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| Coronavirus live: Trump holds briefing as governors ask for more help - as it happened | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Trump says ‘Governors must be able to step up while Cuomo says data shows NY is past the plateau but it’s ‘no time to relax’ | Trump says ‘Governors must be able to step up while Cuomo says data shows NY is past the plateau but it’s ‘no time to relax’ |
| Here’s a recap of Sunday’s major news lines: | Here’s a recap of Sunday’s major news lines: |
| New York mayor De Blasio asks if Trump is telling city to ‘drop dead’ over Covid-19. Mayor of city at center of coronavirus outbreak says not enough is being done to help finances of areas struck by pandemic. | New York mayor De Blasio asks if Trump is telling city to ‘drop dead’ over Covid-19. Mayor of city at center of coronavirus outbreak says not enough is being done to help finances of areas struck by pandemic. |
| Governors: Trump making ‘delusional’ comments on testing and restrictions. State leaders say they cannot embark on Trump’s three-phase program to ease stay-at-home orders without widespread testing. | Governors: Trump making ‘delusional’ comments on testing and restrictions. State leaders say they cannot embark on Trump’s three-phase program to ease stay-at-home orders without widespread testing. |
| Cuomo: ‘If the data holds, we are past the high point’. The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, says the total number of Covid-19 hospitalizations is down to 16,213, marking the sixth consecutive day that number has dropped. | Cuomo: ‘If the data holds, we are past the high point’. The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, says the total number of Covid-19 hospitalizations is down to 16,213, marking the sixth consecutive day that number has dropped. |
| Questions mount over Christian group behind Central Park Covid-19 hospital. Facility run by Trump ally Franklin Graham’s organization requires staff to sign statement opposing gay marriage | Questions mount over Christian group behind Central Park Covid-19 hospital. Facility run by Trump ally Franklin Graham’s organization requires staff to sign statement opposing gay marriage |
| Trump is asked whether he is inciting violence by calling for people to liberate states. | Trump is asked whether he is inciting violence by calling for people to liberate states. |
| “They’ve got cabin fever,” he says. “They want to get back. They want their life back. Their life was taken away from them. And you know, they learned a lot during this period. They learned to do things differently than they have in the past and they’ll do it hopefully until the virus has passed. And when the virus passes, I hope we’re going to be sitting next to each other at baseball games, football games, basketball games, ice hockey games. I hope we’re going to be sitting next to each other. The Masters is going to have 100,000 people, not 25 people waching at the course.” | “They’ve got cabin fever,” he says. “They want to get back. They want their life back. Their life was taken away from them. And you know, they learned a lot during this period. They learned to do things differently than they have in the past and they’ll do it hopefully until the virus has passed. And when the virus passes, I hope we’re going to be sitting next to each other at baseball games, football games, basketball games, ice hockey games. I hope we’re going to be sitting next to each other. The Masters is going to have 100,000 people, not 25 people waching at the course.” |
| He adds: “I’ve never seen so many American flags at a rally as I’ve seen at these rallies. These people love our country. They want to get back to work. | He adds: “I’ve never seen so many American flags at a rally as I’ve seen at these rallies. These people love our country. They want to get back to work. |
| Trump is asked why he is reading and showing clips full of praise for himself at a time when more than 22 million Americans are unemployed and more the 40,000 have died as a result of the coronavirus. | Trump is asked why he is reading and showing clips full of praise for himself at a time when more than 22 million Americans are unemployed and more the 40,000 have died as a result of the coronavirus. |
| “What I’m doing is I’m standing up for the men and women that have done such an incredible job,” he says. “Nothing is about me.” | “What I’m doing is I’m standing up for the men and women that have done such an incredible job,” he says. “Nothing is about me.” |
| “You’re never going to treat me fairly, many of you. And I understand that. I got here with the worst, most unfair press treatment they say in the history of the United States for a president. They did say Abraham Lincoln had very bad treatment, too.” | “You’re never going to treat me fairly, many of you. And I understand that. I got here with the worst, most unfair press treatment they say in the history of the United States for a president. They did say Abraham Lincoln had very bad treatment, too.” |
| That one is actually true. | That one is actually true. |
| Remember about a half hour ago when Trump played that excerpt from the New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press briefing only to complain the clip wasn’t long enough and the good parts were left out? We’re in luck. Someone on his team has gone and found the complete footage. | Remember about a half hour ago when Trump played that excerpt from the New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press briefing only to complain the clip wasn’t long enough and the good parts were left out? We’re in luck. Someone on his team has gone and found the complete footage. |
| The lights have gone down again and we’re watching Cuomo’s remark that no one in New York was denied a ventilator if they needed | The lights have gone down again and we’re watching Cuomo’s remark that no one in New York was denied a ventilator if they needed |
| Trump is asked what advice he would give to the many protesters who are against the government’s restrictions. | Trump is asked what advice he would give to the many protesters who are against the government’s restrictions. |
| “You’re allowed to protest,” he says, adding that “some governors have gone too far”. | “You’re allowed to protest,” he says, adding that “some governors have gone too far”. |
| He says he watched footage of the protests and was happy they were all practicing social distancing, which is very much not true. | He says he watched footage of the protests and was happy they were all practicing social distancing, which is very much not true. |
| Trump is in full stream-of-consciousness mode, very much in the spirit of his campaign rallies. | Trump is in full stream-of-consciousness mode, very much in the spirit of his campaign rallies. |
| He says the coronavirus has taught the nation an important lesson about the “supply chain” and the need to not have to rely on other countries in times of crisis. He then spends a few minutes criticizing trade policies with hard words for Nafta and the World Trade Organization. | He says the coronavirus has taught the nation an important lesson about the “supply chain” and the need to not have to rely on other countries in times of crisis. He then spends a few minutes criticizing trade policies with hard words for Nafta and the World Trade Organization. |
| “I want to read something I saw on television,” he says, before reading his own tweet from 19 Feburary off a large printed page. | “I want to read something I saw on television,” he says, before reading his own tweet from 19 Feburary off a large printed page. |
| And now the lights go down and Trump plays an excerpt from the New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press briefing earlier today. | And now the lights go down and Trump plays an excerpt from the New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press briefing earlier today. |
| After some initial technical difficulties, Cuomo’s words ring through the briefing room: “These were just extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization and the federal government stepped up and was a great partner and I’m the first person to say it. We needed help and they were there.” | After some initial technical difficulties, Cuomo’s words ring through the briefing room: “These were just extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization and the federal government stepped up and was a great partner and I’m the first person to say it. We needed help and they were there.” |
| After Trump returns to the dais, he complains the clip wasn’t long enough and the good parts were left out: “Do you want to put the rest of it up or do you not have it? I just think it’s good because it’s bipartisan.” | After Trump returns to the dais, he complains the clip wasn’t long enough and the good parts were left out: “Do you want to put the rest of it up or do you not have it? I just think it’s good because it’s bipartisan.” |
| After spending a few minutes reading from a Wall Street Journal op-ed praising his response to the pandemic, Trump points to the declining trajectory in new cases in the Seattle, Detroit, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Houston metro areas as “more evidence that our aggressive strategy is working”. | After spending a few minutes reading from a Wall Street Journal op-ed praising his response to the pandemic, Trump points to the declining trajectory in new cases in the Seattle, Detroit, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Houston metro areas as “more evidence that our aggressive strategy is working”. |
| “Who ever heard of a thing like this?” he asks, circling back to familiar talking points. “We would’ve had millions of people die if we didn’t do this. Millions of people.” | “Who ever heard of a thing like this?” he asks, circling back to familiar talking points. “We would’ve had millions of people die if we didn’t do this. Millions of people.” |
| Donald Trump opens today’s coronavirus task force press briefing by saying they are “close to a deal” with Democrats on the latest relief bill for small businesses and workers, which could be resolved as soon as tomorrow. | Donald Trump opens today’s coronavirus task force press briefing by saying they are “close to a deal” with Democrats on the latest relief bill for small businesses and workers, which could be resolved as soon as tomorrow. |
| He then says 4.18 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus. “That’s a record anywhere in the world,” Trump says. “More total tests than all the following nations combined: France, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, Austria, Australia, Sweden and Canada.” | He then says 4.18 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus. “That’s a record anywhere in the world,” Trump says. “More total tests than all the following nations combined: France, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, Austria, Australia, Sweden and Canada.” |
| Trump says there is a “tremendous capacity” for testing before showing off a medical swab, likening it to a Q-tip. “We have ordered a lot of them,” he said, but notes that some states “don’t know where they are”. | Trump says there is a “tremendous capacity” for testing before showing off a medical swab, likening it to a Q-tip. “We have ordered a lot of them,” he said, but notes that some states “don’t know where they are”. |
| Then a return to what’s become a recurring motif over the past few days: “We are now the king of ventilators,” he says. “We have so many ventilators.” | Then a return to what’s become a recurring motif over the past few days: “We are now the king of ventilators,” he says. “We have so many ventilators.” |
| New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ramped up the rhetroic in his campaign for increased federal funding for US cities during the coronavirus crisis during his press briefing on Sunday, asking Donald Trump whether his administration was “going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to drop dead?” | New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ramped up the rhetroic in his campaign for increased federal funding for US cities during the coronavirus crisis during his press briefing on Sunday, asking Donald Trump whether his administration was “going to save New York City or are you telling New York City to drop dead?” |
| As the Guardian’s Edward Helmore reports: | As the Guardian’s Edward Helmore reports: |
| A sensational investigation co-published today by ProPublica and the Seattle Times shows how officials in the first US state to be hit by Covid-19 struggled to send the public a clear, consistent message in the early days of the pandemic, bowing to a professional soccer team’s desire to host a game with 33,000 spectators despite urgent warnings from the health department for a ban on large gatherings. | A sensational investigation co-published today by ProPublica and the Seattle Times shows how officials in the first US state to be hit by Covid-19 struggled to send the public a clear, consistent message in the early days of the pandemic, bowing to a professional soccer team’s desire to host a game with 33,000 spectators despite urgent warnings from the health department for a ban on large gatherings. |
