The US State Department has warned Americans abroad to come home “immediately” as the country’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed that of China, with the country now suffering some 163,000 confirmed cases of the novel virus.
Former vice president Al Gore has meanwhile reminded Donald Trump “you can’t gaslight a virus” as the president seeks to project an image of unity and bipartisan approval of his response to the crisis, despite his initial denial and inaction unquestionably making matters worse and drawing widespread criticism.
As New York continues to battle the crisis, new makeshift field hospitals are opening in Central Park’s East Meadow, offering 68-beds to support the nearby Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as aboard the USNS Comfort and at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, more commonly the site of the US Open.
During the president's press conference on Tuesday, Trump said the next two weeks will be "very painful" for the country as the government works to curb the spread of the novel virus. Cases are expected to soar from now until at least Easter (12 April).
The federal government is holding 10,000 ventilators for the future surge anticipated in the coming weeks. But this stockpile might already see a need from states like Louisiana, which reported the number of patients using ventilators has doubled in just five days.
An updated list of guidelines for Covid-19 response was handed out at the top of the president's presser. These guidelines included imploring households to stay home if anyone test postive for the novel virus. It was also encouraged, again, for the elderly and immunocompromised to stay home.
Hello and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in the US and the Donald Trump administration's response to it.
US coronavirus death toll soars beyond 3,000 on deadliest day
The US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has soared passed 3,000 on its deadliest day so far, with the country now suffering some 163,000 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease.
On a more optimistic note for the country, New York cheered the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed US Navy hospital ship, with locals lining both sides of the Hudson River to cheer the USNS Comfort, a converted oil tanker painted white with giant red crosses, as it sailed past the Statue of Liberty accompanied by support ships and helicopters.
The Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients, including those who require surgery and critical care, in an effort to free up other resources to fight the virus, the Navy said.
"It's a wartime atmosphere and we all have to pull together," said New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, who was among the dignitaries to greet the ship's arrival at the Midtown Manhattan pier.
Hospitals in the New York City area have been overrun with patients suffering from Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Officials have appealed for volunteer healthcare workers.
The US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has soared passed 3,000 on its deadliest day so far, with the country now suffering some 163,000 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease.
On a more optimistic note for the country, New York cheered the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed US Navy hospital ship, with locals lining both sides of the Hudson River to cheer the USNS Comfort, a converted oil tanker painted white with giant red crosses, as it sailed past the Statue of Liberty accompanied by support ships and helicopters.
The Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients, including those who require surgery and critical care, in an effort to free up other resources to fight the virus, the Navy said.
"It's a wartime atmosphere and we all have to pull together," said New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, who was among the dignitaries to greet the ship's arrival at the Midtown Manhattan pier.
Hospitals in the New York City area have been overrun with patients suffering from Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Officials have appealed for volunteer healthcare workers.
"We can't take care of you if we can't take care of ourselves," said Krystal Horchuck, a nurse with Virtua Memorial Hospital in New Jersey. "I think a lot of us have accepted the fact that we are probably going to get this. It's just that we want to survive. We're all being exposed to it at some point."
The United States has the most confirmed cases in the world, a number that is likely to soar when tests for the virus become more widespread.
In California, another hard-hit state, governor Gavin Newsom said the number of Covid-19 hospitalisations had nearly doubled over the past four days and the number of ICU patients had tripled. Officials there also appealed for medical volunteers.
Authorities in New Orleans have meanwhile set up a field hospital at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center - the same site where thousands of Hurricane Katrina refugees gathered in 2005 - to handle an expected overflow of patients.
Dr Thomas Krajewski, an emergency room doctor at St Barnard Parish hospital in the Louisiana city, said he had watched patients be admitted to the hospital and seem ready to get better only to get worse.
"Many of them have passed away already in a way that... it's not normal," he said. "It's not something that any of us had prepared to do. And we're kind of writing the book as we go."
The governors of Maryland, Virginia and Arizona have also issued "stay-at-home" orders as cases rose in those states, as did Washington, DC.
Here's Danielle Zoellner with a grim update on the situation in the Big Apple.
