The number of coronavirus cases in New York state is now passed 151,600, meaning it has more than any country barring the US itself, as the number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits surges to almost 17m.
Despite those grim figures, Donald Trump’s mind appears to be on other matters after signing an executive order on Wednesday opening up the possibility of America mining the moon for minerals and promising to “take a look” at pardoning Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix’s latest true crime sensation Tiger King.
The president otherwise used his latest press conference on Covid-19 to indicate he hoped to end US lockdown measures soon and reopen the economy with a “big bang” as his approval ratings began to slide in response to his administration’s erratic handling of the crisis.
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New Jersey reports nearly 200 deaths in 24 hours
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reported 198 coronavirus-related deaths within the last 24 hours, bringing the statewide death toll to at least 1,700.
The state has confirmed more than 51,000 cases.
The state's death toll from Covid-19 is more than twice the number of lives lost during the September 11 attacks.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reported 198 coronavirus-related deaths within the last 24 hours, bringing the statewide death toll to at least 1,700.
The state has confirmed more than 51,000 cases.
The state's death toll from Covid-19 is more than twice the number of lives lost during the September 11 attacks.
Donald Trump says he 'won't' be wearing a mask. Melania Trump is telling Americans to
After her husband told Americans that he won't be following CDC guidelines to wear a face mask in public, Melania Trump has issued a pair of messages telling people to do so.
Last week, the president said: "It's only a recommendation ... I'm choosing not to do it."
After her husband told Americans that he won't be following CDC guidelines to wear a face mask in public, Melania Trump has issued a pair of messages telling people to do so.
Last week, the president said: "It's only a recommendation ... I'm choosing not to do it."
Bill O'Reilly: People dying from coronavirus 'were on their last legs anyway'
Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly told Sean Hannity that people dying from Covid-19 “were on their last legs anyway," as the number of US deaths from the disease neared 15,000.
“I don’t want to sound callous about that,” said Mr O’Reilly. “The [US death] projections that you just mentioned are down to 60,000, I don’t think it will be that high —13,000 dead now in the USA.”
He then said this to people rightfully outraged by his comments:
Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly told Sean Hannity that people dying from Covid-19 “were on their last legs anyway," as the number of US deaths from the disease neared 15,000.
“I don’t want to sound callous about that,” said Mr O’Reilly. “The [US death] projections that you just mentioned are down to 60,000, I don’t think it will be that high —13,000 dead now in the USA.”
He then said this to people rightfully outraged by his comments:
'Social distancing' guidelines don't appear to apply to White House reporters at briefings
From the White House pool, here are the details of the six-feet "social distancing" measures inside the briefing room, via the Huffington Post:
"Before the pandemic, all 49 seats in the room (seven rows, seven seats per row) would be occupied during the rare briefings, with each person no more than a few inches from at least one person and within two feet of as many as eight people.
From the White House pool, here are the details of the six-feet "social distancing" measures inside the briefing room, via the Huffington Post:
"Before the pandemic, all 49 seats in the room (seven rows, seven seats per row) would be occupied during the rare briefings, with each person no more than a few inches from at least one person and within two feet of as many as eight people.
"In the first round of 'distancing' this was changed to every other seat, meaning that the typical seat was still barely two feet away from six others.
"In this current round, with two occupied seats per row, those with seats are STILL within 3.5 feet of at least one person, and as many as four people for those with interior seats.
Also: A front row TV pool seat is barely six feet away from whoever happens to be standing at the lectern at that moment.
"To date, three journalists that we know of who spent time in the briefing room came down with coronavirus-like symptoms. One tested negative."
Nearly 800 people under the age of 50 have died in the US
Nearly 200 people in the US in their thirties have died from coronavirus, among the nearly 800 people under age 50 who have died following the outbreak.
The majority of severe cases in the US and around the world have involved older people and people with compromised immune systems and other underlying conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalisation and death.
But health officials warn that young people are still at risk of serious illness and death.
At least 45 Americans in their twenties have died from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus, not including another nine deaths involving people under 20 years old, according to data collected by The Washington Post.
Barack Obama's 2014 warning about need for pandemic response protocal recirculates online
If only Trump had thought as much about the merits of having a proper system in place to tackle viral outbreaks as his predecessor, what a different world we might be looking at right now.
William Barr claims media 'jihad' against Trump-promoted anti-malaria drug
Where do you even start with the attorney general's choice of words there?
I'll leave it to Griffin Connolly.
Where do you even start with the attorney general's choice of words there?
I'll leave it to Griffin Connolly.
