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| US coronavirus news live: Trump invokes act to speed up medical supply production as New York extends lockdown | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President signed act earlier in week but did not invoke it until Chuck Schumer urged him to accelerate supply production | |
| The country just saw a surreal moment where Trump called on his former press secretary, Sean Spicer, to ask a question during the briefing. | |
| Spicer appeared to be in the briefing room on behalf of his new employer Newsmax, a conservative website. | |
| Spicer’s appearance in the briefing room triggered some immediate criticism from the White House press corps: | |
| Trump was asked again what message he had for Americans who are currently scared about the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| “There is a very low incidence of death,” the president said in response, predicting the country would be stronger than ever after combatting the virus. | |
| Health experts have estimated the rate of death from coronavirus is about 1%, making it ten times more deadly than the flu. | |
| Trump was asked what he had to say to Americans who are scared about the spread of coronavirus right now. | |
| “I say that you’re a terrible reporter,” Trump told NBC’s Peter Alezander. | |
| “The American people are looking for answers. They’re looking for hope,” Trump said. “That’s really bad reporting.” | |
| Trump said he did not believe a national lockdown was necessary at this stage, while New York and California have told residents to stay indoors except for essential activities. | |
| The president said New York and California are “hotbeds” of coronavirus, but some parts of the country do not have to take the same steps. | |
| On the subject of social distancing, Trump said it is “probably the hottest term there is” right now. | |
| Trump said his administration is now invoking the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of medical supplies. | |
| The president signed the act earlier this week but said he would not use the powers of it unless absolutely necessary. | |
| Trump had a call this morning with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who urged him to invoke the act, and the president said he is now using it to accelerate medical supply production. | |
| Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, applauded the governors of New York and California for ordering residents to stay indoors except for essential activities. | |
| Fauci noted he himself is a New Yorker, and he urged fellow residents to adhere to the restrictions outlined by Governor Andrew Cuomo this morning. | |
| “I know what New Yorkers can do,” Fauci said. “We’re tough.” | |
| Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force response coordinator, said data from Italy indicate the coronavirus fatality rate is twice as high for men across all age groups. | |
| Birx reiterated the virus appears to be less deadly for younger people, but she emphasized younger Americans still need to take precautions. | |
| “No one is immune,” Birx said. “We know it’s highly contagious to everyone. Do not interpret mild or moderate disease as lack of contagion or that you’re immune.” | |
| Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has confirmed the US-Mexican border will be closing to 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |