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| Coronavirus US live: Donald Trump predicts 'a very, very painful two weeks' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New York governor laments how states and Fema are bidding against each other to obtain ventilators: ‘What sense does that make?’ | New York governor laments how states and Fema are bidding against each other to obtain ventilators: ‘What sense does that make?’ |
| “It’s not the flu,” Trump said of the coronavirus. “It is vicious.” | |
| The president has repeatedly compared the coronavirus pandemic to the seasonal flu. | |
| Fact check: Late start | |
| Though Trump is seeking to blame states for a delayed response to the coronavirus crisis, the president consistently downplayed the concerns of public health officials who raised early alarms. | |
| In late January, at the Davos conference, Trump said, “It’s going to be just fine.” | |
| In February, after the WHO announced more than 25,000 cases worldwide, Trump said that it “looks like, by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.” | |
| And earlier this month, Trump tweeted this: | |
| Now, Trump is agreeing that at least 100,000 Americans could die. | |
| Trump, Birx and Fauci have piled on New York. | |
| “All of our major cities modeled like New Yor is what gets us into trouble,” Birx said. “California and Washington state reacted very early to this.” | |
| “For whatever reason, New York got off to a very late start,” Trump added. “And you see what happens when you get off to a late start.” | |
| The president is arguing that he is saving the country from a much worse fate than 100,000 to 240,000 deaths. “100,000 is, is — according to modeling, a very low number.” | |
| “You would have had people dying all over the place,” Trump said, painting a picture of what would have happened if the country had done nothing. “You would have seen people dying in airplanes, you would have seen people dying in hotel lobbies.” | |
| “How many people have even seen anybody die?” he said. “You would have seen death all over.” | |
| Of course, Trump was among those who downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus threat early on. Just last week, he pushed to scale back distancing measures by Easter. | |
| Fact check: Testing | |
| “We are doing more than anybody else in the world, by far” on testing, Trump said. “And they’re very accurate tests.” | |
| In fact, the US has lagged behind many other countries in testing. As of Monday afternoon, the US, with a population of 329 million, had administered at least 944,854, according to the Covid Tracking Project, a group led by Alexis Madrigal, a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine, with more than 100 volunteers that compiles coronavirus testing data from states. | |
| This equates to 287 tests per 100,000 people in the US (with huge variations depending on the county, city and state) compared to 709 per 100,000 in South Korea and 600 per 100,000 in Italy. | |
| About 65,000 coronavirus tests a day are currently being done on Americans — a massive rise from 10 days ago. But there’s huge variation from state to state, and public health experts reckon 150,000 tests are needed every day so that infected patients can be identified quickly, traced and quarantined | |
| To match South Korea’s testing rate, the U.S. would have needed to conduct another 2 million tests. Moreover, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed – some did not even work. Part of the problem came from the CDC insisting it would manufacture the tests itself. | |
| Moreover, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed – some did not even work. Part of the problem came from the CDC insisting it would manufacture the tests itself. | |
| Other countries – after their first coronavirus case – swiftly asked private companies to develop their own tests. South Korea, which recorded its first case on the same day as the US, did so within a week | |
| The US only allowed laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own tests on February 29, almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed. | |
| “The federal agency shunned the World Health Organization test guidelines used by other countries and set out to create a more complicated test of its own that could identify a range of similar viruses,” ProPublica reported. | |
| The graphic outlining the predicted number of deaths, with and without mitigation, isn’t presented in a particularly sensitive manner. As a New York Times reporter in the room noted, the slide listed as “goals” up to 240,000 deaths. | The graphic outlining the predicted number of deaths, with and without mitigation, isn’t presented in a particularly sensitive manner. As a New York Times reporter in the room noted, the slide listed as “goals” up to 240,000 deaths. |
| That terrifying number is lower than 2.2m deaths that could occur if no distancing or mitigating measures are taken, according to the model presented by Birx. | That terrifying number is lower than 2.2m deaths that could occur if no distancing or mitigating measures are taken, according to the model presented by Birx. |
| The White House has predicted 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the US from coronavirus pandemic, even with mitigation measures. This isn’t the first time that the task force scientists have presented these grim projections. | The White House has predicted 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the US from coronavirus pandemic, even with mitigation measures. This isn’t the first time that the task force scientists have presented these grim projections. |
