Brazil Confirms First Case of New Coronavirus in Latin America

US and India See Relations Strengthened During Official Visit

President Donald Trump concluded his two-day trip to India on Feb. 25 after an extravagant reception and signing of a slew of important defense and economic deals. Indian analysts said the trip was mutually beneficial, and that the Indo–U.S. strategic ties will endure across party lines. During a joint press conference on Feb. 25, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century. And therefore, today, President Trump and I have taken a decision to raise our partnership to the level of a comprehensive global strategic partnership,” said Modi. Aparna Pande, research fellow and director of the India Initiative at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told The Epoch Times…

Brazilian authorities said on Feb. 26 that tests confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country. The 61-year-old man, who lives in Sao Paulo, traveled to Italy earlier this month.

The confirmed case is the first in Latin America. Previously, only the United States and Canada had confirmed cases in the Americas.

Brazil’s Ministry of Health said that the first test, which was done at Albert Einstein Hospital, came back positive. A counterproof conducted at the聽Adolfo Lutz Institute confirmed the infection.

The patient is in good condition and is at home with his family, authorities said at a press conference on Wednesday. They’re working on locating people who came into contact with him, including passengers on the plane that he flew back to Brazil with.

The man traveled to Italy between Feb. 9 and Feb. 21. He showed symptoms of the virus, including a fever, a cough, a sore throat, and a runny nose, authorities said in a statement.

Italy has reported a spike in cases this week, prompting lockdowns of cities and towns across several northern regions. Italy has by far the highest number of confirmed cases in Europe.

Brazil has 20 suspected cases,聽the confirmed case, and 59 patients who have tested negative.

The confirmed case presents health officials with a new environment to study the virus, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, Brazil’s minister of health, told reporters.

Brazil Confirms First Case of New Coronavirus in Latin America

“Now we’ll see how this virus behaves in the Southern hemisphere, in the situation of a tropical country, in the middle of summer. How it’s going to behave. It’s a new virus,” he said.

The new virus, which causes a disease dubbed COVID-19, has spread to dozens of countries since emerging in China late last year. It’s part of a family of viruses that are hosted in animals but can, in rare cases, infect humans before spreading from person-to-person.

Community spread of the new virus has happened in a number of countries, including Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Singapore. U.S. health officials warned Americans on Tuesday to prepare for community spread of the virus, with school and business closures among the possible consequences of such a spread.

Experts say ways to avoid contracting the virus include frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding sick people, and not touching one’s nose, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands. The new virus spreads through the air or personal contact.

The incubation period of the virus is believed to be two to 14 days and some people have recovered from the disease. COVID-19 has killed thousands worldwide and infected tens of thousands.

Ileana Alescio contributed to this report.

This article is from the Internet:Brazil Confirms First Case of New Coronavirus in Latin America

Beltway Sniper Sidekick Drops Appeal of Virginia Life Sentences

The “Beltway Sniper” co-defendant has withdrawn his appeal to the Supreme Court asking for reconsideration of life sentences without parole for murders committed when he was 17. Virginia has enacted legislation making him eligible to seek parole. Lee Boyd Malvo, now 35, partnered with John Allen Muhammad to commit 10 murders in a killing spree that lasted from Sept. 5 to Oct. 22, 2002. They shot victims from a rolling sniper’s nest they created by cutting a hole in a car’s trunk. They reportedly shot 27 people around the nation, 17 of whom died, including the 10 Washington-area victims. Muhammad, an expert marksman who joined the Nation of Islam, was executed in 2009. At Muhammad’s 2006 trial, Malvo testified that Muhammad turned him into “a monster.” Malvo admitted to shooting…