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| Coronavirus US news: Trump holds daily briefing as New York sees record daily death toll | Coronavirus US news: Trump holds daily briefing as New York sees record daily death toll |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Governor says state recorded 799 deaths Wednesday, but it recorded lowest number of new hospitalizations since crisis began | Governor says state recorded 799 deaths Wednesday, but it recorded lowest number of new hospitalizations since crisis began |
| The coronavirus briefing has ended. | |
| Fact check: flu comparisons | |
| Mike Pence said that “we’ve known from the beginning that this at least three times more contagious than the flu. And, I believe that fact alone has informed our projections and the modeling.” | |
| But the president has often compared coronavirus to the flu, from the beginning. In late March, Trump complained about distancing measures on Fox News. “We’ve never closed down the country for the flu,” he said. | |
| On March 9, he tweeted, “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on.” | |
| On February 26, he said, “I mean, view this the same as the flu. When somebody sneezes — I mean, I try and bail out as much as possible when they’re sneezing. “ | |
| A moment for fashion, and recognizing the importance of the world “global” in “global health”: | |
| Fact check: Oil market | |
| Trump repeatedly said that the oil market lost 40% of demand due to the Covid-19 crisis, but multiple reports say that the drop in demand worldwide is around 25% to 30%. | |
| The drop is still massive, largely due to the global halt in flights, and has put major oil-producing countries on edge. Today, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), excluding the United States, reportedly agreed on a cut in production to stop the steepening of oil prices. The US cannot force cuts on its oil manufacturers as easily as other countries, though countries like Russia are pressuring the US to consider taking measures to cut production. | |
| Dr. Fauci, on what it could mean to “reopen” the country: | |
| “Often, people say re-open the government, like it’s a light switch on-and-off for the entire country. We have a very large country with really different patterns of disease and outbreaks in different parts of the country. So, it’s not going to be a one size fits all.” | |
| It’s worth noting here that the federal government doesn’t have the power to “switch on” the economy all at once. States, counties and cities ultimately have a lot of authority to enforce distancing measures for as long as they deem necessary. | |
| Coronavirus testing by age: | Coronavirus testing by age: |
| Dr. Birx presented the following numbers on testing nationally. | Dr. Birx presented the following numbers on testing nationally. |
| People younger than 25: 200,000 have been tested of which 11% tested positive | People younger than 25: 200,000 have been tested of which 11% tested positive |
| Age 25-45: 500,000 were tested, 17% were positive | Age 25-45: 500,000 were tested, 17% were positive |
| Age 45-65: 500,000 were tested, 21% were positive | Age 45-65: 500,000 were tested, 21% were positive |
| Age 65-85: 200,000 were tested, 22% were positive | Age 65-85: 200,000 were tested, 22% were positive |
| People older than 85: 30,000 tested, 24% were positive | People older than 85: 30,000 tested, 24% were positive |
| Dr. Anthony Fauci provided some good news with the bad. | Dr. Anthony Fauci provided some good news with the bad. |
| This has been a very bad week in terms of the number of deaths, he said. At the same time, “we’re seeing a rather dramatic decrease in the need for hospitalization” in New Yor, he said. “That means what we are doing is working, and therefore we need to continue.” | This has been a very bad week in terms of the number of deaths, he said. At the same time, “we’re seeing a rather dramatic decrease in the need for hospitalization” in New Yor, he said. “That means what we are doing is working, and therefore we need to continue.” |
| More women than men are getting tested for coronavirus, but more men test positive for the virus, said Dr. Deborah Birx. That suggests that men may not report symptoms or get help until they’re much sicker, she said. Once they finally do get to a health provider, they already have the virus. | More women than men are getting tested for coronavirus, but more men test positive for the virus, said Dr. Deborah Birx. That suggests that men may not report symptoms or get help until they’re much sicker, she said. Once they finally do get to a health provider, they already have the virus. |
| She asked men to seek help as soon as they think they needed it, rather than waiting. | She asked men to seek help as soon as they think they needed it, rather than waiting. |
| Pence said that White House officials are looking at whether health workers can wear reusable cloth gowns, instead of disposable ones, which are running out. Hospitals may have to “recycle gowns” to stretch their supplies, Pence said. More guidelines are forthcoming, he said. | Pence said that White House officials are looking at whether health workers can wear reusable cloth gowns, instead of disposable ones, which are running out. Hospitals may have to “recycle gowns” to stretch their supplies, Pence said. More guidelines are forthcoming, he said. |
