Businesses and rural schools shuttered as the illness spikes again, now reaching every state, infecting thousands and killing more than 100 nationwide in communities big and small, the National Guard deploying to additional regions as more counties order a shelter in place, restricting public gatherings and telling families not to leave home unless necessary. Trying to condense my outside time to as little bit as possible. Reporter the governor of new york says no such order is imminent for new york city, where the usns comfort, floating hospital with 1,000 rooms, will dock next month and where businesses are being forced to operate differently. No more than 50 of the work force can report for work outside of the home. Reporter as Iconic Detroit automakers like ford, gm and chrysler, a symbol of american manufacturing, pull the plug on production, the u. S. Canadian Border is also closing to nonessential traffic. Even College Commencements are being canceled the president urging everyo
Its been very frightening. With the symptoms, i dont even go to the hospital no more i just lay in the bed and put up with the shortness of breath. Reporter the red cross also issuing an urgent appeal for blood. Its short 100,000 units were creating a very, very safe environment for people to donate were sanitizing the beds after each donation. We have gloves. Were taking peoples temperatures as they present to the drive. Reporter also tonight, the government is allowing doctors to cross state lines to practice in areas where they are needed most and its pushing pharmaceutical companies to develop therapeutics in the absence of a vaccine. Lester hats off to the medical workers, thank you. Health authorities, trying to stop the spread of the virus, have a growing concern that many young people are still not taking the threat seriously. We sent Kerry Sanders to the beach to find out why. Reporter alarming spring break images from texas to clearwater beach, florida, today as packed as eve
Hydroxy chloraquin. It is used to fight malaria. He says it could hold a great promise and could be a game changer. The nice part of it is its been around for a long time so we know if things dont go as planned, its not going to kill anybody. When you go with a brandnew drug. Its a powerful drug in different forms and its shown very encouraging, very, very encouraging early results. Now, its important to know the fda says while the drug is approved to treat malaria, it is not aproed to treat coronavirus yet. And it still needs to undergo clinical trials. Back here in the bay area, some nurses are saying they dont have enough of the personal protective gear they need to serve patients and their hospitals not doing enough to change that nbc bay area Chris Sanchez is joining us live with what the nurses want sand the response from the hospital. Kri kris. Well, hi there, marcus. Reporter they are saying they have to ask for personal masks. They are getingng simple surgic masks and asked to
Preferential treatment today, thursday, march 19th, build more hospitals, equipment, from the day youre born equipment, equipment is going to we never stop taking care of you. Be key mom what can we do after this . Ventilators is going to be key and the federal government want to go tour . Sick. 2020. A tour sounds good. Announcer from nbc news, this is a special edition of let the beat drop today, the coronavirus pandemic with Savannah Guthrie and hoda recognizing that responsibility and fully mobilizing the way the scan, play and collect with big g cereals and yoplait yogurt. President now has, i believe, kotb. Hi, everybody, welcome to thats a very positive step. Today on this thursday morning. We are so happy you are with us governor, as far as youre this morning and like a lot of you got to accenttchuate the positive concerned, i mean just taking a you we are all kind of adjusting step back here, everything that eliminate the negative to our temporary new normal. Im in studio 1a,