| The most recent count of Covid-19 cases in Washington totals 11,802 infections and 624 deaths, according to the state’s Department of Health. | The most recent count of Covid-19 cases in Washington totals 11,802 infections and 624 deaths, according to the state’s Department of Health. |
| In a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine as part of its ongoing Covid-19 Notes series, the chief executive of a Massachusetts hospital accuses the federal government of running an effective PPE blockade that’s prevented the delivery of critical equipment to states in need. Emphasis ours: | In a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine as part of its ongoing Covid-19 Notes series, the chief executive of a Massachusetts hospital accuses the federal government of running an effective PPE blockade that’s prevented the delivery of critical equipment to states in need. Emphasis ours: |
| A number of US governors from both sides of the aisle, including Virginia Democrat Ralph Northam and Maryland Republican Larry Hogan, have accused Donald Trump of making “delusional” and “dangerous” statements amid mounting pressure to roll back stay-at-home measures. | A number of US governors from both sides of the aisle, including Virginia Democrat Ralph Northam and Maryland Republican Larry Hogan, have accused Donald Trump of making “delusional” and “dangerous” statements amid mounting pressure to roll back stay-at-home measures. |
| As the Guardian’s Richard Luscombe and Edward Helmore report: | As the Guardian’s Richard Luscombe and Edward Helmore report: |
| Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest meat processors, has faced criticism after cases were linked to one of its plants in Waterloo, Iowa. | Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest meat processors, has faced criticism after cases were linked to one of its plants in Waterloo, Iowa. |
| “My personal opinion is that it should be closed,” the Black Hawk county sheriff, Tony Thompson, told the Des Moines Register on Friday. “I think we need a hard boot, reset on that plant. I think we need to be able to sort out and cull the herd between the haves and the have-nots there. I think we need to deep-clean that facility and I think we need to restart that plant on a clean slate.” | “My personal opinion is that it should be closed,” the Black Hawk county sheriff, Tony Thompson, told the Des Moines Register on Friday. “I think we need a hard boot, reset on that plant. I think we need to be able to sort out and cull the herd between the haves and the have-nots there. I think we need to deep-clean that facility and I think we need to restart that plant on a clean slate.” |
| That news was followed on Sunday by a CNN report that another plant in Tennessee had recorded 90 positive tests for Covid-19. The company says workers are required to wear face coverings during shifts and have their temperatures taken at the start of each shift. | That news was followed on Sunday by a CNN report that another plant in Tennessee had recorded 90 positive tests for Covid-19. The company says workers are required to wear face coverings during shifts and have their temperatures taken at the start of each shift. |
| A spokesperson for Tyson also said cleaning is a priority. “We have team members dedicated to constantly wiping down and sanitizing common areas. In some cases, this additional cleaning involves suspending a day of production,” the spokesperson said on Sunday. | A spokesperson for Tyson also said cleaning is a priority. “We have team members dedicated to constantly wiping down and sanitizing common areas. In some cases, this additional cleaning involves suspending a day of production,” the spokesperson said on Sunday. |
| Donald Trump has started his afternoon by declaring the US “the king of ventilators”. Several state governors have said they need more help from the federal government with Covid-19 testing in an effort to curb the pandemic. However, the president thinks he’s on the right course, while implying the onus was on governors rather than the federal government to ramp up testing. | Donald Trump has started his afternoon by declaring the US “the king of ventilators”. Several state governors have said they need more help from the federal government with Covid-19 testing in an effort to curb the pandemic. However, the president thinks he’s on the right course, while implying the onus was on governors rather than the federal government to ramp up testing. |
| “Just like I was right on Ventilators (our Country is now the “King of Ventilators”, other countries are calling asking for help-we will!), I am right on testing,” the president tweeted. “Governors must be able to step up and get the job done. We will be with you ALL THE WAY!” | “Just like I was right on Ventilators (our Country is now the “King of Ventilators”, other countries are calling asking for help-we will!), I am right on testing,” the president tweeted. “Governors must be able to step up and get the job done. We will be with you ALL THE WAY!” |
| On NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, said the FDA had not paid enough attention to companies “putting a slightly different formula together” for tests. “I could probably double, maybe even triple testing in Ohio virtually overnight” if the FDA considered such options, DeWine said. | On NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, said the FDA had not paid enough attention to companies “putting a slightly different formula together” for tests. “I could probably double, maybe even triple testing in Ohio virtually overnight” if the FDA considered such options, DeWine said. |
| The Miami Herald has reported on a problem facing one public hospital: agencies trying to headhunt staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. From the Herald’s report: | The Miami Herald has reported on a problem facing one public hospital: agencies trying to headhunt staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. From the Herald’s report: |
| You can read the full report here. | You can read the full report here. |