theguardian--2020-03-12--How black Republicans are debunking the myth of a voter monolith

For Brad Mole , venturing into Republican politics didn ’ t start with a sudden awakening to conservatism .
It was his religious upbringing and way of life that brought him to the Republican party .
“ My faith pushed me more toward policies that better reflected my upbringing , ” he said .
“ I began understanding that the teachings I was raised with were more reflected in a party that not many around me identified with.
” The son of a preacher in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina , Mole is now taking his politics a giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cunningham for his US congressional seat .
As analysts debunk the myth of the black voter monolith , some black Republicans are stepping forward to counter stereotypes and assert a political identity very different from the usual assumption that all black Americans are Democrats , especially in the era of Donald Trump .
As one of seven Republicans running for the seat , Mole credits his religious background for his motivations to join the crowded race .
Those same traditions are often associated with centrist African American political leanings .
But for black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some to question whether their political party and preferences actually match their worldview .
“ I am the typical black person who voted for Barack Obama , but I then voted for Trump , ” he said .
“ At some point you think for yourself and say : ‘ You know what ?
I ’ m not voting this person or this ticket just because my grandma or parents did.
’ ” Ahead of a June Republican primary and the 2020 presidential election , Mole says he is connecting with fellow voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuance of conservative cultural traditions .
He is not alone .
Kaaryn Walker , president of Black Conservatives for Truth , founded the advocacy group as an outlet for black Americans to connect with one another and draw attention to conservative policy initiatives .
“ Sometimes you find that people share the same politics you do , but because of fear or backlash , black people don ’ t talk about it , ” said Walker .
“ If you want to see the Republican party be more diverse , you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , ” she said .
Walker has identified as a conservative for more than 25 years , pointing to her pro-life leanings and support for free market economics .
Like Mole , an upbringing steeped in tradition led her to a closer affiliation with Republicans than the Democratic party her family typically supported .
In her outreach , she often challenges others to rethink how Democratic platforms represent black values .
“ We engage on policy and that ’ s when people start seeing distinctions , ” she said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ My policy and mindset doesn ’ t fit the Democratic party and that ’ s OK. ’ ” In the decades since the notorious Southern Strategy saw white southerners flock to the Republican party in the wake of the successes of the civil rights movement , black voters have maintained close ties with Democrats that has remained steady throughout much of the late 20th and early 21st centuries .
Modern black Republicans aren ’ t a particularly new phenomenon , though .
Several conservatives , including the former Republican party chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Condoleezza Rice , have led prominent Republican initiatives that , in the past , sparked speculation of potential presidential runs .
The South Carolina senator Tim Scott has more recently stepped forward as one of the president ’ s most loyal supporters and has been at the forefront of the Trump administration ’ s efforts to appeal to black voters .
Still , as the Republican party began leaning further right in the 2010s , black Americans moved left .
The numbers bear out the dominance of the Democrats .
More than 88 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
But Walker insisted pundits shouldn ’ t rule out black support for the president this time around .
“ Narrowing the wage gap , the First Step Act for prison reform , investing in black colleges , ” she said .
“ Those of us proud of that progress are doing the work of educating the people who are ignorant to it.
” Pew data collected in 2017 found that although “ African American voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic ” , that identification “ has declined modestly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African Americans identified as Democrats , down from the first half of Barack Obama ’ s presidency .
Back then , about 75 % of black Americans were affiliated with the Democratic party .
In addition , Pew noted that just 8 % of black voters identify as Republican , the same percentage as voted for Trump in 2016 .
African Americans are 11 % of the American electorate overall .
As Democratic campaigns face increasing demand to center black voter diversity , the Trump administration took notice , investing additional campaign dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those initiatives include campaign ads in traditional black media outlets and a slew of “ Black Voices for Trump ” rallies at makeshift community storefronts in key battleground states .
In a press release announcing the initiative , the Trump campaign pinpointed “ record-low minority unemployment rates ” and investments in historically black colleges and universities , as evidence of the president ’ s continued commitment to black communities .
“ President Trump has a real record of results for black Americans , and our party is committed to sharing that winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican national committee chairwoman , Ronna McDaniel , said .
Opponents of Trump point to his controversial past with race , including a history of housing discrimination lawsuits .
Although one in six black Americans are the children of immigrants , Trump has called Caribbean and African nations “ shithole countries ” , recently banning migrants from several African nations .
Most notable are a series of print ads in 1989 calling for the death penalty for the now-exonerated Central Park Five .
Authorities involved in the case later said the ads contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wrongful convictions .
Walker admits an uphill battle in wooing fellow African Americans who take issue with the president ’ s record .
She counters criticisms of being a “ traitor to her race ” by contending no one person is representative of the party values .
“ If the only reason that you ’ re a Democrat is because you think the Republicans are racist then you need to go back and figure out why you ’ re really a Democrat , ” she said .
“ Racism does not discriminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing out right now in the Democratic primaries with misstep after misstep.
” But the vitriol has gotten intense .
Walker recalled being unfriended , blocked or disinvited from events many times in recent years .
The rise of prominent black Republican figures whose platforms stoke controversy can also make her a target .
“ Sometimes I ’ ll get a call to my phone or social media and a phantom voice is yelling , screaming and cursing at me , ” she said .
“ But then they ’ re surprised when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Now let ’ s try that again and actually have a dialogue because that ’ s what politics are about.
’ ” To Mole , pushback is an opportunity to engage .
He noted peer support for his platform seldom wanes even after he mentions his name will appear on the ballot with an “ R ” .
“ Sometimes you get a look , or an ‘ I don ’ t know about that ’ but , most times , from just talking , folks open up and realize for themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he ’ s not out to change minds ; he wants rebuild a sense of community .
Pointing to recent White House forums tackling black issues alongside Senator Scott , Mole said there was a momentum building most would overlook – one that motivates him as he canvasses the state .
“ People out there are looking for someone that ’ s going to listen to them and one of the first things my party can do is just come to the table , ” he said .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of either party don ’ t go , to speak to the issues.
” Although he is a heavy underdog , it ’ s those kitchen-table discussions on shared traditional values Mole hopes will draw voters out in June , and again in November , regardless of his placing in the state primary .
Walker insisted what ’ s at stake is bigger than any one election or polarizing president .
“ We ’ re a community whose principles and convictions are silenced in the broader narrative of black voters , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here fighting to preserve our conservative culture as we vote Republican across the country .
”

For Brad Mole, venturing into Republican politics didn’t start with a sudden awakening to conservatism. It was his religious upbringing and way of life that brought him to the Republican party.
“My faith pushed me more toward policies that better reflected my upbringing,” he said. “I began understanding that the teachings I was raised with were more reflected in a party that not many around me identified with.”
The son of a preacher in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, Mole is now taking his politics a giant leap forward, challenging the Democrat Joe Cunningham for his US congressional seat.
As analysts debunk the myth of the black voter monolith, some black Republicans are stepping forward to counter stereotypes and assert a political identity very different from the usual assumption that all black Americans are Democrats, especially in the era of Donald Trump.
As one of seven Republicans running for the seat, Mole credits his religious background for his motivations to join the crowded race. Those same traditions are often associated with centrist African American political leanings. But for black Americans like Mole, their conservatism leads some to question whether their political party and preferences actually match their worldview.
“I am the typical black person who voted for Barack Obama, but I then voted for Trump,” he said. “At some point you think for yourself and say: ‘You know what? I’m not voting this person or this ticket just because my grandma or parents did.’”
Ahead of a June Republican primary and the 2020 presidential election, Mole says he is connecting with fellow voters in ways he said speak more to the nuance of conservative cultural traditions.
He is not alone. Kaaryn Walker, president of Black Conservatives for Truth, founded the advocacy group as an outlet for black Americans to connect with one another and draw attention to conservative policy initiatives.
“Sometimes you find that people share the same politics you do, but because of fear or backlash, black people don’t talk about it,” said Walker.“If you want to see the Republican party be more diverse, you have to see us being active in the party,” she said.
Walker has identified as a conservative for more than 25 years, pointing to her pro-life leanings and support for free market economics. Like Mole, an upbringing steeped in tradition led her to a closer affiliation with Republicans than the Democratic party her family typically supported.
In her outreach, she often challenges others to rethink how Democratic platforms represent black values.
“We engage on policy and that’s when people start seeing distinctions,” she said. “People start seeing other like-minded conservatives and say: ‘My policy and mindset doesn’t fit the Democratic party and that’s OK.’”
In the decades since the notorious Southern Strategy saw white southerners flock to the Republican party in the wake of the successes of the civil rights movement, black voters have maintained close ties with Democrats that has remained steady throughout much of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Modern black Republicans aren’t a particularly new phenomenon, though. Several conservatives, including the former Republican party chair Michael Steele and former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, have led prominent Republican initiatives that, in the past, sparked speculation of potential presidential runs.
The South Carolina senator Tim Scott has more recently stepped forward as one of the president’s most loyal supporters and has been at the forefront of the Trump administration’s efforts to appeal to black voters.
Still, as the Republican party began leaning further right in the 2010s, black Americans moved left. The numbers bear out the dominance of the Democrats. More than 88% of black Americans voted for the Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Walker insisted pundits shouldn’t rule out black support for the president this time around.
“Narrowing the wage gap, the First Step Act for prison reform, investing in black colleges,” she said. “Those of us proud of that progress are doing the work of educating the people who are ignorant to it.”
Pew data collected in 2017 found that although “African American voters remain overwhelmingly Democratic”, that identification “has declined modestly in recent years”.
About two-thirds of African Americans identified as Democrats, down from the first half of Barack Obama’s presidency. Back then, about 75% of black Americans were affiliated with the Democratic party.
In addition, Pew noted that just 8% of black voters identify as Republican, the same percentage as voted for Trump in 2016. African Americans are 11% of the American electorate overall.
As Democratic campaigns face increasing demand to center black voter diversity, the Trump administration took notice, investing additional campaign dollars on aggressive outreach to African American communities.
Those initiatives include campaign ads in traditional black media outlets and a slew of “Black Voices for Trump” rallies at makeshift community storefronts in key battleground states.
In a press release announcing the initiative, the Trump campaign pinpointed “record-low minority unemployment rates” and investments in historically black colleges and universities, as evidence of the president’s continued commitment to black communities.
Racism does not discriminate by party, and you see that playing out right now in the Democratic primaries with misstep after misstep Kaaryn Walker
“President Trump has a real record of results for black Americans, and our party is committed to sharing that winning message far and wide,” the Republican national committee chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, said.
Opponents of Trump point to his controversial past with race, including a history of housing discrimination lawsuits. Although one in six black Americans are the children of immigrants, Trump has called Caribbean and African nations “shithole countries”, recently banning migrants from several African nations.
Most notable are a series of print ads in 1989 calling for the death penalty for the now-exonerated Central Park Five. Authorities involved in the case later said the ads contributed to the black and Latino men’s wrongful convictions.
Walker admits an uphill battle in wooing fellow African Americans who take issue with the president’s record. She counters criticisms of being a “traitor to her race” by contending no one person is representative of the party values.
“If the only reason that you’re a Democrat is because you think the Republicans are racist then you need to go back and figure out why you’re really a Democrat,” she said.
“Racism does not discriminate by party, and you see that playing out right now in the Democratic primaries with misstep after misstep.”
But the vitriol has gotten intense. Walker recalled being unfriended, blocked or disinvited from events many times in recent years.
The rise of prominent black Republican figures whose platforms stoke controversy can also make her a target.
“Sometimes I’ll get a call to my phone or social media and a phantom voice is yelling, screaming and cursing at me,” she said. “But then they’re surprised when I respond with ‘Are you done? Now let’s try that again and actually have a dialogue because that’s what politics are about.’”
Brad Mole and his family. Photograph: Courtesy Brad Mole/ Brooklyn Logsdon
To Mole, pushback is an opportunity to engage. He noted peer support for his platform seldom wanes even after he mentions his name will appear on the ballot with an “R”.
“Sometimes you get a look, or an ‘I don’t know about that’ but, most times, from just talking, folks open up and realize for themselves just how conservative their values are.”
But he’s not out to change minds; he wants rebuild a sense of community.
Pointing to recent White House forums tackling black issues alongside Senator Scott, Mole said there was a momentum building most would overlook – one that motivates him as he canvasses the state.
“People out there are looking for someone that’s going to listen to them and one of the first things my party can do is just come to the table,” he said. “I’m willing to have those conversations where people of either party don’t go, to speak to the issues.”
Although he is a heavy underdog, it’s those kitchen-table discussions on shared traditional values Mole hopes will draw voters out in June, and again in November, regardless of his placing in the state primary.
Walker insisted what’s at stake is bigger than any one election or polarizing president.
“We’re a community whose principles and convictions are silenced in the broader narrative of black voters,” she said. “But we’re here fighting to preserve our conservative culture as we vote Republican across the country.”


theguardian--2020-03-13--Bernie Sanders: six key policies from his 2020 presidential campaign – video report

A defiant Bernie Sanders has rejected mounting pressure from with the Democratic party to end his presidential bid .
Here @ @ @ @ @ the senator from Vermont has placed himself on key issues including the economy , the @ @ @ @ @ immigration and gun control • Who is running for president ?
The full list of @ @

Bernie Sanders has formally announced he is suspending his presidential campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Here is a look back at the speeches that outline his views on key issues including the economy, the climate crisis, healthcare, immigration and gun control


theguardian--2020-03-14--'He's an idiot': critics say Trump has failed the US in this test of reassurance

It was just before 9am and the sky was overcast when a small group of reporters were suddenly ushered through the White House ’ s south portico .
They gathered in the diplomatic reception room , once home to Franklin Roosevelt ’ s “ fireside chats ” , and stared at a desk with pen , documents and the presidential seal .
Donald Trump strode in , wearing a black bomber jacket and white shirt unbuttoned at the top , and settled down beneath a portrait of George Washington .
He signed a congressional emergency spending bill to combat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times what the president himself had requested – and held it up to a chorus of clicking cameras .
“ We ’ re doing very well , ” he insisted .
“ But it ’ s an unforeseen problem .
What a problem .
Came out of nowhere , but we ’ re taking care of it.
” He gazed around the oval-shaped room , wallpapered romantic American landscapes , and took questions .
Someone asked : “ How do you keep people from panicking ?
” Trump ’ s response in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be calm .
It ’ ll go away.
” It has not gone away .
A week later , coronavirus cases in the US have soared past 1,300 , with at least 38 deaths .
The stock market suffered its worst percentage drop since the 1987 Wall Street crash .
On Wednesday night alone , Trump announced a travel ban on most of Europe during an Oval Office address , the National Basketball Association suspended its season and it emerged the Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s front page headline declared : A world turned upside down .
It is at such moments of peril that a nation looks to its leader for reassurance and direction .
Trump , critics say , has failed the test in both words and deeds .
Uniquely unqualified , he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time .
Elaine Kamarck , a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington , said : “ He ’ s an idiot .
He ’ s handled it horribly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want somebody who can exude confidence and competence and Trump does not do that .
“ We ’ ve been incredibly lucky .
For the last three years , there was nothing big going on that had a real bearing on the lives of the ordinary American .
This does.
” The coronavirus outbreak plays to the weaknesses of Trump , a germaphobe and gut instinct politician who prefers to slug it out with human foes on Twitter .
He has spent years undermining experts , institutions , scientists , media outlets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of which are now needed more than ever .
His first misstep came two years ago when he disbanded the global health security team on the National Security Council ( NSC ) that was responsible for preparing for a pandemic .
The NSC ’ s global health security chief , Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer , was fired the day after an Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
Last year intelligence agencies warned that the US remained vulnerable to the next flu pandemic but Trump , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political luck would hold .
Distracted by impeachment in January , the president showed little urgency when the coronavirus exploded in China , apparently unwilling to sour his relationship with authoritarian leader Xi Jinping , whom he praised for having the outbreak “ totally under control ” even as it raced across that country and beyond .
The White House did impose a limited travel ban on China but that alone was not enough .
Former US Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler told the Politico website : “ They needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the cases are , instead of trusting that limited travel bans were keeping out a virus that was probably already on the march.
” Perhaps Trump ’ s greatest blunder was turning down the offer of a German-made diagnostic test approved by the World Health Organization and taken up by many countries .
The US government ’ s own painfully slow progress led to a nationwide shortage of test kits at the most critical moment .
It was reported that just 11,000 tests have been conducted in America so far , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day .
Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , told the Bloomberg news agency : “ This is an unmitigated disaster that the administration has brought upon the population , and I don ’ t say this lightly .
We have had a much worse response than Iran , than Italy , than China and South Korea.
” It seems that Trump only began to take the issue seriously two weeks ago when he saw a 1,000-point drop on Wall Street .
Even then , he urged aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Larry Kudlow , to go on television and preach confidence , according to five White House officials and Republicans interviewed by the Associated Press .
Trump himself constantly downplayed the threat and contradicted his own health officials , asserting that the virus was “ very much under control ” and infections were “ going very substantially down , not up ” .
On 26 February , he confidently claimed that total cases will be “ close to zero ” .
He also accused Democrats of using the coronavirus as “ their new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sooner than scientifically possible , prophesied that the virus will be killed off by warmer spring weather and kept comparing it to the common flu ( though experts say coronavirus is 10 times more deadly ) .
But the usual playbook of deny and distract proved futile against a nimble germ without an ego .
Robert Shrum , a Democratic strategist and political science professor at the University of Southern California , said : “ Before it happened , he dismantled a lot of the preparedness that had been put in place under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] and Joe Biden , I suppose because they were things Obama had done so he wanted to get rid of them , like the Paris climate accords .
“ And since then he has over and over again contradicted his own health people and at one point tried to muzzle them .
He called the coronavirus ‘ a Democratic hoax ’ and then they ran out to explain , ‘ No , no , the hoax was that they were blaming Trump for not handling it well ’ .
Well , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not handled this well.
” Even if Trump tried to dismiss the health statistics , he could not ignore the financial markets , an obsession he has made central to his reelection .
He put vice-president Mike Pence in charge of a coronavirus task force , demoting Health Secretary Alex Azar , but continued to get in the way of the message .
Soon after signing the congressional funding bill last Friday , Trump donned a “ Keep America great ” campaign cap and visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found confounding and frightening , he described the governor of Washington state as a “ snake ” , praised his own expertise and falsely claimed that anyone who wants a coronavirus test can get one .
Pence was later forced to correct this .
But on Monday the full horror of the economic implications dawned on Trump as he flew from Florida to Washington on Air Force One .
In his on-board office , Fox News showed graphics illustrating the single day for markets since the financial crisis of 2008 .
Fellow passenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had isolated himself in part of the plane after learning he had come into contact with an infected person .
Trump travelled to Capitol Hill for lunch with Senate Republicans on Tuesday .
He promised : “ We ’ re doing a great job with it .
And it will go away .
Just stay calm .
It will go away.
” A day later , Dr Anthony Fauci , one of the government ’ s top public health experts , testified : “ Bottom line , it ’ s going to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further reassurance in only his second Oval Office address on Wednesday night .
But it had the exact opposite effect .
He blindsided European governments by announcing a 30-day travel ban to keep out the “ foreign virus ” .
He also failed to explain how tests will become available and committed factual errors the White House was forced to hastily correct .
Eight months from a presidential election , the virus has jeopardised Trump ’ s central reelection argument – a strong economy – just as Joe Biden , the candidate emerging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take advantage by offering stability and a safe pair of hands .
Michael Steele , former chairman of the Republican National Committee , said : “ The most calming and reassuring presidential voice of the past 24 hours has been Joe Biden .
As a Republican , this is hard for me to say but it ’ s true.
” The coronavirus pandemic is being described as a once-in-a-lifetime event .
History remembers how presidents handle such crises – and to Trump , it seems unlikely to be kind .
He may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Rome burned .
Moe Vela , a former senior adviser to Biden , said : “ He is unable to express compassion and empathy ; I don ’ t believe he possesses those two values .
This was his chance to show that he could lead , to show that he was as tough as he said he was for three years .
And then what does he do ?
He falls on his face.
” Vela , an LGBTQ and Latino activist and board director at TransparentBusiness , added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towns .
Kids aren ’ t going to school .
Not enough people are getting tested .
We have no clue what the reality of this pandemic is because information is being withheld and reaction from this administration was slow at best .
It ’ s disgusting .
It ’ s disconcerting .
It ’ s scary as hell .
”

It was just before 9am and the sky was overcast when a small group of reporters were suddenly ushered through the White House’s south portico. They gathered in the diplomatic reception room, once home to Franklin Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”, and stared at a desk with pen, documents and the presidential seal.
Donald Trump strode in, wearing a black bomber jacket and white shirt unbuttoned at the top, and settled down beneath a portrait of George Washington. He signed a congressional emergency spending bill to combat the coronavirus for $8.3bn – more than three times what the president himself had requested – and held it up to a chorus of clicking cameras.
“We’re doing very well,” he insisted. “But it’s an unforeseen problem. What a problem. Came out of nowhere, but we’re taking care of it.” He gazed around the oval-shaped room, wallpapered romantic American landscapes, and took questions. Someone asked: “How do you keep people from panicking?” Trump’s response in part: “Calm. You have to be calm. It’ll go away.”
It has not gone away.
A week later, coronavirus cases in the US have soared past 1,300, with at least 38 deaths. The stock market suffered its worst percentage drop since the 1987 Wall Street crash. On Wednesday night alone, Trump announced a travel ban on most of Europe during an Oval Office address, the National Basketball Association suspended its season and it emerged the Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson had tested positive. The New York Post’s front page headline declared: A world turned upside down.
01:57 Trump's changing reactions to coronavirus: from calm to closing borders – video report
It is at such moments of peril that a nation looks to its leader for reassurance and direction. Trump, critics say, has failed the test in both words and deeds. Uniquely unqualified, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, said: “He’s an idiot. He’s handled it horribly. When things are rough, you want somebody who can exude confidence and competence and Trump does not do that.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky. For the last three years, there was nothing big going on that had a real bearing on the lives of the ordinary American. This does.”
The coronavirus outbreak plays to the weaknesses of Trump, a germaphobe and gut instinct politician who prefers to slug it out with human foes on Twitter. He has spent years undermining experts, institutions, scientists, media outlets, global alliances and trust in government, all of which are now needed more than ever.
His first misstep came two years ago when he disbanded the global health security team on the National Security Council (NSC) that was responsible for preparing for a pandemic. The NSC’s global health security chief, Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, was fired the day after an Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Last year intelligence agencies warned that the US remained vulnerable to the next flu pandemic but Trump, it seems, hoped that his long streak of political luck would hold.
Distracted by impeachment in January, the president showed little urgency when the coronavirus exploded in China, apparently unwilling to sour his relationship with authoritarian leader Xi Jinping, whom he praised for having the outbreak “totally under control” even as it raced across that country and beyond.
The White House did impose a limited travel ban on China but that alone was not enough. Former US Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler told the Politico website: “They needed and still need to be searching for where the cases are, instead of trusting that limited travel bans were keeping out a virus that was probably already on the march.”
Perhaps Trump’s greatest blunder was turning down the offer of a German-made diagnostic test approved by the World Health Organization and taken up by many countries. The US government’s own painfully slow progress led to a nationwide shortage of test kits at the most critical moment. It was reported that just 11,000 tests have been conducted in America so far, whereas South Korea is carrying out 10,000 tests per day.
Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told the Bloomberg news agency: “This is an unmitigated disaster that the administration has brought upon the population, and I don’t say this lightly. We have had a much worse response than Iran, than Italy, than China and South Korea.”
It seems that Trump only began to take the issue seriously two weeks ago when he saw a 1,000-point drop on Wall Street. Even then, he urged aides, including Kellyanne Conway and senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow, to go on television and preach confidence, according to five White House officials and Republicans interviewed by the Associated Press.
01:01 Coronavirus: Trump slams reporter for 'nasty question' over pandemic response team – video
Trump himself constantly downplayed the threat and contradicted his own health officials, asserting that the virus was “very much under control” and infections were “going very substantially down, not up”. On 26 February, he confidently claimed that total cases will be “close to zero”.
He also accused Democrats of using the coronavirus as “their new hoax”, promised a vaccine much sooner than scientifically possible, prophesied that the virus will be killed off by warmer spring weather and kept comparing it to the common flu (though experts say coronavirus is 10 times more deadly). But the usual playbook of deny and distract proved futile against a nimble germ without an ego.
Robert Shrum, a Democratic strategist and political science professor at the University of Southern California, said: “Before it happened, he dismantled a lot of the preparedness that had been put in place under Obama and Ron Klain [Ebola czar] and Joe Biden, I suppose because they were things Obama had done so he wanted to get rid of them, like the Paris climate accords.
“And since then he has over and over again contradicted his own health people and at one point tried to muzzle them. He called the coronavirus ‘a Democratic hoax’ and then they ran out to explain, ‘No, no, the hoax was that they were blaming Trump for not handling it well’. Well, I think almost universally people would say Trump has not handled this well.”
Even if Trump tried to dismiss the health statistics, he could not ignore the financial markets, an obsession he has made central to his reelection. He put vice-president Mike Pence in charge of a coronavirus task force, demoting Health Secretary Alex Azar, but continued to get in the way of the message.
Soon after signing the congressional funding bill last Friday, Trump donned a “Keep America great” campaign cap and visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. In remarks that many found confounding and frightening, he described the governor of Washington state as a “snake”, praised his own expertise and falsely claimed that anyone who wants a coronavirus test can get one. Pence was later forced to correct this.
But on Monday the full horror of the economic implications dawned on Trump as he flew from Florida to Washington on Air Force One. In his on-board office, Fox News showed graphics illustrating the single worst day for markets since the financial crisis of 2008. Fellow passenger Matt Gaetz, a Republican congressman, had isolated himself in part of the plane after learning he had come into contact with an infected person.
Trump travelled to Capitol Hill for lunch with Senate Republicans on Tuesday. He promised: “We’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.” A day later, Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the government’s top public health experts, testified: “Bottom line, it’s going to get worse.”
The president tried to provide further reassurance in only his second Oval Office address on Wednesday night. But it had the exact opposite effect. He blindsided European governments by announcing a 30-day travel ban to keep out the “foreign virus”. He also failed to explain how tests will become available and committed factual errors the White House was forced to hastily correct.
Susan Rice, former national security adviser, tweeted simply: “OMG.”
Eight months from a presidential election, the virus has jeopardised Trump’s central reelection argument – a strong economy – just as Joe Biden, the candidate emerging from the Democratic field, seems poised to take advantage by offering stability and a safe pair of hands.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “The most calming and reassuring presidential voice of the past 24 hours has been Joe Biden. As a Republican, this is hard for me to say but it’s true.”
The coronavirus pandemic is being described as a once-in-a-lifetime event. History remembers how presidents handle such crises – and to Trump, it seems unlikely to be kind. He may be regarded as a Nero, fiddling while Rome burned.
Moe Vela, a former senior adviser to Biden, said: “He is unable to express compassion and empathy; I don’t believe he possesses those two values. This was his chance to show that he could lead, to show that he was as tough as he said he was for three years. And then what does he do? He falls on his face.”
Vela, an LGBTQ and Latino activist and board director at TransparentBusiness, added: “We’re walking around in ghost towns. Kids aren’t going to school. Not enough people are getting tested. We have no clue what the reality of this pandemic is because information is being withheld and reaction from this administration was slow at best. It’s disgusting. It’s disconcerting. It’s scary as hell.”


theguardian--2020-03-14--Donald Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus pandemic

Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Friday to combat the coronavirus pandemic , freeing up $ 50bn in federal funding and promising a screening website and drive-by tests .
The president was seeking to restore confidence after angering and worrying many with confusing and dismissive public remarks about the outbreak , which in the US has spread to 46 states with at least 1,920 cases and 41 deaths .
At a press conference in the White House rose garden , Trump announced : “ To unleash the full power of the federal government for this effort today I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very big words.
” The action will open access to more than $ 50bn , he said , urging states to set up emergency operation centers and hospitals to initiate emergency plans .
Trump has faced particular criticism over a nationwide shortage of testing kits which has been compared unfavourably with South Korea and other countries .
On Friday he paraded a series of major US companies entering into a public-private partnership in order to fix the shortfall .
Trump said his team expected “ half a million additional tests will be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.4m tests next week and 5m in a month .
Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus.
” He could not resist adding : “ Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus and to help all Americans who have been impacted by this .
Again , we don ’ t want everybody taking this test .
It ’ s totally unnecessary .
This will pass.
” Trump chose not to adopt a German-made test approved by the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) but when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blame for the US now having to play catch-up .
“ I don ’ t take responsibility at all , ” he said , “ because we were given a set of circumstances and we were given rules , regulations and specifications from a different time.
” He added : “ What we ’ ve done is redesign it very quickly with the help of the people around me … We ’ ll have the ability to do millions over a quick period of time.
” The US military said later on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel , with some exceptions , for service members , defense department civilians and their families amid the fast-spreading coronavirus .
The memo , signed by defense deputy secretary David Norquist , said the policy would go into effect on Monday through 11 May .
It added that exceptions could be granted for mission essential travel , travel necessary for humanitarian reasons , and travel warranted due to extreme hardship .
Trump also announced that he would waive interest on all student loans held by government agencies until further notice and was buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US strategic reserve .
“ It ’ s a good time to fill it up , ” he said .
The vice-president , Mike Pence ; Dr Anthony Fauci ; the health secretary , Alex Azar ; and other members of the coronavirus taskforce stood behind Trump .
He introduced corporate leaders who will be working with them .
Dr Deborah Birx , one of the leaders of response efforts , held up a chart showing a website that will allow people to fill out a screening questionnaire to work out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be “ drive-through ” testing centres in car parks at CVS , Target , Walmart and Walgreens stores .
Democrats welcomed the declaration .
Chuck Schumer , minority leader in the Senate , said : “ I ’ m pleased the president heeded our calls to invoke the Stafford Act to extend vital financial assistance to help keep communities safe from the coronavirus outbreak.
” But he added : “ As other steps are considered , the president must not overstep his authority or indulge his autocratic tendencies for purposes not truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As coronavirus legislation negotiations continued on Capitol Hill , Trump said : “ We don ’ t think the Democrats are giving enough.
” Early on Saturday , the House overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave , in a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has shuttered schools , sports arenas and offices .
By a bipartisan vote of 363 to 40 , the Democratic-controlled House passed the multi-billion dollar effort that would expand safety-net programs to help those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weeks to come .
The 110-page bill is the product of extensive negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
Mnuchin had pressed for tax cuts , while Pelosi had pushed to expand safety-net spending .
It does not include the $ 1 trillion payroll tax cut that Trump had called for .
Pelosi and Trump have a frosty relationship , and the two did not speak directly .
“ There was no need for that , ” Pelosi said at a news conference on Friday evening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the 1988 Stafford Act , which gives the White House and the federal government special powers to assist state and local governments during “ natural catastrophes ” .
Only the president can declare a major disaster , under the law .
Trump has invoked the Stafford Act many times during his presidency , approving major disaster declarations to address flooding in the midwest and wildfires in California , among other events .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency , or Fema , is commonly associated with natural disaster response but it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he would take a coronavirus test after being photographed with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro ’ s press secretary , who has tested positive for the virus , at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last weekend .
“ No , ” he said at first .
“ We have no symptoms whatsoever.
” But pressed on whether he was thereby putting other people at risk , the president reversed position and said he might take a test after all .

David Smith in Washington and Joanna Walters in New York

Donald Trump declared a national emergency on Friday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, freeing up $50bn in federal funding and promising a screening website and drive-by tests.
The president was seeking to restore confidence after angering and worrying many with confusing and dismissive public remarks about the outbreak, which in the US has spread to 46 states with at least 1,920 cases and 41 deaths.
At a press conference in the White House rose garden, Trump announced: “To unleash the full power of the federal government for this effort today I am officially declaring a national emergency – two very big words.”
The action will open access to more than $50bn, he said, urging states to set up emergency operation centers and hospitals to initiate emergency plans.
Trump has faced particular criticism over a nationwide shortage of testing kits which has been compared unfavourably with South Korea and other countries. On Friday he paraded a series of major US companies entering into a public-private partnership in order to fix the shortfall.
Trump said his team expected “half a million additional tests will be available early next week which will bring probably 1.4m tests next week and 5m in a month. Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus.”
He could not resist adding: “Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus and to help all Americans who have been impacted by this. Again, we don’t want everybody taking this test. It’s totally unnecessary. This will pass.”
Trump chose not to adopt a German-made test approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) but when questioned by reporters he refused to take the blame for the US now having to play catch-up.
“I don’t take responsibility at all,” he said, “because we were given a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations and specifications from a different time.”
He added: “What we’ve done is redesign it very quickly with the help of the people around me … We’ll have the ability to do millions over a quick period of time.”
The US military said later on Friday that it would halt all domestic travel, with some exceptions, for service members, defense department civilians and their families amid the fast-spreading coronavirus.
The memo, signed by defense deputy secretary David Norquist, said the policy would go into effect on Monday through 11 May.
It added that exceptions could be granted for mission essential travel, travel necessary for humanitarian reasons, and travel warranted due to extreme hardship.
01:57 Trump's changing reactions to coronavirus: from calm to closing borders – video report
Trump also announced that he would waive interest on all student loans held by government agencies until further notice and was buying big quantities of crude oil for storage in the US strategic reserve.
“It’s a good time to fill it up,” he said.
The vice-president, Mike Pence; Dr Anthony Fauci; the health secretary, Alex Azar; and other members of the coronavirus taskforce stood behind Trump. He introduced corporate leaders who will be working with them.
Dr Deborah Birx, one of the leaders of response efforts, held up a chart showing a website that will allow people to fill out a screening questionnaire to work out of they need a test. There will be “drive-through” testing centres in car parks at CVS, Target, Walmart and Walgreens stores.
Democrats welcomed the declaration. Chuck Schumer, minority leader in the Senate, said: “I’m pleased the president heeded our calls to invoke the Stafford Act to extend vital financial assistance to help keep communities safe from the coronavirus outbreak.”
But he added: “As other steps are considered, the president must not overstep his authority or indulge his autocratic tendencies for purposes not truly related to this public health crisis.”
As coronavirus legislation negotiations continued on Capitol Hill, Trump said: “We don’t think the Democrats are giving enough.”
Early on Saturday, the House overwhelmingly passed a coronavirus aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave, in a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has shuttered schools, sports arenas and offices.
By a bipartisan vote of 363 to 40, the Democratic-controlled House passed the multi-billion dollar effort that would expand safety-net programs to help those who could be thrown out of work in the weeks to come.
The 110-page bill is the product of extensive negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Mnuchin had pressed for tax cuts, while Pelosi had pushed to expand safety-net spending. It does not include the $1 trillion payroll tax cut that Trump had called for.
Pelosi and Trump have a frosty relationship, and the two did not speak directly. “There was no need for that,” Pelosi said at a news conference on Friday evening.
01:01 Coronavirus: Trump slams reporter for 'nasty question' over pandemic response team – video
Trump said he was invoking the law known as the 1988 Stafford Act, which gives the White House and the federal government special powers to assist state and local governments during “natural catastrophes”. Only the president can declare a major disaster, under the law.
Trump has invoked the Stafford Act many times during his presidency, approving major disaster declarations to address flooding in the midwest and wildfires in California, among other events. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or Fema, is commonly associated with natural disaster response but it can also address pandemics.
Trump was asked if he would take a coronavirus test after being photographed with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s press secretary, who has tested positive for the virus, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last weekend.
“No,” he said at first. “We have no symptoms whatsoever.”
But pressed on whether he was thereby putting other people at risk, the president reversed position and said he might take a test after all.
“Most likely, yes.”
Associated Press contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-03-14--Be careful. Trump may exploit the coronavirus crisis for authoritarian ends | Andrew Gawthorpe

Donald Trump ’ s Oval Office address on coronavirus was terrifying because it revealed a man completely unmatched to the moment .
Even though he was reading from a teleprompter , the president got the details of his major policy announcements wrong .
He attempted no emotional connection with or comfort of the tens of millions of Americans whose lives are being upended by the threat of the disease .
He didn ’ t even have anything useful to say about what his own top scientist has described as America ’ s “ failing ” testing regime , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as South Korea does in a day .
In a presidency accustomed to lows , this one was quite literally sickening .
Trump had an unusual deer-in-the-headlights quality during his address , seeming to reveal that even he realizes his lie-and-deny operation can not last for much longer .
His allies in the media are busy trying to downplay the virus , but anyone who switches over to a real news channel can see what is happening in Italy , where doctors feel forced to leave the elderly to die and hospitals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates of the number of Americans who might require intensive care running into the millions and only about 45,000 ICU beds available in the US , similar scenes might soon be playing out at home .
When Trump and his allies can no longer lie or deny , we can expect them to move on to the next phase of their crisis management playbook : attacking their enemies .
It is already clear that they intend to interpret the virus not primarily as an existential threat to millions of Americans , but as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
With the markets tumbling and Trump ’ s re-election suddenly in doubt , it is only a matter of time before the right goes on the offensive .
When they do , it won ’ t be the virus in their sights , but the familiar foes : journalists , experts , blue states , immigrants and people of color .
At this point , the coronavirus pandemic will intersect with Trump ’ s authoritarian impulses in truly frightening ways .
With parts of the country experiencing levels of privation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will feel justified in invoking emergency powers .
In a declared state of emergency , the president has extraordinary powers , including the ability to freeze an American ’ s finances and deprive them of the ability to legally work , to control digital communications , and to deploy the military domestically .
Aside from these enumerated items , Trump has repeatedly shown that he anyway believes that there are no legal or constitutional limits on presidential authority .
Most worrying of all are the implications for immigrant communities and people of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a racialized view of who is a “ true ” American , from denying Barack Obama ’ s citizenship to telling congresswomen of color born in the US to “ go back ” to where “ they came ” from .
It would be extraordinary if this doesn ’ t at the very least color his decisions on where to send federal aid and how to deploy his emergency powers .
There is also a disturbing likelihood that Trump will attempt to stoke racism in order to rally his base and present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( white ) America .
Already the right has shown a tendency to lash out at foreigners in its response to the virus , from insisting on labeling it “ Wuhan coronavirus ” to carrying out border closures while doing little to stop transmission within the United States .
In a bizarre statement , Senator Tom Cotton even threatened to “ hold accountable those who inflicted it on the world ” .
Once the virus is undeniably established in America , it is all too likely that this animus and psychological need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right considers alien interlopers at home .
The results – both from the misuse of state power , and from privately – inflicted terrorism and violence – could be profound .
It is also time to start worrying about the 2020 election .
If the economy has crashed , there are countless dead , and Trump is badly trailing in the polls , it is almost inevitable that he will attempt to cast doubt on the wisdom and legitimacy of holding a November election .
He would not have to do anything so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election – instead , he could call for his supporters to boycott it , then simply refuse to acknowledge the result .
If the Republican party faces an electoral wipeout , its craven behavior over the last few years can give us no confidence that the party would defend the democratic process and eject Trump from the White House .
In short , nothing in Trump ’ s record – or that of his ardent base , whose political support is all he cares about – can lead us to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serve all Americans equally in a time of unprecedented crisis .
He might look like a deer in the headlights right now , but soon enough he will snap back to the unreality he lives in and deploy the only political trick he knows : rallying his base , abusing his power , trashing his foes .
Many Americans will have to deal with the reality of a president who is not only incompetent to defend them but doesn ’ t even regard them as legitimate Americans worthy of protection .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We should prepare to defend against both .
• None Andrew Gawthorpe is a historian of the United States at Leiden University

Donald Trump’s Oval Office address on coronavirus was terrifying because it revealed a man completely unmatched to the moment. Even though he was reading from a teleprompter, the president got the details of his major policy announcements wrong. He attempted no emotional connection with or comfort of the tens of millions of Americans whose lives are being upended by the threat of the disease. He didn’t even have anything useful to say about what his own top scientist has described as America’s “failing” testing regime, which has screened about as many people all year as South Korea does in a day. In a presidency accustomed to lows, this one was quite literally sickening.
Trump had an unusual deer-in-the-headlights quality during his address, seeming to reveal that even he realizes his lie-and-deny operation cannot last for much longer. His allies in the media are busy trying to downplay the virus, but anyone who switches over to a real news channel can see what is happening in Italy, where doctors feel forced to leave the elderly to die and hospitals are struggling to bury the dead. With estimates of the number of Americans who might require intensive care running into the millions and only about 45,000 ICU beds available in the US, similar scenes might soon be playing out at home.
When Trump and his allies can no longer lie or deny, we can expect them to move on to the next phase of their crisis management playbook: attacking their enemies. It is already clear that they intend to interpret the virus not primarily as an existential threat to millions of Americans, but as an existential threat to their own political power. With the markets tumbling and Trump’s re-election suddenly in doubt, it is only a matter of time before the right goes on the offensive. When they do, it won’t be the virus in their sights, but the familiar foes: journalists, experts, blue states, immigrants and people of color.
At this point, the coronavirus pandemic will intersect with Trump’s authoritarian impulses in truly frightening ways. With parts of the country experiencing levels of privation and death rarely seen in peacetime, Trump will feel justified in invoking emergency powers. In a declared state of emergency, the president has extraordinary powers, including the ability to freeze an American’s finances and deprive them of the ability to legally work, to control digital communications, and to deploy the military domestically. Aside from these enumerated items, Trump has repeatedly shown that he anyway believes that there are no legal or constitutional limits on presidential authority.
Most worrying of all are the implications for immigrant communities and people of color. Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he has a racialized view of who is a “true” American, from denying Barack Obama’s citizenship to telling congresswomen of color born in the US to “go back” to where “they came” from. It would be extraordinary if this doesn’t at the very least color his decisions on where to send federal aid and how to deploy his emergency powers. There is also a disturbing likelihood that Trump will attempt to stoke racism in order to rally his base and present the coronavirus as an alien plot against (white) America.
Already the right has shown a tendency to lash out at foreigners in its response to the virus, from insisting on labeling it “Wuhan coronavirus” to carrying out border closures while doing little to stop transmission within the United States. In a bizarre statement, Senator Tom Cotton even threatened to “hold accountable those who inflicted it on the world”. Once the virus is undeniably established in America, it is all too likely that this animus and psychological need for scapegoats will be directed at those the right considers alien interlopers at home. The results – both from the misuse of state power, and from privately – inflicted terrorism and violence – could be profound.
It is also time to start worrying about the 2020 election. If the economy has crashed, there are countless dead, and Trump is badly trailing in the polls, it is almost inevitable that he will attempt to cast doubt on the wisdom and legitimacy of holding a November election. He would not have to do anything so drastic as to attempt to call off the election – instead, he could call for his supporters to boycott it, then simply refuse to acknowledge the result. If the Republican party faces an electoral wipeout, its craven behavior over the last few years can give us no confidence that the party would defend the democratic process and eject Trump from the White House.
In short, nothing in Trump’s record – or that of his ardent base, whose political support is all he cares about – can lead us to believe that he will use his power to protect and serve all Americans equally in a time of unprecedented crisis. He might look like a deer in the headlights right now, but soon enough he will snap back to the unreality he lives in and deploy the only political trick he knows: rallying his base, abusing his power, trashing his foes. Many Americans will have to deal with the reality of a president who is not only incompetent to defend them but doesn’t even regard them as legitimate Americans worthy of protection. This epidemiological crisis is also a political one. We should prepare to defend against both.


theguardian--2020-03-14--Trump says he took coronavirus test and expands travel ban to UK and Ireland

Donald Trump has announced new measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis , including expanding the existing US travel ban to cover the UK and Ireland .
In a lunchtime briefing at the White House , the president also confirmed he had taken a test for the virus himself , although the result was not yet available .
“ I decided I should based on the press conference yesterday , ” he said , referring to Friday ’ s gathering in the White House Rose Garden during which he shook hands with a number of people .
Trump had also come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro ’ s entourage in Florida last weekend .
On Saturday it was reported that Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel , who was also at Mar-a-Lago , had been tested after displaying relevant symptoms .
On Friday Trump ’ s physician , Dr Sean Conley , said there was no need to quarantine the president or implement a test because the encounter with Bolsonaro aide Fabio Wajngarten was “ low risk ” , although another Mar-a-Lago guest who has tested positive also interacted with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media he had taken a test after all , announcing it at a press conference to which reporters were admitted only after having their temperatures taken , and from which one unidentified journalist was turned away .
Trump ’ s daughter Ivanka Trump entered self-isolation on Friday after meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive .
News of Trump ’ s test followed days of controversy highlighted by his continuing to shake hands with people , even as official advice recommended “ social distancing ” .
“ It becomes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they shake hands , it ’ s kind of a natural reflex , ” Trump said .
“ Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now , I tend to agree.
” Trump said he took his test on Friday night and would await the result for “ two days , whatever it is ” .
He also indicated the extension of the travel ban , already in place for 26 European nations .
The vice-president , Mike Pence , duly announced that travelers from the UK and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from midnight US eastern time on Monday .
The president also raised the prospect of some kind of domestic travel restrictions , and advised the public : “ If you don ’ t have to travel I wouldn ’ t do it.
” Trump welcomed legislation passed by the US House that will help fund paid sick leave , unemployment insurance , free testing and other measures to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It will provide strong support for American families and communities in dealing with the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s response remains subject to criticism , particularly after the press conference on Friday .
There , Trump announced a national emergency , paving the way for billions of dollars to be made accessible to authorities attempting to slow the pandemic .
“ It opened up avenues we would never be able to open up without it , ” he said at the Saturday briefing .
“ It will make more than $ 50bn available to us in disaster relief funds .
And that ’ s available for states , territories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are benefiting from it.
” But on Friday Trump also announced a new self-diagnosis website created by Google , only for the tech giant to deny the project was on anything like the scale outlined ; said “ I don ’ t take responsibility at all ” when asked why the US lagged behind other countries in testing ; and reacted angrily to a question about why a White House office for pandemic response was closed in 2018 .
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Protection ( CDC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US with 41 deaths , and 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported infections .
Other estimates , including Trump ’ s , are higher .
Concerns have been expressed that the US does not have enough hospital beds or ventilators .
As many as 20 % of coronavirus infections could require patients to receive mechanical ventilation .
If estimates of more than 1m infections prove accurate , there could be more than 200,000 such cases .
According to a Johns Hopkins study based on data from 2010 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-featured ventilators .
The study , published in February , reported an additional 98,000 that can provide basic function .
The CDC Strategic National Stockpile ( SNS ) has an estimated 8,900 ventilators .
At the White House on Friday , Trump said : “ We have ordered a large number of respirators just in case.
” Across the US , authorities have declared emergencies , closed schools and restricted public gatherings .
In New York City the largest public school system in the US remains open , a key support for millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Blasio , is increasing .
New York ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , announced on Saturday that the state had recorded its first coronavirus fatality , an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing medical issues .
Cuomo said the state had 524 confirmed cases , 117 hospitalised , but said officials believe thousands have the virus .
On Capitol Hill , the relief bill passed just before 1am , after two days of talks between the treasury secretary , Steven Mnuchin , and the House speaker , Nancy Pelosi .
Agreement came after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats for their patience .
Trump and the speaker never communicated directly and Trump did not thank Pelosi directly on Saturday .
The legislation now goes to the Senate .
It ensures free testing for those who need it while increasing access to benefits including family medical leave , paid sick leave , unemployment insurance , spending on health insurance for the poor and food programmes for children and the elderly .
On Friday , a federal judge blocked an administration attempt to force nearly 700,000 people off food stamps , a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge Beryl Howell cited the coronavirus outbreak and said the attempted action was capricious , arbitrary and probably unlawful .
The economic impact of the impact continued , meanwhile , as Apple announced that all stores outside China would close for two weeks .

Edward Helmore and Martin Pengelly in New York and Richard Luscombe in Miami

Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus as he announced new measures to tackle the crisis, including expanding the existing US travel ban to cover the UK and Ireland.
In a lunchtime briefing at the White House on Saturday, the president confirmed he had taken a test for the virus after coming into contact with a Brazilian government official last week in Florida who later tested positive for the disease.
The president’s physician, Sean Conley, said in a statement on Saturday evening that Trump’s test was negative.
“One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago [in Florida], the president remains symptom-free,” Conley said in his memo. “I have been in daily contact with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and White House Coronavirus Task Force, and we are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation.”
Dr Conley had said on Friday that there was no need to quarantine the president or implement a test because the encounter with Bolsonaro aide Fabio Wajngarten was “low risk”.
But on Saturday it was reported that Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, who was also at Mar-a-Lago, had been tested after displaying relevant symptoms.
On Saturday, Trump told the media he had taken a test on Friday night after all, announcing it at a press conference to which reporters were admitted only after having their temperatures taken, and from which one unidentified journalist was turned away.
00:37 Donald Trump reveals he has been tested for coronavirus – video
Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump entered self-isolation on Friday after meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive. News of Trump’s test followed days of controversy highlighted by his continuing to shake hands with people, even as official advice recommended “social distancing”.
“It becomes a habit. People walk up to me, they shake hands, it’s kind of a natural reflex,” Trump said. “Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now, I tend to agree.”
He also indicated the extension of the travel ban, already in place for 26 European nations. The vice-president, Mike Pence, duly announced that travelers from the UK and Ireland would be subject to the ban from midnight US eastern time on Monday.
The president also raised the prospect of some kind of domestic travel restrictions, and advised the public: “If you don’t have to travel I wouldn’t do it.”
Trump welcomed legislation passed by the US House that will help fund paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing and other measures to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It will provide strong support for American families and communities in dealing with the coronavirus,” he said.
Nonetheless, the administration’s response remains subject to criticism, particularly after the press conference on Friday. There, Trump announced a national emergency, paving the way for billions of dollars to be made accessible to authorities attempting to slow the pandemic.
“It opened up avenues we would never be able to open up without it,” he said at the Saturday briefing. “It will make more than $50bn available to us in disaster relief funds. And that’s available for states, territories and local governments. A lot of people are benefiting from it.”
But on Friday Trump also announced a new self-diagnosis website created by Google, only for the tech giant to deny the project was on anything like the scale outlined; said “I don’t take responsibility at all” when asked why the US lagged behind other countries in testing; and reacted angrily to a question about why a White House office for pandemic response was closed in 2018.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 1,629 cases of coronavirus in the US with 41 deaths, and 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported infections. Other estimates, including Trump’s, are higher.
Concerns have been expressed that the US does not have enough hospital beds or ventilators. As many as 20% of coronavirus infections could require patients to receive mechanical ventilation. If estimates of more than 1m infections prove accurate, there could be more than 200,000 such cases.
According to a Johns Hopkins study based on data from 2010, US acute care hospitals own about 62,000 full-featured ventilators. The study, published in February, reported an additional 98,000 that can provide basic function.
The CDC Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has an estimated 8,900 ventilators. At the White House on Friday, Trump said: “We have ordered a large number of respirators just in case.”
Across the US, authorities have declared emergencies, closed schools and restricted public gatherings. In New York City the largest public school system in the US remains open, a key support for millions. Pressure on the mayor, Bill de Blasio, is increasing.
New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, announced on Saturday that the state had recorded its first coronavirus fatality, an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing medical issues. Cuomo said the state had 524 confirmed cases, 117 hospitalised, but said officials believe thousands have the virus.
On Capitol Hill, the relief bill passed just before 1am, after two days of talks between the treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Agreement came after Trump signaled his support.
Pelosi thanked Democrats for their patience. Trump and the speaker never communicated directly and Trump did not thank Pelosi directly on Saturday.
The legislation now goes to the Senate. It ensures free testing for those who need it while increasing access to benefits including family medical leave, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, spending on health insurance for the poor and food programmes for children and the elderly.
On Friday, a federal judge blocked an administration attempt to force nearly 700,000 people off food stamps, a key benefit for poor Americans. District court judge Beryl Howell cited the coronavirus outbreak and said the attempted action was capricious, arbitrary and probably unlawful.
The economic impact of the outbreak continued, meanwhile, as Apple announced that all stores outside China would close for two weeks.


theguardian--2020-03-14--Ex-Obama official warns US health system faces 'tsunami' over coronavirus

Hospitals in the US could be overrun by coronavirus cases in little more than a week , a former Obama administration senior health official has warned , fearing a “ tsunami-like ” escalation that would leave tens of thousands in need of inpatient medical care but unlikely to receive it .
Andy Slavitt , who was Obama ’ s acting administrator of Medicare and Medicaid , said the trajectory of the spread of the virus in the US could follow that of Italy , which has seen cases soar to almost 20,000 and deaths exceed 1,300 in short order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid such an explosion , Slavitt said in a series of tweets on Saturday , was for the entire population to follow a strict policy of social isolation and hospitals to reorganise and prioritise resources to fight the outbreak .
“ Expanding medical capacity has to be done but will only make a tiny difference if we don ’ t self-isolate , ” Slavitt said .
“ I get it .
Home from work .
Cooped up .
Crisis mentality .
We need to let steam off .
Shared experience .
But stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are closed now across Europe.
” Tweets by Slavitt on Friday highlighted some experts ’ expectations that more than 1 million could die in the US from coronavirus , and that early inaction by the Trump administration had fueled “ a major preventable public health disaster ” .
“ The original sin is Trump ’ s months-long denial and his dismantling of public health and response infrastructure , ” Slavitt said .
“ That wasn ’ t all , but it led to other fatal mistakes .
The public health infrastructure could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : nasal swabs , respirators , ventilators , RNA kits to read tests , machines , gloves… ” Slavitt ’ s renewed warning on Saturday came as Trump appeared at the White House to outline the latest steps his administration was taking to try to contain coronavirus , including extending a European travel ban to the UK and Ireland and allocating $ 50bn in federal funding freed up on Friday by the declaration of a national emergency .
“ By 23 March many of our largest cities and hospitals are on course to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , adding that he was preparing an advisory memo for state and local officials around the US to whom he had been speaking .
“ They are highly dependent on the public response so I will start there .
We have no immunity to Covid-19 , people who get it don ’ t know it for a while , and each person that gets it , they infect 2+ people , ” he wrote alongside a “ lag tracker ” graph showing the existing and predicted escalation rate of coronavirus in countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals in Italy .
“ Every report describes this as a tsunami .
And if it happens like a tsunami , in major cities we will have tens of thousands more cases than we have beds and we will have one ventilator for every eight people who need one.
” Other medical experts have also warned the public to brace for an overwhelming number of coronavirus cases .
“ We ’ re about to experience the worst public health disaster since polio , ” said Dr Martin Makary , professor at Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health , speaking to Yahoo Finance .
“ Don ’ t believe the numbers when you see , even on our Johns Hopkins website , that 1,600 Americans have the virus .
No , that means 1,600 got the test , tested positive .
“ There are probably 25 to 50 people who have the virus for every one person who is confirmed .
I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States .
”

Hospitals in the US could be overrun by coronavirus cases in little more than a week, a former Obama administration senior health official has warned, fearing a “tsunami-like” escalation that would leave tens of thousands in need of inpatient medical care but unlikely to receive it.
Andy Slavitt, who was Obama’s acting administrator of Medicare and Medicaid, said the trajectory of the spread of the virus in the US could follow that of Italy, which has seen cases soar to almost 20,000 and deaths exceed 1,300 in short order.
The only way for the US to avoid such an explosion, Slavitt said in a series of tweets on Saturday, was for the entire population to follow a strict policy of social isolation and hospitals to reorganise and prioritise resources to fight the outbreak.
“Expanding medical capacity has to be done but will only make a tiny difference if we don’t self-isolate,” Slavitt said.
“I get it. Home from work. Cooped up. Crisis mentality. We need to let steam off. Shared experience. But stop that. All the bars and restaurants are closed now across Europe.”
Tweets by Slavitt on Friday highlighted some experts’ expectations that more than 1 million could die in the US from coronavirus, and that early inaction by the Trump administration had fueled “a major preventable public health disaster”.
“The original sin is Trump’s months-long denial and his dismantling of public health and response infrastructure,” Slavitt said.
“That wasn’t all, but it led to other fatal mistakes. The public health infrastructure could have been prepared. What does that mean: nasal swabs, respirators, ventilators, RNA kits to read tests, machines, gloves…”
Slavitt’s renewed warning on Saturday came as Trump appeared at the White House to outline the latest steps his administration was taking to try to contain coronavirus, including extending a European travel ban to the UK and Ireland and allocating $50bn in federal funding freed up on Friday by the declaration of a national emergency.
“By 23 March many of our largest cities and hospitals are on course to be overrun with cases,” Slavitt wrote, adding that he was preparing an advisory memo for state and local officials around the US to whom he had been speaking.
“They are highly dependent on the public response so I will start there. We have no immunity to Covid-19, people who get it don’t know it for a while, and each person that gets it, they infect 2+ people,” he wrote alongside a “lag tracker” graph showing the existing and predicted escalation rate of coronavirus in countries including the US, and photographs from hospitals in Italy.
“Every report describes this as a tsunami. And if it happens like a tsunami, in major cities we will have tens of thousands more cases than we have beds and we will have one ventilator for every eight people who need one.”
Other medical experts have also warned the public to brace for an overwhelming number of coronavirus cases.
“We’re about to experience the worst public health disaster since polio,” said Dr Martin Makary, professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, speaking to Yahoo Finance.
“Don’t believe the numbers when you see, even on our Johns Hopkins website, that 1,600 Americans have the virus. No, that means 1,600 got the test, tested positive.
“There are probably 25 to 50 people who have the virus for every one person who is confirmed. I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States.”


theguardian--2020-03-14--US expands travel ban to UK and Ireland amid Coronavirus outbreak – video

All travel between the United States and the UK and Ireland will be suspended from midnight EST on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ new measure at a coronavirus task force news briefing on Saturday .
A top medical @ @ @ @ @ move could change the course of coronavirus 's spread across the country , which he @ @ @ @ @ its peak ' .
• Coronavirus latest updates : 10 more people in UK die @ @ @ @ @ from Spain

All travel between the United States and the UK and Ireland will be suspended from midnight EST on Monday. Vice-president Mike Pence announced the new measure at a coronavirus task force news briefing on Saturday.
A top medical official Anthony Fauci said the move could change the course of coronavirus's spread across the country, which he said 'has not yet reached its peak'.


theguardian--2020-03-14--Donald Trump reveals he has been tested for coronavirus – video

Donald Trump has confirmed he took a coronavirus test after exposure to infected people including a member of Brazilian president @ @ @ @ @ in Florida last weekend .
He revealed he had been tested at a briefing where @ @ @ @ @ would ban travellers from the UK and Ireland from entering the country from Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ yet received his results .
His daughter Ivanka Trump , a White House adviser , @ @ @ @ @ meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive .
• Trump says he @ @ @ @ @ travel ban to UK and Ireland

Donald Trump has confirmed he took a coronavirus test after exposure to infected people including a member of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s entourage in Florida last weekend. He revealed he had been tested at a briefing where it was announced the US would ban travellers from the UK and Ireland from entering the country from Monday.
A White House physician later issued a statement confirming that Trump does not have Covid-19. Meanwhile, his daughter Ivanka Trump, a White House adviser, entered self-isolation on Friday after meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive.


theguardian--2020-03-15--Georgia second US state to delay presidential primaries over coronavirus fears

Georgia has become the second state to delay its presidential primaries over coronavirus fears , a day after Louisiana also pushed back voting in primaries .
In-person early voting , which began statewide 2 March , will be halted and the election that was scheduled for 24 March will be moved to 19 May , when Georgia ’ s other 2020 primary elections are being held , Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said in a statement on Saturday .
In addition to public safety , one of the biggest considerations was the risk the virus posed to poll workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
“ Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers , and the community at large , ” Raffensperger said .
It came after Georgia ’ s Republican governor , Brian Kemp , signed an emergency declaration that unlocked sweeping powers to fight Covid-19 .
In a speech on Saturday , the governor renewed a call for places of worship , schools and others to consider canceling large gatherings as cases in the state rise .
On Friday , Louisiana became the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus .
As of Saturday , the virus had infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,800 .
The death toll in the US rose to 51 with more than 2,100 infections , as Donald Trump expanded a ban on travel from Europe by adding Britain and Ireland to the list .
Georgia is reporting 66 confirmed cases , with most concentrated around Atlanta .
One death in the state has been attributed to the virus .
Cobb County elections director Janine Eveler said in an interview Saturday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen “ a little over 100 ” poll workers quit in recent days because of fears over the virus .
“ Each day we had more and more poll workers wanting to bow out due to concern over their health , ” Eveler said , adding that she believed the decision to postpone the election was the right one .
Only one candidate is on the Republican ballot in Georgia for the presidential primary : Trump .
The Democratic race has been narrowed to a two-man matchup between former vice president Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been leading Sanders in key Georgia demographics such as African Americans and suburban voters and has been endorsed by a slew of state and local officials .
Raffensperger ’ s office said that the decision to postpone the election was made in consultation with the state Democratic and Republican parties .
“ Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to vote , ” state senator Nikema Williams , chair of the Democratic party of Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.
” All votes already cast , including in-person and absentee ballots , will be counted .
As of Thursday , 224,000 voters had already cast ballots in the primary , according to Associated Press elections research .
The delayed election is the latest in a long list of disruptions to ordinary life the virus has caused .
School districts covering the majority of Georgia ’ s 1.8 million public school students have announced closures .
Among many events postponed or canceled are the NCAA final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s St Patrick ’ s Day parade and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta .

Georgia has become the second state to delay its presidential primaries over coronavirus fears, a day after Louisiana also pushed back voting in primaries.
In-person early voting, which began statewide 2 March, will be halted and the election that was scheduled for 24 March will be moved to 19 May, when Georgia’s other 2020 primary elections are being held, Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said in a statement on Saturday.
In addition to public safety, one of the biggest considerations was the risk the virus posed to poll workers, who are often older, election officials said.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, and the community at large,” Raffensperger said.
It came after Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, signed an emergency declaration that unlocked sweeping powers to fight Covid-19. In a speech on Saturday, the governor renewed a call for places of worship, schools and others to consider canceling large gatherings as cases in the state rise.
On Friday, Louisiana became the first state to postpone its presidential primaries due to the virus.
As of Saturday, the virus had infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,800. The death toll in the US rose to 51 with more than 2,100 infections, as Donald Trump expanded a ban on travel from Europe by adding Britain and Ireland to the list.
Georgia is reporting 66 confirmed cases, with most concentrated around Atlanta. One death in the state has been attributed to the virus.
Cobb County elections director Janine Eveler said in an interview Saturday evening that her heavily populated Atlanta county had seen “a little over 100” poll workers quit in recent days because of fears over the virus.
“Each day we had more and more poll workers wanting to bow out due to concern over their health,” Eveler said, adding that she believed the decision to postpone the election was the right one.
Only one candidate is on the Republican ballot in Georgia for the presidential primary: Trump.
The Democratic race has been narrowed to a two-man matchup between former vice president Joe Biden and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Biden has been leading Sanders in key Georgia demographics such as African Americans and suburban voters and has been endorsed by a slew of state and local officials.
Raffensperger’s office said that the decision to postpone the election was made in consultation with the state Democratic and Republican parties.
“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to vote,” state senator Nikema Williams, chair of the Democratic party of Georgia said, according to the statement. “Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.”
All votes already cast, including in-person and absentee ballots, will be counted. As of Thursday, 224,000 voters had already cast ballots in the primary, according to Associated Press elections research.
The delayed election is the latest in a long list of disruptions to ordinary life the virus has caused.
School districts covering the majority of Georgia’s 1.8 million public school students have announced closures. Among many events postponed or canceled are the NCAA final four basketball tournament in Atlanta, Savannah’s St Patrick’s Day parade and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta.


theguardian--2020-03-15--Trump tests negative for coronavirus and expands travel ban to UK and Ireland

Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus as he announced new measures to tackle the crisis , including expanding the existing US travel ban to cover the UK and Ireland .
In a lunchtime briefing at the White House on Saturday , the president confirmed he had taken a test for the virus after coming into contact with a Brazilian government official last week in Florida who later tested positive for the disease .
The president ’ s physician , Sean Conley , said in a statement on Saturday evening that Trump ’ s test was negative .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago [ in Florida ] , the president remains symptom-free , ” Conley said in his memo .
“ I have been in daily contact with the CDC ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ) and White House Coronavirus Task Force , and we are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation.
” Dr Conley had said on Friday that there was no need to quarantine the president or implement a test because the encounter with Bolsonaro aide Fabio Wajngarten was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was reported that Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel , who was also at Mar-a-Lago , had been tested after displaying relevant symptoms .
On Saturday , Trump told the media he had taken a test on Friday night after all , announcing it at a press conference to which reporters were admitted only after having their temperatures taken , and from which one unidentified journalist was turned away .
Trump ’ s daughter Ivanka Trump entered self-isolation on Friday after meeting an Australian politician later revealed to have tested positive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of controversy highlighted by his continuing to shake hands with people , even as official advice recommended “ social distancing ” .
“ It becomes a habit .
People walk up to me , they shake hands , it ’ s kind of a natural reflex , ” Trump said .
“ Shaking hands is not a great thing to be doing right now , I tend to agree.
” He also indicated the extension of the travel ban , already in place for 26 European nations .
The vice-president , Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK and Ireland would be subject to the ban from midnight US eastern time on Monday .
The president also raised the prospect of some kind of domestic travel restrictions , and advised the public : “ If you don ’ t have to travel I wouldn ’ t do it.
” Trump welcomed legislation passed by the US House that will help fund paid sick leave , unemployment insurance , free testing and other measures to help Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It will provide strong support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , ” he said .
Nonetheless , the administration ’ s response remains subject to criticism , particularly after the press conference on Friday .
There , Trump announced a national emergency , paving the way for billions of dollars to be made accessible to authorities attempting to slow the pandemic .
“ It opened up avenues we would never be able to open up without it , ” he said at the Saturday briefing .
“ It will make more than $ 50bn available to us in disaster relief funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , territories and local governments .
A lot of people are benefiting from it.
” But on Friday Trump also announced a new self-diagnosis website created by Google , only for the tech giant to deny the project was on anything like the scale outlined ; said “ I don ’ t take responsibility at all ” when asked why the US lagged behind other countries in testing ; and reacted angrily to a question about why a White House office for pandemic response was closed in 2018 .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CDC ) , there are 1,629 cases of coronavirus in the US with 41 deaths , and 46 states and the District of Columbia have reported infections .
Other estimates , including Trump ’ s , are higher .
Concerns have been expressed that the US does not have enough hospital beds or ventilators .
As many as 20 % of coronavirus infections could require patients to receive mechanical ventilation .
If estimates of more than 1m infections prove accurate , there could be more than 200,000 such cases .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2010 , US acute care hospitals own about 62,000 full-featured ventilators .
The study , published in February , reported an additional 98,000 that can provide basic function .
The CDC Strategic National Stockpile ( SNS ) has an estimated 8,900 ventilators .
At the White House on Friday , Trump said : “ We have ordered a large number of respirators just in case.
” Across the US , authorities have declared emergencies , closed schools and restricted public gatherings .
In New York City the largest public school system in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for millions .
Pressure on the mayor , Bill de Blasio , is increasing .
New York ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , announced on Saturday that the state had recorded its first coronavirus fatality , an 82-year-old woman with pre-existing medical issues .
Cuomo said the state had 524 confirmed cases , 117 hospitalised , but said officials believe thousands have the virus .
On Capitol Hill , the relief bill passed just before 1am , after two days of talks between the treasury secretary , Steven Mnuchin , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agreement came after Trump signaled his support .
Pelosi thanked Democrats for their patience .
Trump and the speaker never communicated directly and Trump did not thank Pelosi directly on Saturday .
The legislation now goes to the Senate .
It ensures free testing for those who need it while increasing access to benefits including family medical leave , paid sick leave , unemployment insurance , spending on health insurance for the poor and food programmes for children and the elderly .
On Friday , a federal judge blocked an administration attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a key benefit for poor Americans .
District court judge Beryl Howell cited the coronavirus outbreak and said the attempted action was capricious , arbitrary and probably unlawful .
The economic impact of the impact continued , meanwhile , as Apple announced that all stores outside China would close for two weeks .