theguardian--2020-04-16--Ivanka Trump defies social distancing to celebrate Passover at golf club

Defying social-distancing guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic issued by her own father ’ s administration , Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner traveled with their children to New Jersey earlier this month to celebrate Passover .
The news was first reported by the New York Times , who said that Ivanka Trump , who has been given a leading role in reopening the American economy by the US president , traveled with her spouse and their three children to the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster , in New Jersey .
Kushner is also a leading figure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in the administration ’ s efforts to combat the pandemic .
New Jersey is one of the states worst affected by the virus , with more than 71,000 cases of infection and 3,156 deaths : second only to New York in the size of its outbreak .
The White House confirmed in a statement that Trump had traveled to New Jersey , defending her actions by saying she was practicing social distancing and staying at a “ a closed down facility considered to be a family home ” .
The news triggered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Ivanka Trump has issued numerous statements urging her fellow citizens to stay at home and abide by government protocols , which suggest that travel be reserved only for necessary journeys , such as trips to buy food or collect medicine .
Trump even posted a video to Twitter late last month asking everyone who can practice social distancing to “ please do your part ” to limit the spread of coronavirus .
In his morning briefing , Andrew Cuomo , the governor of New York , said on Thursday that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help them with their patients .
Ivanka Trump and her family moved to Washington from New York City after Donald Trump became president .
The Washington DC area has also been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak .

Defying social-distancing guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic issued by her own father’s administration, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner traveled with their children to New Jersey earlier this month to celebrate Passover.
The news was first reported by the New York Times, who said that Ivanka Trump, who has been given a leading role in reopening the American economy by the US president, traveled with her spouse and their three children to the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, in New Jersey.
Kushner is also a leading figure in the Trump White House and has a prominent role in the administration’s efforts to combat the pandemic.
New Jersey is one of the states worst affected by the virus, with more than 71,000 cases of infection and 3,156 deaths: second only to New York in the size of its outbreak.
The White House confirmed in a statement that Trump had traveled to New Jersey, defending her actions by saying she was practicing social distancing and staying at a “a closed down facility considered to be a family home”.
A White House official confirms to @cnn's @betsy_klein that, despite federal guidelines, @IvankaTrump and Jared Kushner and their children, left DC for their country home at Trump's private Bedminster, NJ, club, as first reported by the @nytimes. “Ivanka, with her immediate (1/4) — Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) April 16, 2020
The news triggered a flood of criticism, not least because Ivanka Trump has issued numerous statements urging her fellow citizens to stay at home and abide by government protocols, which suggest that travel be reserved only for necessary journeys, such as trips to buy food or collect medicine.
Trump even posted a video to Twitter late last month asking everyone who can practice social distancing to “please do your part” to limit the spread of coronavirus.
In these toughest of times, America shows her spirit and strength. This will end and we will emerge stronger than ever before.
In the meantime, social distancing saves lives! Please do your part. We are all in this together. 💛
[Part 1] pic.twitter.com/iYzMunLJyO — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 30, 2020
In his morning briefing, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, said on Thursday that he was sending extra ventilators to New Jersey to help them with their patients.
Ivanka Trump and her family moved to Washington from New York City after Donald Trump became president.
The Washington DC area has also been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.


theguardian--2020-04-17--Joe Biden takes presidential campaign online amid virus lockdown

Former vice-president Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign has had to adapt to both its new status as the Democratic party ’ s presumptive nominee and as a candidate who can ’ t leave his home to campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic .
That means taking the fight to unseat Donald Trump from the White House in November almost entirely online .
Instead of shaking hands in swing states or giving speeches in arenas , Biden ’ s most visible moments in recent weeks have been in front of a camera broadcasting from his basement .
But the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has started a regular podcast where he ’ s interviewed political figures .
Virtually every day his campaign airs a live stream of him taking questions or having a discussion with an elected official .
Ron Klain , a longtime aide to Biden , critiqued Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus in a roughly five-minute YouTube video .
Biden over the various channels has focused on how he would approach the pandemic differently and what he sees as Trump ’ s failures .
“ I think his positioning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what I would be doing ’ is a smart place to be , ” said veteran Democratic strategist Michael Halle , who recently served as a top adviser to the former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg ’ s presidential campaign .
“ I think people are looking for an alternative right now and also answers for ‘ how do we come out of this and how do we prevent this in the future ?
’ And you see [ the Biden campaign ] starting to angle toward that and providing a longer-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re ever going to get from Trump.
” Biden has upped the frequency of his appearances on television , appearing on major cable networks and local stations almost daily over the past two weeks .
On Facebook , the Biden campaign more than doubled the amount of money spent on ads in the last week compared with the Trump campaign .
Trump , though , has still spent more overall on that platform .
Biden campaign fundraisers are also now virtual , changing the logistics of organizing them and who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivals .
The California senator Kamala Harris was the surprise guest at his second virtual fundraiser in April .
“ In some respects it does make the barriers to pulling off these things much smaller , ” Democratic strategist Eli Kaplan said .
In the next few weeks the Biden campaign ’ s fundraising schedule , according to a list obtained by the Guardian , includes a Women for Biden event headlined by his wife Dr Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden , a virtual fireside chat with the candidate , and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chenoweth , Melissa Etheridge , Billie Jean King and Billy Porter .
The campaign is also planning to set up a digital “ ropeline ” where Biden can interact with voters .
But even with all those changes , Biden is still having difficulty competing with the New York governor , Andrew Cuomo , and Trump for attention during the coronavirus pandemic .
Cuomo ’ s daily press conferences usually air live on all the major cable networks and the coronavirus taskforce briefing helmed by Trump has become a chance for reporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a televised audience .
What ’ s still unclear is how the coronavirus and the resulting state stay-at-home orders will affect Biden ’ s field organizing as November ’ s election heaves into view .
The campaign is looking into coordinating virtual house parties as well .
Usually , when a presidential candidate has vanquished all other rivals in their party he or she begins building a robust field program and conducts door-knocking to win over general election voters .
But the pandemic means that part of campaigning is on hold and clouded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , campaign workers will have to leverage social media platforms to build that organization .
The Biden campaign utilized phone banking , texting to voters , and its support on social media in winning the set of Super Tuesday states in March .
“ Our team has leveraged their expertise and talent to create powerful digital products that have harnessed millions of views , and as we continue our virtual campaign we will continue exploring creative and innovative formats while getting ready to grow , ” a Biden spokesman said .

