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Coronavirus US live: Pence says White House looking to wind down taskforce as death toll passes 70,000 Coronavirus US live: Pence says White House looking to wind down taskforce as death toll passes 70,000
(32 minutes later)
Vice-president said White House was looking at Memorial Day weekend as a potential target date to transition to agencies managing pandemic responseVice-president said White House was looking at Memorial Day weekend as a potential target date to transition to agencies managing pandemic response
Trump struck a similar tone while speaking with ABC. “It’s possible there will be some” deaths, the president said, but “we have to get our country back.”
A full interview with the network will air at 6:30 ET.
Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh, blogging from the west coast.
Donald Trump, speaking in Arizona, said it’s time to reopen businesses. “Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon,” he said.
“I’m viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors,” the president said.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Vice-president Mike Pence said the White House is looking to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming weeks. The potential disbanding of the group is being discussed even as one projection warns the country’s daily coronavirus death toll could reach 3,000 by 1 June.
The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 70,000. The country’s death toll continues to steadily rise, even as Trump attempts to pivot to focus on reopening the economy.
The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, said the state’s reopening plan would not include a “trade-off” between the economy and public health. “To me, a human life is priceless,” Cuomo said. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, similarly warned that the state would need to continue observing social distancing restrictions until a vaccine is developed. “We’re not going back to normal,” Newsom said.
A poll showed majorities of Americans oppose reopening most businesses. Despite the president’s push to reopen the economy, more than 7 in 10 Americans do not think movie theaters, gyms or nail salons should reopen at this time.
Dr Rick Bright filed his whistleblower complaint with the office of special counsel. Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, has claimed he was moved to a less important role for refusing to promote hydroxychloroquine as a potential coronavirus treatment.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
The Guardian’s Mario Koran reports on the latest from California:The Guardian’s Mario Koran reports on the latest from California:
California governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that retailers will be allowed to reopen their businesses starting on Friday, more than six weeks after the governor issued a statewide stay-at-home order.California governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that retailers will be allowed to reopen their businesses starting on Friday, more than six weeks after the governor issued a statewide stay-at-home order.
As the state enters “phase 2” of reopening, shops selling books, clothing, sporting goods, flowers or anything else that a customer can purchase through curbside pickup will be able to open again, if they implement certain modifications.As the state enters “phase 2” of reopening, shops selling books, clothing, sporting goods, flowers or anything else that a customer can purchase through curbside pickup will be able to open again, if they implement certain modifications.
Newsom had words today for rural Yuba and Sutter Counties, north of Sacramento, which last week issued a measure in defiance of the statewide order that allowed restaurants, salons and tattoo parlors to reopen.Newsom had words today for rural Yuba and Sutter Counties, north of Sacramento, which last week issued a measure in defiance of the statewide order that allowed restaurants, salons and tattoo parlors to reopen.
“They’re making a big mistake, they’re putting their public at risk” and undermining the state’s progress, said Newsom. The overwhelming number of Californians are “playing by the rules” and complying with state guidance, the governor added.“They’re making a big mistake, they’re putting their public at risk” and undermining the state’s progress, said Newsom. The overwhelming number of Californians are “playing by the rules” and complying with state guidance, the governor added.
Deals have been reached with three beach communities in southern California — Huntington Beach, Dana Point and Seal Beach — that will allow beaches to reopen as long as physical distance is maintained and other precautions are in place.Deals have been reached with three beach communities in southern California — Huntington Beach, Dana Point and Seal Beach — that will allow beaches to reopen as long as physical distance is maintained and other precautions are in place.
In the meantime, California continues to build its army of contract tracers, or “disease detectives” as Newsom has called them, which the governor expects will allow the state to have access to real-time data and move toward reopening in an informed way. California is aiming to enlist 20,000 tracers in the months to come, and training for the first cohort is now underway.In the meantime, California continues to build its army of contract tracers, or “disease detectives” as Newsom has called them, which the governor expects will allow the state to have access to real-time data and move toward reopening in an informed way. California is aiming to enlist 20,000 tracers in the months to come, and training for the first cohort is now underway.
The Guardian’s Mario Koran reports on the latest from California:The Guardian’s Mario Koran reports on the latest from California:
California is looking to gingerly ease restrictions up and down the state, but state and local leaders say this is no time to do away with physical distancing and other precautions that have played a part in keeping coronavirus case numbers steady, relative to states like New York.California is looking to gingerly ease restrictions up and down the state, but state and local leaders say this is no time to do away with physical distancing and other precautions that have played a part in keeping coronavirus case numbers steady, relative to states like New York.
“This cannot be a choice between public health and reopening the economy,” said Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg, who joined California governor Gavin Newsom for today’s press conference.“This cannot be a choice between public health and reopening the economy,” said Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg, who joined California governor Gavin Newsom for today’s press conference.
In terms of reopening the state, “It is not a question of if, it is not a question of when, it is a question of how,” Steinberg said. Public safety must continue to be part of the equation as the state heads toward a “new normal” where businesses begin to reopen, with conditions, he added.In terms of reopening the state, “It is not a question of if, it is not a question of when, it is a question of how,” Steinberg said. Public safety must continue to be part of the equation as the state heads toward a “new normal” where businesses begin to reopen, with conditions, he added.
“We’re not going back to normal,” Newsom said. “It’s a new normal with adaptations and modifications, until we get to immunity and a vaccine.”“We’re not going back to normal,” Newsom said. “It’s a new normal with adaptations and modifications, until we get to immunity and a vaccine.”
The cautionary comments from Newsom and Steinberg come as the White House looks to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming weeks, even though the country’s death toll continues to steadily rise.The cautionary comments from Newsom and Steinberg come as the White House looks to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming weeks, even though the country’s death toll continues to steadily rise.
Meanwhile, California tallied 1,275 new cases in the past 24 hours, which the governor said was encouraging. Despite the state’s expanded testing capacity — 100,000 tests have been performed in just three days — he described the numbers as holding relatively steady.Meanwhile, California tallied 1,275 new cases in the past 24 hours, which the governor said was encouraging. Despite the state’s expanded testing capacity — 100,000 tests have been performed in just three days — he described the numbers as holding relatively steady.
Republican senator Lamar Alexander said that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and House speaker Nancy Pelosi should accept Trump’s offer to make rapid coronavirus testing available to lawmakers.Republican senator Lamar Alexander said that Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and House speaker Nancy Pelosi should accept Trump’s offer to make rapid coronavirus testing available to lawmakers.
“From a public health point of view, this is not mostly about protecting members of Congress. It is about protecting the people members might infect. Bringing 100 or 535 members from across the country to Washington, D.C.—a coronavirus hotspot—and then sending them home each weekend creates a highly efficient virus spreading machine,” Alexander said in a new statement.“From a public health point of view, this is not mostly about protecting members of Congress. It is about protecting the people members might infect. Bringing 100 or 535 members from across the country to Washington, D.C.—a coronavirus hotspot—and then sending them home each weekend creates a highly efficient virus spreading machine,” Alexander said in a new statement.
McConnell and Pelosi jointly rejected Trump’s offer this weekend, saying they did not think tests should be used on lawmakers when states were still seeking to expand testing capacity. The attending physician of the Capitol has warned he does not have enough tests to proactively test each member of the Senate, which returned to session yesterday.McConnell and Pelosi jointly rejected Trump’s offer this weekend, saying they did not think tests should be used on lawmakers when states were still seeking to expand testing capacity. The attending physician of the Capitol has warned he does not have enough tests to proactively test each member of the Senate, which returned to session yesterday.
“The country will soon be able to test two million Americans each week,” said Alexander, the chair of the Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee. “This is enough to test 535 members of Congress each week before they go home to make sure they don’t spread the disease from a virus hotspot into every section of the country.”“The country will soon be able to test two million Americans each week,” said Alexander, the chair of the Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee. “This is enough to test 535 members of Congress each week before they go home to make sure they don’t spread the disease from a virus hotspot into every section of the country.”
Both Trump and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy have suggested McConnell and Pelosi should reconsider their decision.Both Trump and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy have suggested McConnell and Pelosi should reconsider their decision.
Trump’s press secretary has responded to the vice president’s comments that the White House is looking to wind down the coronavirus task force in the coming weeks.Trump’s press secretary has responded to the vice president’s comments that the White House is looking to wind down the coronavirus task force in the coming weeks.
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the White House would still be “involving medical experts” in decisions related to the coronavirus response.Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the White House would still be “involving medical experts” in decisions related to the coronavirus response.
But McEnany did not push back on Pence’s claim that the White House was looking to wind down the task force by late May or early June.But McEnany did not push back on Pence’s claim that the White House was looking to wind down the task force by late May or early June.
In comparison, Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said it was not true that the group was winding down. “I’ve been in every task force meeting, and that’s not what they are doing,” Fauci said.In comparison, Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said it was not true that the group was winding down. “I’ve been in every task force meeting, and that’s not what they are doing,” Fauci said.
The discrepancy could indicate the president has not been keeping the task force’s health experts in the loop on potentially disbanding.The discrepancy could indicate the president has not been keeping the task force’s health experts in the loop on potentially disbanding.
Vice President Mike Pence said the White House was looking at Memorial Day weekend in late May as a potential target date for winding down the coronavirus task force.Vice President Mike Pence said the White House was looking at Memorial Day weekend in late May as a potential target date for winding down the coronavirus task force.
“I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage -- begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,” Pence said.“I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage -- begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,” Pence said.
It’s worth noting that one projection shows the country’s daily coronavirus death toll couch reach up to 3,000 by June 1 if social distancing restrictions are relaxed too quickly, meaning it’s possible the task force will be winding down as thousands of Americans are dying every day from the virus.It’s worth noting that one projection shows the country’s daily coronavirus death toll couch reach up to 3,000 by June 1 if social distancing restrictions are relaxed too quickly, meaning it’s possible the task force will be winding down as thousands of Americans are dying every day from the virus.
The vice president added that the White House has already started discussing a potential transition plan with FEMA. “I think we’re having conversations about [winding down the task force] and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level,” Pence said. “And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA.”The vice president added that the White House has already started discussing a potential transition plan with FEMA. “I think we’re having conversations about [winding down the task force] and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level,” Pence said. “And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA.”
But Dr Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the task force, added to Pence’s comments, “We’ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now. It took us a while to build that capacity. And we’ll make sure that, you know, we’re watching that at a federal level.”But Dr Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the task force, added to Pence’s comments, “We’ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now. It took us a while to build that capacity. And we’ll make sure that, you know, we’re watching that at a federal level.”
The US president has alighted from Air Force One in Phoenix, Arizona, and was met by the state’s governor, Doug Ducey, whose tweet Trump earlier retweeted.The US president has alighted from Air Force One in Phoenix, Arizona, and was met by the state’s governor, Doug Ducey, whose tweet Trump earlier retweeted.
There are various debates on social media about why the president has chosen his first big trip outside Washington, DC, since late March, when the coronavirus outbreak began escalating in the US, to revolve around visiting a production line.There are various debates on social media about why the president has chosen his first big trip outside Washington, DC, since late March, when the coronavirus outbreak began escalating in the US, to revolve around visiting a production line.
Albeit that it produces masks for medical workers, this trip is not revolving around a hospital, or medical workers who are working in the most trying circumstances outside a war zone, or families in mourning.Albeit that it produces masks for medical workers, this trip is not revolving around a hospital, or medical workers who are working in the most trying circumstances outside a war zone, or families in mourning.
The trip isn’t all about industry, the president is holding a roundtable discussion on supporting Native Americans, then touring Honeywell International mask production assembly line and then giving a speech, before returning to the White House tonight.The trip isn’t all about industry, the president is holding a roundtable discussion on supporting Native Americans, then touring Honeywell International mask production assembly line and then giving a speech, before returning to the White House tonight.
It remains to be seen if he will wear a mask at the Honeywell site.It remains to be seen if he will wear a mask at the Honeywell site.
Dr Rick Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority who says he was demoted for refusing to promote hydroxychloroquine, has officially filed his whistleblower complaint with the office of special counsel.Dr Rick Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority who says he was demoted for refusing to promote hydroxychloroquine, has officially filed his whistleblower complaint with the office of special counsel.
The AP reports:The AP reports:
In a statement issued late last month, Bright said, “While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public.”In a statement issued late last month, Bright said, “While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public.”
Lawyers for Bright announced about two weeks ago that he intended to file a whistleblower complaint after being moved from his influential role helping to oversee the production of a coronavirus vaccine to a much smaller role.Lawyers for Bright announced about two weeks ago that he intended to file a whistleblower complaint after being moved from his influential role helping to oversee the production of a coronavirus vaccine to a much smaller role.
Vice President Mike Pence confirmed the New York Times’ report that the White House is having “conversations” about winding down its coronavirus task force.Vice President Mike Pence confirmed the New York Times’ report that the White House is having “conversations” about winding down its coronavirus task force.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, denied the report, but it appears the health expert may be out of the loop on the president’s thinking.Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, denied the report, but it appears the health expert may be out of the loop on the president’s thinking.
If the group were disbanded, it would almost certainly intensify concerns that Trump is sidelining health experts as he increasingly focuses on reopening the US economy.If the group were disbanded, it would almost certainly intensify concerns that Trump is sidelining health experts as he increasingly focuses on reopening the US economy.
Dr Anthony Fauci denied that the White House is looking to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming weeks.Dr Anthony Fauci denied that the White House is looking to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming weeks.
“That’s not true,” the infectious disease expert told CBS News. “I’ve been in every task force meeting, and that’s not what they are doing.”“That’s not true,” the infectious disease expert told CBS News. “I’ve been in every task force meeting, and that’s not what they are doing.”
Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate’s health, education, labor and pensions committee next Tuesday, where senators will almost certainly ask him about the task force’s recent activity.Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate’s health, education, labor and pensions committee next Tuesday, where senators will almost certainly ask him about the task force’s recent activity.
The news that Trump is considering winding down the White House coronavirus task force comes as the president has largely abandoned the group’s daily briefings.The news that Trump is considering winding down the White House coronavirus task force comes as the president has largely abandoned the group’s daily briefings.
The president and the health experts on the task force were previoulsy holding daily updates on the coronavirus response, but Trump appears to have dropped the briefings since his infamous suggestion that Americans ingest disinfectants to protect against the virus.The president and the health experts on the task force were previoulsy holding daily updates on the coronavirus response, but Trump appears to have dropped the briefings since his infamous suggestion that Americans ingest disinfectants to protect against the virus.
Trump has increasingly found other venues to take questions from reporters about the coronavirus response, including a White House recognition ceremony for first responders and this morning’s walk out to Marine One before flying to Arizona.Trump has increasingly found other venues to take questions from reporters about the coronavirus response, including a White House recognition ceremony for first responders and this morning’s walk out to Marine One before flying to Arizona.
The White House is reportedly looking to wind down the coronavirus task force in the coming weeks, even as the rate of new coronavirus infections continue to rise in most of the country.The White House is reportedly looking to wind down the coronavirus task force in the coming weeks, even as the rate of new coronavirus infections continue to rise in most of the country.
The New York Times reports:The New York Times reports:
The report comes as the US coronavirus death toll surpassed 70,000, with one projection warning the country’s daily death toll could reach 3,000 by June 1 if social distancing restrictions are relaxed too quickly.The report comes as the US coronavirus death toll surpassed 70,000, with one projection warning the country’s daily death toll could reach 3,000 by June 1 if social distancing restrictions are relaxed too quickly.
The news also comes just hours after the Washington Post reported one volunteer for Kushner’s coronavirus response effort was so alarmed by the team’s mismanagement that the person filed a complaint with the House oversight committee.The news also comes just hours after the Washington Post reported one volunteer for Kushner’s coronavirus response effort was so alarmed by the team’s mismanagement that the person filed a complaint with the House oversight committee.
The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 70,000, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins Univeristy.The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 70,000, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins Univeristy.
According to the university’s numbers, 70,115 Americans have now died of the virus, representing more than a quarter of all coronavirus deaths reported across the world.According to the university’s numbers, 70,115 Americans have now died of the virus, representing more than a quarter of all coronavirus deaths reported across the world.
The US has also reported more cases of the virus than any other country in the world. As of this afternoon, the US has confirmed 1,192,119 cases of coronavirus.The US has also reported more cases of the virus than any other country in the world. As of this afternoon, the US has confirmed 1,192,119 cases of coronavirus.
New York remains the state that has suffered the most coronavirus deaths, losing at least 24,999 residents to the virus. But while New York has recently seen a decrease in its number of coronavirus cases and deaths, other states are still on the rise.New York remains the state that has suffered the most coronavirus deaths, losing at least 24,999 residents to the virus. But while New York has recently seen a decrease in its number of coronavirus cases and deaths, other states are still on the rise.