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| US coronavirus news: Mexican border closed to non-essential travel as New York ordered to stay at home – live | US coronavirus news: Mexican border closed to non-essential travel as New York ordered to stay at home – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The US-Mexico border is being closed following similar move at the Canada border, and all non-essential New York employees are asked to stay home | The US-Mexico border is being closed following similar move at the Canada border, and all non-essential New York employees are asked to stay home |
| Guardian contributor Hallie Golden reports from Seattle: | Guardian contributor Hallie Golden reports from Seattle: |
| Washington state residents have taken to Twitter to broadcast their frustration over local leaders not implementing a shelter-in-place order to address the rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak.They are using the hashtag #ShutItDownJay and #SHUTDOWNSEATTLE, with some posting about the many people in parks and at stores not practicing social distancing. One user posted a photo of a group of people sitting together in a truck bed.Some Twitter users wrote about how amazed they were that the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, had not yet instructed residents to shelter-in-place, while others shared their experience still having to go to work.“What if our workplace is still requiring us (including seniors and those with underlying health conditions) to work in crowded rooms with groups of more than ten where there is no possibility of being six feet apart?” Sarah Ann posted Friday on Twitter.Other people remarked on the fact that California residents have already been ordered to shelter-in-place, and New York and Illinois locals have been instructed to stay home except for essential activities, but Washington leaders have still not implemented similar policies.Washington has the second highest number of cases in the U.S., reporting 1,524 cases, including 83 deaths. | |
| Senator Bernie Sanders is holding another “virtual roundtable” on the coronavirus pandemic, this time with Sara Nelson, president of the flight attendent’s union, and Saru Jayaraman, director of the Food Labor Research Center at University of California, Berkeley. | |
| You can tune in here: | |
| Guardian contributor Hallie Golden reports from Seattle: | |
| As the number of coronavirus cases in Washington continues to increase, people across the state have called on local leaders to implement a shelter-in-place order to curb the spread.Washington has the second highest number of cases in the U.S., reporting 1,376 cases, including 74 deaths.When the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, was asked during a press conference on Wednesday whether he’s getting close to calling for a shelter-in-place, he called that a “futile” thing to think about.“We can’t just try to speculate what may happen, 30, 40, 60 days from now,” he said. “It’s just a futile exercise of chasing our tail. We got to pull together, be calm, be rational and make good decisions today.”A Change.org petition pushing for a shelter-in-place order from Washington’s governor has received over 500 signatures.In a tweet posted Friday, Lauren Deacon wrote, “Get it together and #ShutItDownJay! If you wait any longer the blood is on your hands!”In California, residents have been ordered to shelter-in-place, while New York and Illinois have instructed locals to stay home except for essential activities.On Monday, Inslee ordered a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more, as well as a two-week closure of all restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities.Jason Rantz, who hosts a local radio show, wrote on local news site MyNorthwest.com that a shelter order may be painful, but is necessary in Washington.“The sooner we get to extreme self-isolating, the faster we’ll get back to a normal life,” he wrote. | As the number of coronavirus cases in Washington continues to increase, people across the state have called on local leaders to implement a shelter-in-place order to curb the spread.Washington has the second highest number of cases in the U.S., reporting 1,376 cases, including 74 deaths.When the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, was asked during a press conference on Wednesday whether he’s getting close to calling for a shelter-in-place, he called that a “futile” thing to think about.“We can’t just try to speculate what may happen, 30, 40, 60 days from now,” he said. “It’s just a futile exercise of chasing our tail. We got to pull together, be calm, be rational and make good decisions today.”A Change.org petition pushing for a shelter-in-place order from Washington’s governor has received over 500 signatures.In a tweet posted Friday, Lauren Deacon wrote, “Get it together and #ShutItDownJay! If you wait any longer the blood is on your hands!”In California, residents have been ordered to shelter-in-place, while New York and Illinois have instructed locals to stay home except for essential activities.On Monday, Inslee ordered a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more, as well as a two-week closure of all restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities.Jason Rantz, who hosts a local radio show, wrote on local news site MyNorthwest.com that a shelter order may be painful, but is necessary in Washington.“The sooner we get to extreme self-isolating, the faster we’ll get back to a normal life,” he wrote. |
| Localized shutdowns continue to expand across the country. The city of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County are shutting down hotels, and the city is imposing a nightly curfew. The message? Spring break is over. | Localized shutdowns continue to expand across the country. The city of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County are shutting down hotels, and the city is imposing a nightly curfew. The message? Spring break is over. |
| In the past 24 hours we have also seen governors of the following states impose stay-at-home orders: | In the past 24 hours we have also seen governors of the following states impose stay-at-home orders: |
| California – population 40m | California – population 40m |
| New York - population 20m | New York - population 20m |
| Illinois – population 12.5m | Illinois – population 12.5m |
| Connecticut – population 3.5m | Connecticut – population 3.5m |