President claims to have saved 1m lives as governors appeal for more supplies
Trump also said it was "pretty unlikely" that he would issue a national stay-at-home order but conceded it was possible he could move to recommend that all Americans wear masks: "We want our country back. We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back into gear."
Less crucial episodes in the briefing were Trump boasting that no one knew more about South Korea than him, before confusing the population of Seoul with its position above sea level, and joking about the wind ruining his hair:
He also bizarrely chose to hand a platform at the briefing to MyPillow founder Michael Lindell, who used it to urge Americans to focus on religion at this difficult time.
Here's John T Bennett's report.
At the White House, Donald Trump claimed to have saved 1m lives through testing, seeming to dismiss the shortage of kits as no longer an issue despite state governors pressing him for further supplies in a Monday conference call.
"Today we reached a historic milestone in our war against the coronavirus," he said with his familiar bluster, unpacking a Covid-19 self-testing kit in the Rose Garden to show off to the assembled members of the press. "Over one million Americans have been tested - more than any other country by far. Not even close."
Even if that's accurate, the figure still only accounts for 3 per cent of the US population and his optimism on testing jarred with the opinion of several state governors, who said during Monday's one-hour call that they too will need help sourcing personal protective equipment and testing kits, not just crisis areas like New York.
"We understand the challenges in New York. I have family in New York," Wyoming Republican governor Mark Gordon told the president, according to CBS, which obtained audio of the call. "[But] I think a little bit of supply going our way could get us better prepared going forward."
"We're having a really hard time getting the ventilators that we need," added Louisiana Democratic governor John Bel Edwards. "We're pursuing every angle that we have, including requests from the [national] stockpile. We know that testing continues to be an issue, especially the test collection kits. Although this is getting better."
"I could give four or five examples over the last week where we have supply orders, and they've subsequently been cancelled, and they're canceled in part because what our suppliers are saying is that federal resources are requesting it and trumping that," Montana Democrat Steve Bullock chimed in.
Trump moved to reassure them all that they would get what they need.
Back in the Rose Garden, the president warned that "challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days," reminding Americans that refraining from public outings is "our shared patriotic duty" during the outbreak.
"Today we reached a historic milestone in our war against the coronavirus," he said with his familiar bluster, unpacking a Covid-19 self-testing kit in the Rose Garden to show off to the assembled members of the press. "Over one million Americans have been tested - more than any other country by far. Not even close."
Even if that's accurate, the figure still only accounts for 3 per cent of the US population and his optimism on testing jarred with the opinion of several state governors, who said during Monday's one-hour call that they too will need help sourcing personal protective equipment and testing kits, not just crisis areas like New York.
"We understand the challenges in New York. I have family in New York," Wyoming Republican governor Mark Gordon told the president, according to CBS, which obtained audio of the call. "[But] I think a little bit of supply going our way could get us better prepared going forward."
"We're having a really hard time getting the ventilators that we need," added Louisiana Democratic governor John Bel Edwards. "We're pursuing every angle that we have, including requests from the [national] stockpile. We know that testing continues to be an issue, especially the test collection kits. Although this is getting better."
"I could give four or five examples over the last week where we have supply orders, and they've subsequently been cancelled, and they're canceled in part because what our suppliers are saying is that federal resources are requesting it and trumping that," Montana Democrat Steve Bullock chimed in.
Trump moved to reassure them all that they would get what they need.
Back in the Rose Garden, the president warned that "challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days," reminding Americans that refraining from public outings is "our shared patriotic duty" during the outbreak.
Trump also said it was "pretty unlikely" that he would issue a national stay-at-home order but conceded it was possible he could move to recommend that all Americans wear masks: "We want our country back. We are not going to be wearing masks forever, but it could be for a short period of time after we get back into gear."
Less crucial episodes in the briefing were Trump boasting that no one knew more about South Korea than him, before confusing the population of Seoul with its position above sea level, and joking about the wind ruining his hair:
He also bizarrely chose to hand a platform at the briefing to MyPillow founder Michael Lindell, who used it to urge Americans to focus on religion at this difficult time.
Here's John T Bennett's report.
