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Coronavirus in the US: New York announces all non-essential workers must stay home – live Coronavirus in the US: Pompeo says Mexico border will close to non-essential travel – live
(32 minutes later)
New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, says ‘this is the most drastic action we can take’ amid the coronavirus pandemic Announcement comes two days after officials said the US-Canadian border would similarly ban all non-essential travel
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has confirmed the US-Mexican border will be closing to non-essential travel.
The announcement comes two days after officials said the US-Canadian border would similarly ban all non-essential travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pompeo also reiterated that the State Department has issued a Level 4 advisory for all international travel, urging all Americans to stay in the country or immediately return home if they are abroad.
Trump said secretary of state Mike Pompeo would announce restrictions on US-Mexican border travel today.
However, the president then appeared to preempt the announcement by saying the southern border was closing to non-essential travel.
The restrictions mirror those placed on the US-Canadian border earlier this week.
Trump expressed approval of California and New York’s decisions to order all residents to stay home except for essential activities.
“I applaud them,” Trump said of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The president has also confirmed the tax deadline has been extended three months to July 15, as Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin announced earlier today.
Trump said he had a “very good” call with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer about the Senate stimulus package to bolster the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The president also announced the Department of Education was waiving standard testing requirements for students in elementary school through high school.
Trump said the government was also temporarily waiving interest on all federally-held student loans.
The White House is about to hold its daily coronavirus briefing, where the president is expected to announce restrictions on travel at the US-Mexican border.
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer was spotted in the briefing room. Spicer recently joined the conservative website Newsmax.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the new restrictions would take effect Sunday evening.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the new restrictions would take effect Sunday evening.
The governor pushed back against a reporter who characterized the restrictions as a “shelter-in-place order.”The governor pushed back against a reporter who characterized the restrictions as a “shelter-in-place order.”
Cuomo emphasized the language used to describe the restrictions matter, and he does not want to unnecessarily scare people about the new reality.Cuomo emphasized the language used to describe the restrictions matter, and he does not want to unnecessarily scare people about the new reality.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he made the decision to restrict all non-essential activity in consultation with local leaders, but he emphasized he accepts “full responsibility” for the decision.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he made the decision to restrict all non-essential activity in consultation with local leaders, but he emphasized he accepts “full responsibility” for the decision.
“If somebody is unhappy, if somebody wants to blame somebody, they should blame me,” Cuomo said.“If somebody is unhappy, if somebody wants to blame somebody, they should blame me,” Cuomo said.
The governor said he wants to be able to look back on the coronavirus pandemic and be able to say, “I did everything we could do.”The governor said he wants to be able to look back on the coronavirus pandemic and be able to say, “I did everything we could do.”
Cuomo said, “This is about saving lives. If everything we do saves just one life, I’ll be happy.”Cuomo said, “This is about saving lives. If everything we do saves just one life, I’ll be happy.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state now has 7,102 cases of coronavirus, marking an increase of 2,950.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state now has 7,102 cases of coronavirus, marking an increase of 2,950.
Cuomo retierated the increasing number of cases is a reflection of the expanding testing capacities in the state.Cuomo retierated the increasing number of cases is a reflection of the expanding testing capacities in the state.
“The tests are just demonstrating what was,” Cuomo said. “Finding positives is a good thing because then we can isolate and track back.”“The tests are just demonstrating what was,” Cuomo said. “Finding positives is a good thing because then we can isolate and track back.”
The governor noted the state did 10,000 tests last night.The governor noted the state did 10,000 tests last night.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state is banning non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason amid the pandemic.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state is banning non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason amid the pandemic.
The governor noted all residents over the age of 70 and other vulnerable populations must remain indoors.The governor noted all residents over the age of 70 and other vulnerable populations must remain indoors.
Cuomo said residents can go outside for solitary exercise, but he emphasized there should not be groups gathering outside for any reason.Cuomo said residents can go outside for solitary exercise, but he emphasized there should not be groups gathering outside for any reason.
“There are people and places in New York City where it looks lke life as usual,” Cuomo said. “No, this is not life as usual.”“There are people and places in New York City where it looks lke life as usual,” Cuomo said. “No, this is not life as usual.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced all non-essential workers in the state must stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced all non-essential workers in the state must stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is the most drastic action we can take,” Cuomo said.“This is the most drastic action we can take,” Cuomo said.
The announcement comes one day after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced all of the state’s 40 million residents must stay indoors except for essential activities.The announcement comes one day after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced all of the state’s 40 million residents must stay indoors except for essential activities.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said lawmakers should not be allowed to own individual stock, as senator Richard Burr faces calls to resign over his stock activity.Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said lawmakers should not be allowed to own individual stock, as senator Richard Burr faces calls to resign over his stock activity.
Burr sold up to $1.7 million in stocks last month as he was receiving briefings on coronavirus, raising concerns that he attempted to profit off the pandemic.Burr sold up to $1.7 million in stocks last month as he was receiving briefings on coronavirus, raising concerns that he attempted to profit off the pandemic.
Burr released a statement this morning denying wrongdoing and asking the Senate ethics committee to investigate the matter.Burr released a statement this morning denying wrongdoing and asking the Senate ethics committee to investigate the matter.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is moving quickly on the third coronavirus bill, which is aimed at bolstering the economy through the pandemic.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is moving quickly on the third coronavirus bill, which is aimed at bolstering the economy through the pandemic.
McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the package by tonight so that senators can vote on the bill Monday.McConnell said he wants an “agreement in principle” on the package by tonight so that senators can vote on the bill Monday.
That timeline would require senators and their staffers to work through the entire weekend to have the bill ready by Monday.That timeline would require senators and their staffers to work through the entire weekend to have the bill ready by Monday.
McConnell said the $1 trillion package Senate Republicans released yesterday -- which outlines direct payments to American families and $200 billion to airlines and other distressed industries, among other things -- would be the starting point for negotiations.McConnell said the $1 trillion package Senate Republicans released yesterday -- which outlines direct payments to American families and $200 billion to airlines and other distressed industries, among other things -- would be the starting point for negotiations.
However, Senate Democrats have already signaled they want many changes made to the bill, so a lot of negotiating will need to take place between now and Monday to set up a vote.However, Senate Democrats have already signaled they want many changes made to the bill, so a lot of negotiating will need to take place between now and Monday to set up a vote.
Senator Richard Burr has denied wrongdoing in his massive stock sales last month, which occured as he received briefings on coronavirus.
In a new statement, the North Carolina Republican called on the Senate ethics committee to review the trades, but Burr insisted he relied solely on public reports to inform his stock activity.
Joe Biden called on companies to commit to not buying back their own stock as the economy suffers because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump surpisingly said yesterday that he would be “okay” with requiring companies who receive federal bailout money to commit to not buying back their own stock.
For reference, the tax cuts the president signed into law in 2017 sparked a record-setting round of corporate buybacks, which were widely criticized by Democratic lawmakers.
Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin previewed the likely tax filing deadline extension last week, after testifying on Capitol Hill.
“For small and medium sized businesses, for hardworking individuals, we are going to recommend to the president that we allow the delay and that they don’t have to pay an interest or penalty on that,” Mnuchin told reporters last week. “That will have the impact of putting over $200 billion back into the economy, and that will create a very big stimulus.”
Interestingly, Mnuchin’s tweet announcing the extension said it would apply to “all taxpayers and businesses,” even though he signaled last week some of the wealthiest Americans would be excluded.
Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the tax filing deadline would be pushed back three months, to July 15, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Mnuchin said Trump had directed the move, which will allow individuals and businesses additional time to file and pay the government without suffering a penalty.
NBC News announced one of their longtime employees had died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Larry Edgeworth had spent 25 years working as an audio technician at the network’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters in New York. His wife said he suffered from other health issues.
“Many of you were fortunate enough to work with Larry over the years, so you know that he was the guy you wanted by your side no matter where you were,” NBC News Chairman Andy Lack said in an email to staff this morning.
A number of Edgeworth’s NBC colleagues shared their memories of him after his passing:
Kevin Hassett, the White House’s former top economist, said he is returning to the Trump administration to serve as an adivser on the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Hassett spent two years serving as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and left the White House last summer.
Hassett has recently been warning of severe economic consequences tied to the coronavirus pandemic, predicting the US will lose 1 million jobs this month alone.
“You’re looking at one of the biggest negative job numbers we’ve ever seen,” Hassett told CNN on Monday.
The Trump administration is expected to announce travel restrictions at the US-Mexico border today, as officials from both countries work to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said yesterday he was working with his Mexican counterpart on limiting cross-border traffic:
According to Reuters, the restrictions are expected to be similar to those that Trump announced on Wednesday for the US-Canadian border, where all non-essential travel has been banned.
Dr Anthony Fauci said Americans should prepare for having to stay home for several weeks in order to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie that the trajectory of outbreaks in other areas indicated Americans would need to continue their social distancing beyond the month of March.
“It’s at least going to be several weeks,” Fauci said. “I cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now, it’s going to be over. I don’t think there’s a chance of that. I think it’s going to be several weeks.”
Richard Burr, the Republican chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, is facing calls for his resignation after ProPublica reported he sold up to $1.7 million in stocks last month while receiving briefings on coronavirus.
In the weeks since, the market has suffered severe losses that have impacted many Americans’ retirement savings.
NPR also obtained a recording of Burr privately warning that coronavirus was “aggressive in its transmission” and could create a crisis similar to that of the 1918 flu pandemic.
The reports of Burr’s actions triggered immediate calls for his resignation from both sides of the aisle.
Progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Burr of failing in his duty to the public:
Even Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Burr had to resign if he could not come up with an explanation for his actions:
“There is no greater moral crime than betraying your country in a time of crisis, and that appears to be what happened,” Carlson said.
Good morning, live blog readers!
Donald Trump is once again coming under harsh criticism for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio telling MSNBC this morning that the federal government has been “absent” as the city grapples with thousands of cases.
“He should get the hell out of the way and let the military do its job,” said de Blasio, who simultaneously praised the work of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The mayor warned that if Trump does not immediately deploy the military and speed up production of medical supplies, the consequences could be tragic.
“A lot of people are going to die who don’t have to die,” de Blasio said. “If the president doesn’t act within days to maximize production, to get surgical masks, if he doesn’t mobilize the US military, people will die.”