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| Coronavirus US live: Trump reportedly tells governors to ‘call your own shots’ on reopening | Coronavirus US live: Trump reportedly tells governors to ‘call your own shots’ on reopening |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President appears to back down from previous claim he has ‘total’ authority to reopen US economy | President appears to back down from previous claim he has ‘total’ authority to reopen US economy |
| Fact check: Testing | |
| “South Korea has done a great job, but we’ve done more,” Trump said. | |
| Over all, the US had administered more than 3.4m coronavirus , according to the Covid Tracking Project. But compared to some other nations with high testing rates, including South Korea and Germany, we have tested a much smaller proportion of our population. | |
| From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329 million, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 138 people as of the first week of April. | |
| In comparison, South Korea, has administered 486,003 tests overall, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With a population of 51.5m, the country has tested about 1 in every 102 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. | |
| The UK, however, is behind, having tested only 1 in 230 people. | |
| In America, despite the recent increase in testing, backlogs are reported in labs across the country, and many people with symptoms — including health workers — are still struggling to access tests. | |
| Read more: | |
| Fact check: Has coronavirus peaked? | |
| Trump said the US has passed the peak in new cases; we’re now ready to start “life again” in a “safe and structured and very responsible fashion,” he said. | |
| Is he right? Maybe. | |
| The US is now firmly entrenched at the center of the global coronavirus outbreak, with more than 600,000 people confirmed as being infected by Covid-19 and more than 30,000 losing their lives due to the virus. | |
| There are hopes that the US is starting to hit a peak in terms of new infections, followed by a long plateau and then drop, which will open the way to a gradual restart of normal life such as the opening of schools and businesses. | |
| Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious diseases expert, has expressed “cautious optimism” that hospitalizations from the virus have started to slow down, although the rise in deaths will lag behind. “Once you turn that corner, hopefully we’ll see a very sharp decline,” Fauci said. On 13 April Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told NBC that “we are nearing the peak right now.” | |
| A model relied upon by the White House, from the University of Washington, estimates that the virus will “peter out” in May and then essentially grind to a halt by the summer. This is based on the experiences of China and Italy, previous coronavirus hotspots. | |
| But this model, like all predictions, is dynamic and depends upon the application of measures such as social distancing to slow the rate of transmission. Other forecasts have been more pessimistic, warning that it will be difficult to tame the spread of the virus until well after summer. Premature relaxation of restrictions on gatherings of people could see a second, much more severe, increase in infections. | |
| The sheer size of the US, as well as its large population, means that there will be several ‘peaks’ at different times across the country. While the situation may be starting to stabilize somewhat in New York, areas in the heart of the country have yet to see the worst of the virus.”That is going to be confusing for people,” said Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota. “If wow, New York had all these deaths and they are opening up, why aren’t we opening? That will be a communication challenge for us, but we have to just keep monitoring and see where we are going on this.” | |
| Fact check: Economic recovery | |
| Trump said the economy will “bouce back”. But will it? | |
| The current economic shutdown is something the US has imposed on itself, so opening it up again - as Trump wants - could theoretically improve what’s become a dire situation. | |
| Some 22 million people have so far been laid off or furloughed as non-essential businesses have been ordered closed to contain the spread of Covid-19 - not because the economy couldn’t support them. | |
| But - and it’s a big but - no country in living memory has shuttered its economy the way the US has now done. Economists say a “V” shaped recovery - a sharp drop and bounce back - looks increasingly unlikely. | |
| The global economic damage wrought by the pandemic will likely take months, if not longer, to unwind. The International Monetary Fund believes the recession will be the worst that the world has seen since the 1930s. And any true recovery will be dependent on more testing, a vaccine or a cure - none of which are likely to arrive soon. | |
| Read more: | |
| Fact check: Testing | |
| “We’ve done the most advanced and robust testing of anywhere in the world,” Trump said. | |
| In fact, some of the initial coronavirus tests sent out to states were seriously flawed. Part of the problem came from the CDC shunning the World Health Organization (WHO) template for tests, and insisted on developing a more complicated version that correctly identified Covid-19, but also flagged other viruses - resulting in false positives. | |
| 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. | |
| Trump is addresing steps he’s taken to “beat the invisible enemy”. He called coronavirus a “cruel” illness from “a distant land”. | |
| Trump reportedly dodged a call from a Republican governor about whether the US is ramping up production of syringes to prepare for distribution of the eventual coronavirus vaccine. | Trump reportedly dodged a call from a Republican governor about whether the US is ramping up production of syringes to prepare for distribution of the eventual coronavirus vaccine. |
| The question came during Trump’s call with governors this afternoon, during which the president previewed the federal guidelines on reopening the economy that he will unveil during his press conference. | |
| The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: | The Guardian’s Vivian Ho reports on the latest from California: |
| California governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday offering two weeks paid sick leave for food workers. | California governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday offering two weeks paid sick leave for food workers. |
| The order covers workers throughout the food supply chain, from agriculture to food distribution plants to grocery stores and fast food shops. Anyone who has tested positive or been exposed or has been ordered to quarantine or isolate will be allowed to take two weeks off at minimum and still receive pay, Newsom said. | The order covers workers throughout the food supply chain, from agriculture to food distribution plants to grocery stores and fast food shops. Anyone who has tested positive or been exposed or has been ordered to quarantine or isolate will be allowed to take two weeks off at minimum and still receive pay, Newsom said. |
