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Coronavirus latest updates: White House gives briefing as Ohio and Illinois go into lockdown Coronavirus latest updates: White House gives briefing as Ohio and Illinois go into lockdown
(32 minutes later)
Number of UK deaths rises to 35 while other countries introduce stricter new measuresNumber of UK deaths rises to 35 while other countries introduce stricter new measures
In New Zealand border restrictions went into place at 1am on Monday morning, with all arrivals to the country - including New Zealand citizens, having to self-isolate.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said the government had enforcement powers for self-isolation which it would enact if anyone proved reluctant. Anyone arriving from the Pacific Islands is exempt from the restrictions.
Meanwhile the country’s national airline carrier Air New Zealand is slashing 85% of its international flights in the next few months, and has placed itself in a trading halt.
Around the country more than 8,000 people are in self-isolation, including three government MPs. Later this week restrictions on mass gatherings are expected to be announced, as well as a financial stimulus package in the billions.
Our legal affairs correspondent Owen Bowcott has this from Northern Ireland:
Lawyers acting for the mother of a child who has asthma and attends a primary school in County Armagh are planning to launch a judicial review of the Stormont government’s decision not to close schools in Northern Ireland.
Darragh Mackin, a solicitor at Phoenix Law, said that the girl suffers underlying health problems, including severe asthma and is at a greater risk of harm should she contract the coronavirus.
He added: “It is clear that the respective public bodies have each failed in their respective obligations to our client, and indeed all children, by continuing to require their attendance at school in circumstances in which they would be at an increased risk of contracting the condition.
There is no time for any further delay. The necessary policies and decisions all need to be taken in a manner that recognises the real and immediate risk.
“The wider international community has spoken. Their advice cannot and should not be ignored.
“It is a deplorable situation when a mother has to initiate urgent legal proceedings to ensure that her child, and indeed children across the jurisdiction, are afforded the necessary protections and safeguards required under law.”
Sam Gelder here. That’s all from Martin Pengelly reporting on the White House briefing, so I’m back and will be catching up with the latest from across the world.
The anchors are going straight to Trump’s claim at the top of the press conference that “we have tremendous control over” the virus – and then to Dr Anthony Fauci saying, later in the briefing, that “the worst is yet ahead of us” and the response the US manages will determine how bad that “worst” will be.
Along with reports of clampdowns on social life in California and school closures in New York, and the Fed’s decision to slash interest rates close to zero, expect plenty of coverage of the president’s apparent contradiction by his top public health expert.
Last question, a White House aide shouts. If it is the last question it is about economic efforts to combat damage from the outbreak and whether enough has been done.
Pence says the administration strongly supports the House legislation passed on Saturday and “no American worker should worry about missing a pay cheque if they’re feeling ill.” There are of course gaps and worries and competing corporate interests which will affect the extension of paid leave which the House bill provides.
On the economy as a whole, Pence says “we’re in just the first few innings of this effort” but vital industries will be supported. It’s vague – of course it is.
There will be a morning briefing on Monday, Pence says, and a health briefing in the afternoon, and he appeals for Americans to keep up hygiene best practices. He salutes the task force members too, of course.
And we’re out, with a few shouted questions following Pence out of the door.
Pence is back up, and asked about the testing process and the work with tech companies including Google and that vexed issue of the diagnostic website.
“At some point early in the week there will be a website that goes up,” Pence says, where people can fill out a questionnaire to see if they might have coronavirus.
Adm Brett Giroir, assistant health secretary, describes the aims of the website project and the testing.
There will be approximately 1.9m tests rolled out to laboratories this week, he says. There’s no precise timeline but it’s an “absolute priority”, he says.
“I’m not going to say that the lab testing issue is over,” he says, but the focus will now be how to get people actually tested.
Pence is asked about possible shortages of hospital beds and ventilators and how the White House is planning to stop Americans “dying” and “suffocating”. He says he’ll call on health secretary Alex Azar but pauses first to praise the public-private partnership again.
Here’s former labor secretary Robert Reich on that subject:
Azar starts by praising the people on the podium behind him, then says any pandemic “runs the risk of exceeding our healthcare capacity”. Which seems obvious. He goes on to outline stockpiling and procedural preparations without mentioning many actual numbers.
“We have tremendous supplies but we want to acquire more,” he says, adding that for national security purposes he will not disclose “concrete numbers” of things like, yes, ventilators. A recent Johns Hopkins study suggested the national stock of those was nowhere near enough to cope with what may be coming.
Now we’re on to social distancing – and whether a national lockdown might be on the way while the president tells Americans to “relax”.Now we’re on to social distancing – and whether a national lockdown might be on the way while the president tells Americans to “relax”.
