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| Coronavirus US: polls put Biden ahead of Trump as deaths top 1,000 a day – live | Coronavirus US: polls put Biden ahead of Trump as deaths top 1,000 a day – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| With 100 days to go until the elections, the Senate GOP is looking to complete a new relief and stimulus proposal | With 100 days to go until the elections, the Senate GOP is looking to complete a new relief and stimulus proposal |
| Pennsylvania reported 800 news cases and four new deaths from Covid-19 on Sunday. | |
| While those numbers are low compared to the peak in a state that was among the hardest hit in the early days of the pandemic, the state’s department of health said there has been a “significant” increase in cases among 19-24 year olds. | |
| There have been more than 110,000 confirmed cases and 7,100 deaths from Covid-19 in Pennsylvania since the start of the pandemic. | |
| The confrontation between protesters and federal paramilitaries in Portland escalated early on Sunday morning, when demonstrators finally broke down a steel fence around the courthouse after days of trying. | |
| The federal agents fired waves of teargas and “non-lethal projectiles” to drive back thousands besieging the courthouse to demand Donald Trump withdraw the paramilitaries, ostensibly sent to curb two months of Black Lives Matters protests. The city police, who had largely withdrawn in recent days, declared a riot and joined federal agents in making arrests. | |
| Portland is now the focal point of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. But many other cities are affected. | |
| In Seattle, in neighbouring Washington state, authorities said rocks, bottles and fireworks were thrown at officers who used flash bangs and pepper spray. The police chief, Carmen Best, told reporters she had not seen federal agents the Trump administration sent to the city. | |
| In Oakland, California, after a peaceful protest, a courthouse was set on fire. In Aurora, Colorado, a car drove into a Black Lives Matter protest and a demonstrator was shot. In Richmond, Virginia, a dump truck was set on fire and police appeared to use teargas to disperse protesters. | |
| In Portland, authorities erected the steel barrier around the federal courthouse after two earlier fences were swiftly torn down. The latest barrier was held in place by large concrete blocks and proved impregnable for several days. | |
| Early on Sunday, protesters attempted to bring it down with teams pulling on ropes, but the ropes broke. Then they used a chain, a section of the fence gave way, and the rest was toppled to huge cheers before the crowd was driven back by teargas and rubber bullets. | |
| You can read the full story below: | |
| The health and human service secretary, Alex Azar, says he does not think there are “uniform thresholds” when it comes to reopening schools in the US. | The health and human service secretary, Alex Azar, says he does not think there are “uniform thresholds” when it comes to reopening schools in the US. |
| “Each community is going to have to make the determination about the circumstances for reopening, and what steps they take for reopening,” Azar told CBS. “But the presumption should be that we get out kids back to school and figure out how to make that happen.” | “Each community is going to have to make the determination about the circumstances for reopening, and what steps they take for reopening,” Azar told CBS. “But the presumption should be that we get out kids back to school and figure out how to make that happen.” |
| It was another night of unrest across the US on Saturday as protesters and federal agents faced off in Portland, Oregon, and a car drove through a group of protesters in Aurora, Colorado. | It was another night of unrest across the US on Saturday as protesters and federal agents faced off in Portland, Oregon, and a car drove through a group of protesters in Aurora, Colorado. |
| There was also trouble in Seattle, as the Associated Press reports: | There was also trouble in Seattle, as the Associated Press reports: |
| In Seattle, police officers retreated into a precinct station early on Sunday, hours after large demonstrations in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Some demonstrators lingered after officers filed into the department’s East Precinct around 1am, but most cleared out a short time later, according to video posted online. | In Seattle, police officers retreated into a precinct station early on Sunday, hours after large demonstrations in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Some demonstrators lingered after officers filed into the department’s East Precinct around 1am, but most cleared out a short time later, according to video posted online. |
| At a late-night news conference, Seattle police Chief Carmen Best called for peace. Rocks, bottles, fireworks and mortars were fired at police during the weekend unrest, and police said they arrested at least 45 people for assaults on officers, obstruction and failure to disperse. Twenty-one officers were hurt, with most of their injuries considered minor, police said. | At a late-night news conference, Seattle police Chief Carmen Best called for peace. Rocks, bottles, fireworks and mortars were fired at police during the weekend unrest, and police said they arrested at least 45 people for assaults on officers, obstruction and failure to disperse. Twenty-one officers were hurt, with most of their injuries considered minor, police said. |
| A procession carrying the body of civil rights activist and US congressman John Lewis has crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The bridge is where Lewis was among civil rights marchers assaulted by state troopers in 1965. Lewis’s skull was fractured during the incident. | A procession carrying the body of civil rights activist and US congressman John Lewis has crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The bridge is where Lewis was among civil rights marchers assaulted by state troopers in 1965. Lewis’s skull was fractured during the incident. |
| There will also be a memorial service for Lewis at the US Capitol in Washington DC, before funeral services in Georgia, which he represented in Congress for 33 years. | There will also be a memorial service for Lewis at the US Capitol in Washington DC, before funeral services in Georgia, which he represented in Congress for 33 years. |
| Lewis was remembered at a service in Pike county, where he was born, on Saturday. | Lewis was remembered at a service in Pike county, where he was born, on Saturday. |
| “I remember the day that John left home,” his brother, Samuel Lewis, said. “Mother told him not to get in trouble, not to get in the way ... but we all know that John got in trouble, got in the way but it was good trouble. And the troubles that he got himself into would change the world.” | “I remember the day that John left home,” his brother, Samuel Lewis, said. “Mother told him not to get in trouble, not to get in the way ... but we all know that John got in trouble, got in the way but it was good trouble. And the troubles that he got himself into would change the world.” |
| Chicago’s Democratic mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has said she does not want federal agents sent to her city to police the streets, despite threats from Donald Trump to do so. | Chicago’s Democratic mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has said she does not want federal agents sent to her city to police the streets, despite threats from Donald Trump to do so. |
| “I have said it before and I will say it again, no troops, no agents that are coming in outside of our knowledge, notification, and control that are violating people’s constitutional rights,” she said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. | “I have said it before and I will say it again, no troops, no agents that are coming in outside of our knowledge, notification, and control that are violating people’s constitutional rights,” she said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. |
| “We can’t just allow anyone to come into Chicago, play police in our streets, in our neighborhoods, when they don’t know the first thing about our city. That’s a recipe for disaster. And that’s what you’re seeing playing out in Portland on a nightly basis ... We don’t need that here. That is not a value add, and it doesn’t help enhance our public safety.” | “We can’t just allow anyone to come into Chicago, play police in our streets, in our neighborhoods, when they don’t know the first thing about our city. That’s a recipe for disaster. And that’s what you’re seeing playing out in Portland on a nightly basis ... We don’t need that here. That is not a value add, and it doesn’t help enhance our public safety.” |
| Lightfoot said she is not entirely opposed to receiving federal help if it is appropriate. | Lightfoot said she is not entirely opposed to receiving federal help if it is appropriate. |
| “Let me be clear, this is not about working with the Trump administration. For decades now in major cities across the country, FBI, DEA, AFT, those agents have been in our districts and do work and work in concert with local law enforcement to help support a number of efforts, not the least of which is violence in our cities,” she said. | “Let me be clear, this is not about working with the Trump administration. For decades now in major cities across the country, FBI, DEA, AFT, those agents have been in our districts and do work and work in concert with local law enforcement to help support a number of efforts, not the least of which is violence in our cities,” she said. |
| Despite the fact that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose again last week after four months of falls, whole states facing economic crises and alarming reports about the crushing effect of the pandemic on small businesses, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow remains upbeat. | Despite the fact that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose again last week after four months of falls, whole states facing economic crises and alarming reports about the crushing effect of the pandemic on small businesses, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow remains upbeat. |
| “I will say again, the economy is improving by leaps and bounds. I will also say, there are more states that are reopening and doing very well. There are some key states, yes. California and Texas and Florida, right now that are having hot spot difficulties. But it’s nothing like it was last winter,” he said during an appearance on CNN. | “I will say again, the economy is improving by leaps and bounds. I will also say, there are more states that are reopening and doing very well. There are some key states, yes. California and Texas and Florida, right now that are having hot spot difficulties. But it’s nothing like it was last winter,” he said during an appearance on CNN. |
| He also denied ending the extra $600 week benefit for the unemployed would result in evictions. | He also denied ending the extra $600 week benefit for the unemployed would result in evictions. |
| “First of all, state unemployment benefits stay in place. Second of all, we will try to cap the benefits at about 70% of wages,” he said. “You know, a University of Chicago study showed virtually 70%, 68% of people actually have higher benefits than wages. We have had a flood of inquiries and phone calls and complaints that small stores and businesses, restaurants can’t hire people back. They went too far. Maybe last March, it was necessary for that. But, really, the consequences of people not returning to work – Secretary Mnuchin said it right. We want to pay folks to go back to work.” | “First of all, state unemployment benefits stay in place. Second of all, we will try to cap the benefits at about 70% of wages,” he said. “You know, a University of Chicago study showed virtually 70%, 68% of people actually have higher benefits than wages. We have had a flood of inquiries and phone calls and complaints that small stores and businesses, restaurants can’t hire people back. They went too far. Maybe last March, it was necessary for that. But, really, the consequences of people not returning to work – Secretary Mnuchin said it right. We want to pay folks to go back to work.” |
| You can read more about the worries about ending the $600 payments below: | You can read more about the worries about ending the $600 payments below: |
| White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has appeared on ABC’s This Week, and has spoken about November’s election. | White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has appeared on ABC’s This Week, and has spoken about November’s election. |
| Last week, Donald Trump refused to say he would accept the result if he loses to Joe Biden. The president has also repeated unfounded claims that mail-in voting is subject to fraud, which some see as a tactic he will use if he does lose in November. | Last week, Donald Trump refused to say he would accept the result if he loses to Joe Biden. The president has also repeated unfounded claims that mail-in voting is subject to fraud, which some see as a tactic he will use if he does lose in November. |
| Meadows is asked by host George Stephanopoulos: “When you listen to the president, you begin to wonder, is he worried about the legitimacy of the electoral process or is he worried about losing?” | Meadows is asked by host George Stephanopoulos: “When you listen to the president, you begin to wonder, is he worried about the legitimacy of the electoral process or is he worried about losing?” |
| “What we do know is a number of times as we have mail-in ballots, if there is not a chain of custody that goes from the voter to the ballot box, mischief can happen,” says Meadows. “And we’ve seen that throughout our history. We also see very clearly that if you’re going to cast a ballot, you want to make sure it goes in the ballot box and it’s your vote that counts, not your vote for someone else that gets decided by another person.” | “What we do know is a number of times as we have mail-in ballots, if there is not a chain of custody that goes from the voter to the ballot box, mischief can happen,” says Meadows. “And we’ve seen that throughout our history. We also see very clearly that if you’re going to cast a ballot, you want to make sure it goes in the ballot box and it’s your vote that counts, not your vote for someone else that gets decided by another person.” |
| Meadows also says that “I’m not suggesting that there’s widespread fraud.” | Meadows also says that “I’m not suggesting that there’s widespread fraud.” |
| Meadows also does not seem to worried about Russian interference in the election. “Now, there’s a big difference between foreign interference and foreign influence. They continue to try to influence, as everyone does across the globe,” he says. | Meadows also does not seem to worried about Russian interference in the election. “Now, there’s a big difference between foreign interference and foreign influence. They continue to try to influence, as everyone does across the globe,” he says. |
| “But in terms of actually affecting the vote totals and interacting, I think we’re in a good place. We’ve been willing to work with secretaries of states of every – of all 50 states as we look at that and the territories to make sure that their systems have the needed resources for the integrity to be there and so that we can count on that.” | “But in terms of actually affecting the vote totals and interacting, I think we’re in a good place. We’ve been willing to work with secretaries of states of every – of all 50 states as we look at that and the territories to make sure that their systems have the needed resources for the integrity to be there and so that we can count on that.” |
| Reuters has news on the surge of coronavirus cases in Florida: | Reuters has news on the surge of coronavirus cases in Florida: |
| Florida on Sunday became the second state after California to overtake New York, the worst-hit state at the start of the US novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a Reuters tally. | Florida on Sunday became the second state after California to overtake New York, the worst-hit state at the start of the US novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a Reuters tally. |
| Total Covid-19 cases in the Sunshine State rose by 9,300 to 423,855 on Sunday, behind California, which now leads the country with 448,497 cases. New York is in third place with 415,827 cases. | Total Covid-19 cases in the Sunshine State rose by 9,300 to 423,855 on Sunday, behind California, which now leads the country with 448,497 cases. New York is in third place with 415,827 cases. |
| Still, New York has recorded the most deaths of any US state at more than 32,000 with Florida in eighth place with nearly 6,000 deaths. | Still, New York has recorded the most deaths of any US state at more than 32,000 with Florida in eighth place with nearly 6,000 deaths. |
| On average, Florida has added more than 10,000 cases a day in July while California has been adding 8,300 cases a day and New York has been adding 700 cases. | On average, Florida has added more than 10,000 cases a day in July while California has been adding 8,300 cases a day and New York has been adding 700 cases. |
| The surge in Florida has continued as the state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has repeatedly said he will not make mask-wearing mandatory and that schools must reopen in August. | The surge in Florida has continued as the state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has repeatedly said he will not make mask-wearing mandatory and that schools must reopen in August. |
| Meanwhile, New York state has managed to get the virus under control, with stores and restaurants shuttered and the wearing of masks mandatory. | Meanwhile, New York state has managed to get the virus under control, with stores and restaurants shuttered and the wearing of masks mandatory. |
| Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health and member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, has appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. | Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health and member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, has appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. |
| He said the administration wants children to return to school, but the policy is flexible. | He said the administration wants children to return to school, but the policy is flexible. |
| “We have always been clear that the presumption needs to be that we want our kids in school, for all the reasons you know, social, emotional,” he said. “There is no one size that fits all. Obviously, if the virus is high in that community and spreading, you have to temper your opening or do alternative strategies. I think that’s been clear. One size does not fit all.” | “We have always been clear that the presumption needs to be that we want our kids in school, for all the reasons you know, social, emotional,” he said. “There is no one size that fits all. Obviously, if the virus is high in that community and spreading, you have to temper your opening or do alternative strategies. I think that’s been clear. One size does not fit all.” |
| Giroir added that testing still needs to be improved in the US, with many people reporting long delays between being tested and getting results. | Giroir added that testing still needs to be improved in the US, with many people reporting long delays between being tested and getting results. |
| “I’m never going to be happy until we have this under control,” he said. “We’re going to continue to push every single day to improve the testing, the type of testing that we have, in the rapidity of turnaround.” | “I’m never going to be happy until we have this under control,” he said. “We’re going to continue to push every single day to improve the testing, the type of testing that we have, in the rapidity of turnaround.” |
| Giroir added that the main problem was in larger testing labs. “The delays that most people talk about are at the large commercial labs that perform about half the testing in our country,” he said, adding the average wait time in those labs is “4.27 days”. | Giroir added that the main problem was in larger testing labs. “The delays that most people talk about are at the large commercial labs that perform about half the testing in our country,” he said, adding the average wait time in those labs is “4.27 days”. |
| New Mexico’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has appeared on ABC’s This Week to talk about, among other things, federal agents being sent to her state to police protests. | New Mexico’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has appeared on ABC’s This Week to talk about, among other things, federal agents being sent to her state to police protests. |
| Some see the use of federal agents in US cities as the start of martial law. The governor is asked how she feels about the subject. “If we are cooperatively working to address violent crime and gun violence – absolutely [it’s fine]. If we’re going to try to incentivize unrest, then that’s something altogether different,” she says. | Some see the use of federal agents in US cities as the start of martial law. The governor is asked how she feels about the subject. “If we are cooperatively working to address violent crime and gun violence – absolutely [it’s fine]. If we’re going to try to incentivize unrest, then that’s something altogether different,” she says. |
| New Mexico has also seen a rise in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. The governor says she has been hampered by the poor federal response. | New Mexico has also seen a rise in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. The governor says she has been hampered by the poor federal response. |
| “There is no national strategy,” she says. “I still spend most of my days chasing testing supplies for our state. It is the worst abdication of a national response and responsibility to protect Americans I have ever seen in my government career.” | “There is no national strategy,” she says. “I still spend most of my days chasing testing supplies for our state. It is the worst abdication of a national response and responsibility to protect Americans I have ever seen in my government career.” |