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Trump takes coronavirus test and expands travel ban to UK and Ireland Trump says he took coronavirus test and expands travel ban to UK and Ireland
(32 minutes later)
President speaks to press at White House after welcoming House bill that includes paid sick leavePresident speaks to press at White House after welcoming House bill that includes paid sick leave
Donald Trump has said he has taken a coronavirus test and confirmed reports that the UK and Ireland will be added to a his European travel ban, meant to help contain the rapidly spreading pandemic, from midnight Monday US eastern time. Donald Trump has announced new measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis, including expanding the existing US travel ban to travelers from the UK and Ireland.
The president spoke in the White House briefing room on Saturday, at a press conference before which reporters had their temperatures taken and one was turned away. In a lunchtime briefing at the White House, the president also confirmed he had taken a test for the virus himself, although the result was not yet available.
Earlier, Trump welcomed legislation that will help fund paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing and other measures to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “I decided I should,” he said.
“Good teamwork between Republicans and Democrats as the House passes the big coronavirus relief bill,” the president tweeted. “People really pulled together. Nice to see!” Trump had come under pressure after exposure to sufferers including a member of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s entourage in Florida last weekend.
Trump’s own response to the outbreak remained subject to extensive criticism, however, particularly after a press conference in the White House Rose Garden on Friday. In a statement on Friday Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said there was no need to quarantine the president or implement a test. Trump’s encounter with Bolsonaro aide Fabio Wajngarten was “low risk”, the doctor said, adding that another Mar-a-Lago guest who has tested positive also interacted with the president.
The president announced a national emergency, paving the way for billions of dollars to be made accessible to federal and state authorities attempting to slow the fast-moving pandemic. On Saturday, Trump told the media he had taken a test after all. His daughter Ivanka Trump, a White House adviser, entered self-isolation on Friday after meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive.
But Trump also announced a new self-diagnosis website created by Google, only for the tech giant to deny the project was on anything like the scale outlined by Trump and his aides; said “I don’t take responsibility at all” when asked why the US lagged behind other countries in testing for coronavirus; and reacted angrily to a question about why a key White House office for pandemic response was closed in 2018. News of Trump’s test followed days of controversy highlighted by his continuing to shake hands with people, even as official advice recommended “social distancing”.
Trump also expressed reluctance to take a test for coronavirus himself, despite possible exposure to sufferers including a member of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s entourage in Florida last weekend. “It becomes a habit. People walk up to me, they shake hands, it’s kind of a natural reflex,” Trump said. “Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now, I tend to agree.”
In a statement on Friday Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said there was no need to quarantine the president or implement a coronavirus test. Trump’s encounter with Bolsonaro aide Fabio Wajngarten was “low risk”, the doctor said, adding that another Mar-a-Lago guest who has tested positive also interacted with the president. Trump said he took his test on Friday night and would await the result for “two days, whatever it is”.
Nonetheless, on Saturday Trump told the media he had taken a test the night before and was awaiting results. He also trailed the extension of the travel ban, already in place for 26 European nations.
On Saturday, the Australian home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, said he did not become contagious with Covid-19 until three days until after a trip to Washington during which he met Ivanka Trump and attorney general William Barr. The US president’s daughter entered self-isolation after Dutton’s condition was reported. “We’re looking at it very seriously because they’ve had a little bit of activity, unfortunately,” he said. “We have already looked at it actually. That is going to be announced.”
The vice-president, Mike Pence, duly announced that the UK and Ireland would be subject to the ban from midnight US eastern time on Monday.
Trump also welcomed legislation passed by the US House that will help fund paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing and other measures to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It will provide strong support for American families and communities in dealing with the coronavirus,” Trump said.
Nonetheless, the administration’s response to the outbreak remains subject to extensive criticism, particularly after a press conference on Friday.
In the White House Rose Garden, Trump announced a national emergency, paving the way for billions of dollars to be made accessible to federal and state authorities attempting to slow the fast-moving pandemic.
“It opened up avenues we would never be able to open up without it,” he said at the Saturday briefing. “It will make more than $50bn available to us in disaster relief funds. And that’s available for states, territories and local governments.
“A lot of people are benefiting from it.”
But on Friday he also announced a new self-diagnosis website created by Google, only for the tech giant to deny the project was on anything like the scale outlined; said “I don’t take responsibility at all” when asked why the US lagged behind other countries in testing; and reacted angrily to a question about why a White House office for pandemic response was closed in 2018.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), there are 1,629 cases of coronavirus in the US with 41 deaths, and 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported infections. Other estimates, including Trump’s on Saturday, are higher.According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), there are 1,629 cases of coronavirus in the US with 41 deaths, and 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported infections. Other estimates, including Trump’s on Saturday, are higher.