Pence hails Trump’s “decisive leadership early on”, to do with travel restrictions on China and now Europe, the UK and Ireland. Of course he does.Pence hails Trump’s “decisive leadership early on”, to do with travel restrictions on China and now Europe, the UK and Ireland. Of course he does.
He calls on Dr Fauci, who says he meant what he said on the shows this morning about the need for social distancing to be strictly enforced and followed. “Anything and everything we’ll consider.”He calls on Dr Fauci, who says he meant what he said on the shows this morning about the need for social distancing to be strictly enforced and followed. “Anything and everything we’ll consider.”
He is asked for examples.He is asked for examples.
No bars or restaurants? “Could be, could be.”No bars or restaurants? “Could be, could be.”
He wants the press to let the new guidelines come out tomorrow, then ask questions.He wants the press to let the new guidelines come out tomorrow, then ask questions.
Pence is asked about bar and restaurant closings and whether he expects them to spread nationwide, and about the airport customs delays on Saturday night.Pence is asked about bar and restaurant closings and whether he expects them to spread nationwide, and about the airport customs delays on Saturday night.
There will be updated federal guidelines tomorrow, Pence says, but they will defer to state and local authorities.There will be updated federal guidelines tomorrow, Pence says, but they will defer to state and local authorities.
He asks the acting homeland security secretary to address the screening problems at major airports which caused huge queues and no social distancing whatsoever on Saturday night and led Governor Pritzker to say the administration had to “get its shit together”.He asks the acting homeland security secretary to address the screening problems at major airports which caused huge queues and no social distancing whatsoever on Saturday night and led Governor Pritzker to say the administration had to “get its shit together”.
Chad Wolf, the acting secretary, says the lines were “unacceptable” and 12 airports saw adjustments to practice but O’Hare in Chicago did not. Average wait time for screening is now 30 minutes he says, adding that the the process is “fixed”.Chad Wolf, the acting secretary, says the lines were “unacceptable” and 12 airports saw adjustments to practice but O’Hare in Chicago did not. Average wait time for screening is now 30 minutes he says, adding that the the process is “fixed”.
Asked if domestic air travel could be shut down, Wolf says all options are on the table.Asked if domestic air travel could be shut down, Wolf says all options are on the table.
Dr Anthony Fauci says the “testing space available” is “entering into a new phase” – successive members of the task force are stressing that the administration is doing better on that front, as they would of course be expected to do.Dr Anthony Fauci says the “testing space available” is “entering into a new phase” – successive members of the task force are stressing that the administration is doing better on that front, as they would of course be expected to do.
“The worst is ahead for us,” he says. “It’s how we respond that is going to determine how that endpoint is going to be.”“The worst is ahead for us,” he says. “It’s how we respond that is going to determine how that endpoint is going to be.”
Now questions.Now questions.
Dr Deborah Birx is up now, explaining how lab work is done in the US and how the US is “going to see a spike in the curve” as more testing is done and more cases of coronavirus are found.Dr Deborah Birx is up now, explaining how lab work is done in the US and how the US is “going to see a spike in the curve” as more testing is done and more cases of coronavirus are found.
Schools in New York City, meanwhile, were being kept open in part because of the vital social role they play for poorer families, providing full meals and childcare while parents work tough and necessary jobs. That support will still be needed now the schools are closed.Schools in New York City, meanwhile, were being kept open in part because of the vital social role they play for poorer families, providing full meals and childcare while parents work tough and necessary jobs. That support will still be needed now the schools are closed.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who faced a horrible quandary over the schools which it seems Governor Andrew Cuomo has now solved for him, has announced that there are now five deaths related to coronavirus in the city and 329 confirmed cases. The “number of confirmed cases is moving rapidly”, though, he says.Mayor Bill de Blasio, who faced a horrible quandary over the schools which it seems Governor Andrew Cuomo has now solved for him, has announced that there are now five deaths related to coronavirus in the city and 329 confirmed cases. The “number of confirmed cases is moving rapidly”, though, he says.
At the White House they’re on to task force members describing their work. One would expect the fireworks to start when or if Vice-President Pence takes questions, although they might be smaller rockets and Catherine wheels given his boss has left the room.At the White House they’re on to task force members describing their work. One would expect the fireworks to start when or if Vice-President Pence takes questions, although they might be smaller rockets and Catherine wheels given his boss has left the room.
In New York, it’s being reported that the public schools have at last been closed, until 20 April at least.In New York, it’s being reported that the public schools have at last been closed, until 20 April at least.
