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Coronavirus latest news: death toll in Italy passes 20,000; more than 1.87m cases reported worldwide Coronavirus latest news: death toll in Italy passes 20,000; more than 1.87m cases reported worldwide
(32 minutes later)
Spain records another drop in daily death toll; Singapore sees biggest daily jump in infections; China reports highest daily cases in over five weeksSpain records another drop in daily death toll; Singapore sees biggest daily jump in infections; China reports highest daily cases in over five weeks
As Trump continues to boast of his success in managing the coronavirus pandemic in the US – the epicentre of the crisis worldwide, with 400,000 more confirmed cases than Spain, the next worst-affected country – 42 residents of a Virginia nursing home near Richmond have died from the Covid-19 disease pandemic in one of the worst clusters of the new coronavirus in the United States, and officials expect more deaths to come. At least 127 elderly people out of the 163 residents of the Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Henrico County have tested positive for the new coronavirus in recent weeks, said its medical director Dr. James Wright. News reports say the latest two people died in the last three days.
“It’s been tough,” Wright, 56, said in an interview with Reuters. “We were surprised by how quickly this went through,” he said. Wright told media at a recent news conference: “It’s a battle that at times we feel like we’re losing. It’s a battle that we have to fight every day and night, seven days a week.” At least 35 members of Canterbury’s staff have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday, but Wright said he did not know how many have fallen ill. But he said the virus has exacerbated an existing staffing shortage, with some staffers refusing to come to work for fear of getting ill. “We did the best we could,” he said.
President Donald Trump has said repeatedly during this briefing that his administration was close to completing a plan to re-open the US economy, which has been largely shut down to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Trump noted that the number of deaths from the virus in the United States had begun to plateau, indicating that “social distancing” efforts had succeeded. State governors, meanwhile, appear to be discussing plans to resume economic activity without seeking input from the Trump administration. Nine states on the US East and West coasts said on Monday they had begun planning for the slow reopening of their economies and lifting of strict stay-at-home orders. Pressed on the question of whether governors or the federal government would make the decision to re-open schools and closed businesses, the president said that he had ultimate authority. “The president of the United States calls the shots,” Trump said. “That being said, we’re going to work with the states.”
Meanwhile on CNN:
The president said that he’ll decide by the end of the week whether the US will continue to fund the World Health Organization (WHO). The international body has been a frequent scapegoat for Trump, who blames WHO officials for the severity of the pandemic.
He also referred to the WHO and the World Trade Organization as the Bobbsey Twins, characters from children’s books first published in 1904.
Read more here on why WHO’s responsibility far outweighs its power and capacity:
Vice President Mike Pence is speaking now:
As Steve Mnuchin leaves the podium Trump says “Phase 4 Steve, Phase 4, come on Steve,” referring to the Phase 4 bill of the economic stimulus package, which Mnuchin is leaving the press briefing to negotiate.
You can get in touch with me on Twitter @helenrsullivan. Thanks to those who have sent news and tips today so far – they’ve been helpful.
Trump says we’ll know “in the next few days” whether he wants to reopen the country on 1 May.
The US has 577,307 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 23,232 people have died.
Trump is asked whether he will assure people that he will take the advice of health exerts. He says he absolutely will. Asked whether he would ever go against their advice he says, “I don’t think it would be very likely because I think we’ll be on the same page.”
Trump is being asked now about his powers over states.Trump is being asked now about his powers over states.
My colleague Maanvi Singh is ready again with a fact check:My colleague Maanvi Singh is ready again with a fact check:
“I have the ultimate authority” to re-open the country and scale back distancing measures, Trump claimed. He was wrong.“I have the ultimate authority” to re-open the country and scale back distancing measures, Trump claimed. He was wrong.
That is not correct. University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck has countered that: “The president has no formal legal authority to categorically override local or state shelter-in-place orders or to reopen schools and small businesses.”That is not correct. University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck has countered that: “The president has no formal legal authority to categorically override local or state shelter-in-place orders or to reopen schools and small businesses.”
Trump himself has said that state governors are — and should be — ultimately responsible for managing state shelter-in-place orders.Trump himself has said that state governors are — and should be — ultimately responsible for managing state shelter-in-place orders.
When previously asked about whether he would issue a national stay at home order, the president repeatedly deferred to the governors.When previously asked about whether he would issue a national stay at home order, the president repeatedly deferred to the governors.
Today, the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut announced they had formed a regional advisory council. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said each state would name a public health official and an economic development official to serve on a working group alongside each governor’s chief of staff to design a “reopening plan” for their states.Today, the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut announced they had formed a regional advisory council. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said each state would name a public health official and an economic development official to serve on a working group alongside each governor’s chief of staff to design a “reopening plan” for their states.
Shortly afterward, the states of California, Washington and Oregon announced a similar plan.Shortly afterward, the states of California, Washington and Oregon announced a similar plan.
Asked whether he believes the country should be reopened on 1 May, Mnuchin dodges the question and says he knows the president is very keen to reopen the country, and his own advice is to listen to medical professionals and open when it’s safe.Asked whether he believes the country should be reopened on 1 May, Mnuchin dodges the question and says he knows the president is very keen to reopen the country, and his own advice is to listen to medical professionals and open when it’s safe.
