ROME (WBAP/KLIF News) – The World Health Organization has declared the global coronavirus crisis a pandemic.
The move comes as states across the United States are working to implement protocols to deal with the growing number of cases.
Washington state is the hardest hit, with at least 24 deaths and 267 confirmed cases across 10 counties.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee is considering banning gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle metro area to try and curb the outbreak.
In North Texas, three cases have been confirmed out of Frisco and there are two presumptive positive cases in Dallas County as well as one in Tarrant County. Health officials are expecting those numbers to grow.
There are 12 coronavirus cases in the Houston area with six cases each in Harris and Fort Bend counties.
In the United States, 31 people have died and more than 1,000 are infected.
Internationally, Italy is weighing even tighter restrictions on daily life and has announced billions in financial relief to cushion economic shocks from the coronavirus.
The hardest-hit region of Lombardy is pushing for a shutdown of nonessential businesses and public transportation on top of travel and social restrictions.
The death toll in Italy has risen to 631.
At least 4,389 people have died and at least 122,289 cases have been confirmed worldwide.
China, where the virus was first detected, was the hardest hit with at least 3158 deaths and 80,790 cases confirmed.
Copyright 2020. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
