here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: jim cordell hard at work on those triceps, seems young forses just how young he's turning today. >> you can't be over 70. >> reporter: after 100 revolutions around the sun, this is only his 25th birthday. >> i'm ready for it, yes. >> reporter: cordell was born february 29, 1920, a leap year baby. he's seen a lot in his century of life. the world war ii veteran watched as marines raised old glory at iwo jima then built a life in houston with his sweetheart debbie. >> he is a kind, gentle soul. >> reporter: but he hasn't had too many milestones like this. and what's filled the days and years in between each february 29th, some life lessons. >> never give up. keep active and enjoy your life. ♪ happy birthday to you >> reporter: and lots of little reasons for this centenarian to count more than just the candles on his cake. >> it's been a hell of a good ride. all 100 of them. ♪ happy birthday to you >> reporter: marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >> jim cordell still looks great and still looks strong. thanks so much for watching. coronavirus

marci gonzalez, abc7 news, los angeles. >> several local donation drives have been organized to help out our bay area health care workers. abc7 news was at doorress and 18th this afternoon as ucsf medical students took in donations of masks, gloves and more. they told us more than 5,000 items were donated yesterday and they already collected more than 3,000 items today. >> we're getting masks. that's surgical masks and n95 masks which a lot of people bought for the wildfires. we're also getting a lot of gloves, goggles and face shields and bunny suits which are also really helpful for us. >> ucsf will have its own ppe donation drive this week. you can drop off masks and other items from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the mount zion medical center and the mission center building in san francisco or children's hospital in oakland. >>> hayward is taking matters into its own hands by opening its own covid-19 testing site. it will be at fire station number 7 on huntwood near tennyson road. tests are free for first responders and medical workers who may have been exposed, as well as people expe

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: with airlines reducing flights and major companies cancelingonessential travel for employees over coronavirus concerns, many are now asking whether their vacations should be called off too. >> it's really a personal decision, and it depends on your comfort zone. how old are you, and what is your health like? >> reporter: the cdc only recommends avoiding trips to china, south korea, iran, and italy. but for healthy travelers does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to other destinations. >> we want to be clear that it is safe for healthy americans to travel. >> reporter: amtrak, airports, and many airlines now stepping up their sanitizing measures. alaska airlines releasing this video, hoping to assure customers concerned about air quality on board. >> it is not a self-contained tube. within a three-minute period you get completely new air. >> reporter: many major carriers waiving change fees for passengers. while experts say with the covid-19 centered uncertainty, it's a good time to consider buying travel insurance, whether you're fly

i want other kids to know about it, in case they want one, too. >> reporter: marci gonzalez, abc newss angeles. >> we thank marci for that story. we thank you for watching. i'm tom llamas in new york. have a great evening. good night. nig >>> a plan in place for "the grand princess" and passengers. 21 on board have tested positive for coronavirus. what they'll disembark at port of oakland. >> the unique way they're passing the time and staying in good spirits. >> some people living nearby are nervous. how oakland residents are reacting. abc 7 news at 6:00 starts right now. > >>> a live look at the port of oakland where governor newsom ur a along with lieutenant governor and the other top security and health officials to prepare for "the diamond princess 86 to come in. >> you see sky 7 has panned up to the "diamond princess" off the coast of california where it waits to come into port tomorrow and disembark passengers. good evening. thanks for joining us. >> a plan to disembark passengers at port of oakland is in place, from from they'll be sent to airs for two weeks of quarantine depe

more than i ever dreamed. ♪ i'll be with you through the years ♪ >> reporter: marci gonzalez, abc newsrs, he will be missed. we thank you for watching. i'm tom llamas in new york. "gma" and this week in the morning. i'll see you back here tomorrow night. please stay >>> it is a weekend like we've never seen because of the coronavirus. instead of being out and about, tens of millions of californians have been told they should stay inside. >>> hello, thanks for joining us. i'm eric thomas. >> i'm dionne lim. we have an update from governor newsom. here are the latest numbers from california. there are more than 1,200 people infected with the coronavirus. we are seeing some dramatic spikes in cases, particularly in the los angeles area. now the state adds there are well over 12,000 tests still pending, 22 labs across the state are doing the testing. the number of deaths is rising with at least 23 deaths blamed on the coronavirus statewide. governor newsom provided an update a short time ago on the state's response. >> and what we're seeing not only on the ground but we're seeing through t

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: doc jacobs has seen a lot of tough days. his leg, several fingers and toes, in an ied blast in iraq in 2005. getting through the 78 surgeries that followed and, recently, one more that was voluntary. >> i donated a kidney to a random person. >> reporter: but the 34-year-old marathoner says none of his challenges have quite rivalled this -- >> it's cold and it's windy. >> reporter: setting out to climb mt. kilimanjaro. >> i'm holding you guys up. >> reporter: the bronze star recipient first trying to tackle the tallest free-standing mountain in the world in 2018. altitude sickness stopping him early. >> i wanted to just get to the top and do as much as i can in honor of my marines that didn't make it home. >> reporter: that drive sending him back last week. >> love you, brothers. this is for you. >> reporter: struggling for several grueling days up the more than 19,000 feet, and this time -- >> highest point. >> reporter: he made it. overcoming his greatest obstacle yet. >> it was really emotional. it just drives me to contin

marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles.our golden country fried steak, our scratch-made buttermilk pancakes, and our signature chicken n' dumplins. so come on home to what you love, come on home to cracker barrel. a former army medic, made of the we maflexibility to handle members like kate. whatever monday has in store and tackle four things at once. so when her car got hit, she didn't worry. she simply filed a claim on her usaa app and said... i got this. usaa insurance is made the way kate needs it - easy. she can even pick her payment plan so it's easy on her budget and her life. usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. usaa . >>> if you and your family are planning to hang around home today, we want to remind you a disney surprise. "frozen 2" is out early on disney plus, three months ahead of schedule. good news with schools closing up leaving children at home. disney, of course, is the parent company of abc7. i know, i need someone to send me a list of all of the shows to binge and podcasts to listen to. >> for sure

abc's marci gonzalez is on the story from our l.a. bureau. vallow's husband chad daybell has repeatedly refused to comment about the children, but that has now changed. what he's now saying is giving some hope that his stepchildren may still be alive. this morning, exclusive video shows the stepfather of these two missing idaho siblings leaving hawaii, as he talks publicly about 17-year-old tylee ryan and 7-year-old j.j. vallow for the first time. chad vallow saying the kids are safe but giving no other details. sources telling abc news that he shared the same with him. before heading to idahwhe s fe . >> i said, are the kids okay? he said yes. i said is lori okay, he said yes. >> vallow is in a hawaii jail being held on bail for criminal charges related to her children's disappearance. >> $5 million. >> reporter: according to an affidavit tylee was last seen at vallow at a yellowstone national park last september. and a week later, this last image of j.j. was captured on this doorbell camera. >> i hope there's justice and i hope the children

for more on this cbs news reporter marcie gonzalez. >> reporter: president trump declaring a nationallan to combat the coronavirus outbreak. it includes sending states $50 billion in aid and working with the private sector to set up drive-thru testing facilities, like this one just outside of new york city. >> this will start very quickly. we'll have the ability to do in the millions over a very, very quick period of time. >> reporter: through now 2600 cases in the u.s., but with many doctors saying they don't have access to enough tests, it's unclear how many americans are actually sick and how long this pandemic will last. >> it's unpredictable, but if you look at historically how these things work, it will likely be anywhere from a few weeks to up to eight weeks. >> reporter: precautions against the virus shuttering schools with 26 million students set to stay home. nascar and golf masters joining every major league sport in postponing or canceling their seasons or championships. production halted on countless tv shows, movies and local economies taking an ongoing hit. in washingto

abc's marci gonzalez is in our l.a. bureau with what went on inside the courtroom. i, good morning. >> reporter: whit, good morning. the judge granted that request lowering bail to $1 million but the mother of those missing children is still saying nothing about where they might be. reporter: this morning, nearly six months after her children were last seen, tylee ryan and j.j. vallow's mother is behind bars in idaho. >> lori is presumed innocent. >> reporter: a day after facing a judge on five charges connected to the children's disappearance. her husband sitting right there behind her. >> do you understand the charge in count three as well as the maximum penalties? >> yes, i understand the charge. >> reporter: lori vallow who asked to go by her new married name lori daybell extradited from hawaii where she and chad daybell moved last fall, a day after police visited their idaho home for a welfare check. police believe the couple lied about the children's whereabouts. saying they told officers j.j. was with a friend out of state and told others tylee had died a year

marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >> earlier today we spoke with an epidemiology professor at ucdifferent responses to coronavirus worldwide, specifically comparing china where the virus originated and the united states. >> i think obviously one difference between the united states and china is that when the chinese national government decides to do something, they can do it not only across the country but quite forcefully. here most of our health laws are state laws, and we clearly have some states that are taking very forceful measures, others not taking any at all and others where the situation is evolving. >> we interviewed the doctor on midday live. it is followed by "pandemic: what you need to know," what you need to know. we also now have a newscast at 3:00 p.m. dedicated to local coverage of the pandemic. and 11:35 "nightline" airs right after abc7 news at 11:00. tonight it will focus on the international progress made in the fight against coronavirus. >>> all right. let's take a live look outside. the rain that stuck around for the last few days is finally moving out. bu

marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >> our thanks to marci there.just been incredible what's been happening over the past few days. seems like every time we wake up -- >> something new has happened, new developments, major developments. >> the "new york post" there saying that this is the day that the sports world stopped. ncaa, march madness, all these major -- >> nhl as well. >> nhl, the nba, says that for at least 30 days that the season will be suspended. and so obviously when it comes to those major pop culture sporting events, people are waking up to this. some saying, you know what, it's overreaction. others saying, this is the precautions that we have to take. >> again, we talked about this yesterday too, and doctors and experts have been saying, this is all to mitigate the spread of the virus, to essentially flatten that curve that they've been talking about. >> right. >> and so even though it seems like they may be overreacting, the reason is because they want to, as this virus rapidly spreads, to try to curb that. >> community spread is a

abc's marci gonzalez has more from los angeles. >> reporter: they are the life-saving story lines. >>ecariously leaning structure? >> reporter: but that fictional look at emergencies now merging with an actual emergent need. several abc shows have halted production because of the coronavirus outbreak putting some of the protective equipment they use to make these scenes so believable, to real life use. making critical donations to doctors, nurses and first responders on the front lines of this pandemic. >> it really shows that they are putting their health and everyone's health first ahead of everyone else. >> reporter: the hit medical drama "grey's anatomy" gives gowns and gloves to health care workers. >> many of us have the privilege to self-quarantine and stay healthy, and none of you have that privilege. thank you, we appreciate you, we love you. stay safe. >> reporter: the show "station 19." dropping off hundreds of coveted n95 masks to firefighters. >> i think it really just demonstrates how our community is coming together to fight the coronavirus. >> reporter: the production

abc's marci gonzalez has more. >> reporter: this morning, employees for the delivery service instacarts braving the supermarket crowds and risk of exposure to covid-19 so that others can avoid leaving the house, saying, they too will stay home starting tomorrow if the company doesn't offer more protections. >> basically i'm playing russian roulette. every time i go out there, every time i shop. every time i come into a grocery store. >> reporter: the in-store shoppers demanding the company provide hand sanitizers and disinfectan disinfectants, hazard pay of $5 per order, and an expanse to the current sick pay policy. right now, instacart says anyone diagnosed with covid-19 or placed into mandatory isolation or quarantine will get up to 14 days of pay. but employees like vanessa feel that with limited access to testing, the company's policy doesn't go far enough. >> they designed it that way to disqualify us if shoppers aren't healthy or if shoppers don't have meaningful access to sick pay, if shoppers aren't provided with necessary equipment to shop safely, customers are absolutely at

marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >> that would be some good news, marci, thank you.ed the drop in new york's hospitalization rates. that didn't stop mayor bill de blasio from saying he expects the city's virus situation to be worse in april than this month. the city seems to be queens, one doctor called the scene in the emergency room apocalyptic. more ahead from there this half hour. >>> one statistic that may surprise you, the state of louisiana now has the third highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita in the u.s. the virus has killed 65 people there so far and cases are confirmed in most of the state's 64 parishes. former homeland security adviser tom bossert says he's especially worried about new orleans which has emerged as a major hot spot. >> it seems to have what the doctors are calling a lot of seeding. i keep thinking of these as embers, little hot embers that have been planted around new orleans for some time. it takes awhile for them to catch fire. we're starting to see evidence in new orleans of those little embers turning into higher, more troubles

here's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: tonight, in that washington state nursing home where more than two dozen residents have already died, several people are still waiting for test results. families on edge as the national coronavirus task force announces new measures to protect the elderly. >> nursing homes should restrict all visitors effective immediately. that includes all nonessential personnel. there are some exceptions for end of life. >> reporter: in addition, all group activities, including communal dining at nursing homes, now cancelled. and health care workers are now being actively screened. actions charlie campbell hopes will help other patients like his father. the 89-year-old was among the residents who contracted covid-19 at the life care center in kirkland, washington. >> we figured because of his age it was pretty much a death sentence. >> reporter: but a week and a half later, there are positive signs of recovery. >> i think there's a pretty good chance he'll survive it. doctors are cautiously optimistic. >> reporter: today, dr. anthony fauci offering some optimism fo

