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US coronavirus live: Trump to hold Sunday night White House briefing US coronavirus live: Trump begins Sunday night White House briefing
(about 1 hour later)
Trump warns of ‘one of toughest weeks’ as deaths pass 8,000 as 312,085 cases are confirmed in USTrump warns of ‘one of toughest weeks’ as deaths pass 8,000 as 312,085 cases are confirmed in US
Now John Polowczyk, who leads FEMA’s supply chain task force, is discussing the distribution of supplies across the U.S.
He said 2.8 million masks and 11.8 million gloves are en route to be distributed to hospitals and nursing homes.
Polowczyk said at Trump’s command FEMA is also distributing hydroxycholorquine to pharmacies.
The presser has been turned over to Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force.
She noted that after four weeks of mitigation in Spain and Italy they are seeing the pandemic slow. The White House is hoping to see similar effects in the US in coming weeks.
“Over the next week, although we’ll see rising number of cases of people who lose their lives to this illness, we are also hopeful we will see a stabilization of cases across these large metro areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago,” she said.
Trump again claims we are seeing the disease peak in coming days.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Trump said. “Hopefully in the not-too-distant future we will be proud of the job we all did.”
Trump said a vaccine is all but out of sight for the time being.
“We are very far down the line on vaccines, we’ll see how that all works,” he said. “Johnson and Johnson’s doing a great job and working very hard, a vaccine would be great therapy a therapy. We’ll see what happens.”
After promoting unproven cures for coronavirus, hydroxycholorquine and azythromicin, Trump hedges: “What do I know? I’m not a doctor,” he said.
Trump said the US has ordered 29m pills of hydroxychloroquine and wondered what Americans “have to lose” by taking the drug. My colleague Oliver Milman wrote about why the malaria medication may not be the miracle cure Trump is hoping for:
Trump claims the coming days will be the “peak” of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
“Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors and nurses and health care workers on the frontline of the fight,” he said. “We pledge to them our eternal gratitude and everlasting support.”
Trump claims a new testing kit from Abbott Laboratories is being developed.
He once again claimed the United States is testing more people than any country in the world, but although the US has overtaken South Korea in total numbers of coronavirus tests administered, it has conducted far fewer tests per capita given the US population is over six times larger than South Korea’s.
Trump listed a number of efforts being made to get supplies to affected states.
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Louisiana, New Jersey are among the states that have received ventilators.
Trump takes another dig at Illinois governor: “The governor, he has not performed well.”
He also claimed cargo planes loaded with 300m gloves and 8m masks are en route to New York.
Trump said 50 states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations to address coronavirus.
“This is an all out military operation that we have approved,” he said. “This is very unusual.”
Donald Trump opens the presser with “well wishes” for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was admitted to the hospital today after previously being diagnosed with coronavirus.
“He’s a great friend of mine,” Trump said. “I’m sure he is going to be fine, he’s a strong man, a strong person.”
Hello readers, Kari Paul here in San Francisco logging on to blog the White House press briefing. Stand by for updates shortly, as Donald Trump is expected to begin speaking at 7 pm ET.
Contrary to the initial schedule, there will be a White House coronavirus task force briefing at the top of the hour.Contrary to the initial schedule, there will be a White House coronavirus task force briefing at the top of the hour.
While we wait for that, here’s a summary of the latest events:While we wait for that, here’s a summary of the latest events:
US surgeon general warns of ‘Pearl Harbor moment’ as Americans face ‘hardest week’. “The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It’s going to be our 9/11 moment,” Jerome Adams told NBC News’ Meet the Press.US surgeon general warns of ‘Pearl Harbor moment’ as Americans face ‘hardest week’. “The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It’s going to be our 9/11 moment,” Jerome Adams told NBC News’ Meet the Press.
Fauci says no evidence anti-malaria drug Trump pushes works against virus. Donald Trump’s top coronavirus adviser has warned again that there is no scientific evidence to support the use of an unproven anti-malaria drug the president has been pushing as a possible remedy for Covid-19.Fauci says no evidence anti-malaria drug Trump pushes works against virus. Donald Trump’s top coronavirus adviser has warned again that there is no scientific evidence to support the use of an unproven anti-malaria drug the president has been pushing as a possible remedy for Covid-19.
Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus. The British prime minister has been admitted to hospital with coronavirus after suffering persistent symptoms for 10 days.Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus. The British prime minister has been admitted to hospital with coronavirus after suffering persistent symptoms for 10 days.
Biden floats proposal for ‘virtual convention’. Prospective presidential nominee Joe Biden has floated a proposal for a ‘virtual’ national Democratic party convention this summer.Biden floats proposal for ‘virtual convention’. Prospective presidential nominee Joe Biden has floated a proposal for a ‘virtual’ national Democratic party convention this summer.
Illinois governor challenges White House on ventilators. JB Pritzker, the Illinois governor, is challenging Mike Pence’s calculations that his state needs only 1,400 ventilators.Illinois governor challenges White House on ventilators. JB Pritzker, the Illinois governor, is challenging Mike Pence’s calculations that his state needs only 1,400 ventilators.
We’ll have coverage of the White House briefing here, from 7pm.We’ll have coverage of the White House briefing here, from 7pm.
A Malayan tiger at a New York City zoo has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after developing a dry cough, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement Sunday.A Malayan tiger at a New York City zoo has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after developing a dry cough, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement Sunday.
“Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for Covid-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” the statement read.“Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for Covid-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” the statement read.
The diagnosis is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the US or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said on Sunday. More from the Associated Press:The diagnosis is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the US or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said on Sunday. More from the Associated Press:
A just-published Washington Post exclusive identifies longtime Trump advisor Rudy Giuliani as a key advocate for coronavirus treatments whose effectiveness has not yet been proven.A just-published Washington Post exclusive identifies longtime Trump advisor Rudy Giuliani as a key advocate for coronavirus treatments whose effectiveness has not yet been proven.
Boston mayor Marty Walsh asked everyone in Massachusetts’ largest city to observe a curfew and to wear a mask when outside at his daily briefing today.Boston mayor Marty Walsh asked everyone in Massachusetts’ largest city to observe a curfew and to wear a mask when outside at his daily briefing today.
The city now has 1,877 confirmed cases and 15 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, marking an increase of 259 cases from Saturday.The city now has 1,877 confirmed cases and 15 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, marking an increase of 259 cases from Saturday.
“That’s what a surge looks like and we’re still at the beginning of the surge,” Walsh said.“That’s what a surge looks like and we’re still at the beginning of the surge,” Walsh said.
De Blasio is asked why demographic breakdowns of those diagnosed with Covid-19 have not been released by New York City authorities. De Blasio said that the first priority had been to treat people but data was now being looked at. He said early signs suggested that more deprived communities had been hit the hardest in the city.De Blasio is asked why demographic breakdowns of those diagnosed with Covid-19 have not been released by New York City authorities. De Blasio said that the first priority had been to treat people but data was now being looked at. He said early signs suggested that more deprived communities had been hit the hardest in the city.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio had previously expressed fears that his city would run out of ventilators on Sunday. He says that new supplies have eased his worries.
“We thought as early as tonight there was the possibility of running out of crucial equipment like ventilators,” De Blasio said. “We believe now we can get to Tuesday or Wednesday with the supplies that we have.”
The White House said earlier today that it would not hold its usual daily press briefing on coronavirus. Donald Trump has just tweeted that the briefing may take place after all.
“I will be having a White House CoronaVirus Task Force meeting in a short while,” wrote the president on Twitter. “May or may not do a News Conference after the meeting, depending on new information. Talks & meetings today are proving promising, but a rough two weeks are coming up!”
The Queen has made just the fifth special televised broadcast of her long reign. She addressed the United Kingdom on Sunday, urging Britons to take comfort in the fact that “We will meet again.”
She spoke of her own memories of the second world war and said “While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal.”
The only other times the Queen has broadcast to her citizens, apart from the traditional Christmas Day address, were during the 1991 Gulf War, upon the deaths of Princess Diana and her mother, and on her Silver Jubilee in 2012. You can keep up to date with Coronavirus updates around the world in our global liveblog:
A food grower in Arizona has voiced concerns over the combined effects of Covid-19 and the government’s efforts to curb the number of temporary Mexican farmworkers coming into the US.
“We’re already handicapped in our ability to have enough workers in this country. We’re importing too much food into this country. And then you throw a pandemic that impacts the domestic and guest worker population,” John Boelts, vice president of the Arizona Farm Bureau, told the Arizona Republic. “Over time, this is going to have a creep effect. And we’re worried about the long term of what it means.”
The Navy captain who was removed from command of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier after requesting more help for his sailors has tested positive for Covid-19. According to the New York Times:
According to CNN, Ford spokesman Dan Barbossa said the automaker will have made more than one million face shields over the past week – roughly one every 10 seconds – at subsidiary Troy Design and Manufacturing’s facility in Plymouth, Michigan.
Barbossa said 120 workers have been enlisted to work at the facility outside Detroit and 120,000 face shields have been delivered to New York and surrounding areas.
Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron was unsparing in his criticism of Donald Trump in an appearance on CNN’s Reliable Sources.
“Everything stems from the person at the top,” Baron said, pointing to the Post’s front-page story from today, which takes aim at the federal government’s slugging response to the pandemic. “And from the very beginning [Trump] was being dismissive of this – of the dangers here. He was arguing that it wasn’t going to affect the United States to a great extent and yet there were warnings within his administration that he was aware of and should have been aware of and should have paid attention to that were telling him that this was going to be a very serious problem and that it called for true mobilization on the part of the entire government. ... But the point of the story was in fact the entire government had not been mobilized.”
Baron is also asked how the Post is protecting staff reporting on the front lines, saying: “One of our biggest concerns is to make sure that we can cover this story but make sure that we don’t put our staff in danger. We tell everyone that while we want them to cover this story, we don’t want anybody to do anything that will cause a severe risk to their health. And they are entitled to say that they don’t want to cover a story. When people do cover a story we provide them with the materials that they need. We provide them with masks, we provide them with gloves, and we try to make sure that the story is one that allows them to cover it safely.”
On Sunday, Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards reiterated that the state, one of the hardest hit in the US, was projected to run out of ventilators by Thursday 9 April, and would reach ICU capacity two days after.
As of Sunday, 409 people have died from Covid-19 in Louisiana, with well over half in the New Orleans metro area. New Orleans now has the highest per capita death rate of any city in the US, according to data analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“This is a tough emergency, and it’s not different here than it is elsewhere. It’s a little more acute, I think, than some places,” Edwards told CNN on Sunday morning, confirming that 200 additional ventilators had arrived in the city from national stockpile on Saturday.
On Monday, the state will open its first makeshift field hospital at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The facility will house 1,000 beds and, like those in New York and elsewhere, is designed to ease the burden on city hospitals as they near capacity. Senior infectious disease doctors speaking to the Guardian last week, confirmed that hospitals in New Orleans have already begun discussing the ethics of how to ration care should they become overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
Trump is making the most of the down time at the White House today by maintaining an active Twitter presence. He’s spent the last half hour quote-tweeting and retweeting a series of his positive notices from Fox News pundits – and nurturing the special relationship with a shoutout to the Queen ahead of her forthcoming special address to the UK.
Justin Trudeau said at Sunday’s daily briefing he’s confident Canada will still be able to import N95 protective masks from the United States despite Donald Trump’s export ban and plans to speak to the US president about it in coming days. The Associated Press reports: