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| US coronavirus live: Trump closing Canada border for 'non-essential traffic' | US coronavirus live: Trump closing Canada border for 'non-essential traffic' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US president says US-Canada border is being closed ‘by mutual consent’ and that trade will not be affected | US president says US-Canada border is being closed ‘by mutual consent’ and that trade will not be affected |
| The Senate has just passed the second package aimed at combatting the coronavirus crisis, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. | |
| The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 90-8, will help expand free testing and provide American workers with paid leave if they are sick or need to self-quarantine. | |
| The bill will now head to Trump’s desk for his signature, and lawmakers will turn their attention to the third coronavirus package, aimed at bolstering the economy amid the crisis. | |
| The Dow has officially closed down about 1,300 points, or 6%, after another bad day due to concerns about the coronavirus crisis. | |
| However, the Dow looked a bit better at the closing bell than it did earlier in the day, when it was down more than 2,000 points. | |
| The steep losses led to a halt in trading, the fourth such pause in the past two weeks. | |
| Today’s drop, combined with other recent losses, nearly wipes out all the stock market gains since Trump took office. | |
| For more updates and analysis, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: | |
| Bernie Sanders lashed out against a CNN reporter who asked him about the future of his presidential campaign after Joe Biden swept three contests last night. | |
| “I’m dealing with a fucking global crisis,” Sanders told CNN’s Manu Raju. “You know, we’re dealing with.” | |
| When Raju continued to press Sanders, the Vermont senator replied, “Well right now, right now I’m trying to do my best to make sure that we don’t have an economic meltdown and that people don’t die. Is that enough for you to keep me busy for today?” | |
| Sanders’ campaign said he is assessing his path forward as Biden has secured an arguably insurmountable delegate lead and more Democrats are calling on Sanders to drop out of the race. | |
| Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, the last remaining long-shot candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential campaign, is reportedly ending his campaign. | Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, the last remaining long-shot candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential campaign, is reportedly ending his campaign. |
| Weld’s announcement comes one day after Trump secured enough delegates in the Republican presidential primary to become the presumptive nominee. | Weld’s announcement comes one day after Trump secured enough delegates in the Republican presidential primary to become the presumptive nominee. |
| Weld had hoped to appeal to more moderate Republicans who have concerns about Trump, but the former governor won only 9% of the vote in New Hampshire. | Weld had hoped to appeal to more moderate Republicans who have concerns about Trump, but the former governor won only 9% of the vote in New Hampshire. |
| A few other Republican candidates, such as former congressman Joe Walsh and former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, similarly tried to challenge Trump, but none of them were able to shake the president’s lock on the party base. | A few other Republican candidates, such as former congressman Joe Walsh and former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, similarly tried to challenge Trump, but none of them were able to shake the president’s lock on the party base. |
| JPMorgan is now predicting the second quarter of this year could see the US economy slump by as much as 14% because of the coronavirus crisis. | JPMorgan is now predicting the second quarter of this year could see the US economy slump by as much as 14% because of the coronavirus crisis. |
| If the bank’s second-quarter prediction is accurate, it would mean that this year will see the worst three-month economic period in the US since World War II. | If the bank’s second-quarter prediction is accurate, it would mean that this year will see the worst three-month economic period in the US since World War II. |
| Joe Biden urged Americans to focus on Trump’s actions in response to the coronavirus crisis, rather than his tone. | Joe Biden urged Americans to focus on Trump’s actions in response to the coronavirus crisis, rather than his tone. |
| The Democratic presidential candidate’s warning comes as a number of commentators have noted Trump’s tone has become increasingly grim in recent days. | The Democratic presidential candidate’s warning comes as a number of commentators have noted Trump’s tone has become increasingly grim in recent days. |
| The president claimed on Sunday that his administration had “tremendous control” over the crisis. A day later, he acknowledged that no country has control over the virus right now. | The president claimed on Sunday that his administration had “tremendous control” over the crisis. A day later, he acknowledged that no country has control over the virus right now. |
| However, health experts have warned that the administration has already lost critical time in responding to the crisis. | However, health experts have warned that the administration has already lost critical time in responding to the crisis. |
| The Pentagon said the Comfort, one of the hospital ships designated to help with the coronavirus crisis, is receiving maintenance and will not be ready to go for weeks. | The Pentagon said the Comfort, one of the hospital ships designated to help with the coronavirus crisis, is receiving maintenance and will not be ready to go for weeks. |
| Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said officials are trying to expedite the maintenance process, so the Comfort can get to New York and provide hospital beds to the city as it battles coronavirus. | Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said officials are trying to expedite the maintenance process, so the Comfort can get to New York and provide hospital beds to the city as it battles coronavirus. |
| The Mercy, which is supposed to go to the west coast, will be ready much more quickly, Hoffman said. | The Mercy, which is supposed to go to the west coast, will be ready much more quickly, Hoffman said. |
| Both ships are expected to assist hospitals by taking some non-coronavirus cases and hopefully prevent a shortage of hospital beds. | Both ships are expected to assist hospitals by taking some non-coronavirus cases and hopefully prevent a shortage of hospital beds. |
| The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: | The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani reports: |
| Puerto Rico has requested US authorities suspend national and international flights for two weeks - in a last ditch effort to lock down the carribean island and prevent localized spread of Covid-19. | Puerto Rico has requested US authorities suspend national and international flights for two weeks - in a last ditch effort to lock down the carribean island and prevent localized spread of Covid-19. |
| Governor Wanda Vázquez has also asked Federal Aviation Administrator, Stephen Marshall, to close all airports where local authorities aren’t screening incoming passengers and limit the air-strips where charter planes can land. | Governor Wanda Vázquez has also asked Federal Aviation Administrator, Stephen Marshall, to close all airports where local authorities aren’t screening incoming passengers and limit the air-strips where charter planes can land. |
| Puerto Rico, a US territory of 3.2 million people, has five confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 21 others currently awaiting test results. All five cases are linked to travel. The island’s overburdened healthcare system, weak sanitation system and aging population, make it vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. | Puerto Rico, a US territory of 3.2 million people, has five confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 21 others currently awaiting test results. All five cases are linked to travel. The island’s overburdened healthcare system, weak sanitation system and aging population, make it vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. |
| Today’s intervention is the latest in a series of dramatic measures since the weekend when Vázquez imposed a curfew from 9pm and 5am, and ordered all non-essential businesses to close until the end of March The island, which depends heavily on tourism, has suspended cruise ships from docking, and is screening incoming passengers at its main international airport in the capital San Juan. | Today’s intervention is the latest in a series of dramatic measures since the weekend when Vázquez imposed a curfew from 9pm and 5am, and ordered all non-essential businesses to close until the end of March The island, which depends heavily on tourism, has suspended cruise ships from docking, and is screening incoming passengers at its main international airport in the capital San Juan. |
| The secretary of the interior has announced entrance fees will be waived for national parks as the country battles coronavirus. | The secretary of the interior has announced entrance fees will be waived for national parks as the country battles coronavirus. |
| “Our vast public lands that are overseen by the Department offer special outdoor experiences to recreate, embrace nature and implement some social distancing,” secretary David Bernhardt said in a statement. | “Our vast public lands that are overseen by the Department offer special outdoor experiences to recreate, embrace nature and implement some social distancing,” secretary David Bernhardt said in a statement. |
| The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: | The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: |
| The US Census Bureau announced Wednesday it was suspending all of its field operations to get people to respond to the 2020 census, the decennial survey that aims to count every person in America. | The US Census Bureau announced Wednesday it was suspending all of its field operations to get people to respond to the 2020 census, the decennial survey that aims to count every person in America. |
| The Bureau said it would suspend its field operations until April 1, and encouraged people to respond online or by telephone in the meantime. The decision stalls years of careful planning to get people to respond to the survey. | The Bureau said it would suspend its field operations until April 1, and encouraged people to respond online or by telephone in the meantime. The decision stalls years of careful planning to get people to respond to the survey. |
| The Bureau still has plans to send out field workers in May to follow up with people who fail to self-respond, a critical effort that aims to ensure hard-to-count groups get counted. The Bureau said Wednesday it would adjust that operation as necessary to follow the guidance of public health authorities. | The Bureau still has plans to send out field workers in May to follow up with people who fail to self-respond, a critical effort that aims to ensure hard-to-count groups get counted. The Bureau said Wednesday it would adjust that operation as necessary to follow the guidance of public health authorities. |
| The decision, made to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, came about a week after Americans began filling out the survey. The results of the census have profound political consequences -- the data is used to allocate $1.5 trillion in federal funding and to draw electoral districts in place for the next decade. The decennial census is mandated by the constitution. | The decision, made to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, came about a week after Americans began filling out the survey. The results of the census have profound political consequences -- the data is used to allocate $1.5 trillion in federal funding and to draw electoral districts in place for the next decade. The decennial census is mandated by the constitution. |
| Coronavirus concerns add to a pile of challenges facing the bureau. There is considerable concern that minorities and immigrant groups will be fearful of responding to the survey because of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. Individual census responses must be kept confidential by law. | Coronavirus concerns add to a pile of challenges facing the bureau. There is considerable concern that minorities and immigrant groups will be fearful of responding to the survey because of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. Individual census responses must be kept confidential by law. |
| The Detroit Three -- Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler -- have agreed to temporarily close all US plants to protect workers against coronavirus. | The Detroit Three -- Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler -- have agreed to temporarily close all US plants to protect workers against coronavirus. |
| The Detroit Free Press reports: | The Detroit Free Press reports: |
| Union leaders had pushed for the shutdown for the sake of workers’ health, but the move does make it more likely that auto giants will later seek financial assistance to recover from the coronavirus crisis. | Union leaders had pushed for the shutdown for the sake of workers’ health, but the move does make it more likely that auto giants will later seek financial assistance to recover from the coronavirus crisis. |
| The Dow has now dropped below where it was on the day of Trump’s inauguration in 2017. | The Dow has now dropped below where it was on the day of Trump’s inauguration in 2017. |
| Therefore, all of the stock market gains that Trump has repeatedly boasted about have now been wiped out. | Therefore, all of the stock market gains that Trump has repeatedly boasted about have now been wiped out. |
| This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Adam Gabbatt. | This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Adam Gabbatt. |
| Trading was temporarily halted at the New York Stock Exchange, with the Dow currently down more than 1,800 points. | Trading was temporarily halted at the New York Stock Exchange, with the Dow currently down more than 1,800 points. |
| This marks the fourth time in two weeks that trading has been halted because of steep losses linked to investors’ fears about the coronavirus crisis. | This marks the fourth time in two weeks that trading has been halted because of steep losses linked to investors’ fears about the coronavirus crisis. |
| For the latest updates on the market drop, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: | For the latest updates on the market drop, follow the Guardian’s business live blog: |
| •The government has closed the US-Canada border to “non-essential traffic”, Donald Trump announced, as the number of coronavirus cases continued to rise. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump also said the government was preparing new test kits, but did not elaborate on a new financial package to combat the impact of Covid-19. | •The government has closed the US-Canada border to “non-essential traffic”, Donald Trump announced, as the number of coronavirus cases continued to rise. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump also said the government was preparing new test kits, but did not elaborate on a new financial package to combat the impact of Covid-19. |
| •The aid package proposed by the White House would direct $1tn to businesses and individuals. A treasury department memo said $500bn could be spent on two separate payments to Americans. The plan also provides $50bn for the airline industry, and $150bn for other effected businesses. | •The aid package proposed by the White House would direct $1tn to businesses and individuals. A treasury department memo said $500bn could be spent on two separate payments to Americans. The plan also provides $50bn for the airline industry, and $150bn for other effected businesses. |