Former vice-president Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has had to adapt to both its new status as the Democratic party’s presumptive nominee and as a candidate who can’t leave his home to campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That means taking the fight to unseat Donald Trump from the White House in November almost entirely online.
Instead of shaking hands in swing states or giving speeches in arenas, Biden’s most visible moments in recent weeks have been in front of a camera broadcasting from his basement.
But the Biden campaign has begun embracing the new reality. He has started a regular podcast where he’s interviewed political figures. Virtually every day his campaign airs a live stream of him taking questions or having a discussion with an elected official.
Ron Klain, a longtime aide to Biden, critiqued Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus in a roughly five-minute YouTube video. Biden over the various channels has focused on how he would approach the pandemic differently and what he sees as Trump’s failures.
“I think his positioning on ‘if I were president, this is what I would be doing’ is a smart place to be,” said veteran Democratic strategist Michael Halle, who recently served as a top adviser to the former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.
“I think people are looking for an alternative right now and also answers for ‘how do we come out of this and how do we prevent this in the future?’ And you see [the Biden campaign] starting to angle toward that and providing a longer-term vision which I don’t think you’re ever going to get from Trump.”
Biden has upped the frequency of his appearances on television, appearing on major cable networks and local stations almost daily over the past two weeks. On Facebook, the Biden campaign more than doubled the amount of money spent on ads in the last week compared with the Trump campaign. Trump, though, has still spent more overall on that platform.
Biden campaign fundraisers are also now virtual, changing the logistics of organizing them and who can appear as a headliner, including former rivals. The California senator Kamala Harris was the surprise guest at his second virtual fundraiser in April.
“In some respects it does make the barriers to pulling off these things much smaller,” Democratic strategist Eli Kaplan said.
06:07 Could Trump delay the 2020 US election due to coronavirus? – video explainer
In the next few weeks the Biden campaign’s fundraising schedule, according to a list obtained by the Guardian, includes a Women for Biden event headlined by his wife Dr Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden, a virtual fireside chat with the candidate, and another fundraiser in late April featuring celebrities Kristin Chenoweth, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King and Billy Porter.
The campaign is also planning to set up a digital “ropeline” where Biden can interact with voters.
But even with all those changes, Biden is still having difficulty competing with the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, and Trump for attention during the coronavirus pandemic. Cuomo’s daily press conferences usually air live on all the major cable networks and the coronavirus taskforce briefing helmed by Trump has become a chance for reporters to ask the president questions in front of a televised audience.
What’s still unclear is how the coronavirus and the resulting state stay-at-home orders will affect Biden’s field organizing as November’s election heaves into view. The campaign is looking into coordinating virtual house parties as well.
Usually, when a presidential candidate has vanquished all other rivals in their party he or she begins building a robust field program and conducts door-knocking to win over general election voters. But the pandemic means that part of campaigning is on hold and clouded with uncertainty.
Instead of pounding pavements, campaign workers will have to leverage social media platforms to build that organization.
The Biden campaign utilized phone banking, texting to voters, and its support on social media in winning the set of Super Tuesday states in March.“Our team has leveraged their expertise and talent to create powerful digital products that have harnessed millions of views, and as we continue our virtual campaign we will continue exploring creative and innovative formats while getting ready to grow,” a Biden spokesman said.


theguardian--2020-04-17--White House demands WHO reforms but is vague on details, diplomats say

The Trump administration has given the World Health Organization an ultimatum to carry out reforms and change policy towards China and coronavirus , but diplomats said the White House has not made clear exactly what it wants the WHO to do .
Donald Trump ordered his administration to stop funding the global health organisation in the midst of the pandemic pending a “ thorough investigation ” that he said would take 60 to 90 days , accusing the WHO of “ severely mismanaging and covering up ” the Covid-19 outbreak .
Washington has signalled that the block on funding could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its behaviour , to make it less “ China-centric ” , but it has not been clear about what it wanted , according to diplomats familiar with the discussions .
“ We understand this is a decision to halt funding ... unless the administration sees from the WHO evidence that the WHO are not in hock to China , they are tackling the pandemic transparently on the best available evidence , and are committed to reform , ” a European diplomat said .
“ I don ’ t think the administration has set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the WHO , and they have not , to the best of my knowledge , said which sort of funding is going to be cut.
” The US is the biggest contributor to the WHO ’ s annual budget of about $ 2.5bn .
It gives $ 119m a year in assessed contributions ( membership dues ) and $ 328m in donations , and is currently about $ 200m in arrears .
Whether the administration has the authority to cut off funds which have been mandated by Congress is in dispute , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , calling Trump ’ s move “ illegal ” .
Rachel Semmel , spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) , said the Trump administration was within its rights to divert funds to other organisations in the same field .
She said the first tranche of $ 58m of US-assessed contributions for the year had already been paid , and the second tranche of $ 65m was not due until September .
Meanwhile there would be a 60-day review conducted by the OMB , while other partners are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for WHO donations .
“ Now that money is on hold pending a policy review , so we can figure out where we can partner up with different organizations or contractors on the ground to spend it , and obviously use it for the purpose for which it was intended , ” Semmel said .
A state department spokesman said : “ Our action in no way diminishes US leadership on global health matters , including the current Covid crisis .
We have ample ability to provide aid ourselves or through other partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to do so.
” He added that the state department and the US agency for international development had committed nearly $ 508m in emergency health , humanitarian , and economic assistance .
The White House issued an account of a conference call between the leaders of the G7 industrialised democracies , claiming “ much of the conversation centered on the lack of transparency and chronic mismanagement of the pandemic by the WHO ” .
That claim was contradicted by accounts from other G7 governments , expressing support for the organisation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their WHO contributions .
The UK offered an extra £65m this week .
US allies were taken by surprise by Trump ’ s 14 April announcement on cutting WHO funding and were therefore unable to mount a concerted campaign to persuade him out of the decision , although the French president , Emmanuel Macron , made an attempt last week .
“ Macron tried to call , but actually , the Americans – who originally told us that they were looking at the number of options for the WHO – quickly on Easter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement about halting funding , ” the European diplomat said .
“ So to the best of my knowledge , nobody in the west had enough visibility to actually persuade them not to do it .
But a number of us over the last few weeks have been saying : we know the WHO has problems , but we believe the priority is to tackle the pandemic.
” House Republicans on Thursday urged Trump to make continued US support for the WHO conditional on the resignation of its director general , Tedros Adhanom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US for remarks praising China ’ s handling of the pandemic .
However , that is not the approach the White House has taken so far , aware that Tedros was elected by member states .
One of the options US officials have floated informally in recent days has been for the WHO to grant Taiwan observer status .
However , that too is a decision made by member states .
The UN general assembly decided in 1971 to recognise the People ’ s Republic of China as the sole legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit the following year .
The issue has been discussed 14 times over the past 22 years in the World Health Assembly , but each time the proposal has been rejected .
“ We are in the hands of countries on these issues , ” the WHO ’ s principal legal officer , Steven Solomon , said .
“ WHO staff don ’ t have the mandate or power to change that .
Our mandate is to work to promote the health of all people everywhere .
”

