The number of coronavirus cases in New York state has now passed 151,600, meaning it has more confirmed infections 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 appeared to be on other matters, including blasting the Wall Street Journal for not praising him on his ratings during Monday night's White House press briefing. The president tweeted out against the newspaper and called it "fake news" for not saying his ratings were "through the roof".
Other tweets from the president throughout the day included him expressing well wishes to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has reportedly moved out of the ICU after contracting the novel virus. Mr Trump reaffirmed his well wishes when speaking during the his press briefing on Thursday.
But the White House and its coronavirus taskforce have now buckled down on who the officials come in contact with in the coming days as coronavirus cases and death toll continue to rise. It was announced all reporters, photographers, and technicians would need to receive a Covid-19 test before entering the press briefing room.
When it comes to testing, the president announced more than 2m Americans have received tests across the US. Although the president claimed the US was doing better than anyone in testing, South Korea was one country that has tested more per capita compared to America.
One reporter asked Mr Trump how he expected to open up the country in the near future without an efficient nationwide testing system. The president claimed parts of the US were doing well when it came to testing, but he didn't clarify what parts.
Reports continue to circulate that the president has looked mulled over creating another coronavirus taskforce directly focused on reopening the US. Earlier this week the president said he wanted to open the economy with a "big bang", but health experts have warned areas have to open slowly to prevent a resurgence of the virus.
In Congress, lawmakers have been working on another stimulus package to go towards the Treasury Department's new small business paycheck protection programme. But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the Democrats needed more time to review and negotiate where funding should go.
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.
Trump signs moon mining order and ponders Joe Exotic pardon
Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday opening up the possibility of America mining the moon for minerals and said he will “take a look” at pardoning Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix’s latest true crime sensation Tiger King, of which his eldest son is a fan.
“Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space,” the president's order states, observing that the US never signed a 1979 agreement known as the moon treaty, which stipulated that any activities carried out in space should conform to terrestrial international law.
Trump's latest proclamation is actually consistent with a law passed by Congress in 2015 under Barack Obama that explicitly recognised the right of American companies to use resources from the moon and asteroids with no regard for rival claims on the minerals they might contain.
According to the new executive order, the US will oppose any such claims from competitors that might arise and also explore opportunities to commence mining on Mars and “other celestial bodies” as well, where possible.
If you thought that was a wild shift in priorities at a time of global crisis right here on earth, here he is taking a question on Mr Exotic during yesterday's Covid-19 briefing at the White House:
Andrew Naughtie has the full story.
Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday opening up the possibility of America mining the moon for minerals and said he will “take a look” at pardoning Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix’s latest true crime sensation Tiger King, of which his eldest son is a fan.
“Americans should have the right to engage in commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space,” the president's order states, observing that the US never signed a 1979 agreement known as the moon treaty, which stipulated that any activities carried out in space should conform to terrestrial international law.
Trump's latest proclamation is actually consistent with a law passed by Congress in 2015 under Barack Obama that explicitly recognised the right of American companies to use resources from the moon and asteroids with no regard for rival claims on the minerals they might contain.
According to the new executive order, the US will oppose any such claims from competitors that might arise and also explore opportunities to commence mining on Mars and “other celestial bodies” as well, where possible.
If you thought that was a wild shift in priorities at a time of global crisis right here on earth, here he is taking a question on Mr Exotic during yesterday's Covid-19 briefing at the White House:
Andrew Naughtie has the full story.
Dr Fauci says we may never shake hands again as US death toll soars
Trump's more whimsical policy decisions came as the US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak hit 14,800 and his top infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned it might never be safe for people to shake hands “ever again”.
"I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you. Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told The Wall Street Journal's podcast yesterday. A truly astonishing thought.
You can follow the very latest on the international picture with my colleague Conrad Duncan below.
Trump's more whimsical policy decisions came as the US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak hit 14,800 and his top infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned it might never be safe for people to shake hands “ever again”.
"I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you. Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told The Wall Street Journal's podcast yesterday. A truly astonishing thought.
You can follow the very latest on the international picture with my colleague Conrad Duncan below.
President hopes to reopen US economy with 'big bang'
Despite that dire news, the president nevertheless used his latest press conference to indicate he hoped to end US lockdown measures soon and reopen the economy with a “big bang”.
He did acknowledge that doing so prematurely would not be wise and said, reassuringly, that he planned to "rely very heavily" on the advice of health experts on his task force like Dr Fauci and Dr Deborah Birx when deciding when to recommend relaxing social distancing guidelines.
Trump is clearly determined to do so at the earliest possible opportunity, however, and is not alone.
The Centres for Disease Control issued new guidance yesterday saying essential workers who have already been exposed to Covid-19 and recovered can return to work if they're showing no symptoms, a clear concession to the administration's desire to get the country up and running again as soon as possible.
The president's attorney general and enabler Bill Barr also appeared on Fox News yesterday to tell Laura Ingraham that he believe the current "draconian measures" should be reviewed at the end of the month.
Trump and Barr are in the minority though, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, which finds the a whopping 81 per cent of Americans back the president annoucing a national stay-at-home order, with just 17 per cent opposing the idea. Trump has previously dismissed the idea as unlikely to happen.