| Altogether, those four states account for approximately 76m people, or more than 20% of the US population. | Altogether, those four states account for approximately 76m people, or more than 20% of the US population. |
| A member of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement by the VP’s press secretary. | A member of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement by the VP’s press secretary. |
| According to the statement, neither the president nor Pence was in “close contact” with the individual. | According to the statement, neither the president nor Pence was in “close contact” with the individual. |
| The Guardian’s Kathleen Caulderwood and Tom Silverstone spoke to American doctors and nurses from around the country about what it’s like to treat patients as Covid-19 spreads. | The Guardian’s Kathleen Caulderwood and Tom Silverstone spoke to American doctors and nurses from around the country about what it’s like to treat patients as Covid-19 spreads. |
| They say they’re frustrated with a lack of testing ability, and a lack of protective equipment they need to fight Covid-19. They say the US isn’t prepared for the spike of patients suffering from the virus in the coming weeks. | They say they’re frustrated with a lack of testing ability, and a lack of protective equipment they need to fight Covid-19. They say the US isn’t prepared for the spike of patients suffering from the virus in the coming weeks. |
| A distinct partisan divide still exists in how seriously Americans are taking the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll by ABC News/Ipsos. | A distinct partisan divide still exists in how seriously Americans are taking the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll by ABC News/Ipsos. |
| The survey found that 87% of Democrats are concerned about getting coronavirus, compared to just 66% of Republicans. The divide is somewhat narrower than last week, when just 56% of Republicans reported concern about the virus. | The survey found that 87% of Democrats are concerned about getting coronavirus, compared to just 66% of Republicans. The divide is somewhat narrower than last week, when just 56% of Republicans reported concern about the virus. |
| Strikingly, nearly three fourths of respondents (72%) said their lives had been disrupted by the coronavirus in some way – a huge jump from the previous week’s poll when only 26% of Americans reported the same. | Strikingly, nearly three fourths of respondents (72%) said their lives had been disrupted by the coronavirus in some way – a huge jump from the previous week’s poll when only 26% of Americans reported the same. |
| The poll also found growing numbers of people working from home (17%, from 3% last week), and that the highest rates of concern for Americans came from 18-29 year olds (83%). People over 65 reported similarly high rates of concern (82%). | The poll also found growing numbers of people working from home (17%, from 3% last week), and that the highest rates of concern for Americans came from 18-29 year olds (83%). People over 65 reported similarly high rates of concern (82%). |
| When billionaire Mike Bloomberg launched his ill-fated presidential campaign in late 2019, he promised staffers that they would be employed through November, whether or not he won the Democratic nomination. | When billionaire Mike Bloomberg launched his ill-fated presidential campaign in late 2019, he promised staffers that they would be employed through November, whether or not he won the Democratic nomination. |
| But since dropping out after failing to win a single state on Super Tuesday (he did win American Samoa, a US territory), the former New York City mayor has reneged on that promise. | But since dropping out after failing to win a single state on Super Tuesday (he did win American Samoa, a US territory), the former New York City mayor has reneged on that promise. |
| Today, the Bloomberg campaign announced that it is donating $18m to the Democratic National Committee – and laying off staff in six swing states, BuzzFeed News reports. | Today, the Bloomberg campaign announced that it is donating $18m to the Democratic National Committee – and laying off staff in six swing states, BuzzFeed News reports. |
| The newly unemployed staffers will lose their healthcare at the end of April. “He’s chopping his employees in a pandemic,” one staffer told BuzzFeed. | The newly unemployed staffers will lose their healthcare at the end of April. “He’s chopping his employees in a pandemic,” one staffer told BuzzFeed. |
| The $18m donation to the DNC is large, and could enable the committee to hire the laid-off organizers, but there are no guarantees of employment. | The $18m donation to the DNC is large, and could enable the committee to hire the laid-off organizers, but there are no guarantees of employment. |
| The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: | The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: |
| Wisconsin elections officials do not currently have enough cleaning supplies or poll workers to adequately run the state’s April 7 primary, election officials warned on Friday. | Wisconsin elections officials do not currently have enough cleaning supplies or poll workers to adequately run the state’s April 7 primary, election officials warned on Friday. |
| The officials asked Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, to help them acquire hand sanitizer, as well as with assistance recruiting poll workers in a Friday letter. They also asked him to assign a public health expert to the commission to assist with guidance for local officials and messaging. | The officials asked Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, to help them acquire hand sanitizer, as well as with assistance recruiting poll workers in a Friday letter. They also asked him to assign a public health expert to the commission to assist with guidance for local officials and messaging. |
| “As of today, local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies needed. This leaves voters, clerks, and poll workers to make difficult choices,” Megan Wolfe, the commission’s administrator, wrote on Friday. “Voters should not have to choosebetween voting or staying healthy.” | “As of today, local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies needed. This leaves voters, clerks, and poll workers to make difficult choices,” Megan Wolfe, the commission’s administrator, wrote on Friday. “Voters should not have to choosebetween voting or staying healthy.” |
