Most of europe to the United States, and also said he will expand sick leave. This comes as Senate Republicans block paid sick leave legislation. We will talk about sick leave and medicare for all with two leading economists. After a disappointing showing in tuesday nights democratic president ial primaries, senator Bernie Sanders says he will stay in the race and debate joe biden. What are you going to do do in the absurdity of the United States not having health care is human right . Are you really going to veto medicare for a all bill if it is passed n congress . Amy and all of italy is lockdown. Among the recent dead is the head of the medical association in the Northern Province of italy. We will go to italy for the latest. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a Global Pandemic as the number of cases continues to multiply worldwide, with tens of millions of People Living under unprecedented lockdowns. The pandemic declaration came as the number of confirmed cases of covid19 topped 126,000 in over 120 countries, with more than 4700 deaths blamed on the virus. The who said officials are alarmed by both the spread of the virus and the failure of governments to act. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries higher climate even higher. The who has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. Amamy in italy, where 60 millin people are undnder an Unprecedented Nationwide Lockdown, the death toll has increased to at least 827. Authorities have ordered all shops closed except food markets and pharmacies. Italys economy has all but ground to a halt, with Prime MinisterGiuseppe Conte describing the outbreak as the countrys darkest hour. Among the recent dead is roberto stella, the head of the medical association and northern italy. In germany, where there have been about two thousand confirmed cases so far, chancellor Angela Merkel said that the majority of people are likely to contract the virus. When the virirus is out ther, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, and 60 be70 of the population will infected as long as the situation continues to exist. Amy irans government has urged people to remain in their homes as the countrys death toll rose over 10,000 people infected. On wednesday, iranian officials accused the Trump Administration of medical terrorism over u. S. Imposed sanctions that have severely hampered irans ability to respond to the outbreak. Iran hasas asked the i internatl monetaryry fund for 5 billion n emergency funding. One e relative bright spot i china, where dracoconian measurs appear to have stemmed the spread of the virus. Just 24 new infections were reported on wednesday across china, and 10 of those involved people w who recently traveled abroad. In the United States, President Trump addressed the nation in a prime time address from the oval office wednesday, ordering a travel ban thats unprecedented in u. S. History. Pres. Trump i have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and wellbeing of all americans, to keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from europe to the United States for the next 30 days. Amy President Trump said the travel ban would not apply to the united kingdom, even though coronavirus is spreading in britain and northern ireland. Trump owns Trump Turnberry and Trump International golf links in britain. Trumps address inspired panic in Financial Markets after he said he was imposing restrictions on tremendous amount of trade and cargo from europe. Dow futures dropped 1100 points immediately after the comments, building on historic losses in recent days that ended an 11year bull market. Trump quickly issued a correction after his speech, tweeting the restriction stops people not goods. Trump also said during his speech that u. S. Insurance companies have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments. A spokesperson for Americas Health insurance plans quickly issued a statement saying the waived copays would only apply to coronavirus tests not treatment. And trump also later clarified, though he had read this in a scripted speech, that u. S. Citizens in europe will be allowed to return home, though they will have to undergo screening. In the a address, trump referred to covid19 as a foreign virus that started in china. Chinas Foreign Ministry has condemned such rhetoric is meant to stigmatize china. Labs are reporting shortages of critical equipment and chemicals needed to test for the virus. And Time Magazine reports the whwhite house has blocked the public release of a report by the director of National Intelligence warning the United States is starkly unprepared for a Global Pandemic. The editorinchief of Science Magazine blasted the Trump Administrations Coronavirus Response in a scathing oped published wednesday. The editor, holden thorp, writes that dr. Anthony fauci, a top scieientist on vice presididente pences Coronavirus Task force, must be allowed to speak freely about the outbreak. Thorp wrote informing fauci and other