Coronavirus

Axios reports: Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, special advisor to the director general of the World Health Organization, told MSNBC Wednesday he found “most” of what President Trump said at his briefing on the novel coronavirus “incoherent.” As the number of confirmed cases reaches 60 in the U.S., the top health professional — who was a health policy adviser in the Obama …

The Hill reports: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday slammed President Trump’s appointment of Vice President Pence as point man on the coronavirus outbreak. Sanders noted the HIV outbreak that occurred during Pence’s tenure as governor of Indiana, as well as Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s refusal to promise that a coronavirus vaccine would be affordable to all. …

Time Magazine reports: A spokesman for the Japanese government on Wednesday said the International Olympic Committee and local organizers are going ahead as planned with the Tokyo Olympics despite the threat of the spreading coronavirus. The comments from spokesman Yoshihide Suga follow the assertion by former IOC vice-president Dick Pound that organizers face a three-month window to decide the fate …

ABC News reports: The latest patient being treated for the novel coronavirus in the United States is being investigated by health officials as possibly the first case of “community spread” on American soil. The newest patient, who is a resident of California, had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual, according …

The Associated Press reports: Japan is announcing the closure of schools nationwide through March to help control the spread of the new virus. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he asked all elementary, middle and high schools to remain closed until spring break ends in early April. The measure comes amid growing concern about the rise in the number of untraceable …