New York field hospital to open in Central Park as relief effort ramps up
As New York continues to battle the crisis, a new makeshift field hospital opens on Tuesday in Central Park’s East Meadow, offering 68-beds to support the nearby Mount Sinai Hospital, under particular duress from the sudden influx of patients.
The white tents being set up evoked a wartime feel in an island of green typically used by New Yorkers to exercise, picnic and enjoy the first signs of spring.
Here's Andrew Naughtie with the details.
As New York continues to battle the crisis, a new makeshift field hospital opens on Tuesday in Central Park’s East Meadow, offering 68-beds to support the nearby Mount Sinai Hospital, under particular duress from the sudden influx of patients.
The white tents being set up evoked a wartime feel in an island of green typically used by New Yorkers to exercise, picnic and enjoy the first signs of spring.
Here's Andrew Naughtie with the details.
Dr Fauci says he and Dr Birx convinced Trump to scrap Easter deadline
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was on CNN yesterday and offered some insight into the president's decision-making after he abandoned his aspiration to "reopen" the country by Easter, revising his timeline to 30 April.
"It would not have been a good idea to pull back at a time when you really need to be pressing your foot on the pedal as opposed to on the brakes," Fauci said on CNN yesterday, describing how he and Dr Deborah Birx, the coronavirus task force co-ordinator, had convinced Trump to reconsider.
"We showed him the data. He looked at the data. He got it right away," Fauci said. "It was a pretty clear picture. Dr Debbie Birx and I went in to the Oval Office and leaned over the desk and said, 'Here are the data. Take a look.' He just shook his head and said, 'I guess we got to do it.'"
You can see that interview with John Berman below:
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was on CNN yesterday and offered some insight into the president's decision-making after he abandoned his aspiration to "reopen" the country by Easter, revising his timeline to 30 April.
"It would not have been a good idea to pull back at a time when you really need to be pressing your foot on the pedal as opposed to on the brakes," Fauci said on CNN yesterday, describing how he and Dr Deborah Birx, the coronavirus task force co-ordinator, had convinced Trump to reconsider.
"We showed him the data. He looked at the data. He got it right away," Fauci said. "It was a pretty clear picture. Dr Debbie Birx and I went in to the Oval Office and leaned over the desk and said, 'Here are the data. Take a look.' He just shook his head and said, 'I guess we got to do it.'"
You can see that interview with John Berman below:
Trump administration rules gun shops 'essential' amid virus
The US government has ruled that gun shops are "essential" businesses that should remain open as others are closed to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Gun control groups are balking at the decision, calling it a policy that puts profits over public health after intense lobbying by the firearms industry.
In the past several weeks, various states and municipalities have offered different interpretations of whether gun stores should be allowed to remain open as Americans stay at home to avoid spreading the virus. In Los Angeles, for example, county sheriff Alex Villanueva has twice ordered gun shops in his territory to close, leading to legal challenges from gun rights advocates.
After days of lobbying by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and other gun groups, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this past weekend issued an advisory declaring that firearms dealers should be considered essential services - just like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals - and allowed to remain open. The agency said its ruling was not a mandate but merely guidance for cities, towns and states as they weigh how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, gun control groups called it a move to put profits over public health. The Brady group on Monday filed a Freedom of Information request with DHS seeking emails and documents that explain how the agency reached its decision to issue the advisory and to determine if it consulted with any public health experts.
"The gun lobby is not willing to stand for a few days or a few weeks of less profit in order to protect public health, and it's outrageous and definitely not required by the Second Amendment," said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel for Brady. He added later: "It's a public health issue, not a Second Amendment issue. The fact is that guns, the nature of guns, require that they be sold with a lot of close interaction. They can't be sold from vending machines, can't be sold with curbside pickup."
The gun lobby has been pushing back vigorously against places where some authorities have deemed federally licensed gun dealers are not essential and should close as part of stay-at-home directives. The gun lobby has said it's critical these shops remain open so Americans, who are buying firearms in record numbers, have the ability to exercise their constitutional rights.
In recent weeks, firearm sales have skyrocketed. Background checks - the key barometer of gun sales - already were at record numbers in January and February, likely fueled by a presidential election year.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, gun shops have reported long lines and runs on firearms and ammunition.
