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This article talks about school and how it may not open until next year.

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schools shut down amid coronavirus spread affects students who rely on meals and need to take tests - cnn

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The coronavirus pandemic could shut down schools for months, leaving some students hungry and far behind their peers

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Classrooms will be empty from coast to coast in the coming weeks as the novel coronavirus spreads and officials say indefinite closures are a real possibility.

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This next article explains how COVID-19 could affect lots of businesses around the world.

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Walmart

After a Walmart employee in Kentucky tested positive for COVID-19, Walmart executives sent out an email outlining a new emergency leave plan for all US-based workers. The retailer will waive its regular attendance policy through the end of April.

In a March 10 email to all US employees, the company announced that Walmart employees who contract the coronavirus will now receive up to two weeks of pay. After two weeks, both full-time and part-time hourly associates who are still unable to work are eligible for up to 26 weeks in pay.

Home Depot

According to Seth Basham, the managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, Home Depot - and its North Carolina-based rival Lowe's - sources about 30% of its products from China.

"This is a fluid situation that we're watching closely," a Home Depot representative said in a statement to Business Insider. "We're in constant touch with our suppliers and are making contingency plans to ensure minimal impact to our supply chain."

Basham said "consumer uncertainty" could also prompt shoppers to "delay bigger-ticket home improvement projects," thus harming the home-improvement sector.

On the product front, the Hill reported that the home improvement company "is limiting online purchases of face masks to 10 per customer."

Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance is noticing an uptick in demand for products like face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer in many of its locations. A company spokesperson told CNN that the epidemic may lead to a shortage of hand sanitizer.

"We're continually working with our supplier partners to help ensure we can meet the needs of our customers," a Walgreens representative told Business Insider.

The spokesperson added that the company - which acquired a 40% minority stake in the Chinese pharmacy chain Sinopharm Holding GuoDa Drugstores Co. back in 2018 - was taking steps to protect employees.

"Working closely with our clinical and safety offices, we continuously share information with our pharmacy team members to help address patient questions based on the latest information available from public health officials and the CDC," the person said.

Starbucks

Starbucks announced on Wednesday that it will offer "catastrophe pay" for employees in the case of a possible quarantine. The chain will join companies like Darden Restaurants and Walmart that also updated their policies this week.

"As we navigate COVID-19 together, what matters most is how we, as a company, care for you," Starbucks president Rossann Williams wrote in a letter to partners on Wednesday. "I want you to know that here at Starbucks, you should never have to choose between work and taking care of yourself."

Last week, CNN reported that a Starbucks employee fell ill with the coronavirus in Seattle. The company has also banned the use of reusable cups as a health measure.

Starbucks also warned investors of an estimated 50% decline in same-store sales in China as a result of mass closures in January and February at the height of the outbreak in the region, though it noted signs of recovery, according to CNBC.

In a recent statement released to coincide with Starbucks' latest earnings, the coffee chain addressed concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

The company's president and CEO, Kevin Johnson, said the company's "partners in China are navigating as health officials respond to the coronavirus."

KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and other Yum China brands

Thanks in part to the coronavirus, shares of Yum Brands dropped 15.6% in February, the Motley Fool reported.

But Yum Brands itself doesn't directly operate popular chains like KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut in China. Yum China spun off from its franchisor and former parent company in 2016. The Shanghai-based independent company has the exclusive right to run KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut franchises in China, and it also owns a slew of other brands.

In the company's latest earnings call, CFO Ka Wai Yeung said the coronavirus epidemic - which broke out just before the Lunar New Year, a significant holiday shopping period in China - "caused significant interruptions to our business."

"The impact comes from temporary closure of our restaurants as well as substantial decline in sales to the restaurant that remained open," Yeung said.

The CFO went on to explain that "travel restriction, suspended festivities, and shortened operating hours" had also been pain points. As a bright spot, Yeung said "delivery is holding up well" for Yum China.

"Now to better serve our customer and protect our employees, we rolled out contactless delivery, which is very well received by our customers," Yeung said. "In addition, we also rolled out order online, pick up in store, contactless services and saw some encouraging early results as well."

JCPenney

On a February 27 call to investors, JCPenney CEO Jill Soltau said "it remains too early to quantify any potential financial impact to our business" as a result of the coronavirus.

"The coronavirus continues to be a fluid situation that we are of course watching closely," Soltau said. "We have a diversified supply chain and no stores in China or the impacted countries. We do have associates in our international buying offices including Shanghai and Hong Kong and we are in constant contact with them."

Similar to remarks made by Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette earlier in the week, Soltau said the increase in Chinese tariffs in 2019 ultimately served as a silver lining in protecting against business losses in the face of the coronavirus.

"As we worked through the tariff situation, we found our self in a pretty good place there because our sourcing organization has worked to diversify away from China," she said. "So that's been a bit of comfort as we watch the news unfold, but we are very connected to our suppliers and associates and I don't have any forecasts to share today."

Wayfair

According to a Wayfair spokesperson, employees in Boston, Berlin, and London will begin working from home for two weeks starting on March 16. Individuals who are sick or required to quarantine will receive sick pay for missed time.

"We are in an unprecedented situation and we believe it is critical that we do our part to help reduce community transmission in these large metropolitan areas where the majority of our employees use public transportation and interact in high density settings throughout the day," the company said in a statement provided to Business Insider.

Wayfair reported quarter-to-date revenue growth well below expectations due to "some disruptions in the supply chain," 50% of which includes goods sourced sourced from China, as first reported by Bloomberg at the end of February.

The company is forecasting sales increases of under 20% for the full quarter, which would be "the slowest growth in its history as a public company," according to Bloomberg. However, Wayfair did not attribute its weak forecast to the impact of the coronavirus, despite heavily sourcing from affected areas.

Kohl's

On a call with investors on March 3, Kohl's executives said that while it's too early to tell whether coronavirus will have an impact on sales, the team is "actively monitoring" both the health of its employees and potential shifts to its supply chain.

"Our first concern is the well being of our employees, associates, and vendor partners," Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass said on the call. "The situation is fluid and we're working closely with our partners on any changes to our supply chain."

Gass added that China is not Kohl's top sourcing market, as the company has "pursued a diversified supply chain" in recent years, which may protect the retailer from possible sales dips.

Target

During Target's 2020 financial community meeting and fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 earnings call, CFO Michael Fiddelke said that the company has not seen a large impact on the business from the coronavirus, adding that any adjustments made for Target's future outlook have been slight.

"Like all of you, we're monitoring this situation hour by hour as conditions evolve," Target CEO Brian Cornell said in the call. "At Target, we've been prioritizing our team, starting by ensuring that all of our China-based team members have been able to work from home. More broadly, we spent considerable time focused on the best way to support our team members all around the world to make sure they stay healthy and safe."

Target CEO Brian Cornell posted a message to customers on Tuesday that briefly explained the company's new cleaning procedures. Target also posted a memo to its internal communications website that detailed an intricate process for cleaning its stores, the retailer confirmed to Business Insider.

Victoria's Secret

Morgan Stanley analysts published a note on March 2, delving into the potential impact of the coronavirus on Victoria's Secret.

The analysts wrote that parent company L Brands' "management highlighted China is a critical source of raw materials for the overall business." Certain lingerie and apparel items for Victoria's Secret's spring lineup are facing a delay of two to four weeks.

Ikea

Ikea's "primary focus" throughout the coronavirus crisis has remained the "safety of our co-workers and customers," a spokesperson said in a statement shared with Business Insider.

The spokesperson said that all Ikea stores in mainland China were temporarily closed in late January, "in line with guidance from the Chinese government." Online shopping services were still available to Chinese consumers.

"A gradual store reopening program from March 1 is underway and we will continue to monitor developments closely and adjust as needed," the spokesperson said. "We are keeping a close eye on the evolving situation in Europe and remain in close contact with local health authorities to ensure an appropriate and timely response in line with their recommendations."

Ikea also temporarily shuttered two Italian locations, in Brescia and Corsico, on February 29 and March 1 "following advice from the local authorities."

Ikea said that its suppliers in China "are largely operational again," although the furniture giant will keep monitoring developments to ensure that health and safety remain "a priority at all times."

"As the situation is evolving, it is too early to clarify the total impact on our business in China and globally," the spokesperson said. "But we are prepared and planning for multiple scenarios."

What's more, the Ikea spokesperson said that the company will continue to work with local authorities and the World Health Organization.

"Our thoughts remain with those directly affected by the disease and those working tirelessly to treat them," the Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider.

Nordstrom

According to a Nordstrom spokesperson, corporate employees at Nordstrom headquarters in Seattle have been encouraged to work remotely to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"We're also ensuring our employees have the information they need to stay healthy or stay home if they aren't feeling well," a Nordstrom spokesperson told Business Insider.

The Nordstrom family sent an email to customers on March 7 detailing updated protocols for coronavirus prevention, including placing hand sanitizer dispensers around its stores, as well as increasing the frequency of cleanings.

"We are confident our stores continue to be safe, and we remain open for business," the email states.

Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom told investors on March 3 that the company had assembled a team to monitor possible impact from coronavirus and is "assessing implications to traffic and the supply chain."

Private-label products account for about 10% of Nordstrom's sales - 30% of which is sourced from China, he said on the call.

"At this time, we haven't seen very much material change or disruption to the supply chain and we are having a lot of conversations with our vendors," added Nordstrom CFO Anne Bramman. "Our private label business, relatively speaking, is pretty small."

Adidas

The German sportswear company reported on Wednesday that it expects first-quarter sales to drop by $1.14 billion in greater China, CNBC reported.

In a statement to Business Insider, an Adidas representative said, "The safety and health of our people always comes first. Globally we implement applicable local, officially issued regulations and reserve the right to take further measures if necessary. To protect our employees, consumers and partners, we have taken a number of measures at all adidas sites including increased hygiene measures, corresponding recommendations to our employees or travel restrictions."

Lowe's

Rick Wilking/Reuters

On March 11, Lowe's posted a note from CEO Marvin Ellison addressing precautions it is taking over the coronavirus pandemic.

Ellison wrote that the home improvement giant has established a task force to work with the CDC. It has also enacted a new leave policy for employees and boosted its sanitation regime.

"To help prevent the spread of the virus, we're encouraging anyone who feels sick to stay home, and we've also put in place new temporary time-off guidelines to give our associates even greater flexibility and pay them for the time they need to stay home and get well," Ellison wrote.

When it comes to customer orders, Ellison noted that Lowe's will "continue to run all services as usual," including installations, deliveries, and in-home consultations.

Gap

REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

In a call with investors on March 12, Gap CFO Teri List-Stoll said the company is forecasting a $100 million decline in sales across its Chinese, Japanese, and European markets as a result of the coronavirus. In the US, however, List-Stoll said executives aren't yet able to estimate the impact on business in the "early days" of the spread of the virus in North America.

"The situation remains highly fluid and we are of course monitoring events closely and considering contingency plans," List-Stoll said, adding that the two biggest areas of concern are demand suppression and supply chain interruption.

Similar to many of its peers, Gap has recently worked to shift its supply chain away from China in light of the implementation of tariffs under the Trump administration. List-Stoll said Gap now sources 16% of its supply chain from the region, down from 21% previously.

Still, she said a significant amount of fabric procurement happens in China, though at this time all shipments "appear on schedule."

Sonia Syngal, Gap's recently appointed CEO and former head of Old Navy, said on the call that she feels the company is "better positioned than most" and noted it is keeping a firm eye on the impact of coronavirus in heavily infected areas.

"We're leveraging business continuity learnings that began with our Asia teams," she said. "We will assess in hotspots like Washington and New York as we see it unfold in North America."

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This video explains how the new COVID-19 saliva test got approved to be used.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first at-home saliva collection test for COVID-19, which people could use to sample their own saliva and send it into a lab for results.

Developed by RUCDR Infinite Biologics, a biorepository based at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the test received "amended emergency use authorization" from the FDA late on May 7, according to a statement from the university. In April, the lab received emergency use authorization for their saliva collection method, which allowed health care workers to begin testing New Jersey residents at select sites throughout the state, The New York Times reported April 29.

Now, the amended authorization will allow people to collect their own saliva at home and avoid potentially risky contact with people at testing sites. The only other at-home coronavirus test on the market requires users to collect samples using a nose swab, The New York Times reported May 7.

Related: 11 (sometimes) deadly diseases that hopped across species

"Collecting a saliva sample at home mitigates the risk of exposure needed to travel to a facility or drive-through and is less invasive and more comfortable and reliable than sticking a swab up your nose or down your throat," Andrew Brooks, chief operating officer and director of technology development at RUCDR, said in the statement.

When compared with swab tests for the coronavirus, which rely on samples collected from the nose and throat, the saliva-based test generated fewer false-negative results in severely infected people, meaning it was more reliable at confirming an active infection, according to the Times report published April 29. The rate at which COVID-19 swab tests deliver false-negative results has raised concerns among health care professionals, Live Science previously reported; saliva-based tests could provide consistency where these other tests have faltered.

In the same comparison, the saliva tests garnered no false-positive results, either.

During collection, a person would spit into a container holding a preservative liquid developed by the medical equipment manufacturer Spectrum Solutions, according to the Rutgers statement. The exact recipe for the solution remains a secret, but the ingredients are readily available, the Times reported. Like swab tests, however, the saliva-based test relies on PCR machines to process sampled genetic material; specific chemical reagents are needed to run the machines and could present supply chain problems, Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, told the Times.

That said, the at-home saliva test could address "many critical issues associated with large-scale screening that is required to get people back to their normal daily lives," Brooks said. During the month of April, the Rutgers lab processed nearly 90,000 tests conducted at their in-person testing sites and planned to increase their testing capacity to 30,000 tests a day, Brooks told the Times. At the time, test results could be delivered back to patients within 72 hours, but the turnaround time could be cut down to only a few hours with all the right infrastructure in place, according to the Times report.

Now that people can collect their own samples remotely, the Rutgers lab could feasibly process "tens of thousands of samples daily," according to the statement.

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First at-home saliva test for COVID-19 earns FDA approval

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first at-home saliva collection test for COVID-19, which people could use to sample their own saliva and send it into a lab for results.

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My brother said this pandemic has affected him because he cant play baseball or see his friends.

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Everyone here is doing OK and slowly recovering, most things are opening and we don't have many cases

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COVID-19 hasn't effected my life a whole lot except for whole quarantine deal.

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I also cant see my friends or go do many things outside of the house besides eat.

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This reminds me of the bubonic plague we learned about