Parents of students in the biggest such system in the US now have a major problem on their hands as they themselves are forced to work at home. I know, because I’m one such parent…Parents of students in the biggest such system in the US now have a major problem on their hands as they themselves are forced to work at home. I know, because I’m one such parent…
Here’s Lois Beckett from Oakland on the latest news out of California:Here’s Lois Beckett from Oakland on the latest news out of California:
Pence goes on, heralding what he calls an “extraordinary and unprecedented national public-private partnership for diagnostic testing”. He would say that, of course, but he also praises the bipartisan passage of relief measures by the House on Saturday.Pence goes on, heralding what he calls an “extraordinary and unprecedented national public-private partnership for diagnostic testing”. He would say that, of course, but he also praises the bipartisan passage of relief measures by the House on Saturday.
Then he says, “As the president often says, we are all in this together.”Then he says, “As the president often says, we are all in this together.”
The US now has more than 2,900 cases in 49 states, Vice-President Mike Pence says as he takes the podium.The US now has more than 2,900 cases in 49 states, Vice-President Mike Pence says as he takes the podium.
The risk of serious illness remains low, Pence says, but because the risk is related to the most vulnerable, the administration will continue to urge every American to be vigilant in practising good hygiene and heeding official advice.The risk of serious illness remains low, Pence says, but because the risk is related to the most vulnerable, the administration will continue to urge every American to be vigilant in practising good hygiene and heeding official advice.
Pence says he has spoken to Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, who had harsh words for the administration last night and this morning.Pence says he has spoken to Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, who had harsh words for the administration last night and this morning.
Pence riffs extensively about the national day of prayer Trump declared for today, and repeats Trump’s words about his call with the grocery store executives – which will stay open, he says, if possibly with reduced hours.Pence riffs extensively about the national day of prayer Trump declared for today, and repeats Trump’s words about his call with the grocery store executives – which will stay open, he says, if possibly with reduced hours.
The president and Pence will brief all the governors tomorrow, the VP says – “specifically about our expanding testing to the American people”. The lack of testing capability has been a key part of criticism of the administration’s response.The president and Pence will brief all the governors tomorrow, the VP says – “specifically about our expanding testing to the American people”. The lack of testing capability has been a key part of criticism of the administration’s response.
Pence says testing is now available in all 50 states and claims “unprecedented speed” in the development of coronavirus testing. He might get questions about that.Pence says testing is now available in all 50 states and claims “unprecedented speed” in the development of coronavirus testing. He might get questions about that.
More than 10 states have their own drive-thru testing sites, Pence says, and he commends them for it, and says “retail partners” will work with states. This, we knew too.More than 10 states have their own drive-thru testing sites, Pence says, and he commends them for it, and says “retail partners” will work with states. This, we knew too.
Trump repeats that he does not want Americans to hoard or panic-buy food supplies – they can afford to relax and have a nice dinner, he says.Trump repeats that he does not want Americans to hoard or panic-buy food supplies – they can afford to relax and have a nice dinner, he says.
He goes on to thank the task force members crowding the podium behind him, many – including Dr Deborah Birx, who Amanda Holpuch profiled here and who had an introduction to bumpy Trump press conferences on Friday.He goes on to thank the task force members crowding the podium behind him, many – including Dr Deborah Birx, who Amanda Holpuch profiled here and who had an introduction to bumpy Trump press conferences on Friday.
Trump leaves to “make some calls” and does not take questions.Trump leaves to “make some calls” and does not take questions.
US business editor Dominic Rushe has more on the Fed news:US business editor Dominic Rushe has more on the Fed news:
He starts by saying the Federal Reserve have made him “very happy” by lowering interest rates to 0.25%, which is a story just breaking across the wires. On the subject, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin was on the shows this morning, batting away questions about whether the administration is worried about a coronavirus-enhanced recession.He starts by saying the Federal Reserve have made him “very happy” by lowering interest rates to 0.25%, which is a story just breaking across the wires. On the subject, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin was on the shows this morning, batting away questions about whether the administration is worried about a coronavirus-enhanced recession.
He also thanks Google for “substantiating what I said on Friday” about a website for self-diagnosis of Covid-19, which the press said was inaccurate. Trump claims he was right all along but it still seems Google, or a company related to it, is actually testing its website in the Bay Area of California and not rolling it out nationally.He also thanks Google for “substantiating what I said on Friday” about a website for self-diagnosis of Covid-19, which the press said was inaccurate. Trump claims he was right all along but it still seems Google, or a company related to it, is actually testing its website in the Bay Area of California and not rolling it out nationally.
The president also reels off a list of CEOs of grocery and supply chain companies who he spoke to today, about public panic-buying and how to avoid it.The president also reels off a list of CEOs of grocery and supply chain companies who he spoke to today, about public panic-buying and how to avoid it.