Concerns have been expressed that the US does not have enough hospital beds or ventilators to deal with a crisis of the scale predicted. As many as 20% of coronavirus infections could require patients to receive mechanical ventilation. If estimates of upwards of 1m or more infections in the US prove accurate, there could me more than 200,000 such severe cases. Concerns have been expressed that the US does not have enough hospital beds or ventilators to deal with the crisis. As many as 20% of coronavirus infections could require patients to receive mechanical ventilation. If estimates of more than 1m infections prove accurate, there could me more than 200,000 such severe cases.
According to a Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security study based on data from 2010, US acute care hospitals own about 62,000 full-featured mechanical ventilators. The study, published in February, reported an additional 98,000 ventilators that can provide basic function in an emergency. According to a Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security study based on data from 2010, US acute care hospitals own about 62,000 full-featured mechanical ventilators. The study, published in February, reported an additional 98,000 ventilators that can provide basic function.
The CDC Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has an estimated 8,900 ventilators that can be shipped within a day or so. At the White House on Friday, Trump said: “We have ordered a large number of respirators just in case. We hope we don’t need them but we have ordered a large number.” The CDC Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has an estimated 8,900 ventilators that can be shipped within a day or so. At the White House on Friday, Trump said: “We have ordered a large number of respirators just in case.”
Across the US, authorities have declared emergencies, many closing schools and restricting public gatherings. In New York City the largest public school system in the US remains open, a key source of support for millions. But pressure on Mayor Bill de Blasio is increasing. Across the US, authorities have declared emergencies, closed schools and restricted public gatherings. In New York City the largest public school system in the US remains open, a key source of support for millions. Pressure on the mayor, Bill de Blasio, is increasing.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday that New York state had recorded its first coronavirus fatality, an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing medical issues. The governor said the state now had 524 confirmed cases, 117 currently hospitalised, and said officials believe thousands have the virus. New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, announced on Saturday that the state had recorded its first coronavirus fatality, an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing medical issues. Cuomo said the state had 524 confirmed cases, 117 hospitalised, and said officials believe thousands have the virus.
On Capitol Hill, the relief bill passed just before 1am, after two days of talks between the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Agreement came after Trump signaled his support for Democrat-drafted measures.On Capitol Hill, the relief bill passed just before 1am, after two days of talks between the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Agreement came after Trump signaled his support for Democrat-drafted measures.
Pelosi thanked Democrats for their patience. Trump and the speaker, who publicly clashed at the State of the Union address in January, never communicated directly on coronavirus relief. Pelosi thanked Democrats for their patience. Trump and the speaker, who publicly clashed at the State of the Union address in January, never communicated directly on coronavirus relief and Trump did not thank Pelosi directly at the White House on Saturday.
“While we could have passed this bill on our own,” Pelosi wrote, “I believe it was important for us to assure the American people that we can work together to manage this crisis.” The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. It ensures free testing for those who need it while increasing access to benefits including family medical leave, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, spending on health insurance for the poor and food programmes for children and the elderly.
The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass after the Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, canceled a recess. On Friday, a federal judge blocked an administration attempt to force nearly 700,000 people off food stamps, a key benefit for poor Americans. In her ruling, district court judge Beryl Howell cited the coronavirus outbreak and said the attempted action was capricious, arbitrary and probably unlawful.
The relief bill ensures free testing for those who need it while increasing access to benefits including family medical leave, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, spending on health insurance for the poor and food programmes for children and the elderly. The economic impact of the impact continued on Saturday, as ​​Apple announced that all stores outside China would close ​for two weeks.
A sticking point for some Republicans was a requirement for employers to provide 14 days of paid sick leave at “not less” than two-thirds the regular rate if employees fall sick and are quarantined or treated, or if they have to care for a family member. The agreement expands existing paid family medical cover for those affected to 12 weeks.
On Friday, meanwhile, a federal judge blocked a Trump administration attempt to force nearly 700,000 people off food stamps, a key benefit for poor Americans.In her ruling, district court judge Beryl Howell cited the coronavirus outbreak and said the attempted action was capricious, arbitrary and probably unlawful.
The economic impact of the impact continued on Saturday as ​​Apple announced that all stores outside China would close ​for two weeks.