the coronavirus pandemic is reaching new levels. some never implemented in modern day america. schools, restaurants, bars, all close as the government works to increase social distancing among citizens the message from the top the americans will have to hunker down significantly more to fight coronavirus the testing stations will begin to roll out in the coming days and weeks. democrats went head to head at a safe 6 feet distance last night. "early today" begins now good morning everybody

i'm lindsay reiser. >> good to be with you i'm francis rivera a world in the wake of the coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak. there are more cases outside of china than inside the country where the outbreak began in the united states, there are over 3,000 cases and here is what we know. >> americans are going to hunker down even more after the cdc urged against gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks. in an effort to slow the spread, officials in california, ohio, illinois, massachusetts, and washington are closing down bars and restaurants. tom hanks shares an update from isolation. he is thanking all the people that are helping him battle the virus. after he and his wife tested positive the couple had been in isolation at gold coast university hospital in queensland, australia. meanwhile, lady gaga revealed she's gone into self-quarantine. the grammy award winning artist shared a post on instagram saying it's the healthiest thing she can do

she encouraged fans to be kind to one another a crack down on one man who tried to capitalize on coronavirus. matt stockpiled 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer. he sold 300 of mark up on amazon the company later pulled them after they caught wind the attorney general's office of tennessee made sure he donated the rest of his supply an investigation continues and in sin city, all bets are off. this after mgm and wynn closed their doors due to the pandemic. operations will be suspended until further notice the ve major retailers are shutting down their store brands like nike, urban outfitters will close their doors for the next two weeks. apple is following suit closing down all stores except for the ones this china. as the frenzy for testing kits grows, customs officer seized six bags full of coronavirus

counterfeit testing kits the shipment came from the uk. and the state of georgia has become the second to postpone their march 24th primary until late may it came just a day after louisiana announced it was delaying their primary as the number of cases in the u.s. hit a new milestone, americans across the country are trying to prepare themselves for the ongoing pandemic as officials try to do everything they can to ban large groups cathy parks starts us off this morning. >> good morning. there's a list of growing restrictions and closures across the country. as the nation enters a new week, it's entering uncharted territory as the coronavirus crisis deepens heightened states of emergency across the nation. as a number of coronavirus cases soars above 3,000. elected officials taking unprecedented measures to keep people safe. illinois and ohio closing all bars and restaurants california shutting down bars and wineries and asking those 65

and older to self-isolate. >> we recognize around the rest of the world that we need to meet this moment head on >> reporter: new york city mayor closing all new york city public schools. affecting more than 1 million students >> there's a real possibility that by closing our schools now, we may not have the opportunity to reopen them in this full school year. >> reporter: puerto rico declaring a curfew and closing all nonessential businesses. more than 40,000 residents in new jersey ordered to self-quarantine. during this public health crisis, major retailers are also going dark bars and restaurants could be next in new york city. >> every option is on the table. this is a crisis that will be with us, first of all, i believe, at least six months >> reporter: meantime, confusion leading to chaos at u.s. airports under the administration's european travel ban. lines stretching for hours in

new york, dallas, and chicago's o'hare beth candor described her 30-hour travel nightmare. >> it was like a distopian boggle we didn't know if we were going to be quarantined. >> they should have increased the customs and border patrol numbers and should have increased the number of cdc personnel on the ground doing those checks they did neither of those. >> reporter: now if you're coming back from one of the restricted countries, you can expect an extensive screening which includes an interview regarding your medical and travel history also, if you are showing symptoms related to the coronavirus, you're guided to a cdc official if you're not symptomatic, you're given a brochure with guidelines how to self-quarantine for 14 days. lindsay? >> eight hours in line for some of those people. thanks the latest white house briefing on the virus focussed

on the latest efforts to expand testing for the illness. the administration said nearly 2 million tests will roll out over the week with more than 2,000 labs available to analyze the results. here is kelly o'donnell. >> reporter: sunday marks the 11th white house briefing on coronavirus. with new details on the availability of testing. >> we're now in a new phase of testing. we will have 1.9 million of these high throughput tests available this week. >> reporter: with scenes like these around the country showing americans waiting for coronavirus screenings the trump administration called on major retailers to provide use of parking lot space to stage drive through testing sites. >> we're using the full power of the federal government to defeat the coronavirus, and we will do whatever it takes. i think we're doing really, really well. the worst is yet ahead for us. it's how we respond to that challenge. that's going to be determine

