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Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump Urges Some Governors to Consider Reopening Schools; White House Outlines Testing Plan Coronavirus Live Updates: Texas and Ohio Plan to Reopen; White House Promises Tests
(about 2 hours later)
Governors across the country forged ahead Monday with plans to reopen their economies, even as the nation hit a grim milestone of 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus and public health experts warned against lifting stay-at-home orders too quickly.
Texas, with its population of nearly 30 million, made one of the most expansive moves toward reopening when Gov. Greg Abbott announced that stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls would be allowed to reopen with limited capacity on Friday. Mr. Abbott had previously lifted some restrictions, but his announcement on Monday brought his state to the brink of a complete reopening.
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled a more incremental reopening plan that would allow manufacturing work to resume and offices to reopen next week.
Mr. DeWine was the first governor to shut down schools statewide and has taken among the most aggressive approaches, but he said there was a growing risk to the economy if Ohio did not start reopening.
“I think we found the spot that is most likely to cause less damage, more likely to cause good,” Mr. DeWine said. “But it is a risk, and I fully understand the risk.”
New coronavirus infections and deaths appear to be plateauing on a national level, but they are still surging in some of the states and counties reopening this week. Health experts worry that reopening prematurely without sufficient testing, protective equipment and other safeguards could fuel another spike in cases.
Florida and Arizona have stay-at-home orders due to expire on Thursday, but the governors of both states have been vague about their plans. Gov. Ron DeSantis said that while he had discussed how to reopen with other Southern states, Florida required its own rules.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on Monday that the timetable for opening up could be jeopardized by people ignoring social distancing rules after images recently circulated of packed beaches and new data showed an increase in movement across the state.
Workers say they are living in limbo as they watch other states reopen and worry about the risks of going back to work versus the bills piling up.
In Nevada, where the stay-at-home order expires on Thursday, Deidra Young, a bartender, feels torn. “If my work does call me, I honestly want to say no,” Ms. Young said. “But will I not get unemployment if I refuse?”
It was an agonizing calculation, she said: “We all want to go back to work, but we don’t want to get sick.”
President Trump, under growing pressure to expand testing as states move to reopen their economies, unveiled a new plan on Monday to ramp up the federal government’s help to states, but his proposal runs far short of what most public health experts say is necessary.
The announcement came after weeks of the president insisting, inaccurately, that the nation’s testing capability was “fully sufficient to begin opening up the country.”
An administration official said the federal government aimed to give states the ability to test at least 2 percent of their populations per month, though Mr. Trump did not use that figure at Monday’s briefing and it was not in his written plan. Instead, he said the United States would “double” the number of tests it had been doing.
The plan was met with swift criticism from Democrats, including Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who said in a statement that it said “nothing new and will accomplish nothing new.”
“It doesn’t set specific, numeric goals, offer a time frame, identify ways to fix our broken supply chain or offer any details whatsoever on expanding lab capacity or activating needed manufacturing capacity,” said Ms. Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Health Committee.
“Perhaps most pathetically, it attempts to shirk obviously federal responsibilities by assigning them solely to states instead,” she said.
In the past, the Trump administration has sometimes promised large increases in testing that it has failed to deliver. The administration has also steadfastly resisted calls to nationalize the production and distribution of coronavirus test kits, and the plan Mr. Trump unveiled reiterated that stance, making clear that the states are still primarily responsible for testing and Washington is the “supplier of last resort.”
Rather than the more comprehensive surveillance testing sought by many public health experts, the administration is focused on a more limited goal of “sentinel” testing of targeted sites that are particularly vulnerable, like nursing homes and inner-city health centers.
In the seven weeks since the president promised that anyone who needed a test could get one, the United States has conducted about 5.4 million tests, far more than any other country, but still the equivalent of about 1.6 percent of the total population. It is a small fraction of what public health experts say is necessary to ensure a safe and gradual reopening of schools, businesses and other public venues.
A group of experts convened by Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics has called for five million tests a day by early June, ramping up to 20 million per day by late July.
President Trump suggested to the nation’s governors on Monday that some should move to reopen their public schools before the end of the academic year, an indication that he is growing impatient with the widespread closures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.President Trump suggested to the nation’s governors on Monday that some should move to reopen their public schools before the end of the academic year, an indication that he is growing impatient with the widespread closures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
“Some of you might start to think about school openings,” Mr. Trump said on a conference call with the governors, according to an audio recording obtained by The New York Times. “The young children have done very well in this disaster that we’ve all gone through, so a lot of people are thinking about the school openings.”“Some of you might start to think about school openings,” Mr. Trump said on a conference call with the governors, according to an audio recording obtained by The New York Times. “The young children have done very well in this disaster that we’ve all gone through, so a lot of people are thinking about the school openings.”
Addressing Vice President Mike Pence, who was also on the call, Mr. Trump added, “I think it’s something, Mike, they can seriously consider and maybe get going on it.”Addressing Vice President Mike Pence, who was also on the call, Mr. Trump added, “I think it’s something, Mike, they can seriously consider and maybe get going on it.”
