Just days after New York leaders ordered people to stay home, authorities are mobilizing to head off a potential public health disaster in the big city. New York has emerged as the nation's coronavirus hot spot. A makeshift morgue has been et up outside Bellevue Hospital, and the city's police have been told to patrol nearly empty streets to enforce social distancing. Public health officials are hunting down beds and medical equipment and putting out a call for more doctors and nurses for fear the number of sick will explode in a matter of weeks, overwhelming hospitals the way the virus did in Italy and Spain.

The AP plans the following coverage. For up-to-the minute information, visit AP Newsroom's coverage hub at https://newsroom.ap.org/page/Coronavirus Find AP Virus Alerts here

AP’s coronavirus podcast, “Ground Game: Inside the Outbreak,” today looks at how funerals can’t be held in Italy, where COVID-19 has killed more people than anywhere in the world. Listen to the podcast at https://appodcasts.com/category/ground-game/. Embed code is available on AP Coverage Plan.

SENT/DEVELOPING:

VIRUS OUTBREAK: Just days after New York leaders ordered people to stay home, authorities mobilized to head off a potential public health disaster Wednesday, the city's emergence as the nation's biggest coronavirus hot spot a warning flare — and perhaps a cautionary tale — for the rest of the country. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST and VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS: Senate leaders are racing to unravel last-minute snags in a $2 trillion economic rescue package to ease the financial pain of the coronavirus epidemic. SENT: developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-GLANCE

FINANCIAL MARKETS: Stocks scored their first back-to-back gains since a brutal sell-off began five weeks ago, but much of an early rally faded late in the day as a last-minute dispute threatened to hold up a $2 trillion economic rescue package in Congress. SENT; developing. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS FALLOUT.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNEMPLOYMENT: New unemployment benefit claims are rising to levels unseen in recent U.S. history as a result of coronavirus concerns. SENT: 1170 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GOVERNOR'S DILEMNA: The nation's struggle to protect both lives and the economy during the coronavirus outbreak is on full display in Florida. SENT: 1030 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONTAGIOUS GAME: The biggest soccer game in Atalanta’s history may be one of the biggest reasons why Bergamo has become an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1300 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIGRANTS: Pressure was mounting on the Trump administration Wednesday to release people from immigration detention facilities where at least one detainee has tested positive for COVID-19 and advocates fear tight quarters and overall conditions could cause rapid spread of the virus. SENT: 1000 words, photos

VIRUS OUTBREAK-RURAL AMERICA: The pandemic's toll in big cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco has dominated headlines, but large swaths of rural America are also deeply affected. SENT: 1200 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOTELS: Chicago's plan to reserve at least 1,000 hotel rooms for coronavirus patients through partnerships with five hotels is the first such strategy unveiled in the U.S. But it's unlikely to be the last. SENT: 1000 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE ATHLETES: The coronavirus pandemic has created problems greater than the inability to compete for the more than 20,000 foreign college athletes in the United States. Many are struggling with a decision about whether to stay in this country or return home. SENT: 820 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ELECTIONS: States could receive $400 million in federal funds to help them navigate the significant disruption to U.S. elections caused by the virus outbreak. SENT: 680 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-VET VENTILATORS: What works for Fido also works for Jane and John: Veterinary hospitals from North Carolina to New York to Colorado are giving vital equipment and supplies to their human-focused counterparts to fight the spread of COVID-19. SENT: 830 words, photos.

CORONAVIRUS DRUG-SPECIALTY STATUS: The maker of an experimental coronavirus drug is giving up the specialty status it received days ago from U.S. regulators. SENT: 400 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-EUROPE ECONOMY: The European Union is taking unprecedented action to help member countries endure the massive cost of to keeping people and businesses alive through the virus outbreak. SENT: 900 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLORADO SKI TOWNS: Ski resorts across the West that were shut down amid coronavirus fears are grappling with an economic blow at a time they would normally be welcoming hordes of spring break revelers. SENT: 600 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says the congressional aid package addressing the coronavirus outbreak “goes a long way.” SENT: 670 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW YORK: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state has climbed to 3,800, with close to 900 in intensive care. SENT; developing.

VIRUS-SPAIN-HEALTH CARE WORKERS: The coronavirus is waging a war of attrition against health care workers around the world. In Spain, doctors and nurses complain of shortages of the equipment necessary to shield them from contagion and tests for the new virus. SENT: 1100 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST: An international aid group says closures aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic are preventing it from reaching 300,000 people in conflict zones across the Middle East. SENT: 1070 words, photos.

BRITAIN-VIRUS OUTBREAK-PRINCE CHARLES: Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, has tested positive for the new coronavirus. SENT: 900 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HUMANITARIAN APPEAL: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched a $2 billion appeal to help vulnerable and conflict-torn countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America tackle the coronavirus pandemic and prevent COVID-19 from again circling the globe. SENT: 675 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STRANDED AMERICAN: Anna, a 33-year-old American who had run out of life-saving medication while stranded in a Peruvian hotel room, has boarded a plane home. SENT: 975 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-AFRICA: Zimbabwe's public hospital nurses have joined a doctors' strike over a lack of protective gear as the coronavirus spreads in a country whose health system has nearly collapsed. SENT: 710 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says four of the nation's largest banks have agreed to temporarily suspend mortgage payments for those impacted by the coronavirus. SENT; developing.

ALSO:

VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIBERTY UNIVERSITY: Virginia's governor is asking Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. to reconsider his decision to welcome students back to the Lynchburg campus this week after their spring break. SENT: 320 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEXICO CRUISES: The Mexican government says it would continue to receive cruise ships “for humanitarian reasons,” but that passengers would be "individually fumigated" before being taken to airports for return flights to their home countries. SENT: 125 words.

OBIT-FLOYD CARDOZ: A “Top Chef Masters” winner and beloved restaurateur, Chef Floyd Cardoz, SENT: 450 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-PUBLIX-BARRIERS: Florida-based grocery chain Publix says it will begin installing plexiglass barriers at the cash registers to protect its workers and customers from the coronavirus. SENT: 200 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEXICO ROBBERIES: Mexican authorities in multiple states are investigating a spate of robberies and lootings at large stores that may be connected to incitement circulating on social networks as the country's coronavirus caseload grows. SENT: 275 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HEALTH INSURERS: One of the nation’s biggest health insures is waiving patient payments for hospital stays tied to the coronavirus. SENT: 450 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA: Canada is imposing mandatory self-isolation for those returning to Canada under the Quarantine Act. SENT: 450 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BANGLADESH: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is appealing to all citizens to stay at home and avoid any gatherings to slow the transmission of the coronavirus. SENT: 300 words.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BENEFIT CONCERT: Elton John is hosting a “living room” concert aimed at bolstering American spirits during the coronavirus crisis and saluting those countering it. SENT: 230 words.

PHOTOS:

AP photos have moved from Italy, France, South Africa, Netherlands, Britain, India, Ukraine, Spain. Additional photos planned from Washington DC briefings, various US locations.

VIDEO:

AP video has moved of IOC, Prince Charles and from Africa, India, Italy, China. Additional video is planned from Washington DC briefings, Spain, various US locations.

INTERACTIVES/GRAPHICS:

AP interactive is available of US cases county-by-county. Embed code can be found in Coverage Plan. A static graphic also will be available in AP Newsroom.

Additional graphics and interactives include:

- Flattening the Coronavirus Curve (Chart): Chart compares the cumulative cases over time in some of the hardest hit countries by coronavirus.

-Virus Global Spread (table): Table of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Table also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus Global Spread (Map): Map of countries which have confirmed cases of the virus. Map also includes when the virus was initially reported and the number of deaths by country.

-Virus Cases Compared Inside and Outside of China (Chart): Chart shows the number of confirmed cases in China over time and compares them to cases confirmed outside of China.

-Virus US State Map: State by state count of confirmed cases in the U.S.

-Virus US State Table: Table tracks the number of cases, recoveries and deaths for the US including its territories.

-Status of Cases Worldwide: Auto-updating once a day, this chart tracks the levels of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 around the world over time.

-Hospitality Workforce in the US: Coronavirus precautions have struck many U.S. business industries hard, especially the hospitality and service industry, where more than 16 million Americans work for support their livelihoods. This U.S. map highlights the number of hospitality workers and their average annual income by county along with the number of hospitality businesses. It is helpful in illustrating the potential impact of job loss to so many across the nation.