| But Birx said the model doesn’t assume every American does everything they’re supposed to do, “so it can be lower than that,” she said. | But Birx said the model doesn’t assume every American does everything they’re supposed to do, “so it can be lower than that,” she said. |
| “Our hope is to get that down as much as we can,” Fauci added. The numbers are what “we need to anticipate, but that doesn’t mean that that’s what we’re going to accept.” | “Our hope is to get that down as much as we can,” Fauci added. The numbers are what “we need to anticipate, but that doesn’t mean that that’s what we’re going to accept.” |
| Fact check: More on ventilators | Fact check: More on ventilators |
| Trump warned that the “surge is coming and it’s coming pretty strong” and so the federal government is “holding back” 10,000 ventilators. The actual number of ventilators in the Strategic National Stockpile is around 16,600, according to reports last week. | Trump warned that the “surge is coming and it’s coming pretty strong” and so the federal government is “holding back” 10,000 ventilators. The actual number of ventilators in the Strategic National Stockpile is around 16,600, according to reports last week. |
| This total is barely enough for what New York requires, let alone the rest of the US. A greater problem, perhaps, is the lack of a strong ramp-up in ventilator production for patients in the US. | This total is barely enough for what New York requires, let alone the rest of the US. A greater problem, perhaps, is the lack of a strong ramp-up in ventilator production for patients in the US. |
| An investigation by ProPublica found that the federal government signed a $13.8 million contract with a Pennsylvania manufacturer to create a low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ventilator to stockpile for an emergency such as the spread of Covid-19, only for the company to then sell a more expensive version around the world rather than supplement the stockpile. | An investigation by ProPublica found that the federal government signed a $13.8 million contract with a Pennsylvania manufacturer to create a low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ventilator to stockpile for an emergency such as the spread of Covid-19, only for the company to then sell a more expensive version around the world rather than supplement the stockpile. |
| “We gotta brace ourselves,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. | “We gotta brace ourselves,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. |
| The number of cases will continue to go up for in the coming week, he said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.” | The number of cases will continue to go up for in the coming week, he said. “We cannot be discouraged by that because the mitigation is actually working and will work.” |
| Early mitigation slowing the spread of disease in California and Washington state is “gives us great hope,” said Dr. Deborah Birx. | Early mitigation slowing the spread of disease in California and Washington state is “gives us great hope,” said Dr. Deborah Birx. |
| According to modeling that she presented, which assumes that Americans will abide by strict distancing measures, showed the virus receding about July 1. “There is no magic bullet. No magic vaccine or therapy. Its just behavior” she said. | According to modeling that she presented, which assumes that Americans will abide by strict distancing measures, showed the virus receding about July 1. “There is no magic bullet. No magic vaccine or therapy. Its just behavior” she said. |
| “We are going to go through a very tough two weeks,” Trump said, striking a more somber tone than he has at previous briefings. “This is going to be a very, very painful two weeks.” | “We are going to go through a very tough two weeks,” Trump said, striking a more somber tone than he has at previous briefings. “This is going to be a very, very painful two weeks.” |
| There will be“light at the end of the tunnel,” he added. We are going to see things get better “all of a sudden” like a “burst of light.” | There will be“light at the end of the tunnel,” he added. We are going to see things get better “all of a sudden” like a “burst of light.” |
| Fact check: US unemployment pre-pandemic | Fact check: US unemployment pre-pandemic |
| Trump praised the sacrifice made by the American public and businesses before stating that the US has the “greatest economy in the history of our country.” He added that “we had the best unemployment numbers and best employment number we’ve had, by far.” | Trump praised the sacrifice made by the American public and businesses before stating that the US has the “greatest economy in the history of our country.” He added that “we had the best unemployment numbers and best employment number we’ve had, by far.” |
| While the US unemployment rate has dropped to low levels during Trump’s presidency, it’s not at an all-time record. In April last year, the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% - the lowest since 1969. This rate was at or below 4% for the preceding year. | While the US unemployment rate has dropped to low levels during Trump’s presidency, it’s not at an all-time record. In April last year, the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% - the lowest since 1969. This rate was at or below 4% for the preceding year. |
| Fact check: 10,000 ventilators | Fact check: 10,000 ventilators |
| Trump once again touted US stockpile of 10,000 ventilators, which he said the government is “holding back” strategically. | Trump once again touted US stockpile of 10,000 ventilators, which he said the government is “holding back” strategically. |
| In fact, there are 16,600, according to the Center for Public Integrity. But even that won’t be enough to meet the demand. | In fact, there are 16,600, according to the Center for Public Integrity. But even that won’t be enough to meet the demand. |
| But experts say that the government’s secretive stockpile of medicines, vaccines, protective clothing and equipment, stashed in a dozen warehouses across the country, isn’t enough to meet the demand for medical equipment needed to treat coronavirus patients. State governors, including Andrew Cuomo of New York, have asked for tens of thousands of ventilators. | But experts say that the government’s secretive stockpile of medicines, vaccines, protective clothing and equipment, stashed in a dozen warehouses across the country, isn’t enough to meet the demand for medical equipment needed to treat coronavirus patients. State governors, including Andrew Cuomo of New York, have asked for tens of thousands of ventilators. |
| In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, public health experts wrote: “The national strategic reserve of ventilators is small and far from sufficient for the projected gap. No matter which estimate we use, there are not enough ventilators for patients with Covid-19 in the upcoming months.” | In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, public health experts wrote: “The national strategic reserve of ventilators is small and far from sufficient for the projected gap. No matter which estimate we use, there are not enough ventilators for patients with Covid-19 in the upcoming months.” |
| Because Europe “took a much different route than we did, a much different route,” in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, “they’re having tremendous problems,” Trump said. As he did during yesterday’s briefing, the president is attempting to paint the US’ delayed and chaotic response to the pandemic as superior to Europe. | Because Europe “took a much different route than we did, a much different route,” in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, “they’re having tremendous problems,” Trump said. As he did during yesterday’s briefing, the president is attempting to paint the US’ delayed and chaotic response to the pandemic as superior to Europe. |
| Yesterday, Trump implied that the US would soon have such a surplus of scarce and necessary medical equipment that he’d be able to send the excess to Italy, France and Spain. | Yesterday, Trump implied that the US would soon have such a surplus of scarce and necessary medical equipment that he’d be able to send the excess to Italy, France and Spain. |
| “There’s a great pride going on right now,” the president said. | “There’s a great pride going on right now,” the president said. |
| He signaled that the Treasury and Small Business Administration have announced further details on the paycheck protection program, which provides $350bn for small businesses to continue making payroll for two months. | He signaled that the Treasury and Small Business Administration have announced further details on the paycheck protection program, which provides $350bn for small businesses to continue making payroll for two months. |
| Donald Trump has appeared in the briefing room alongside the task force. | Donald Trump has appeared in the briefing room alongside the task force. |
| Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh — blogging from the West Coast. | Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh — blogging from the West Coast. |
| We’re awaiting the daily coronavirus briefing from Trump and other members of the White House task force responding to the pandemic. | We’re awaiting the daily coronavirus briefing from Trump and other members of the White House task force responding to the pandemic. |
| Florida governor Ron DeSantis says the task force hasn’t advised him to issue a statewide closure. “The task force is not recommending this,” he told reporters. “If they do, that’s something that would carry a lot of weight with me.” | Florida governor Ron DeSantis says the task force hasn’t advised him to issue a statewide closure. “The task force is not recommending this,” he told reporters. “If they do, that’s something that would carry a lot of weight with me.” |
| But according to the Miami Herald, one of the epidemiologists behind a coronavirus model cited by the White House said he told Florida’s top health official Monday night that a blanket stay-at-home order was urgently necessary. | But according to the Miami Herald, one of the epidemiologists behind a coronavirus model cited by the White House said he told Florida’s top health official Monday night that a blanket stay-at-home order was urgently necessary. |
| Though DeSantis, a Republican, has ordered people visiting from New York to self-quarantine and has issued “safer-at-home” mandates for South Florida, he has so far resisted more sweeping actions. The state has reported more 5,000 positive coronavirus cases, with 523 new positive cases on Sunday. | Though DeSantis, a Republican, has ordered people visiting from New York to self-quarantine and has issued “safer-at-home” mandates for South Florida, he has so far resisted more sweeping actions. The state has reported more 5,000 positive coronavirus cases, with 523 new positive cases on Sunday. |