| •Bernie Sanders is ‘assessing the path forward’ for his campaign, after a disappointing showing on Tuesday. Sander’s campaign manager said the senator would travel to his home state of Vermont today, where Sanders and his wife will “begin holding conversations with supporters to get input and assess the path forward for our campaign”. | •Bernie Sanders is ‘assessing the path forward’ for his campaign, after a disappointing showing on Tuesday. Sander’s campaign manager said the senator would travel to his home state of Vermont today, where Sanders and his wife will “begin holding conversations with supporters to get input and assess the path forward for our campaign”. |
| •The federal government is dispatching two hospital ships to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Trump said the ships, Mercy and Comfort, were being readied. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier that the Comfort was heading for New York City harbor. | •The federal government is dispatching two hospital ships to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Trump said the ships, Mercy and Comfort, were being readied. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier that the Comfort was heading for New York City harbor. |
| •Trump said he was not being racist by continuing to use the term “China virus”, even as reports emerged of bias against Asian people. Experts have warned against labelling the coronavirus based on geography as it could stigmatize ethnic groups, but Trump said it was: “Not racist at all.” | •Trump said he was not being racist by continuing to use the term “China virus”, even as reports emerged of bias against Asian people. Experts have warned against labelling the coronavirus based on geography as it could stigmatize ethnic groups, but Trump said it was: “Not racist at all.” |
| Bernie Sanders “currently has no active Facebook ads”, Axios reports. | Bernie Sanders “currently has no active Facebook ads”, Axios reports. |
| The news comes after Sanders’ campaign manager said the Vermont senator will “assess the path forward” for his campaign. | The news comes after Sanders’ campaign manager said the Vermont senator will “assess the path forward” for his campaign. |
| On Tuesday Sanders lost all three primary states to Joe Biden. | On Tuesday Sanders lost all three primary states to Joe Biden. |
| Axios reports: | Axios reports: |
| Trump was asked why a number of athletes have been tested for coronavirus, despite showing symptoms, while other Americans have not been able to get access to tests. | Trump was asked why a number of athletes have been tested for coronavirus, despite showing symptoms, while other Americans have not been able to get access to tests. |
| “You’d have to ask them that question,” Trump said. | “You’d have to ask them that question,” Trump said. |
| There was a follow-up question: do the well-connected have ways to get tests that everyday people don’t? | There was a follow-up question: do the well-connected have ways to get tests that everyday people don’t? |
| “Perhaps that’s the story of life,” Trump said, not very helpfully. | “Perhaps that’s the story of life,” Trump said, not very helpfully. |
| He didn’t expand. | He didn’t expand. |
| Trump was asked if the White House’s economic coronavirus package would be similar to reports that suggest it would cost $1tn, $500bn of which would go to Americans in the form of two payments. | Trump was asked if the White House’s economic coronavirus package would be similar to reports that suggest it would cost $1tn, $500bn of which would go to Americans in the form of two payments. |
| “It could be,” Trump said. He said he did not want to elaborate as details of the package are “moving”. | “It could be,” Trump said. He said he did not want to elaborate as details of the package are “moving”. |
| “We’re also playing with a lot of numbers a lot of very big numbers and a lot of small numbers, frankly,” Trump said. | “We’re also playing with a lot of numbers a lot of very big numbers and a lot of small numbers, frankly,” Trump said. |
| Trump has denied he is being racist by continually referring to the coronavirus as the “China virus”. | Trump has denied he is being racist by continually referring to the coronavirus as the “China virus”. |
| At the White House press conference, Trump was asked why he insisted on using the term even as there have been reports of bias against Chinese and Asian people due to the coronavirus. Experts have warned against labelling the coronavirus based on geography as it could stigmatise ethnic groups. | At the White House press conference, Trump was asked why he insisted on using the term even as there have been reports of bias against Chinese and Asian people due to the coronavirus. Experts have warned against labelling the coronavirus based on geography as it could stigmatise ethnic groups. |
| Trump said he used the term: “Because it comes from China.” | Trump said he used the term: “Because it comes from China.” |
| “It’s not racist at all,” Trump said. (He called Covid-19 “China virus” again in the press conference today.) | “It’s not racist at all,” Trump said. (He called Covid-19 “China virus” again in the press conference today.) |
| Trump also said he does not believe his own Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin’s assessment that unemployment could skyrocket to 20% due to the coronavirus. | Trump also said he does not believe his own Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin’s assessment that unemployment could skyrocket to 20% due to the coronavirus. |
| “I don’t agree with that,” Trump said at a White House press conference. | “I don’t agree with that,” Trump said at a White House press conference. |
| “That’s an absolute total worst case scenario.” | “That’s an absolute total worst case scenario.” |