New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses in the state to close and nonessential workers to stay home, tightening earlier restrictions.

The “social distancing” required by the coronavirus is making it more difficult to provide essential services to migrants and asylum seekers stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border, writes J.D. Long-García.

Among the emergency provisions are increases to family benefits, a six-month interest-free pause on student loans and a biweekly payment of $900 for sick or laid-off workers without employment insurance or sick leave.

In London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has asked the faithful to “dig deep into our traditions and our resources to make sure that our prayer maintains a eucharistic heart and a eucharistic center,” citing a tradition, little engaged in recent times, of “spiritual communion.”

C.H.A. and the other organizations emphasized the need to increase medical capacity and testing, enhance the national supply of critical medical equipment, protect front-line care providers and technicians and improve coordination in treating patients.

Longtime home-schoolers told Catholic News Service the current moment gives parents the chance to spend more one-on-one time with their children while teaching skills and creating memories to cherish for a lifetime.