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Coronavirus US live: Andrew Cuomo gives update as cases and deaths rise in New York Coronavirus US live: Andrew Cuomo says New York may be hitting apex of crisis
(30 minutes later)
The governor of New York holds his daily press briefing on the state’s response to Covid-19 as hospitals deal with surge in cases The governor of New York noted the state’s death rate has stayed relatively flat for two days, but warned healthcare system remains overwhelmed
Here’s where the day stands so far:
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the state may be starting to hit the apex of its coronavirus crisis. But the governor extended the state’s “stay at home” order until April 29, emphasizing that this is not the time to be lax about social distancing guidelines.
Trump expressed optimism about the situation even as experts warned this would be the worst week yet. The president tweeted about seeing a “light at the end of the tunnel,” even though the surgeon general said yesterday that this week would be “our Pearl Harbor moment.”
Peter Navarro defended the use of an anti-malaria drug to fight coronavirus after arguing with Dr Anthony Fauci about the treatment. Navarro told CNN this morning that studies indicate the drug hydroxychloroquine can help coronavirus patients recover, even though experts like Fauci have said the evidence is anecdotal at best. Navarro acknowledged he and Fauci argued about this drug this weekend, confirming earlier reports of a contentious exchange in the Situation Room.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced new guidelines to “reduce the physical presence of Members and staff in the Capitol.”
“Beginning Tuesday, staff must electronically submit all Floor documents – including bills, resolutions, co-sponsors and extensions of remarks – to a dedicated and secure email system, rather than deliver these materials by hand to staff in the Speaker’s Lobby or Cloakrooms,” Pelosi said in a “Dear Colleague” letter.
The speaker said the policy would be in effect until at least April 19, as the House is not expected to return to session until April 20 at the earliest.
Pelosi has previously ruled out the possibility of having House members participate in remote voting, even after several members announced they were diagnosed with coronavirus.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo just wrapped up his daily briefing on the state’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
Here’s some of what he said:
New York has confirmed 130,869 cases of coronavirus and 4,758 deaths, far more than any other US state.
Cuomo said the state may be starting to hit the apex of the crisis. He noted the death rate has stayed relatively flat for the past two days, but he warned that the state’s healthcare system remains overwhelmed.
The state’s “stay at home” order has been extended until April 29. All schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed for at least another three weeks.
Cuomo doubled the fine for violating the “stay at home” order. The governor said he has seen an alarming “laxness” toward social distancing guidelines in recent days and urged residents against engaging in “reckless” behavior that could endanger someone else’s life.
Cuomo is asking Trump to allow the Navy hospital ship Comfort to start receiving coronavirus patients. The hospital ship, which arrived in New York Harbor last week, was originally supposed to take non-coronavirus patients, but the ship has received few patients because there have not been many non-coronavirus cases since the crisis started. Cuomo said he would ask the president to allow the hospital ship to start accepting coronavirus patients to relieve pressure on New York’s overwhelmed emergency rooms.
Melissa DeRosa, secretary to New York governor Andrew Cuomo, said the state is working with Google to help break the logjam causing issues with filing unemployment claims.Melissa DeRosa, secretary to New York governor Andrew Cuomo, said the state is working with Google to help break the logjam causing issues with filing unemployment claims.
DeRosa ackowledged residents’ frustration with the website glitches but asked for patient because of the number of claims trying to be filed.DeRosa ackowledged residents’ frustration with the website glitches but asked for patient because of the number of claims trying to be filed.
She noted that the biggest single day for the unemployment website during the financial crisis was 13,000 claims. The state saw six times that number two days ago.She noted that the biggest single day for the unemployment website during the financial crisis was 13,000 claims. The state saw six times that number two days ago.
DeRosa also emphasized that once residents’ claims are processed, the benefits will apply backwards from the time of job loss.DeRosa also emphasized that once residents’ claims are processed, the benefits will apply backwards from the time of job loss.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the “stay at home” order needs to be enforced more strictly, after being asked about reports of Orthdox Jewish communities ignoring the social distancing restrictions to hold funerals.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the “stay at home” order needs to be enforced more strictly, after being asked about reports of Orthdox Jewish communities ignoring the social distancing restrictions to hold funerals.
