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Coronavirus live news: world has 'a long way to go', warns WHO chief Coronavirus live news: world has 'a long way to go', warns WHO chief
(32 minutes later)
Trump to halt immigration for 60 days initially; 256m people could starve, says UN; cases worldwide pass 2.5 millionTrump to halt immigration for 60 days initially; 256m people could starve, says UN; cases worldwide pass 2.5 million
Good news for pet owners: our favourite fluffy friends are unlikely transmitters of coronavirus, according to Dr Fauci.
Pets and animals can get infected with the virus, but “there’s no evidence that the virus is transmitted from a pet to a human,” Fauci said.
“Anything is possible,” Fauci added, but right now it seems unlikely.
Trump is being asked about accountability.
He is asked about this story – he says he doesn’t know anything about it:
Trump has claimed, once again, that the US is the “best” in the world at testing. That’s not true.
Overall, the US had administered more than 4.5m coronavirus tests, according to the Covid Tracking Project. From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329m, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 80 people — a bit better than to South Korea’s rate of 1 in every 90 people. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 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.
Trump is being asked about his planned 4th of July event on the Washington Mall.
“We’ll probably have about 25% of what we had last year,” he says. Then he compares photographs of his fourth of July celebrations last year to Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s address at the Washington Mall in 1963, during the civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
That’s this photo, of the day Dr King delivered his “I have a dream” speech.
Here’s some of our coverage of Trump’s event:
Trump says the immigration order is “a very powerful order,” and that after 60 days he will review it, he may then change how it works, he may extend it.Trump says the immigration order is “a very powerful order,” and that after 60 days he will review it, he may then change how it works, he may extend it.
“Our southern border is very tight. It hasn’t been this tight in years,” he says.“Our southern border is very tight. It hasn’t been this tight in years,” he says.
More on the immigration executive order:More on the immigration executive order:
Medical and other essential workers from abroad will be exempt, as will the spouses and minor children of American children, and “certain other aliens”.Medical and other essential workers from abroad will be exempt, as will the spouses and minor children of American children, and “certain other aliens”.
The administration will review guest worker programs/The administration will review guest worker programs/
“The Administration will continue to monitor the labor market to amend or extend the proclamation if needed,” per the White House.“The Administration will continue to monitor the labor market to amend or extend the proclamation if needed,” per the White House.
“There will be coronavirus in the fall,” says Dr Fauci.“There will be coronavirus in the fall,” says Dr Fauci.
Dr Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, is speaking now.Dr Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, is speaking now.
“Remember a few weeks ago when we said we were going to have a really bad week?”“Remember a few weeks ago when we said we were going to have a really bad week?”
What has happened now is that the mitigation program worked, and got the US to “where we are today.”What has happened now is that the mitigation program worked, and got the US to “where we are today.”
He is warning people to keep following the instructions. “The one way not to reopen the economy is to have a rebound we can’t take care of.”He is warning people to keep following the instructions. “The one way not to reopen the economy is to have a rebound we can’t take care of.”
Trump said that he is establishing a new council to help Black and Latino communities and other underserved communities access testing and care. The council will be headed by housing secretary Ben Carson.Trump said that he is establishing a new council to help Black and Latino communities and other underserved communities access testing and care. The council will be headed by housing secretary Ben Carson.
Trump said he told Georgia Governor Brian Kemp that he disagreed strongly with Kemp’s decision to begin allowing some nonessential businesses to reopen in the coming days.Speaking at a daily White House briefing Wednesday evening, Trump said he had spoken with Kemp over the phone.At the same time he must do what he thinks is right, Trump said of the Republican governor.Trump said he told Georgia Governor Brian Kemp that he disagreed strongly with Kemp’s decision to begin allowing some nonessential businesses to reopen in the coming days.Speaking at a daily White House briefing Wednesday evening, Trump said he had spoken with Kemp over the phone.At the same time he must do what he thinks is right, Trump said of the Republican governor.
Kemp’s plan to begin cracking open the Georgia economy faces two major hurdles: the state is struggling to increase testing for new coronavirus infections and boost tracking of those in contact with infected people, AP reports. Without those capabilities, experts said Georgia risks a quick rebound of the Covid-19 illness as Kemp allows some businesses to reopen in coming days. The Republican governor’s decision has been questioned because the state has yet to show continuing progress in those areas, and it could be difficult to catch up.Kemp’s plan to begin cracking open the Georgia economy faces two major hurdles: the state is struggling to increase testing for new coronavirus infections and boost tracking of those in contact with infected people, AP reports. Without those capabilities, experts said Georgia risks a quick rebound of the Covid-19 illness as Kemp allows some businesses to reopen in coming days. The Republican governor’s decision has been questioned because the state has yet to show continuing progress in those areas, and it could be difficult to catch up.
Trump says he signed the order halting immigration to the US “just before coming into the room.”Trump says he signed the order halting immigration to the US “just before coming into the room.”
Trump said he will be holding a July 4 celebration in Washington, DC’s national mall, like last year.Trump said he will be holding a July 4 celebration in Washington, DC’s national mall, like last year.
“On July 4, we will be doing what we had at the Mall. As you know, we’re gonna be doing it. Last year was a tremendous success and I would imagine we’ll do it, hopefully, I can use the term ‘forever.’ That was a great success, as you remember,” he said.“On July 4, we will be doing what we had at the Mall. As you know, we’re gonna be doing it. Last year was a tremendous success and I would imagine we’ll do it, hopefully, I can use the term ‘forever.’ That was a great success, as you remember,” he said.
Get in touch on Twitter @helenrsullivan.Get in touch on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
Trump says reopening “spas, beauty salons, barbershops, and tattoo parlours” is a bad idea.
“I love ‘those people who use all of those things,” he adds. “I love ‘em, but they can wait just a little bit longer. Because safety has to predominate.”
Trump says that Harvard and Stanford and other university will not be accepting the funds they were allocated under the CARES act.
Harvard tweeted about this earlier today:
The US president says he told Georgia governor Brian Kemp that he disagreed “very strongly” with the decision to reopen businesses in the state. “I think it’s too soon,” he says. Georgia has not yet met the requirements to enter “Phase 1” of the White House plan to reopen the country, Trump noted.
Trump says there will be airshows over major cities “and not such major cities” in the coming weeks. The Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels will be performing the “tremendous airshows” in honour of medical workers and those who have died.
Trump is now complaining that the “fake news” never asks him about ventilators.
Trump: “Instead you say, ‘Trump was slow’.”
“We weren’t slow,” he says.
You can watch the White House press briefing live here:
Trump says there’s a chance Covid-19 won’t come back.
Dr Birx says “Well, we don’t know.”
She says that if it does come back the US will be able to detect it earlier.
Trump has taken particular issue with the Washington Post’s coverage of Dr Redfield’s comments.
Dr Redfield has just been asked whether he was accurately quoted by the Washington Post. He was, he says. Trump jumps in to say the headline was the problem.
The Post’s headline was “CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating”. Here is their response to Trump’s criticism.
Dr Redfield is asked why he retweeted the article if it was inaccurate. Trump steps in, immediately, to say that the journalist speaking wasn’t called upon to ask a question.