The president’s nudge on school openings runs counter to the advice of medical experts and came unbidden during a conversation about testing and respirator use. It is the latest sign of how torn he is on how states and localities should proceed as they weigh what to do at a time when deaths from the virus are still growing but the economy is reeling. The president’s nudge on school openings runs counter to the advice of medical experts and came unbidden during a conversation about testing and respirator use.
“People want to see these states open,” Mr. Trump said at the start of the call. “There is a thirst to get back to business.”
Mr. Trump reiterated his desire to see schools open Monday evening at the White House, saying, “I think you’ll see a lot of schools open up, even for a short period of time.”Mr. Trump reiterated his desire to see schools open Monday evening at the White House, saying, “I think you’ll see a lot of schools open up, even for a short period of time.”
At least one state was already moving forward with the possibility of reopening schools this year. Montana, which has among the fewest cases and deaths, will give schools the option to reopen starting May 7.At least one state was already moving forward with the possibility of reopening schools this year. Montana, which has among the fewest cases and deaths, will give schools the option to reopen starting May 7.
Earlier Monday, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said on CNBC that there was “a chance” schools in New Jersey might reopen in some fashion before the end of June.Earlier Monday, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said on CNBC that there was “a chance” schools in New Jersey might reopen in some fashion before the end of June.
In the portion of the recording obtained by The Times, no governor chimed in to agree or disagree with the president.In the portion of the recording obtained by The Times, no governor chimed in to agree or disagree with the president.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Trump urged his supporters to “liberate” a handful of states with Democratic governors. But last week, he repeatedly criticized Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia for what he said was Mr. Kemp’s premature reopening of some Georgia businesses.
Mr. Kemp, a Republican, was on the call with the president and effusively thanked Mr. Trump for his leadership. The disagreement did not come up.
Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, a Republican, was equally effusive in his praise. “Members of the press may never recognize your incredible leadership, but the people of Mississippi certainly recognize it,” he said.
To that, Mr. Trump responded: “I agree with you, it probably will never be recognized. But maybe it will, you never know.”
After governors repeatedly warned that the lack of testing was hampering their efforts to ease restrictions, the Trump administration released a blueprint on Monday aimed at helping states ramp up testing.
The goal, according to administration officials who detailed it on the condition of anonymity, is for states to be able to test at least 2 percent of their populations every month. But that number was not included in a document released by the White House on Monday evening outlining the plan.
The blueprint said that the states would still be primarily responsible for testing, and that Washington would be “a supplier of last resort.” Rather than the more comprehensive surveillance testing sought by many public health experts, the administration is focused on a more limited goal of “sentinel” testing at targeted sites that are particularly vulnerable, like nursing homes and inner-city health centers, the document said.
“We want to get our country open, and testing is not going to be a problem at all,” Mr. Trump said at the White House on Monday evening, where he spoke in broad terms about increasing testing.
The plan was met with swift criticism from Democrats, including Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who said in a statement that it said “nothing new and will accomplish nothing new.”
“It doesn’t set specific, numeric goals, offer a time frame, identify ways to fix our broken supply chain or offer any details whatsoever on expanding lab capacity or activating needed manufacturing capacity,” said Ms. Murray, the senior Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, whose state suffered one of the earliest and most severe outbreaks.
“Perhaps most pathetically, it attempts to shirk obviously federal responsibilities by assigning them solely to states instead,” she said.
In the past, the Trump administration has sometimes promised large increases in testing that it has failed to deliver. Asked at the news conference Monday about why an earlier promise that four million tests would be available by March had not materialized, Mr. Pence said he had merely been talking about the number of tests that could be sent out — not completed.
In the seven weeks since Mr. Trump promised that anyone who needed a test could get one, the United States has conducted about 5.4 million tests, far more than any other country, but still the equivalent of about 1.6 percent of the total population. It is a small fraction of what public health experts say is necessary to ensure a safe and gradual reopening of schools, businesses and other public venues.
Governors and public health officials warn that without more tests, they will be unable to identify, track and contain new outbreaks.
A group of experts convened by Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics has called for five million tests a day by early June, ramping up to 20 million per day by late July.
Paul Romer, a Nobel Prize-winning economist from New York University, has called for 25 million tests per day, with the capacity to test twice that many in “surge” situations.
Mr. Romer said testing 2 percent of the population was “not enough to test everyone in health care even once, let alone to keep retesting them every day, which is what it would take to keep those who do get infected from going on shift and infecting their colleagues.”
While the United States has made strides over the past month in expanding testing, its capacity is nowhere near the level Mr. Trump suggests it is. It has proved difficult to increase production of reagents — sensitive chemical ingredients that detect whether the coronavirus is present. Physical components of test kits, like nasal swabs, are largely imported and have been hard to come by amid global shortages. And labs have been slow to add people and equipment needed to process the tests.
The administration had resisted a full-scale national mobilization, instead intervening from time to time to allocate equipment on an ad hoc basis.
But during a call with governors on Monday, Adm. Brett P. Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the administration would begin making weekly shipments to states to get them the equipment they needed, with plans to send out 12.7 million swabs in May.
“We’re going to be resourcing you on a weekly basis to achieve your plan,” Admiral Giroir said, responding to complaints from Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington about a lack of swabs to conduct tests, according to a recording. “Every week, you’ll get a shipment in your state for further distribution, and that will have all the swabs.”
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas on Monday announced the reopening of the state’s businesses in phases starting Friday and said he was allowing the stay-at-home order he put in place this month to expire as scheduled on April 30.
Mr. Abbott had previously lifted some restrictions, including on retail shopping and state parks. But his announcement on Monday brought the country’s second-most populous state to the brink of a complete reopening.
His move gave Texas one of the shortest stay-at-home orders in the country: It will have been in effect for 28 days when it expires on Thursday. “That executive order has done its job to slow the growth of Covid-19,” Mr. Abbott told reporters at the State Capitol on Monday.
In the first phase, which begins on Friday, all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls will be able to reopen with occupancy limited to no more than 25 percent. Capacity can later expand “so long as Covid-19 remains contained,” he said.
Mr. Abbott has struggled to find a middle ground in the heated political, economic and public health issue of when and how to reopen the state.
Democrats have criticized his handling of the crisis and urged him to slow the reopening. Many Republicans, including some of Mr. Abbott’s colleagues on the right and conservative activists, have urged him to loosen the restrictions and have protested outside the Texas Capitol and the governor’s mansion in Austin.
Some states have banded together in regional pacts as they develop reopening plans, but Texas has resisted, an unsurprising move for a fiercely independent state that is the only one in the continental United States that has its own power grid.
Attorney General William P. Barr on Monday asked federal prosecutors around the country to look out for emergency state or local orders issued to contain the pandemic that could also violate “constitutional rights and civil liberties,” and to fight them in court if needed.Attorney General William P. Barr on Monday asked federal prosecutors around the country to look out for emergency state or local orders issued to contain the pandemic that could also violate “constitutional rights and civil liberties,” and to fight them in court if needed.
“If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of Covid-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court,” Mr. Barr wrote in a memo.“If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of Covid-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court,” Mr. Barr wrote in a memo.
Matthew Schneider, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, will work with Eric Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division, to oversee and coordinate the effort.Matthew Schneider, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, will work with Eric Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division, to oversee and coordinate the effort.
Mr. Barr has signaled for weeks that he will combat shutdown orders that violate the Constitution. The Justice Department filed a motion this month in support of a Baptist church in Greenville, Miss., that sued the city and its mayor for outlawing the congregation’s drive-in church services even as the city allowed drive-in restaurants to serve customers. The city fined churchgoers but later withdrew the fines, and Greenville has since changed its order. Lawyers for the church said that the legal matter would most likely be dropped.Mr. Barr has signaled for weeks that he will combat shutdown orders that violate the Constitution. The Justice Department filed a motion this month in support of a Baptist church in Greenville, Miss., that sued the city and its mayor for outlawing the congregation’s drive-in church services even as the city allowed drive-in restaurants to serve customers. The city fined churchgoers but later withdrew the fines, and Greenville has since changed its order. Lawyers for the church said that the legal matter would most likely be dropped.
Businesses in states including Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota and Mississippi tried to navigate the new rules allowing some of them to reopen beginning Monday. Many business owners in states that are easing restrictions and allowing some businesses to reopen said they were uncertain about all the new rules, and were trying to make sense of a cacophony of messages from President Trump, governors, county commissioners and mayors.
“I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so confused,” Jose Oregel, who owns a barbershop in Greeley, Colo., said on Monday morning, an hour before he was expecting his first customers, who will get haircuts from barbers wearing masks and gloves. “I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so confused,” Jose Oregel, who owns a barbershop in Greeley, Colo., said on Monday morning, an hour before he was expecting his first customers, who will get haircuts from barbers wearing masks and gloves. He was referring to the rapidly changing directives from state and national leaders.
In Georgia, where Mr. Kemp’s decision to let restaurants reopen to eat-in diners on Monday despite an uptick in deaths drew criticism from Mr. Trump, many Atlanta establishments decided not to do so. One restaurant that tried was Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, near the Georgia Institute of Technology. It opened its doors Monday morning, but as of 12:30 p.m., no one had come to sit down for lunch. In Colorado, real estate showings were allowed to restart on Monday as the governor’s stay-at-home order expired, and pet owners were able to take their dogs and cats to the vet for nonemergency operations. At the same time, Denver and many surrounding suburbs extended their closure orders.
In Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to let restaurants reopen to eat-in diners on Monday despite an uptick in deaths drew criticism from Mr. Trump, many Atlanta establishments decided not to do so. One restaurant that tried was Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, near the Georgia Institute of Technology. It opened its doors Monday morning, but as of 12:30 p.m., no one had come to sit down for lunch.
“I cannot imagine myself going to a pub or a restaurant right now,” said Filippos Tagklis, 30, a graduate student at Georgia Tech, as he walked his dog by the restaurant.“I cannot imagine myself going to a pub or a restaurant right now,” said Filippos Tagklis, 30, a graduate student at Georgia Tech, as he walked his dog by the restaurant.
In the week since Mr. Kemp outlined his plans to let businesses in the state reopen, the death toll in Georgia has risen by more than 200, to 942, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. Public health officials and mayors criticized the plan.
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz lifted restrictions for certain employees in industrial, manufacturing and office settings, a move that his office said would allow 80,000 to 100,0000 people to return to work Monday even as cases and deaths continued to grow. But it was unclear how many people returned to work, as some employers decided it was safer not to rush.
And in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a cautious reopening plan on Monday that included resuming health care appointments on Friday and the reopening of retail stores starting May 12. But he said many other businesses would have to wait. “We’re not quite there yet,” he said.
More governors and businesses across the country are facing increasingly complicated choices about reopening this week, with several stay-at-home orders set to expire on April 30.
Kentucky will permit more health care services, such as radiology and outpatient care, to resume on Monday.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet released a plan for broad reopening, though one is expected in the next few days. “There’s probably going to be some people that think this is too slow,” he said at a news conference in Tampa on Monday. The mayors of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in Southeast Florida announced that they will reopen parks, golf courses and marinas on Wednesday. (Beaches will remain closed.)
In New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday laid out a broad outline for a gradual restart of the state that would allow some “low risk” businesses upstate to reopen as soon as mid-May. He did not speculate when restrictions would be eased in New York City and surrounding suburbs. The governor said Monday that 337 more people had died in the state on Sunday, the lowest single-day death toll since March.
In New Jersey, Mr. Murphy said Monday that he would need to see four things before he would consider reopening businesses and schools: a prolonged decline in hospitalization and infection rates, expanded testing, more contact tracing and places for those who were sick with the virus to remain in isolation.
And some governors have said their states simply are not ready to reopen. Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said on Monday that he was extending the state’s stay-at-home order until May 15, noting that many parts of his hard-hit state were seeing an increasing or steady number of new cases.
“The fact is,” Mr. Edwards said at a news briefing, “we just don’t meet the criteria.”
Louisiana has been one of the most seriously affected regions, with more than 27,000 reported cases and just under 1,700 deaths, according to state health data. The governor said that he had consulted with public health experts before making the decision and that Mr. Pence, whom he told before the announcement, had backed his choice.
Black and Latino Americans entered the coronavirus crisis with lower incomes and less wealth than whites. In the early months of the outbreak and its recession, they suffered disproportionately high rates of infection and job loss.Black and Latino Americans entered the coronavirus crisis with lower incomes and less wealth than whites. In the early months of the outbreak and its recession, they suffered disproportionately high rates of infection and job loss.
Now, as public officials around the country take initial steps to lift restrictions on economic activity, those black and Latino workers will bear a higher share of the health risks in getting back to work.Now, as public officials around the country take initial steps to lift restrictions on economic activity, those black and Latino workers will bear a higher share of the health risks in getting back to work.
It is a pick-your-poison fact of a crisis that has exacerbated racial and socioeconomic inequality in the United States: The pandemic has knocked millions of the most economically vulnerable Americans out of work. Rushing to reopen their employers could offer them a financial lifeline, but at a potentially steep cost to their health.It is a pick-your-poison fact of a crisis that has exacerbated racial and socioeconomic inequality in the United States: The pandemic has knocked millions of the most economically vulnerable Americans out of work. Rushing to reopen their employers could offer them a financial lifeline, but at a potentially steep cost to their health.
Americans who earn $50,000 a year or less are more than twice as likely to say they or a family member have lost jobs amid the crisis as those who earn more than $150,000. Higher earners and whites are far more likely to say they can work from home during the pandemic than lower earners and black and Latino Americans, according to an April poll for The New York Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey.Americans who earn $50,000 a year or less are more than twice as likely to say they or a family member have lost jobs amid the crisis as those who earn more than $150,000. Higher earners and whites are far more likely to say they can work from home during the pandemic than lower earners and black and Latino Americans, according to an April poll for The New York Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey.
Simon Mongey and Alex Weinberg, economists at the University of Chicago, released a study last month that found those workers were disproportionately nonwhite, low income, born outside the United States and not college graduates.Simon Mongey and Alex Weinberg, economists at the University of Chicago, released a study last month that found those workers were disproportionately nonwhite, low income, born outside the United States and not college graduates.
“There could be immense and devastating income effects that could be involved with this evolving depression,” said William A. Darity Jr., a leading scholar of economic discrimination in the United States. Inequality, he said, “has been horrendous in recent years, and I can only imagine those disparities would get worse.”“There could be immense and devastating income effects that could be involved with this evolving depression,” said William A. Darity Jr., a leading scholar of economic discrimination in the United States. Inequality, he said, “has been horrendous in recent years, and I can only imagine those disparities would get worse.”
More than 50,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States, which has seen more confirmed cases and deaths than any other nation in the world, according to a tally by The New York Times. More than 50,000 people have died from the virus in the United States, which has seen more confirmed cases and deaths than any other nation in the world, according to a tally by The New York Times.
And as the outbreak spread, the nation’s total number of confirmed cases continued to climb toward one million, reaching more than 983,000. And as the outbreak spread, the nation’s total number of confirmed cases continued to climb toward one million, reaching more than 987,000.
The bleak milestone offered yet another sign of how the virus has upended life in America, taking lives, destroying families, spreading through meat plants, prisons and nursing homes, forcing businesses and schools to close and causing more than 26 million people to lose their jobs in the past five weeks.The bleak milestone offered yet another sign of how the virus has upended life in America, taking lives, destroying families, spreading through meat plants, prisons and nursing homes, forcing businesses and schools to close and causing more than 26 million people to lose their jobs in the past five weeks.
The tally does not include more than 5,200 people in New York City and smaller numbers in other states and U.S. territories who died and are believed to have had the virus. Many of those patients were not tested, a consequence of a strained medical system and a persistent lack of testing capacity.The tally does not include more than 5,200 people in New York City and smaller numbers in other states and U.S. territories who died and are believed to have had the virus. Many of those patients were not tested, a consequence of a strained medical system and a persistent lack of testing capacity.
Even as case numbers have stabilized in some hard-hit cities, including New Orleans and Seattle, other places have seen sustained growth.Even as case numbers have stabilized in some hard-hit cities, including New Orleans and Seattle, other places have seen sustained growth.
The counties that include Los Angeles and Chicago added more than 1,000 new cases on several recent days. In Massachusetts, numbers surpassed 54,000 on Sunday, up from 38,000 a week earlier. And across the Midwest and Great Plains, production at meatpacking plants had slowed or stopped because of large outbreaks, including one that sickened more than 1,000 people in South Dakota.The counties that include Los Angeles and Chicago added more than 1,000 new cases on several recent days. In Massachusetts, numbers surpassed 54,000 on Sunday, up from 38,000 a week earlier. And across the Midwest and Great Plains, production at meatpacking plants had slowed or stopped because of large outbreaks, including one that sickened more than 1,000 people in South Dakota.
In New York, hundreds of deaths are announced each day, though those numbers are far below their peak earlier this month. Now, 60 percent of voters in New York City say they personally know someone who tested positive, and 46 percent know someone who died of the virus, according to a poll by the Siena College Research Institute.In New York, hundreds of deaths are announced each day, though those numbers are far below their peak earlier this month. Now, 60 percent of voters in New York City say they personally know someone who tested positive, and 46 percent know someone who died of the virus, according to a poll by the Siena College Research Institute.
Although the United States has the highest number of deaths on a global scale, deaths per capita remain lower than those in many European countries, notably Italy and Spain. The global toll has surpassed 200,000, though at least 36,000 more people have died in the past month than the official counts report, according to a review of mortality data in 12 countries.Although the United States has the highest number of deaths on a global scale, deaths per capita remain lower than those in many European countries, notably Italy and Spain. The global toll has surpassed 200,000, though at least 36,000 more people have died in the past month than the official counts report, according to a review of mortality data in 12 countries.
Congressional leaders announced on Monday that the House and Senate would both return to session in Washington next week despite an ongoing stay-at-home order from the city’s mayor and similar restrictions around the country.Congressional leaders announced on Monday that the House and Senate would both return to session in Washington next week despite an ongoing stay-at-home order from the city’s mayor and similar restrictions around the country.
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said that his chamber would “modify routines in ways that are smart and safe,” but that Americans expected senators to be working just like other essential workers.Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said that his chamber would “modify routines in ways that are smart and safe,” but that Americans expected senators to be working just like other essential workers.
House leaders said they would also convene on Monday but told lawmakers to anticipate a scaled-back voting schedule and more emphasis on restarting work by committees that will conduct oversight of the Trump administration’s virus response and other routine business.House leaders said they would also convene on Monday but told lawmakers to anticipate a scaled-back voting schedule and more emphasis on restarting work by committees that will conduct oversight of the Trump administration’s virus response and other routine business.
Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, said the House would vote next week with or without Republican support to change its rules to allow proxy voting and virtual committee meetings — abilities that could allow the chamber to operate more fully on a remote basis in the weeks ahead.Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, said the House would vote next week with or without Republican support to change its rules to allow proxy voting and virtual committee meetings — abilities that could allow the chamber to operate more fully on a remote basis in the weeks ahead.
Still, some Democratic lawmakers were uneasy about packing back into the Capitol at a time when health experts have repeatedly warned against travel and group gatherings. On a Democratic conference call Monday evening, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida, called the plan to return dangerous, according to two people on the call who described the private discussion on the condition of anonymity.Still, some Democratic lawmakers were uneasy about packing back into the Capitol at a time when health experts have repeatedly warned against travel and group gatherings. On a Democratic conference call Monday evening, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida, called the plan to return dangerous, according to two people on the call who described the private discussion on the condition of anonymity.
Representative Veronica Escobar, Democrat of Texas, said she had heard similar concerns from fellow freshmen in districts where the spread of the virus was near its peak, according to another person on the call.Representative Veronica Escobar, Democrat of Texas, said she had heard similar concerns from fellow freshmen in districts where the spread of the virus was near its peak, according to another person on the call.
Less than an hour after the Small Business Administration on Monday morning resumed taking requests for another $310 billion in emergency aid for small businesses, its computer system for processing the loan applications crashed.Less than an hour after the Small Business Administration on Monday morning resumed taking requests for another $310 billion in emergency aid for small businesses, its computer system for processing the loan applications crashed.
“It’s obvious the system is simply flooded right now,” said Craig Street, the chief lending officer at United Midwest Savings Bank in Columbus, Ohio. “It’s been very stop and start, with no real way to know whether it is working other than to keep hitting the submit button.”“It’s obvious the system is simply flooded right now,” said Craig Street, the chief lending officer at United Midwest Savings Bank in Columbus, Ohio. “It’s been very stop and start, with no real way to know whether it is working other than to keep hitting the submit button.”
It was a rocky resumption for the Paycheck Protection Program, a stimulus initiative that offers small companies forgivable loans to cover their payrolls. The program began early this month, but its initial round of funding — $342 billion — was depleted in 13 days and the agency stopped accepting requests, leaving hundreds of thousands of borrowers frozen out until Congress provided a new funding round last week. The government began accepting applications for it at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.It was a rocky resumption for the Paycheck Protection Program, a stimulus initiative that offers small companies forgivable loans to cover their payrolls. The program began early this month, but its initial round of funding — $342 billion — was depleted in 13 days and the agency stopped accepting requests, leaving hundreds of thousands of borrowers frozen out until Congress provided a new funding round last week. The government began accepting applications for it at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
Officials at the Small Business Administration, which is managing the program, did not immediately respond to questions about the technical problems that lenders were reporting with E-Tran, the agency’s computer system for processing loans.Officials at the Small Business Administration, which is managing the program, did not immediately respond to questions about the technical problems that lenders were reporting with E-Tran, the agency’s computer system for processing loans.
“Our member banks across the country are deeply frustrated at their inability to access @SBAGov’s E-Tran system,” Rob Nichols, the chief executive of the American Bankers Association, a trade group representing banks of all sizes, said in a tweet on Monday. Until the problems were fixed, he added, “#AmericasBanks will not be able to help more struggling small businesses.”“Our member banks across the country are deeply frustrated at their inability to access @SBAGov’s E-Tran system,” Rob Nichols, the chief executive of the American Bankers Association, a trade group representing banks of all sizes, said in a tweet on Monday. Until the problems were fixed, he added, “#AmericasBanks will not be able to help more struggling small businesses.”
A New York Times investigation found that dozens of large but lower-profile companies with financial or legal problems had received large payouts under the program, according to an analysis of the more than 200 publicly traded companies that have disclosed receiving a total of more than $750 million in bailout loans. Some companies, including Potbelly Sandwich Shops, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Shake Shack said they would return their loans.A New York Times investigation found that dozens of large but lower-profile companies with financial or legal problems had received large payouts under the program, according to an analysis of the more than 200 publicly traded companies that have disclosed receiving a total of more than $750 million in bailout loans. Some companies, including Potbelly Sandwich Shops, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Shake Shack said they would return their loans.
For more than a month, governors in the vast majority of states have urged people to stay indoors to slow the spread of the virus. But as the weather gets warmer and some states move to reopen, researchers have found that more people across the country are going outside, that they are doing so more frequently and that they are traveling longer distances.For more than a month, governors in the vast majority of states have urged people to stay indoors to slow the spread of the virus. But as the weather gets warmer and some states move to reopen, researchers have found that more people across the country are going outside, that they are doing so more frequently and that they are traveling longer distances.
The changes in behavior, tracked using cellphone location data, have been measured in the past two weeks and can be seen in all but three states.The changes in behavior, tracked using cellphone location data, have been measured in the past two weeks and can be seen in all but three states.
Lei Zhang, director of the Maryland Transportation Institute at the University of Maryland, College Park, which is leading the research, said that the data suggested that people were growing increasingly restless and that people were increasing the chances that they would interact with others and possibly spread the virus. Lei Zhang, director of the Maryland Transportation Institute at the University of Maryland, College Park, which is leading the research, said that the data suggested that people were growing increasingly restless and that they were increasing the chances that they would interact with others and possibly spread the virus.
Dr. Zhang called the phenomenon “quarantine fatigue.”Dr. Zhang called the phenomenon “quarantine fatigue.”
In New York on Saturday, warmer, sunnier weather drew crowds on Long Island beaches and to the city’s parks.In New York on Saturday, warmer, sunnier weather drew crowds on Long Island beaches and to the city’s parks.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned residents on Monday that the timetable for reopening could be jeopardized by people ignoring social-distancing rules after images circulated over the weekend of packed beaches in Southern California.In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned residents on Monday that the timetable for reopening could be jeopardized by people ignoring social-distancing rules after images circulated over the weekend of packed beaches in Southern California.
New data showed an increase in movement across the state, he said.New data showed an increase in movement across the state, he said.
“This virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts,” Mr. Newsom said.“This virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts,” Mr. Newsom said.
He said he would present more details on reopening the economy on Tuesday but stressed that any relaxation of the state’s shutdown would be contingent on definitive evidence of a decline in hospitalizations and a ramped up ability to test for the virus, among other conditions.He said he would present more details on reopening the economy on Tuesday but stressed that any relaxation of the state’s shutdown would be contingent on definitive evidence of a decline in hospitalizations and a ramped up ability to test for the virus, among other conditions.
Mr. Newsom’s comments came as six counties in the Bay Area that put in place the nation’s first shelter-in-place orders in March announced that the orders would be extended through the end of May. At the same time, the governor has come under pressure to ease restrictions in areas of the state less affected by the pandemic.Mr. Newsom’s comments came as six counties in the Bay Area that put in place the nation’s first shelter-in-place orders in March announced that the orders would be extended through the end of May. At the same time, the governor has come under pressure to ease restrictions in areas of the state less affected by the pandemic.
Oil prices plunged on Monday, with the American benchmark hurtling toward the $10 a barrel mark, as fears about a global glut in crude continued to weigh on energy markets.Oil prices plunged on Monday, with the American benchmark hurtling toward the $10 a barrel mark, as fears about a global glut in crude continued to weigh on energy markets.
But the S&P 500 rose more than 1 percent, and European benchmarks rose 1 to 3 percent after a broadly higher day in Asia.But the S&P 500 rose more than 1 percent, and European benchmarks rose 1 to 3 percent after a broadly higher day in Asia.
Since last week, investors have been panicked about oil storage facilities running out of capacity as producers continued to pump oil even as demand collapsed. That concern is most acute in the United States, where storage facilities in Cushing, Okla., are expected to reach capacity in May.Since last week, investors have been panicked about oil storage facilities running out of capacity as producers continued to pump oil even as demand collapsed. That concern is most acute in the United States, where storage facilities in Cushing, Okla., are expected to reach capacity in May.
It is one reason the collapse in futures of American crude has been so much sharper than the global benchmark. On Monday, West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, was down about 27 percent at a little more than $12 a barrel. At the same time, Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down about 9 percent to just above $19 a barrel.It is one reason the collapse in futures of American crude has been so much sharper than the global benchmark. On Monday, West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, was down about 27 percent at a little more than $12 a barrel. At the same time, Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down about 9 percent to just above $19 a barrel.
One factor behind the difference in price is that the Cushing facilities are landlocked, reachable only by pipeline, whereas Brent supplies can be reached by boat and either stored there or placed at facilities around the globe. Investors betting on an eventual rebound in oil prices are filling oil tankers up — with as much as two million barrels per vessel — and parking them out at sea, The Times’s Stanley Reed reported.One factor behind the difference in price is that the Cushing facilities are landlocked, reachable only by pipeline, whereas Brent supplies can be reached by boat and either stored there or placed at facilities around the globe. Investors betting on an eventual rebound in oil prices are filling oil tankers up — with as much as two million barrels per vessel — and parking them out at sea, The Times’s Stanley Reed reported.
“I can send a boat to the Brent field; I can’t send a boat to Cushing,” said Stuart Joyner, an analyst at Redburn, a market research firm.“I can send a boat to the Brent field; I can’t send a boat to Cushing,” said Stuart Joyner, an analyst at Redburn, a market research firm.
Analysts say the unprecedented collapse of American crude prices into negative territory on April 20 spooked investors.Analysts say the unprecedented collapse of American crude prices into negative territory on April 20 spooked investors.
Global cuts in oil production are set to start on Friday, after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with Russia and other producers, agreed to reduce daily output by 9.7 million barrels a day, which is close to 10 percent of global output, to address a glut as demand for crude crashed.Global cuts in oil production are set to start on Friday, after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with Russia and other producers, agreed to reduce daily output by 9.7 million barrels a day, which is close to 10 percent of global output, to address a glut as demand for crude crashed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added six possible symptoms of coronavirus to its list, a step that reflects the broad variation and unpredictability of the effects of the illness.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added six possible symptoms of coronavirus to its list, a step that reflects the broad variation and unpredictability of the effects of the illness.
Echoing the observations of doctors treating thousands of patients, the federal health agency this month changed its website to cite chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell as possible indicators of Covid-19.Echoing the observations of doctors treating thousands of patients, the federal health agency this month changed its website to cite chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell as possible indicators of Covid-19.
The C.D.C. had listed just three symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath. The agency made no public announcement when it added the six new symptoms to its website on April 18, and it did not immediately respond to questions about the revised list.The C.D.C. had listed just three symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath. The agency made no public announcement when it added the six new symptoms to its website on April 18, and it did not immediately respond to questions about the revised list.
The revised C.D.C. list differs somewhat from the symptoms described by the World Health Organization on its website: fever, dry cough and tiredness. “Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea,” the W.H.O. says. “These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.”The revised C.D.C. list differs somewhat from the symptoms described by the World Health Organization on its website: fever, dry cough and tiredness. “Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea,” the W.H.O. says. “These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.”
Cases of the virus aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer rose over the weekend with at least 47 crew members testing positive, the Navy said on Monday.
The destroyer — the U.S.S. Kidd, which has roughly 300 crew members — is part of a counternarcotics mission and is the second deployed American warship affected by the coronavirus.
Two sailors aboard the destroyer, which was deployed to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, have been evacuated to the United States and the ship is returning to port. More than a dozen sailors have been sent to a nearby warship for monitoring. So far, nearly 50 percent of the crew have been tested for the virus.
The Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier that is currently docked in Guam, has 955 active cases of the virus, according to the Navy, and is set to return to its deployment in the western Pacific in the weeks to come.
Doctors around the world, trying to save patients who are seriously ill with the virus, have been giving them arthritis drugs that can squelch immune responses. The theory was that many were dying because their immune systems went into overdrive, creating a fatal storm that attacked their lungs.Doctors around the world, trying to save patients who are seriously ill with the virus, have been giving them arthritis drugs that can squelch immune responses. The theory was that many were dying because their immune systems went into overdrive, creating a fatal storm that attacked their lungs.
But now, preliminary results on treatments with one of these drugs, sarilumab, which is made by Sanofi-Regeneron, indicate that it does not help patients who are hospitalized but not using ventilators.But now, preliminary results on treatments with one of these drugs, sarilumab, which is made by Sanofi-Regeneron, indicate that it does not help patients who are hospitalized but not using ventilators.
The rush to treat patients with arthritis drugs began with a tiny study that ended optimistically in China in February.The rush to treat patients with arthritis drugs began with a tiny study that ended optimistically in China in February.
Sanofi-Regeneron immediately started a clinical trial that randomly assigned 457 hospitalized patients to receive 400 milligrams of sarilumab, 200 milligrams or a placebo. The patients fell into two groups — “severe,” meaning they required oxygen but did not need a ventilator or so-called high-flow oxygen, and “critical,” who needed a ventilator or high-flow oxygen or were in intensive care.Sanofi-Regeneron immediately started a clinical trial that randomly assigned 457 hospitalized patients to receive 400 milligrams of sarilumab, 200 milligrams or a placebo. The patients fell into two groups — “severe,” meaning they required oxygen but did not need a ventilator or so-called high-flow oxygen, and “critical,” who needed a ventilator or high-flow oxygen or were in intensive care.
Although the drug reduced c-reactive protein, which rises in severe inflammation, it did not help the severely ill patients, the companies reported on Monday. Many of those patients recovered on their own. Eighty percent were discharged from the hospital, regardless of whether they got the drug. Ten percent remained hospitalized, and 10 percent died.Although the drug reduced c-reactive protein, which rises in severe inflammation, it did not help the severely ill patients, the companies reported on Monday. Many of those patients recovered on their own. Eighty percent were discharged from the hospital, regardless of whether they got the drug. Ten percent remained hospitalized, and 10 percent died.
The results for the critically ill patients are not conclusive, but there is a hint that they might be helped. The study will continue with only critically ill patients; more than 600 have been enrolled, and results are expected in early June.The results for the critically ill patients are not conclusive, but there is a hint that they might be helped. The study will continue with only critically ill patients; more than 600 have been enrolled, and results are expected in early June.
They may not know what is going on, but they do notice that you’re home more often. Here are some tips to keep them safe, healthy and beautiful.They may not know what is going on, but they do notice that you’re home more often. Here are some tips to keep them safe, healthy and beautiful.
Reporting was contributed by Pam Belluck, Katie Benner, Alan Blinder, Jonah Engel Bromwich, Michael Cooper, Stacy Cowley, Jesse Drucker, David Enrich, Nicholas Fandos, Manny Fernandez, Thomas Fuller, David Gelles, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Jack Healy, Shawn Hubler, Kate Kelly, Gina Kolata, Jonathan Martin, Patricia Mazzei, Sarah Mervosh, David Montgomery, MRoni Caryn Rabin, Katie Rogers, Rick Rojas, Jonathan Rothwell, Marc Santora, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Eileen Sullivan, Jim Tankersley, Neil Vigdor, David Yaffe-Bellany and Mihir Zaveri. Reporting was contributed by Peter Baker, Pam Belluck, Katie Benner, Alan Blinder, Jonah Engel Bromwich, Michael Cooper, Stacy Cowley, Jesse Drucker, David Enrich, Nicholas Fandos, Manny Fernandez, Thomas Fuller, David Gelles, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Jack Healy, Shawn Hubler, Kate Kelly, Gina Kolata, Jonathan Martin, Patricia Mazzei, Sarah Mervosh, David Montgomery, Mariel Padilla, Roni Caryn Rabin, Katie Rogers, Rick Rojas, Jonathan Rothwell, Marc Santora, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Eileen Sullivan, Jim Tankersley, Neil Vigdor, David Yaffe-Bellany and Mihir Zaveri.