here is marci gonzalez. >> reporter: the stepfather of these missing idaho siblings speaking about them for the first time more than five months after 17-year-old tylee ryan and 7-year-old j.j. vallow were last seen, chad daybell telling abc news "the kids are safe," reportedly sharing the same with several people in hawaii. >> and i said, are your kids okay? and he said yes. >> reporter: before he was seen in this exclusive video boarding a flight to idaho where his wife lori vallow will soon be extradited. >> i said, couldn't lori get out of jail if she told where the kids were located? he kind of brushed that off a little bit and said, it's not as simple as all of that. >> reporter: vallow remains in a kauai jail, being held on $5 million bail for criminal charges related to her children's disappearance. but remaining silent on where they could be. the family still holding on to hope. >> we have to believe that they're safe. >> reporter: vallow's attorney has called the accusations against her speculation, saying she is a loving parent. we're told officials are finalizing their plans

marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >> all right, thank you, marci.so much talk about the epicenter of this virus. we talked about china initially. now it appears western europe is now considered the epicenter of this pandemic. >> spain is now into its second day of a two-week state of emergency. streets in major cities are eerily empty with residents confined to their homes for all but essential reasons. spain has nearly 8,000 cases and its death toll is almost 300. among those cases is the prime minister's wife. >> italy is entering the second week of its national quarantine. one doctor in italy says his hospital is seeing a tsunami of patients. on sunday italy reported its biggest day-to-day increase in infections, bringing its total to nearly 25,000. more than 1,800 people have lost their lives to the virus. that's more than one-quarter of the global death toll. >>> the pubs and bars in ireland are closed for at least two weeks. st. patrick's day is tomorrow and people are being warned not to attend house parties or other large gatherings. parades

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: tonight, with the number of covid-19 cases rising, hospitals across the country preparing for a potential crush of patients. some constructing tents to handle possible overflow. health officials working around the clock on plans to keep the health care system from being pushed to the limits. >> if we have a worst case scenario, we've got to admit it. we could be overwhelmed. are we going to have a worst case scenario? i don't think so. i hope not. >> reporter: we checked in with hospitals from coast to coast. these california medical centers conducting drills. >> we're not seeing too big of an influx with patients right now. >> reporter: but a much different story tonight at south shore health in massachusetts, where they're seeing high volumes of patients with respiratory symptoms. >> we have to assume that when they're coming in that all of them could have covid-19. now, of course, they don't, but we have to be very careful to make sure we maximize our personal protective equipment, because we cannot afford to get infected. >> reporter: in ne

abc news reporter marcy gonzalez is looking into the travel concerns, sorting out facts from fiction. this morning with airlines reducing flights and major companies canceling nonessential travel for employees over coronavirus concerns, many are now asking whether their vacations should be called off too. >> it's really a personal decision, and it depends on your comfort zone. how old are you? and what is your health like? >> reporter: the cdc only recommends avoid trips to china, south korea, iran and italy. but for healthy travelers does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to other destinations. afe forealthy america to travel. >> reporter: amtrak, airports and many a stepping up their sanitizing meases. alaska airlines releasing this video, hoping to ensure customers earned about airline quality on board. >> it is not a self-contained tube within a three-minute period, you get completely new air. >> reporter: many major carriers are waving change fees for some passengers. with experts say with the covid-19 uncertainty, it's a good time to consider buying travel insurance,

marcie gonzalez. >> reporter: president trump declaring a national emergency. >> two very big words.porter: unveiling his plan to combat the coronavirus outbreak, including sending states $50 billion in aid and working with the private sector to set up drive-thru testing facilities, like this one just outside of new york city. >> this will start very quickly and we'll have the ability to do in the millions over a very, very quick period of time. >> reporter: through now 2600 cases in the u.s., but with many doctors saying they don't have access to enough tests, officials explain it's unclear just how many americans are actually sick and how long this pandemic will last. >> it's unpredictable. but if you look at historically how these things work, it will likely be anywhere from a few weeks to up to eight weeks. >> reporter: precautions against the virus shuttering schools. 26 million students set to stay home. nascar and golf's masters joining nearly every other sport in postponing. halts on tvs and movies. in washington state hotel spending down more than 50%. restaurants down 30. m

broadway star, some theater kids are getting a new stage to show off their talents and abc's marci gonzalez> reporter: hey, dan. good morning. it's not just broadway that's dark right now. it is smaller stages everywhere, and now for the understandably crushed cast and crews of all those shows, a second chance to shine. show-stopping performances rehearsed and ready for opening night. ♪ >> reporter: the result of months of hard work by high school students across the country. ♪ >> i'm a senior so this would have been my last show. ♪ >> reporter: but now, emma and so many other young thespians won't get that chance, learning because of coronavirus concerns their shows will not go on. >> it just was really, really heartbreaking. >> reporter: like other story lines this one has a plot twist. broadway star laura benanti putting out this call on twitter to all those devastating performers. >> if you'd like to sing a song that you're not going to get to sing now and tag me, i want to see you. >> reporter: the replies, astounding. ♪ you decree i should be what i am ♪ >> reporter: this clip of dres

