the hardest hit area near seattle, a sobering warning to those over the age of 60 we start with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight in los angeles, a local emergency as six new coronavirus cases have been confirmed and now a startling warning shaking the region of 10 million people. >> use verbal salutations in place of handshakes and hugs and whenever possible try to keep six feet between you and other people you don't know at large events. >> reporter: among those infected in l.a. a federal contract employee brought in last month to help screen international travelers at l.a.x. who may have exposed passengers while working without symptoms three others also sick recently traveled to italy where a growing outbreak has killed more than 100. shuttering all schools through mid-march. here at home, growing concern the virus could quickly impact vulnerable homeless populations in cities across the country the 11th fatality announced today. the first in california an elderly passenger on a cruise ship from san francisco to mexico there are now more than 150 cases in a growing number of states. >>

miguel almaguer in california, thanks. >> president trump acknowledging today the virus is not under control anyplace in the world. nbc's geoff bennett is at the white house with that. >> reporter: the trump administration ramping up its response to the coronavirus as americans brace for the outbreak fill fury. president trump tonight releasing new guidelines for all americans to follow over the next 15 days >> so each and every one of us has a critical role to play in stopping the spread and transmission of the virus. >> reporter: they include closing schools in affected areas. avoiding discretionary travel. avoiding groups of ten or more and working from home when possible. >> no matter who you are, please stay home. >> reporter: new procedures now in effect at the white house, too. a normally packed white house press briefing room sparse today. a new seating arrangement leaving every other seat open. >> i'm glad to see that you're practicing social distancing that looks very nice. >> reporter: the president's comments, his most direct appeal yet for americans to take the virus ser

lester >> miguel almaguer, thank you. >>> as president trump declared that national state of emergency, wall street rallied on the news the dow gaining almost 2,000 points erasing most of yesterday's historic loss. kristen welker with more on the president's new plans. >> reporter: tonight, a show of force from the rose garden as president trump flanked by major ceos and his task force announced a national emergency. >> i am officially declaring a national emergency, two very big words. the action i am taking will open up access to up to 50 billion. >> reporter: the president saying he will also urge states to set up emergency operation centers, call on hospitals to enact emergency preparedness plans and partner with private companies to increase testing abilities and set up drive through test sites >> the goal is for individuals to be able to drive up and be swabbed without having to leave your car. >> reporter: the markets rebounded after suffering their worst day thursday since 1987, but the president has come under harsh criticism for failing to act quickly enough with reports of t

here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: officially declaring a global pandemic, tonight the world health organization says it's deeply concerned by the alarming spread of the coronavirus and the levels of inaction to stop it. >> we have rang the alarm bell loud and clear. >> reporter: here at home a new benchmark as the number of confirmed cases sores over 1,000 the doctor who serves congress expects 150 million people or 45 of the population could contract the virus. experts say the death toll will climb. >> bottom line, it's going to get worse. >> reporter: with multiple states announcing their first cases today, a fight is underway over whether there are enough tests for the general public. >> the president on march 6th told the people in my district publicly that the tests were ready there were no tests. zero. >> we have always been able to meet the full demand for test orders from public health officials. >> reporter: in georgia, clay bentley showed flu-like symptoms more than a week ago but wasn't tested when his condition worsened, he returned to doctors and learned he has the vir

we've got our team out covering it all, and miguel almaguer starts us off >> reporter: as the coronavirus crisis deepens and the u.s. government pleads for americans to go home and stay home, scenes like these are unfolding in cities across the country from canceled festivals to farmers markets and at beaches and basketball courts, many are ignoring the message to keep their social distance of at least six feet from one another. >> i want america to understand this week, it's going to get bad. >> reporter: the surgeon general, the nation's top doctor, says this is exactly how the virus spreads. >> there are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously, and you just see it looking in california, people on the beaches. you see it in washington d.c., people out looking at the cherry blossoms. we need to take this seriously. >> reporter: with a growing list of governors in well over a dozen states now ordering residents to avoid leaving their house, more than 140 million americans are joining the more tha 1.5 billion people globally told to stay inside the world health organizati

francisco is imposing some of the most extreme measures issuing a shelter-in-place order nbc's miguel almaguer has this report >> the san francisco bay area. 7 million people told to go home and stay home for three weeks. the move aimed at bringing bustling city streets to a virtual standstill and closing nearly all businesses. the most dramatic and drastic step in the country. >> these measures will be disruptive to day-to-day life. but there is no need to panic. >> while the president said a nationwide quarantine is not under consideration for now, he did urge americans to stay away from groups larger than ten people >> no matter where you look, this is something. it's an invisible enemy. >> the president predicting the virus could spread through summer at subways, city stations, and iconic venues, more are keeping their distance the white house, with this new warning. >> the reason we're taking these strong and bold steps is because we know there is virus spread before you develop symptoms. >> as a growing number of cities, including new york and l.a., ban restaurants and bars from seating

we have expanded coverage starting with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: as the death toll rises in washington state, today at this seattle area nursing home where several patients died of the coronavirus, emergency teams were back. the nation's top infectious disease official telling nbc news today the virus has reached outbreak proportions we have expanded coverage starting with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: as the death toll rises in washington state, today at this seattle area nursing home where several patients died of the coronavirus, emergency teams were back. fearing an outbreak, dozens of residents and first responders are now under isolation. nearby at a local hospital, several patients are in critical condition, already suffering from underlying health conditions. >> i'm very frightened. >> reporter: carmen gray's mother, susan, is being treated at the nursing home. >> i think that she's sitting in a petri dish it's a matter of time. >> reporter: researchers in washington state fear the virus may have been spreading here for weeks. amid growing fear, this seattle skyscraper was shut

here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight, our nation in crisis has now become the global leader in confirmed cases of the coronavirus. from new york to los angeles, the number of americans infected surpassing every other country as our death toll climbs to grim new levels the governor of new mexico requesting a combat field hospital as army medical teams from colorado and kentucky deploy to hard-hit regions officials in ohio warn residents to brace for the storm. >> at the peak of this curve, we're now projecting we may have as many as 10,000 new cases a day. >> reporter: in minnesota, the first area hospital for covid-19 patients is up and running amid this warning from the white house. >> we're concerned about certain counties that look like they're having a more rapid increase when you look at wayne county in michigan and you look at cook county in chicago. >> reporter: perhaps the next epicenters of the virus. >> there is no congregating allowed. >> reporter: chicago closed its iconic lake front while in detroit, this leaked memo from henry ford hospital lays out worst-case

here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight across our nation in big cities and rural communities, a new reality is hitting home for americans the u.s. death toll has now reached a grim milestone as the number of infected soars to extraordinary levels, but each number is a story, a family torn apart. in st. louis, the heart of the country, 31-year-old jasmine dickson died monday buried tuesday, familyinthat w one day, you know, experience our loved one, our jazz to be the first official victim in the city of st. louis. >> reporter: while most americans with coronavirus will survive, the younger dying at surprising rates and the elderly are most in danger in new jersey a senior center was evacuated after nearly every resident and staff member tested positive or showed symptoms of having the virus in neighboring long island - >> god bless all of you and god bless america. >> reporter: george p. possas' family could not visit the world war ii veteran while he was quarantined the 93-year-old died last week alone in isolation. >> it's been very difficult time for all of us. we're just t

miguel almaguer now with more from oakland. >> reporter: escorted by emergency teams in full hazmat suits the sick and elderly are among the first to finally disembark the "grand princess" cruise ship but the nightmare at sea extending to shore as more than 2,400 passengers will now spend two weeks in quarantine, some moved to military bases. >> this was kind of disheartening because we've got bills to pay, we've got a family to take care of and feed >> reporter: the passenger has stage 4 cancer and has already missed one chemo session. now in quarantine she doesn't know how she'll get treatment next >> i'm hoping that the cancer isn't growing while this other potential problem exists >> reporter: in washington state an unfolding crisis at the life care nursing home the epicenter of the outbreak, 55 confirmed cases and 71 others showing symptoms as two separate nursing homes report additional deaths >> the spread in the community is probably much wider than the testing suggests today there's probably as many as 1,100 cases, and 6 weeks from now that number could be in excess of 7 70,000 >

our team has coverage starting with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: arriving under the golden gate bridge, tonight the 3,500 people aboard the "grand princess" cruise ship are in port but weeks away from being home. with the sick disembarking first, all passengers will slowly file through medical screening. >> whenever you open your door, please make sure you're wearing your mask. >> reporter: after their doomed voyage to hawaii turned into a coronavirus outbreak of at least 21 cases, passengers will soon head to quarantine at military bases. >> it's kind of nerve-wracking and unsettling but, yo unsettling but, you know, we just, we're stuck in the unknown and we're at the mercy of the government. >> reporter: as scenes like this one play out at sea, the state department issuing a clear warning. u.s. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. kerry sanders is in florida. >> reporter: they call this the cruise ship capital today six ships leaving the port of miami. some passengers say while they are anxious, they are not going to l

our team is in place and leading our coverage miguel almaguer with a reality check of where we are tonight >> reporter: with nearly half of the nation's population under orders to stay at home tonight a skyrocketing number of americans are testing positive for the coronavirus as states struggle to contain the deadly outbreak. in new york the number of confirmed cases statewide is doubling every three days tens of thousands are sick >> we're not slowing it, and it is accelerating on its own. we're now looking at a bullet train because the numbers are going up that quickly. >> reporter: with infection spreading fast in part because of high density and commonly used surfaces, the governor says he needs ventilators for new makeshift hospitals like the javits convention center. in neighboring new jersey a ventilator is keeping jack alive >> such a good boy >> reporter: jack's parents say the recent college grad fell ill ten days ago now in critical condition the young athlete is fighting to make it to his 26th birthday next week >> he's in a coma and the nurse was nice enough to bring an ipad a

miguel almaguer starts us off >> reporter: as our country faces a national emergency and scenes like these unfold in communities big and small, tonight, new york state says it's the canary in the coal mine once bustling city streets have become eerily quiet, while lines outside hospitals stretch around the block makeshift morgues are being prepared the governor says in three weeks coronavirus cases will hit their high point >> we still have the trajectory going up. 80%, still, self-resolve about 15% of the people who test positive require hospitalization. >> reporter: while the explosion of new cases in new york are slowing, the city's high density and residents leaving town could exacerbate the spread >> safe distance of six feet from others >> reporter: police are warning residents to avoid crowds. some city streets will be closed to traffic so pedestrians can spread out across the country, in california, where half as many tests have been taken than new york, the death toll and those infected could easily become the highest in the nation >> we are anywhere from about 6 to 12 days

and what we do will determine how bad it gets let's turn to our team now for the latest first, miguel almaguer >> reporter: tonight the american shutdown perhaps spreading faster than the coronavirus. today more city centers, small businesses and rural schools shuttered as the illness spikes again, now reaching every state, infecting thousands and killing more than 100 nationwide in communities big and small, the national guard deploying to additional regions as more counties order a shelter in place, restricting public gatherings and telling families not to leave home unless necessary. >> trying to condense my outside time to as little bit as possible. >> reporter: the governor of new york says no such order is imminent for new york city, where the usns comfort, floating hospital with 1,000 rooms, will dock next month and where businesses are being forced to operate differently. >> no more than 50% of the work force can report for work outside of the home. >> reporter: as iconic detroit automakers like ford, gm and chrysler, a symbol of american manufacturing, pull the plug on production, the

