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US task force chief says 'stop going out' or effort to contain coronavirus will fail – live updates US task force chief says 'stop going out' or effort to contain coronavirus will fail – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Deborah Birx says many people are defying the guidelines and ‘if we continue with that practice we will fail to contain this virus’Deborah Birx says many people are defying the guidelines and ‘if we continue with that practice we will fail to contain this virus’
Maanvi Singh, here. I’ll be bringing you more updates on the administration’s evolving response to the coronavirus pandemic. In the meantime, voting is still underway in Illinois. Officials say they’ve taken precautions to protect poll workers shortages and confusion over polling locations.
It seems some voters are also donating sanitizing products in order to help keep poll workers safe.
The White House coronavirus task force press briefing just wrapped up after an hour and half. I’m handing the blog over to my west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, now and she will take you through the next few busy hours. Then Joanie Greve in Washington will be your blogger for the primary results this evening.
Here are some of the key events so far today:
Top US public health officials are telling American bluntly to “stop going out” to crowded places, in order to limit the spread of the disease.
US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who is talking to the Senate now about an economic stimulus package, said the US financial markets will not shut over Covid-19.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo talked about the chaos of the disruption to American life by the coronavirus and restrictions coming into place to limit the spread, currently has no intention of quarantining cities.
Donald Trump and Cuomo are trying to smooth over their ugly spat about who’s doing a better/worse job of tackling the virus.
The Trump administration is seeking an $850 billion economic stimulus package from Congress. Talks underway.
Primary voting is underway, not without glitches, in Florida, Arizona and Illinois today. The Ohio primary to decide the Democratic party nominee to face Donald Trump in November was postponed (Maryland also postponed its primary).
The president and Republican leaders have been strongly criticized for referring to coronavirus as the Chinese virus or Wuhan virus, reflecting where the pandemic began.
The Guardian’s David Smith, at the White House coronavirus task force briefing now still going on in Washington, just asked Donald Trump about his use once gain, just this morning on Twitter, of the title “Chinese virus”.
Trump defended it. “China was putting out information that our military gave it to them. We have to call it where it came from, it came from China,” he said.
But would that perpetuate stigma, Smith asked in his follow-up, against China and the Chinese?
Trump said: “Saying that our military gave it to them, that creates a stigma,” he said. The race to the bottom continues.
A prominent Chinese official last week promulgated the inaccurate notion that coronavirus may have been brought to the city of Wuhan (where the outbreak began) by the US army.
Here’s the relevant tweet from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao.
Ah, Trump now returning to familiar territory, slamming the mainstream media for not praising his and his administration’s approach to tackling coronavirus.
The man who first said words to the effect that the coronavirus was a Democratic party hoax and a media fantasy just emphasized once again, in this new week for Donald Trump, how seriously everyone needs to take the virus. And how seriously he is taking it.The man who first said words to the effect that the coronavirus was a Democratic party hoax and a media fantasy just emphasized once again, in this new week for Donald Trump, how seriously everyone needs to take the virus. And how seriously he is taking it.
“We are looking at saving the maximum number of lives. Everything else will come back, lives do not come back,” the president just said at the White House briefing now ongoing.“We are looking at saving the maximum number of lives. Everything else will come back, lives do not come back,” the president just said at the White House briefing now ongoing.
“This is a pandemic,” he stated. Then he stepped outside the truth.“This is a pandemic,” he stated. Then he stepped outside the truth.
“I have always viewed it as very serious,” he said.“I have always viewed it as very serious,” he said.
As the Guardian’s David Smith wrote in that article:As the Guardian’s David Smith wrote in that article:
Anthony Fauci is also urging the American public not to try to defy the virus. Fauci is a leading federal infectious diseases public health official on the White House coronavirus task force.Anthony Fauci is also urging the American public not to try to defy the virus. Fauci is a leading federal infectious diseases public health official on the White House coronavirus task force.
“Please cooperate,” he pleaded, at the White House briefing that has been going on how for about an hour.“Please cooperate,” he pleaded, at the White House briefing that has been going on how for about an hour.
Fauci warned that younger people who feel invincible and go out to crowded places during this crisis are not invincible but, more importantly, “what you might do is put your loved ones at risk”.Fauci warned that younger people who feel invincible and go out to crowded places during this crisis are not invincible but, more importantly, “what you might do is put your loved ones at risk”.
The Guardian’s David Smith is at the briefing.The Guardian’s David Smith is at the briefing.
Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator on the White House task force tackling the outbreak in the US, is reiterating the government’s sweeping guidelines - 0f you’re older, stay home, if you’re young, stay out of the bars, restaurants, etc.Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator on the White House task force tackling the outbreak in the US, is reiterating the government’s sweeping guidelines - 0f you’re older, stay home, if you’re young, stay out of the bars, restaurants, etc.
Younger people should “stop going out” to crowded spaces, she said. “We want Americans to do what they can today” to mitigate the effect of coronavirus, she said.Younger people should “stop going out” to crowded spaces, she said. “We want Americans to do what they can today” to mitigate the effect of coronavirus, she said.
She said many people are defying the guidelines and “if we continue with that practice we will fail to contain this virus,” she said.She said many people are defying the guidelines and “if we continue with that practice we will fail to contain this virus,” she said.
The federal government is recommending no gatherings of 10 people or more nationwide and urging people to work from home. People are encouraged to go out of doors and get exercise, however, while maintaining physical distance from other members of the public, however (New York has waived entry fees to state parks, for example).The federal government is recommending no gatherings of 10 people or more nationwide and urging people to work from home. People are encouraged to go out of doors and get exercise, however, while maintaining physical distance from other members of the public, however (New York has waived entry fees to state parks, for example).
Here’s the Guardian’s excellent profile of Birx, a crucial (and crucially measured, apolitical but tough) member of the task force:Here’s the Guardian’s excellent profile of Birx, a crucial (and crucially measured, apolitical but tough) member of the task force:
Trump added:Trump added:
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is on his way now to discuss with the Senate a huge economic stimulus package, to try to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the US economy.Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is on his way now to discuss with the Senate a huge economic stimulus package, to try to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the US economy.
Donald Trump wants large numbers. Big. Have you noticed he’s stopped saying “bigly”?Donald Trump wants large numbers. Big. Have you noticed he’s stopped saying “bigly”?
“We are going to do everything to make sure Americans have access to their money, in banks, in 401Ks [pensions] and in stocks. We are keeping the markets open,” treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin just said.“We are going to do everything to make sure Americans have access to their money, in banks, in 401Ks [pensions] and in stocks. We are keeping the markets open,” treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin just said.
The New York stock exchange closed for a short period after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, mainly because the hijacked planes that hit the World Trade Center in New York, bringing the edifice down, occurred just yards from Wall Street and the area was thick with toxic debris, smoke and dust from what became known as Ground Zero.The New York stock exchange closed for a short period after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, mainly because the hijacked planes that hit the World Trade Center in New York, bringing the edifice down, occurred just yards from Wall Street and the area was thick with toxic debris, smoke and dust from what became known as Ground Zero.
Mnuchin said that the most the government is contemplating at this point is possibly shortening trading hours, not shutting the markets.Mnuchin said that the most the government is contemplating at this point is possibly shortening trading hours, not shutting the markets.
For the Guardian’s dedicated business blog, click here.For the Guardian’s dedicated business blog, click here.
That’s what Treasure Secretary Steve Mnuchin just said at the podium at the White House coronavirus task force press briefing.That’s what Treasure Secretary Steve Mnuchin just said at the podium at the White House coronavirus task force press briefing.
The extensive shut down of travel, both related to travel bans from between Europe and the US and Americans choosing not to travel during the crisis, has hit the aviation industry like an avalanche.The extensive shut down of travel, both related to travel bans from between Europe and the US and Americans choosing not to travel during the crisis, has hit the aviation industry like an avalanche.
There’s talk of a $50 billion to $60 billion bailout for the US industry being under discussion.There’s talk of a $50 billion to $60 billion bailout for the US industry being under discussion.
Mnuchin will step out of the White House briefing in a few moments to talk to Senators about a huge stimulus package for the US economy. He hasn’t put back the deadline for American’s income tax returns - April 15.Mnuchin will step out of the White House briefing in a few moments to talk to Senators about a huge stimulus package for the US economy. He hasn’t put back the deadline for American’s income tax returns - April 15.
