Tag Archives: pandemic

The Week reports: “April turns into May,” the narrator intones over dramatic strings. “The virus doesn’t disappear. There is no miracle. The cases mount, the death toll grows, more than 33 million Americans lose their jobs to the pandemic. Unemployment reaches Great Depression–era levels.” “Donald Trump doesn’t understand. We have an economic crisis because we have a public health crisis. …

NBC News reports: Coronavirus infection rates are spiking to new highs in several metropolitan areas and smaller communities across the country, according to undisclosed data the White House’s pandemic task force is using to track rates of infection, which was obtained by NBC News. The 10 top areas recorded surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a seven-day period compared …

NBC News reports: Louisiana, one of the states hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, will allow its stay-at-home order to expire on Friday and will loosen other lockdown restrictions this weekend, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced on Monday. The first phase of the state’s reopening on Friday will draw back certain restrictions currently impacting churches, restaurants, salons and gyms, officials …

Des Moines’ ABC News affiliate reports: Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday revealed she is adopting a “modified quarantine plan” following a visit last week to the White House where staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Reynolds and Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state medical director and epidemiologist, visited the the White House Wednesday for an Oval office meeting with President Trump …

Boing Boing reports: Donald Trump, on the day the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 passed 80,000, declared success in the war on coronavirus: “We have met the moment and we have prevailed.” One week ago today, the impeached and manifestly unfit president of the U.S. said it was too soon to declare “mission accomplished.” But today, victory has been declared, …

The Washington Post reports: Most White House officials will be asked to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces on complex grounds, a move to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading further inside the presidential compound, according to three administration officials with knowledge of a directive to be issued Monday. The request does not apply to offices, however, and …

NBC News reports: Health care giant Johnson and Johnson is looking to produce a billion coronavirus vaccines next year, according to the company’s chief scientific officer. Dr. Paul Stoffels said the company is upscaling manufacturing and will start producing the vaccine later this year. “We are preparing clinical trials. We are fully underway and upscaling. We start clinical trials in …

The Associated Press reports: New York City’s death toll from the coronavirus may be thousands of fatalities worse than the official tally kept by the city and state, according to an analysis released Monday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between mid-March and early May, about 24,000 more people died in the city than researchers would ordinarily …

The New York Daily News reports: Gov. Cuomo said some parts of upstate New York will be able to start reopening on Friday as the statewide coronavirus stay-at-home order expires. Even as he warned that little will change in NYC or the immediate suburbs, Cuomo suggested that some regions will likely meet a seven-point checklist of conditions needed to allow …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: A member of Gov J.B. Pritzker’s senior staff has tested positive for COVID-19 and all staffers — including the governor — will now work from home for an “appropriate isolation period,” the governor’s office said Monday. The staff member was asymptomatic and tested positive late last week. That staffer was also in close contact with Pritzker …

CNN reports: A birthday party was behind a cluster of coronavirus cases in Pasadena, California, according to health officials. A “large number” of extended family members and friends were at the party, the Pasadena Public Health Department said. One patient at the party was coughing and not wearing a face covering, health officials said, and other party guests were also …

USA Today reports: With coronavirus exposure arriving in the West Wing, the White House is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of the president and his staff after two administration aides tested positive for the coronavirus. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be tested daily for the virus, as will every staff member in close proximity …

Politico reports: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pledged $10 million Monday to help U.S. prisons battle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as inmates living in confined quarters remain particularly vulnerable to the disease. The donation to REFORM Alliance, a criminal justice advocacy group led by CNN analyst Van Jones, will buy 10 million face masks and other personal protective equipment for people …

Mediaite reports: This coming Tuesday, there’s a Senate Health Committee hearing to discuss reopening American schools and businesses. All the key personnel at that hearing — including the Senator who chairs the committee and the expert witnesses — are self-quarantining after recently being exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19, and will be appearing by videoconference. Sen. Lamar Alexander …

“I’ve got to tell you, and I want to ask about a number of signs which indicate that the recovery is going to be much slower than that, sir. Job losses are not just in hospitality industry — airlines, restaurants, as you would expect — but they’re more widespread. “The white collar and government sector, 3 million Jobs lost. Major …

Reuters reports: South Korea warned of a second wave of the new coronavirus on Sunday as infections rebounded to a one-month high, just as the authorities were starting to ease some pandemic restrictions. The fresh outbreak comes just as the government was easing some social distancing restrictions and moving to fully reopen schools and businesses, in a transition from intensive …

Deadline reports: Saturday Night Live kicked off its season 45 finale this weekend with a tip of the hat to the Class of 2020. The cast members appeared on-screen remotely in the cold open as graduating seniors, with Alec Baldwin joining them as President Donald Trump. Wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap, Baldwin offered a somber commencement address …

Charleston’s The State reports: Gov. Henry McMaster announced on Friday that he will allow indoor dining at restaurants starting Monday, May 11, though each restaurant will determine whether to open its doors to customers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association had previously pushed to have indoor dining at restaurants by May 18. The …

Roll Call reports: A month after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended face coverings to combat the spread of coronavirus, Capitol Police authorities have directed that their officers wear masks when they are within six feet of anyone, a senior Republican aide for the House Administration Committee told CQ Roll Call. This mandate is designed to help protect …

CNBC reports: An aide to Vice President Mike Pence has tested positive for coronavirus, a senior administration official confirmed Friday to NBC News. The confirmation comes a day after news broke that President Donald Trump’s personal valet had also tested positive. A spokeswoman for Pence did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Pence was scheduled to travel to …