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| US coronavirus live: New York governor Andrew Cuomo gives press briefing | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New York governor speaks to media on outbreak in his state while president travels to Virginia to see off hospital ship – follow all the latest news live | |
| Cuomo says that local hospitals statewide must stop operating as individual institutions and start cooperating to help deal with the anticipated rush. “We need the local health systems to think more holistically,” he says. “You can have a single hospital get overwhelmed within that system. ... The local health systems have to change their orientation where it’s not hospital by hospital, which is the normal culture.” | |
| If downstate hospitals become overwhelmed, those patients may be moved upstate. He adds: “Patients can and should be moved among those local hospitals as the need requires. staff can and should be moved among those local hospitals as the circumstances require.” | |
| Cuomo is showing off a bag-valve mask, a manual ventilator that helps people breathe. The National Guard is being trained to manually operate them, but it’s anything but optimal. “If we have to turn to this device on any large-scale basis, that is not an acceptable situation,” he says. “Short answer: No, thank you.” | |
| He says there are 4,000 ventilators from the federal government are in the stockpile, meaning a big shortfall must be made up in the 14 to 21 days before the apex. He says the ventilators were $25,000 apiece when the state began buying, but they’re up to $45,000 today due to the demand. And because the state is approximately $15bn in debt, there is “no interest in inflating the number of ventilators than we actually need”. | |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo starts off his daily briefing saying he only knew it was Saturday because it said so on his alarm clock: “It’s literally like one day blending into the other.” | |
| He points out that China’s first Covid-19 case was 12 weeks ago, New York’s first case was on 1 March, and that city schools closed only 10 days ago. | |
| “Keep it all in perspective in this disorienting time,” he says. | |
| From police roadblocks in the Florida Keys, national guard troops knocking on doors in Rhode Island in attempt to “hunt down” New Yorkers, and city leaders nationwide threatening fines for residents found out in the open, the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on personal freedoms was becoming clearer on Saturday, as the death toll continued to rise. | |
| Measures in Rhode Island attracted harsh words from the American Civil Liberties Union, which criticized what it saw as the “blunderbuss approach” of state troopers stopping vehicles from New York and ordering occupants into quarantine. | |
| According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, New York state led the nation with more than 46,000 confirmed cases by Saturday morning, compared to Rhode Island’s 203. | |
| “Under the Fourth Amendment, having a New York state license plate simply does not, and cannot, constitute probable cause to allow police to stop a car and interrogate the driver, no matter how laudable the goal of the stop may be,” Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island’s ACLU chapter, said in a statement. | |
| “The ACLU recognizes that strong measures are needed to address the public health crisis but giving the state police the power to stop … cars that are merely traveling through the state is a blunderbuss approach that cannot be justified in light of its substantial impact on civil liberties.” | |
| Gina Raimondo, the Rhode Island governor, implemented the policy in a two-pronged attempt to keep out or contain visitors from New York. Another controversial measure saw the national guard, in the words of the New York Post, “hunting down” New Yorkers by going door to door, beginning on Saturday. | |
| Any found would be ordered into a 14-day quarantine and face fines or jail time for refusing to comply. | |
| “Right now we have a pinpointed risk. That risk is New York City,” Raidondo said in a press conference on Friday. | |
| New Yorkers are personae non gratae in other areas of the country, too, with governors in Florida, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas imposing quarantine restrictions. | |
| They are also not wanted out of doors in their own city, Mayor Bill De Blasio threatening fines of $500 for groups congregating in parks or places of worship. | |
| Meanwhile in the Florida Keys, state law enforcement officials set up roadblocks this weekend at the top of the 125-mile island chain, to stop non-residents getting in. | |
| “As much as we love our visitors, we’d like them to stay away until we can get this thing under control. These are extraordinary times, not just here but globally,” Heather Carruthers, the Monroe county mayor, told reporters. | |
| Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan following his public back-and-forth with state governor Gretchen Whitmer over the federal government’s response to the pandemic. | Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Michigan following his public back-and-forth with state governor Gretchen Whitmer over the federal government’s response to the pandemic. |
| More than 3,600 people in Michigan have been confirmed to have Covid-19 with at least 92 dead, mostly from the three counties in the Detroit metro area. | More than 3,600 people in Michigan have been confirmed to have Covid-19 with at least 92 dead, mostly from the three counties in the Detroit metro area. |
| A Huffington Post feature published Friday took a hard look at how America’s poorest big city is uniquely unprepared for what’s ahead. | A Huffington Post feature published Friday took a hard look at how America’s poorest big city is uniquely unprepared for what’s ahead. |
| We’re awaiting New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily press briefing from Albany. | |
| As the US has surpassed Italy and China to become the country with the world’s most known cases of coronavirus – 104,713 as of this morning – nearly half of those (46,094) have been recorded in New York. And while the rate of new cases may be slowing, Cuomo said yesterday that he expects the demand for hospitalization to peak in 21 days and the state is creating a stockpile of medical equipment in preparation for that “apex” accordingly. | As the US has surpassed Italy and China to become the country with the world’s most known cases of coronavirus – 104,713 as of this morning – nearly half of those (46,094) have been recorded in New York. And while the rate of new cases may be slowing, Cuomo said yesterday that he expects the demand for hospitalization to peak in 21 days and the state is creating a stockpile of medical equipment in preparation for that “apex” accordingly. |
| Former New York mayor and Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani fired off a tweet on Friday that included misinformation about potential Covid-19 treatment and Michigan governor Gretcher Whitmer – and was subsequently deleted by the social media platform for violating its rules, Mediaite reports. | Former New York mayor and Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani fired off a tweet on Friday that included misinformation about potential Covid-19 treatment and Michigan governor Gretcher Whitmer – and was subsequently deleted by the social media platform for violating its rules, Mediaite reports. |
| Giuliani, a key player in an impeachment drama that ended in Trump’s acquittal only last month but can now seem an event from the distant past, tweeted that “hydroxychloroquine has been shown to have a %100 effective rate treating Covid-19 Yet Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is threatening doctors who prescribe it.” | Giuliani, a key player in an impeachment drama that ended in Trump’s acquittal only last month but can now seem an event from the distant past, tweeted that “hydroxychloroquine has been shown to have a %100 effective rate treating Covid-19 Yet Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is threatening doctors who prescribe it.” |
| The tweet was comprised of “direct quotes” from Charlie Kirk, an avowed Trump booster, Mediate noted, adding that the page which once held Giuliani’s tweet now states: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules.” Kirk’s tweet was similarly axed. | The tweet was comprised of “direct quotes” from Charlie Kirk, an avowed Trump booster, Mediate noted, adding that the page which once held Giuliani’s tweet now states: “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules.” Kirk’s tweet was similarly axed. |
| Giuliani and Kirk’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine is not out of the blue: it’s one of several drugs Trump has touted as possible coronavirus treatments, without support from public health officials. | Giuliani and Kirk’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine is not out of the blue: it’s one of several drugs Trump has touted as possible coronavirus treatments, without support from public health officials. |
| “I sure as hell think we ought to give it a try,” Trump has said of the common anti-malaria medication. He has also maintained that the drug, taken in combination with popular antibiotic azithromycin, could be “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine”. | “I sure as hell think we ought to give it a try,” Trump has said of the common anti-malaria medication. He has also maintained that the drug, taken in combination with popular antibiotic azithromycin, could be “one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine”. |
| Dr Anthony Fauci, Trump’s top infectious diseases adviser, was one of the public health experts who contradicted such claims, warning there was mere “anecdotal evidence” of efficacy. | Dr Anthony Fauci, Trump’s top infectious diseases adviser, was one of the public health experts who contradicted such claims, warning there was mere “anecdotal evidence” of efficacy. |
| In Arizona, a man died after he and his wife took chloroquine phosphate, a chemical used in the cleaning of fish tanks that is also in hydroxychloroquine. | In Arizona, a man died after he and his wife took chloroquine phosphate, a chemical used in the cleaning of fish tanks that is also in hydroxychloroquine. |
| “Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a cure,” the man’s widow told NBC, advising: “Don’t take anything. Don’t believe anything. Don’t believe anything that the president says and his people … call your doctor.” | “Trump kept saying it was basically pretty much a cure,” the man’s widow told NBC, advising: “Don’t take anything. Don’t believe anything. Don’t believe anything that the president says and his people … call your doctor.” |
| Donald Trump has not attacked New York governor Andrew Cuomo much recently, certainly in comparison to Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Jay Inslee of Washington, Democrats leading other states with severe coronavirus problems. | Donald Trump has not attacked New York governor Andrew Cuomo much recently, certainly in comparison to Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Jay Inslee of Washington, Democrats leading other states with severe coronavirus problems. |
| But the New York governor’s brother, Chris Cuomo, has attacked Trump. | But the New York governor’s brother, Chris Cuomo, has attacked Trump. |
| On Friday night the CNN host slammed the president’s response to the coronavirus, saying Trump’s personality traits “are literally making us sick”: | On Friday night the CNN host slammed the president’s response to the coronavirus, saying Trump’s personality traits “are literally making us sick”: |
| Cuomo said Trump’s “ignorance” and “arrogance” – including his statement that “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators” – stood at odds with communities needs in fighting this outbreak. | Cuomo said Trump’s “ignorance” and “arrogance” – including his statement that “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators” – stood at odds with communities needs in fighting this outbreak. |
| Cuomo also criticized Trump’s comments about governors during his White House coronavirus briefing Friday, when Trump said: “I want them to be appreciative … if they don’t treat you right, I don’t call.” | Cuomo also criticized Trump’s comments about governors during his White House coronavirus briefing Friday, when Trump said: “I want them to be appreciative … if they don’t treat you right, I don’t call.” |
| The younger Cuomo said: | The younger Cuomo said: |
| One would expect Trump to hit back – he regularly criticises the CNN host and has employed “Fredo”, after the ineffective and doomed younger Corleone brother played by John Cazale in the Godfather movies, as an abusive nickname. | One would expect Trump to hit back – he regularly criticises the CNN host and has employed “Fredo”, after the ineffective and doomed younger Corleone brother played by John Cazale in the Godfather movies, as an abusive nickname. |
| The former Republican senator Tom Coburn has died at 72, according to a newspaper in his native Oklahoma. | The former Republican senator Tom Coburn has died at 72, according to a newspaper in his native Oklahoma. |
| The Oklahoman published a statement from the senator’s family and said he died after “a long fight with prostate cancer”. Coburn, the paper said: | The Oklahoman published a statement from the senator’s family and said he died after “a long fight with prostate cancer”. Coburn, the paper said: |
| Coburn was a doctor who resigned his Senate seat following his cancer diagnosis. | Coburn was a doctor who resigned his Senate seat following his cancer diagnosis. |
| “This decision isn’t about my health, my prognosis or even my hopes and desires,” he said then. | “This decision isn’t about my health, my prognosis or even my hopes and desires,” he said then. |
| “As a citizen, I am now convinced that I can best serve my own children and grandchildren by shifting my focus elsewhere.” | “As a citizen, I am now convinced that I can best serve my own children and grandchildren by shifting my focus elsewhere.” |
| One such effort was in support of rightwing efforts to call a Constitutional Convention, in an attempt to dramatically restrict the powers of the US federal government. | One such effort was in support of rightwing efforts to call a Constitutional Convention, in an attempt to dramatically restrict the powers of the US federal government. |
| “We’re in a battle for the future of our country,” Coburn told the annual convention of the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) in New Orleans in August 2018. “We’re either going to become a socialist, Marxist country like western Europe, or we’re going to be free. As far as me and my family and my guns, I’m going to be free.” | “We’re in a battle for the future of our country,” Coburn told the annual convention of the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) in New Orleans in August 2018. “We’re either going to become a socialist, Marxist country like western Europe, or we’re going to be free. As far as me and my family and my guns, I’m going to be free.” |
| Coburn died as Congress passed and Donald Trump signed the $2.2tn CARES Act, a huge stimulus bill aimed at bailing out US businesses and tax payers during the economic crash caused by the coronavirus outbreak. | Coburn died as Congress passed and Donald Trump signed the $2.2tn CARES Act, a huge stimulus bill aimed at bailing out US businesses and tax payers during the economic crash caused by the coronavirus outbreak. |
| According to a friend quoted by the Oklahoman on Saturday, the former senator was “fighting up to the very end. He was fighting for all of the things he still believed in.” | According to a friend quoted by the Oklahoman on Saturday, the former senator was “fighting up to the very end. He was fighting for all of the things he still believed in.” |
| Among Trump’s tweets on Friday night were retweets in support of Trish Regan, a TV host who left Fox Business after saying Democrats were using the coronavirus outbreak in their attempts to bring the president down. | Among Trump’s tweets on Friday night were retweets in support of Trish Regan, a TV host who left Fox Business after saying Democrats were using the coronavirus outbreak in their attempts to bring the president down. |
| “Can’t say enough wonderful things about [Trish Regan],” read one missive retweeted by Trump, calling her “one of the few conservatives in cable television … a great patriot and great friend”. | “Can’t say enough wonderful things about [Trish Regan],” read one missive retweeted by Trump, calling her “one of the few conservatives in cable television … a great patriot and great friend”. |
| Another, tweeting a story from the far-right site Gateway Pundit, was headlined: “FOX Business Network Fires [Regan] for Telling the Truth About How Liberal Media Was Using Coronavirus to Take Down Trump.” | Another, tweeting a story from the far-right site Gateway Pundit, was headlined: “FOX Business Network Fires [Regan] for Telling the Truth About How Liberal Media Was Using Coronavirus to Take Down Trump.” |
| Here’s how we reported Regan’s original comments: | Here’s how we reported Regan’s original comments: |
