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Coronavirus: New York mayor says city should prepare for 'shelter in place', contradicting governor – live | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Bill de Blasio says lockdown order could come within the next 48 hours | |
“We expect to emerge tonight with a bigger delegate lead than we had going into the night,” said Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign manager in a memo. “It would take a drastic, historically-incomparable swing for Senator Sanders to win more delegates than Biden today or to close the delegate differential.” | |
Although coronavirus concerns will affect voter turnout today, “we believe that, with early vote and vote by mail, overall turnout will be roughly on pace for 2016 in Arizona and Florida and roughly on pace for 2018 in Illinois, and that voter turnout in all three states will reflect the population at large,” Bedingfield added. | |
What exactly does a shelter in place order entail? The Guardian’s West Coast reporter Vivian Ho explains how it works in California: | |
What happens to retail and restaurants? | |
All businesses considered non-essential, like bars, shops and fitness centers, were ordered to close. Restaurants will remain open in only a takeout and delivery capacity. Grocery stores, hardware stores and pharmacies will stay open. | |
What about transit? | |
All non-essential travel “on foot, bicycle, scooter, automobile or public transit” is prohibited. Under the order, essential travel is categorized as traveling for necessary supplies, accessing healthcare or going to provide aid to family or friends. Airports, taxis, Uber, Lyft and public transit will continue running to service essential travel, but those using any mode of travel are expected to practice social distancing. | |
Earlier today, New York governor had said that he would not yet order people to shelter in place. “No city in the state can quarantine itself without state approval, and I have no interest whatsoever and no plan whatsoever to quarantine any city,” said governor Andrew Cuomo. | |
The Guardian’s Amanda Holpuch reported: | |
Cuomo said he would not yet order people to shelter in place in part because such a dramatic decision would need to be made in a uniform fashion. It would not be helpful, he said, if there was a shelter in place in New York City or the state capital, Albany, because it could drive large groups of people to leave. | |
The state would use other measures to reduce transmission, he said, such as a greater reduction in business operations, before it would need to advise a regional quarantine. | |
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the order could come within the next 48 hours. | Mayor Bill de Blasio said the order could come within the next 48 hours. |
“It is definitely a possibility at this point,” he said in a briefing. “It is a difficult, difficult decision.” | “It is definitely a possibility at this point,” he said in a briefing. “It is a difficult, difficult decision.” |
New York governor Andrew Cuomo had said there were no plans to enact such a “drastic” order as yet, and indicated that the state would use other measures to limit the trasmission coronavirus. | |
A shelter in place order in the Bay Area requires people to stay home except for essential activities. De Blasio did not elaborate on what a similar order in New York would look like. He also announced that the city will soon have the capacity to test 5,000 people a day for coronavirus. | A shelter in place order in the Bay Area requires people to stay home except for essential activities. De Blasio did not elaborate on what a similar order in New York would look like. He also announced that the city will soon have the capacity to test 5,000 people a day for coronavirus. |
The Department of Defense will make 5m masks available from “strategic reserves” said secretary Mark Esper. One million will be made available immediately. The DOD will also make available 13 laboratories capable of testing for COVID-19, as well as 2000 ventilators. | The Department of Defense will make 5m masks available from “strategic reserves” said secretary Mark Esper. One million will be made available immediately. The DOD will also make available 13 laboratories capable of testing for COVID-19, as well as 2000 ventilators. |
“We are considering activating national guard and reserve units,” he added, to help with coronavirus challenge. He said he’s also willing to make the Army Corps of Engineers available to help if asked. Hospital ships USNS Comfort (in Norfolk, Virginia) and USNS Mercy (in San Diego, California) may also become available to help relieve civilian hospitals. Since these ships are geared toward treating trauma rather than illness, those theoretically could take trauma cases out of hospitals to make room for coronavirus patients. | “We are considering activating national guard and reserve units,” he added, to help with coronavirus challenge. He said he’s also willing to make the Army Corps of Engineers available to help if asked. Hospital ships USNS Comfort (in Norfolk, Virginia) and USNS Mercy (in San Diego, California) may also become available to help relieve civilian hospitals. Since these ships are geared toward treating trauma rather than illness, those theoretically could take trauma cases out of hospitals to make room for coronavirus patients. |
The ventilators that the DOD has are a bit different than civilian ventilators, Esper said, but military personnel could train medical staff on how to use them. | The ventilators that the DOD has are a bit different than civilian ventilators, Esper said, but military personnel could train medical staff on how to use them. |
“In some ways, we want to be the last resort,” Esper added, in a measured response. He said he wants to be careful and strateguc about how forces are used. | “In some ways, we want to be the last resort,” Esper added, in a measured response. He said he wants to be careful and strateguc about how forces are used. |
During a closed-door lunch with Republican Senators, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin proposed a stimulus plan that would cost up to $1 trillion. The plan includes $250bn of direct aide to Americans, with a number of Republican senators telling reporters they’d prefer that to tax cuts. | During a closed-door lunch with Republican Senators, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin proposed a stimulus plan that would cost up to $1 trillion. The plan includes $250bn of direct aide to Americans, with a number of Republican senators telling reporters they’d prefer that to tax cuts. |
