March 23, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Concern is growing around the country over how frontline health care workers will deal with a potential surge of patients. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are also worried about their own health and that of their families. William Brangham talks to Dr. Billy Goldberg, an ER doctor at NYU Langone Health, and Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

What else can be done to protect frontline health care workers and reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus? Dr. Atul Gawande has just published a piece outlining the specific insights he has derived from the outbreak experiences of Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. A surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the CEO of Haven, Dr. Gawande joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic is difficult enough in developed countries and regions like the U.S. and Western Europe. In areas with active conflicts and large populations of refugees, the challenge is even harder, and the situations are growing more dire. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to David Miliband, of the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian relief organization.

In our news wrap Monday, there is word that this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo will be postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Dick Pound, an American member of the International Olympic Committee, said they will likely take place next year. Also, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to try to end a stalemate blocking peace talks with the Taliban.

On Monday evening, the White House held another briefing to update the country on national measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Once again, President Trump was flanked by members of the team leading the effort, including Vice President Mike Pence. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what Trump said.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join John Yang to discuss the latest political news, including where former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stand in a Democratic presidential primary essentially frozen by the coronavirus pandemic and the potential political ramifications of the crisis for President Trump.

As Americans stay home to try to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, we wanted to provide suggestions for how to fill that time. Author Ann Patchett joins Jeffrey Brown to offer book recommendations for this strange time, including "War and Peace," "Here for It" and "The Night Watchman."