Background checks were up 300 per cent on 16 March, compared with the same date a year ago, according to federal data shared with the NSSF, which represents gunmakers. Since 23 February, each day has seen roughly double the volume over 2019, according to Mark Oliva, spokesman for the group.
In Texas, the attorney general there issued a legal opinion saying that emergency orders shuttering gun shops are unconstitutional. That stands in contrast to some municipalities, such as New Orleans, where the mayor has issued an emergency proclamation that declares the authority to restrict sales of firearms and ammunition.
NSSF and other gun lobbying groups hailed the ruling as a victory for gun owners, especially first-time buyers of a firearm who are concerned that upheaval and turmoil over the virus could affect personal safety.
"We have seen over the past week hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Americans choosing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to ensure their safety and the safety of loved ones during these uncertain times," said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general counsel for NSSF. "Americans must not be denied the ability to exercise that right to lawfully purchase and acquire firearms during times of emergency."
Brady's Lowy said it shouldn't be considered a violation of Second Amendment rights since it's temporary and in the midst of a pandemic. He likened it to constitutional rights to peaceably assemble, a right that is being curtailed at the moment as Americans practice social distancing.
"If you have a gun in the home, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights. No court has held that you have a Second Amendment right to a stockpile of guns," he said.
The vast majority of states are allowing gun shops to remain open. However, some states that have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus have ruled that gun shops are not essential and should close. In the absence of a mandate from federal authorities, gun groups have been filing lawsuits challenging state and local authorities who are ordering gun shops and ranges to close.
The NRA thanked Trump for the DHS ruling. The NRA has been an unflinching backer of Trump, pumping about $30m (£24m) toward his 2016 campaign.
The US government has ruled that gun shops are "essential" businesses that should remain open as others are closed to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Gun control groups are balking at the decision, calling it a policy that puts profits over public health after intense lobbying by the firearms industry.
In the past several weeks, various states and municipalities have offered different interpretations of whether gun stores should be allowed to remain open as Americans stay at home to avoid spreading the virus. In Los Angeles, for example, county sheriff Alex Villanueva has twice ordered gun shops in his territory to close, leading to legal challenges from gun rights advocates.
After days of lobbying by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and other gun groups, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this past weekend issued an advisory declaring that firearms dealers should be considered essential services - just like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals - and allowed to remain open. The agency said its ruling was not a mandate but merely guidance for cities, towns and states as they weigh how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, gun control groups called it a move to put profits over public health. The Brady group on Monday filed a Freedom of Information request with DHS seeking emails and documents that explain how the agency reached its decision to issue the advisory and to determine if it consulted with any public health experts.
"The gun lobby is not willing to stand for a few days or a few weeks of less profit in order to protect public health, and it's outrageous and definitely not required by the Second Amendment," said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel for Brady. He added later: "It's a public health issue, not a Second Amendment issue. The fact is that guns, the nature of guns, require that they be sold with a lot of close interaction. They can't be sold from vending machines, can't be sold with curbside pickup."
The gun lobby has been pushing back vigorously against places where some authorities have deemed federally licensed gun dealers are not essential and should close as part of stay-at-home directives. The gun lobby has said it's critical these shops remain open so Americans, who are buying firearms in record numbers, have the ability to exercise their constitutional rights.
In recent weeks, firearm sales have skyrocketed. Background checks - the key barometer of gun sales - already were at record numbers in January and February, likely fueled by a presidential election year.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, gun shops have reported long lines and runs on firearms and ammunition.
Background checks were up 300 per cent on 16 March, compared with the same date a year ago, according to federal data shared with the NSSF, which represents gunmakers. Since 23 February, each day has seen roughly double the volume over 2019, according to Mark Oliva, spokesman for the group.
In Texas, the attorney general there issued a legal opinion saying that emergency orders shuttering gun shops are unconstitutional. That stands in contrast to some municipalities, such as New Orleans, where the mayor has issued an emergency proclamation that declares the authority to restrict sales of firearms and ammunition.
