E3: Coronavirus US live: Trump to revise physical distancing guidelines despite experts' warnings

Washington Governor Jay Inslee implored Trump to do more to assist the states hardest hit by the pandemic during a conference call with the president and governors on Thursday.

According to the Washington Post, Trump promised “backup” for the states.

Murphy: we don’t have enough PPE to go around. We’re reaching our testing capacity limit. Federal government needs to expand capacity to make things in order to meet public health challenge. Why hasn’t the president taken control of the supply chain? It’s barbaric.

My colleague Ed Helmore has this report on a new date compiled by CNBC that suggests the coronavirus may be deadlier than the 1918 flu.

Precisely how contagious and deadly COVID-19 is may still be a matter of debate, but three months after it emerged in China it has infected approximately 500,000 and killed 22,000.

Using an infectious disease scale based on the number of deaths divided by the number of infections, Covid19 comes up, in epidemiological terms, with an “R naught” value of 2.

While R naught can fluctuate over time as more data is collected and conditions change, the World Health Organisation puts COVID-19 at 1.95, others at 2.2.

Infectious disease specialists say the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed an estimated 30m to 50m, had an R naught of about 1.8 and a mortality rate of 2.5%.

The report concludes that if the current 4.5% mortality rate of COVID-19 drops ( the estimates may be skewed high as a result of incomplete data, and are based on data collected before social distancing efforts to stop the spread were put in place), it won’t be as bad as the 1918 flu.

In a new memo to all House members, the House sergeant-at-arms Paul Irving and the attending physician Brian Monahan have outlined safety guidelines for tomorrow’s vote on the economic stimulus package.

“We will be monitoring the number of Members in the Capitol and on the floor to ensure we maintain safe social distancing at all times,” the memo reads. “Members who are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever are discouraged from attending.”

The @USSenate is NOT practicing social distancing. Susan Collins and Lindsay Graham are practically snuggling on the bottom left. pic.twitter.com/1AboyVhtJc

Nevada senator Catherine Cortez-Masto is reportedly among the “top three” women Joe Biden is considering as a running mate.

Related: ‘Opening a door that was closed too long’: the hunt for a female vice-president

Extraordinary times call for some breaks with precedent. CSPAN, must watch-TV for governmental happenings, has announced that it it will “dedicate airtime” to “brief video statements” from members who cannot be in Washington for tomorrow’s vote on the historic stimulus bill.

A request was made by House majority leader Steny Hoyer to accommodate members who cannot travel as a result of the virus, including at least two members who have tested positive for the disease.

Statement from C-SPAN pic.twitter.com/QsvmsJ69LC

Planned Parenthood is suing Texas after the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton ordered a ban on nearly all abortions in the state as part of an effort to conserve medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday on behalf of eight reproductive health clinics in Texas, argues that Paxton’s order is unconstitutional and in violation of Roe v Wade, according to BuzzFeed News.

Related: Clinics in Ohio and Texas ordered to stop ‘nonessential’ surgical abortions

Ohio is changing its primary date, again, Sam Levine reports.

The state changed the final date for voting for the second time in less than two weeks, approving a measure Wednesday that would make it so voters need to cast their ballots by April 28.

Related: Ohio primary vote halted at last minute amid coronavirus court battle

One in three Americans say they or an immediate family member have been laid off or lost their job as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by ABC News/Washington Post.

More than half – HALF – of Americans reported a cut in pay or work hours, it found.

The Guardian’s Amanda Holpuch on the treat the doctor definitely didn’t order ...

White House coronavirus task force member, Dr Anthony Fauci, has earned praise from the US public for telling the truth about coronavirus, even when it means contradicting the president.

The @news10nbc newsroom just got the original Dr. Fauci donuts!! Thanks @Donuts_Delite!! pic.twitter.com/DB95mtZvcj

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has joined Cuomo in demanding more assistance from the federal government.

He called the stimulus package a “first step in the right direction” but said the states still need “billions more.”

I’m not going to stop pushing for more federal assistance for New Jersey.

This bill is but a first step in the right direction, but we will need billions more, and I will keep working with my fellow governors, and our respective delegations.

In a letter to the country’s governors, Trump said he will soon “publish new guidelines for state and local policymakers” to be used in decision about maintaining, enhancing or relaxing physical distancing and public isolation measures put in place. This is in keeping with Trump’s desire to “re-open” the US by Easter, a date many public health officials say is far too early.

In new letter to governors, Trump says his administration is revising social distancing guidelines and working to classify counties as high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk. pic.twitter.com/xLle7XbHJA

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden continues on his reinvigorated march to the nomination while attempting to show enduring rival Bernie Sanders why he has the experience to be a better occupant of the White House than either the left-winger or Donald Trump - especially at this time.

Biden put out a video message on Twitter a few hours ago addressing how he would implement a disaster relief package similar to the $2.2tn unprecedented beast passed by the Senate last night.

The Senate passed a major economic relief package late last night. It's a very important step, but the key is how it will be executed. If I were President, here's how I'd make it work: pic.twitter.com/RmcOh0rRPL

Basketball star Steph Curry is currently hosting a q & a with Dr Fauci on Instagram as a way to try to inform young people and other Americans who may get much of their news from social media about the coronavirus.

The live chat has already surpassed 50,000 viewers, including at least one former president.

⁦@BarackObama⁩ joining the ⁦@StephenCurry30⁩ Dr. Fauci conversation on Instagram right now. pic.twitter.com/t4aDKaxjjB

Former President @BarackObama weighs in on the @StephenCurry30 and Dr. Anthony Fauci Q&A on #coronavirus: “Listen to the science. Do your part and take care of each other.” pic.twitter.com/2DB6g2297P

We’re getting a lot of updates from states and cities around the country:

Brian Kemp, the Republican governor of Georgia, announced that schools K-12 will be closed through April 24, which is two weeks after the Easter holiday, Trump’s desired deadline for “reopening” the country.

Today I signed an executive order closing K-12 public schools through April 24, 2020 to mitigate the spread of #COVID19 in Georgia. Read more here >> https://t.co/98mfKt5IwI. #gapol

#BREAKING There are now 2,305 cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana and 83 deaths, according to the Dept. of Health.

In Central Louisiana:

- 25 cases, 1 death in Rapides
- 7 cases in Avoyelles
- 5 cases in Allen
- 2 cases in Natchitoches
- 1 cases in Grant
- 2 cases in Vernon

THE LATEST: : The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirms 560 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 1,687. https://t.co/q9bbzJ9FAX

In other warm and fuzzy news... (see cat post below)

Less than two months after Democrats and Republicans were at each other’s throats over the most partisan impeachment trial in American history, the tone on Capitol Hill has shifted dramatically.

Happy bday @SpeakerPelosi We often disagree but I admire your commitment 2public service &willingness to wrk w me on issues like USMCA+lowering Rx drug prices Cooperation btwn us is what itll take to get drug prices lowered Working 2gether across party lines is esp important now

Politicians, they’re just like us, working from home and struggling to master the art of video conference.

Here congressman John Yarmuth’s virtual town hall was interrupted by the family cat, Leo.

My sincere thanks to my cat, Leo, for dropping by our Facebook Town Hall with @louisvillemayor this morning. Be sure to watch our full conversation and Q&A (including Leo’s surprise appearance) here: https://t.co/t3W4fmM8Zo pic.twitter.com/UNkq5vUn6M

Michigan’s chief medical executive Dr Joneigh Khaldun said the state, which already has 2,300 confirmed coronavirus cases and 43 deaths, is still “a few weeks out” from the apex of the virus.

According to The Detroit News, Khaldun said the state was still on the “upslope” of the virus’ path.

For many of Americans, the coronavirus response is being shaped by a trinity of outer-borough New Yorkers: Trump, Cuomo and Fauci.

While the governor and the doctor have relationships with the president that might be best described as complicated, Cuomo on Thursday said he has developed a friendship with Fauci as his state responds to the pandemic.

Gov. Cuomo on Dr. Fauci: "I call him late at night. I call him in the middle of the night. He's been really a friend to me personally and the state of New York"

Here are the latest numbers out of New York state, according to Cuomo’s presentation today.

Cuomo is now taking a moment to reflect on the resilience and fortitude required to weather the pandemic, offering his “two cents,” which he says wryly is probably only worth “one-and-a-half cents.”

He says he’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the state from around the world during this moment of “national crisis.” Tens of thousands of doctors and nurses are coming out of retirement to assist in hospitals while nearly 9,000 mental health professionals are volunteering their time to provide free services to New Yorkers, he said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is warning that, as the state that is now at the center of the nation’s coronavirus crisis, the death toll is continuing to rise.

“Almost any realistic scenario will overwhelm our hospitals,” he said at his now-daily press briefing.

Related: 'It's all Covid': New York medical staff brace for a surge of coronavirus patients

New York governor Andrew Cuomo is giving his daily press briefing from Albany.

“In a situation like this not knowing the facts is worse, that’s when you feel out of control,” he says, announcing that almost any realistic scenario would likely overwhelm the hospitals.

New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, says the state has received a Major Disaster Declaration, meaning it can receive more federal support during the Covid-19 outbreak. As of Wednesday, New Jersey had the second-most confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US. Murphy, a Democrat, thanked Donald Trump and Mike Pence for their help.

BREAKING: We've received a Major Disaster Declaration for New Jersey.

We will now have access to greater essential federal support to help us through the #COVID19 emergency.

I'm grateful to @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and @fema for their support of our response & recovery efforts.

Today was supposed to be Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and a traditional sign that the winter is over and spring and summer are around the corner. Instead, due to the coronavirus outbreak, players are at home twiddling their thumbs or posting videos to TikTok. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said on Wednesday he hopes preparation for the start of the postponed season can start in May, although that may be a little too upbeat, given that a single positive test from a player during the season could shut a whole team down.

“It’s just such a strange time,” wrote Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo on ESPN. “The more all of us can stay connected to others, the better we all are. Whether you are a professional athlete or a fan, just trying to stay positive right now, it is so important to keep moving any way you can.”

pic.twitter.com/UhoDC6t4Gh

House speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking now at her weekly press conference, says she is “certain” there will be a “strong” bipartisan vote in the House for the coronavirus bill that will come to the floor tomorrow morning.

“Tomorrow we’ll bring the bill to the floor. It will pass,” she said. “It will pass with strong bipartisan support.”

.@SpeakerPelosi now rattling off things that Democrats would like to see in next coronavirus funding rounds:

-- More $$ for SNAP (food stamps)
-- More $$ for state/local govt
-- More funding for D.C., says GOP treated district in "discriminatory way"

Asked when the next bill will happen and how that will work, she says, “we really should be operating four corners,” referring to House and Senate leaders.
“I’ll be working on most of it from here and also with my committees.”

Pelosi said she's heard some Republicans saying the stimulus that passed the Senate is too Democratic.

"What can I say?" she said.

The House is planning to take up the $2tn rescue package passed by the Senate on Friday.

But the logistics of holding a vote in the midst of a pandemic are complicated: several members are quarantining, in addition to at least two members who have tested positive for Convid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Flights are severely restricted in some states while travel may pose undue risk for certain lawmakers.

Rep. Massie (R-KY) to his colleagues: "If Congressman are complaining that it’s hard to travel, what about the truckers that I saw on the road when I drove to DC. I’m in DC by the way, drove here. Hitch a ride with a trucker."

A New York City health worker who was treating Covid-19 patients has died two weeks after being diagnosed with the virus. The news of Kious Kelly’s death was confirmed by his hospital, Mount Sinai West in Manhattan.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our nursing staff. The safety of our staff and patients has never been of greater importance and we are taking every precaution possible to protect everyone,” the hospital said in a statement.

Ford wants to reopen five plants shut down by the Covid-19 outbreak, although the company may well receive pushback from union members. Ford suspended production at the plants a week ago under pressure from the United Auto Workers, who feared its members could fall ill.

The company wants to restart production over the next three weeks at sites in Hermosillo, Mexico; Dearborn, Michigan; Louisville Kentucky; Cleveland, Ohio; and Kansas City. Ford says it will introduce new safeguards to protect workers. Donald Trump has already said that he wants America to reopen for business by Easter, despite warnings from medical experts that such a decision could have dire consequences for public health.

Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin waived off the staggering unemployment numbers reported on Thursday morning, saying the figure was “not relevant” while touting the historic economic stimulus package he negotiated with Congressional leaders. The $2tn emergency relief bill passed the Senate on Wednesday night.

Asked on CNBC about the weekly joblessness report, which totaled nearly 3.3 million people, Mnuchin replied: “I just think these numbers right now are not relevant. Whether they’re bigger or smaller in the short term ... the good thing about this bill is, the president is protecting these people.”

Kenya Evelyn reports on why Florida congressman Matt Gaetz picked the wrong university to single out from the $2tn economic stimulus bill meant to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

In a tweet late on Wednesday, the Republican congressman questioned why Howard University, a historically black college located in the nation’s capital, was earmarked to receive $13m in funding from the bill.

$13,000,000 in taxpayer funds could be going to families across the nation struggling to put food on the table in the midst of COVID-19.

Instead, it's going to Howard University.

Education is important- but a $13 million check to Howard does not belong in COVID-19 relief. pic.twitter.com/uIT6yaTMUo

Instead of worrying about the funding that insures the well-being of a University and Hospital that saves lives only a mere 2.2 miles from your office, Please call to your friend Governor @RonDeSantisFL and ask him to lockdown Florida.

The bill provides $30 billion to protect students and help schools, colleges and universities combat the coronavirus. This is $13 million.

$13 million = .04% of $30 billion

Why do you take issue with money going to Howard, Congressman? https://t.co/7nyaijShhd

Edward Helmore has news from the stock market, which has opened higher than many expected.

US stocks traded higher on Thursday even after a record 3.3 million workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, ending a decade-long period of job expansion.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said 10,000 Americans have been repatriated during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve now brought over 10,000 Americans back home from places where they were stranded through no fault of their own,” he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday. “There’s still a lot of work to do. We’ve got a lot of people who are trying to get back this way, and with travel shut down in many of these countries without any notice or little notice, there’s still a major undertaking.”

An emergency physician has said that the public is being shielded from the true suffering caused by Covid-19. Ethical and privacy issues mean that footage of ICUs and wards are not shown on television. But in a text to CNN, emergency physician Esther Choo said the severity of the outbreak risks being lost.

“This whole thing has been hampered by its abstractness. I mean, half the interviews on TV that I’ve seen are totally well people pissed they didn’t get tested. The truth is, the sickest patients are terrifying,” Choo said. “They are air hungry, dropping their oxygen, confused, distressed. We can never show that. But it is terrifying ... What would the zombie apocalypse be like if we only had verbal descriptions of zombies, but could never show them?”

My colleague Sam Levine sends this report on efforts to get Americans to respond to the US census.

Rapper Cardi B reminded New Yorkers that the 2020 census will not feature a question asking about citizenship in a public service announcement released Wednesday urging people to fill out the decennial survey.

Related: 'A perfect storm': US census imperiled by Trump rhetoric and growing distrust

The city of Miami’s 460,000 residents will be put under curfew from Friday night onwards. Police will have the power to detain anyone on the streets between 10pm and 5am. Exceptions will be made for medical emergencies, people on their way to and from work, and dog walkers within 250 yards of their homes. The city is already under a more general shelter-in-place order. Some questioned whether arresting and then detaining people in confined spaces would help spread, rather than curb, the spread of the virus but one Miami police chief denied that accusation.

“The idea here is not to throw somebody in jail,” Commissioner Joe Carollo told the Miami Herald. “None of us want to do that.”

Speaking of the experts, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was on New York’s WNYC public radio, warning that it was still too early for the country to return to normal.

The Guardian’s Ed Helmore reports that Fauci said Trump was not “wed” to Easter as a date certain for the US to lift restrictions on public activity.

Edward Helmore has news on how the Covid-19 outbreak is affecting the fishing industry.

The commercial fishing industry is requesting $4bn in aid as orders dry up from restaurant owners and exports, which account for as much as 60% of their business, dry up due to the coronavirus pandemic

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said the US “may well be in a recession” as the pandemic puts an unprecedented strain on the US economy.

In a rare live interview with NBC’s Today Show, Powell sought to draw a distinction between what’s happening to the economy now as the result of forced public isolation and social distancing and a “normal” recession.

"I think it's been 30 years since we had a federal reserve chair (on TODAY) live ... What is the message you want to send?" -Guthrie

"... The Federal Reserve is working hard to support you now, and our policies will be very important when the recovery does come." -Powell pic.twitter.com/bd3Az6RKyH

Related: US may be in recession amid Covid-19 crisis, says Fed chair Jerome Powell

Sports fans have been deprived of entertainment over the last few weeks, with leagues across America – and the world – shutting down during the Covid-19 outbreak (you can still watch top-class Belarus soccer action though!). But fear not! Two-time NBA MVP and professional nice guy Steph Curry will be online from 10am PT/1pm ET to discuss Covid-19 with infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci. And, like all good sports radio hosts, they’ll be taking questions from callers/people who follow Curry on Instagram.

Hyped to talk all things COVID-19 with Dr. Fauci of the @NIAIDNews tomorrow. This is a conversation for YOU so submit questions with #SCASKSFAUCI and join at 10am PT tomorrow (Mar 26). Let’s get it! pic.twitter.com/7DC0dty6u6

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus in the US and all things politics.

Overnight, the US Senate unanimously voted to approve a historic $2.2tn stimulus package to rescue the spiraling economy and rush financial assistance to workers, businesses and a healthcare system nearly stretched to capacity as cases of the coronavirus sweep across the country.

96-0 in the United States Senate. Congratulations AMERICA!

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