| According to CNN media reporter and host Brian Stelter, meanwhile, “it should be noted that Regan’s commentary, while reprehensible, wasn’t much different than what Fox’s main stars were saying. Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as I previously reported, both downplayed the virus and suggested it was being used by the media to ‘bludgeon’ Trump.” | According to CNN media reporter and host Brian Stelter, meanwhile, “it should be noted that Regan’s commentary, while reprehensible, wasn’t much different than what Fox’s main stars were saying. Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as I previously reported, both downplayed the virus and suggested it was being used by the media to ‘bludgeon’ Trump.” |
| Trump himself regularly complains about Democrats allegedly politicising the coronavirus outbreak. Perhaps, then, Regan was more vulnerable simply because she was not so big a name in the Fox News and Business firmament. After all, Hannity has a direct line to the president: | Trump himself regularly complains about Democrats allegedly politicising the coronavirus outbreak. Perhaps, then, Regan was more vulnerable simply because she was not so big a name in the Fox News and Business firmament. After all, Hannity has a direct line to the president: |
| Good morning, and welcome to another day of Guardian coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in the US. | Good morning, and welcome to another day of Guardian coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in the US. |
| Donald Trump was up early on Saturday, tweeting complaints about “the Lamestream media”. Various stories have got the president’s goat, including one which said he has consulted New York Yankees star, drugs cheat and partner of Jennifer Lopez Alex Rodriguez about how to tackle the crisis. | Donald Trump was up early on Saturday, tweeting complaints about “the Lamestream media”. Various stories have got the president’s goat, including one which said he has consulted New York Yankees star, drugs cheat and partner of Jennifer Lopez Alex Rodriguez about how to tackle the crisis. |
| ABC News put that one down to “multiple sources”. The president said: “When you see, ‘five sources say’, don’t believe the story…” | ABC News put that one down to “multiple sources”. The president said: “When you see, ‘five sources say’, don’t believe the story…” |
| So that was fun. | So that was fun. |
| Trump has also been pursuing attacks on governors he doesn’t like, particularly Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a Democrat he claimed with no discernible irony was “way in over her head”, “doesn’t have a clue” and “likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude!” | Trump has also been pursuing attacks on governors he doesn’t like, particularly Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a Democrat he claimed with no discernible irony was “way in over her head”, “doesn’t have a clue” and “likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude!” |
| Trump does have official business to attend to on Saturday, traveling to Norfolk, Virginia to deliver remarks as the USNS Comfort hospital ship sets sail for New York harbour. At the White House briefing on Friday, the 73-year-old president was asked: “Given that older Americans are advised to stay at home and avoid travel, is it absolutely necessary for you to go to Norfolk, Virginia tomorrow to wave goodbye to the ship?” | Trump does have official business to attend to on Saturday, traveling to Norfolk, Virginia to deliver remarks as the USNS Comfort hospital ship sets sail for New York harbour. At the White House briefing on Friday, the 73-year-old president was asked: “Given that older Americans are advised to stay at home and avoid travel, is it absolutely necessary for you to go to Norfolk, Virginia tomorrow to wave goodbye to the ship?” |
| “No,” Trump answered, “but I have spirit for the country.” | “No,” Trump answered, “but I have spirit for the country.” |
| “I think it’s great if I go to Virginia,” he added. “… It’s a tiny trip. And I think it’s a good thing when I go over there and I say thank you. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be hugging people and it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be shaking people’s hands and everything, but I think it sends a signal when the president is able to go there and say thank you. So, we’ll be careful.” | “I think it’s great if I go to Virginia,” he added. “… It’s a tiny trip. And I think it’s a good thing when I go over there and I say thank you. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be hugging people and it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be shaking people’s hands and everything, but I think it sends a signal when the president is able to go there and say thank you. So, we’ll be careful.” |
| Trump is due to leave the White House at midday, perhaps a first chance to pass comment on new developments in the crisis. | Trump is due to leave the White House at midday, perhaps a first chance to pass comment on new developments in the crisis. |
| According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, as of Saturday morning more than 100,000 US cases had been confirmed and 1,541 people had died. Nearly 45,000 of those cases and more than 500 of those deaths happened in New York state. Expect to hear more from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Democrat widely said to be having a “good crisis” as a leader, later. | According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, as of Saturday morning more than 100,000 US cases had been confirmed and 1,541 people had died. Nearly 45,000 of those cases and more than 500 of those deaths happened in New York state. Expect to hear more from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Democrat widely said to be having a “good crisis” as a leader, later. |
| Bryan Armen Graham will be here soon to take you through the day. In the meantime, here’s a selection of further reading: | Bryan Armen Graham will be here soon to take you through the day. In the meantime, here’s a selection of further reading: |