| Mike Pence says the administration is “on the timetable” to send out the first round of stimulus checks by the end of next week. Many Americans will receive up to $1,200. | Mike Pence says the administration is “on the timetable” to send out the first round of stimulus checks by the end of next week. Many Americans will receive up to $1,200. |
| Fact check: Testing again | Fact check: Testing again |
| More from Trump on testing: “Do you need it? No. Is it a nice thing to do? Yes,” he said. “We’re talking about 325 million people and that’s not going to happen, as you can imagine. And it would never happen with anyone else either.” | More from Trump on testing: “Do you need it? No. Is it a nice thing to do? Yes,” he said. “We’re talking about 325 million people and that’s not going to happen, as you can imagine. And it would never happen with anyone else either.” |
| Politico recently reported on a plan developed by two former FDA commissioners, Mark McClellan and Scott Gottlieb, to reopen the economy — it hinged on widespread testing and a vast expansion of the United States’ public health system. | Politico recently reported on a plan developed by two former FDA commissioners, Mark McClellan and Scott Gottlieb, to reopen the economy — it hinged on widespread testing and a vast expansion of the United States’ public health system. |
| Serology or antibody tests – which can help detect if a person’s immune system has faced off against Covid-19 and recovered from it — could also help public health officials know when to ease back distancing and reopen businesses. “It’s really important to test for immunity,” Robert Siegel, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University, told the Guardian, because people who are immune could return to work without endangering themselves or others. “They could more safely work as frontline healthcare providers,” Siegel said. | Serology or antibody tests – which can help detect if a person’s immune system has faced off against Covid-19 and recovered from it — could also help public health officials know when to ease back distancing and reopen businesses. “It’s really important to test for immunity,” Robert Siegel, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University, told the Guardian, because people who are immune could return to work without endangering themselves or others. “They could more safely work as frontline healthcare providers,” Siegel said. |
| Fact check: US stockpile of hydroxychloroquine | Fact check: US stockpile of hydroxychloroquine |
| Trump said that the US has “purchased and stockpiled millions and millions of doses” of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump has been touting as a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19. Medical experts, including the US National Institute of Health’s Anthony Fauci, has said there is no clinical evidence yet that the drug can effectively treat the disease. | Trump said that the US has “purchased and stockpiled millions and millions of doses” of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump has been touting as a game-changer in the fight against Covid-19. Medical experts, including the US National Institute of Health’s Anthony Fauci, has said there is no clinical evidence yet that the drug can effectively treat the disease. |
| Clinical trials have only recently begun. The US does have a hefty stockpile of the drug thanks to a recent donation from drugmaker Novartis, who said early last week that Sandoz, its generic drug division, will donate 30m doses of the medicine to the federal government. Novartis said in a press release that the doses of the drug will be used for controlled clinical studies to test the drug’s effectiveness against covid-19. | Clinical trials have only recently begun. The US does have a hefty stockpile of the drug thanks to a recent donation from drugmaker Novartis, who said early last week that Sandoz, its generic drug division, will donate 30m doses of the medicine to the federal government. Novartis said in a press release that the doses of the drug will be used for controlled clinical studies to test the drug’s effectiveness against covid-19. |
| Fact check: Ventilator shortages | Fact check: Ventilator shortages |
| “We’re in good shape,” Trump said. “You’re not hearing of people needing ventilators much.” | “We’re in good shape,” Trump said. “You’re not hearing of people needing ventilators much.” |
| It is true that some states have ended up with more ventilators than they think they need. California has loaned 500 ventilators to states like New York. California hospitals managed to increase their stock from 7,500 machines to more than 11,000, according to the state’s governor Gavin Newsom. “That has put less strain and pressure on the state’s effort to procure additional ventilators,” Newsom said. | It is true that some states have ended up with more ventilators than they think they need. California has loaned 500 ventilators to states like New York. California hospitals managed to increase their stock from 7,500 machines to more than 11,000, according to the state’s governor Gavin Newsom. “That has put less strain and pressure on the state’s effort to procure additional ventilators,” Newsom said. |
| However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a national shortage. The US has roughly 173,000 ventilators, according to the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University. Experts from Harvard Medical School predict that the US could end up needing 31 times that number to treat coronavirus patients. | However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a national shortage. The US has roughly 173,000 ventilators, according to the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University. Experts from Harvard Medical School predict that the US could end up needing 31 times that number to treat coronavirus patients. |
| Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City said hospitals there would run out of the machines this week, and the number of cases continue to grow. | Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City said hospitals there would run out of the machines this week, and the number of cases continue to grow. |
| Asked how the country could reopen without an effective national system for coronavirus testing, Trump responded that “there are certain sections of the country that are in phenomenal shape already.” He didn’t specify what those areas are. | Asked how the country could reopen without an effective national system for coronavirus testing, Trump responded that “there are certain sections of the country that are in phenomenal shape already.” He didn’t specify what those areas are. |
| Public health experts have said that widespread testing is a key precursor to easing back social distancing measures. | Public health experts have said that widespread testing is a key precursor to easing back social distancing measures. |
| Trump also said that the US will soon be doing “massive testing”, even though it’s not necessary, wihout providing any further detail on what that entails. | Trump also said that the US will soon be doing “massive testing”, even though it’s not necessary, wihout providing any further detail on what that entails. |
| Fact check: Temporary hospitals | Fact check: Temporary hospitals |
| Trump said that Army Corps of Engineers have built 21 temporary hospitals nationwide, making up an additional 17,000 beds. | Trump said that Army Corps of Engineers have built 21 temporary hospitals nationwide, making up an additional 17,000 beds. |
| But according to a government press statement released yesterday, the Army Corps of Engineers has so far constructed 17 facilities, totaling 14,579 beds. Another 23 facilities made up of 8,571 beds are pending. | But according to a government press statement released yesterday, the Army Corps of Engineers has so far constructed 17 facilities, totaling 14,579 beds. Another 23 facilities made up of 8,571 beds are pending. |
| Donald Trump said he’s going to take a few questions from reporters before returning to negotiations on oil and air travel. His conversation with Vladimir Putin and Mohammed Bin Salman was “very good,” he said. They’re “getting close to a deal” and “getting along very well.” | Donald Trump said he’s going to take a few questions from reporters before returning to negotiations on oil and air travel. His conversation with Vladimir Putin and Mohammed Bin Salman was “very good,” he said. They’re “getting close to a deal” and “getting along very well.” |
| “We’re going to see what happens, but it was a very good call,” Trump said. | “We’re going to see what happens, but it was a very good call,” Trump said. |
| Fact check: Testing | Fact check: Testing |
| “Our tests are highly sophisticated,” Trump said, once again repeating a line that the US has done more testing than other countries. | “Our tests are highly sophisticated,” Trump said, once again repeating a line that the US has done more testing than other countries. |
| While the US has ramped up testing, it still lags behind other countries, including South Korea and Germany. South Korea has administered 486,003 tests, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 113 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 90 people. | While the US has ramped up testing, it still lags behind other countries, including South Korea and Germany. South Korea has administered 486,003 tests, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 113 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 90 people. |
| Meanwhile, the United States, with a population of 329 million, had administered at least 1,951,044 tests, according to the Atlantic’s Covid Tracking Project — so the US has tested about 1 in every 168 people. | Meanwhile, the United States, with a population of 329 million, had administered at least 1,951,044 tests, according to the Atlantic’s Covid Tracking Project — so the US has tested about 1 in every 168 people. |