heart broken anonymous is changing the way people nurse broken hearts, and our marci gonzalez got a firsthandrning, marci. >> hey, eva. good morning. this was started by a former producer on "the bachelor" who has seen her share of heartbreak both through work and her personal life. and when she realized there was nowhere for people coping with that kind of grief to go to vent and be reminded they're not alone, she created it. >> he's not coming. >> reporter: heartbreak, break-ups -- >> it's over. okay. it's over! >> reporter: and loss. >> you were such a great dog. >> reporter: an intense and a feeling that 29-year-old naasz perez is looking to change with her monthly support group for the heavy-hearted. >> so good to see you. >> reporter: i stopped by to see how her group is helping people heal. >> heart broken anonymous has one purpose, to help and give hope to the heartbroken. >> reporter: strangers sit in a circle and open up sharing their sadness and frustrations while the group silently offers emotional support, something naasz says she needed after experiencing her own heartbreak. >>

abc's marci gonzalez has more from our los angeles bureau. porter: good morning, whit. that inspiration is already spreading. a lot of people are concerned. they're stressed out, they're focused on crossing off their own to-do list in response to this outbreak. but this chance encounter was such an eye-opener for this woman and so many others. in the supermarket scramble to stock up on essentials with coronavirus fears leading to long lines and empty shelves, an unexpected opportunity for kindness. >> i never had something like that happen to me before. >> reporter: rebecca marra was walking through this safeway parking lot in bend, oregon to do her own shopping this week when a voice caught her attention. >> i hear this woman yelling out of her window, hey you, hey, would you come over here. >> reporter: inside that car, an elderly couple. >> she told me she was sitting in the car for nearly 45 minutes before i arrived waiting to ask a person for help. >> reporter: concerned that the crowds inside could expose them to the virus. >> she sticks

abc's marci gonzalez is looking into all the travel concerns trying to sort facts from fiction. >> reporter: dan, good morning. there isn't a one size fits all answer to this. it really depends on your age and your health. lot of people including pregnant women are having these conversations with doctors before booking or moving forward with travel, concern about whether they're putting themselves at risk but the potential of ending up quarantined while on their trip. this morning, with airlines reducing flights and major companies canceling nonessential travel for employees over coronavirus concerns, many are now asking whether their vacations should be called off, too. >> it's really a personal decision and it depends on your comfort zone. how old are you and what is your health like? >> reporter: the cdc only recommends avoiding trips to china, south korea, iran and italy, but for healthy travelers, does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to other destinations. >> we want to be clear, it is safe for healthy americans to travel. >> reporter: amtrak, airports and many

our own marci gonzalez celebrating a virtual baby shower. family game night is still on. you still get $200 for passing go in virtual monopoly. everyone's invited, including the cat. this family built their own mini golf course. and no gym? no problem. fitness junkies lifting in the living room. cardio in the backyard. track and field without the track or the field. and some getting creative with their work-ins. that honestly looks like me doing my homework. #quarantine life trended. one user posted a video trying to give herself a haircut which went about as well as you might expect. maybe leave that one to the professionals for after quarantine. >> maybe so. >> well, will and kenneth, i was at a party with oprah, diddy and quincy jones. it was a virtual party. >> mrs. obama was there as well. >> dj. >> he was tearing it up. >> kudos to him. he kept us entertained. everyone. rihanna. this is the closest i'm going to get to rihanna, guys. but it definitely was very entertaining. >> it shows how everyone is coming together. aretha, take us to break, because it is a differe

. >> reporter: marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >>> ge appliance workers in louisville say they're scared and nervous about returning to work due to coronavirus concerns. thousands took part in a protest over the weekend. the facility has been shut down since last monday due to being cleaned. union leaders wanted it closed until next monday and say there are still safety concerns. ge says it has added dividers between workstations to protect employees. >>> adding to the nation's misery, new storm systems are hitting the u.s. one is in the northwest, bringing heavy snow to the mountains. the other is sweeping the south overnight bringing severe weather to areas already reeling from weekend storms. rob marciano reports. >> reporter: the terrifying tornado outbreak slamming through the heartland. >> oh my gosh, what are we even doing? >> reporter: workers inside this store in jonesboro helplessly watching one of at least 17 reported twisters. >> oh geez! >> reporter: sirens blaring as the ef-3 tornado tears through the city, winds up to 140 miles per hour. at least 18 injured in arkan