“I don’t care if you’re Orthdox Jewish, Catholic, Christian Muslim,” Cuomo said. “It’s the job of local government to enforce.”“I don’t care if you’re Orthdox Jewish, Catholic, Christian Muslim,” Cuomo said. “It’s the job of local government to enforce.”
Cuomo noted he is doubling the fine for breaking the order because he is concerned about residents becoming more lax about social distancing.Cuomo noted he is doubling the fine for breaking the order because he is concerned about residents becoming more lax about social distancing.
“None of us has the right to be reckless in our own behavior,” Cuomo said. “Now is not the time to go to a funeral with 200 people.”“None of us has the right to be reckless in our own behavior,” Cuomo said. “Now is not the time to go to a funeral with 200 people.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo expressed surprise at New York City officials saying some bodies of coronavirus patients may need to be buried in parks because morgues are overwhelmed.New York governor Andrew Cuomo expressed surprise at New York City officials saying some bodies of coronavirus patients may need to be buried in parks because morgues are overwhelmed.
“I haven’t heard anything about the city burying people in parks,” Cuomo said. “I haven’t heard that there’s an issue.”“I haven’t heard anything about the city burying people in parks,” Cuomo said. “I haven’t heard that there’s an issue.”
The governor said he spoke to city officials yesterday. But a city councilman said this morning that they are looking at temporary burials in parks.The governor said he spoke to city officials yesterday. But a city councilman said this morning that they are looking at temporary burials in parks.
Governor Andrew Cuomo mourned the nearly 5,000 New Yorkers who have already died as a result of coronavirus.Governor Andrew Cuomo mourned the nearly 5,000 New Yorkers who have already died as a result of coronavirus.
But Cuomo celebrated the work of the state’s healthcare system, saying no one has died as a result of lack of access to medical equipment or staff.But Cuomo celebrated the work of the state’s healthcare system, saying no one has died as a result of lack of access to medical equipment or staff.
“The people we lost are the people we couldn’t save,” Cuomo said.“The people we lost are the people we couldn’t save,” Cuomo said.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced he was extending the state’s stay at home order until at least April 29.New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced he was extending the state’s stay at home order until at least April 29.
The state’s schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed for at least another three weeks.The state’s schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed for at least another three weeks.
Cuomo chastized residents who are not taking the order seriously, warning that there has been “a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, that is just wholly unacceptable.”Cuomo chastized residents who are not taking the order seriously, warning that there has been “a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, that is just wholly unacceptable.”
“Now is not the time to be lax,” Cuomo said. He added that he will be raising the fine for violating the order from $500 to $1,000, and he will be asking police officers to be “more aggressive on the enforcement” of the order.“Now is not the time to be lax,” Cuomo said. He added that he will be raising the fine for violating the order from $500 to $1,000, and he will be asking police officers to be “more aggressive on the enforcement” of the order.
“If it’s not about your life, you don’t have the right to risk someone else’s life,” Cuomo said to New Yorkers.“If it’s not about your life, you don’t have the right to risk someone else’s life,” Cuomo said to New Yorkers.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he is going to call Trump and ask him to start allowing the Navy hospital ship Comfort to begin receiving coronavirus patients.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he is going to call Trump and ask him to start allowing the Navy hospital ship Comfort to begin receiving coronavirus patients.
The Comfort arrived in New York Harbor last week, and the original plan was to have the hospital ship receive non-coronavirus patients.The Comfort arrived in New York Harbor last week, and the original plan was to have the hospital ship receive non-coronavirus patients.
But Cuomo noted there have not been many non-coronavirus cases since the crisis started. The New York Times reported last week that the Comfort had only received 20 patients since arriving, even though the city’s emergency rooms are overwhelmed.But Cuomo noted there have not been many non-coronavirus cases since the crisis started. The New York Times reported last week that the Comfort had only received 20 patients since arriving, even though the city’s emergency rooms are overwhelmed.
Cuomo said he will talk to Trump about the ship taking coronavirus patients to help relieve pressure on the city’s hospitals.Cuomo said he will talk to Trump about the ship taking coronavirus patients to help relieve pressure on the city’s hospitals.
New York officials said the state may be at the apex, or the beginning of the apex, of its coronavirus crisis.New York officials said the state may be at the apex, or the beginning of the apex, of its coronavirus crisis.
But governor Andrew Cuomo warned that this potential development is not all good news because the state’s healthcare system is stretched to a breaking point.But governor Andrew Cuomo warned that this potential development is not all good news because the state’s healthcare system is stretched to a breaking point.
“If we are plateauing, we are plateauing at a very high level,” Cuomo said. “Staying at this level is problenatic”“If we are plateauing, we are plateauing at a very high level,” Cuomo said. “Staying at this level is problenatic”
The governor also noted that if the crisis is starting to hit its apex, it’s because social distancing is working, which is why those restrictions need to remain in place for now.The governor also noted that if the crisis is starting to hit its apex, it’s because social distancing is working, which is why those restrictions need to remain in place for now.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo is holding his daily briefing on the state’s response to coronavirus as hospitals there deal with a surge in cases.New York governor Andrew Cuomo is holding his daily briefing on the state’s response to coronavirus as hospitals there deal with a surge in cases.
Cuomo said New York has now confirmed 130,869 cases of coronavirus and recorded 4,758 deaths linked to the virus.Cuomo said New York has now confirmed 130,869 cases of coronavirus and recorded 4,758 deaths linked to the virus.
Cuomo noted the death rate has been stable for the past two days, a positive sign considering the rate had been on the rise.Cuomo noted the death rate has been stable for the past two days, a positive sign considering the rate had been on the rise.
The Federal Communications Commission will not act on a request to investigate networks that air the White House coronavirus briefings, the agency’s chief of staff said in a tweet.The Federal Communications Commission will not act on a request to investigate networks that air the White House coronavirus briefings, the agency’s chief of staff said in a tweet.
Some of Trump’s critics have called on networks to stop carrying the briefings live because the president has repeatedly made false claims from the White House podium.Some of Trump’s critics have called on networks to stop carrying the briefings live because the president has repeatedly made false claims from the White House podium.
Trump mocked Joe Biden for saying the Democratic convention may have to be “virtual” to avoid spreading coronavirus during the event.
“Joe Biden wanted the date for the Democrat National Convention moved to a later time period. Now he wants a ‘Virtual’ Convention, one where he doesn’t have to show up,” Trump tweeted. “Gee, I wonder why?”
The Democratic National Committee announced last week that the convention would be delayed a month because of the pandemic, but Biden said officials should “follow the science” to determine how to proceed.
“Well, we’re going to have to do a convention. We may have to do a virtual convention. I think we should be thinking about that right now,” Biden told ABC News yesterday.
“We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place and that’s very possible. Again let’s see where it is -- and what we do between now and then is going to dictate a lot of that as well. But my point is that I think you just got to follow the science.”
Trump has dismissed any suggestion that the Republican convention in Charlotte will have to be canceled because of coronavirus, but the party’s hand could be forced if Democrats decide to hold a virtual convention.
California is donating 500 ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile to help states like New York confront a surge in coronavirus cases.
“California is stepping up to help our fellow Americans in New York and across the country who are being impacted the hardest right now by the COVID-19 pandemic,” California governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
“We still have a long road ahead of us in the Golden State – and we’re aggressively preparing for a surge – but we can’t turn our back on Americans whose lives depend on having a ventilator now. We’re meeting this moment with compassion. I know that if the tables were turned and we were experiencing a hospital surge, other states would come to our aid and provide ventilators just as we are today.”
California has confirmed more than 15,000 cases of coronavirus, while New York has seen more than 122,000 cases since the crisis started.
The acting Navy secretary lambasted Captain Brett Crozier, whose concerns about coronavirus were made public last week, in a speech to Crozier’s former crew.
According to a trasncript obtained by CNN, acting Navy secetary Thomas Modly said Crozier was either “too naive or too stupid” if he didn’t think the letter warning about a coronavirus outbreak would be made public.
Crozier, who was removed from his post as commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt last week, wrote in the letter that sailors on the ship must be allowed to quarantine to prevent further spread of coronavirus among crew members.
“We are not at war,” Crozier wrote in the letter, which was sent to more than 20 people. “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.”
Modly told the crew of the ship this morning, “If he didn’t think, in my opinion, that this information wasn’t going to get out to the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naïve or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this.” He added, “The alternative is that he did this on purpose.”
The small business loan program created by the stimulus package has processed $38 billion in loans since launching Friday, Larry Kudlow told CNBC this morning.
But that $38 billion represents a fraction of the $350 billion that the program is meant to disperse to small business owners.
The president’s top economic adviser acknowledged the program has not had a smooth rollout, as banks reported a deluge in applciations and business owners compalined about barriers to applying.
“The glitches will get worked,” Kudlow said. “It’s a monumental undertaking.”
New York will start temporarily burying bodies in parks as the city grapples with overrun morgues because of the coroanvirus crisis, city councilman Mark Levine said.
Levine also noted that the city is likely undercounting its coronavirus death toll because as many people are dying at home without receiving a test.
A Washington Post investigation showed the Trump administration missed key opportunities to prepare for the coronavirus crisis.
The Post reports:
Washington Post editor Marty Baron told CNN yesterday, “I think the most important finding is that the government didn’t act like this was a war from the very beginning. ... [The investigation] found that the government had failed all along the way. It did not pay attention to the seriousness of this pandemic but it was warned multiple times about it. It reacted very slowly, and was not acting as if it was wartime.”
Baron said that Trump specifically bore responsibility for the mishandled response. “Everything stems from the person at the top,” Baron said. “From the very beginning, he was being dismissive of this -- of the dangers here.”
As America braces for the worst week of the coronavirus crisis yet, experts say there is one bit of good news.
A projection on the pandemic shows the estmated number of overall deaths in the US has declined since last week.
Reuters reports:
Peter Navarro, Trump’s top trade adviser who has been tapped to oversee the administration’s implementation of the Defense Production Act amid the coronavirus crisis, got into a heated exchange over using an anti-malaria drug to fight the virus.
Navarro told CNN host John Berman that studies prove hydroxychloroquine can help coronavirus patients recover, even though experts say the evidence of the drug’s efficacy is anecdotal.
Reports emerged last night that Navarro got into a fight with Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, in the Situation Room on Saturday over using the drug.
Navarro acknowledged the fight in his CNN interview and said he told Fauci in response to his concerns about the anecdotal nature of the evidence, “I would have two words for you ‘second opinion.’”
The trade adviser also dubiously claimed his PhD in economics qualified him to have such medical debates with health experts like Fauci.
“Doctors disagree about things all the time,” Navarro told Berman. “My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I’m a social scientist. I have a PhD, and I understand how to read statistical studies.”
Trump defended the decision to allow cruise ships carrying passengers who have coronavirus to dock in Florida.
“For humanitarian reasons, the passengers from the two CoronaVirus stricken cruise ships have been given medical treatment and, when appropriate, allowed to disembark, under strict supervision,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Very carefully done. People we’re dying & no other countries would allow them to dock!”
The Coral Princess docked in Miami Saturday, a day after the Zandaam and its sister ship Rotterdam were allowed to unload passengers in Fort Lauderdale.
The question of whether to allow the ships to dock in Florida sparekd controversy, with Floriday governor Ron DeSantis saying he didn’t want sick passengers “dumped” in his state.
The Coral Princess was refused permission to dock in Fort Lauderdale Friday, and one of the ship’s two coronavirus deaths allegedly came as the coast guard refused to allow the ship to dock.
Good morning, live blog readers!
Donald Trump was expressing optimism over Twitter this morning, telling his followers that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel” as the country stares down the worst week yet in the coronavirus crisis.
The country is approaching 10,000 deaths in the pandemic, and more than 337,000 cases have already been confirmed.
Senior health experts in the administration warned the numbers would continue to climb in the next several days, with Dr Anthony Fauci saying yesterday that this is probably going to be “a very bad week”.
“The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It’s going to be our 9/11 moment,” surgeon general Jerome Adams told NBC News’ Meet the Press yesterday.
“It’s going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives, and we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part.”
So “the light at the end of the tunnel” that the president referred to still seems to be well off in the distance.