Covid-19: Schools in US may shutdown as cases soar in Iran and S. Korea

Workers wearing protective gears spray disinfectant as a precaution against the virus outbreak at a subway station in Seoul on Friday (Feb 28). Japan's schools prepared to close for almost a month and entertainers, topped by K-pop superstars BTS, cancelled events as a virus epidemic extended its spread through Asia into Europe and Africa. - AP

SEOUL/TEHERAN/NEW YORK: James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said rate cuts may be necessary if the (Covid-19) coronavirus becomes a pandemic while acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said school closings are likely.

Germany quarantined about 1,000 people and Switzerland banned large events, leading to the Geneva car show being cancelled. Iran and South Korea revealed more coronavirus cases and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, confirmed the first infection south of the Sahara desert.