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Coronavirus US live: Andrew Cuomo says New York may be hitting apex of crisis Coronavirus US live: Trump says country will reopen 'sooner than people think'
(32 minutes later)
The governor of New York noted the state’s death rate has stayed relatively flat for two days, but warned healthcare system remains overwhelmed President strikes optimistic tone at press conference as he hails Boris Johnson
Fact check on Trump’s claims that the the US testing is “better” than any other country in the world.
In fact, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed – some did not even work. Part of the problem came from the CDC insisting it would manufacture the tests itself.
Other countries – after their first coronavirus case – swiftly asked private companies to develop their own tests. South Korea, which recorded its first case on the same day as the US, did so within a week
The US only allowed laboratories and hospitals to conduct their own tests on February 29, almost six weeks after the first case was confirmed.
“The federal agency shunned the World Health Organization test guidelines used by other countries and set out to create a more complicated test of its own that could identify a range of similar viruses,” ProPublica reported.
Trump has repeatedly dodged questions about the inspector general report out today that said hospitals have not had access to the tests they need. Trump has interrupted questions about it, asking for the name of the inspector general and date of appointment. The president has attempted to suggest, without evidence, that the inspector general behind the report is politically motivated against Trump.
Trump has repeatedly asked a reporter whether she is employed by “China”, saying, “Who do you work for? China.” When the reporter says she works for a private company based in Hong Kong, he says, “Good.”
Here’s Trump on Boris Johnson:
And more here:
Asked about his suggestion last week that he was looking at travel restrictions around hotspots, Trump suggests he’s not planning to do that:
Asked about Boris Johnson’s Covid-19 strategy and whether he “downplayed” it, Trump says:
Trump was asked for more details on the medicines he said he had sent to Boris Johnson’s doctors, but he gives few more details, and does not name the companies involved:
Whether the US can reopen by 30 April, Trump declines to directly respond, but says, “We certainly want to try.” He also says the US “can get more than back to normal on the economic side”.
Dr Fauci strikes a different tone, saying, “We will go back gradually ... if you want to get to pre-coronavirus, that might not ever happen.” He expresses optimism about the vaccine.
Asked about the states that don’t have stay at home orders, Trump says, “We do have a constitutional problem in doing that. I can do it, but ... I would rather have the governors do it and make their own determination.”
Dr Fauci addresses this, saying the states that are holdouts may not have strict orders in place, but are adopting rules that are, in effect, the same.
Asked about details on his conversation with Biden, Trump says:
Fact check from the Guardian’s Kenya Evelyn on Trump’s test claims:
Trump claimed the US tested more people than any country in the world. But it’s unclear how he’s measuring that, whether total cases or per capita basis. While the US has overtaken South Korea in total numbers of coronavirus tests administered, it has conducted fewer tests per capita given the US population is over six times larger.
As of 6 April, the United States, with a population of 329 million, had administered at least 1,917,095 tests, according to the Covid Tracking Project, a group led by Alexis Madrigal, a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine, with more than 100 volunteers that compiles coronavirus testing data from states.
This equates to 582 tests per 100,000 people in the US (with huge variations depending on the county, city and state), compared with 709 tests per 100,000 in South Korea and 600 per 100,000 in Italy.
The US rate of testing has improved markedly in the last few days. On March 31 the rate was just 318 per 100,000.
Trump is now taking questions. First up about Boris Johnson. He says:
“I found Boris to be a fantastic person, a fantastic warm smart guy. He loves his country, you see that. He fought like hell for his country. Intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff...”
When asked about the news of the UK prime minister meant the White House would reconsider its own safety procedures, Trump said: “Mike had his test ... I had my test ... We’re here and here you are.” He said because of “questions like that”, the White House will probably do more tests, which he said are so “quick and easy”.
Trump, who previously said he wanted the country to open by Easter, is again striking an optimistic tone, saying, “We will rise from this crisis with more strength, unity and resolve... We’re going to have a rough week, but there’s tremendous light at the end of the tunnel.
Regarding reopening the country, he said, “It’s going to be sooner than people think.”
Experts have said the crisis will continue for much longer than a week.
Trump says the US has performed 1.79m tests across the US. He’s downplaying the shortage of tests in the country, which has caused major problems. Some background on how the shortage is playing out in California:Trump says the US has performed 1.79m tests across the US. He’s downplaying the shortage of tests in the country, which has caused major problems. Some background on how the shortage is playing out in California:
Trump took a jab at the Democratic governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, saying, “Governor Pritzker may not be happy when he talks to the press.”Trump took a jab at the Democratic governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, saying, “Governor Pritzker may not be happy when he talks to the press.”
The governor had criticized Trump earlier about his criticisms of states.The governor had criticized Trump earlier about his criticisms of states.
Trump on his conversation with Joe Biden today:Trump on his conversation with Joe Biden today:
Context on Trump’s claims that he is working with the FDA and companies are ready to assist London:
In the week beginning 30 March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided hydroxychloroquine with an “emergency use authorization” to use on coronavirus patients in some circumstances. State officials in New York have said that about 4,000 seriously ill patients are now being treated with the drug.
But critics point out a side effect is heart stoppage, meaning the drug is potentially deadly. Some medical experts have called for the drug to be used to treat the virus but others have warned of a need for more trials and controlled testing to avoid worsening the pandemic.
Trump says Fema and HHS have distributed 11.7m N95 respirators and emphasizes that this is a large number. He is now praising the private companies, including Apple and Salesforce, that have been donating supplies and helping states.
Trump says the governors “are extremely happy with what we are doing”. He also said social distancing is working and is again striking an optimistic tone about hospital beds, saying, “We’ll see whether or not our original projects are right.” Officials have warned that this might be one of the worst weeks yet for the Covid-19 outbreak in the US.
Trump also said he asked drug companies to “contact London” regarding Boris Johnon to see “if we can be of help”. The specifics of these conversations were unclear.
Trump said he is praying for Boris Johnson, the UK prime minster now in intensive care with coronavirus: “We are working with London with respect to Boris Johnson.”
Trump’s briefing has begun. Dr Anthony Fauci is present. Follow along for updates.
Michael Che of SNL has lost his grandmother to coronavirus, according to an Instagram post
From the Guardian’s global coronavirus blog, the British pound has dropped against the US dollar following news that the UK’s prime minister had been moved into intensive care:
Trump says the briefing will begin in 15 minutes:
While we wait for Trump’s briefing to begin, my colleague Abené Clayton in Oakland has this report on the push for California’s prisons to release older people and others at risk of death behind bars due to Covid-19: