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| Coronavirus US live: stimulus bill fails in Senate as experts urge Trump not to roll back social restrictions | Coronavirus US live: stimulus bill fails in Senate as experts urge Trump not to roll back social restrictions |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Democrats voted to oppose motion on the coronavirus stimulus bill, while Dr Anthony Fauci and others warn against scaling back social distancing | Democrats voted to oppose motion on the coronavirus stimulus bill, while Dr Anthony Fauci and others warn against scaling back social distancing |
| The vice-president, Mike Pence, was speaking at Fema headquarters earlier today and said the shortage of ventilators in the US could be alleviated in part by converting other machines. | |
| “When the President engaged leaders of a number of medical associations we determined that that the devices that are used by anesthesiologists could be easily converted to ventilators that could be used for people struggling with the coronavirus,” said Pence. “We’ve worked with the FDA and they issued guidance ... and so we directed all of our governors again today to survey all of their outpatient clinics to identify what we believe are 10s of thousands of these devices, which could add to our nation’s resources for ventilators for people that might be severely impacted by the coronavirus, we got we got a strong response from our governors.” | |
| Texas senator Ted Cruz has joined New York governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio in urging Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act. The president invoked the law, which gives him the power to compel private companies to manufacture equipment such as ventilators, last week but he is yet to use it. | |
| On Monday Cruz, who faced Trump in the battle to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, said failing to use the act will cost lives. “I don’t want to see doctors having to make a choice of who gets to live and who has to die because they don’t have the equipment to save their lives,” he said. | |
| The death toll in New York City is now approaching 100. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city on Monday was 12,339 with 99 deaths. There are just over 20,000 confirmed cases in New York state as a whole and 157 deaths. For context, there are around 41,200 confirmed cases in the entire United States. | The death toll in New York City is now approaching 100. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city on Monday was 12,339 with 99 deaths. There are just over 20,000 confirmed cases in New York state as a whole and 157 deaths. For context, there are around 41,200 confirmed cases in the entire United States. |
| The State Department says it is trying to help around 13,500 US citizens who wish to return home from abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. An official told reporters on Monday that the department is looking at chartering planes to repatriate Americans abroad, and priority would be given to those in need. “If we have somebody who is 70 years old with an underlying condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, that person is going to get a higher priority on one of those flights, than the hale and hearty 20 year old,” the official said. | The State Department says it is trying to help around 13,500 US citizens who wish to return home from abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. An official told reporters on Monday that the department is looking at chartering planes to repatriate Americans abroad, and priority would be given to those in need. “If we have somebody who is 70 years old with an underlying condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, that person is going to get a higher priority on one of those flights, than the hale and hearty 20 year old,” the official said. |
| The stock market has reacted badly to news that the Covid-19 stimulus bill failed in the Senate earlier today. The Dow fell by 3.7% after the news emerged from Washington DC while the S&P 500 was down 3.6% in afternoon trading. | The stock market has reacted badly to news that the Covid-19 stimulus bill failed in the Senate earlier today. The Dow fell by 3.7% after the news emerged from Washington DC while the S&P 500 was down 3.6% in afternoon trading. |
| The US Census Bureau has moved to rebut rumors that American will receive checks for filling in this year’s form. The government has proposed sending checks of around $1,200 to Americans as part of its package to stimulate the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. Messages on Facebook and Twitter said people would receive the checks once they had filled out the census. | The US Census Bureau has moved to rebut rumors that American will receive checks for filling in this year’s form. The government has proposed sending checks of around $1,200 to Americans as part of its package to stimulate the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. Messages on Facebook and Twitter said people would receive the checks once they had filled out the census. |
