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| Coronavirus US live: Cuomo says bidding war for ventilators is 'like being on eBay' | Coronavirus US live: Cuomo says bidding war for ventilators is 'like being on eBay' |
| (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?’ |
| The sale of Trump’s Washington hotel has been put on hold as the industry struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| The Washington Post reports: | |
| The Trump Organization has already had to close several properties and lay off hundreds of workers in the face of the pandemic, and the $2 trillion stimulus bill blocks businesses owned by the president from receiving loans or investments from the treasury department. | |
| Dr Anthony Fauci said the White House is examining whether to recommend more widespread usage of face masks to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. | |
| Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said medical professionals should still have priority in receiving face masks, considering they are on the front lines against the virus. | |
| Officials previously warned Americans against hoarding masks as hospitals said they were running dangerously low on personal protective equipment. | |
| But Fauci said there could potentially be some benefit to more widespread usage of the masks if the country can get a sufficient supply of them. | |
| “Once we get in a situation where we have enough masks, I believe there will be some very serious consideration about more broadening this recommendation of using masks,” Fauci told CNN earlier today. “We’re not there yet, but I think we’re close to coming to some determination.” | |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he believes the impeachment of Trump distracted lawmakers from responding early to coronavirus. | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he believes the impeachment of Trump distracted lawmakers from responding early to coronavirus. |
| The Kentucky Republican told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning that the virus “came up while we were tied down on the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government, because everything every day was all about impeachment.″ | The Kentucky Republican told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning that the virus “came up while we were tied down on the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government, because everything every day was all about impeachment.″ |
| Trump and Republican lawmakers similarly claimed during the impeachment inquiry that the process was distracting Congress from more important issues. | Trump and Republican lawmakers similarly claimed during the impeachment inquiry that the process was distracting Congress from more important issues. |
| However, it should be noted that Trump was acquitted on February 5, and the president spent the next several weeks downplaying the threat of coronavirus, repeatedly claiming it would “go away” and predicting the US would be “very fortunate” in its fight against the virus. | However, it should be noted that Trump was acquitted on February 5, and the president spent the next several weeks downplaying the threat of coronavirus, repeatedly claiming it would “go away” and predicting the US would be “very fortunate” in its fight against the virus. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo lamented the current bidding wars over ventilators. Cuomo said having 50 states and FEMA simultaneously trying to obtain more ventilators was “like being on eBay.” | New York governor Andrew Cuomo lamented the current bidding wars over ventilators. Cuomo said having 50 states and FEMA simultaneously trying to obtain more ventilators was “like being on eBay.” |
| Cuomo’s brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The governor said his brother “will be fine” because of his age and lack of preexisting conditions, but he argued the diagnosis underscored the need to practice social distancing. | Cuomo’s brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The governor said his brother “will be fine” because of his age and lack of preexisting conditions, but he argued the diagnosis underscored the need to practice social distancing. |
| Nancy Pelosi emphasized the need for more testing to combat the virus. The House speaker also brushed off concerns about her contentious relationship with Trump, saying they communicate through television interviews and other public appearances. (The pair have not spoken in five months.) | Nancy Pelosi emphasized the need for more testing to combat the virus. The House speaker also brushed off concerns about her contentious relationship with Trump, saying they communicate through television interviews and other public appearances. (The pair have not spoken in five months.) |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| At his press conference that ended moments ago, New York governor Andrew Cuomo referred to coronavirus as “the great equalizer,” citing his brother’s recent diagnosis. | At his press conference that ended moments ago, New York governor Andrew Cuomo referred to coronavirus as “the great equalizer,” citing his brother’s recent diagnosis. |
| Cuomo noted his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, was considered an essential worker, so he was going outside more than most New Yorkers and was exposed to the virus. | Cuomo noted his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, was considered an essential worker, so he was going outside more than most New Yorkers and was exposed to the virus. |
| The governor argued Cuomo’s diagnosis underscored the need for New Yorkers to practice social distancing as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. | The governor argued Cuomo’s diagnosis underscored the need for New Yorkers to practice social distancing as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo closed his press conference by criticizing Congress’ response to the coronavirus crisis. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo closed his press conference by criticizing Congress’ response to the coronavirus crisis. |
| Cuomo said the three bills passed by Congress do not provide sufficient funding to New York, which has seen the most coronavirus cases in the country. | Cuomo said the three bills passed by Congress do not provide sufficient funding to New York, which has seen the most coronavirus cases in the country. |
| “God will determine who is to blame,” Cuomo told a reporter who asked whether he blamed Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York senator, for the funding issue. “You and I just deal with the reality.” | “God will determine who is to blame,” Cuomo told a reporter who asked whether he blamed Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York senator, for the funding issue. “You and I just deal with the reality.” |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he is dissatisfied with how the state’s unemployment system is working now as many companies lay off employees. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he is dissatisfied with how the state’s unemployment system is working now as many companies lay off employees. |
| “It is not working as smoothly as I’d like to see it,” Cuomo said. “It’s compunding people’s stress.” | “It is not working as smoothly as I’d like to see it,” Cuomo said. “It’s compunding people’s stress.” |
| Cuomo said he was sorry to unemployed residents who are confused on how to obtain benefits. “I apologize for the pain,” Cuomo said. “It must be infuriating to deal with.” | Cuomo said he was sorry to unemployed residents who are confused on how to obtain benefits. “I apologize for the pain,” Cuomo said. “It must be infuriating to deal with.” |
| The governor noted the unemployment claims website is “so deluged” because hundreds of thousands of people are trying to access it, so it has repeatedly crashed. | The governor noted the unemployment claims website is “so deluged” because hundreds of thousands of people are trying to access it, so it has repeatedly crashed. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo was asked how the state will determine who receives ventilators if there is a shortage. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo was asked how the state will determine who receives ventilators if there is a shortage. |
| “I don’t even want to think about that consequence,” the governor replied. | “I don’t even want to think about that consequence,” the governor replied. |
| But Cuomo has said the state needs thousands more ventilators for the peak of the coronavirus crisis. | But Cuomo has said the state needs thousands more ventilators for the peak of the coronavirus crisis. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the chaos created by a bidding war on ventilators was easily predictable and should have been avoided. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the chaos created by a bidding war on ventilators was easily predictable and should have been avoided. |
| “Did you really have to learn that 50 states shouldn’t compete against 50 states, and then FEMA shouldn’t come in late and compete with 50 states?” Cuomo said. | “Did you really have to learn that 50 states shouldn’t compete against 50 states, and then FEMA shouldn’t come in late and compete with 50 states?” Cuomo said. |
| “It’s not like you had to go to the Harvard Kennedy school to learn this,” the governor joked. | “It’s not like you had to go to the Harvard Kennedy school to learn this,” the governor joked. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo lamented how many states are bidding against each other to obtain ventilators right now. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo lamented how many states are bidding against each other to obtain ventilators right now. |
| “You have 50 states competing to buy the same item. It’s like being on Ebay,” the governor said. “How inefficient!” | “You have 50 states competing to buy the same item. It’s like being on Ebay,” the governor said. “How inefficient!” |
| Cuomo noted FEMA is now also bidding, further driving up the price for ventilators. “What sense does this make?” Cuomo said, raising his voice in frustration. | Cuomo noted FEMA is now also bidding, further driving up the price for ventilators. “What sense does this make?” Cuomo said, raising his voice in frustration. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China at a price of roughly $25,000 each. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China at a price of roughly $25,000 each. |
| Cuomo said the state’s financial commitment to the ventilators underscores how badly they are needed to mitigate the coronavirus death toll. | Cuomo said the state’s financial commitment to the ventilators underscores how badly they are needed to mitigate the coronavirus death toll. |
| “The last thing I want to do is buy a single ventilator I don’t need,” Cuomo said, adding that the state is “broke.” | “The last thing I want to do is buy a single ventilator I don’t need,” Cuomo said, adding that the state is “broke.” |
| But Cuomo said the ventilators have been “very slow in coming out” due to the “tremendous demand” for the equipment right now. | But Cuomo said the ventilators have been “very slow in coming out” due to the “tremendous demand” for the equipment right now. |
| The governor said he has a “firm expectation” on receiving 2500 ventilators in the next two weeks. | The governor said he has a “firm expectation” on receiving 2500 ventilators in the next two weeks. |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state will hit the peak of its coronavirus crisis in seven to 21 days. | New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state will hit the peak of its coronavirus crisis in seven to 21 days. |
| “This does me no good,” Cuomo said of the estimate. “The range is too broad.” | “This does me no good,” Cuomo said of the estimate. “The range is too broad.” |
| Cuomo also noted that there are ranges in the estimates of how many ventilators and hospital beds will be nedded once the number of coronavirus cases hits its highest point. | Cuomo also noted that there are ranges in the estimates of how many ventilators and hospital beds will be nedded once the number of coronavirus cases hits its highest point. |