NSSF and other gun lobbying groups hailed the ruling as a victory for gun owners, especially first-time buyers of a firearm who are concerned that upheaval and turmoil over the virus could affect personal safety.
"We have seen over the past week hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Americans choosing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to ensure their safety and the safety of loved ones during these uncertain times," said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general counsel for NSSF. "Americans must not be denied the ability to exercise that right to lawfully purchase and acquire firearms during times of emergency."
Brady's Lowy said it shouldn't be considered a violation of Second Amendment rights since it's temporary and in the midst of a pandemic. He likened it to constitutional rights to peaceably assemble, a right that is being curtailed at the moment as Americans practice social distancing.
"If you have a gun in the home, you are exercising your Second Amendment rights. No court has held that you have a Second Amendment right to a stockpile of guns," he said.
The vast majority of states are allowing gun shops to remain open. However, some states that have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus have ruled that gun shops are not essential and should close. In the absence of a mandate from federal authorities, gun groups have been filing lawsuits challenging state and local authorities who are ordering gun shops and ranges to close.
The NRA thanked Trump for the DHS ruling. The NRA has been an unflinching backer of Trump, pumping about $30m (£24m) toward his 2016 campaign.
Illinois governor says government sent state wrong type of protective medical masks
Another governor with concerns about medical supplies is the redoubtable JB Pritzker, who was also on CNN yesterday and told Jake Tapper the federal government had sent him the wrong kind of masks.
Over the weekend, California's Gavin Newsom complained his state had received 170 faulty ventilators and had to have them fixed by a local tech firm:
Another governor with concerns about medical supplies is the redoubtable JB Pritzker, who was also on CNN yesterday and told Jake Tapper the federal government had sent him the wrong kind of masks.
Over the weekend, California's Gavin Newsom complained his state had received 170 faulty ventilators and had to have them fixed by a local tech firm:
Andrew Cuomo insists he has no plans to run for president
The New York governor has impressed with his no-nonsense leadership throughout the current crisis, with even Trump telling Fox and Friends yesterday that he would make a better 2020 opponent than Joe Biden, who is forced to languish on Zoom from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, looking frankly irrelevant.
Cuomo was on characteristic form yesterday welcoming the USNS Comfort to Manhattan:
Here's the man of the hour being interviewed by his brother Chris on CNN last night and denying he has any aspirations to make a late, late tilt at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Andrew Naughtie has more on this.
The New York governor has impressed with his no-nonsense leadership throughout the current crisis, with even Trump telling Fox and Friends yesterday that he would make a better 2020 opponent than Joe Biden, who is forced to languish on Zoom from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, looking frankly irrelevant.
Cuomo was on characteristic form yesterday welcoming the USNS Comfort to Manhattan:
Here's the man of the hour being interviewed by his brother Chris on CNN last night and denying he has any aspirations to make a late, late tilt at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Andrew Naughtie has more on this.
Trump accused of disproportionately attacking women over coronavirus response
It has not gone unnoticed that the president has been particularly aggressive in singling out women for criticism during the current crisis, from "sick puppy" Nancy Pelosi to Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, GM CEO Mary Barra and journalist Yamiche Alcindor.
One woman never short of a stinging retort to the president is House Financial Services Committee chair Maxine Waters, who says he should "stop congratulating himself" because he is a "failure" and has bungled the Covid-19 response through denials and inaction:
Here's more on the president's highly revealing descent into cheap sexism.
US Open tennis arena in Flushing Meadows repurposed as field hospital
The site of the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, is also going to be used as the site for 350 temporary hospital beds and to prepare food packages during the coronavirus pandemic.
US Tennis Association (USTA) spokesman Chris Widmaier says an area that houses indoor courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will begin to be converted into a medical facility starting today.
New York state and city officials are trying to increase hospital capacity by up to 87,000 beds to handle the outbreak.
Widmaier adds that kitchens at the Louis Armstrong Stadium - the second-largest arena used for the Grand Slam tournament scheduled to begin in late August - will be used for putting together 25,000 meal packages per day for patients, workers, volunteers and schoolchildren in the city.
The USTA originally had said it was going to keep the facility open for people to take lessons, practice or play tennis before changing course and saying it was shutting the site to the public.
