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US coronavirus live: Cuomo to seize ventilators from owners to give to hospitals in need US coronavirus live: Cuomo to seize ventilators from owners to give to hospitals in need
(32 minutes later)
Cuomo says ‘We don’t have enough ventilators – period’ and issues order that allows him to take medical equipment from hospitals that are less overwhelmedCuomo says ‘We don’t have enough ventilators – period’ and issues order that allows him to take medical equipment from hospitals that are less overwhelmed
New York governor Andrew Cuomo just wrapped up his daily briefing on the state’s coronavirus response.
Here’s what he covered:
Cuomo will sign an executive order to allow the state to take ventilators from hospitals with fewer coronavirus cases and give them to hospitals in need. Cuomo pushed back against a reporter who said the state would “seize” the medical equipment, but that seems like an accurate description considering the National Guard will be used for the operation.
New York has recorded 2,935 deaths linked to coronavirus, up from from 2,373 a day earlier, marking the largest single-day increase in the death toll since the crisis struck the state. New York has also confirmed 102,863 cases of the virus.
Officials offered a mixed message on whether everyone should wear face coverings to limit the spread of the virus. State health commissioner Howard Zucker noted there was no data to confirm face coverings help prevent transmissions, but Cuomo said it “couldn’t hurt” to wear them.
Cuomo once again expressed bafflement and anger that the state has to rely on China for the production of medical equipment. “It is unbelievable to me that in New York state, in the United States of America, that we can’t make these materials,” Cuomo said.
The temporary hospital at the Javits Center will begin receiving coronavirus patients, even though officials originally said the facility would treat non-coronavirus patients. Cuomo said there simply aren’t enough non-coronavirus cases right now to make that plan worthwhile.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo closed his press conference on a message of hope, saying the state will “find the light” at the end of this crisis.
“This is hard personally,” Cuomo said of the state’s rising coronavirus death toll. “It’s hard to stay in this all day and then it’s hard staying up all night watching the numbers go up … and knowing that you’re in charge of the ship.”
But the governor emphasized the state would make it through the pandemic. “Once you go through darkness, you will find the light,” Cuomo said. “We will find the light.”
Moments ago, New York officials painted a mixed picture on whether all residents should wear face coverings to limit the spread of the virus.Moments ago, New York officials painted a mixed picture on whether all residents should wear face coverings to limit the spread of the virus.
“There’s no data to support the effectiveness of face masks,” said Dr Howard Zucker, the New York state health commissioner.“There’s no data to support the effectiveness of face masks,” said Dr Howard Zucker, the New York state health commissioner.
But governor Andrew Cuomo then suggested it might be worth wearing face coverings considering the lack of clear evidence on the matter. “The masks couldn’t hurt,” Cuomo said.But governor Andrew Cuomo then suggested it might be worth wearing face coverings considering the lack of clear evidence on the matter. “The masks couldn’t hurt,” Cuomo said.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo dismissed concerns that the state may be sued over his executive order to take ventilators from hospitals with fewer coronavirus cases.New York governor Andrew Cuomo dismissed concerns that the state may be sued over his executive order to take ventilators from hospitals with fewer coronavirus cases.
“If they want to sue me for borrrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, then let them sue me,” Cuomo said of the plan.“If they want to sue me for borrrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, then let them sue me,” Cuomo said of the plan.
Cuomo noted the state would return the ventilators to their owners or reimburse them for the cost of the equipment.Cuomo noted the state would return the ventilators to their owners or reimburse them for the cost of the equipment.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo pushed back against the word “seize” to describe the redistribution of ventilators from less-stressed hospitals to the hospitals with the most coronavirus cases.New York governor Andrew Cuomo pushed back against the word “seize” to describe the redistribution of ventilators from less-stressed hospitals to the hospitals with the most coronavirus cases.
“It’s sharing of resources,” Cuomo said of the executive order he plans to sign.“It’s sharing of resources,” Cuomo said of the executive order he plans to sign.
But that characterization seems dubious, considering Cuomo said the National Guard would be used to take the ventilators.But that characterization seems dubious, considering Cuomo said the National Guard would be used to take the ventilators.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said 20,000 medical professionals from other parts of the country have volunteered to help the state as it confronts this crisis.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said 20,000 medical professionals from other parts of the country have volunteered to help the state as it confronts this crisis.
Cuomo emphasized the state would send similar aid to “any community in this nation that needs it” once New York passes its peak number of coronavirus cases.Cuomo emphasized the state would send similar aid to “any community in this nation that needs it” once New York passes its peak number of coronavirus cases.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio suggested earlier today that the country needs a national enlistment program for medical professionals to deploy staff to the most stressed regions as the crisis develops.New York mayor Bill de Blasio suggested earlier today that the country needs a national enlistment program for medical professionals to deploy staff to the most stressed regions as the crisis develops.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said ventilators would be seized from less-stressed hospitals to give them to areas where they are “urgently required to save lives.”New York governor Andrew Cuomo said ventilators would be seized from less-stressed hospitals to give them to areas where they are “urgently required to save lives.”
The use of military members to seize medical equipment sends a clear message that New York is entering a new phase of the coronavirus crisis, coming as the state recorded its highest single-day death toll yet.The use of military members to seize medical equipment sends a clear message that New York is entering a new phase of the coronavirus crisis, coming as the state recorded its highest single-day death toll yet.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he would sign an executive order to seize medical equipment from hospitals that are not as overwhelmed with coronavirus patients right now.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he would sign an executive order to seize medical equipment from hospitals that are not as overwhelmed with coronavirus patients right now.
Cuomo said the National Guard would be used to take ventilators and personal protective equipment to help hospitals that are particularly hard hit right now, presumably those in New York City and Long Island.Cuomo said the National Guard would be used to take ventilators and personal protective equipment to help hospitals that are particularly hard hit right now, presumably those in New York City and Long Island.
Cuomo said the equipment would be returned or reimbursed, but the move is likely to spark outcry from hospitals in upstate New York, which has seen fewer coronavirus cases.Cuomo said the equipment would be returned or reimbursed, but the move is likely to spark outcry from hospitals in upstate New York, which has seen fewer coronavirus cases.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the temporary hospital constructed at the Javits Center in Manhattan would now receive coronavirus patients.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the temporary hospital constructed at the Javits Center in Manhattan would now receive coronavirus patients.
The orignal plan was for the convention center to receive non-coronavirus patients to help free up space in the city’s hospitals, but Cuomo said there were simply not enough non-coronavirus patients right now to make that plan worthwhile.The orignal plan was for the convention center to receive non-coronavirus patients to help free up space in the city’s hospitals, but Cuomo said there were simply not enough non-coronavirus patients right now to make that plan worthwhile.
Cuomo also warned that the city is running dangerously low on ventilators. “We don’t have enough,” the governor said. “Period.”Cuomo also warned that the city is running dangerously low on ventilators. “We don’t have enough,” the governor said. “Period.”
Cuomo said yesterady that the state was expected to run out of ventilators in less than a week.Cuomo said yesterady that the state was expected to run out of ventilators in less than a week.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo expressed bafflement and anger that the US cannot produce its own medical materials as hospitals run dangerously low on personal protective equipment.New York governor Andrew Cuomo expressed bafflement and anger that the US cannot produce its own medical materials as hospitals run dangerously low on personal protective equipment.
“It is unbelieve to me that in New York state, in the United States of America, that we can’t make these materials,” Cuomo said. “It is unbelievable to me that in New York state, in the United States of America, that we can’t make these materials,” Cuomo said.
The governor implored companies yesterday to shift production toward medical equipment, promising to pay “a premium” for the materials.The governor implored companies yesterday to shift production toward medical equipment, promising to pay “a premium” for the materials.
New York has recorded 2,935 deaths linked to coronavirus, up from from 2,373 a day earlier, governor Andrew Cuomo announced.
Cuomo said the increase in the death toll represented the highest single-day rise since the coronavirus crisis struck the state.
New York has also confirmed 102,863 cases of coronavirus, far more than any other US state.
Congressman Adam Schiff said in a statement that the proposed commission to probe the coronavirus response would not be aimed at “scoring political points.”
“This is not an exercise in casting blame or scoring political points, but something that the American people should rightly expect from their government as an exercise in accountability,” Schiff said.
“In designing such a commission, I believe that the 9/11 Commission provides an established and proven model, one which Congress should adapt to the purposes of the Coronavirus.”
But Trump has already made clear he is steadfastly opposed to the idea, dismissing any potential review commission as another “witch-hunt.”
House intelligence committe chairman Adam Schiff has drafted a bill to form a commission, in the style of the 9/11 commission, to investigate the US response to coronavirus.
Schiff said the commission would be comprised of 10 members from both parties and would not be formed until February 2021, “hopefully after the pandemic has been overcome and after the presidential election.”
Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House homeland security committee, has already drafted a similar bill, but it’s unclear whether House speaker Nancy Pelosi supports the proposal.
Pelosi announced yesterday that a House select committee would be formed to ensure appropriate use of government funds in the $2tn stimulus package, but she did not commit to supporting a review commission when asked about the matter by reporters.
Trump dismissed the idea out of hand during the daily White House press conference yesterday, arguing the proposal was a partisan attack strategy.
“This is not the time for politics,” he told reporters. “You see what happens. It’s witch-hunt after witch-hunt after witch-hunt and, in the end, the people doing the witch-hunt have been losing, and they’ve been losing by a lot. It’s not any time for witch-hunts.”
A Navy captain who was relieved from his post after raising concerns about the spread of coronavirus on his ship was celebrated by his crew members as he departed.
Captain Brett Crozier was dismissed yesterday for showing “poor judgment” after a letter he wrote warning about a coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt was leaked to the press.
In the letter, Crozier wrote, “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors.”
Most of the ship’s crew members were allowed to disembark and quarantine after the letter became public, but the incident cost Crozier his job.
Last night, hundreds of sailors gathered to wish Crozier farewell, and videos posted to social media showed crew members chanting the captain’s name as he departed.
A Navy ship hospital docked in New York to help the city amid the coronavirus crisis has only received 20 patients.
The Comfort’s arrival into New York Harbor was celebrated on Monday, but a laborious process to receive patients has hobbled the hospital ship’s usefulness as many of the city’s emergency rooms are overwhelmed with coronavirus patients.
The New York Times reports:
The Comfort was originally supposed to treat non-coronavirus patients, but that theory has been difficult to put into practice, and hospital executives complain the hospital ship serves little purpose if it cannot help address the surge of coronavirus cases.
The company 3M has responded to Trump’s criticism of its production of N95 masks after the president implied 3M was negatively impacting the US coronavirus response.
Trump issued an order under the Defense Production Act yesterday to have 3M step up its production of face masks and then sent this mysterious tweet:
The CEO of 3M fiercely pushed back against Trump’s criticism this morning, saying the company started doubling its production of masks in late January in response to coronavirus.
“The narrative that we aren’t doing everything we can as a company is just not true,” CEO Mike Roman said.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio called for the creation of an enlistment program for medical professionals to help combat the pandemic.
“Next week in New York City is going to be very tough — next week in New York City and Detroit and New Orleans and a lot of other places,” de Blasio told MSNBC this morning.
“And unless the military is fully mobilized and we create something we’ve never had before, which is some kind of national enlistment of medical personnel moved to the most urgent needs in the country constantly, if we don’t have that we’re going to see hospitals simply unable to handle so many people who could be saved.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has similarly asked for medical professionals from other parts of the country to come to New York as the state sees the highest number of coronavirus cases, promising to “return the favor” once the virus hits their communities.
Dr Anthony Fauci said this morning that Americans can use face coverings to lower their risk of getting coronavirus.
The federal government is expected to soon revise its recommendations on face coverings, after health officials initially saying masks were not necessary for the general public.
But Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the coverings could be helpful for instances when people are not able to stay six feet apart, like at pharmacies.
“Because of that and because of some recent information that the virus can actually be spread even when people just speak, as opposed to coughing and sneezing, the better part of valor is that when you’re out, and you can’t maintain that six-foot distance, to wear some sort of facial covering,” Fauci told Fox News.
But the senior official emphasized Americans should still practice social distancing, adding that medical professionals would still have the highest priority in getting face masks.
The US jobs report released this morning shows that the unemployment rate has risen to 4.4% after the country lost 701,000 jobs last month.
The latest figure marks a 0.9% increase from last month’s rate of 3.5%, which was a 50-year low in the US unemplyment rate.
The jobs report also ends a decade of job growth since the financial crisis, as the country braces for another recession because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Adding to the disappointing news, the unemployment rate is expected to only go up. Nearly 10 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks, and the Congressional Budget Office predicted yesterday that unemployment in the second quarter of this year would pass 10%.
Read more on the numbers from the Guardian’s Dominic Rushe:
Good morning, live blog readers!
About 90% of Americans are under stay-at-home orders as states try to mitigate the spread of coronavirus by enforcing social distancing guidelines.
However, a handful of governors are still resisting issuing statwide orders, and Donald Trump has been hesitant to issue a federal order to enforce the guidelines.
Last night on CNN, Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said he was baffled as to why every state does not have an order in effect.
“I don’t understand why that’s not happening,” Fauci told CNN’s Anderson Cooper, saying the governors who have not issued statewide orders “really should” reconsider.
But the official made clear he was not explicitly calling for a federal order. “You know, the tension between federally mandated versus states’ rights to do what they want is something I don’t want to get into,” he said. “But if you look at what’s going on in this country, I just don’t understand why we’re not doing that.”
Fauci’s comments came as the US reported 1,169 coronavirus deaths, the highest one-day death toll of any country so far, although that record is bound to be quickly broken.