Here's John T Bennett with the latest on the president, who otherwise used yesterday's press conference to deny he had any financial stake in the production of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine he keeps promoting. "A good question," he admitted, when it was asked by CNN's Jim Acosta.
Despite that dire news, the president nevertheless used his latest press conference to indicate he hoped to end US lockdown measures soon and reopen the economy with a “big bang”.
He did acknowledge that doing so prematurely would not be wise and said, reassuringly, that he planned to "rely very heavily" on the advice of health experts on his task force like Dr Fauci and Dr Deborah Birx when deciding when to recommend relaxing social distancing guidelines.
Trump is clearly determined to do so at the earliest possible opportunity, however, and is not alone.
The Centres for Disease Control issued new guidance yesterday saying essential workers who have already been exposed to Covid-19 and recovered can return to work if they're showing no symptoms, a clear concession to the administration's desire to get the country up and running again as soon as possible.
The president's attorney general and enabler Bill Barr also appeared on Fox News yesterday to tell Laura Ingraham that he believe the current "draconian measures" should be reviewed at the end of the month.
Trump and Barr are in the minority though, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, which finds the a whopping 81 per cent of Americans back the president annoucing a national stay-at-home order, with just 17 per cent opposing the idea. Trump has previously dismissed the idea as unlikely to happen.
Here's John T Bennett with the latest on the president, who otherwise used yesterday's press conference to deny he had any financial stake in the production of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine he keeps promoting. "A good question," he admitted, when it was asked by CNN's Jim Acosta.
Trump approval ratings slide over response to crisis
Despite his blithe optimism throughout the current disasterscape, the president is taking a dive in the polls as the crisis continues to escalate and disturbing scenes emerge from New York, New Jersey, California, Michigan and other hard hit states on a daily basis.
Here's Chris Riotta to comb through the numbers.
Despite his blithe optimism throughout the current disasterscape, the president is taking a dive in the polls as the crisis continues to escalate and disturbing scenes emerge from New York, New Jersey, California, Michigan and other hard hit states on a daily basis.
Here's Chris Riotta to comb through the numbers.
Obamas to return to fray to back Joe Biden after Bernie Sanders bows out
Trump was yesterday glorying in the news that Vermont senator Bernie Sanders had dropped out of the Democratic 2020 race, leaving the path to the nomination clear for Joe Biden.
The president mocked Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren for, as he sees it, fatally splitting the progressive vote on Super Tuesday, therein allowing the more moderate Biden to storm into an unassailable delegate lead.
With Barack and Michelle Obama set to return to front-line politics to endorse their old vice president in the fight to win back the White House, Trump also enjoyed insinuating in yesterday's press conference that he knew some secret about Biden being hushed up by the Obamas.
"[Barack Obama] know something [about Joe Biden] that you don't know. That I think I know. But you don't know," he said, cryptically.
But whatever the president says, the cavalry are sure to prove a dynamic and motivating presence on Diamond Joe's behalf and a comforting presence on the national stage for many.
The president mocked Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren for, as he sees it, fatally splitting the progressive vote on Super Tuesday, therein allowing the more moderate Biden to storm into an unassailable delegate lead.
With Barack and Michelle Obama set to return to front-line politics to endorse their old vice president in the fight to win back the White House, Trump also enjoyed insinuating in yesterday's press conference that he knew some secret about Biden being hushed up by the Obamas.
"[Barack Obama] know something [about Joe Biden] that you don't know. That I think I know. But you don't know," he said, cryptically.
But whatever the president says, the cavalry are sure to prove a dynamic and motivating presence on Diamond Joe's behalf and a comforting presence on the national stage for many.
Trump again insists mail voting ‘ripe for fraud’
The president was continuing to hammer on baselessly about mail voting being vulnerable to fraud on Twitter last night, continuing to oppose an obvious step that would enable democracy to prevail rather than have people risk their lives by breaking social distancing rules to cast their ballot in person, as we saw in the Wisconsin pimary on Tuesday.
But when he was asked about the issue during yesterday's press session - again by the redoubtable Jim Acosta - he resorted to pushing an old conspiracy theory long since debunked.
The president was continuing to hammer on baselessly about mail voting being vulnerable to fraud on Twitter last night, continuing to oppose an obvious step that would enable democracy to prevail rather than have people risk their lives by breaking social distancing rules to cast their ballot in person, as we saw in the Wisconsin pimary on Tuesday.
But when he was asked about the issue during yesterday's press session - again by the redoubtable Jim Acosta - he resorted to pushing an old conspiracy theory long since debunked.
WHO slams Trump for politicising coronavirus and warns doing so means 'more body bags'
The World Health Organisation (WHO) found itself the president's latest scapegoat yesterday after he said the body had "missed the call" on the virus and threatened to stop US funding to it as a punishment.
WHO's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has since hit back ferociously in language even Trump can understand, warning him and other world leaders against politicising Covid-19.
His remarks deserve to be widely heard.
Look at the state of this toadying from Trump's ex-ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, on Fox.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) found itself the president's latest scapegoat yesterday after he said the body had "missed the call" on the virus and threatened to stop US funding to it as a punishment.
WHO's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has since hit back ferociously in language even Trump can understand, warning him and other world leaders against politicising Covid-19.
His remarks deserve to be widely heard.
Look at the state of this toadying from Trump's ex-ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, on Fox.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
