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| Coronavirus spreading in New York like 'a bullet train' | Coronavirus spreading in New York like 'a bullet train' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pleaded for medical supplies, warning Covid-19 is spreading in his state faster than "a bullet train". | New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pleaded for medical supplies, warning Covid-19 is spreading in his state faster than "a bullet train". |
| "The apex is higher than we thought and the apex is sooner than we thought," Mr Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday. | "The apex is higher than we thought and the apex is sooner than we thought," Mr Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday. |
| He said the federal government was not sending anywhere near enough lifesaving equipment to confront the crisis. | He said the federal government was not sending anywhere near enough lifesaving equipment to confront the crisis. |
| New York now has over 25,000 confirmed virus cases and at least 210 deaths. | New York now has over 25,000 confirmed virus cases and at least 210 deaths. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday the US has the potential to become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. | The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday the US has the potential to become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. |
| The warnings come as President Donald Trump said he hoped the US would reopen for business next month. | The warnings come as President Donald Trump said he hoped the US would reopen for business next month. |
| What did Governor Cuomo say? | What did Governor Cuomo say? |
| "We need federal help and we need the federal help now," Mr Cuomo, a Democrat, said. | "We need federal help and we need the federal help now," Mr Cuomo, a Democrat, said. |
| "New York is the canary in the coal mine, New York is happening first, what is happening to New York will happen to California and Illinois, it is just a matter of time." | "New York is the canary in the coal mine, New York is happening first, what is happening to New York will happen to California and Illinois, it is just a matter of time." |
| The governor blasted the 400 ventilators sent to New York from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. | The governor blasted the 400 ventilators sent to New York from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. |
| He said: "You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators." | He said: "You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators." |
| New York currently has 7,000 ventilators, but needs 30,000, the governor said. | New York currently has 7,000 ventilators, but needs 30,000, the governor said. |
| Mr Cuomo continued: "The [infection] forecaster said to me, 'We were looking at a freight train coming across the country.' | Mr Cuomo continued: "The [infection] forecaster said to me, 'We were looking at a freight train coming across the country.' |
| "'We're now looking at a bullet train.'" | "'We're now looking at a bullet train.'" |
| The state is also looking into creating more healthcare areas, possibly by turning college dormitories and hotels into makeshift hospitals. | The state is also looking into creating more healthcare areas, possibly by turning college dormitories and hotels into makeshift hospitals. |
| With 25,665 cases in New York, the state accounts for more than half of all US infections. | With 25,665 cases in New York, the state accounts for more than half of all US infections. |
| The number of new cases in the state is doubling every three days, the governor said, and showing no sign of slowing down. | The number of new cases in the state is doubling every three days, the governor said, and showing no sign of slowing down. |
| Mr Cuomo said the rate of infections could overwhelm the healthcare system. New York may need up to 140,000 hospital beds in a worst-case scenario, he said. | Mr Cuomo said the rate of infections could overwhelm the healthcare system. New York may need up to 140,000 hospital beds in a worst-case scenario, he said. |
| The governor also said he would not "put a dollar amount on human life", in what was seen as an implicit criticism of Mr Trump's concerns that measures to contain the virus could wreck the US economy. | The governor also said he would not "put a dollar amount on human life", in what was seen as an implicit criticism of Mr Trump's concerns that measures to contain the virus could wreck the US economy. |
| "My mother is not expendable and your mother is not expendable," said Mr Cuomo. | "My mother is not expendable and your mother is not expendable," said Mr Cuomo. |
| A tale of two media events | A tale of two media events |
| On Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trump sat in the verdant White House grounds for a Fox News "virtual town hall" and said he hoped to get US businesses reopened by Easter, in just over two weeks. | On Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trump sat in the verdant White House grounds for a Fox News "virtual town hall" and said he hoped to get US businesses reopened by Easter, in just over two weeks. |
| "A great American resurrection," the Fox host suggested. | "A great American resurrection," the Fox host suggested. |
| A few hours earlier, Governor Cuomo held a much more sombre press conference at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The building, which three years ago hosted Hillary Clinton's ill-fated election-night party, is now a makeshift field hospital. | A few hours earlier, Governor Cuomo held a much more sombre press conference at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The building, which three years ago hosted Hillary Clinton's ill-fated election-night party, is now a makeshift field hospital. |
| The president and the governor - two New Yorkers with a long history - clashed over the state's shortage of ventilators to treat the most serious cases. | The president and the governor - two New Yorkers with a long history - clashed over the state's shortage of ventilators to treat the most serious cases. |
| Mr Trump blamed Mr Cuomo for not purchasing more in 2015, citing a conspiracy-mongering website. Mr Cuomo said the administration should use its emergency powers to order more machines manufactured. | Mr Trump blamed Mr Cuomo for not purchasing more in 2015, citing a conspiracy-mongering website. Mr Cuomo said the administration should use its emergency powers to order more machines manufactured. |
| When it comes to easing the recent shelter-in-place orders, governors like Mr Cuomo, not the president, will have the final say. | When it comes to easing the recent shelter-in-place orders, governors like Mr Cuomo, not the president, will have the final say. |
| If there's disagreement, however, the American public could be left wondering what to believe. | If there's disagreement, however, the American public could be left wondering what to believe. |
| What did President Trump say? | What did President Trump say? |
| On Tuesday, President Trump told Fox News he hoped the country could get back to normal by Easter, which is 19 days away. | On Tuesday, President Trump told Fox News he hoped the country could get back to normal by Easter, which is 19 days away. |
| Mr Trump, a Republican, said: "We're going to be opening relatively soon... I would love to have the country opened up and just rearing to go by Easter." | Mr Trump, a Republican, said: "We're going to be opening relatively soon... I would love to have the country opened up and just rearing to go by Easter." |
| He added: "Easter is a very special day for me... and you'll have packed churches all over our country." | He added: "Easter is a very special day for me... and you'll have packed churches all over our country." |
| Mr Trump also warned that otherwise the country could suffer "a massive recession or depression". | Mr Trump also warned that otherwise the country could suffer "a massive recession or depression". |
| The president said: "You're going to lose people. You're going to have suicides by the thousands. You're going to have all sorts of things happen. | The president said: "You're going to lose people. You're going to have suicides by the thousands. You're going to have all sorts of things happen. |
| "You're going to have instability. You can't just come in and say, 'Let's close up the United States of America, the most successful country in the world by far.'" | "You're going to have instability. You can't just come in and say, 'Let's close up the United States of America, the most successful country in the world by far.'" |
| Speaking at a White House briefing later, Mr Trump said "our decision will be based on hard facts and data as to the opening [of our country]". | Speaking at a White House briefing later, Mr Trump said "our decision will be based on hard facts and data as to the opening [of our country]". |
| According to the latest Gallup poll, his approval rating has risen five points this month to 49%, the best of his presidency. | |
| What is the current US situation? | What is the current US situation? |
| There are over 53,000 confirmed cases and more than 700 deaths attributed to Covid-19 in the US. | |
| Dr Deborah Birx, of the White House coronavirus taskforce, said the New York City metro area was the source of 56% of all cases and 60% of all new cases in the country. She advised anyone leaving the region to self-quarantine for two weeks. | Dr Deborah Birx, of the White House coronavirus taskforce, said the New York City metro area was the source of 56% of all cases and 60% of all new cases in the country. She advised anyone leaving the region to self-quarantine for two weeks. |
| On Tuesday, Wisconsin, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Mexico, West Virginia and Indiana were introducing stay-at-home orders, bringing the total number of US states under such lockdowns to 17. | On Tuesday, Wisconsin, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Mexico, West Virginia and Indiana were introducing stay-at-home orders, bringing the total number of US states under such lockdowns to 17. |
| Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been debating the details of an economic stimulus package that could total over $2 trillion (£1.7 trillion). | Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been debating the details of an economic stimulus package that could total over $2 trillion (£1.7 trillion). |
| Democrats and the White House indicated negotiations could conclude on Tuesday, with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin saying "the president wants us to get this done today". | Democrats and the White House indicated negotiations could conclude on Tuesday, with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin saying "the president wants us to get this done today". |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |