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| Coronavirus US live: Trump uses Defense Production Act to make ventilators | Coronavirus US live: Trump uses Defense Production Act to make ventilators |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| President says order will help manufacturers including General Motors secure supplies | President says order will help manufacturers including General Motors secure supplies |
| The president was tested this morning, according to the White House physician. | |
| Hi, there - it’s Maanvi Singh, blogging from the West Coast. | |
| Soon, we’ll hear from Donald Trump and his coronavirus task force. The federal government is close to finalizing new guidance reccomending that many or most Americans wear face masks while they’re outside, in order to slow the spread of Covid-19. | |
| The AP reports: | |
| The Guardian’s Susie Cagle reports on the latest from California: | The Guardian’s Susie Cagle reports on the latest from California: |
| In his daily coronavirus press conference, California governor Gavin Newsom announced that he signed an executive order today that would protect residents and small businesses from having their water shut off if they are unable to pay their bill. | In his daily coronavirus press conference, California governor Gavin Newsom announced that he signed an executive order today that would protect residents and small businesses from having their water shut off if they are unable to pay their bill. |
| The order comes weeks after other states and municipalities across the US had already moved to protect water access for their most vulnerable residents. And the announcement came as something of a surprise -- buried at the end of his comments, only revealed in response to a question from a reporter. | The order comes weeks after other states and municipalities across the US had already moved to protect water access for their most vulnerable residents. And the announcement came as something of a surprise -- buried at the end of his comments, only revealed in response to a question from a reporter. |
| Newsom was apparently acting in response to California’s fierce contingent of water advocates. On Monday, a broad coalition of environmental and environmental justice organizations demanded that the state take immediate action to protect California’s most vulnerable from losing their water. | Newsom was apparently acting in response to California’s fierce contingent of water advocates. On Monday, a broad coalition of environmental and environmental justice organizations demanded that the state take immediate action to protect California’s most vulnerable from losing their water. |
| “How can we stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect our communities if people don’t have access to clean water?” said Susana De Anda, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy organization Community Water Center. | “How can we stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect our communities if people don’t have access to clean water?” said Susana De Anda, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy organization Community Water Center. |
| Newsom has worked with and supported many of these same advocates on other water legislation in the past. “We appreciate their leadership, their advocacy,” he said. “And those same advocates have made it crystal clear not just to you but to me that they want to protect not just residents from having their water shut off but also small businesses. I signed an executive order today to do just that.” | Newsom has worked with and supported many of these same advocates on other water legislation in the past. “We appreciate their leadership, their advocacy,” he said. “And those same advocates have made it crystal clear not just to you but to me that they want to protect not just residents from having their water shut off but also small businesses. I signed an executive order today to do just that.” |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Maanvi Singh will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Maanvi Singh will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 1 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins. The global death toll of the pandemic passed 50,000 earlier today. | The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 1 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins. The global death toll of the pandemic passed 50,000 earlier today. |
| New York is expected to run out of ventilators in six days, governor Andrew Cuomo said. The state has 2,200 ventilators in its stockpile, and officials are trying to expand their capacity by splitting ventilator tubes and converting BIPAP machines. | New York is expected to run out of ventilators in six days, governor Andrew Cuomo said. The state has 2,200 ventilators in its stockpile, and officials are trying to expand their capacity by splitting ventilator tubes and converting BIPAP machines. |
| Trump issued an order to use the Defense Production Act to make ventilators. The president has resisted a broad implementation of the law for weeks, even as Democrats have called on him to press companies to speed up the production of medical equipment. | Trump issued an order to use the Defense Production Act to make ventilators. The president has resisted a broad implementation of the law for weeks, even as Democrats have called on him to press companies to speed up the production of medical equipment. |
| The Democratic convention has been postponed until August because of the pandemic. The Democratic National Committee announced the nominating convention would take place the week of August 17, instead of July 13, in Milwaukee. | The Democratic convention has been postponed until August because of the pandemic. The Democratic National Committee announced the nominating convention would take place the week of August 17, instead of July 13, in Milwaukee. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of a select committee on coronavirus. Pelosi said the bipartisan panel would ensure the $2 trillion allocated in the stimulus bill will be “spent wisely.” | House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of a select committee on coronavirus. Pelosi said the bipartisan panel would ensure the $2 trillion allocated in the stimulus bill will be “spent wisely.” |
| Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Joe Biden said he would take senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway “at her word” that Trump is open to talking to him about how to respond to the pandemic. | Joe Biden said he would take senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway “at her word” that Trump is open to talking to him about how to respond to the pandemic. |
| “I understand if he doesn’t want to take my advice, but it won’t be, ‘I told you so,’” Biden said of how he would approach the conversation. | “I understand if he doesn’t want to take my advice, but it won’t be, ‘I told you so,’” Biden said of how he would approach the conversation. |
| The former vice president said his previous conversations with Trump have been “respectful” and “straightfoward.” | The former vice president said his previous conversations with Trump have been “respectful” and “straightfoward.” |
| “I’m not doing this to criticize,” Biden said during his virtual press briefing. “I’m doing to say this is what I think you should do.” | “I’m not doing this to criticize,” Biden said during his virtual press briefing. “I’m doing to say this is what I think you should do.” |
| Joe Biden criticized Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell for pushing back against demands for a fourth coronavirus package. | Joe Biden criticized Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell for pushing back against demands for a fourth coronavirus package. |
| “The majority leader of the Senate was wrong and slow the first time around, and he’s wrong and slow this time around.” Biden said. | “The majority leader of the Senate was wrong and slow the first time around, and he’s wrong and slow this time around.” Biden said. |
| Asked about McConnell’s comments that another relief package is not necessary, Biden expressed skepticism about the majority leader sticking to that stance. | Asked about McConnell’s comments that another relief package is not necessary, Biden expressed skepticism about the majority leader sticking to that stance. |
| “The idea that this will be the end of it -- I will be dumbfounded if that occurs, and disappointed,” Biden said. | “The idea that this will be the end of it -- I will be dumbfounded if that occurs, and disappointed,” Biden said. |
| Joe Biden called on Trump to expand his use of the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of medical equipment. | Joe Biden called on Trump to expand his use of the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of medical equipment. |
| Trump issued a statement this afternoon saying he would use the DPA to “help domestic manufacturers ... secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus.” | Trump issued a statement this afternoon saying he would use the DPA to “help domestic manufacturers ... secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus.” |
| During his virtual press briefing, Biden said the statement was an encouraging sign, but he called on Trump to expand the DPA to cover the production of other medical equipment, such as masks and gloves. | During his virtual press briefing, Biden said the statement was an encouraging sign, but he called on Trump to expand the DPA to cover the production of other medical equipment, such as masks and gloves. |
| “He should deploy that Defense Production Act for all the things needed,” Biden said. “That should be done yesterday, last week, a month ago. Get it done now.” | “He should deploy that Defense Production Act for all the things needed,” Biden said. “That should be done yesterday, last week, a month ago. Get it done now.” |
| The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: | The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: |
| In an effort to assist small businesses suffering from the economic blowback of the coronavirus crisis, Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, announced Thursday that the state was offering a 12-month reprieve on sales tax receipts for up to $50,000. | In an effort to assist small businesses suffering from the economic blowback of the coronavirus crisis, Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, announced Thursday that the state was offering a 12-month reprieve on sales tax receipts for up to $50,000. |
| Essentially, consumers will continue to pay sales tax on items and services purchased at small businesses, but instead of turning over those payments to the state, those businesses can use up to $50,000 of those funds “as a bridge loan,” Newsom said. | Essentially, consumers will continue to pay sales tax on items and services purchased at small businesses, but instead of turning over those payments to the state, those businesses can use up to $50,000 of those funds “as a bridge loan,” Newsom said. |
| Newsom encouraged small business owners to see this initiative as a bridge loan so that they would also apply for the federal loans like the economic disaster injury loan assistance and the paycheck protection program. “We need to be able to get federal dollars into the state of California,” Newsom said. | Newsom encouraged small business owners to see this initiative as a bridge loan so that they would also apply for the federal loans like the economic disaster injury loan assistance and the paycheck protection program. “We need to be able to get federal dollars into the state of California,” Newsom said. |
| The sales and use tax makes up a significant portion of California’s annual budget, with the receipts comprising 18.8% of the 2019-20 general fund. California ranks in the top 10 in the country for highest sales tax. | The sales and use tax makes up a significant portion of California’s annual budget, with the receipts comprising 18.8% of the 2019-20 general fund. California ranks in the top 10 in the country for highest sales tax. |
| The exact impact of this initiative remains unclear, as so much else is in flux, but when asked about the budget he proposed in January, Newsom said, “The world has radically changed since the budget was proposed.” | The exact impact of this initiative remains unclear, as so much else is in flux, but when asked about the budget he proposed in January, Newsom said, “The world has radically changed since the budget was proposed.” |
| “The magnitude and impact of all of this is just coming into full light of day and we should be prepared for substantial adjustments in our budget,” he said. | “The magnitude and impact of all of this is just coming into full light of day and we should be prepared for substantial adjustments in our budget,” he said. |
| In California, 1.9 million have filed for unemployment insurance since 12 March, Newsom said, with the state averages 111,000 claims a day over the past week. | In California, 1.9 million have filed for unemployment insurance since 12 March, Newsom said, with the state averages 111,000 claims a day over the past week. |
| Nearly half of all private sector employees in California were employed by small businesses, Newsom said. | Nearly half of all private sector employees in California were employed by small businesses, Newsom said. |
| Joe Biden said he was working to set up a call with Trump about the US response to coronavirus. | Joe Biden said he was working to set up a call with Trump about the US response to coronavirus. |
| Biden’s comments come a day after senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested the Democratic frontrunner should be offering his help amid the pandemic. | Biden’s comments come a day after senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested the Democratic frontrunner should be offering his help amid the pandemic. |
| “Why doesn’t Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support?” Conway said. “He’s in his bunker in Wilmington.” | “Why doesn’t Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support?” Conway said. “He’s in his bunker in Wilmington.” |
| During a virtual press briefing, Biden said, “I’m happy to hear he’ll take my call. My team’s working with him to set such a call up.” | During a virtual press briefing, Biden said, “I’m happy to hear he’ll take my call. My team’s working with him to set such a call up.” |
| The Navy is expected to relieve the commander of an aircraft carrier who raised concerns about coronavirus spreading on the ship, according to Reuters. | The Navy is expected to relieve the commander of an aircraft carrier who raised concerns about coronavirus spreading on the ship, according to Reuters. |
| Officials said yesterday that most crew members aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt would be allowed to disembark and quarantine in Guam after a scathing letter from the ship’s commander was made public. | Officials said yesterday that most crew members aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt would be allowed to disembark and quarantine in Guam after a scathing letter from the ship’s commander was made public. |
| “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” Captain Brett Crozier wrote to Navy officials. “If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset—our sailors.” | “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,” Captain Brett Crozier wrote to Navy officials. “If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset—our sailors.” |
| Crozier demanded that most of the crew members be allowed to quarantine to control the outbreak. At least 93 sailors aboard the ship have now tested positive for coronavirus. | Crozier demanded that most of the crew members be allowed to quarantine to control the outbreak. At least 93 sailors aboard the ship have now tested positive for coronavirus. |