 virus is real, or think it is a ‘hoax’ or part of some conspiracy, my advice to you is to understand right now that this is a deadly illness spreading like wildfire throughout the world,” the Grammy Award winner wrote, encouraging followers to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. He added that everyone should “be kind to one another.' “Only if we work together can we defeat COVID-19,' he wrote. Several other celebrities, including Pink, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Idris Elba and CNN’s Chris Cuomo, have tested positive for the virus. Delta announces changes to SkyMiles, Medallion programs Update 1:49 a.m. EDT April 6: The coronavirus pandemic has brought the airline industry nearly to a halt. In March, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced that its revenue fell by $2 billion due to the spread of COVID-19 and a drop in demand for air travel. On Sunday, Delta Air Lines has begun notifying its flyers about changes to its well-known SkyMiles program due to the sudden drop in air travel. “On behalf of all of us at Delta, I want to thank our customers for your continued loyalty during these unprecedented times. While our focus is on keeping customers and employees safe and healthy today and always, you are a part of the Delta family and we know how important these benefits are to you,” said Sandeep Dube, Delta’s senior vice president of customer engagement and loyalty, and CEO of Delta Vacations. “That’s why as coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, you don’t have to worry about your benefits – they’ll be extended so you can enjoy them when you are ready to travel again.” Here are the changes: Medallion Members: All Medallion Status for 2020 will be automatically extended for the 2021 Medallion Year. All Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 are being rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion Status. Delta Sky Club Individual and Executive memberships with an expiration of March 1, 2020, or later will receive six additional months of Delta Sky Club access beyond their expiration date. Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members: If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits: SkyMiles Members: If you have one of the following in your SkyMiles profile “My Wallet” that is valid now or has expired since March 1, 2020, we are extending the expiration dates to give you additional time to enjoy your benefits: The updates will happen automatically over the coming weeks, with no action needed from customers, Delta said. “We are continuously monitoring how coronavirus impacts travel and will make additional adjustments to support our customers’ needs as the pandemic evolves,” said Dube. Read more here. U.S. cases soar past 337,000, including more than 9,600 deaths Update 12:43 a.m. EDT April 6: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States soared past 337,000 across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands early Monday. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, there are at least 337,620 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 9,643 deaths. Worldwide, there are 1,274,923 confirmed cases and 69,479 deaths from the virus. U.S. cases outnumber those in any other nation, including the 131,646 reported in Spain and the 128,948 confirmed in Italy. Of the confirmed deaths in the U.S., 4,159 have occurred in New York, 917 in New Jersey, 617 in Michigan and 477 in Louisiana. In terms of diagnosed cases, New York remains the hardest-hit with at least 123,160 confirmed cases, followed by New Jersey with 37,505, Michigan with 15,718 and California with 15,154. Five other states have each confirmed at least 10,000 novel coronavirus cases, including: • Louisiana: 13,010, including 477 deaths • Massachusetts: 12,500, including 231 deaths • Florida: 12,350, including 221 deaths • Pennsylvania: 11,589, including 151 deaths • Illinois: 11,259, including 274 deaths The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Police officials in Massachusetts are seeking help in identifying a woman who allegedly assaulted a cashier at a Walmart on March 27. The Leicester Police Department said the incident occurred March 27, WFXT reported. The woman was told by the cashier there was a limit on the number of Lysol disinfectant cans she was trying to buy, the television station reported. The woman responded by spraying the cashier in the eyes with Lysol. The suspect then completed her purchase and left the store in what is believed to have been an Uber. The employee needed treatment by emergency medical service personnel, WFXT reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Matthew Soojian at (508) 892-7010 ext. 2066 or email soojianm@leicesterpd.org.