Coronavirus updates: Houston’s COVID-19 death toll now 34 after passing of three men with underlying health problems – KHOU.com

HOUSTON We are continuing to track the latest headlines and updates regarding the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bad weather caused Houston and Harris County's testing sites to close Sunday. Also Congress is close to agreeing on another financial relief bill. Get today's top headlines and latest updates in the live blog below.

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Here are the latest updates from around the Houston area and the world(alltimes are Central/Houston time):

APRIL 19 5:07 p.m. A man and woman, both between ages 61-70 and suffering from pre-existing medical conditions, have died from coronavirus. the Galveston County Health District said both passed away April 18.

So far, 455 coronavirus cases have been reported in the county. Seventeen people have died from COVID-19 and 193 people have recovered.

APRIL 19 2:08 p.m. TheHouston Health Department is reporting 130 new coronavirus cases, bringing the city total to 2,821.

Sadly, three more people all with underlying health problemshave also died from the virus. These individuals are a man in his 70s, one in his 90s and another man, also in his 70s.

These men all passed away on the same day, April 16, the health department said. The death toll for the city of Houston is now 34.

APRIL 19 11:29 a.m. Democrats close to reaching deal with GOP on coronavirus response bill | Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday his party is close to coming to an agreement with Republicans regarding a new coronavirus response bill. Schumer said Sunday on CNN that the Democrats have made "very good progress," and the Senate leader said that he is hopeful they can "come to an agreement tonight or early tomorrow morning. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday the GOP is close to reaching a deal with the Democrats. The bill would expand on the Small Business Administrations loan program. Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 10:15 a.m. All Harris County and City of Houston public testing sites are closed today due to poor weather conditions. Those with codes/appointments for today should use them tomorrow, Monday, April 20

Related: View latest weather alerts & forecast

City of Houston statement: "Houston's two community based testing sites are closed today (Sunday, April 19) due to inclement weather. People with authorization codes for today should use them on Monday, April 20."

Harris County statement: "URGENT: All of our #COVID19 testing sites are closed today due to the weather. We plan on opening back up Monday. If you had an appointment for today, please come back tomorrow."

APRIL 19 10 a.m. The European Center for Disease Control says the continent now has more than 1 million confirmed cases and almost 100,000 deaths from the new coronavirus. According to a tally posted on the ECDC website Sunday, Spain had the most cases in the region with 191,726, followed by Italy, Germany, Britain and France. It listed Italy as having the most deaths in Europe, with 23,227, followed by Spain, France, Britain and Belgium. According to the tally, Europe accounts for almost half the global case load and more than half the total deaths. (AP) Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 9:50 a.m. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says 150,000 coronavirus tests are now being conducted daily in the U.S. but suggested that governors and not the federal government were to blame for numbers not being higher. Pence tells NBCs Meet the Press that, if states around the country will activate all of the laboratories that are available in their states, we could more than double that overnight." He said the nation has sufficient testing today for states to begin reopening their economies as part of the initial phases of guidelines the White House released this week. Governors from both parties have said that while they do have more labs that could increase testing in many areas, they often are unable to do so because of federal delays. (AP) Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 9 a.m. The latest numbers from Johns Hopkins University show the world has reached more than 604,000 recoveries. There have been 162,000 deaths worldwide with 2.36 million confirmed cases reported.

Here's a look at the confirmed case numbers in the Houston area as of this morning:

Southeast Texas COVID-19 cases as of Sunday morning, April 19, 2020

KHOU 111

APRIL 19 6:50 a.m. World news:The Italian coast guard is transferring 34 migrants from the Spanish rescue ship Aita Mari off the coast of the Sicilian capital Palermo onto a naval ship for quarantine. The new arrivals will join 146 migrants from the German-run rescue ship Alan Kurdi, who were transferred on Friday to the Rubattino. The Italian naval ship will remain a mile off the coast for the duration of the quarantine, which is being overseen by the Italian Red Cross. (AP) Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 5 a.m. World news: Over a thousand virus cases on French ship | Figures from France's military leadership show more than half the sailors aboard the country's flagship aircraft carrier contracted the new virus as the ship traveled through the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. A navy official says 1,046 of the 1,760 people aboard the Charles de Gaulle tested positive for the virus. Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Christophe Prazuck attributed the quick spread to the great population density aboard the ship. Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 12 a.m. Sad news from the entertainment world over the weekend: Broadway star Nick Cordero faces leg amputation due to complications while battling coronavirus | Cordero entered the intensive case unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA on March 31 and has been on a ventilator and unconscious after contracting COVID-19. Read more here.

APRIL 19 12 a.m. World news: Spain has reported its lowest daily death total for confirmed coronavirus victims in nearly a month as the country contains a savage outbreak that has killed more than 20,000 people there. Spanish health officials said Sunday another 410 people have died in the last 24 hours. That is the lowest daily death toll since March 22. It takes the total to 20,453 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Spain also reported 4,218 confirmed new cases, pushing the total to 195,944 second only to the United States. Top health official Fernando Simn said the latest data gives Spain hope, adding that it shows "the rate of contagion has fallen and that we are on the correct path. (AP) Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 19 12 a.m. World news: Japan passes 10,000 cases of COVID-19 | Japanese health ministry said Sunday that 568 new cases of the coronavirus were reported the day before, bringing a domestic total to 10,361. A combined total including 712 others from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year came to 11,073, with 174 deaths. The number of cases is still relatively small compared to the U.S. and Europe, but thats only as many as Japans limited testing has detected and actual infections are believed to be far more widespread. Read more national/world updates here.

APRIL 18 10:25 p.m. After their wedding was postponed, family surprises couple with car parade | Their day began with brunch and then some photos of the couple. But the biggest surprise was waiting just around the corner. Read more here.

APRIL 18 9:59 p.m. Great news from Houston police chief Art Acevedo! The chief said detective Ramon "Ray" Cervantes, who's been hospitalized with COVID-19 in intensive care, opened his eyes today.

He "was able to follow stimuli and doctor's instructions," Acevedo said in a tweet. "We are so hopeful. Thank you for all your prayers and the ones yet to come."

APRIL 18 9:14 p.m. Tito's Vodka donated 130 cases of handsanitizer to the city of Houston's essential workers. "Thank you for your geenrosity and shifting your production to help during #COVID19!" Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a Facebook postSaturday.

APRIL 18 8:39 p.m. Dallas County health officials reported the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in one day. County health officials confirmed Saturday afternoon an additional 134 people have tested positive, bringing the county's total case count to 2,324. Five more people have also died from the virus. All the victims had been critically ill at local hospitals, officials say.

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The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also have nausea, body aches, headaches and stomach issues. Losing your sense of taste and/or smell can also be an early warning sign.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for becoming seriously ill. However, U.S. experts are seeing a significant number of younger people being hospitalized, including some in ICU.

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

Get complete coverage of the coronavirus by texting 'FACTS' to 713-526-1111.

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Coronavirus updates: Houston's COVID-19 death toll now 34 after passing of three men with underlying health problems - KHOU.com