However, as my colleague David Smith reports from the briefing:However, as my colleague David Smith reports from the briefing:
Vice president Mike Pence is asking US construction companies to donate face masks to hospitals during the coronavirus crisis.Vice president Mike Pence is asking US construction companies to donate face masks to hospitals during the coronavirus crisis.
Pence is urging Americans to follow the government guidelines issued yesterday. Says if everyone follows them the US will see a “substantial reduction in the spread of the virus.”Pence is urging Americans to follow the government guidelines issued yesterday. Says if everyone follows them the US will see a “substantial reduction in the spread of the virus.”
The president just told the public he hopes to be standing up at some point and declaring “we won” against the coronavirus spread in the US.The president just told the public he hopes to be standing up at some point and declaring “we won” against the coronavirus spread in the US.
However, less inanely, he did say his conversation with New York governor Andrew Cuomo this morning was “constructive”.However, less inanely, he did say his conversation with New York governor Andrew Cuomo this morning was “constructive”.
The Guardian’s David Smith is at the briefing at the White House.The Guardian’s David Smith is at the briefing at the White House.
The president is at the podium, urging Americans to work from home and avoid non-essential travel, after yesterday recommending no gatherings of 10 people or more.The president is at the podium, urging Americans to work from home and avoid non-essential travel, after yesterday recommending no gatherings of 10 people or more.
“By making necessary sacrifices we can protect our people and protect our economy,” he said.“By making necessary sacrifices we can protect our people and protect our economy,” he said.
Latest from Maryland:Latest from Maryland:
Voting underway in the Florida Democratic primary. This could be the primary that delivers enough delegates to moderate candidate Joe Biden, if he wins decisively, to push him over the top with the total of pledged party delegates that mean victory or defeat in the nomination race.Voting underway in the Florida Democratic primary. This could be the primary that delivers enough delegates to moderate candidate Joe Biden, if he wins decisively, to push him over the top with the total of pledged party delegates that mean victory or defeat in the nomination race.
This could be left-winger Bernie Sanders’s last gasp in the 2020 primary race.This could be left-winger Bernie Sanders’s last gasp in the 2020 primary race.
Turnout will be closely-watched tonight. Sanders has disappointed throughout this race on that crucial front, compared with Biden’s latish (but crushing) comeback.Turnout will be closely-watched tonight. Sanders has disappointed throughout this race on that crucial front, compared with Biden’s latish (but crushing) comeback.
The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports:The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports:
Veronica Richards, a 26-year-old epidemiology PhD student at the University of Florida, believes strongly that people should vote in the 2020 election to help get Donald Trump out of office.Veronica Richards, a 26-year-old epidemiology PhD student at the University of Florida, believes strongly that people should vote in the 2020 election to help get Donald Trump out of office.
She voted early in Florida’s primary election, but amid concerns about coronavirus, she’s struggling with whether to tell other people to go to the polls today.She voted early in Florida’s primary election, but amid concerns about coronavirus, she’s struggling with whether to tell other people to go to the polls today.
“When you think about going to the polls, most of the people who work there are older women who are retired and generally probably wouldn’t be exposed to so many people,” she said.“When you think about going to the polls, most of the people who work there are older women who are retired and generally probably wouldn’t be exposed to so many people,” she said.
“It’s really hard to balance encouraging people to vote and using their voice to possibly make big change and also encouraging people to go into these situations we’ve been telling them for weeks not to go into and putting people at risk.”“It’s really hard to balance encouraging people to vote and using their voice to possibly make big change and also encouraging people to go into these situations we’ve been telling them for weeks not to go into and putting people at risk.”
Richards’ dilemma underscores the difficult decision elections officials across the country are facing as they weigh public health risk against making sure everyone can vote. So far, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maryland have all delayed their elections amid coronavirus concerns.Richards’ dilemma underscores the difficult decision elections officials across the country are facing as they weigh public health risk against making sure everyone can vote. So far, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maryland have all delayed their elections amid coronavirus concerns.
Ohio postponed today’s primary.Ohio postponed today’s primary.