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| Coronavirus US live: Trump says 'I'd love to have the country open' within a month | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The president says he’d like the US to return to normal by Easter, which is 12 April, following WHO prediction that US would soon be center of pandemic | |
| Harvard University president Larry Bacow has announced in a statement that he and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus. “We will be taking the time we need to rest and recuperate during a two-week isolation at home,” it reads. “This virus can lay anyone low. We all need to be vigilant and keep following guidelines to limit our contact with others.” | |
| Because of the coronavirus epidemic Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has enjoyed an increased national presence. He has accompanied Trump and other top administration officials at coronavirus briefings. | |
| There have been reports that Trump has started to get tired of Fauci’s elevated stature. At moments he has undercut the president’s statements. But asked about Fauci today Trump said their relationship is strong. | |
| “Because he has other things to do. We get along very well,” Trump said. “I think it’s very good. You would’ve heard about it if it wasn’t. | |
| Trump: I’d love to have the country open by April 12th | |
| Trump just now said he would like to have the country back to normal and “open” by Easter. That’s April 12, less than a month away. | |
| “I would love to have it open by Easter. I would love to have it open by Easter,” Trump said. “I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter.” | |
| It wasn’t quite a critique but Trump just shot back at Cuomo about ventilators. | |
| Earlier today Cuomo said he was not getting enough ventilators to keep up with the pandemic curve. Trump and Cuomo have built a fairly cordial and friendly relationship as they’ve kept in touch though the pandemic crisis. But just now at this virtual town hall Trump said Cuomo “should’ve ordered the ventilators.” | |
| “He had a chance in 2016 to buy 16,000 at a very low price and he didn’t do that,” Trump said as he looked at one of the papers he brought out to the town hall. | |
| The president is refraining on laying blame on himself or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in handling the coronoavirus epidemic. He said neither his administration or the CDC is to blame. | |
| “We did not screw up. I don’t think CDC screwed up either,” Trump said. “I don’t think – in all fairness to CDC. Nobody ever expected a thing like this. Nobody expected that millions and millions of people would have to be tested.” | |
| For days the sticking point for Democrats in the stimulus package negotiations was a $500bn 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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. |