The site of the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York, is also going to be used as the site for 350 temporary hospital beds and to prepare food packages during the coronavirus pandemic.
US Tennis Association (USTA) spokesman Chris Widmaier says an area that houses indoor courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will begin to be converted into a medical facility starting today.
New York state and city officials are trying to increase hospital capacity by up to 87,000 beds to handle the outbreak.
Widmaier adds that kitchens at the Louis Armstrong Stadium - the second-largest arena used for the Grand Slam tournament scheduled to begin in late August - will be used for putting together 25,000 meal packages per day for patients, workers, volunteers and schoolchildren in the city.
The USTA originally had said it was going to keep the facility open for people to take lessons, practice or play tennis before changing course and saying it was shutting the site to the public.
Al Gore: 'You can't gaslight a virus'
Bill Clinton's vice president was interviewed by CNN's Don Lemon last night and had some hard home truths for Trump and his supporters on Covid-19.
“Those who follow him, I’m afraid many of them have been misled,” Gore told Lemon, referring to the president's earlier proclamations that the virus was a "hoax" and would quickly disappear come the warmer weather.
“I feel badly for those who believe that stuff and have not been protecting themselves,” Gore said. “And we still have states that have not adopted the kind of policies that Dr Fauci and the real experts have advised partly because they’ve made it kind of a political partisan kind of issue.
“I think the president to his credit has been moving away from that,” he added. “I think he’s learned that you can’t gaslight a virus. You’ve really got to pay attention to what the scientific facts are.”
Bill Clinton's vice president was interviewed by CNN's Don Lemon last night and had some hard home truths for Trump and his supporters on Covid-19.
“Those who follow him, I’m afraid many of them have been misled,” Gore told Lemon, referring to the president's earlier proclamations that the virus was a "hoax" and would quickly disappear come the warmer weather.
“I feel badly for those who believe that stuff and have not been protecting themselves,” Gore said. “And we still have states that have not adopted the kind of policies that Dr Fauci and the real experts have advised partly because they’ve made it kind of a political partisan kind of issue.
“I think the president to his credit has been moving away from that,” he added. “I think he’s learned that you can’t gaslight a virus. You’ve really got to pay attention to what the scientific facts are.”
New Trump campaign video takes quotes out of context to suggest bipartisan celebration of his handling of outbreak
As The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler points out today, Trump's latest re-election promo, entitled "Hope", features some staggeringly dishonest use of clips of governors Newsom and Cuomo and TV anchors Dana Bash and Joe Scarborough speaking generously about the president's response to Covid-19 taken wildly out of context.
As his first tweet of the day indicates, he's clearly seeking to create an illusion of harmony:
You can judge the video for yourself below:
As The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler points out today, Trump's latest re-election promo, entitled "Hope", features some staggeringly dishonest use of clips of governors Newsom and Cuomo and TV anchors Dana Bash and Joe Scarborough speaking generously about the president's response to Covid-19 taken wildly out of context.
As his first tweet of the day indicates, he's clearly seeking to create an illusion of harmony:
You can judge the video for yourself below:
Republican governors slower to introduce social distancing measures, study finds
States with Republican governors - more likely to be pro-business - were generally slower to react to the coronavirus outbreak and implement social distancing guidelines than their Democratic peers, according to a new study released by the University of Washington.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Florida megachurch pastor arrested after holding crowded service in defiance of social distancing rules
The River at Tampa Bay Church held two services on Sunday, despite a county order for residents to stay at home and warnings from the sheriff's office to both Pastor Howard-Browne and church attorneys.
A pastor in Florida has been arrested for violating coronavirus social distancing rules by holding two large services at his church over the weekend.
Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister confirmed on Monday afternoon that Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne had been arrested.
“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger,” the sheriff said.
The River at Tampa Bay Church held two services on Sunday, despite a county order for residents to stay at home and warnings from the sheriff's office to both Pastor Howard-Browne and church attorneys.
Sheriff Chronister said that the church has the ability to livestream services but still encouraged people to show up in person, even laying on buses for some of the congregation.
Oliver O'Connell has the full story.
Oliver O'Connell has the full story.