Majority leader Mitch McConnell also said the Senate will pass the Phase 2 House coronavirus bill, and begin to work on a Phase 3 bill. “The Senate will not leave” until work on the third relief bill is done, he told reporters. | Majority leader Mitch McConnell also said the Senate will pass the Phase 2 House coronavirus bill, and begin to work on a Phase 3 bill. “The Senate will not leave” until work on the third relief bill is done, he told reporters. |
After pictures of Florida beaches packed with spring breakers appeared on social media, Florida Governor Rick DeSantis has issued an executive order in an effort to quell critics. | After pictures of Florida beaches packed with spring breakers appeared on social media, Florida Governor Rick DeSantis has issued an executive order in an effort to quell critics. |
However, his new order is muddy at best. | However, his new order is muddy at best. |
The order closes nightclubs and bars for 30 days, but encourages restaurants to stay open while only seating people at half-capacity. Restaurants are also required to stagger seating. The order also asks people not to go to public beaches in groups greater than 10, “per CDC guidance”. | The order closes nightclubs and bars for 30 days, but encourages restaurants to stay open while only seating people at half-capacity. Restaurants are also required to stagger seating. The order also asks people not to go to public beaches in groups greater than 10, “per CDC guidance”. |
However, the CDC has strongly encouraged people to go much further than DeSantis’s order. The CDC has directed people “avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants and food courts,” to “avoid travel, shopping trips, and social visits”.These practices are part of “social distancing”. Here’s an expert guide on how to practice social distancing and slow the spread of the virus. | However, the CDC has strongly encouraged people to go much further than DeSantis’s order. The CDC has directed people “avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants and food courts,” to “avoid travel, shopping trips, and social visits”.These practices are part of “social distancing”. Here’s an expert guide on how to practice social distancing and slow the spread of the virus. |
The Guardian’s tech reporter Kari Paul reports: | The Guardian’s tech reporter Kari Paul reports: |
Shared scooter company Lime is suspending services in US markets including California and Washington state, as well as in Italy, France, Spain, due to coronavirus concerns, it said in a statement on Monday evening. | Shared scooter company Lime is suspending services in US markets including California and Washington state, as well as in Italy, France, Spain, due to coronavirus concerns, it said in a statement on Monday evening. |
The company, which is owned by Uber, said it is pausing services to “help people stay put, and stay safe” as a number of states and cities enact shelter in place orders. Uber and other rideshare services are not affected by the shelter in place order in California as they are considered essential businesses, but Lime is still shutting down services. | The company, which is owned by Uber, said it is pausing services to “help people stay put, and stay safe” as a number of states and cities enact shelter in place orders. Uber and other rideshare services are not affected by the shelter in place order in California as they are considered essential businesses, but Lime is still shutting down services. |
“In the Bay Area we are temporarily pausing operations and taking scooters offline to comply with government orders, and we ask the Lime community to do their part in protecting themselves and each other”, a spokesman said. “We are committed to quickly reactivating once the coronavirus virus is under control”. | “In the Bay Area we are temporarily pausing operations and taking scooters offline to comply with government orders, and we ask the Lime community to do their part in protecting themselves and each other”, a spokesman said. “We are committed to quickly reactivating once the coronavirus virus is under control”. |
Lyft is still running its scooters, it said in a Monday email, and regularly sanitizing them. Bay Area residents could still be seen riding them Monday, some wearing masks. Bird, another commonly used shared scooter startup in the Bay Area, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the status of its program. | Lyft is still running its scooters, it said in a Monday email, and regularly sanitizing them. Bay Area residents could still be seen riding them Monday, some wearing masks. Bird, another commonly used shared scooter startup in the Bay Area, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the status of its program. |
In a meeting with tourism industry executives, Donald Trump previewed the relief plan being considered in Congress, according to the White House press pool. | In a meeting with tourism industry executives, Donald Trump previewed the relief plan being considered in Congress, according to the White House press pool. |
“Thank you very much we have tourism industry executives...the true leaders of our tourism and hospitality industries,” Trump said. “We are going to come out stronger than ever before.” | “Thank you very much we have tourism industry executives...the true leaders of our tourism and hospitality industries,” Trump said. “We are going to come out stronger than ever before.” |
The president said he asked Small Business Administration lending to go up To $50 billion, “and actually more”. | The president said he asked Small Business Administration lending to go up To $50 billion, “and actually more”. |
Following lunch with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, Republican senators seem open to growing the debt in order to provide stimulus relief. | Following lunch with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, Republican senators seem open to growing the debt in order to provide stimulus relief. |
“The bottom line is, as a matter of course and in the everyday affairs of this country, I believe very much that we should not be growing the debt,” Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told reporters on Capitol Hill. But he added: “These are not normal times. The circumstances in which we live in now have no precedent.” | “The bottom line is, as a matter of course and in the everyday affairs of this country, I believe very much that we should not be growing the debt,” Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told reporters on Capitol Hill. But he added: “These are not normal times. The circumstances in which we live in now have no precedent.” |
He seemed positive that lawmakers woud pass some sort of stimulus package. “I think really now it’s a question of drafting it and crafting it in a way that can pass and that will work soon enough,” he said. | He seemed positive that lawmakers woud pass some sort of stimulus package. “I think really now it’s a question of drafting it and crafting it in a way that can pass and that will work soon enough,” he said. |