government scientists that they must clear all Public Comments with Vice President mike pence is unacceptable. This is not a time for someone who denies evolution, Climate Change, and the dangers of smoking to shape the public message. On capitol hill, dr. Fauci warned lawmakers wednesday that covid19 is likely 10 times deadlier than seasonalal flu and that the pandemic is certain to get worse. How much worse it will get will depend on our ability to do two things to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country. The bottom line, it is going to get worse. Amy also on capitol hill, Tennessee Republican senator Lamar Alexander blocked a motion to immediately pass legislation that would guarantee 14 days of paid sick leave to workers during Public Health emergencies. This comes as democrats in the house of representatives prepare to debate a package of bills today to give workers 14 days paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave. The bill also includes funding for low income mothers and pregnant people who may be laid off due to coronavirus, 400 billion for local food banks and free coronavirus testing for all those who need it, including those without insurance. Meanwhile, washington, d. C. , mayor Muriel Bowser declared a Public Health emergency in the nations capital, where there have been 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. One of them is a staffer for Washington Democratic senator marie cantwell. Congressional l leaders have agreed to severely restrict Public Access to capitol hill, and senator cantwell has closed her d. C. C. And seattle o officed has ordered her staff to work remotely. In seattle, governor jay inslee has ordered Public Schools closed for a minimum of two weeks, bringing the total number of u. S. School closures to over 1500 affecting over one Million Students nationwide. In oklahoma city, an nba game between an nba game was called off moments before tipoff wednesday evening after utah jazz player rudy gobert tested positive for coronavirus. The nba has since suspended its season until further notice. The ncaa said all Upcoming Division 1 basketball tournaments will be played in empty arenas, with only essential staff and family members allowed to attend. Other sports leagues are preparing to cancel events or to limit Public Access to games. California is urging officials to cancel all public gatherings of more than 250 people. Joe bidens president ial campaign has scrapped planned rallies in chicago and miami and will instead hold virtual events. Biden is planning an address on the coronavirus from wilmington, delaware, his home state, this afternoon. President Trumps Campaign postponed plans for a catholics for trump rally schedululed for march 19 in milwaukee day after , one announcing the event. Even hollywood has been affected by coronavirus. On celebrities tom hanks andnd wewednday, Rita A Wilson annound they have bothth tested positive fofor covid19 after coming down wiwith flulike symptoms duringa trip to australia. In campaign news, senator Bernie Sanders said wednesday he will continue his fight for the democratic partys president ial nomination and is looking forward to sundays debate in arizona against joe biden. He promised to challenge bidens lack of support fofor progressie causes like the Green New Deal and medicare for all. Sen. Sanders the American People understand that we cannot continue a cruel and dysfunctional Health Care System and it is amazing to me to see that even in conservative states like mississippi, there is an overwhelming understanding that we are now spending twice as much per capita on health care as the people of any other country, while 87 million of us remain uninsured or underinsured. And this crisis, this absurd Health Care System, is becoming more and more obvious to the American People as we face the challenge of thehe coronavirus pandemic. Amy with more than half of the u. S. Population yet to vote, sanders is trailing biden by about 150 pledged delegates out of about 2000 needed to clinch the nomination. After headlines, well play extended remarks from senator Bernie Sanders address. Joe bidens younger brother is facing allegations of financial fraud in civil court proceedings. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court by a pair of medical firms, james biden promised investors at the forprofit hospital chain Americore Health that hed leverage the biden family name to attract a large investment from the middle east. The money never materialized, and americore has since entered bankruptcy proceedings, but not before james biden allegedly walked away with a 650,000 personal loan from the company that he has yet to repay. Politico reports james biden introduced americores founder to his older brother joe biden at a september 2017 fundraiser for the beau biden foundation. A Biden Campaign spokesperson denied joe biden ever discussed americore with his brother or expressed support for the business. James bidens ties to americore came