we start with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight, the governors of new york, california, illinois and connecticut taking drastic and historic action, residents of multiple states told to go home and stay home as the coronavirus crisis explodes across the nation affecting at least 76 million people, the orders which it violated could include a civil fine, means all nonessential businesses must close while places like grocery stores, gas stations, and mass transit continue to operate. going out to pick up food or supplies or solitary exercise, like a walk or hike, are permitted. >> when i talk about the most drastic action we can take, this is the most drastic action we can take. >> reporter: as the number of confirmed cases skyrockets in new york, in california, the most populated state in the nation, they have doubled. in a letter to congress, gavin newsom is requesting a billion dollars to fight the virus and asking for the "u.s.n.s. mercy" a floating hospital to dock in los angeles. >> this is a moment we need straight talk and we need to tell people the truth. we need to bend t

leading off our team is miguel almaguer >> reporter: tonight in communities big and small this is the new normal as the coronavirus crisis changes daily life as we know it new york city announcing it could soon follow the bay area's shelter in place directive. 7 million people told to go home and stay home cable cars here are idle snarled traffic over the golden gate bridge is gone as the mayor works in an empty city hall >> what we have done is really what should be happening all over the country. >> reporter: the 3-week order, the most dramatic in the nation, just beginning to impact families who can still go outside but must avoid public gatherings our jake ward lives in oakland. >> this is the reality for the next three weeks. we're going to be eating out of our kitchen. we're going to be taking conference calls at our dining room table, and home schooling our kids although neither of us is a qualified teacher. all of that is going to be a real challenge. >> reporter: the drastic measures in the bay area could soon be adopted in already eerily quiet new york city. the mayor says w

. >> reporter: i'm miguel almaguer in california, where the governor here signed an executive order warning against gatherings over 250 people for those at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus like adults over 60, the group should be no larger than ten. in los angeles, the mayor suggested not going out for dinner. >> these are our parents, grandparents, neighbors, co-workers and the action you take or don't take could decide the fate of their lives. >> reporter: the announcement came as the nation's largest professional sports leagues -- >> he scores >> scores! >> reporter: -- the nba, mlb, nhl and mls are now all set to go quiet. this the new reality after suspending play until further notice because of the coronavirus. today the ncaa pulling the plug on march madness. the tidal wave o historic decisions unfolding after the virus took center court last night just before tip-off, utah all star rudy gobert who was not in the arena tested positive for the coronavirus. >> the game tonight has been postponed. >> reporter: as fans flooded out of the stadium, concern after gobert's monday p

fronts including the search for treatments our team is ready to go with the latest we start with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight inside intensive care units across the country, the cdc says nearly half of all coronavirus patients fighting for their lives are younger than 65 while often deadly for the elderly, the virus is now taking more lives of those who are not senior citizens. the young not only catching the illness at higher and higher rates, but also, spreading it. >> oh, the worst day it was, i mean, it was a ten. it was rough. >> reporter: matt schulte had the virus for over a week. >> it feels like my lungs have fluid in them the air feels thin and it just feels very heavy on my chest. >> reporter: as officials in washington state scramble to build a 200-bed hospital on a soccer field, the number of coronavirus cases nationwide is hitting yet another milestone, climbing to over 13,000, more than half the cases in the country come from just ten counties across three states new york, washington and california. >> the number of tests positive is increasing. >> reporter: today at the

our team has a lot to cover and we begin with miguel almaguer >> reporter: as the coronavirus threatens every state in our country, tonight this grim assessment from dr. anthony fauci, the death toll could soar to 200,000 with millions of americans infected if the nation does everything right, with new york already in crisis for hospital icus are overloaded in the 911 system is stressed, cities like washington, d.c., san francisco, atlanta, dallas, and nashville are bracing for an onslaught of cases in boston at brigham and women's hospital, more than 100 staff members have the virus. >> i've never felt so close to death. >> heather bower, a connecticut mother of three spent nine days in the hospital after contracting the illness. >> and the second you enter the e.r., you are literally alone and it's terrifying. i consider myself to be very, very healthy and the way this took over my body was just a surreal experience >> reporter: while field hospitals are being built inside the l.a. convention center and in central park, anyone coming from hot spot states like new york and california m

officials are now pleading with young people to get on board with the safety measures here's nbc's miguel almaguer >> reporter: in communities big and small this is the new normal as the coronavirus crisis changes daily life as we know it new york city announcing it could soon follow the bay area's shelter in place directive 7 million people told to go home and stay home. cable cars here are idle snarled traffic over the golden gate bridge is gone as the mayor works in an empty city hall. >> what we have done is really what should be happening all over the country >> reporter: the three-week order, the most dramatic in the nation, just beginning to impact families who can still go outside but must avoid public gatherings our jake ward lives in oakland >> this is our reality for the next few weeks we're going to be eating out of our kitchen. we're going to be taking conference calls at our dining room table and home-schooling our kids although neither of us is a qualified teacher. all of that's going to be a real challenge. >> reporter: the drastic measures in the bay area could soon be adopted in

the new york post declaring the day the sports world stopped nbc's miguel almaguer has more. >> the governor here signed an executive order warning against gatherings over 250 people for those at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus, like adults over 60, the group should be no larger than ten in los angeles, the mayor suggested not going out for dinner >> these are our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors, our co-workers and the action you take, or don't take, could decide the fate of their lives. >> the announcement came as the nation's largest professional sports leagues, the nba, mlb, nhl, and mls, are now all set to go quiet this, the new reality after suspending play until further notice because of the coronavirus. the ncaa, pulling the plug on march madness. the tidal wave of historic decisions unfolding after the virus took center court just before tip off utah all star rudy gobert, who was not in the arena, tested positive for the coronavirus. >> the game tonight has been postponed. >> as fans flooded out of the stadium, concern after goe bare's monday press conference when

let's start with nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer. miguel, good morning to you. >> reporter: savannah, good morning. as we approach 100 cases of coronavirus in the united states, 13 of them are here in washington state, including those two fatalities you mentioned. for several weeks, investigators say the virus may have been spreading across this area. this as they try to contain the outbreak. overnight in washington state, a second death linked to coronavirus. the victim, a man in his 70s, with underlying health conditions in the seattle area. the announcement comes one day after the first coronavirus death in the u.s. in the same state. a man in his 50s, also with underlying health conditions. this as researchers say a genetically similar strain of the virus may have been spreading in washington state undetected for nearly six weeks. the victim in his 70s, was a resident in this nursing home in seattle, where officials are investigating a possible outbreak, after six people here tested positive for the virus. now, more than 50 reside

we' miguel almaguer is at jfk airport. do they have a handle on this, miguel? >> reporter: the number is certainly going down more and more. part of the chaos was all those flights from europe that were banned to just americans coming back, then they added on the uk and ireland. there was confusion over whether it was last night or tonight. people made really long lines at those airports where people were meant to be screened. but the confusion is not over. i have a microphone, a socially distancing microphone here. keith palmer who lives in a store in queens here, you just got in from south africa which is not on the list of countries that are of concern. you got all the way home, they called you to come back. why and what happened? >> well, i got off the flight and i made it through customs pretty cleanly and easily, got all the way home, received a phone call from an officer with customs and border protection who said, we'd like to give you a test to see if you are someone who has been exposed to the coronavirus. >> reporter: any indication why? >> he didn't

miguel almaguer is at the staples center in los angeles. miguel, this is huge step that i think really caught the attention of many americans. maybe even you know folks who aren necessarily playing as close attention to what's been unfolding with this virus. >> it was really a stunning decision when announced yesterday late by the nba. the teams were getting ready for tip off when the nba says it learned one of its players reportedly said to be an all-star for the utah jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. his team was immediately pulled off the floor. he was not in the building because the test was underway then came word the nba was going to suspend the rest of the season. now that leaves them some wiggle room to in fact continue with the rest of the season later on but for now, there will be no games in the foreseeable future and as you had mentioned and alluded to, now the nhl is waying its options. they are set to make a decision in just a few hours about the rest of their season. major league baseball is in the middle of spring tra

but first nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer has the latest from l.a. for us. hi, miguel, good morning. >> reporter: it's a matter of time before tens of millions of people catch the virus, according to the governor, here in california. it's a sobering statistic. every other person becoming ill and california may not be the only state with similar projections. this morning in the most populated state, all residents are ordered to stay at home. >> we need to bend the curve in the state of california. >> california's governor gavin newsom issuing the order overnight for the state's 40 million residents. >> as individuals and as a community, we need to do more to meet this moment. >> reporter: this after warning that more than half of those who live in california could become infected with the coronavirus over eight weeks the action following this letter to the president projecting 25.5 million people in the golden state alone might contract the illness. newsom is requesting a billion dollars in federal funds to suppt e's medical response to covid-19 >> today is a

savannah back to you. >> miguel almaguer, thank you so much. >>> we're joined by dr. deborah birks. good morning, it's good to see you. thanks for being here. >> good morning. >> let's talk about what the president said in his press conference yesterday. you were right there. he talked at length about easing social distancing sooner rather than later. said weeks n is that advisable? >> i think we're looking very closely around the world about specifically italy right now because they are reaching their two weeks of clear social distancing and looking at the impact. we are seeing the number of deaths starting to decline. so we're in a space where people have made generalized recommendations for many decades on how to confront an epidemic now we're confronting a real epidemic and we have to be willing to adjust our plans as we see impact. >> do you think it will be weeks not months that this social media will be required? >> i think the question is really can we be laser focussed rather than generic across the country. in other words can we use our data in a laser focussed granular wa

i know miguel almaguer on the "today" show will talk about this, this idea there are two americas right now. one america that's inside and one america that's outside. >> depending on where the virus started and spread. we're in a hotbed here in silicon valley. thank you very much. and they're trying to make a difference. grocery store chains are stepping up to take action to protect their employees from coronavirus. safeway is installing these plexiglas barriers that you may start to see. there it is, at a register. reportedly stores in california could see the barriers pop up as soon as this weekend. some stores have already taped off six-foot markers to help people keep their distance in the check-out lines. they actually keep you out in line and will call somebody over when it's your turn to check out. safeway, target and walmart have given workers a $2 raise during this crisis. they're certainly feeling the strain. >>> lot of people feeling the tough part of going through this shelter at home right here. the salons are all closed around the world amid the pandemic. many more hair st

nbc correspondent miguel almaguer is there this morning. guel, good morning. >> reporter: savannah, good morning. with some 2,500 passengers aboard the cruise ship behind me, it could take several days for them to disembark. the long journey home, still a long way off. escorted by emergency teams in hazmat suits, the sick and elderly are among the first to make their way ashore after a nightmare at sea involving at least 21 people, nearly all crew members, testing positive for the coronavirus. the first wave of passengers from the "grand princess" cruise ship now set to begin a 14-day quarantine. >> not very happy. it's cutting into our daily lives. i have children at home. >> reporter: when rochelle gets back on land, she'll head to a military facility like this one, some boarding a chartered plane overnight. >> it's unnerving that we have to do this, but it's necessary to keep our family and our community safe. >> reporter: with a soaring number of illnesses in a growing number of states, outside seattle where nearly two dozen have now die

we'll start with nbc correspondent miguel almaguer. he's out there at the port in oakland.od morning. 3500 passengers expected back onshore this week after their two-week cruise ship from san francisco to hawaii turned into a nightmare. many of these passengers tell us they are angry, confused and getting mixed messages. now that they're finally home, they have a long time in quarantine ahead. after being held in the waters off the california coast since thursday, this morning the "grand princess" cruise ship will finally dock here at a shipping port in oakland. >> i could wave home but can't get there, so that's very frustrating. >> upon docking, passengers will transferred to military bases for medical screening and testing. some will head to a 14-day quarantine at military bases in california, texas, and georgia. crew members will remain quarantined on board the ship. >> i want folks to know we're doing everything in our power 24/7 to secure their safety, their health, as our top priority. >> this as the state department issued a serious new travel warning saying u.s. ci