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Coronavirus: US reaches one million confirmed cases – live updates Coronavirus: US reaches one million confirmed cases – live updates
(32 minutes later)
US reaches milestone according to Johns Hopkins figures, with death toll now over 57,000US reaches milestone according to Johns Hopkins figures, with death toll now over 57,000
Vice President Mike Pence defended his decision not to wear a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota, even though the clinic requires all visitors to cover their faces.
“As vice president of the United States, I’m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” Pence told reporters, according to a pool report.
“And since I don’t have the coronavirus, I thought it’d be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you.”
As the blog has previously noted, Pence could have contracted the virus in between tests, so the guidance on face coverings would almost certainly still apply to him. The coronavirus test is also not infallible, so it’s still possible he could be an asymptomatic carrier.
And to reiterate, the Mayo Clinic requires all visitors to wear masks, so at a minimum, Pence was ignoring the requests of his hosts while visiting clinic employees and patients. Reporters who were traveling with Pence said he appeared to be the only one at the clinic not covering his face.
Restrictions on access to the Capitol have been extended through May 16, according to a new statement from the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms.
The statement said Capitol tours would be canceled until at least May 16, and access to the House and Senate office buildings will be limited to members, staffers, credentialed press and official business vistors.
“We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public,” the statement said.
Access to the Capitol was first limited in early March, and it seems likely the restrictions will need to be extended again, considering the rising number of coronavirus cases in the Washington metropolitan area.
Trump said he felt optimistic about the development of a coronavirus vaccine, but he then dubiously argued the virus would “go away” regardless.
“But I think what happens is, it’s going to go away. This is going to go away,” Trump said during a White House event with small business owners. “And whether it comes back in a modified form in the fall, we’ll be able to handle it. We’ll be able to put out spurts. And we’re very prepared to handle it.”
The comments sounded eerily similar to Trump’s confident claims about coronavirus earlier this year, as the virus wreaked havoc in China’s Wuhan region. “It’s going to disappear,” Trump said in late February. “One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
Of course, even countries that have been able to limit the spread of coronavirus have still needed to keep many restrictions in place to prevent a resurgence of the virus, so it is not at all accurate to say the virus went away.
Public health experts have warned the country could see a second wave of infections starting in the fall, which could coincide with flu season, potentially creating a dangerous burden on the US healthcare system.
Trump is expected to sign an executive order today aimed at keeping meat processing plants open, even though workers at a number of plants have tested positive for coronavirus.Trump is expected to sign an executive order today aimed at keeping meat processing plants open, even though workers at a number of plants have tested positive for coronavirus.
The AP reports:The AP reports:
But some experts warned the order could jeopardize the health of meat plant workers and potentially cause a surge in coronavirus infections in towns with major plants.But some experts warned the order could jeopardize the health of meat plant workers and potentially cause a surge in coronavirus infections in towns with major plants.
A former deputy labor secretary under Barack Obama expressed concern about the order and noted it comes on Workers’ Memorial Day, which is meant to honor workers who have been injured or killed on the job:A former deputy labor secretary under Barack Obama expressed concern about the order and noted it comes on Workers’ Memorial Day, which is meant to honor workers who have been injured or killed on the job:
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, on Tuesday endorsed Joe Biden.Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, on Tuesday endorsed Joe Biden.
“I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president,” Clinton said, joining him at a virtual town hall on the impact of the coronavirus on women. “Just think of the difference it would make it right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science, put facts over fiction, but brought us together.”“I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president,” Clinton said, joining him at a virtual town hall on the impact of the coronavirus on women. “Just think of the difference it would make it right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science, put facts over fiction, but brought us together.”
Her support was the latest in a string of high-wattage endorsements from major Democratic leaders as the party’s former vice president makes his case for the White House. Earlier this month, he earned endorsements from his former rivals senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as from former president Barack Obama. On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her support in a video.Her support was the latest in a string of high-wattage endorsements from major Democratic leaders as the party’s former vice president makes his case for the White House. Earlier this month, he earned endorsements from his former rivals senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as from former president Barack Obama. On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her support in a video.
Biden, the presumptive Deomcratic nominee, introduced Clinton as “the woman who should be president of the United states right now.”Biden, the presumptive Deomcratic nominee, introduced Clinton as “the woman who should be president of the United states right now.”
More than anyone, Clinton knows the importance of Democratic unity when facing Donald Trump. Her narrow loss to Trump has served as a stark reminder to Democrats of the perils of heading into November with a divided party.More than anyone, Clinton knows the importance of Democratic unity when facing Donald Trump. Her narrow loss to Trump has served as a stark reminder to Democrats of the perils of heading into November with a divided party.
Clinton and Biden have known each other for decades, and she pointed to their long friendship – which was at times tested by their competing ambitions – to endorse his character. They were colleagues in the Senate for several years before running against each other in 2008 for the Democratic nomination. They both ended up serving in the Obama’s administration, where they began weekly breakfasts. Tensions percolated again in 2016, when Biden considered running for president.Clinton and Biden have known each other for decades, and she pointed to their long friendship – which was at times tested by their competing ambitions – to endorse his character. They were colleagues in the Senate for several years before running against each other in 2008 for the Democratic nomination. They both ended up serving in the Obama’s administration, where they began weekly breakfasts. Tensions percolated again in 2016, when Biden considered running for president.
But on Tuesday, Clinton offered an unconditional and personal endorsement of Biden.But on Tuesday, Clinton offered an unconditional and personal endorsement of Biden.
“I’ve been in the lobby of the Senate. I’ve been in the cloakroom and I’ve watched Joe bing people together,” Clinton said. “So for me, this is a moment that we need a leader, a president, like Joe Biden.”“I’ve been in the lobby of the Senate. I’ve been in the cloakroom and I’ve watched Joe bing people together,” Clinton said. “So for me, this is a moment that we need a leader, a president, like Joe Biden.”
During his event with small business owners, Trump once again falsely claimed that his daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, has created 15 million American jobs.During his event with small business owners, Trump once again falsely claimed that his daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, has created 15 million American jobs.
Trump first made the false claim earlier this month during a call with business leaders, and it immediately attracted the scrutiny of fact-checkers.Trump first made the false claim earlier this month during a call with business leaders, and it immediately attracted the scrutiny of fact-checkers.
For perspective, there were about 152 million Americans employed as of January, before the coronavirus crisis struck, so the president is falsely claiming his daughter created about 10% of all US jobs.For perspective, there were about 152 million Americans employed as of January, before the coronavirus crisis struck, so the president is falsely claiming his daughter created about 10% of all US jobs.
The president appears to be referring to his daughter’s work co-chairing a workforce advisory board, but the Washington Post previously gave Trump three Pinocchios for crediting Ivanka with creating millions of jobs.The president appears to be referring to his daughter’s work co-chairing a workforce advisory board, but the Washington Post previously gave Trump three Pinocchios for crediting Ivanka with creating millions of jobs.
Trump is hosting an event for small business owners at the White House, with the handful of guests and reporters spread at least six feet apart in the East Room.Trump is hosting an event for small business owners at the White House, with the handful of guests and reporters spread at least six feet apart in the East Room.
The president is speaking about the Paycheck Protection Program, the small business loan program created by last month’s stimulus package.The president is speaking about the Paycheck Protection Program, the small business loan program created by last month’s stimulus package.
The most recent coronavirus relief bill provided additional funding for the program, but some small business owners are already complaining once again about problems trying to apply to the program.The most recent coronavirus relief bill provided additional funding for the program, but some small business owners are already complaining once again about problems trying to apply to the program.
Democratic senator Brian Schatz criticized vice prsident Mike Pence for not wearing a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s facilities in Minnesota.Democratic senator Brian Schatz criticized vice prsident Mike Pence for not wearing a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s facilities in Minnesota.
The Hawaii Democrat said the vice president was “setting a dangerous example” by not covering his face, even though the clinic requires all visitors to do so.The Hawaii Democrat said the vice president was “setting a dangerous example” by not covering his face, even though the clinic requires all visitors to do so.
The Mayo Clinic has now deleted this tweet it sent about how it had informed Mike Pence’s office about the mask requirement before the vice president’s visit to the clinic’s Minnesota facilities.The Mayo Clinic has now deleted this tweet it sent about how it had informed Mike Pence’s office about the mask requirement before the vice president’s visit to the clinic’s Minnesota facilities.
Judging from footage of the visit, Pence appeared to be the only person not wearing a mask as he interacted with the clinic’s employees and at least one patient.Judging from footage of the visit, Pence appeared to be the only person not wearing a mask as he interacted with the clinic’s employees and at least one patient.
Mike Pence’s office has dubiously argued the vice president does not need to wear a mask because he is regularly tested for coronavirus.Mike Pence’s office has dubiously argued the vice president does not need to wear a mask because he is regularly tested for coronavirus.
The vice president faced questions about his lack of mask usage earlier this month after a photo circulated of a mask-less Pence greeting Colorado governor Jared Polis, who was wearing a mask in the picture.The vice president faced questions about his lack of mask usage earlier this month after a photo circulated of a mask-less Pence greeting Colorado governor Jared Polis, who was wearing a mask in the picture.
“When the face-covering guidelines were developed, it was with the intention to not only protect yourself, but primarily to protect others from asymptomatic spread,” Pence’s spokesperson previously said in respnose to questions about him not covering his face. “Vice President Pence is negative for Covid-19 and is therefore not asymptomatic.”“When the face-covering guidelines were developed, it was with the intention to not only protect yourself, but primarily to protect others from asymptomatic spread,” Pence’s spokesperson previously said in respnose to questions about him not covering his face. “Vice President Pence is negative for Covid-19 and is therefore not asymptomatic.”
However, coronavirus tests are not foolproof, and the vice president could potentially contract the virus in between tests, so the mask guidance should still apply to him.However, coronavirus tests are not foolproof, and the vice president could potentially contract the virus in between tests, so the mask guidance should still apply to him.
Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for ignoring mask guidelines when visiting the Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota today.Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for ignoring mask guidelines when visiting the Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota today.
Footage of Pence’s visit showed the vice president not covering his face as he met with the clinic’s employees and at least one patient.Footage of Pence’s visit showed the vice president not covering his face as he met with the clinic’s employees and at least one patient.
The clinic requires all visitors to wear a mask, sparking questions about why the vice president, who has avoided covering his face for photo opportunities, was allowed to flout the rule.The clinic requires all visitors to wear a mask, sparking questions about why the vice president, who has avoided covering his face for photo opportunities, was allowed to flout the rule.
In a statement, the Mayo Clinic said the vice president’s team was informed of the mask rule before visiting and referred all other questions to Pence’s office.In a statement, the Mayo Clinic said the vice president’s team was informed of the mask rule before visiting and referred all other questions to Pence’s office.
The United States accounts for about a third of all coronavirus cases that have been confirmed around the world.The United States accounts for about a third of all coronavirus cases that have been confirmed around the world.
The global total of confirmed coronavirus cases stands at 3,083,467, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The US has confirmed 1,002,498 cases.The global total of confirmed coronavirus cases stands at 3,083,467, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The US has confirmed 1,002,498 cases.
The US has confirmed far more cases than any other country in the world. Spain has confirmed 232,128 cases, and Italy has confirmed 201,505 cases. No other country has confirmed more than 200,000 cases.The US has confirmed far more cases than any other country in the world. Spain has confirmed 232,128 cases, and Italy has confirmed 201,505 cases. No other country has confirmed more than 200,000 cases.
The US has reached the milestone of one million confirmed coronavirus cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The US death toll is now over 57,000.
US appeals court judges earlier today appeared skeptical about broad arguments made by the Trump administration that the House of Representatives cannot sue to enforce a subpoena demanding testimony of a former senior White House official.
Holding arguments by phone because of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit considered whether a House committee can sue in an effort to obtain testimony from former White House Counsel Donald McGahn, Reuters writes.
The nine judges heard the case alongside another dispute between the House and the Trump administration over Donald Trump’s announcement that he would spend $8.1 billion for a wall on the US-Mexico border despite the fact Congress had appropriated only $1.375 billion.
Although the panel appeared generally sympathetic to the House’s arguments, some judges seemed concerned about opening the door to the House suing over all manner of issues, including policy disputes and military conflicts.
Judge Judith Rogers appeared skeptical of the notion that courts cannot intervene when the executive branch and Congress are at odds. “Are you of the view there can be no role for the courts in terms of preserving the separation of powers?” she asked Hashim Mooppan, a Justice Department lawyer arguing for the Trump administration.
Judge David Tatel, referencing separate cases now at the Supreme Court concerning the House’s effort to obtain Trump’s financial records, questioned whether the Justice Department’s arguments are consistent.
The Justice Department has said Trump can sue to block a subpoena but the House cannot sue to enforce one.
A divided three-judge panel of the court ruled for Trump in February, saying the court had no place in settling the closely watched dispute between the executive and legislative branches of the US government.The House judiciary committee had sought testimony from McGahn, who left his post in October 2018, about Trump’s efforts to impede former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 US election.
McGahn declined to testify before the committee after the Trump administration advised him to defy the subpoena.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Trump is expected to sign an exectuvie order on keeping meat plants open. The executive order comes as a number of plants have had to close because workers have tested positive for coronavirus, which has raised concerns about a potential meat shortage.
The president dodged a question about whether he received repeated warnings about the threat of coronavirus starting in January. Trump was asked about a Washington Post report that his Presidential Daily Briefing included multiple warnings on the virus in January and February. The president responded by saying he “would have to check” the dates of the warnings he received.
Hillary Clinton is expected to endorse Joe Biden later today. Clinton confirmed she would appear as a special guest for Biden’s virtual town hall later today, and the endorsement was widely expected considering Biden has won the endorsement of virtually every other prominent Democrat.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
The Guardian’s Kenya Evelyn reports on New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily coronavirus briefing:
Governor Cuomo confirmed that while the number of new cases in the state dropped to under 1,000, an additional 335 New Yorkers died from the coronavirus Monday.
“This number is basically reducing, but not at a tremendous rate,” he said. “The only thing that is tremendous is the number of New Yorkers that pass away.”
The governor announced the formation of an advisory board of business leaders and health experts who are working with state officials to develop a repening plan. Cuomo unveiled a set of data points the state is using to guide its efforts.
“If a hospital system in an area exceeds 70% capacity or the rate of transmission of the virus hits 1.1, those are danger signs,” he said, likening upstate New York to states in the Midwest and West.
As protests to reopen the economy gain traction, the governor cautioned against getting “pushed politically into a situation” because “there are protesters in front of the capitol.”
“No, we’re not going to do that,” he said. “That’s not how we make decisions.”
Cuomo then pleaded for reopening measures to be based on facts, insisting “emotions can’t drive a reopening process.”
“Separate the emotion from the logic,” he said. “We want to reopen, but we want to do it without infecting more people or overwhelming the hospital system.”
“I know how much we want this to be over. But this is not over,” he added.
The briefing took a turn, however, when Cuomo went on to chastise national and global organizations for what he called a delayed response to a virus that first appeared in December.
The governor specifically took aim at the US intelligence community and global health organizations and NGOs, as well as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
“Where was everyone? Who was supposed to blow the bugle and didn’t?” he asked. However, Cuomo told Axios last night that he regretted not raising the alarm sooner himself.