| Florida and Illinois, two states that held primaries this week faced criticism for moving ahead with their primary contests despite health concerns. In both states, poll workers didn’t show up on election day and some of those who did lacked adequate cleaning supplies. A handful of states have already moved their primaries amid the Covid-19 outbreak. | Florida and Illinois, two states that held primaries this week faced criticism for moving ahead with their primary contests despite health concerns. In both states, poll workers didn’t show up on election day and some of those who did lacked adequate cleaning supplies. A handful of states have already moved their primaries amid the Covid-19 outbreak. |
| Wisconsin’s April 7 election includes many local contests in addition to its presidential preference primary, including a crucial statewide state supreme court race. The state does not require an excuse to vote absentee, and election officials there have already received more than 300,000 requests for absentee ballots. Democrats are suing the state to try and give voters more time to register online or by mail and to waive the requirement that voters submit photo ID with their request for a ballot. | Wisconsin’s April 7 election includes many local contests in addition to its presidential preference primary, including a crucial statewide state supreme court race. The state does not require an excuse to vote absentee, and election officials there have already received more than 300,000 requests for absentee ballots. Democrats are suing the state to try and give voters more time to register online or by mail and to waive the requirement that voters submit photo ID with their request for a ballot. |
| Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in Oakland, California, taking over the blog for the rest of the day. | Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in Oakland, California, taking over the blog for the rest of the day. |
| Connecticut governor Ned Lamont plans to order employees of “non-essential” businesses to stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Hartford Courant reports. | Connecticut governor Ned Lamont plans to order employees of “non-essential” businesses to stay home due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Hartford Courant reports. |
| The order is akin to that of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ordered non-essential businesses in his state closed earlier on Friday. | The order is akin to that of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who ordered non-essential businesses in his state closed earlier on Friday. |
| Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open, but offices, malls and clothing stores will close. Construction and manufacturing can continue, according to the Courant. | Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open, but offices, malls and clothing stores will close. Construction and manufacturing can continue, according to the Courant. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| New York and Illinois told residents to stay home except for essential activities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents. | New York and Illinois told residents to stay home except for essential activities in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. The announcements come one day after California issued a similar order to its 40 million residents. |
| The US-Mexico border is closing to all non-essential travel, secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight. | The US-Mexico border is closing to all non-essential travel, secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced. The same restrictions will take affect at the US-Canadian border tonight at midnight. |
| The Dow closed down 900 points, extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. | The Dow closed down 900 points, extending its weekly loss to 17%. Overall, the markets suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. |
| Senators are negotiating over the stimulus package, which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote. | Senators are negotiating over the stimulus package, which is meant to bolster the economy through the coronavirus crisis. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the bill, which will likely cost more than $1 trillion, by tonight in order to set up a Monday vote. |
| Senator Richard Burr called for a Senate ethics investigation into his recent stock trades. The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic. | Senator Richard Burr called for a Senate ethics investigation into his recent stock trades. The North Carolina Republican is facing calls for his resignation after reports revealed he sold up to $1.7 million in stock last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus, sparking accusations he tried to profit off the pandemic. |
| Trump attacked the press for the second day in a row during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s Peter Alexander, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.” | Trump attacked the press for the second day in a row during the daily coronavirus briefing. Asked what he would say to Americans who are scared about the pandemic right now, Trump told NBC’s Peter Alexander, “I say that you’re a terrible reporter.” |
| Julia will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Julia will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| The Dow has closed down 900 points, capping the worst week for the markets since the financial crisis. | The Dow has closed down 900 points, capping the worst week for the markets since the financial crisis. |
| Overall, the Dow’s weekly loss landed at 17% as investors’ fears about the economic fallout from coronavirus intensified. | Overall, the Dow’s weekly loss landed at 17% as investors’ fears about the economic fallout from coronavirus intensified. |
| Meanwhile, senators continue to negotiate over the stimulus package to bolster the economy through the crisis, a proposal that will likely end up costing more than $1 trillion. | Meanwhile, senators continue to negotiate over the stimulus package to bolster the economy through the crisis, a proposal that will likely end up costing more than $1 trillion. |
| For more analysis on the market drop, read the Guardian’s business live blog: | For more analysis on the market drop, read the Guardian’s business live blog: |