| “Your answers cannot be used to impact your eligibility for any government benefits, including any potential stimulus package,” the bureau said in a statement on Saturday, although the rumors have continued to circulate in recent days. | “Your answers cannot be used to impact your eligibility for any government benefits, including any potential stimulus package,” the bureau said in a statement on Saturday, although the rumors have continued to circulate in recent days. |
| My colleague Daniel Strauss reports on the lawsuit against the Bloomberg campaign: | My colleague Daniel Strauss reports on the lawsuit against the Bloomberg campaign: |
| The Bloomberg campaign has issued a response to the new class-action lawsuit filed by former field organizer Donna Woods. Per a spokesperson: | The Bloomberg campaign has issued a response to the new class-action lawsuit filed by former field organizer Donna Woods. Per a spokesperson: |
| The key line there is the new fund being created. Bloomberg’s decision to transfer $18m to the Democratic National Committee rather than create a new political action committee that would essentially act as the sequel to the campaign left many staffers without insurance benefits or healthcare coverage. | The key line there is the new fund being created. Bloomberg’s decision to transfer $18m to the Democratic National Committee rather than create a new political action committee that would essentially act as the sequel to the campaign left many staffers without insurance benefits or healthcare coverage. |
| Hello, Tom Lutz here taking over the blog for now. Here’s a summary of today’s events so far: | Hello, Tom Lutz here taking over the blog for now. Here’s a summary of today’s events so far: |
| The coronavirus stimulus bill motion has failed in the Senate again amid opposition from Democrats. A $1.8tn package to boost the US economy has failed to pass amid opposition from Democrats, who say it favors big business at the expense of regular workers | The coronavirus stimulus bill motion has failed in the Senate again amid opposition from Democrats. A $1.8tn package to boost the US economy has failed to pass amid opposition from Democrats, who say it favors big business at the expense of regular workers |
| The defense secretary, Mark Esper, told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing that the US military is preparing to deploy field hospitals to New York City and Seattle. | The defense secretary, Mark Esper, told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing that the US military is preparing to deploy field hospitals to New York City and Seattle. |
| Michigan and Massachusetts are the latest states to issue stay at home orders to the public. Other states that have issued similar orders include California, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. | Michigan and Massachusetts are the latest states to issue stay at home orders to the public. Other states that have issued similar orders include California, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo says he will sign an emergency order today instructing all hospitals in the state to increase their bed capacity by 50%, and will also request that hospitals endeavor to expand their bed capacity by 100% | New York governor Andrew Cuomo says he will sign an emergency order today instructing all hospitals in the state to increase their bed capacity by 50%, and will also request that hospitals endeavor to expand their bed capacity by 100% |
| My colleague Edward Helmore has this quick report on the failed senate procedural vote on the stimulus package. | My colleague Edward Helmore has this quick report on the failed senate procedural vote on the stimulus package. |
| Amid fiery exchanges on the senate floor, Democrats again blocked a key vote on a $1.8tr coronavirus bill aimed at addressing the impact of the pandemic. | Amid fiery exchanges on the senate floor, Democrats again blocked a key vote on a $1.8tr coronavirus bill aimed at addressing the impact of the pandemic. |
| “This has got to stop and today is the day it has to stop,” senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the measure fell short by 11 votes from the 60 vote threshold. “The country is out of time,” McConnell added, pointing the blame squarely at senate Democrats, who, he argued are trying to add unnecessary provisions sought by special interests and organized labor. “Democrats are filibustering programs to keep people on the payroll? And they’re filibustering a huge expansion of unemployment insurance, which they themselves negotiated and put into the bill?”But minority leader Charles Schumer maintained he is negotiating in good faith with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and hopes to secure a deal as long as worker protections are included.“We have an obligation to get the details right, get them done quickly,” Schumer added. “That doesn’t mean blindly accepting a Republican-only bill.” | “This has got to stop and today is the day it has to stop,” senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the measure fell short by 11 votes from the 60 vote threshold. “The country is out of time,” McConnell added, pointing the blame squarely at senate Democrats, who, he argued are trying to add unnecessary provisions sought by special interests and organized labor. “Democrats are filibustering programs to keep people on the payroll? And they’re filibustering a huge expansion of unemployment insurance, which they themselves negotiated and put into the bill?”But minority leader Charles Schumer maintained he is negotiating in good faith with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and hopes to secure a deal as long as worker protections are included.“We have an obligation to get the details right, get them done quickly,” Schumer added. “That doesn’t mean blindly accepting a Republican-only bill.” |
| Some Democratic senators have taken to Twitter to explain why they voted again to block the passage of a coronavirus stimulus bill: | Some Democratic senators have taken to Twitter to explain why they voted again to block the passage of a coronavirus stimulus bill: |
| The Washington Post reports on a growing rift in the Trump administration as the president weighs lifting social restrictions during the pandemic as he continues to fear for the nation’s economy. | The Washington Post reports on a growing rift in the Trump administration as the president weighs lifting social restrictions during the pandemic as he continues to fear for the nation’s economy. |
| According to the Post’s reporting Dr Anthony Fauci, the most senior public health doctor on Trump’s coronavirus task force, is privately urging the president’s advisors and other Republicans not to roll back any restrictions. | According to the Post’s reporting Dr Anthony Fauci, the most senior public health doctor on Trump’s coronavirus task force, is privately urging the president’s advisors and other Republicans not to roll back any restrictions. |
| From the report: | From the report: |
| The beginnings of a rift between the administration’s top scientific experts and political aides and allies comes after Trump tweeted earlier today about how he was considering the move to relax restrictions. | The beginnings of a rift between the administration’s top scientific experts and political aides and allies comes after Trump tweeted earlier today about how he was considering the move to relax restrictions. |
| Speaking just as Democrats in the Senate voted to oppose a motion on the coronavirus stimulus bill, House speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the cameras and called on Donald Trump to abandon a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. | Speaking just as Democrats in the Senate voted to oppose a motion on the coronavirus stimulus bill, House speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the cameras and called on Donald Trump to abandon a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. |
| She urged Trump to pressure governors in 14 states that have still refused to expand medicaid, meaning their healthcare systems are more vulnerable during the pandemic. | She urged Trump to pressure governors in 14 states that have still refused to expand medicaid, meaning their healthcare systems are more vulnerable during the pandemic. |
| Breaking news: | Breaking news: |
| Defense secretary Mark Esper told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing today that the US military is preparing to deploy field hospitals to New York City and Seattle. Esper also acknowledged for the first time that the pandemic could have an adverse impact of US military readiness. | Defense secretary Mark Esper told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing today that the US military is preparing to deploy field hospitals to New York City and Seattle. Esper also acknowledged for the first time that the pandemic could have an adverse impact of US military readiness. |
| “Right now I anticipate sending a (field) hospital to Seattle and a hospital to New York City,” Esper told reporters, adding he had put five expeditionary units on prepare to deploy orders. | “Right now I anticipate sending a (field) hospital to Seattle and a hospital to New York City,” Esper told reporters, adding he had put five expeditionary units on prepare to deploy orders. |
| “Once that’s confirmed, we will look to sending to other places.” | “Once that’s confirmed, we will look to sending to other places.” |
| Esper, who also announced more security restrictions at the Pentagon but said he aimed to keep the building open to media, added that he has not been tested for the coronavirus but was having his temperature checked. He said if US troops show symptoms of infection by the coronavirus, they will be tested. | Esper, who also announced more security restrictions at the Pentagon but said he aimed to keep the building open to media, added that he has not been tested for the coronavirus but was having his temperature checked. He said if US troops show symptoms of infection by the coronavirus, they will be tested. |
| My colleague Daniel Strauss reports on the lawsuit against the Bloomberg campaign: | My colleague Daniel Strauss reports on the lawsuit against the Bloomberg campaign: |
| A former field organizer for Michael Bloomberg’s short-lived presidential campaign has filed a lawsuit against the former 2020 candidate’s campaign arguing that it had breached its contract with thousands of Bloomberg staffers by not keeping them employed through November. | A former field organizer for Michael Bloomberg’s short-lived presidential campaign has filed a lawsuit against the former 2020 candidate’s campaign arguing that it had breached its contract with thousands of Bloomberg staffers by not keeping them employed through November. |
| The class-action lawsuit, filed Monday in the New York southern district court by former Miami field organizer Donna Wood, follows Bloomberg laying off huge swaths of his campaign operation last week. Bloomberg has previously promised to pay his team through November, even if he dropped out of the presidential election, which he did following a poor showing in the set of early March Super Tuesday states. | The class-action lawsuit, filed Monday in the New York southern district court by former Miami field organizer Donna Wood, follows Bloomberg laying off huge swaths of his campaign operation last week. Bloomberg has previously promised to pay his team through November, even if he dropped out of the presidential election, which he did following a poor showing in the set of early March Super Tuesday states. |
| After he dropped out Bloomberg planned to form a political action committee, a super Pac, to support Democrats and help organize across the country. But late last week the former New York mayor changed his mind on that as well and instead transferred $18m to the Democratic National Committee and fired hundreds of field organizers. | After he dropped out Bloomberg planned to form a political action committee, a super Pac, to support Democrats and help organize across the country. But late last week the former New York mayor changed his mind on that as well and instead transferred $18m to the Democratic National Committee and fired hundreds of field organizers. |
| Those staffers had been previously told they would be guaranteed employment through the November presidential election. | Those staffers had been previously told they would be guaranteed employment through the November presidential election. |
| A request for comment has been sent to the Bloomberg campaign. | A request for comment has been sent to the Bloomberg campaign. |
| In the lawsuit, Outten & Golden LLP and Shavitz Group PA, Wood’s attorneys, argue that the Bloomberg campaign in “contravention of its promise of continued employment through November 2020 and in the face of a worldwide pandemic and likely global recession” fired the “vast majority of its field organizers and other campaign personnel. | In the lawsuit, Outten & Golden LLP and Shavitz Group PA, Wood’s attorneys, argue that the Bloomberg campaign in “contravention of its promise of continued employment through November 2020 and in the face of a worldwide pandemic and likely global recession” fired the “vast majority of its field organizers and other campaign personnel. |
| Those employees were under the impression that Bloomberg, a billionaire worth over $60 billion, would be able to comfortably employ the operation for the rest of the year and they would be able to keep their health benefits and salaries. The employees had been promised health, vision, and dental benefits as part of their employment. | Those employees were under the impression that Bloomberg, a billionaire worth over $60 billion, would be able to comfortably employ the operation for the rest of the year and they would be able to keep their health benefits and salaries. The employees had been promised health, vision, and dental benefits as part of their employment. |
| Aviation and telecommunications giant Boeing has announced it is temporarily closing factories in Seattle due to the coronavirus. | Aviation and telecommunications giant Boeing has announced it is temporarily closing factories in Seattle due to the coronavirus. |
| The production shut-down is one of the biggest disruptions yet in US manufacturing as state and federal authorities attempt to control its spread. Several Boeing employees have tested positive for COVID-19.“These actions are being taken to ensure the well-being of employees, their families and the local community, and will include an orderly shutdown consistent with the requirements of its customers,” Boeing said in a statement. | The production shut-down is one of the biggest disruptions yet in US manufacturing as state and federal authorities attempt to control its spread. Several Boeing employees have tested positive for COVID-19.“These actions are being taken to ensure the well-being of employees, their families and the local community, and will include an orderly shutdown consistent with the requirements of its customers,” Boeing said in a statement. |
| Republican Senator Rand Paul has issued a statement on his Covid-19 diagnoses and responding to criticism that he did not self-quarantine after being tested. | Republican Senator Rand Paul has issued a statement on his Covid-19 diagnoses and responding to criticism that he did not self-quarantine after being tested. |
| Paul argues that he was displaying no symptoms of Coronavirus before or after he was tested and so did not self-isolate. He says he got tested due to extensive travel and because of his underlying health issues. | Paul argues that he was displaying no symptoms of Coronavirus before or after he was tested and so did not self-isolate. He says he got tested due to extensive travel and because of his underlying health issues. |
| The full statement is here: | The full statement is here: |
| We’ll look at the markets for the first time today, and my colleague Edward Helmore has this update, which shows the markets continue to dip in the wake of a stalled stimulus package held up in Congress. | We’ll look at the markets for the first time today, and my colleague Edward Helmore has this update, which shows the markets continue to dip in the wake of a stalled stimulus package held up in Congress. |
| Despite the Federal Reserve’s announcement it will begin unlimited market support quantitative easing and other programs, the Dow Jones Industrials Average fell more than 400 points, or 2.15%, to 18,761.83 in early trading, with the broader S&P 500 index falling 2%. | Despite the Federal Reserve’s announcement it will begin unlimited market support quantitative easing and other programs, the Dow Jones Industrials Average fell more than 400 points, or 2.15%, to 18,761.83 in early trading, with the broader S&P 500 index falling 2%. |
| The latest drops confirm that the Dow is having its worst month since 1931, the first year of the Great Depression. Coupled with a political stand-off over a $1.8bn republican-sponsored stimulus package, markets continued their fall. At midday, the Dow was down 672 points, or 3.5%, at 18,527- a 35% drop on its record high in February. | The latest drops confirm that the Dow is having its worst month since 1931, the first year of the Great Depression. Coupled with a political stand-off over a $1.8bn republican-sponsored stimulus package, markets continued their fall. At midday, the Dow was down 672 points, or 3.5%, at 18,527- a 35% drop on its record high in February. |
| And adding to Jessica’s background below, here’s a summary of key news lines from New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press conference from my colleague Alexandra Villarreal: | And adding to Jessica’s background below, here’s a summary of key news lines from New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press conference from my colleague Alexandra Villarreal: |
| Cuomo has confirmed that coronavirus cases ballooned to more than 20,000 statewide. By far the highest total in the United States. | Cuomo has confirmed that coronavirus cases ballooned to more than 20,000 statewide. By far the highest total in the United States. |
| Cuomo said he will issue an emergency order today that requires the state’s hospitals to up their capacity by at least 50%, though he will ask facilities to double their capacity if they can. He said New York needs 110,000 hospital beds, and even with a 50% increase, the state will still be short 35,000 beds. It was not clear how hospitals would achieve this. | Cuomo said he will issue an emergency order today that requires the state’s hospitals to up their capacity by at least 50%, though he will ask facilities to double their capacity if they can. He said New York needs 110,000 hospital beds, and even with a 50% increase, the state will still be short 35,000 beds. It was not clear how hospitals would achieve this. |
| Of the 20,875 coronavirus cases in New York, 13% are requiring hospitalization, Cuomo said, adding that 24% of those need access to the ICU. | Of the 20,875 coronavirus cases in New York, 13% are requiring hospitalization, Cuomo said, adding that 24% of those need access to the ICU. |
| New York can now test more than 16,000 people for coronavirus per day — more than any other state in the US. Beyond testing, Cuomo said the government will be dispatching “a significant amount” of medical supplies throughout the state to deal with concerns about shortages of medical equipment such as masks and gowns. | New York can now test more than 16,000 people for coronavirus per day — more than any other state in the US. Beyond testing, Cuomo said the government will be dispatching “a significant amount” of medical supplies throughout the state to deal with concerns about shortages of medical equipment such as masks and gowns. |
| Cuomo asked New York City yesterday for a plan to control and reduce density by regulating gatherings by young people and congestion in the city’s parks. “My density control measures weren’t enough, that was clear. You could look at a park in Brooklyn, Manhattan. It almost looked like any Saturday, any sunny Saturday, when I went,” Cuomo said. | Cuomo asked New York City yesterday for a plan to control and reduce density by regulating gatherings by young people and congestion in the city’s parks. “My density control measures weren’t enough, that was clear. You could look at a park in Brooklyn, Manhattan. It almost looked like any Saturday, any sunny Saturday, when I went,” Cuomo said. |
| The governor also said he’s working on a plan to restart the economy. “It is unsustainable to run this state or run this country with the economy closed down,” he said. | The governor also said he’s working on a plan to restart the economy. “It is unsustainable to run this state or run this country with the economy closed down,” he said. |