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Coronavirus US live: New York governor attacks Trump's handling of outbreak Coronavirus US live: New York governor attacks Trump's handling of outbreak
(32 minutes later)
Andrew Cuomo says the rate of coronavirus infections in New York is doubling about every three days, and that the apex is anticipated in 14 to 21 daysAndrew Cuomo says the rate of coronavirus infections in New York is doubling about every three days, and that the apex is anticipated in 14 to 21 days
For days the sticking point for Democrats in the stimulus package negotiations was a $500 billion fund for businesses. Democrats called it a “slush fund” because, they argued, it lacked sufficient oversight. In a press conference on Monday he said that he would provide the oversight.
During this virtual town hall Trump stressed that the economic stimulus package would focus on helping both large and small businesses through the coronavirus crisis.
“The bill is very much focused on the small business person,” Trump said. “You add them all up and the small businesses are just about equal in size. This bill is absolutely aimed at the small business and the worker. The owners are going to need some help, they’re going to need some loans. I’m going to take care of them.”
Just now Trump signaled a new openness to signing off what seems like an imminent deal between lawmakers on a $1.6 trillion economic stimulus package.
“They had things that are in there that are terrible. A lot of problems and I said I’m not signing this bill. Now they’ve renegotiated,” Trump said.
That’s a flip from late Monday night when Trump was tweeting opposition to sticking points by Democrats in the negotiations.
Trump is cautioning against a prolonged shut down and stay at home orders. He and others who have argued against that have pointed to other sources of death in the country like the flu or automobile accidents.
“Well you have to make the decision. I brought some numbers here. We lose thousands and thousands of people per year to the flu. We don’t turn the country off,” Trump said. “We lose thousands of people a year to the flu. We never turn the country off. We lose thousands of people per year to automobile accidents.
As the debate over restarting the economy wages amid the coronavirus pandemic, there’s some reassuring news on the soaring numbers out of New York, which can be attributed to the governor’s emphasis on large-scale testing. It’s an approach that could see those who have developed immunity to the virus return to work sooner than the general population.
Donald Trump is here for this town hall. He is accompanied by Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx, and surgeon general Jerome Adams.
Trump was asked when he first decided to take coronavirus seriously. In response the president said when he first saw it moving across China.
“I made a decision to close off China. That was weeks early and honestly I took a lot of heat,” Trump said. “Sleepy Joe Biden said it was xenophobic -I don’t know what that means.”
During New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s press conference earlier today he repeatedly argued that the amount of ventilators his state needs numbers in the tens of thousands. Seemingly in response to that, Mike Pence just now said some 2,000 ventilators were shipped from the national stockpile today and the same amount will be shipped tomorrow.
“I was so pleased to confirm that earlier today FEMA from the national stockpile shipped 2,000 ventilators from the state of New York,” Pence said. “New York is truly the epicenter of the coronavirus around the country. Two thousand more will be shipped tomorrow.”
While we wait for this Trump virtual town hall to begin vice president Mike Pence was just asked how long before the entire has access to coronavirus tests.
Pence did not offer a specific timeline. Instead he said that testing has expanded in the last few weeks.
“Literally testing is expending all across the country by the tens of thousands every day. By last Monday we had tested roughly 50,000 people across the country,” Pence said. Pence added that Donald Trump has brought the “top commercial labs” across the country to help with the pandemic.
“We want to prioritize tests for people who have been hospitalized,” Pence said. “The reality is every American can make a difference by putting into practice the 15 days to slow the spread.”
Donald Trump is set to headline a two hour virtual town hall on the coronavirus pandemic. Just ahead of that, vice-president Mike Pence sat down with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer. In that interview Pence was asked to respond to New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s pleas for the federal government to more actively use the Federal Defense Production Act.Donald Trump is set to headline a two hour virtual town hall on the coronavirus pandemic. Just ahead of that, vice-president Mike Pence sat down with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer. In that interview Pence was asked to respond to New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s pleas for the federal government to more actively use the Federal Defense Production Act.
Pence pointed to the new production efforts by Ford, 3M and GE to provide ventilators and masks. He also said “we’ll continue to meet this moment with creativity” and the support of the American people.Pence pointed to the new production efforts by Ford, 3M and GE to provide ventilators and masks. He also said “we’ll continue to meet this moment with creativity” and the support of the American people.
Essentially daily governors across the country have been working to at least show how active they’re being in combatting the Coroavirus. In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers directed the state’s Department of Health Services to issue a stay at home order prohibiting non-essential travel. Read the order here.Essentially daily governors across the country have been working to at least show how active they’re being in combatting the Coroavirus. In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers directed the state’s Department of Health Services to issue a stay at home order prohibiting non-essential travel. Read the order here.
In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp did an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he defended himself to criticism that he hasn’t done enough on the pandemic.In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp did an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he defended himself to criticism that he hasn’t done enough on the pandemic.
Per the AJC:Per the AJC:
Again and again throughout this press conference, New York governor Andrew Cuomo hammered one point: the increasing rate of coronavirus cases and the lack of sufficient resources across the state is a preview of what other states will experience without a serious response.Again and again throughout this press conference, New York governor Andrew Cuomo hammered one point: the increasing rate of coronavirus cases and the lack of sufficient resources across the state is a preview of what other states will experience without a serious response.
“As the number of cases go up, the number of people in hospital beds goes up, the number of people in an ICU beds who need a ventilator goes up, and we cannot address that curve,” Cuomo said.“As the number of cases go up, the number of people in hospital beds goes up, the number of people in an ICU beds who need a ventilator goes up, and we cannot address that curve,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo went on to say “what is happening in New York is not a New York phenomenon.Cuomo went on to say “what is happening in New York is not a New York phenomenon.
“It’s higher in New York because it started here first because we have global travelers coming here first. Because we have more density than other places,” Cuomo said. “You will see this in suburban communities across the country. We are just a test case. We are just a test case. And that’s how the nation should look at it. Where we are today, you will be in three weeks or five weeks or six weeks.”“It’s higher in New York because it started here first because we have global travelers coming here first. Because we have more density than other places,” Cuomo said. “You will see this in suburban communities across the country. We are just a test case. We are just a test case. And that’s how the nation should look at it. Where we are today, you will be in three weeks or five weeks or six weeks.”
Later on in this press conference Cuomo said “I’m not asking New York I’m just asking you to help New York to help yourselves.”Later on in this press conference Cuomo said “I’m not asking New York I’m just asking you to help New York to help yourselves.”
There has been an ongoing debate among Republican and Democratic lawmakers across the country over whether the Trump administration needed aggressively use the Defense Production Act to activate private industry to help provide medical resources to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.There has been an ongoing debate among Republican and Democratic lawmakers across the country over whether the Trump administration needed aggressively use the Defense Production Act to activate private industry to help provide medical resources to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.
Generally Democrats have been urging more aggressive leveraging through the law while Republicans have argued that private industry is a better vehicle.Generally Democrats have been urging more aggressive leveraging through the law while Republicans have argued that private industry is a better vehicle.
Cuomo during his press conference stressed that the law is the best way to provide the ventilators and beds his state needs.Cuomo during his press conference stressed that the law is the best way to provide the ventilators and beds his state needs.
“I understand the federal government’s point that many companies have come forward and say we want to help,” Cuomo said. “If we don’t have the ventilators in 14 days it does us no good. The Federal Defense [Production] act can actually help companies ... Only the federal government has that power. And not to exercise that power is inexplicable to me.”“I understand the federal government’s point that many companies have come forward and say we want to help,” Cuomo said. “If we don’t have the ventilators in 14 days it does us no good. The Federal Defense [Production] act can actually help companies ... Only the federal government has that power. And not to exercise that power is inexplicable to me.”
Cuomo added “and I do not for the life of me understand the reluctance to use the Federal Production Act.”Cuomo added “and I do not for the life of me understand the reluctance to use the Federal Production Act.”
Cuomo also said that the number of cases are greater than other large states.Cuomo also said that the number of cases are greater than other large states.
“New York has 25,000 cases! It has ten times the problems that California has. It has ten times the cases that Washington state has,” Cuomo said. “And New York you are looking at a problem that is at a totally different dimension. The problem is the volume.”“New York has 25,000 cases! It has ten times the problems that California has. It has ten times the cases that Washington state has,” Cuomo said. “And New York you are looking at a problem that is at a totally different dimension. The problem is the volume.”
“We need the federal help and we need the federal help now,” Cuomo said. He went on to say: “What happens to New York is going to wind up happening to California and Washington state and Illinois. It is just happening to us first.”“We need the federal help and we need the federal help now,” Cuomo said. He went on to say: “What happens to New York is going to wind up happening to California and Washington state and Illinois. It is just happening to us first.”
Essentially, Cuomo in this press conference is warning that there need to be more hospital beds as previous estimates about the pandemic are projected to be off.Essentially, Cuomo in this press conference is warning that there need to be more hospital beds as previous estimates about the pandemic are projected to be off.
“It is clear that we must increase the hospital capacity to reach the highest apex,” Cuomo said.“It is clear that we must increase the hospital capacity to reach the highest apex,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo has previously vowed to bring in more resources to fight the spreading virus. He has said he needed more masks, ventilators, and wanted to see more doctors, even retired ones, come in to help. New hospital facilities are being built.Cuomo has previously vowed to bring in more resources to fight the spreading virus. He has said he needed more masks, ventilators, and wanted to see more doctors, even retired ones, come in to help. New hospital facilities are being built.
“The emergency hospitals that we are building at Westbury and Stony Brook will be helpful,” Cuomo said. “But they’re nowhere near the number of beds we’ll need.”“The emergency hospitals that we are building at Westbury and Stony Brook will be helpful,” Cuomo said. “But they’re nowhere near the number of beds we’ll need.”
Cuomo added that he had “no problem” using beds at dorms on college campuses to increase the number of beds.Cuomo added that he had “no problem” using beds at dorms on college campuses to increase the number of beds.
“I will turn this state upside down to use the number of beds we need,” Cuomo said.“I will turn this state upside down to use the number of beds we need,” Cuomo said.
More Cuomo: “We haven’t flattened the curve and the curve is actually increasing.”
The New York governor is not sugarcoating the latest figures on the spread of the pandemic.
“That rate of increase, that apex, they anticipate could be approximately 14 to 21 days away,” Cuomo said. He went on to say “we’ve increased testing to the highest level in the country. We’re also trying all the new drug therapies.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has just started his presser for updating the public on New York’s efforts to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.
Cuomo opened up the conference saying “the rate of anticipated increase” of the virus “has gone up.”
Cuomo added “The rate of infections is doubling about every three days
Watch it below:
Over in Virginia, Liberty University, the private evangelical Christian university run by Jerry Falwell Jr., is reopening its doors. Via the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Donald Trump is signaling a sense of urgency that Congress make a deal on a stimulus package. That’s been the topic of Trump’s twitter over the past few hours.
Notably, Tuesday’s White House Daily Guidance did not list a briefing from the Coronavirus Task Force. Those briefings have become a regular occurrence featuring the president. The absence of a briefing will put more attention on the negotiations on Capitol Hill.
US deaths surpass 100 per day
On Monday, US deaths surpassed 100 in a single day for the first time. Fatalities passed the grim threshold as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 46,000 and a World Health Organization official told The Washington Post that “we are now seeing a very large acceleration” in US coronavirus infections.
The US, the official said, now has the potential to become the new epicenter of the global crisis. The true number of US cases is believed to be far higher than the official number, disease experts have warned.As the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic reached 100 per day in the US, it added almost one fifth to the 500 total. More than 100 million Americans — nearly one in three — are under stay-at-home orders. Both Florida and Rhode Island have ordered all passengers on all flights originating in New York or New Jersey to self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the state.The orders come as President Trump appears ready to defy White House health expert advice and order a partial return to work-normality soon after a 14 day quarantine in hard-hit states expires next week.
Across the country lawmakers have been grappling with how to effectively contain and fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Much of that has fallen on governors, many of whom have issued stay at home orders.
But some lawmakers have argued for caution in doing that. Here’s Oklahoma senator James Lankford when asked if Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt, another Republican, should issue a “stay at home order.”
As Lankford said the challenge with these mandates is deciding the exception so that people can still go to work and buy food or continue life as normally as possible.
The big news out of the business world this morning is that the Ford Motor Company, GE Healthcare and the 3M company are teaming up to make medical equipment in response to the Coronavirus epidemic.
CNN Business reports: “Healthcare workers around the country have expressed concern about difficulties in attaining enough critical supplies, such as masks, gloves and ventilators, to deal with the influx of patients suffering from the highly contagious virus.”
According to a Ford press release:
Outside of Washington, the ripple effects of the Coronavirus pandemic are still being felt. Japan agreed with the president of the International Olympic Committee to delay the summer Olympics.
Here’s The Wall Street Journal:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat on Capitol Hill, just finished an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer and her tone was overall optimistic.
When Cramer asked “can we get something done today?” Pelosi responded “I think there is real optimism that we could get something done in the next few hours.”
Pelosi went on to say that Democratic lawmakers had done a good job of using their leverage to move the proposal in a a direction more favorable to Democrats. In an illustration to how much of a sticking point the industries fund is Pelosi once again referred to it as a “slush fund.”
But even Pelosi was cautious in declaring victory. Cramer, later in the interview, asked if fiscal hawks on the Hill would like the bill. Pelosi responded “we can say when we have a deal” adding “we’re all receptive to having something done.”
Pelosi’s comments fall in line with other lawmakers who have suggested a deal is imminent. It’s a rare moment for so many lawmakers to sound so optimistic while a bill is still in negotiations but that’s where we’re at.
“Everybody appreciates the gravity of the situation, at least in Congress,” Pelosi said.
Late Monday night top Republican and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill appeared to be close to a deal on an almost $2tn economic stimulus package meant to mitigate some of the economic fallout of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The holdup thus far had been over a $500 billion fund meant to help struggling industries. Democrats argued that the fund lacked sufficient oversight and nicknamed it a “slush fund.”
But late Monday night Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, sounded optimistic that a deal was on the horizon.
“We expect to have an agreement in the morning,” Schumer told reporters according to The New York Times.
Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who had been negotiating with Senate Republicans and Democrats throughout the day sounded similarly optimistic, saying “there are still a few little differences” while also saying on Monday that there had been “a lot of progress.”
One of the big questions though is where Donald Trump is on the deal. The president has telegraphed mixed signals. Around the time Schumer said he expected a deal in the morning the president sounded more critical of the nascent agreement.
But early on Tuesday Trump urged lawmakers to pass a stimulus bill.
There’s a lot that’s still unclear but the one thing that is apparent is that lawmakers haven’t crossed the finish line with an urgent stimulus bill quite yet.