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NY Activates National Guard, Creates 'Containment Area' to Stop Spread of Coronavirus

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On Tuesday, the state of New York activated the National Guard and establishing a "containment area" outside of New York City, closing schools and other facilities to stem the spread of COVID-19. 

The one-mile containment zone is in New Rochelle, New York located about 25 miles outside of the Big Apple. There are more than 100 confirmed cases in that one area alone.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) says there will be more testing there, the National Guard will move in and schools and other large facilities there like churches and community centers will be closed for two weeks. 

"New Rochelle at this point is probably the largest cluster in the United States of these cases and it is a significant issue for us," Cuomo said. 

Vigilance is the order of the day in New Rochelle and around the world. Italy instituted a nationwide lockdown with restrictions on travel in and out of the country. 

The normally busy streets of the capital city of Rome were quiet. 

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In Iran, about 300 people have died and more than 8,000 have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

In France, the call center of a Paris hospital reports it has seen calls  jump from 3,000 to 6,000 a day. 

Also on Tuesday, China's President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak and noted improvement in numbers of new cases.

In the US, the Pentagon is monitoring the progress of the virus and taking necessary precautions.   

During a press briefing there on Tuesday, we saw much more spacing between reporter chairs than normal.  

"We've not seen any dramatic reduction in readiness or ability of our forces based on COVID-19," said Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman.  

The Navy Times reports the Navy's boot camp in Great Lakes, IL is barring the public from attending graduations, because of health concerns related to the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Gov.Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) has announced a half-dozen new cases.

"As of this morning we have six confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kentucky but that number is expected to grow," he said. 

Also, the passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship, where more than a dozen crew members tested positive, were moved off the ship Tuesday in Oakland, CA, with Americans led into quarantine.

And several universities are canceling classes and opting for online instruction to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. 

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About The Author

Eric
Philips

Eric Philips is the White House Correspondent for CBN News and is based in the network’s Washington DC bureau. There he keeps close tabs on the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice, breaking down any international or domestic threats to the United States. Prior to his tenure at CBN, Eric was an Anchor and Consumer Investigative Reporter for the NBC affiliate in Richmond, Virginia. While there, he won an Emmy for best morning newscast. In addition, Eric has covered news for local stations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Norfolk, and Salisbury, MD. He also served for five years as a