what the ultimate end point will be this window will be important for us to stay ahead of this curve. >> reporter: friday in the rose garden, retail ceos said they're prepare to assist. >> we've been asked to make portions of our parking lot available in select locations in the beginning and scaling over time as supply increases >> reporter: a white house message about your trip to the grocery store where some shelves are bare. >> there's no need for anybody in the country to horde essential food supplies. they said just go and buy and enjoy it have a nice dinner and relax. >> thank you to kelly o'donnell for that report. from here in the u.s. to across the globe, nations around the world deal with the effects of coronavirus the china-born illness has been detected in at least 100 countries and infected more than 150,000 globally europe is the hardest hit outside of china this caused countries to take

drastic measures it's all in an effort to curb the spread and slow the death toll are the efforts enough for the latest on the outbreak, we turn to nbc live in london. >> reporter: good morning. europe has been described by the world health organization as the epicenter of the coronavirus, and italy is the worst affected country with the highest global mortality rate outside of china. it recorded 368 coronavirus deaths the largest outbreak bringing the total number of deaths it a staggering 1,890 people. the entire country of some 60 million people remain on lockdown in a chilling reminder, a newspaper shows the impact of the coronavirus. the number of obituary pages dropped from 2 to 10 in the

space of five weeks. almost the entire paper now an obituary and the prime minister said the coronavirus still hasn't reached the peak in the country. and that the weeks ahead are the most risky in spain, the spanish government is poised to declare a 15-day national lock down later today to battle the virus. people will be allowed out for essentials with over 6,000 infections, spain is the worst hit country in europe after italy. and all of the world, lindsay, the virus has changed the way people worship the pope held his weekly prayer from a library inside the vatican and streamed it over the internet for a second sunday and the vatican said earlier that easter services next month will be held without public participation

a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times. >> whow a stark reminder of what is going on in europe thank you. now the race for 2020 coronavirus is dominating the debate stage in lieu of a friendly handshake, joe biden and bernie sanders greeted each other with an elbow bump before going toe to toe with 6 feet of space between them the spotlight stayed on the pandemic and the health care president trump called it a very boring debate. nbc's dan scheneman has more. >> welcome to the unique event >> reporter: the two dplik contenders on stage. issue one? >> warp with virus. >> we need unprecedented action right now to deal with the unprecedented crisis >> reporter: coronavirus fighting the pandemic. >> we should be surging help to the places that are the most vulnerable we should have every single person that is in a nursing home

being able to be tested. >> reporter: and the economic impact on individuals. both candidates defending their records. >> you have been on the floor of the senate time and time again talking about the need to cut social security, medicare, and veteran's programs is that true >> it's not true. >> we did not cut it >> reporter: frontrunner biden working to roa working to reach out to his rival supporters. >> we disagree on the detail but not the principle. >> reporter: and making a new commitment. >> i commit i will, in fact, pick a woman to be vice president. >> reporter: two candidates hoping to solidify and grow support before this week's primaries in illinois, ohio, florida, and arizona dan scheneman, nbc news. all right. your first check of weather with

nbc meteorologist januaessa web >> good morning. >> good morning. we have a storm system that is brewing across the south but the rest of the country across the east coast, we're seeing a lot of clearing happening. we're watching the squall line across industricentral texas. there's a potential for a few sparks of weather. we'll watch rain throughout the afternoon all the way to wednesday. the possibility of forecasting 1 to 3 inches across oklahoma city could deal with minor flooding the stormy pattern will stay in intact at least for the afternoon as it pushes well to the east the strong storms and the surge of moisture will continue across the south into 50s today with a ton of

sunshine this almost like summer like weather pattern will stay intact. >> you're saying maybe more like summer it's ahead bombs away at the box office as coronavirus fears hit the big screen ndicand pushed to the brink by the growing storm for the u.s. health care system for people with heart failure taking entresto, it may lead to a world of possibilities. entresto is a heart failure medicine prescribed by most cardiologists. it was proven superior at helping people stay alive and out of the hospital. heart failure can change the structure of your heart, so it may not work as well. entresto helps improve your heart's ability to pump blood to the body. and with a healthier heart, there's no telling where life may take you. don't take entresto if pregnant; it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren,

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relieves depression, restores heart rhythms, helps you back from strokes, and keeps you healthy your whole life. from the day you're born we never stop taking care of you. the coronavirus pandemic is creating an unprecedented challenge for medical workers. hospitals in the u.s. are staying they are not ready with not enough equipment or personnel. one governor is asking for the military to step in. we're joined by nbc's erin mclaughlin what are you hearing from the doctors? >> reporter: i've been speaking to doctors in seattle on the front lines fighting covid they tell me the system is strained they're short on supplies. they're worried they're going get sick also, i heard from the governor of new york say they need more

hospitals, more ventilators, more beds. he's even calling for the military to get involved in seattle, a health care system under strain. >> it's a new world for everybody, including people who work on the front lines. >> reporter: and across the country, concern hospitals in other cities aren't far behind. >> it's going to be a wave it's going to be a wave that, at any of these projections, will overwhelm the health care system >> reporter: worry there's not enough staff, ventilators, supplies, and beds for the sick. now growing calls for the military to help. >> you're going to need more hospital capacity. you're going to need more facilities let's use that massive logistical machine of the military to actually save lives. >> reporter: stark contrast to china where entire hospitals to treat covid will have 19 were built in less than two weeks here in the u.s., doctors and nurses contracting covid-19.