| “We just want folks to know that they don’t have to work when they’re sick if they’ve been exposed, quarantined, been told to isolate or have a positive test of covid-19,” Newsom said. | “We just want folks to know that they don’t have to work when they’re sick if they’ve been exposed, quarantined, been told to isolate or have a positive test of covid-19,” Newsom said. |
| “And I think all of us would agree that people delivering the food, people picking the food, people that are cooking the food and are serving the food, all of us would prefer that they’re safe and healthy as well. It’s in all of our interests that we prioritize the interests of these critical and essential workers.” | “And I think all of us would agree that people delivering the food, people picking the food, people that are cooking the food and are serving the food, all of us would prefer that they’re safe and healthy as well. It’s in all of our interests that we prioritize the interests of these critical and essential workers.” |
| Newsom noted that some food workers may have not access to basic amenities like paid sick care, and that this executive order would act as a way to remedy that. He pointed to a food distribution center in San Joaquin Valley with more than 1,700 employees, where recently 51 workers tested positive for coronavirus and one died. | Newsom noted that some food workers may have not access to basic amenities like paid sick care, and that this executive order would act as a way to remedy that. He pointed to a food distribution center in San Joaquin Valley with more than 1,700 employees, where recently 51 workers tested positive for coronavirus and one died. |
| “It just reinforces the anxiety that people have that may not have basic care, basic sick leave,” he said. | “It just reinforces the anxiety that people have that may not have basic care, basic sick leave,” he said. |
| There were 26,182 positive cases in California as of Thursday, as well as 890 deaths. | There were 26,182 positive cases in California as of Thursday, as well as 890 deaths. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Trump will soon unveil federal guidelines on reopening the economy. On a call this afternoon with the nation’s governors, Trump reportedly told the state leaders to “call your own shots” on when to reopen, a marked reversal from the president, who claimed days ago that he had “total” authority to reopen the economy. | Trump will soon unveil federal guidelines on reopening the economy. On a call this afternoon with the nation’s governors, Trump reportedly told the state leaders to “call your own shots” on when to reopen, a marked reversal from the president, who claimed days ago that he had “total” authority to reopen the economy. |
| Seven midwestern states are forming a pact to devise a regional plan on reopening. The pact, announced by the states’ governors today, mirrors similar efforts on the east and west coasts and somewhat pre-empted Trump’s announcement on the new federal gudelines. | Seven midwestern states are forming a pact to devise a regional plan on reopening. The pact, announced by the states’ governors today, mirrors similar efforts on the east and west coasts and somewhat pre-empted Trump’s announcement on the new federal gudelines. |
| The Democratic chairman of the House rules committee recommended remote voting. Congressman Jim McGovern proposed allowing members to vote by proxy as a temporary measure to protect those lawmakers at higher risk of developing serious illness from coronavirus. | The Democratic chairman of the House rules committee recommended remote voting. Congressman Jim McGovern proposed allowing members to vote by proxy as a temporary measure to protect those lawmakers at higher risk of developing serious illness from coronavirus. |
| New York extended its stay-at-home order until May 15. Several other cities and states -- including Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Wisconsin -- have similarly announced that non-essential businesses and schools will remain closed for at least several more weeks. | New York extended its stay-at-home order until May 15. Several other cities and states -- including Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Wisconsin -- have similarly announced that non-essential businesses and schools will remain closed for at least several more weeks. |
| Another 5.24 million people filed for unemployment last week, according to the latest report from the labor department. More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks. | Another 5.24 million people filed for unemployment last week, according to the latest report from the labor department. More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks. |
| Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| The Senate has adjourned its pro forma session without an agreement on replenishing funds for the Paycheck Protection Program. | The Senate has adjourned its pro forma session without an agreement on replenishing funds for the Paycheck Protection Program. |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said lawmakers had made “absolutely no progress” on reaching a deal and expressed hope that Democrats “will come around.” | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said lawmakers had made “absolutely no progress” on reaching a deal and expressed hope that Democrats “will come around.” |
| But Democrats have accused Republicans of playing politics as they seek to add more funds for hospitals and state and local governments, as well as the small business loan program, to the unanimous consent bill. | But Democrats have accused Republicans of playing politics as they seek to add more funds for hospitals and state and local governments, as well as the small business loan program, to the unanimous consent bill. |
| Senators’ next chance to pass the bill will be on Monday, when the next pro forma session is gaveled in. | Senators’ next chance to pass the bill will be on Monday, when the next pro forma session is gaveled in. |
| Trump reportedly shared a document called Opening Up America with governors moments ago, as the president and the state leaders held a conference call on reopening the economy. | Trump reportedly shared a document called Opening Up America with governors moments ago, as the president and the state leaders held a conference call on reopening the economy. |
| The document lays out three phases of reopening, gradually easing social distancing guidelines as the country works to get the virus under control. | The document lays out three phases of reopening, gradually easing social distancing guidelines as the country works to get the virus under control. |
| There do not appear to be any dates attached to each of the phases, indicating Trump is recognizing governors will have the final say on when to ease stay-at-home orders. | There do not appear to be any dates attached to each of the phases, indicating Trump is recognizing governors will have the final say on when to ease stay-at-home orders. |
| Interestingly, Phase 3 of the reopening still advises vulnerable populations to practice physical distancing and urges other individuals to minimize time spent in crowded spaces. | Interestingly, Phase 3 of the reopening still advises vulnerable populations to practice physical distancing and urges other individuals to minimize time spent in crowded spaces. |