On tracking and testing Covid-19 cases, Cuomo said the state needs at least 30 tracers for every 100,000 residents. The need, he said, exposed “fundamental issues” in governmental institutions that will require long-term, structural change.
“We need better systems,” he said. “We have to do a better job at our basic public health system.”
Joe Biden confirmed Hillary Clinton would appear at his virtual event later today, which was originally supposed to focus on the impact of coronavirus on women.
Clinton is expected to endorse Biden, an unsurprising development considering Biden has won the endorsement of nearly every other prominent Democrat since becoming the presumptive nominee.
But Clinton remains a favorite target for the president and his allies, and Trump’s reelection campaign has already put out a statement bashing the former Democratic presidential nominee.
“There is no greater concentration of Democrat establishment than Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton together,” said Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale. “President Trump beat her once and now he’ll beat her chosen candidate.”
Trump’s planned executive order on the US food supply will order meat processing plants to stay open, according to a Bloomberg News reporter.
The president announced during his Oval Office pool spray with Florida governor Ron DeSantis that he would sign a new executive order today regarding the country’s food supply chain.
The expected order comes as a number of meat processing plants have been forced to close after workers began testing positive for coronavirus. At least 13 meat and food-processing workers have already died of the virus.
The chairman of Tyson Foods warned Sunday that the country could face a meat shortage because of the closures.
“There will be limited supply of our products available in grocery stores until we are able to reopen our facilities that are currently closed,” John Tyson said. “In addition to meat shortages, this is a serious food waste issue. Farmers across the nation simply will not have anywhere to sell their livestock to be processed, when they could have fed the nation.”
Hillary Clinton reportedly intends to announce her endorsement of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign during a virtual event this afternoon.
The endorsement would be far from surprising, considering Biden has secured the endorsements of many prominent Democrats since becoming the party’s presumptive nominee earlier this month.
But the expected endorsement is still noteworthy, considering Clinton lost to Trump in 2016 and is still a favorite target for the president and his fans.
Clinton previewed her appearance for Biden in a tweet:
Trump told governors yesterday that they should “seriously consider” reopening schools, according to an audio recording of a teleconference call obtained by CNN.
“Some of you might start thinking about school openings, because a lot of people are wanting to have school openings. It’s not a big subject, young children have done very well in this disaster that we’ve all gone through,” Trump can be heard saying in the recording.
“So a lot of people are thinking about the school openings. And I think it’s something ... they can seriously consider and maybe get going on it.”
A number of states have already announced that schools will not reopen for the remainder of the academic year, and public health experts have warned against relaxing social distancing restrictions too quickly, even as the president pushes for reopening the country.
Alabama governor Kay Ivey said the state would relax some social distancing restrictions starting Thursday, as several states look to start the process of reopening their economies.
Ivey said the state’s stay-at-home order would be allowed to expire Thursday and would be replaced with a “safer-at-home” order that includes slightly relaxed restrictions, which will be in effect until at least May 15.
Retail stores will be allowed to reopen starting Thursday, although the businesses must follow sanitization guidelines and enforce a 50% occupancy limit.
Beaches will also be allowed to reopen, but people will still need to maintain six feet of physical distance and avoid gathering in groups.
Restaurants, bars and breweries will remain limited to takeout and delivery, and churches will not yet be allowed to reopen.
Trump declined to answer a question about the health status of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which remains a matter of intense public speculation.
“I just don’t want to comment on that,” Trump said of Kim during an Oval Office pool spray with Florida governor Ron DeSantis. “I just wish him well.”
But yesterday, Trump was more than willing to indicate that he knew the health status of Kim, even as he declined to share details on what he knows.
“Kim Jong-un? I can’t tell you exactly,” Trump said at his press conference yesterday. “Yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can’t talk about it now. ... You will probably be hearing in the not-too-distant future.”