The Trump administration has given the World Health Organization an ultimatum to carry out reforms and change policy towards China and coronavirus, but diplomats said the White House has not made clear exactly what it wants the WHO to do.
Donald Trump ordered his administration to stop funding the global health agency in the midst of the pandemic pending a “thorough investigation” that he said would take 60 to 90 days, accusing the WHO of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the Covid-19 outbreak.
Washington has signalled that the block on funding could be lifted if the WHO leadership altered its behaviour, to make it less “China-centric”, but it has not been clear about what it wanted, according to diplomats familiar with the discussions.
“We understand this is a decision to halt funding … unless the administration sees from the WHO evidence that the WHO are not in hock to China, they are tackling the pandemic transparently on the best available evidence, and are committed to reform,” a European diplomat said. “I don’t think the administration has set out precisely what they are looking for from the WHO, and they have not, to the best of my knowledge, said which sort of funding is going to be cut.”
The US is the biggest contributor to the WHO’s annual budget of about $2.5bn. It gives $119m a year in assessed contributions (membership dues) and $328m in donations, and is currently about $200m in arrears. Whether the administration has the authority to cut off funds which have been mandated by Congress is in dispute, with the Democratic House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, calling Trump’s move “illegal”.
A senior administration official said the Trump administration was within its rights to divert funds to other organisations in the same field. The official said the first tranche of $58m of US-assessed contributions for the year had already been paid, and the second tranche of $65m was not due until September. Meanwhile there would be a 60-day review conducted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), while other partners are sought through which to channel money earmarked for WHO donations.
“Now that money is on hold pending a policy review, so we can figure out where we can partner up with different organizations or contractors on the ground to spend it, and obviously use it for the purpose for which it was intended,” the official said.
A state department spokesman said: “Our action in no way diminishes US leadership on global health matters, including the current Covid crisis. We have ample ability to provide aid ourselves or through other partners to fight the pandemic, and we will continue to do so.”
He added that the state department and the US agency for international development had committed nearly $508m in emergency health, humanitarian and economic assistance.
The White House issued an account of a conference call between the leaders of the G7 industrialised democracies, claiming “much of the conversation centered on the lack of transparency and chronic mismanagement of the pandemic by the WHO”.
That claim was contradicted by accounts from other G7 governments, expressing support for the organisation and urging international cooperation. Several have raised their WHO contributions. The UK offered an extra £65m this week.
US allies were taken by surprise by Trump’s 14 April announcement on cutting WHO funding and were therefore unable to mount a concerted campaign to persuade him out of the decision, although the French president, Emmanuel Macron, made an attempt last week.
“Macron tried to call, but actually, the Americans – who originally told us that they were looking at the number of options for the WHO – quickly on Easter Monday decided that they would make this announcement about halting funding,” the European diplomat said.
“So to the best of my knowledge, nobody in the west had enough visibility to actually persuade them not to do it. But a number of us over the last few weeks have been saying: we know the WHO has problems, but we believe the priority is to tackle the pandemic.”
House Republicans on Thursday urged Trump to make continued US support for the WHO conditional on the resignation of its director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has been widely criticised in the US for remarks praising China’s handling of the pandemic. However, that is not the approach the White House has taken so far, aware that Tedros was elected by member states.
One of the options US officials have floated informally in recent days has been for the WHO to grant Taiwan observer status. However, that too is a decision made by member states. The UN general assembly decided in 1971 to recognise the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China and the WHO followed suit the following year. The issue has been discussed 14 times over the past 22 years in the World Health Assembly, but each time the proposal has been rejected.
“We are in the hands of countries on these issues,” the WHO’s principal legal officer, Steven Solomon, said. “WHO staff don’t have the mandate or power to change that. Our mandate is to work to promote the health of all people everywhere.”


theguardian--2020-04-17--Donald Trump defers to governors in guidelines for reopening US amid pandemic

Donald Trump and his coronavirus taskforce have unveiled a set of federal guidelines for reopening the economy , which comprise three phases but ultimately defer to governors on when and how to return their states to normal .
The first phase allows for gradually returning to work while also minimizing non-essential travel .
The second phase allows for gatherings of 50 people and non-essential travel .
The third allows for schools and organized youth activities to open up as well as large venues to operate under “ physical distancing protocols ” .
The third phase also allows bars to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” when possible .
The guidelines were unveiled at the president ’ s daily coronavirus briefing on Thursday .
Earlier in the day , Trump held a conference call with the country ’ s governors to preview the guidelines .
Trump said it was essentially up to them to lift their stay-at-home orders but encouraged them to do so if they saw no apparent health risk , a move that contradicted his previous claim of “ total authority ” to decide if and when a state should reopen .
Likewise the new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move to each phase .
The guidelines represent a dramatic shift from the strict stay-at-home orders currently in place in many states .
In unveiling them Trump made clear his eagerness to end the nationwide lockdown and return the American economy to its pre-coronavirus days .
“ A prolonged lockdown combined with a forced economic depression will inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health , ” Trump said on Thursday .
He claimed that would include “ a sharp rise in drug abuse , alcohol abuse , suicide , heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical and mental wellbeing ” .
Trump ’ s top officials at the briefing stressed that states and governors must be cautious in relaxing guidelines in order to continue the country ’ s modest progress in containing the virus .
“ We are slowing the spread , we are flattening the curve , ” said the vice-president , Mike Pence .
“ In a word , because of the actions of this president , this administration , governors at every level , our healthcare workers , and Americans , we ’ ve saved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” But officials praised the administration ’ s progress in fighting the pandemic .
In laying out the first phase of the guidelines , Dr Deborah Birx , the coronavirus taskforce response coordinator , explained that some strict orders would have to stay in place .
“ If the schools are closed , they should continue to be closed , ” Birx said .
“ Gyms could open if they adhere to strict physical distancing.
” Dr Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate end to governors ’ coronavirus pandemic responses .
A “ light switch on and off is the exact opposite of what you see here ” , Fauci said .
“ You don ’ t get to phase one until you get through the gating.
” Trump is optimistic that many states are ready to advance through the guidelines .
“ I think 29 states are in that ballgame , ” Trump said .
“ Not for opening , but I think they ’ ll be able to open relatively soon .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Look , New York , New Jersey are having very tough times and they ’ ll be there .
They ’ ll be there at some point .
But they ’ re not going to be one of the earlier states .
They ’ ll be later , obviously.
” The White House sought support from business leaders and lawmakers ahead of unveiling its new guidelines , and Trump spoke earlier on Thursday with congressional lawmakers in both parties .
The White House also announced a set of senators who would participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force to Reopen America ” .
But governors have indicated that the guidelines may only be a factor in what states decide to do next .
A few governors even extended their stay-at-home orders and signed new executive orders on Thursday in response to the pandemic .
The governors of Michigan , Illinois , Ohio , Kentucky , Wisconsin , Indiana , and Minnesota announced a new partnership for coordinating reopening their states ’ respective economies .
Governors along both coasts have already unveiled similar alliances .
But other governors praised the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate President Trump ’ s guidelines for reopening pieces of the economy that have been closed temporarily , ” the Nebraska governor , Pete Ricketts , said .
“ It is critical that we get people back to work safely and continue to slow the spread of the virus as the country opens up .
”

