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| Coronavirus US live: White House calls on New Yorkers who have left city to self-quarantine | Coronavirus US live: White House calls on New Yorkers who have left city to self-quarantine |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Pelosi says there is ‘real optimism’ of stimulus deal being reached as Trump says he’d like the US to return to normal by Easter | Pelosi says there is ‘real optimism’ of stimulus deal being reached as Trump says he’d like the US to return to normal by Easter |
| Here’s where confirmed cases of Covid-19 are: | |
| Today’s briefing made clear that New York is now being treated as a hot zone. The state reported 25,665 cases of Covid-19, as of. this morning, with 210 deaths. Nearly 15,000 cases were concentrated in New York City. | |
| But New York is also testing residents more often. | |
| FEMA spokesperson clarifies: They didn’t need to use the DPA after all. | FEMA spokesperson clarifies: They didn’t need to use the DPA after all. |
| Both Donald Trump and Mike Pence indicated during the briefing that there was no need to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to compel private companies to produce masks, ventilators and other vital supplies needed to contain the spread of disease and treat those infected. | |
| But their comments appear to contradict what Peter Gaynor, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), said earlier today. This morning, Gaynor told CNN that his agency was “going to use the DPA for the first time today”. | |
| Triggering the act would help Fema access about 60,000 test kits, Gaynor said, also noting that the administration would also insert “DPA language” in the contracts for its order of 500m protective masks. | |
| Last week, Trump issued an executive order invoking that 1950 law, so the government could ask companies to prioritize the production of crucial medical supplies. Ever since, the administration has dismissed the need for such measures, arguing that companies are voluntarily stepping up to make necessary products, and that ordering companies to supply the equipment would amount to socialism. | |
| The president concluded the briefing with a rare compliment to Congress. | The president concluded the briefing with a rare compliment to Congress. |
| “I also want to thank Congress because whether or not we’re happy that they haven’t quite gotten there yet, they have been working the long hours,” he said. “ I’m talking Republicans and Democrats, all of them, the House, the Senate.” | “I also want to thank Congress because whether or not we’re happy that they haven’t quite gotten there yet, they have been working the long hours,” he said. “ I’m talking Republicans and Democrats, all of them, the House, the Senate.” |
| One key takeaway from that very brief briefing: The White House seems to have new guidance for people who have already left New York to self-quarantine for two weeks. | One key takeaway from that very brief briefing: The White House seems to have new guidance for people who have already left New York to self-quarantine for two weeks. |
| “We are asking anyone who has traveled out of the New York City metropolitan area to anywhere else in the country to self-isolate for 14 days,” Mike Pence said during the briefing. “We have to deal with the New York City metropolitan area as a high-risk area.” | “We are asking anyone who has traveled out of the New York City metropolitan area to anywhere else in the country to self-isolate for 14 days,” Mike Pence said during the briefing. “We have to deal with the New York City metropolitan area as a high-risk area.” |
| Antony Fauci emphasized that one out of every 1000 New Yorkers may be infected. | Antony Fauci emphasized that one out of every 1000 New Yorkers may be infected. |
| It doesn’t seem that New York governor Andrew Cuomo was told about the new public health policy prior to the briefing. When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked whether Cuomo had been given a heads up, Trump responded that “we’re talking to them about it.” | It doesn’t seem that New York governor Andrew Cuomo was told about the new public health policy prior to the briefing. When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked whether Cuomo had been given a heads up, Trump responded that “we’re talking to them about it.” |
| Fauci responded with a more measured message. The timeline of when the US should ease physical distancing measures is “really very flexible,” he said, “You can look at a date but you have to be very flexible.” Fauci once again emphasized the need for data to inform public health policies. | Fauci responded with a more measured message. The timeline of when the US should ease physical distancing measures is “really very flexible,” he said, “You can look at a date but you have to be very flexible.” Fauci once again emphasized the need for data to inform public health policies. |
| “No one is going to want to tone down things when you see what’s going on in a place like New York City,” he said. “It’s going to be looking at the data.” | “No one is going to want to tone down things when you see what’s going on in a place like New York City,” he said. “It’s going to be looking at the data.” |
| Trump evaded a question about why he’s fixated on easing back distancing measures by Easter. “I just thought it was a beautiful time,” he said. But he said he’ll “be guided very much by Dr Fauci” and Dr Deborah Birx. | Trump evaded a question about why he’s fixated on easing back distancing measures by Easter. “I just thought it was a beautiful time,” he said. But he said he’ll “be guided very much by Dr Fauci” and Dr Deborah Birx. |
| “Maybe we do sections of the country,” Trump said, appearing to think out loud about how he could make the Easter timeline work. | “Maybe we do sections of the country,” Trump said, appearing to think out loud about how he could make the Easter timeline work. |