Whole Foods workers become latest Amazon subsidiary staff to go on strike
Workers at Amazon-owned grocery chain Whole Foods are calling in sick en masse in a co-ordinated strike as they demand paid leave and better conditions during the coronavirus outbreak.
The “sick-out”, planned for Tuesday, is the first collective action by Whole Foods workers since 1980. It follows several walkouts at US Amazon warehouses, with workers complaining of unsafe working conditions and claiming that the company has been less than transparent about the spread of Covid-19 cases through its workforce.
Also striking are workers at grocery delivery company Instacart. All three companies are facing an unprecedented spike in demand as three in every four Americans enter stay-at-home mode to stop the spread of coronavirus, and accordingly turn to online companies to deliver grocery and essentials.
Andrew Naughtie has this report.
Workers at Amazon-owned grocery chain Whole Foods are calling in sick en masse in a co-ordinated strike as they demand paid leave and better conditions during the coronavirus outbreak.
The “sick-out”, planned for Tuesday, is the first collective action by Whole Foods workers since 1980. It follows several walkouts at US Amazon warehouses, with workers complaining of unsafe working conditions and claiming that the company has been less than transparent about the spread of Covid-19 cases through its workforce.
Also striking are workers at grocery delivery company Instacart. All three companies are facing an unprecedented spike in demand as three in every four Americans enter stay-at-home mode to stop the spread of coronavirus, and accordingly turn to online companies to deliver grocery and essentials.
Andrew Naughtie has this report.
Trump is forcing doctors to decide who lives or dies and can do 'much more' to protect medics, Pelosi say
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has slammed Donald Trump for what she called his resistance to "do much more" to protect medical workers from contracting coronavirus during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
The California Democrat also raised concerns about doctors being told, in some areas, to make abrupt life-and-death decisions, and panned the president for not doing more to ramp up testing faster.
"We're asking people to make a judgement on who gets a ventilator," she said. "That should not be happening."
Pelosi did applaud Trump for reversing course on opening parts of the country by 12 April, saying without such changes by the administration "there will be more deaths."
John T Bennett has more on this developing story.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has slammed Donald Trump for what she called his resistance to "do much more" to protect medical workers from contracting coronavirus during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
The California Democrat also raised concerns about doctors being told, in some areas, to make abrupt life-and-death decisions, and panned the president for not doing more to ramp up testing faster.
"We're asking people to make a judgement on who gets a ventilator," she said. "That should not be happening."
Pelosi did applaud Trump for reversing course on opening parts of the country by 12 April, saying without such changes by the administration "there will be more deaths."
John T Bennett has more on this developing story.
Pelosi reveals she and Trump still not spoken since SOTU spat despite coronavirus pandemic
Trump was watching that Pelosi interview - and is being suprisingly measured about it.
Here's what else she had to say.
Trump was watching that Pelosi interview - and is being suprisingly measured about it.
Here's what else she had to say.
CDC could recommend all Americans wear face masks in public
Trump hinted at this possibility in the Rose Garden yesterday and now it seems the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are seriously considering making such a recommendation.
Gino Spocchia has more on this.
Trump hinted at this possibility in the Rose Garden yesterday and now it seems the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are seriously considering making such a recommendation.
Gino Spocchia has more on this.
Majority of Americans have prayed for the end of outbreak, poll finds
Despite not being able to attend church in person without getting busted for breaking quarantine laws, many Americans are finding comfort in faith right now, according to a new survey.
Despite not being able to attend church in person without getting busted for breaking quarantine laws, many Americans are finding comfort in faith right now, according to a new survey.
'Immoral and inhumane': New York to probe Amazon after it 'sacked' warehouse worker who led strike
New York’s attorney general could bring legal action against Amazon after it was accused of dismissing an employee who organised a walkout in protest at the firm’s handling of coronavirus.
Lelita James told Business Insider that the e-commerce giant had acted disgracefully.
"It is disgraceful that Amazon would terminate an employee who bravely stood up to protect himself and his colleagues," said James. "At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling and are deeply concerned about their safety, this action was also immoral and inhumane."
Gino Spocchia has more.