Donald Trump and his coronavirus taskforce have unveiled a set of federal guidelines for reopening the economy, which comprise three phases but ultimately defer to governors on when and how to return their states to normal.
The first phase allows for gradually returning to work while also minimizing non-essential travel. The second phase allows for gatherings of 50 people and non-essential travel. The third allows for schools and organized youth activities to open up as well as large venues to operate under “physical distancing protocols”. The third phase also allows bars to reopen but with “diminished standing room occupancy” when possible.
The guidelines were unveiled at the president’s daily coronavirus briefing on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Trump held a conference call with the country’s governors to preview the guidelines. Trump said it was essentially up to them to lift their stay-at-home orders but encouraged them to do so if they saw no apparent health risk, a move that contradicted his previous claim of “total authority” to decide if and when a state should reopen. Likewise the new guidelines largely defer to governors to decide when to move to each phase. The guidelines represent a dramatic shift from the strict stay-at-home orders currently in place in many states. In unveiling them Trump made clear his eagerness to end the nationwide lockdown and return the American economy to its pre-coronavirus days.
“A prolonged lockdown combined with a forced economic depression will inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health,” Trump said on Thursday. He claimed that would include “a sharp rise in drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide, heart disease, and many other dimensions of physical and mental wellbeing”.
Trump’s top officials at the briefing stressed that states and governors must be cautious in relaxing guidelines in order to continue the country’s modest progress in containing the virus.
“We are slowing the spread, we are flattening the curve,” said the vice-president, Mike Pence. “In a word, because of the actions of this president, this administration, governors at every level, our healthcare workers, and Americans, we’ve saved lives and we can be comforted in that.”
But officials praised the administration’s progress in fighting the pandemic. In laying out the first phase of the guidelines, Dr Deborah Birx, the coronavirus taskforce response coordinator, explained that some strict orders would have to stay in place.
“If the schools are closed, they should continue to be closed,” Birx said. “Gyms could open if they adhere to strict physical distancing.”
Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the guidelines did not mark an immediate end to governors’ coronavirus pandemic responses.
A “light switch on and off is the exact opposite of what you see here”, Fauci said. “You don’t get to phase one until you get through the gating.”
Trump is optimistic that many states are ready to advance through the guidelines.
“I think 29 states are in that ballgame,” Trump said. “Not for opening, but I think they’ll be able to open relatively soon. I think the remainder are just getting better. Look, New York, New Jersey are having very tough times and they’ll be there. They’ll be there at some point. But they’re not going to be one of the earlier states. They’ll be later, obviously.”
The White House sought support from business leaders and lawmakers ahead of unveiling its new guidelines, and Trump spoke earlier on Thursday with congressional lawmakers in both parties. The White House also announced a set of senators who would participate on the president’s “Task Force to Reopen America”.
But governors have indicated that the guidelines may only be a factor in what states decide to do next. A few governors even extended their stay-at-home orders and signed new executive orders on Thursday in response to the pandemic.
The governors of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Minnesota announced a new partnership for coordinating reopening their states’ respective economies. Governors along both coasts have already unveiled similar alliances.
But other governors praised the president’s new directions.
“I appreciate President Trump’s guidelines for reopening pieces of the economy that have been closed temporarily,” the Nebraska governor, Pete Ricketts, said. “It is critical that we get people back to work safely and continue to slow the spread of the virus as the country opens up.”


theguardian--2020-04-17--Trump's 'science based' reopening strategy is still full of unanswered questions

“ Make America great again ” was an election winning slogan with a bold and simple message .
“ Opening up America again ” proved to be less clear cut and left questions in the air .
On Thursday Donald Trump unveiled federal staggered guidelines for getting America back to business after the shutdown forced by the coronavirus pandemic .
He had previously billed it as the most important decision of his presidency , but what he called “ a science-based reopening ” was messier and more ill-defined .
First , the good news .
The 18-page document explicitly used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far cry from the “ total authority ” he claimed earlier this week .
It delegates authority to state governors and city mayors to weigh the risk-to-reward ratio of opening businesses , churches and schools , which is the way it should be .
It also recognises the need to move gradually with baby steps , and the fact that America is vast – roughly the same size as Europe – with different needs in different places .
“ We are not opening all at once , but one careful step at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to open up sooner than others , ” the president said , Even Trump , who has turned his briefings into mini-campaign rallies , seemed relatively disciplined and focused at the White House on Thursday .
He was broadly in step with his experts , Dr Deborah Birx and Dr Anthony Fauci .
For all his wild words in recent weeks , including calling for the country to reopen at Easter , Trump has at least heeded the professionals when it came to extending physical distancing guidelines and now seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposes that , before reopening , states should see a decrease in confirmed Covid-19 cases over a 14-day period , have a “ robust testing system in place for at-risk health care workers ” , and hospitals should be able to “ treat all patients without crisis care ” .
But there are plenty of ambiguities .
The guidelines do not give a firm target date .
Trump said some states could reopen “ tomorrow ” but declined to name them .
The guidelines emphasise the need for testing but do not make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nor set out a national testing strategy .
Yet testing and contact tracing have been key to the relative success of countries such as Germany and South Korea .
House speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the guideline ’ s lack of clarity on a national testing strategy , saying in statement : “ Testing is the key to opening our country to resume our lives .
The White House ’ s vague and inconsistent document does nothing to make up for the president ’ s failure to listen to the scientists and produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the absence of that secure knowledge , the public may not respond to Trump ’ s summons .
More than four in five people say Americans should “ continue to social distance for as long as is needed to curb the spread of coronavirus , even if it means continued damage to the economy ” , according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Wednesday .
And even on one of his more restrained days , Trump made some worrying statements .
He kept referring to the virus in the past tense , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day .
“ Now that we are past the peak in new cases , we are starting life again , ” he said .
“ If the virus returns in the fall as some scientists think it may , possibly , these guidelines will ensure the country is up and running so that we can likewise put it out quickly.
” Joe Lockhart , a former White House press secretary , tweeted : “ That briefing had everything but the ‘ Mission Accomplished ’ banner .
Now let ’ s start ignoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power is : the states and cities.
” In the week that he halted funding to the World Health Organization , Trump made reference to “ a cruel virus from a distant land ” and said border control and travel restrictions are more important than ever .
He reflected : “ In 1917 , they went through something that was similar ” , – he was off by a year , as the Spanish flu was in 1918 .
And he told reporters : “ We ’ re not going to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be if a restaurant had 158 seats filled before , they are going to have 158 seats filled again.
” Experts have warned such a prospect is still a very long way off .
The political benefit of asking individual states to call the shots is that , if things go wrong , Trump will claim he is shielded from blame .
He said : “ We have some states that got too much credit for what they ’ ve done , frankly .
I could name you a couple of those.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that partisan politics should be put aside .
“ I don ’ t care about campaigning , ” he said .
But it will not be long , perhaps , before he is back on the trail .

“Make America great again” was an election winning slogan with a bold and simple message. “Opening up America again” proved to be less clear cut and left questions in the air.
On Thursday Donald Trump unveiled federal staggered guidelines for getting America back to business after the shutdown forced by the coronavirus pandemic. He had previously billed it as the most important decision of his presidency, but what he called “a science-based reopening” was messier and more ill-defined.
First, the good news. The 18-page document explicitly used the word “guidelines” – a far cry from the “total authority” he claimed earlier this week. It delegates authority to state governors and city mayors to weigh the risk-to-reward ratio of opening businesses, churches and schools, which is the way it should be.
It also recognises the need to move gradually with baby steps, and the fact that America is vast – roughly the same size as Europe – with different needs in different places. “We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time, and some states, they will be able to open up sooner than others,” the president said.
Even Trump, who has turned his briefings into mini-campaign rallies, seemed relatively disciplined and focused at the White House on Thursday. He was broadly in step with his experts, Dr Deborah Birx and Dr Anthony Fauci. For all his wild words in recent weeks, including calling for the country to reopen at Easter, Trump has at least heeded the professionals when it came to extending physical distancing guidelines and now seeking to wind them down.
The document proposes that, before reopening, states should see a decrease in confirmed Covid-19 cases over a 14-day period, have a “robust testing system in place for at-risk healthcare workers”, and hospitals should be able to “treat all patients without crisis care”.
But there are plenty of ambiguities. The guidelines do not give a firm target date. Trump said some states could reopen “tomorrow” but declined to name them. The guidelines emphasise the need for testing but do not make clear how many tests will be enough, nor set out a national testing strategy. Yet testing and contact tracing have been key to the relative success of countries such as Germany and South Korea.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the guidelines lack of clarity on a national testing strategy, saying in statement: “Testing is the key to opening our country to resume our lives. The White House’s vague and inconsistent document does nothing to make up for the president’s failure to listen to the scientists and produce and distribute national rapid testing.”
In the absence of that secure knowledge, the public may not respond to Trump’s summons. More than four in five people say Americans should “continue to social distance for as long as is needed to curb the spread of coronavirus, even if it means continued damage to the economy”, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll released Wednesday.
And even on one of his more restrained days, Trump made some worrying statements. He kept referring to the virus in the past tense, even as thousands of people continue to die every day. “Now that we are past the peak in new cases, we are starting life again,” he said.
“If the virus returns in the fall as some scientists think it may, possibly, these guidelines will ensure the country is up and running so that we can likewise put it out quickly.”
Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary, tweeted: “That briefing had everything but the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner. Now let’s start ignoring the president and concentrate on where the power is: the states and cities.”
In the week that he halted funding to the World Health Organization, Trump made reference to “a cruel virus from a distant land” and said border control and travel restrictions are more important than ever. He reflected: “In 1917, they went through something that was similar”, – he was off by a year, as the Spanish flu was in 1918.
And he told reporters: “We’re not going to have a new normal. Normal is going to be if a restaurant had 158 seats filled before, they are going to have 158 seats filled again.” Experts have warned such a prospect is still a very long way off.
The political benefit of asking individual states to call the shots is that, if things go wrong, Trump will claim he is shielded from blame. He said: “We have some states that got too much credit for what they’ve done, frankly. I could name you a couple of those.”
Trump described himself as a healer and claimed that partisan politics should be put aside. “I don’t care about campaigning,” he said. But it will not be long, perhaps, before he is back on the trail.


theguardian--2020-04-18--Trump calls protesters against stay-at-home orders 'very responsible'

Donald Trump has posted highly incendiary tweets stoking protests against physical distancing and other coronavirus stay-at-home measures in three states led by Democratic governors .
“ LIBERATE MINNESOTA !
” the US president wrote in capital letters on Friday .
“ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” He followed up with a third tweet : “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA , and save your great 2nd Amendment .
It is under siege !
” – a reference to Virginia ’ s governor , Ralph Northam , last week signing into law new measures on gun control .
Trump has repeatedly ignored his own entreaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
His latest provocative interventions followed demonstrations against stay-at-home orders in Michigan , Ohio , North Carolina , Virginia and other states that have drawn elements of the far right .
Some protesters have carried guns , waved Trump and Confederate flags and sought to frame the debate as a defence of constitutional freedoms .
They have been egged on by conservative media hosts such as Fox News ’ s Jeanine Pirro , who said : “ What happened in Lansing [ Michigan ] today , God bless them : it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country.
” At Friday ’ s White House coronavirus taskforce briefing , Trump played down fears that by crowding together , the protesters themselves could spread the Covid-19 illness .
“ These are people expressing their views , ” he told reporters .
“ I see where they are and I see the way they ’ re working .
They seem to be very responsible people to me , but they ’ ve been treated a little bit rough.
” In 2017 the president was condemned for reacting to a deadly clash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Virginia , by observing that there “ were very fine people on both sides ” .
On Friday , Trump also stood by his criticism of the Democratic governors , even though they are following his own federal guidelines .
“ I think some things are too tough , ” he said .
“ And if you look at some of the states you just mentioned , it ’ s too tough , not only in reference to this but what they ’ ve done in Virginia with respect to the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you see what other states have done , I think I feel very comfortable.
” Asked if he believed Michigan , Minnesota and Virginia should lift their stay-at-home orders , the president added : “ I think elements of what they ’ ve done are too much , just too much ... What they ’ ve done in Virginia is just incredible.
” Trump , known to watch Fox News closely , has offered mixed messages .
On Monday he claimed “ total ” authority to order an end to the stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ guidelines ” that passed the buck to governors to make decisions on the ground about when and how to reopen .
His tweets on Friday appeared to undercut his own experts ’ warnings and drew sharp criticism .
Jay Inslee , the Democratic governor of Washington , tweeted in response : “ The president ’ s statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts .
He is putting millions of people in danger of contracting Covid-19 .
His unhinged rantings and calls for people to ‘ liberate ’ states could also lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it before.
” Beto O ’ Rourke , a former Texas congressman who like Inslee ran for the Democratic nomination , said : “ Republicans will turn a blind eye [ and ] too many in the press will focus on ‘ tone ’ .
But history books will say : in April of 2020 , when the pandemic had already claimed 35,000 lives , the president of the United States incited people to storm their statehouses with AR-15s and AK-47s.
” Michigan has taken big hits in both coronavirus cases and job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state in the presidential election .
Wednesday ’ s “ Operation Gridlock ” , a demonstration against strict stay-at-home policies ordered by Michigan ’ s governor , Gretchen Whitmer , attracted the Proud Boys and other far-right groups who have been present at pro-Trump and gun rights rallies in Michigan .
Most protesters stayed in their vehicles and circled the state capitol building in Lansing , but a small group stood on the capitol steps to flout physical distancing guidelines .
They brandished signs that included “ Trump/Pence ” , “ Recall Whitmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Stop the Tyranny ” , and briefly chanting “ Lock her up !
” , echoing Trump campaign rallies ’ targeting of Hillary Clinton .
Whitmer , who dismissed the stunt as “ essentially a political rally ” , has emerged as a possible a running mate for the presumptive Democratic nominee , Joe Biden .
Ronna McDaniel , the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee , said at an online “ Women for Trump ” event Whitmer had “ turned this crisis into a platform to run for vice-president ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tea Party movement of a decade ago and more are expected in coming days , with the tension between public health and economic reopening viewed through an increasingly partisan lens .
The Washington Post reported : “ Uncertainty and fear over the economic impact of stay-at-home orders is fueling a sort of culture war between conservatives , whose political strength now comes from rural America , right now less affected by the virus , and liberals , whose urban strongholds have been most affected by it.
” Last Saturday , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ally , tweeted that he was going to the beach with his children .
“ Fortunately , I live in Texas – where we protect public safety , but aren ’ t authoritarian zealots – so they won ’ t arrest me !
” he wrote .
According to Pew Research , 81 % of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say their greater concern is that governments will lift these restrictions too quickly .
About half ( 51 % ) of Republicans and Republican leaners say their bigger concern is that state governments @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump has posted highly incendiary tweets stoking protests against physical distancing and other coronavirus stay-at-home measures in three states led by Democratic governors.
“LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” the US president wrote in capital letters on Friday. “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
He followed up with a third tweet: “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” – a reference to Virginia’s governor, Ralph Northam, last week signing into law new measures on gun control.
Trump has repeatedly ignored his own entreaty to put partisan politics aside during the coronavirus pandemic. His latest provocative interventions followed demonstrations against stay-at-home orders in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and other states that have drawn elements of the far right.
Some protesters have carried guns, waved Trump and Confederate flags and sought to frame the debate as a defence of constitutional freedoms. They have been egged on by conservative media hosts such as Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro, who said: “What happened in Lansing [Michigan] today, God bless them: it’s going to happen all over the country.”
At Friday’s White House coronavirus taskforce briefing, Trump played down fears that by crowding together, the protesters themselves could spread the Covid-19 illness. “These are people expressing their views,” he told reporters. “I see where they are and I see the way they’re working. They seem to be very responsible people to me, but they’ve been treated a little bit rough.”
In 2017 the president was condemned for reacting to a deadly clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, by observing that there “were very fine people on both sides”.
On Friday, Trump also stood by his criticism of the Democratic governors, even though they are following his own federal guidelines. “I think some things are too tough,” he said. “And if you look at some of the states you just mentioned, it’s too tough, not only in reference to this but what they’ve done in Virginia with respect to the second amendment is just a horrible thing ... When you see what other states have done, I think I feel very comfortable.”
Asked if he believed Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia should lift their stay-at-home orders, the president added: “I think elements of what they’ve done are too much, just too much ... What they’ve done in Virginia is just incredible.”
Trump, known to watch Fox News closely, has offered mixed messages. On Monday he claimed “total” authority to order an end to the stay-at-home measures, but on Thursday issued phased “guidelines” that passed the buck to governors to make decisions on the ground about when and how to reopen. His tweets on Friday appeared to undercut his own experts’ warnings and drew sharp criticism.
Jay Inslee, the Democratic governor of Washington, tweeted in response: “The president’s statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts. He is putting millions of people in danger of contracting Covid-19. His unhinged rantings and calls for people to ‘liberate’ states could also lead to violence. We’ve seen it before.”
Beto O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman who like Inslee ran for the Democratic nomination, said: “Republicans will turn a blind eye [and] too many in the press will focus on ‘tone’. But history books will say: in April of 2020, when the pandemic had already claimed 35,000 lives, the president of the United States incited people to storm their statehouses with AR-15s and AK-47s.”
02:09 Armed protesters demand an end to Michigan's coronavirus lockdown orders – video
Michigan has taken big hits in both coronavirus cases and job losses and will be a critical battleground state in the presidential election. Wednesday’s “Operation Gridlock”, a demonstration against strict stay-at-home policies ordered by Michigan’s governor, Gretchen Whitmer, attracted the Proud Boys and other far-right groups who have been present at pro-Trump and gun rights rallies in Michigan.
Most protesters stayed in their vehicles and circled the state capitol building in Lansing, but a small group stood on the capitol steps to flout physical distancing guidelines. They brandished signs that included “Trump/Pence”, “Recall Whitmer”, “Heil Whitmer” and “Stop the Tyranny”, and briefly chanted “Lock her up!”, echoing Trump campaign rallies’ targeting of Hillary Clinton.
Whitmer, who dismissed the stunt as “essentially a political rally”, has emerged as a possible running mate for the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden. Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said at an online “Women for Trump” event Whitmer had “turned this crisis into a platform to run for vice-president”.
The protests have earned comparisons with the Tea Party movement of a decade ago and more are expected in coming days, with the tension between public health and economic reopening viewed through an increasingly partisan lens.
The Washington Post reported: “Uncertainty and fear over the economic impact of stay-at-home orders is fueling a sort of culture war between conservatives, whose political strength now comes from rural America, right now less affected by the virus, and liberals, whose urban strongholds have been most affected by it.”
Last Saturday, for example, the Republican senator Ted Cruz, a Trump ally, tweeted that he was going to the beach with his children. “Fortunately, I live in Texas – where we protect public safety, but aren’t authoritarian zealots – so they won’t arrest me!” he wrote.
According to Pew Research, 81% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say their greater concern is that governments will lift restrictions too quickly. About half (51%) of Republicans and Republican leaners say their bigger concern is that state governments will act too quickly.