| Mike Pence reiterated that he doesn’t see a need to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel private companies to produce vital supplies, because so “we see industries stepping up” on their own. | Mike Pence reiterated that he doesn’t see a need to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel private companies to produce vital supplies, because so “we see industries stepping up” on their own. |
| Pence said that Apple is donating 9m masks - which medical staff need. He also referred to McDonald’s move to offer curbside delivery for truckers who aren’t able to use drive-thru — which is nice, but less of a necessity. | Pence said that Apple is donating 9m masks - which medical staff need. He also referred to McDonald’s move to offer curbside delivery for truckers who aren’t able to use drive-thru — which is nice, but less of a necessity. |
| Larry Kudlow addressed the financial rescue package that lawmakers are currently debating. The bill will total $6 trillion, he said - including $4 trillion in liquidity from the Federal Reserve and $2 trillion in direct relief (including payment to individuals, small business loans and unemployment insurance). | Larry Kudlow addressed the financial rescue package that lawmakers are currently debating. The bill will total $6 trillion, he said - including $4 trillion in liquidity from the Federal Reserve and $2 trillion in direct relief (including payment to individuals, small business loans and unemployment insurance). |
| In his update, Kudlow referred to “chief of staff Meadows,” even though Mark Meadows is still a member of Congress. Meadow’s aide had clarified earlier that Mick Mulvaney is still the acting White House chief of staff. | In his update, Kudlow referred to “chief of staff Meadows,” even though Mark Meadows is still a member of Congress. Meadow’s aide had clarified earlier that Mick Mulvaney is still the acting White House chief of staff. |
| Kudlow said the impact of coronavirus will last “weeks,” not much longer. “It’s only going to be weeks,” he said. “Weeks and months, not years.” | Kudlow said the impact of coronavirus will last “weeks,” not much longer. “It’s only going to be weeks,” he said. “Weeks and months, not years.” |
| Fauci did not address how realistic Trump’s wish to scale back social-distancing measures by Easter is. Instead, he obliquely referenced the importance of testing and gathering data. | Fauci did not address how realistic Trump’s wish to scale back social-distancing measures by Easter is. Instead, he obliquely referenced the importance of testing and gathering data. |
| Anthony Fauci, who has resurfaced for this briefing, addressed the crisis. He emphasized the need to test more widely, to gather more data that can inform public health officials as the development policies. | Anthony Fauci, who has resurfaced for this briefing, addressed the crisis. He emphasized the need to test more widely, to gather more data that can inform public health officials as the development policies. |
| “The idea about self-isolating for two weeks will be very important,” Fauci said, especially for New Yorkers living in the most severely impacted areas in the country. | “The idea about self-isolating for two weeks will be very important,” Fauci said, especially for New Yorkers living in the most severely impacted areas in the country. |
| Deborah Birx, the physician coordinating the coronavirus task force, noted that 60% of all new cases in the US are coming from New York and urged recent visitors to self-quarantine for two weeks. | Deborah Birx, the physician coordinating the coronavirus task force, noted that 60% of all new cases in the US are coming from New York and urged recent visitors to self-quarantine for two weeks. |
| “This experience shows how important borders are,” Donald Trump said, referencing his exclusionary immigration policies. | “This experience shows how important borders are,” Donald Trump said, referencing his exclusionary immigration policies. |
| The president has used the crisis to push border control policies he has supported for years. | The president has used the crisis to push border control policies he has supported for years. |
| He also said that the US “should never be reliant on a foreign country” and that his wish for America is for it to be a “self-reliant nation” that is “dependent on no one”. | He also said that the US “should never be reliant on a foreign country” and that his wish for America is for it to be a “self-reliant nation” that is “dependent on no one”. |
| Trump said he’s confident that the Senate will vote soon on an economic rescue package, which he referred to as a $2 trillion plan. | Trump said he’s confident that the Senate will vote soon on an economic rescue package, which he referred to as a $2 trillion plan. |
| “They’re working very hard together right now - Republicans and Democrats,” the president said. “They’re getting very close.” | “They’re working very hard together right now - Republicans and Democrats,” the president said. “They’re getting very close.” |
| Trump said we are already “begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel”, even though cases of Covid-19 are continuing to rise in the US. | Trump said we are already “begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel”, even though cases of Covid-19 are continuing to rise in the US. |
| He also reiterated his hesitation to invoke the Defense Production Act to amp up production of crucial medical supplies, noting that some businesses are already beginning to ramp up production of key supplies. | He also reiterated his hesitation to invoke the Defense Production Act to amp up production of crucial medical supplies, noting that some businesses are already beginning to ramp up production of key supplies. |
| Many Democratic lawmakers, including New York governor Andrew Cuomo, have asked the president to use the DPA to help hospitals treat covid-19 cases. | Many Democratic lawmakers, including New York governor Andrew Cuomo, have asked the president to use the DPA to help hospitals treat covid-19 cases. |