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Coronavirus US live: Pelosi announces bipartisan House group to make sure $2tn is 'spent wisely' Coronavirus US live: Cuomo says New York only has enough ventilators for next six days
(32 minutes later)
House speaker says committee made up of members from both parties will work to decide how aid money is spent New York’s governor says the state only has enough ventilators stockpiled for six days and that the state is looking for ways to expand capacity
The Democratic National Committee has confirmed the party’s nominating convention will be postponed until mid-August.
“Leadership means being able to adapt, and that’s exactly what our party is doing,” DNC chairman Tom Perez said in a statement.
“Ultimately, the health and safety of our convention attendees and the people of Milwaukee is our top priority. And we will continue to be in contact with local, state, and federal health officials as we monitor this fluid situation.”
The Democratic convention has been postponed until August because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.
The New York Times reports:
The reports come one day after Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden said that he beleived the nominating convention would have to be postponed.
CNN host Chris Cuomo, who has been diagnosed with coronavirus, appeared at New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s briefing today via video conference.
“I’m doing pretty well all things considered,” the CNN host told his brother. “This is tough. I get it now.”
Cuomo jokingly complained about how the virus is preventing him from cutting his fair and didn’t miss a chance to make fun of his brother.
“You look like you’ve been cutting your own hair, which some people are good at, some people are not,” the CNN host said to his brother.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state only has enough ventilators in its stockpile for six days.
Cuomo noted the state released 400 ventilators to New York City last night and would distribute ventilators based on need in the weeks to come.
The state is exploring ways to expand its ventilator capacity, including splitting ventilator tubes and converting BIPAP machines.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state would start conducting nightly hospital-by-hospital surveys to assess what medical equipment they need.
Cuomo added that it was the “cruelest irony” the country is now dependent on China for the production of crucial medical equipment.
The governor implored businesses to try to pivot to producing medical equipment like gowns. “We will pay a premium,” Cuomo assured businessowners.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the number of people discharged from the hospital is “way up,” marking some rare good news since cases started to surge.
But Cuomo warned the state still needs more hospital beds to prepare for the peak of the crisis. The state is constructing temporary hospitals at places like the Javits Center and Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to add beds for coronavirus patients.
The governor said he was more concerned about ensuring the state has enough medical professionals and equipment to deal with the peak of the crisis. “Beds we can find,” Cuomo said. “The harder component is the staff and the supplies.”
New York has confirmed 92,381 cases of coronavirus, governor Andrew Cuomo said at his daily briefing.
The state has also seen 2,373 deaths linked to the virus, up from 1,941 yesterday.
New York accounts for nearly half of the coronavirus deaths from the entire country.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she spoke to treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin last night about a potential phase four coronavirus bill.House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she spoke to treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin last night about a potential phase four coronavirus bill.
Pelosi has said she wants to pass another bill in response to the pandemic, which would focus on clean water, rural broadband and infrustructure, among other things.Pelosi has said she wants to pass another bill in response to the pandemic, which would focus on clean water, rural broadband and infrustructure, among other things.
Trump has voiced support for a massive infrastructure bill, but Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has accused Democrats of trying to force through their agenda while the pandemic is raging. Pelosi said she would call McConnell to discuss the matter.Trump has voiced support for a massive infrastructure bill, but Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has accused Democrats of trying to force through their agenda while the pandemic is raging. Pelosi said she would call McConnell to discuss the matter.
Ending the conference call, Pelosi reiterated her advice to reporters: “Hydrate. Wash your hands. Pray. Dance like no one is watching.”Ending the conference call, Pelosi reiterated her advice to reporters: “Hydrate. Wash your hands. Pray. Dance like no one is watching.”
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the new select committee on coronavirus would have subpoena power.House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the new select committee on coronavirus would have subpoena power.
Members of the committee, which will be chaired by House majority whip Jim Clyburn, will specifically look at whether government funds distributed in response to the pandemic are being spent effectively.Members of the committee, which will be chaired by House majority whip Jim Clyburn, will specifically look at whether government funds distributed in response to the pandemic are being spent effectively.
“This is not an investigation of the administration,” Pelosi said. The speaker emphasized the panel would instead “make sure there aren’t exploiters out there.”“This is not an investigation of the administration,” Pelosi said. The speaker emphasized the panel would instead “make sure there aren’t exploiters out there.”
House speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked during her weekly press conference whether she supported a review of the events leading up to the coronavirus crisis.House speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked during her weekly press conference whether she supported a review of the events leading up to the coronavirus crisis.
Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House homeland security committee, has drafted a bill to form a commission in the style of the 9/11 commission to examine the government’s response to coronavirus.Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House homeland security committee, has drafted a bill to form a commission in the style of the 9/11 commission to examine the government’s response to coronavirus.
Pelosi said she was open to the idea if the commission were bipartisan and not focused on attributing blame but rather determining what lessons can be learned for future crises.Pelosi said she was open to the idea if the commission were bipartisan and not focused on attributing blame but rather determining what lessons can be learned for future crises.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the new select committee on coronavirus would ensure aid money goes to American families and prevent waste of funds.House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the new select committee on coronavirus would ensure aid money goes to American families and prevent waste of funds.
Pelosi compared the panel to the Truman Committee, which rooted out waste and corruption in defense spending during World War II. The commitee ultimately saved the government millions of dollars.Pelosi compared the panel to the Truman Committee, which rooted out waste and corruption in defense spending during World War II. The commitee ultimately saved the government millions of dollars.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of select committee on the coronavirus crisis during her weekly press conference.House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the formation of select committee on the coronavirus crisis during her weekly press conference.
Pelosi said House majority whip Jim Clyburn will chair the committee, which will be made up of members from both parties.Pelosi said House majority whip Jim Clyburn will chair the committee, which will be made up of members from both parties.
The speaker noted the committee would work to ensure the aid money allocated in the $2 trillion stimulus bill is spent wisely.The speaker noted the committee would work to ensure the aid money allocated in the $2 trillion stimulus bill is spent wisely.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding her weekly press conference over the phone, providing an update on the congressional response to coronavirus.House speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding her weekly press conference over the phone, providing an update on the congressional response to coronavirus.
Pelosi opened the conference call by urging all the reporters listening to stay hydrated and keep washing their hands.Pelosi opened the conference call by urging all the reporters listening to stay hydrated and keep washing their hands.
The speaker added, “You can never dance too much, especially when you’re home.”The speaker added, “You can never dance too much, especially when you’re home.”
Michigan is closing K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year, encouraging educators to continue virtually teaching their students.
“My No. 1 priority right now is protecting Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19,” governor Gretchen Whitmer said.
“For the sake of our students, their families and the more than 100,000 teachers and staff in our state, I have made the difficult decision to close our school facilities for the remainder of the school year.”
Several other states, including California and Kansas, have already announced schools will be closed for the remainder of the academic year.
With some projections saying coronavirus deaths will continue into the summer, it seems likely other states will have to follow suit.
The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports:
The speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives said efforts to make it easier to vote by mail in the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic would harm Republicans.
The comments come days after President Donald Trump said the same thing. Trump dismissed Democratic-efforts to make it easier to vote by mail, saying “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”
Asked about those comments on Wednesday, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, said he agreed.
“The president said it best. This will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia,” he said in an interview with FetchYourNews.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is sending a request for a mail-in ballot to 6.9 million registered active voters ahead of the state’s May primary. There is a push for states to encourage voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic so that people don’t have to gather at the polls and risk transmission of the virus.
Ralston noted that turnout in previous primaries was far from 100% and seemed concerned that more people could vote if they were able to mail in their ballots. “Every registered voter is going to get one of these ... this will certainly drive up turnout.”
Ralston also said he was concerned about paying for postage for mail-in ballots, as well as potential voter fraud, which is extremely rare.
Banks are warning the $350 billion small business loan program may not be ready by Friday as scheduled.
Politico reports:
The loan program, which was established in the $2 trillion stimulus bill, is being viewed as a lifeline for small businesses, many of whom have already had to lay off workers.
The unemployment claims report this morning showed that a record 6.65 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week.
Georgia’s governor said he only learned days ago that those with coronavirus who show no symptoms can still spread the virus, an astounding claim from a state leader considering health experts have been warning about asymptomatic transmissions for weeks.
Announcing a statewide “stay at home” order yesterday, Republican governor Brian Kemp said, “Individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad, but we didn’t know that until the last 24 hours.”
In reality, health experts have been saying for weeks that those without symptoms can still spread the virus, thus the need for all Americans to practice social distancing.
The director of the CDC, Dr Robert Redfield, warned in an NPR interview broadcoast Monday that up to a a quarter of those infected with coronavirus may not show symptoms.
Here is a visual to help conceptualize the scale of US job losses, as covered in this morning’s unemployment claims report:
A record 6.65 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, bringing the two-week total of unemployment claims to 9.95 million as businesses lay off workers in the face of the pandemic.
Trump is again putting the onus on states to have adequate medical supplies to deal with the pandemic, as many hospitals warn they are running dangerously low on personal protective equipment.
The president said some states “have insatiable appetites & are never satisfied.” “The complainers should ... have been stocked up and ready long before this crisis hit,” Trump wrote in a tweet.
In recent days, Trump has repeatedly tried to shift focus away from the federal government and toward the states as the country grapples with how to respond to coronavirus.
But a number of governors from both parties have said that they need more leadership and supplies from the federal government to protect their residents.
LA mayor Eric Garcetti is urging all of the city’s four million residents to wear masks when they go outside, although that recommendation does not currently apply to the rest of the state.
The AP reports:
Trump said during yesterday’s press conference that Americans can consider wearing masks or scarves to cover their faces when they go outside.
“It doesn’t have to be a mask. It can be a scarf,” Trump said. “What I do see people doing here is using scarves. And I think in a certain way, depending on the fabric, I think in a certain way, a scarf is better, it’s actually better.”
Other administration officials have said the CDC is examining whether to recommend more widespread usage of face masks after originally saying masks should be reserved for medical professionals.
As the number of unemployment claims surges, Trump has turned his attention to mocking Democratic senator Chuck Schumer and criticizing New York’s response to coronavirus.
The president’s tweet comes a day after Schumer told CNN that the country is facing “a dramatic shortage of all the needed supplies” and complained that “we have no one really in charge.”
Schumer called on the administration to select “one person, a military person, a general who knows how to deal with logistics and order mastering, who knows command and control” to coordinate the federal government’s use of the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of medical equipment.
Trump belitted Schumer as “Cryin’ Chuck,” one of the president’s oft-repeated taunts, and claimed New York had “got off to a late start” responding to the virus, while still crediting governor Andrew Cuomo for “working hard.”
Trump first made this “late start” claim earlier this week, and it prompted pushback from Cuomo’s communications director, who said it was the federal government that had fumbled its early response.
The latest unemployment numbers paint a devastating picture of a country facing mass job losses as a pandemic kills thousands of Americans.
According to the latest report from the labor department, 6.65 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, doubling the record-setting 3.3 million figure a week earlier.
The Guardian’s Dominic Rushe and Lauren Aratani report:
Because many Americans’ health insurance is tied to their employment, these job losses also mean millions of people are losing coverage as the number of coronavirus cases continues to steeply rise.
Good morning, live blog readers!
The coronavirus pandemic has completely upended the American healthcare system, economy and presidential election, and the tumult is just beginning.
Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden acknowledged last night that the party’s nominating convention, which is scheduled to begin 13 July, will likely have to be postponed.
“I doubt whether the Democratic convention is going to be able to be held in mid-July, early July,” Biden told Jimmy Fallon, host of The Tonight Show. “I think it’s going to have to move into August.”
The Republican nominating convention is scheduled to begin 24 August, and Donald Trump has dismissed questions about whether it should be postponed or made into a virtual event.
If Republicans move forward with their convention, Democrats will almost certainly try to find a way to still hold theirs, or they will risk conceding a major campaign opportunity to Trump.
But with some projections saying America will continue to see coronavirus deaths into July, there’s real skepticism about how these major events will happen at all.