under incncreased scrutiny following an fbi raiaid on the companys ellwood City Hospital in pennsylvania in january. The reason for the raid is unknown. Here in new york, a manhattan judge has sentenced former hollywood producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison in a landmark ruling for the metoo movement. After his sentencing, weinstein was taken under armed guard and bussed from bussed from the manhattan courthouse to the Rikers Island jail. He was later transferred to manhattans Bellevue Hospital after complaining of chest pains. Weinstein was found guilty last month of raping thenaspiring actress jessica mann in a hotel room in 2013 and of sexually assaulting Production Assistant mimi haley at his apartment in 2006 by forcibly performing oral sex on her. Attorney Gloria Allred read from haleys victims impact statement outside the court just after weinsteins sentencing. I have o observed in indifferencece, a lack of remor, a lack of acknowledgment, a lack of awareness and selfawareness by t the defendant throughout ts process that has made me feel anger, that has left me concerned that he is completely disconnected from the gravity yf the crime that he committed against me and the impact it has had. I can only hope that whatever sentence the court sees fit is long enough for Harvey Weinstein to acknowledge what he has done and to be truly sorry. Amy actress mira sorvino tweeted in response i literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the Justice System has worked on behalf of all of his victims today. Meanwhile, prosecutors in los angeles are working to extradite weinstein to face further charges of rape and Sexual Assault in california. In iraq, a British Army Medic and two u. S. Soldiers were killed wednesday in a rocket attack on the Taji Military base near baghdad. 12 other soldiers were injured. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Iraqs military circulated photos showing an abandoned pickup truck with a battery of rocket launchers found a few miles from the base. After a similar attack three months ago killed a u. S. Contraoror, pridenent ump orded d a dronstririken iranas top militaryomommand qasasse soleani in bhdad. Thassassinion brout the u. S. Nd iran the bri of war. E supremcourt sa wednesd will alw the trp administtion to ntinue t force asum seeke to rema in mexico while they await their day in a u. S. Court. Only one justice, sonia sotomayor, registered a dissent, as the Supreme Court ordered a stay on a 9th Circuit Court of appeals ruling that the policy likely violates u. S. Law. Some 60,000 Asylum Seekers have been forced to wait in mexico in dangerous and often squalid conditions while their claims make their way through u. S. Courtsts, which can take monthsr even years. U. S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning is recovering in a virginia hospital after she reportedly attempted suicide at a federal prison in alexanandri. Manning has been jailed since march of last year on contempt charges for refusing to cooperate in a federal grand jury investigation into wikileaks. Chelsea manning previously attempted suicide twice in a u. S. Military prison after she was sentenced to 35 years for leaking documents and video to wikileaks showing evidence of u. S. War crimes in iraq and afghanistan. President obama granted her clemency in 2017. Chelsea manning is due in court on friday, where her lawyeyers have entered a motion for her release. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Nermeen and im nermeen shaikh. Welcome to all of our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. After a disappointing showing in tuesday nights democratic president ial primaries, senator Bernie Sanders announced his future plans on wednesday. Sanders was the frontrunner until just two weeks ago and said he will stay in the race. Withwe begin today show Bernie Sanders, in which he lays out a series of questions to his rival, former Vice President joe biden, on how he would address key issues like economic inequality, health care, and Climate Crisis. Sanders is set to debate biden this sunday in phoenix. Because of the coronavirus, there will be no audience. Sanders spoke to reporters in burlington, vermont. Sanders last night was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view. We lost in the largest state up for grabs yesterday, the state of michigan. We lost in mississippi, missouri, and idaho. On the other hand, we won in north dakota and we lead the vote count in the state of washington the second largest yesterday with 67 of the votes having been counted, we are a few thousand votes on top. What became even more apparent yesterday is that while we are currently losing the delegate count, approximately 800 delegates for joe bidenn and 660 for us, we are strongly winning in two enormously important areas, which will determine the fututure of ourr cocountry. Poll after poll, including exit polls, show that a Strong Majority of the American People support our progress