Coronavirus Update, March 04: Here's What You Need To Know Today

The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus in the U.S. rose to nine Tuesday, all of them in Washington state. The Trump administration and the World Health Organization (WHO) still say the virus -- which has infected 91,300 people worldwide and caused at least 3,110 deaths -- poses a manageable threat. The virus has infected at least 126 people in the U.S. alone.

Two types of COVID-19 identified: Chinese researchers identified two different types of the novel coronavirus, reports said. Scientists at Peking University’s School of Life Sciences and the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai found the more aggressive type in about 70% of analyzed strains. They added that this type of the virus had caused the outbreak in Wuhan but had decreased since January.

Mortality rate revised upward: Worryingly, the director-general of the WHO said the mortality rate of COVID-19 is significantly higher than previous estimates. He said 3.4% of confirmed patients have died globally. The WHO had earlier estimated VOCID-19's mortality rate at 0.7%-4%, depending on the quality of the health-care provided.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it had temporarily shut a Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Seattle after one of its employees began showing signs of a COVID-19 infection. The office will remain closed for 14 days. The Kirkland city council has also confirmed 27 of the city's firefighters and two police officers of the police department are in quarantine.

Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the response to the virus, said Tuesday that the U.S. will screen all travelers coming on direct flights from South Korea and Italy. The two countries have the most number of confirmed coronavirus cases outside of China, according to the WHO.

The Trump administration vowed late Tuesday that any American can now be tested for the virus if a doctor deems it necessary. There are over 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S., but with the Trump administration saying that any American can be tested for the virus if a doctor deems it necessary, the real number of infections is expected to climb.

The World Bank Group will make $12 billion available to help fight coronavirus outbreaks worldwide.

President Donald Trump donated his fourth-quarter paycheck of $100K to combat the coronavirus.

The Federal Reserve, which lowered its benchmark interest rate by a half-point Tuesday, to offset the impact of the coronavirus on the U.S. economy, said the fundamentals remained strong. But it added that the coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity and that it will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy.

The Fed's benchmark rate is now in a range between 1 and 1.25%. Dow Jones closed 2.94% lower after the announcement, as investors had already factored in a rate cut.

After Twitter, Google has asked some of its global workforces to work remotely to guard against the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. A growing number of companies are emptying offices, canceling business travel and curtailing operations in areas where the infection is prevalent. A Google employee in Zurich last week tested positive for the coronavirus.

Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, has reportedly asked its staff to take leave, with or without pay. The government-owned airline operates out of Dubai.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will reduce the number of domestic flights in Japan. Vietnam's budget carrier Vietjet has suspended all flights between Vietnam and South Korea.

Global infections continue to grow: South Korea reported 516 new cases of coronavirus infections Wednesday, bringing the country's total number of cases to at least 5,328, with 32 deaths in the largest outbreak outside China, Reuters reported. President Moon Jae-in has called off a planned trip to the UAE, Egypt, and Turkey in mid-March. South Korea has also come up with a new way to make sure people self-quarantined at home, stay put- a GPS-based app.

China, the epicenter of the infection, reported 119 new cases and 38 new deaths from the coronavirus.

Italy on Tuesday reported a jump in the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus to 79, with more than 2,500 people infected -- the most in any country in Europe. The civil protection agency said 27 people had died since Monday.

India on Wednesday quarantined 16 Italian tourists from a group of 21 who had tested positive for the virus and placed seven districts where the group had traveled to on alert.

Iran's coronavirus cases have reportedly soared past 2,300, but the numbers coming out of the country are not reliable. Tehran is suspected of suppressing the actual number of infections.

Spain announced the country's first coronavirus death Tuesday. Chile reported the country's first coronavirus case Tuesday.

A nursing home worker in northern Sydney, Australia, is confirmed to have the coronavirus, raising concerns for the elderly people who live there.

2020 Tokyo Olympics: The games are scheduled to start July 24 but Japan's Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto said the country's contract with the International Olympic Committee specifies only that the games be held in 2020, indicating the games could be postponed to a later date. But top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday the games will be held as planned.

The number of confirmed infections in Japan reached 1,000 Wednesday, including 700 people on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess. The death toll stands at 12, including six linked to the cruise ship.

The WHO has warned of a medical equipment shortage as the virus spreads across the globe. It estimates that about 89 million medical masks, 76 million examination gloves, and 1.6 million goggles will be required by health care workers.