theguardian--2020-04-18--Coronavirus US live:  Trump says protesters against distancing measures 'seem very responsible' – as

Coronavirus US live:  Trump says protesters against distancing measures 'seem very responsible' – as it happened

Has the coronavirus pandemic “ peaked ” in the US ?
A model relied upon by the White House , from the University of Washington , estimates that the virus will “ peter out ” in May and then essentially grind to a halt by the summer .
This is based on the experiences of China and Italy , previous coronavirus hotspots .
But this model , like all predictions , is dynamic and depends upon the application of measures such as social distancing to slow the rate of transmission .
Other forecasts have been more pessimistic , warning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus until well after summer .
Premature relaxation of restrictions on gatherings of people could see a second , much more severe , increase in infections .
The sheer size of the US , as well as its large population , means that there will be several ‘ peaks ’ at different times across the country .
While the situation may be starting to stabilize somewhat in New York , areas in the heart of the country have yet to see the worst of the virus.
” That is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Doug Burgum , governor of North Dakota .
“ If wow , New York had all these deaths and they are opening up , why aren ’ t we opening ?
That will be a communication challenge for us , but we have to just keep monitoring and see where we are going on this .
”

Maanvi Singh in San Francisco (now), Joan E Greve in Washington and Joanna Walters in New York (earlier)

