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Coronavirus live news: global confirmed cases pass 2.5m but Italy sees first significant fall in infections Coronavirus live news: global confirmed cases pass 2.5m but Italy sees first significant fall in infections
(31 minutes later)
Singapore extends lockdown after cases rise; Donald Trump signals immigration ban; Oktoberfest cancelled; US oil market collapsesSingapore extends lockdown after cases rise; Donald Trump signals immigration ban; Oktoberfest cancelled; US oil market collapses
“The American people want to ensure that we have jobs for American people,” says Trump, not jobs for people who come in, “in many cases illegally.”
“We’ll see you all tomorrow and we’ll have a couple of interesting things for you tonight,” says Trump as he leaves the podium.
You can stream the White House press briefing live here:
Any other Billy Joel fans out there?
The World Health Organization chief has just tweeted this:
Trump: “We have one of the most successful, if you can call it, mortality rates... One person is too many, but we’ve tested more than any other country in the world, put together.” (This is not true).
Trump is now talking about China and the economy. He says part of the reason he was elected is that he is touch on China. He says the economy was doing really well, then out of nowhere came the “Invisible Enemy” (I’m using caps here because he does in his tweets about it), “and we’ll be talking a lot about where it came from.”
Real whopper from Trump a minute ago – he said the US has done more testing than “all other countries – combined”:
Trump says he will probably sign the executive order halting immigration on Wednesday (in the US).
After the 60 days he could “roll it for 30 days or roll it for much longer than 60 days,” he says.
Trump says there will be more information on the immigration ban soon.Trump says there will be more information on the immigration ban soon.
“It’s a strong order. It involves a big circle, as you know.” The “big circle” in question appears to be the world.“It’s a strong order. It involves a big circle, as you know.” The “big circle” in question appears to be the world.
You can watch the White House press briefing live below:You can watch the White House press briefing live below:
Dr Birx says the US has one of the lowest mortality rates worldwide – meaning deaths per number of confirmed infections.Dr Birx says the US has one of the lowest mortality rates worldwide – meaning deaths per number of confirmed infections.
It’s worth remembering however that the US has the highest number of deaths – 44,228 according to Johns Hopkins University data – which is just under 20,000 more people who have died than in Italy, which has lost 24,648 people to the virus.It’s worth remembering however that the US has the highest number of deaths – 44,228 according to Johns Hopkins University data – which is just under 20,000 more people who have died than in Italy, which has lost 24,648 people to the virus.
Trump also mentioned the mortality rate. From my colleague Maanvi Singh:Trump also mentioned the mortality rate. From my colleague Maanvi Singh:
“Our mortality rate remains roughly half” that of other countries, Trump said, adding that the rate was “one of the lowest in any other country in the world.”“Our mortality rate remains roughly half” that of other countries, Trump said, adding that the rate was “one of the lowest in any other country in the world.”
The president is half-right — the US does indeed appear to have a lower case fatality rate than several countries, including Italy, Belgium and the UK, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker.The president is half-right — the US does indeed appear to have a lower case fatality rate than several countries, including Italy, Belgium and the UK, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker.
The case fatality rate refers to the number of deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases. Johns Hopkins has calculated that figure for about 130 countries. but the US’s rate is far from the “lowest” of any country.The case fatality rate refers to the number of deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases. Johns Hopkins has calculated that figure for about 130 countries. but the US’s rate is far from the “lowest” of any country.
The US rate is 5.4% — more double the rate of Japan and South Korea (2.2%), and several times the rate of Singapore, with a rate. of .1%.The US rate is 5.4% — more double the rate of Japan and South Korea (2.2%), and several times the rate of Singapore, with a rate. of .1%.
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, is speaking now. She says the US is still seeing outbreaks at aged care facilities.
Get in touch on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
Trump says the ban will apply to those seeking permanent residency and won’t apply to those seeking temporary residency.
Hi, Helen Sullivan with you now.
Donald Trump is speaking at the White House, where he is explaining the reasons behind his immigration ban, which he says will be in place for sixty days from when it takes effect, after which he and others will reevaluate the need to extend it.
Two of the reasons he has just given for the ban are:
“It’s wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced by new labour flown in from abroad.”
“Will conserve vital medical resources for Americans.”
A small wrap here on the meeting this afternoon between the president and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Oval Office, per Cuomo.
He said, in a quick call to MSNBC afterward, that he had a “functional and effective” conversation with Trump and tried to keep the focus on testing and state budget problems, Reuters reports.
“We have a tremendous job that we have to get done and put everything else aside and do the job, and the tone of the conversation was very functional and effective,” Cuomo said.
“I stayed focused on what we were there to talk about and for me the substantive agenda was testing - ‘Who does what? How do we get it up the scale?’ - and somebody has to stand up for funding for the states.”
Cuomo, a Democrat who has clashed with Trump during the coronavirus outbreak, did not discuss details of their talk, but described the meeting as “honest and open””
He said: “The president is communicative about his feelings and I’m communicative about what I think.”
With social distancing and lockdowns showing some positive results, Cuomo said on Monday he could begin to consider how to reopen a state that ranges from New York City, with more than 8 million people, to farm country and sparsely populated towns upstate.
The White House did not immediately provide an account of the meeting.
Cuomo said he sought a face-to-face conversation with the Republican president to hash out issues around the need for more testing capability.
“We have to get this ironed out. This is a very big issue,” Cuomo said.
He said testing volume needed to increase tenfold and leaders needed to discuss how the federal government can help and what the states can do to make enough tests available.
“That is the issue for the country right now I think,” Cuomo said. “It’s a benchmark - ‘Where are we? Are we on the increase, are we on the plateau or are we on the descent?’”
Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, thanked Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer for their work on the latest coronavirus relief bill. There is “unprecedented of money for testing” in the bill, he said
The new legislation allocates another $310bn (£250bn) for the payroll protection program for small businesses, and $50bn in disaster loans for small businesses.
The White House virus task force briefing is beginning in Washington. Follow the developments here.
Trump has said he will sign the legislation pending in Congress to bail out the small business loan program that’s been overrun by demand but small business isn’t holding its breath.
The last round ended up in the pockets of “small businesses” including Potbelly, the international sandwich chain, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack, which has given its $10m (£8.13m) back.
In the meantime, real small businesses – especially in hard-hit New York – are suffering. Nichelina Mavros, the co-owner of Depanneur, a grocery and deli in New York, said: “Ninety eight per cent of New York businesses are small businesses. In my network not one of them got the money.”
She wasn’t alone, you can read more here:
As the global effort to limit the pandemic’s impact gathers pace, watch how subtle changes in social behaviour or the level of contagiousness of the virus can affect the battle to stop its spread:
The UK government has missed opportunities to secure at least 16m face masks for NHS staff in the past four weeks, amid growing frustration from companies who say Britain is losing much-needed equipment to other countries.
As ministers faced relentless questions over a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, suppliers said their offers to deliver UK-standard face masks were being met with silence from the government.