in washington and new jersey, two er doctors in critical condition. >> i'm concerned about my getting sick >> reporter: you can't work if you have covid-19. >> correct and you can't work even if you have symptoms that might be mild covid-19 >> reporter: then the so-called worried well people with minimal to no symptoms concerned they have covid-19 flooding the system. >> i think if you're worried, you should monitor your system try to make a phone call to your doctor's office. you run the risk of doing more harm by showing up to the er if you're overall pretty well >> reporter: hospitals are at the front lines of covid-19. a virus that causes as much fear as it does sickness. >> reporter: and doctors i've been speaking to in seattle said they're concerned about the possible amount of undiagnosed covid-19 cases out there in the community. they said they need more testing. to that effect, the president's task force over the weekend announced 1.9 million tests will be made available this week.

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developments on the coronavirus outbreak . school districts across the bay area closing classrooms. the way parents are responding. plus, rain is in the forecast.. meteorologist kari hall is tracking your wet work week. today in the bay.. monday from 4:30 this spell brings them back for one whole day!

dad will be back. >> what? >> back to life? that's not possible. >> it is with this >> i'm going to meet dad >> the box office plunged to the lowest level in decades amid growing fears of coronavirus ticket sales in north america generated just over $55 million, that's the lowest since 2000 disney's "on ward" remains the number one movie earning $10.5 million. followed by "newcomers" followed by "i still believe" with $9.5 million and "bloodshot" bringing in $9.3 million. >> those are the numbers we are going to get used to seeing. still to come, janessa is back with the week forecast. and the most iconic destinations are closed for business you've tried retinol, but you have never tried one like this. olay's retinol24 complex hydrates better than the #1 retinol. visibly smoother brighter skin in just 24 hours.

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coronavirus is taking its toll on wall street. investors are bracing for another blood bath despite a major move to ward off recession. stock futures plunged after the federal reserve slashed interest rates to near zero jerome powell announced a massive $700 billion quantitative easing program to help prop up the economy right now dow futures are down over 1,000 points and capped at the limit in place to reduce market panic coronavirus concerns are already taking a major toll on the country's or tourism industy

some of the most iconic vacation destinations have closed their gates. here is kerry sanders. >> reporter: spring break ending early. disney and most theme parks closing down until next month. since the magic kingdom opened in 1971, disney only closed four times because of hurricanes. it shuttered for a few hours on 9/11. >> take potentially we would have been helping the spread of the virus. >> reporter: universal orlando resort owned by nbc's parent company universal, sea world, bush gardens, holy land closing sunday 126 million visitors come to orlando every year including this family from elk river, minnesota. there is not going to be a disney visit your reaction? >> sad >> reporter: do you understand why? >> yeah. yes. >> reporter: it's not just florida. from six flags to disney land in

california to the national zoo, larger gathering spots closing in las vegas mgm resorts closing after several employees tested positive some employees there getting word of furloughs and layoffs. back in orlando, hotel workers are also worried but the 5,000 hourly workers at the eight hotels getting word their jobs are safe. you've seen a 50% drop in business but nobody is going to be let go? no layoffs no, no, no >> reporter: you're able to do that because your company has -- >> no debt and a philosophy of saying we love you >> reporter: one early estimate of how much this is costing the u.s. tourism industry a trillion dollars. >> thinking about it, you know, when it comes to spring breaks that so many families now are relying on cancelled hopefully other businesses and other places, you know, they'll have the same confidence. >> yeah. and you think about the workers impacted at theme parks and

things like that, concession workers, people who take the tickets. there's so many people behind the scenes. >> we've seen it all over the globe. >> all right thank you for waking up with us. >> coming up on "today" with millions of americans hunkering down at home, recipe

a new week ahead and a new set of coronavirus guidelines from school closings to businesses ordering workers to stay home. the head-spinning upstates including bar and restaurant restrictions the white house beginning a plan to have drive through testing in hard-hit areas. not all states yet and the dramatic move taken to boost the economy. we've got sound advice how to cope with the panic and anxiety so many of us are feeling in the coronavirus crisis and the democrats went head tow head in