The nation was bracing Sunday for it deadliest week in what the surgeon general called “our Pearl Harbor moment” as the trajectory of coronavirus cases continued its climb, but there were hints of improvement in the nation’s “hot spot” of New York.

In Italy, Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica and, in England, Queen Elizabeth II addressed her nation – from isolation. 

“Well, it’s tragically fitting that we’re talking at the beginning of Holy Week because this is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives, quite frankly,” Surgeon General Jerome Adams said.

Adams and other public health officials urged Americans to practice social distancing and to wear masks in public places.

There were more than 325,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard, while the nation’s death toll stood at over 9,200. A week ago there were less than 125,000 cases and 2,200 had died.

Worldwide, the death toll surpassed 68,000 on Sunday, and more than 1.2 million people had been infected. 

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Surgeon general warns of ‘Pearl Harbor moment’

COVID-19 has been blamed for almost 5,000 American deaths in the last week, but Surgeon General Jerome Adams says this week will be worse.

“This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it’s not going to be localized,” Adams said on Fox News Sunday. But Adams also noted that Spain and Italy began intensive mitigation efforts about a month ago, and that the U.S. was not far behind. Those countries are now starting to see a slowdown in cases, Adams said. In the U.S., Washington state and California are seeing indications that the crisis is leveling off, he said.

“As hard as this week is going to be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part for the next 30 days,” Adams said.

Cuomo: Deaths, hospitalizations dip in New York state

The number of deaths, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions in New York state have dipped slightly in recent days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Cuomo said it was too soon to determine whether the state had reached the “apex” of the patient curve. He also said a plateau might have been reached that could last an unknown length of time. The state’s death toll of more than 4,000 represents almost half the U.S. deaths since the crisis began. Cuomo said 2,500 hospital beds being set up at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City will provide a crucial safety valve for hospitals.

“The system is over capacity all across the board,” he said. “That is putting a tremendous amount of stress on the healthcare system.”

Australia investigates cruise ship after COVID-19 killed 11

Australian police have launched a criminal investigation into the docking and disembarking of passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney last month, which led to Australia’s highest concentration of coronavirus cases. Authorities have been criticized for allowing 2,700 passengers and crew to disembark when the ship docked March 19 in Sydney. Eleven passengers have died and the ship remains in Australian waters. Authorities in Australia have confirmed 342 cases of COVID-19 in passengers who got infected while on the ship or before boarding. Hundreds more infections have been linked to the ship. Not all crew members disembarked, and an unknown number are ill.

– Curtis Tate and Rasha Ali

Empty churches for Palm Sunday, even for the pope

Christian churches around the world were mostly empty for Palm Sunday services. Pope Francis celebrated a service at St. Peter’s Basilica in front of a few aides, prelates and nuns scattered at social distancing intervals. St. Peter’s Square, which normally would be packed with tens of thousands of the faithful armed with palm fronds for the event, was virtually deserted. “The tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less,” Francis said in his homily.

Palm Sunday, which falls one week before Easter, marks the ceremonial entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem before a palm-waving crowd. In Jerusalem, a traditional procession from the Mount of Olives into the city that normally draws thousands was limited to small group of religious leaders.

Queen Elizabeth gives historic address to her nation

Queen Elizabeth II delivered a historic address to England on Sunday in a televised broadcast recorded from her isolation at Windsor Castle with one cameraman dressed in protective clothing. The queen, making only the fourth address in her 68-year reign, will attempt to rally her nation as the death toll continues to rapidly climb. Almost 5,000 Brits have died, including more than 700 on Saturday. Her son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles, reportedly is doing well after himself battling COVID-19.

The queen, 93, will lauded her nation’s “good-humored resolve.”

“I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” she is expected to say. 

— Hannah Yasharoff

Italian officials warn about regression 

Italy has steadily showed progress that may suggest the apex of infections has passed, but officials are now pleading for residents to adhere to the national lockdown.

