Coronavirus declared pandemic as US infection rate reaches 1,000

The COVID-19 coronavirus has officially been declared a pandemic and has infected 120,000 worldwide with more than 4,200 deaths. US cases have surpassed 1,000 with 32 deaths. A top health official warned Congress that the virus will continue to spread and that large gatherings should be avoided in order to prevent further infections. RT America’s Trinity Chavez reports from New York. The recent dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia sent oil prices into a free fall, losing 25 percent of their total value. As a result, the future appears bleak for the US shale industry and many shale producers are expected to go bankrupt. RT America’s Sayeh Tavangar reports. The ceasefire between US forces and the Taliban is hanging on by a thread. While the peace deal promised to bring an end to America’s longest war, thousands of US troops remain on the ground and the Afghan government is in turmoil. In the meantime, the mainstream media continues to gloss over the leaked Afghanistan Papers of 2019. RT America’s Manila Chan sits down with "On Contact" host and Pulitzer-winning journalist Chris Hedges to discuss.