The research world has mounted an electrifying response to the new coronavirus: Those playing a role include vaccine developers, drug researchers, gene sequencing labs, and the fields of public health and artificial intelligence. In the shadows of this effort is a less glamorous role—that of checking the archives of past research for clues to better treating and preventing COVID-19.

Two Republican lawmakers are isolating themselves after interacting with a man who later tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., said they met the man at the Conservative Political Action Conference nearly two weeks ago near Washington. In a separate case, Christ Church Georgetown suspended all activity after its rector, the Rev. Timothy Cole, became the first person diagnosed with COVID-19 in the nation’s capital. Maryland reported five cases as of Sunday, while Virginia reported its second case.

The California National Guard dropped coronavirus test kits from helicopters to a cruise ship anchored off San Francisco on Thursday. Officials are testing only 45 people, but all 3,500 crew and passengers have to stay aboard the Grand Princess for now after one traveler from a previous voyage died of COVID-19 and at least four others became infected.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency late Wednesday after the first U.S. coronavirus death outside of Washington state. An elderly person with underlying health issues died earlier in the day of COVID-19 after returning from a cruise, said officials in a Northern California county. Florida, Hawaii, and Washington state have also declared states of emergency. Federal authorities announced an investigation into the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., where many of the 10 people who have died in the state contracted the illness. The U.S.

Schools, sporting events, and businesses around the world are operating under new restrictions as the COVID-19 outbreak expands. South African and Egyptian health officials confirmed their first cases on Thursday. The disease has infected more than 95,000 people globally and more than 3,200 have died, most of them in China. After a suspected infection at a hotel in Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine’s Health Ministry shut down churches and mosques in the area, including the famous Church of Nativity.

Organizations have canceled or postponed at least 440 trade shows and exhibitions in response to the coronavirus. But in Austin, where the lucrative and enjoyable South by Southwest (SXSW) 10-day music/movie/tech festival is still scheduled for March 13–22, the band plays on.

The coronavirus outbreak has a higher overall mortality rate than previously thought. At 3.4 percent, it surpasses seasonal flu but falls short of the 10 percent death rate for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or the 34 percent rate for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)—both also coronaviruses. The World Health Organization noted Tuesday that the calculation does not include infected people who didn’t need medical attention. The mortality rate from the new coronavirus is much higher among the elderly and infirm than in the rest of the population.