The country reported 525 deaths on Sunday, its lowest daily total since March 19, when 427 were recorded, according to the country’s civil protection agency.

After photos were published that showed large crowds shopping in cities like Naples, Rome and Genoa, however, health minister Roberto Speranza said on RAI state television that Italians ran the risk of reversing positive momentum.

According to Lombardy vice governor Fabrizio Sala, cellphone data indicated that 38% of the region’s residents were moving about, the highest that total has been since March 20.

Spain, similarly, also has showed a steady decline in infections and deaths. According to the Ministry of Health, the rate of new deaths fell for the third consecutive day, with 674 on Sunday, down from 809 on Saturday. The country announced 6,023 new infections, a drop of 1,003 – or 14.3 % – from Saturday. There have been 130,759 cases in Spain, second-most of any country in the world.— Lorenzo Reyes

Mayor, Georgia governor clash over order opening beaches

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was defending his shelter-in-place order that also opened the state beaches after a mayor ripped the “reckless mandate.” Kemp’s executive order allows exercise, with social distancing, on the beaches. Tybee Island officials had closed their beaches more than two weeks ago, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Shirley Sessions said beach parking lots will remain closed and that she will pursue legal options to upend Kemp’s mandate. Kemp responded on social media that officers “report no issues as they patrol the beach and surrounding areas. Beachgoers are mostly locals and complying with social distancing orders.”

How many cases of coronavirus in US?

The United States had more than 324,000 cases of coronavirus as of Sunday afternoon and more than 9,100 deaths. The graphic below shows the number of new cases each day.

Child care centers dealing with ‘devastating’ blow

The pandemic could deal a death blow to swaths of the nation’s child care “system” that have survived on the brink since long before the crisis, experts say. Child care is expensive to operate and to provide, yet families are largely left to pay for it themselves while providers eke out a living on meager profits. “The economics are fragile in good times,” said Rhian Evans Allvin, chief executive officer at NAEYC, a professional association for child care providers. “When a crisis like this hits, it is devastating to the child care field.”

– Lillian Mongeau, The Hechinger Report

New York getting ventilators from China, Oregon

New York is getting 1,000 ventilators from China to aid its battle against the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press briefing. Another 500 of the breathing machines will be moved from upstate New York to downstate hospitals being hit hardest by COVID-19, Cuomo said. Oregon is also sending 140 ventilators to New York, where thousands of new infections are confirmed daily.

“We’re all in the same battle here, and the battle is stopping the spread of the virus,” Cuomo said.

The Chinese government facilitated the effort connected to Alibaba, the massive online retailer in China, Cuomo said.

– David Robinson

Coronavirus: Symptoms and prevention

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as a fever and a dry cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.

To avoid becoming infected and to help stop the spread of the disease, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, lathering soap for 20 seconds to get it on the backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails before rinsing off. Don’t touch your face and wear a mask in public.

Medical military personnel headed to NYC to battle coronavirus

President Donald Trump said he is deploying 1,000 medical personnel to New York City to help battle the coronavirus. Personnel to be deployed will include doctors, nurses, respiratory specialists and others, Trump announced at a White House news briefing Saturday.

“We’ve been doing it, but now we’re doing it on a larger basis,” Trump said.

Trump did not say from which branches of the services the officials will be deployed. But he said they will be sent Sunday and Monday to New York, “where they’re needed most.” 

– Joel Shannon

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United Airlines slashes flights at Newark, LaGuardia

United Airlines is drastically reducing operations at two New York-area airports. The temporary reductions at Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport take effect Sunday and will last at least three weeks, according to a letter to United employees obtained by USA TODAY. At Newark, one of United’s hubs, the carrier will drop from its current 139 flights per day to 62 destinations to 15 daily flights to just nine destinations. At LaGuardia, United will go from 18 flights per day to four destinations to two daily flights to one destination.

United, like all carriers, has slashed flights in recent weeks as business and leisure travel has dried up because of coronavirus fears.

– Gary Dinges

Contributing: The Associated Press

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