This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/mar/16/donald-trump-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-coronavirus-live-news-updates
The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Next version
Version 17 | Version 18 |
---|---|
Coronavirus latest: Trump says Americans should avoid gatherings of 10 or more – live | Coronavirus latest: Trump says Americans should avoid gatherings of 10 or more – live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Trump says he is not currently considering a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis | Trump says he is not currently considering a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis |
The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports from California: | |
San Francisco and five other Bay Area counties in California have ordered all residents to shelter-in-place to curb the spread of coronavirus, in a drastic move similar to ones taken in Italy, Spain and China, but the first of its kind in the US. | |
“The most important thing you can do is remain home as much as possible,” London Breed, the San Francisco mayor, said in a tweet. | |
The order came Monday following a 14% increase in positive coronavirus cases in California, with 335 reported and six deaths. More than a third of all positive cases were in Santa Clara county, the home of Silicon Valley, as well as two deaths. San Francisco has had 40 positive cases. | |
More than 6.7 million people live in San Francisco and the five counties issuing this order – Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The order does not confine residents to their home unless they have permission to leave, as the lockdown orders in Italy and China do, but directs them to stay inside unless absolutely necessary. | |
Residents can go to the grocery store, the laundromat, the doctor and to perform essential work, as well as to engage in outdoor exercise that complies with social distancing requirements. | |
The president and the coronavirus task force have just concluded their press conference in the White House briefing room. | |
The biggest news from the press conference was that the federal government is releasing heightened guideleines for the next 15 days to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. | |
Americans are being asked to avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, limit discretionary travel and try to work from home wherever possible. | |
However, the press conference was also notable for the marked change in tune from Trump, who has previously sought to downplay the pandemic. | |
Today, the president was much more somber and grim, bringing his outlook on the crisis more in line with that of health experts. | |
Trump said there “may” be a recession because of the pandemic, and he acknowledged the crisis could extend into the summer and potentially later. | |
“If you’re talking about the virus, that’s not under control for any place in the world,” Trump said. | |
It was a notable shift from the US leader, who just yesterday said his administration had “tremendous control” over the crisis. | |
Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the coronavirus task force, said he has not yet been tested for the virus. | |
Pence said he is in regular consultation with the White House physician and has been keeping tabs on his temperature to monitor for a potential fever. | |
The vice president said second lady Karen Pence is following the same precautions, and they will take a test if it’s deemed necessary. | |
Trump voiced confidence that the markets would recover from the coronavirus crisis, as the Dow closed down nearly 3,000 points. | |
“The market will take care of itself,” Trump said. “The market will be very strong once we get rid of the virus.” | |
Trump’s comments came as the Dow suffered its worst one-day point drop in history. | |
The Dow closed down 2,997 points, or 12.93%. For the latest updates and analysis on the market drop, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: | |
Trump said he did not think it was necessary to postpone elections amid the coronavirus crisis. | |
“Postponing elections is not a very good thing,” Trump said. “I think postponing is unnecessary.” | |
His comments came shortly after Ohio announced it was canceling in-person voting tomorrow for the Democratic presidential primary. | |
Asked whether the buck stops with him, the president said it “normally” does, but this is an extraordinary situation. | Asked whether the buck stops with him, the president said it “normally” does, but this is an extraordinary situation. |
“This has never been done before in this country,” Trump said of the coronavirus crisis. | “This has never been done before in this country,” Trump said of the coronavirus crisis. |
Trump gave himself top marks for his administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis. | Trump gave himself top marks for his administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis. |
“I’d rate it a 10,” the president said when asked to rate his response on a scale of 1 to 10. “I think we’ve done a great job.” | “I’d rate it a 10,” the president said when asked to rate his response on a scale of 1 to 10. “I think we’ve done a great job.” |
But the administration has been widely criticized for not making more coronavirus tests available more quickly. | But the administration has been widely criticized for not making more coronavirus tests available more quickly. |
Asked about how he is protecting himself from contracting coronavirus, Trump, a self-described germophobe, said he is washing his hands “a lot.” | Asked about how he is protecting himself from contracting coronavirus, Trump, a self-described germophobe, said he is washing his hands “a lot.” |
The president also said the coronavirus test he took, which was negative, was not necessarily pleasant. | The president also said the coronavirus test he took, which was negative, was not necessarily pleasant. |
“Not something I want to do every day, I can tell you that,” Trump said of getting the test. “Nothing pleasant about it.” | “Not something I want to do every day, I can tell you that,” Trump said of getting the test. “Nothing pleasant about it.” |
Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, just offered an important clarification on the newest coronavirus guidelines. | Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, just offered an important clarification on the newest coronavirus guidelines. |
Trump said he has been told to expect the health crisis to extend into July or August and possibly later. | Trump said he has been told to expect the health crisis to extend into July or August and possibly later. |
But Fauci clarified that the president was not saying these guidelines will necessarily be in effect until then. | But Fauci clarified that the president was not saying these guidelines will necessarily be in effect until then. |
These latest guidelines, which advise Americans to avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, will be in effect for 15 days, Fauci said. Then the coronavirus response team will revisit them. | These latest guidelines, which advise Americans to avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, will be in effect for 15 days, Fauci said. Then the coronavirus response team will revisit them. |
However, Fauci said experts expect coronavirus cases to continue into the summer and possibly later. | However, Fauci said experts expect coronavirus cases to continue into the summer and possibly later. |
Trump said he was not currently considering implementing a national curfew to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. | Trump said he was not currently considering implementing a national curfew to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. |
In a surprising note from this president, Trump said he believed the media has been “very fair” in its coverage of the crisis. | In a surprising note from this president, Trump said he believed the media has been “very fair” in its coverage of the crisis. |
Trump also expressed support for the airline industry, which is seeing steep financial losses because of the crisis. | Trump also expressed support for the airline industry, which is seeing steep financial losses because of the crisis. |
Trump was asked about his comment yesterday that his administration has “tremendous control” over the coronavirus crisis. | Trump was asked about his comment yesterday that his administration has “tremendous control” over the coronavirus crisis. |
The president said he was not claiming the White House has control over the virus itself. | The president said he was not claiming the White House has control over the virus itself. |
“If you’re talking about the virus, that’s not under control for any place in the world,” Trump said. | “If you’re talking about the virus, that’s not under control for any place in the world,” Trump said. |
In comparison to his past comments on the pandemic, the president’s remarks today sound much more grim and thus more in line with comments from health experts. | In comparison to his past comments on the pandemic, the president’s remarks today sound much more grim and thus more in line with comments from health experts. |
Trump said he is not currently considering a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis. | Trump said he is not currently considering a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis. |
“At this point, not nationwide,” Trump said. “We may look at certain areas, certain hotspots.” | “At this point, not nationwide,” Trump said. “We may look at certain areas, certain hotspots.” |
A number of European countries and US states have announced lockdowns in recent days. | A number of European countries and US states have announced lockdowns in recent days. |
“We look forward to the day that we can get back to normal,” Trump said. | “We look forward to the day that we can get back to normal,” Trump said. |
Trump said the coronavirus crisis could extend into the summer. | Trump said the coronavirus crisis could extend into the summer. |
The president said experts have told him to expect that this new reality could extend into July or August and possibly longer. | The president said experts have told him to expect that this new reality could extend into July or August and possibly longer. |
“It’s bad,” Trump acknowledged of the coronavirus crisis. However, he said the US is trying to avoid a worst-case scenario by deploying these guidelines. | “It’s bad,” Trump acknowledged of the coronavirus crisis. However, he said the US is trying to avoid a worst-case scenario by deploying these guidelines. |