What’s Happening: Europe’s cafes and bars shut amid outbreak

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Life across Europe is coming to a standstill as governments order border closures, worship services are
canceled and bars and cafes are shuttered. Chaos erupted at some airports in the U.S. as citizens raced
to come home as travel restrictions from Europe are imposed. The new coronavirus has infected more than
156,000 people and killed more than 5,800. The disease for most people causes only mild or moderate
symptoms but for some, especially the elderly or people with underlying health conditions, it can cause
more severe illness.
Some of the latest developments Sunday:
CHAOS AT SOME U.S. AIRPORTS
Large crowds descended on some of the 13 airports where travelers from Europe were required to pass
through for required medical screenings. The crowds formed even as public health officials called for
"social distancing" to stem the spread of COVID-19. American citizens, green card holders and
some others are allowed to return to the U.S. amid new European travel restrictions. The lines led
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to tweet at President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, noting
that the customs process is under federal jurisdiction and demanding they take action to address the
crowds. Acting Secretary Chad Wolf says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is trying to add
additional screening capacity and work with airlines to expedite the process.
GERMANY TO PARTIALLY SHUT BORDERS
Germany will partially close its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Denmark as it
steps up efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said that
new checks will take effect at 8 a.m. Monday. He said that people who commute across the border to work
will still be able to cross, as will goods, but travelers without a valid reason to travel will no
longer be allowed to enter and leave" Germany. He added that German citizens in the neighboring
countries will be allowed back in.
HARD-HIT ITALY CONTINUES TO RACK UP INFECTIONS, DEATHS
The number Italy’s cases of COVID-19 infection surged higher again, with 3,590 more cases in a 24-hour
period, nearly 100 more than the increase as the day before. Italy’s Civil Protection chief Angelo
Borrelli announced the latest number of cases on Sunday, totaling nearly 25,000 in the country. Deaths
also jumped ahead, with 368 additional fatal cases registered, bringing the overall death toll to 1,809.
Pope Frances ventured out of the Vatican to visit two churches in Rome to pray for the sick, a spokesman
said. Some churches in Italy are being allowed to stay open for individual prayer, but all public Masses
are forbidden during Italy’s lockdown to discourage crowding.
MOVIE TICKET SALES PLUNGE
Ticket sales have plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years at North American movie theaters
amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to studio estimates Sunday, receipts totaled about $56 million
in U.S. and Canada theaters. Data firm Comscore says that weekend box office revenue hasn’t been so low
since September 2000. Pixar’s "Onward" remained the top film by earning $10.5 million in its
second weekend. The Christian romance "I Still Believe" brought in $9.5 million.
"Bloodshot," with Vin Diesel, grossed an estimated $9.3 million. Those totals are notably
below expectations. Most of Europe’s cinemas have shuttered in recent days, along with closures in
China, India, Lebanon and Kuwait. Those closures have already slashed international grosses.
CAFES IN PARIS, PUBS IN IRELAND ARE SHUTTERED
French government ordered all restaurants and cafes closed to better contain the spreading coronavirus.
On Sunday, stacks of chairs filled cafe fronts instead of customers. Cafes and eateries have been an
essential part of the fabric of social life in France since 17th-century Paris. In Ireland, all pubs and
bars were ordered to shut down for 2 weeks.
AMSTERDAM SHUTS ITS WEED-SELLING COFFEE SHOPS
The Netherlands has ordered Amsterdam’s famed weed-selling coffee shops to close, along with all other
restaurants and bars. Queues quickly formed outside coffee shops in the Dutch capital and elsewhere as
customers — some facing three weeks of no school or work — decided to buy some pot while they still
could. The closures are set to last until at least April 6.
COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS POSTPONED
The Academy of Country Music Awards is the latest entertainment event to be shelved because of the
spreading coronavirus epidemic. The awards show had been scheduled for April 5 in Las Vegas, to be
televised live on CBS. The academy said it would be rescheduled for September, at a date and venue to be
announced later.
KEN BURNS OFFERING BASEBALL DOCUMENTARY
Ken Burns is stepping up to the plate for deprived sports fans. The filmmaker said Sunday he’s asked PBS
to make his sprawling 1994 documentary "Baseball" available to stream for anyone who’s missing
games because the coronavirus has put the sport on hold. The series on the sport’s history unfolded over
nine two-hour episodes, or innings, when it was initially released.
FRENCH PERFUME COMPANIES TO MAKE MAKE SANITIZING GEL
French luxury conglomerate LVMH will use its facilities to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic
hand sanitizing gel to be provided for free to French authorities to help face the virus crisis. The
group that owns Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy said all the production sites of its perfumes and cosmetics
in France will take part in the effort "as long as necessary."
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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and
https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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