Trump is speaking again. “I think we’re going to – Boom! I think it’s going to go quickly,” he says of whether reopening will happen gradually or all at once. Right before that he said “eventually, eventually” of whether people would be able to return to cinemas, malls and so on.Trump is speaking again. “I think we’re going to – Boom! I think it’s going to go quickly,” he says of whether reopening will happen gradually or all at once. Right before that he said “eventually, eventually” of whether people would be able to return to cinemas, malls and so on.
Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is asked what emergency he needs to leave the press conference for – this was something Trump said.Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is asked what emergency he needs to leave the press conference for – this was something Trump said.
Mnuchin says it’s to head to negotiations for a further US$250bn in a bipartisan bill for small business relief.Mnuchin says it’s to head to negotiations for a further US$250bn in a bipartisan bill for small business relief.
A few minutes ago Trump said:A few minutes ago Trump said:
“We inherited a stockpile where the cupboards were bare,” seeking to blame the Obama administration for a lack of adequate resources tackle the coronavirus pandemic.“We inherited a stockpile where the cupboards were bare,” seeking to blame the Obama administration for a lack of adequate resources tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
My colleague Maanvi Singh has her fact check at the ready below:My colleague Maanvi Singh has her fact check at the ready below:
At the White House Press Briefing, treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is speaking now.At the White House Press Briefing, treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin is speaking now.
“We are ahead of schedule delivering the economic payments... We expect that 80 million hardworking Americans will get the payment this Wednesday.”“We are ahead of schedule delivering the economic payments... We expect that 80 million hardworking Americans will get the payment this Wednesday.”
Back to the US now.Back to the US now.
In case you missed it: earlier today, Bernie Sanders endorsed Joe Biden’s bid for president. The announcement comes five days after Sanders withdrew from the Democratic primary, and the former candidate told his supporters today, “We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president.”In case you missed it: earlier today, Bernie Sanders endorsed Joe Biden’s bid for president. The announcement comes five days after Sanders withdrew from the Democratic primary, and the former candidate told his supporters today, “We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president.”
A quick break from Trump now.A quick break from Trump now.
In the UK, The Times is reporting that “British foreign minister Dominic Raab is set to announce on Thursday that the lockdown in the country will stay in place until at least 7 May,” according to Reuters.In the UK, The Times is reporting that “British foreign minister Dominic Raab is set to announce on Thursday that the lockdown in the country will stay in place until at least 7 May,” according to Reuters.
We’ll to bring you more on this soon.We’ll to bring you more on this soon.
Over and over again, Trump is touting his travel restrictions, which he’s referring to as a “ban on China” as evidence that he acted early, and saved lives. We’ve already fact-checked this claim, below — there’s no evidence that the travel restrictions would have made a difference because they were enacted after the virus was already spreading within the US.Over and over again, Trump is touting his travel restrictions, which he’s referring to as a “ban on China” as evidence that he acted early, and saved lives. We’ve already fact-checked this claim, below — there’s no evidence that the travel restrictions would have made a difference because they were enacted after the virus was already spreading within the US.
Moreover, the administration’s travel policy did not “ban” travel to and from China. Although non-US citizens were prohibited from entering the country if they had traveled to China within the previous two weeks, American citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members were exempt.Moreover, the administration’s travel policy did not “ban” travel to and from China. Although non-US citizens were prohibited from entering the country if they had traveled to China within the previous two weeks, American citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members were exempt.
Per a New York Times analysis, “Since Chinese officials disclosed the outbreak of a mysterious pneumonialike illness to international health officials on New Year’s Eve, at least 430,000 people have arrived in the United States on direct flights from China, including nearly 40,000 in the two months after President Trump imposed restrictions on such travel, according to an analysis of data collected in both countries.”Per a New York Times analysis, “Since Chinese officials disclosed the outbreak of a mysterious pneumonialike illness to international health officials on New Year’s Eve, at least 430,000 people have arrived in the United States on direct flights from China, including nearly 40,000 in the two months after President Trump imposed restrictions on such travel, according to an analysis of data collected in both countries.”
Trump says “nobody who needed a ventilator didn’t get a ventilator”.Trump says “nobody who needed a ventilator didn’t get a ventilator”.
Earlier he said, “Nobody is asking for ventilators.”Earlier he said, “Nobody is asking for ventilators.”
Below a fact check from my colleague Maanvi Singh:Below a fact check from my colleague Maanvi Singh:
It is true that some states, so far, have ended up with more ventilators than they originally projected they would 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, so far, have ended up with more ventilators than they originally projected they would 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.
An article in the New England Journal of Medicine published on Wednesday 25 March categorically concluded that the US does not have enough ventilators to treat patients with Covid-19 in the coming months.An article in the New England Journal of Medicine published on Wednesday 25 March categorically concluded that the US does not have enough ventilators to treat patients with Covid-19 in the coming months.
You can watch the White House task force press briefing live here:You can watch the White House task force press briefing live here: