Passengers wearing masks get off a bus with the livery of Miraitowa, the official mascot of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo, Thursday, March 5, 2020. Despite worldwide concern and speculation about whether the fast-spreading virus outbreak will affect the Tokyo Olympics, the IOC's leadership is not joining in the debate. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
March 5, 2020
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March 5, 2020 2:01 p.m.
'This is not a drill': WHO urges the world to fight virus
BANGKOK (AP) — The global march of the new virus triggered a vigorous appeal Thursday from the World Health Organization for governments to pull out “all the stops” to slow the epidemic, as it drained color from India's spring festivities, closed Bethlehem's Nativity Church and blocked Italians from visiting elderly relatives in nursing homes.