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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 1 april 2020
US consumer confidence sinks as virus begins having impact

Continued from Front Kathy Bostjancic, chief U.S. financial economist at Oxford Economics,
said the March decline, while steep, still understates the damage to
“The intensification of Covid-19 and extreme volatility in the financial confidence because a dramatic surge in layoffs didn’t begin until af-
markets have increased uncertainty about the outlook for the econo- ter the survey had been completed in mid-March.
my and jobs,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators “A much steeper plunge is in store for April,” she said, noting that a re-
at the Conference Board. cent Washington-Post/ABC News poll revealed that one-third of Ame-
“March’s decline in confidence is more in line with a severe contrac- ricans report that either they or an immediate family member has lost
tion — rather than a temporary shock — and further declines are sure their job. And more than 60% in the survey said they think this recession
to follow.” will be as bad as or worse than the 2007-2009 Great Recession.q

U.S. State Department official

dies from virus

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike handful of the 220 U.S. embassies and
Pompeo says a State Department official consulates abroad.
has died from the coronavirus, the first On Monday, State Department health of-
American fatality among the U.S. diplo- ficials said at least two locally employed
matic corps from the pandemic. staff members had died from the virus.
Pompeo didn't give details about the of- Those officials say they were tracking 105
ficial who passed away or where the per- confirmed cases among the agency’s
son contracted the disease. He says about global workforce of about 75,000. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence arrive
four to five dozen State Department em- Of those, 75 are overseas and 30 are at to speak about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White
House, Monday, March 30, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex
ployees had tested positive for the virus, State Department offices in the United Brandon)
including locally employed staffers at a States in nine cities.q Associated Press

Ships with people from ill-fated cruise beg Florida to dock

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON said they are sick. More with supplies and staff last
MIAMI (AP) — Two ships than 300 U.S. citizens are on week. The Zaandam origi-
carrying passengers and both ships combined. nally departed from Bue-
crew from an ill-fated South “We cannot afford to have nos Aires on March 7 — a
American cruise are plead- people who are not even day before the U.S. State
ing with Florida officials Floridians dumped into Department issued an ad-
to let them carry off the South Florida using up those visory to avoid cruise travel
sick and dead, but Gov. valuable resources,” De- and before any substantial
Ron DeSantis says Florida's Santis told Fox News. “We restrictions were in place in
health care resources are view this as a big big prob- Florida. DeSantis declared
already stretched too thin. lem and we do not want a state of emergency in
As the Zaandam and its to see people dumped in the state two days later.
sister ship the Rotterdam Southern Florida right now.” The ship originally was
make for Florida, pas- Holland America President scheduled to travel to San
sengers confined to their Orlando Ashford penned Antonio, Chile, and then
rooms are anxious for re- an opinion column in the In this March 28, 2020 photo provided by Juan Huergo, Laura depart on March 21 for a
lief, hoping DeSantis will South Florida Sun Sentinel Gabaroni and her husband Juan Huergo take a selfie on board a 20-day cruise to arrive in
change his mind and allow to plead with officials and tender after they were evacuated from the Zaandam, a Holland Fort Lauderdale in early
them to disembark despite residents to let the passen- American cruise ship, near the Panama Canal. The Orlando- April. But beginning March
area couple was transferred to the Rotterdam, together with
confirmed coronavirus cas- gers disembark. others who were deemed healthy. Four people have died on 15, the Zaandam was de-
es aboard. “Already four guests have board the Zaandam and many others have are suffering from nied entry by South Ameri-
The governor said he has passed away and I fear flu-like symptoms. (Juan Huergo via AP) can ports, even before
been in contact with the other lives are at risk,” Ash- Associated Press passengers reported their
Coast Guard and the ford wrote. “The COVID-19 night after days of wran- to leave our rooms, haven't first flu-like symptoms on
White House about divert- situation is one of the most gling with local authorities. had fresh air in days.” March 22.
ing them, and local offi- urgent tests of our common Laura Gabaroni and her At least two of the four Canal administrator
cials were meeting Tues- humanity. To slam the door husband Juan Huergo, of deaths on the Zaandam Ricaurte Vásquez said Pan-
day to decide whether to in the face of these people Orlando, had wanted to ex- were caused by the coro- ama allowed them through
let them dock at Broward betrays our deepest hu- plore the southernmost tip navirus, according to Pan- for humanitarian reasons,
County's Port Everglades man values.” of South America for years amanian authorities. The but won't make another
cruise ship terminal, where With authorities in country — to see the penguins on company said eight oth- exception for vessels with
workers who greet passen- after country sealing bor- the Falkland Islands and the ers have tested positive for positive coronavirus cases.
gers were among Florida's ders and imposing quar- glacial landscapes of the COVID-19, and that most of Passenger Emily Spindler
first confirmed coronavirus antines in response to the Strait of Magellan. But their the passengers and crew Brazell, of Tappahannock,
cases. coronavirus pandemic, the vacation turned harrowing on both ships appear to be Virginia, said the company
Holland America said the Zaandam and then its sis- as countries shunned them in good health. has been accommodat-
Rotterdam took on nearly ter ship became pariahs. and people fell ill. Gabaroni and hundreds ing, offering extravagant
1,400 people who appear Passengers were asked to “It's been a trying time, es- of others who were fever- meals, wine and unlimited
to be healthy, leaving 450 keep their rooms dark and pecially because of the free and not showing any phone calls — but they
guests and 602 crew mem- leave their drapes closed many ups and downs we've symptoms were transferred have to stay in their rooms,
bers on the Zaandam, in- as they passed through the seen along the way,” said to the Rotterdam, which avoiding any contact with
cluding more than 190 who Panama Canal on Sunday Gabaroni. “We are unable replenished the Zaandam others. q