Democrats block Trump's new stimulus package warning it is a 'political stunt' and not enough
The opposition have today blocked Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's attempt to ram through a new coronavirus relief package, which includes a small business bailout programme, saying the Kentuckians's manoeuvre was a "political stunt" that shut them out of the negotiating process.
Griffin Connolly has the latest.
The opposition have today blocked Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's attempt to ram through a new coronavirus relief package, which includes a small business bailout programme, saying the Kentuckians's manoeuvre was a "political stunt" that shut them out of the negotiating process.
Griffin Connolly has the latest.
More than 90 per cent of medical volunteers are not being used in New York's fight against coronavirus
Here are a few lines from the US we haven't had time for so far today:
Here are a few lines from the US we haven't had time for so far today:
- New Jersey's governor Phil Murphy has ordered residents to wear masks in grocery stores, following California's example.
- The Reverend Tony Spell, the controversial Louisiana pastor already facing six misdemeanour charges for ignoring social distancing rules to hold services, says: "True Christians do not mind dying."
- A woman has been arrested in California after licking nearly $2,000 (£1,605) worth of groceries in a South Lake Tahoe branch of Safeway.
Meanwhile, in New York, more than 90 per cent of medical volunteers are reportedly not being used in the state’s fight against coronavirus.
- The Reverend Tony Spell, the controversial Louisiana pastor already facing six misdemeanour charges for ignoring social distancing rules to hold services, says: "True Christians do not mind dying."
- A woman has been arrested in California after licking nearly $2,000 (£1,605) worth of groceries in a South Lake Tahoe branch of Safeway.
Meanwhile, in New York, more than 90 per cent of medical volunteers are reportedly not being used in the state’s fight against coronavirus.
Ousted US Navy secretary's disastrous visit to Guam to label ship's captain an 'idiot' cost US taxpayers more than $240,000
The decision to remove Captain Brett Crozier from command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt for daring to issue with his employers for not doing enough to protect his sailors from a coronavirus outbreak on board was a farce from start to finish.
Acting secretary to the US Navy Thomas Modly stepped down this week in humiliation and rightly so, but not before costing hardworking Americans almost a quarter of million dollars.
Gino Spocchia has the full story.
FDA proceeds with hydroxychloroquine trials after Trump denies vested interest
Andrew Naughtie has the latest on that miracle "quack cure" for Covid-19 the president and his right-wing media allies are so keen on.
Andrew Naughtie has the latest on that miracle "quack cure" for Covid-19 the president and his right-wing media allies are so keen on.
Dr Fauci strikes optimistic note, praises public for mitigation efforts
Trump's top diseases expert guested on This Morning on CBS today to offer some words of praise and encouragement to the nation regarding its efforts on social distancing.
He also slightly rowed back his warning about handshakes, saying he said it "to get people to start thinking much more about personal hygiene".
Trump's top diseases expert guested on This Morning on CBS today to offer some words of praise and encouragement to the nation regarding its efforts on social distancing.
He also slightly rowed back his warning about handshakes, saying he said it "to get people to start thinking much more about personal hygiene".
New York state now has more coronavirus cases than any one country barring US as a whole
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in New York state has hit 151,598, according to NBC News, meaning it now has more than any single country except the United States as a whole.
America saw nearly 2,000 die of the respiratory disease on Wednesday after experiencing the second record high in a row. It has over 431,000 confirmed cases and has already lost more than 14,800 lives, but New York has actually started to see a levelling off in the number of hospital admissions.
"We are flattening the curve because we are rigorous about social distancing," governor Andrew Cuomo said during a briefing on Wednesday, adding, "But this is not a time to get complacent."
Here's Danielle Zoellner on the governor.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in New York state has hit 151,598, according to NBC News, meaning it now has more than any single country except the United States as a whole.
America saw nearly 2,000 die of the respiratory disease on Wednesday after experiencing the second record high in a row. It has over 431,000 confirmed cases and has already lost more than 14,800 lives, but New York has actually started to see a levelling off in the number of hospital admissions.
"We are flattening the curve because we are rigorous about social distancing," governor Andrew Cuomo said during a briefing on Wednesday, adding, "But this is not a time to get complacent."
Here's Danielle Zoellner on the governor.
One tenth of US workforce now unemployed as government struggles to process benefits
A US jobs report published on Thursday showed 6.6 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of society, with nearly 10 per cent of the workforce seeking aid.
The surge in applications for government benefits has caused processing issues across the country, according to reports, and applicants have said they experienced website crashes and delayed payments when filing for unemployment.
Governors in the vast majority of states have issued stay-at-home orders as restaurants and businesses closed their doors to the public, laying off millions of Americans in the process.
Unemployment applications quickly skyrocketed to historic, record-breaking levels in recent weeks, with nearly 3.3 million applicants filing for benefits three weeks ago. A week later, nearly seven million Americans filed for unemployment - a number that was adjusted from previous estimates that placed the figure at 6.6 million.
Here's Chris Riotta with the latest.
A US jobs report published on Thursday showed 6.6 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of society, with nearly 10 per cent of the workforce seeking aid.
The surge in applications for government benefits has caused processing issues across the country, according to reports, and applicants have said they experienced website crashes and delayed payments when filing for unemployment.
Governors in the vast majority of states have issued stay-at-home orders as restaurants and businesses closed their doors to the public, laying off millions of Americans in the process.
Unemployment applications quickly skyrocketed to historic, record-breaking levels in recent weeks, with nearly 3.3 million applicants filing for benefits three weeks ago. A week later, nearly seven million Americans filed for unemployment - a number that was adjusted from previous estimates that placed the figure at 6.6 million.
Here's Chris Riotta with the latest.
Joe Biden's 11 best options for running mate
With the field now clear, the ex-vice president has said he will pick a woman to join him on the ticket.
But who will it be? Kamala Harris? Amy Klobuchar?? Elizabeth Warren???
Well dude, we just don't know.
With the field now clear, the ex-vice president has said he will pick a woman to join him on the ticket.
But who will it be? Kamala Harris? Amy Klobuchar?? Elizabeth Warren???
Well dude, we just don't know.
Florida governor provokes disbelief at coronavirus briefing by wearing only one glove
Here's Moya Lothian-McLean for Indy100 on Ron DeSantis, who disastrously failed to close the Sunshine State's beaches for Spring Break and has now violated all possible best practice advice on personal safety during a press briefing on the pandemic, provoking a storm of criticism and sizzling hot memes.
Inside three events that accidentally sparked US coronavirus outbreaks
Alex Woodward has this report on three public gatherngs held in early March - a Washington choir practice, a beach party in Miami and Mardi Gras in New Orleans - that would prove to have dire consequences for the spread of the deadly outbreak in America.
Diamond and Silk suspended from Twitter after saying that 'quitting quarantine will make people immune'
Greg Evans has this for Indy100 on two of the president's most shameless MAGA cheerleaders being temporarily booted off Twitter for advising people to jeopardise their health.
Greg Evans has this for Indy100 on two of the president's most shameless MAGA cheerleaders being temporarily booted off Twitter for advising people to jeopardise their health.
"We keep telling y'all something ain't right!" they like to insist, while pushing Covid-19 conspiracy theories to further their idiotic brand.
Where it all went wrong for Bernie Sanders
Andrew Buncombe offers this analysis of the senator's thwarted campaign, as one of Bernie's prominent acolytes, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, thanks him for blazing a trail and Biden makes an overture to his suddenly disenfranchised but passionate supporters.
Andrew Buncombe offers this analysis of the senator's thwarted campaign, as one of Bernie's prominent acolytes, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, thanks him for blazing a trail and Biden makes an overture to his suddenly disenfranchised but passionate supporters.
Fox News 'positively promotes hydroxychloroquine nearly 300 times in just two weeks'
You may perhaps be wondering how Fox News is doing during these taxing and unprecedented times.
Well, Sean Hannity followed his Tuesday night Trump interview with a guest spot from disgraced former peer Bill O'Reilly last night, who charmingly declared that people killed by coronavirus "were on their last legs anyway".
"You're going to get hammered for that," Hannity warned him.
"Well, I don't care. I mean, a simple man tells the truth," O'Reilly insisted.
Meanwhile, the network has been working almost as hard as the president to push the unproven anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a cure for Covid-19, it seems.
Here's a stellar cartoon from our own Dave Brown on the subject...
...and here's Danielle Zoellner's report on Fox.
Well, Sean Hannity followed his Tuesday night Trump interview with a guest spot from disgraced former peer Bill O'Reilly last night, who charmingly declared that people killed by coronavirus "were on their last legs anyway".
"You're going to get hammered for that," Hannity warned him.
"Well, I don't care. I mean, a simple man tells the truth," O'Reilly insisted.
Meanwhile, the network has been working almost as hard as the president to push the unproven anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a cure for Covid-19, it seems.
Here's a stellar cartoon from our own Dave Brown on the subject...
...and here's Danielle Zoellner's report on Fox.