18 Apr 2020 01.26 BST Summary During the White House coronavirus briefing, Dr Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary for Health, said the US will need to conduct at least 4.5m tests a month before its safe to move into Phase 1 of the administration’s Opening Up America Again plan. The president was less measured in his assessment, insisting that many states were ready to reopen, despite a lack of testing and evidence that the number of cases are decreasing.
The president was less measured in his assessment, insisting that many states were ready to reopen, despite a lack of testing and evidence that the number of cases are decreasing. South Dakota governor Kristi Noem announced Friday that her state would begin a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to fight the coronavirus. “South Dakota is now the first state in America to launch a statewide, state-backed clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to fight Covid-19,” Noem said in remarks sent out by her office.
“South Dakota is now the first state in America to launch a statewide, state-backed clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to fight Covid-19,” Noem said in remarks sent out by her office. Washington governor Jay Inslee said Trump was “ fomenting domestic rebellion” with his tweets about liberating states under stay-at-home orders. Trump’s tweets echoed messaging from right-wing protesters who have demonstrated against the orders, and they raised concerns that the president’s supporters would feel encouraged to ignore social distancing guidelines.
Trump’s tweets echoed messaging from right-wing protesters who have demonstrated against the orders, and they raised concerns that the president’s supporters would feel encouraged to ignore social distancing guidelines. Andrew Cuomo criticized Trump after the president lashed out against the New York governor in a tweet. In response to Trump’s suggestion that Cuomo should “spend more time ‘doing’ and less time ‘complaining’,” the governor said, “If he’s sitting home watching TV, maybe he should get up and go to work.”
In response to Trump’s suggestion that Cuomo should “spend more time ‘doing’ and less time ‘complaining’,” the governor said, “If he’s sitting home watching TV, maybe he should get up and go to work.” California is nearing 1,000 coronavirus deaths. Governor Gavin Newsom said California recorded 95 deaths yesterday, making it the deadliest day so far and bringing the state’s total death toll to 985.
Governor said California recorded 95 deaths yesterday, making it the deadliest day so far and bringing the state’s total death toll to 985. Joe Biden accused Trump of trying to “rewrite history” on how he first responded to coronavirus. “The uncomfortable truth is that Donald Trump left American exposed and vulnerable to this pandemic,” Biden said in a new video. “He ignored the warnings of health experts and the intelligence agencies and put his trust in China’s leaders instead.”
“The uncomfortable truth is that Donald Trump left American exposed and vulnerable to this pandemic,” Biden said in a new video. “He ignored the warnings of health experts and the intelligence agencies and put his trust in China’s leaders instead.” The US daily coronavirus death toll hit a new record yesterday. According to the Wall Street Journal, 4,591 Americans died over 24 hours, nearly doubling the record of 2,569 that was set on Wednesday. The country’s total death currently stands at 34,614. Trump appears to stoke protests against stay-at-home orders Read more
Updated at 01.32 BST
18 Apr 2020 01.16 BST Oliver Milman Has the coronavirus pandemic “peaked” in the US? A model relied upon by the White House, from the University of Washington, estimates that the virus will “peter out” in May and then essentially grind to a halt by the summer. This is based on the experiences of China and Italy, previous coronavirus hotspots.
But this model, like all predictions, is dynamic and depends upon the application of measures such as social distancing to slow the rate of transmission. Other forecasts have been more pessimistic, warning that it will be difficult to tame the spread of the virus until well after summer. Premature relaxation of restrictions on gatherings of people could see a second, much more severe, increase in infections. The sheer size of the US, as well as its large population, means that there will be several ‘peaks’ at different times across the country. While the situation may be starting to stabilize somewhat in New York, areas in the heart of the country have yet to see the worst of the virus.”That is going to be confusing for people,” said Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota. “If wow, New York had all these deaths and they are opening up, why aren’t we opening? That will be a communication challenge for us, but we have to just keep monitoring and see where we are going on this.”
18 Apr 2020 01.11 BST The press briefing has ended. We’ll have more analysis from the Guardian’s David Smith coming soon — stay tuned.
18 Apr 2020 01.06 BST I didn’t quite notice this exact phrasing when Trump was discussing rallies... Note: this tweet was later deleted by the user.
Updated at 03.19 BST
17 Apr 2020 00.57 BST The president skirted questions about how the businesses could reopen without schools reopening as well. “It’s a good question, I think the schools are going to be open soon,” he said. The White House’s own plan to “Open Up America Again” suggests that schools and organized youth activities “that are currently closed should remain closed” during Phase 1.
17 Apr 2020 00.51 BST “I hope we’re gonna have rallies. I think they’ll be bigger than ever,” Trump said. When the rallies have to be spaced out, with attendees spaced out, “it loses a lot of flavor,” Trump noted.
17 Apr 2020 00.41 BST Asked to address his “LIBERATE” tweets, Trump said he is “very comfortable” with what he posted. He noted that some states are going too far with social distancing measures. “I think some things are too tough,” he said. “And if you look at some of the states you just mentioned, that it’s too tough.” But states are currently following federal guidelines encouraging Americans to stay home.
Updated at 00.41 BST
17 Apr 2020 00.38 BST In order to enter Phase 1 of the plan to reopen the country, the US needs to be doing about 4.5m tests per month, Giroir said. By the end of April, the US will have access to 5m more swabs, which will help speed up those efforts, he noted.
17 Apr 2020 00.32 BST The public health officials on the task force have outlined the different types of tests available, including antibody or serology tests that check for immunity and RNA tests that check for the presence of the virus. Yesterday, to speed up testing and address supply shortages, the FDA announced that it would allow a broader range of swabs to be used for tests, including some that would be easier to manufacture. But the messaging from Dr Birx, Dr Fauci, and Dr Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary for Health, is that there will be enough testing, soon. Trump, meanwhile, has been insisting that the testing capacity is already where it needs to be. “If about 1 out of 10 people are positive,” Giroir said, then health officials know that they are testing enough people.
17 Apr 2020 00.16 BST “We’re working with states to unlock the full potential” for them to conduct up to a million tests a month, Dr Deborah Birx said. Experts are advising laboratories and assessing what their needs and shortages are.
Updated at 00.17 BST
17 Apr 2020 00.02 BST Dr Anthony Fauci made the point that it’s a “reasonable assumption” that if someone has developed antibodies for the virus, they’ve had the infection and are protected. But scientists aren’t sure how long that antibody protection lasts. In South Korea, a growing number of recovered patients appear to be relapsing. Korean authorities reported that 163 patients have tested positive for the virus after making a full recovery. “We need to be humble and modest that we don’t know everything” about Covid-19, Fauci said.
Updated at 00.17 BST
17 Apr 2020 23.56 BST Fact check: Testing again “Our best scientists and health experts assess that states today have enough tests to implement the criteria of phase one if they choose to do that,” Mike Pence said. Physicians groups, academic labs, and local leaders have all said they do not have the ability to do enough testing. One example is Rhode Island. Here’s some reporting from the AP, from earlier today: Trump has promoted a 15-minute test developed by Abbott Laboratories as a “game changer.” Federal officials initially distributed 15 machines to public health labs in U.S. states and territories, along with 250 to the Indian Health Service. Alaska received 50. But governors say they didn’t get enough cartridges needed to run large numbers of the tests. Rhode Island received only 120, much fewer than they were promised. Raimondo said when the state tried to get more, Abbott and others that make the test cartridges directed her to the federal government, which in turn told her to go directly to the companies. The state has now received 850 tests, far fewer than it requested, Raimondo said Friday.
17 Apr 2020 23.50 BST “Following the announcement of our reopening guidelines, there have been some very partisan voices in the media and politics who have spread false and misleading information about our testing capacities,” Trump said. State and local leaders have complained that they are having trouble getting equipment, including swabs, needed to ramp up testing.
17 Apr 2020 23.35 BST Fact Check: Testing Trump is touring the US’ testing capacity.
Overall, the US had administered more than 3.5m coronavirus tests so far, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Recently, it matched the rate of testing per capita of South Korea, though other countries, including Germany, we have tested a larger proportion of its population.
From a very slow start, the US, with a population of 329 million, had ramped up to a testing rate of one in every 100 people — similar to South Korea. Germany has done even better, testing every 1 in 63 people. The UK, however, is behind, having tested only 1 in 230 people.
In America, despite the recent increase in testing, backlogs are reported in labs across the country, and many people with symptoms — including health workers — are still struggling to access tests.


theguardian--2020-04-17--US using coronavirus pandemic to unlawfully expel asylum seekers, says UN

An unprecedented US policy authorizing the summary expulsion of migrants and asylum seekers because of the coronavirus pandemic violates international law , the United Nations has warned .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) issued a sweeping order on 20 March encouraging the immediate deportation of non-citizens arriving overland without valid documents .
The order cited an obscure quarantine law to claim the move is justified on public health grounds .
In the first 18 days to 8 April , 10,000 people were expelled within two hours of arriving on US soil – effectively denying them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Customs and Border Protection figures .
This amounted to 80 % of all migrants and refugees being escorted back over the border into Mexico , where reports of kidnapping , trafficking and assaults by organised crime gangs and corrupt security forces are rife .
This novel policy of systematic and rapid expulsions constitutes “ refoulement ” – the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they are liable to be subjected to persecution – which violates US and international laws and treaties designed to protect people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trafficking .
“ We understand that in the current global Covid-19 public health emergency all governments have an obligation to enact measures to protect the health of their populations .
While this may warrant extraordinary measures at borders , expulsion of asylum seekers resulting in refoulement should not be among them , ” said Chris Boian from the UN Refugee Agency .
The vast majority of those expelled were men , women and children from Mexico and Central America ’ s northern triangle – El Salvador , Guatemala and Honduras – where a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsored repression , extreme poverty and impunity has fueled an exodus of citizens in recent years .
Since taking power , the Trump administration has employed a variety of legally questionable measures to slash migration and roll back rights for asylum seekers without changing any laws .
For instance , since January 2019 tens of thousands of non-Mexican asylum seekers and migrants have been forced back into Mexico under the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols , where they must wait months or years for a court hearing in the US .
The new order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration documents including asylum seekers for immediate expulsion on public health grounds , meanwhile excluding commerce and people with the correct documents from the same countries .
But the quarantine provision of the 1944 Public Health Service Act does not supersede other laws , or allow for selective application based on immigration status .
In a recent article for Just Security , the leading immigration law professor Lucas Guttentag , said : “ The CDC order is designed to accomplish under the guise of public health a dismantling of legal protections governing border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to achieve under the immigration laws.
” As the coronavirus crisis unfolded , Trump initially minimized the gravity until cases and deaths started to escalate in the US , at which point he pivoted to blaming foreign nationals .
He has since used the pandemic to justify ramping up construction of the wall on the southern border .
There is no evidence of undocumented migrants spreading coronavirus in the US , however , the US has deported dozens of infected migrants to Guatemala .
As countries across the world have enacted mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to freedom of movement has been forcefully restricted by repressive regimes in the northern triangle .
Over the past few weeks , Trump has used the daily White House coronavirus briefings to congratulate himself and the Mexican president , Andrés Manuel López Obrador , for a fall in numbers at the southern border .
About 570 people were apprehended every day during the first week of April – down by almost 50 % compared to the first week of March , according to analysis by Adam Isacson , who runs the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversight program .
If the downward trend continues , April could see the lowest number of apprehensions in 50 years .
The controversial border quarantine order , which has been widely condemned by human rights , humanitarian and religious groups , must be renewed every 30 days .
Isacson said : “ The danger is that the administration will use coronavirus as a pretext to maintain the expulsions for as long as possible .
Right now , not only are courts barely in session , but there ’ s no litigation happening on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly secret and it ’ s hard to reach plaintiffs on the Mexican side of the border .
”

An unprecedented US policy authorizing the summary expulsion of migrants and asylum seekers because of the coronavirus pandemic violates international law, the United Nations has warned.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a sweeping order on 20 March encouraging the immediate deportation of non-citizens arriving overland without valid documents. The order cited an obscure quarantine law to claim the move is justified on public health grounds.
In the first 18 days to 8 April, 10,000 people were expelled within two hours of arriving on US soil – effectively denying them the legal right to seek international protection, according to Customs and Border Protection figures.
This amounted to 80% of all migrants and refugees being escorted back over the border into Mexico, where reports of kidnapping, trafficking and assaults by organised crime gangs and corrupt security forces are rife.
This novel policy of systematic and rapid expulsions constitutes “refoulement” – the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they are liable to be subjected to persecution – which violates US and international laws and treaties designed to protect people at risk of persecution, torture and trafficking.
“We understand that in the current global Covid-19 public health emergency all governments have an obligation to enact measures to protect the health of their populations. While this may warrant extraordinary measures at borders, expulsion of asylum seekers resulting in refoulement should not be among them,” said Chris Boian from the UN Refugee Agency.
The vast majority of those expelled were men, women and children from Mexico and Central America’s northern triangle – El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – where a toxic mix of organized crime, state sponsored repression, extreme poverty and impunity has fueled an exodus of citizens in recent years.
Since taking power, the Trump administration has employed a variety of legally questionable measures to slash migration and roll back rights for asylum seekers without changing any laws.
For instance, since January 2019 tens of thousands of non-Mexican asylum seekers and migrants have been forced back into Mexico under the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols, where they must wait months or years for a court hearing in the US.
The new order singles out those without valid travel or immigration documents including asylum seekers for immediate expulsion on public health grounds, meanwhile excluding commerce and people with the correct documents from the same countries.
But the quarantine provision of the 1944 Public Health Service Act does not supersede other laws, or allow for selective application based on immigration status.
In a recent article for Just Security, the leading immigration law professor Lucas Guttentag, said: “The CDC order is designed to accomplish under the guise of public health a dismantling of legal protections governing border arrivals that the Trump administration has been unable to achieve under the immigration laws.”
As the coronavirus crisis unfolded, Trump initially minimized the gravity until cases and deaths started to escalate in the US, at which point he pivoted to blaming foreign nationals.
He has since used the pandemic to justify ramping up construction of the wall on the southern border. There is no evidence of undocumented migrants spreading coronavirus in the US, however, the US has deported dozens of infected migrants to Guatemala.
As countries across the world have enacted mitigation measures to tackle the pandemic, the right to freedom of movement has been forcefully restricted by repressive regimes in the northern triangle.
Over the past few weeks, Trump has used the daily White House coronavirus briefings to congratulate himself and the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for a fall in numbers at the southern border.
About 570 people were apprehended every day during the first week of April – down by almost 50% compared to the first week of March, according to analysis by Adam Isacson, who runs the Washington Office of Latin America’s defense oversight program.
If the downward trend continues, April could see the lowest number of apprehensions in 50 years.
The controversial border quarantine order, which has been widely condemned by human rights, humanitarian and religious groups, must be renewed every 30 days.
Isacson said: “The danger is that the administration will use coronavirus as a pretext to maintain the expulsions for as long as possible. Right now, not only are courts barely in session, but there’s no litigation happening on this yet because the policy itself is mostly secret and it’s hard to reach plaintiffs on the Mexican side of the border.”


theguardian--2020-04-17--Ilhan Omar unveils bill to cancel rent and mortgage payments amid pandemic

The Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar has unveiled a bill that would cancel rent and mortgage payments for millions of Americans struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Under the legislation announced on Friday , landlords and mortgage holders would be able to have losses covered by the federal government .
The program would extend for a month beyond the end of the national emergency , which was declared on 13 March , and would be made retroactive to cover April payments .
The proposal comes amid an unprecedented housing crisis : 31 % of Americans in rental accommodation could not pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Millions have lost their jobs since .
Federal answers have been limited .
The Cares Act stimulus package included $ 12bn for Department of Housing and Urban Development programs targeting homelessness and rental assistance .
But those funds do little to address the needs of millions of Americans who now find themselves on the edge of acute housing insecurity .
National housing groups have called for more funding for rental relief .
The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates it would cost about $ 76.1bn over 12 months to provide relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or soon will become severely housing cost-burdened .
The group is demanding $ 100bn in emergency solutions grants towards short-term rental assistance .
But many housing advocates are concerned that such assistance would fail to provide the long-term protection needed to prevent mass evictions .
A federal eviction moratorium established through the Cares Act extends only through mid-May , prohibiting evictions within properties with federally backed mortgages .
Without an enforcement mechanism , or a clear way for tenants to find out if their property is covered , evictions have continued .
Omar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to clear renter protections .
In order to receive funds , landlords and lenders would be required to follow a set of fair renting and lending practices for five years .
These terms would prohibit rent increases , evictions without just cause , discrimination against voucher holders and more .
Any owner or mortgagee who breaks the terms would be subject to a fine .
Perhaps most ambitiously , the legislation seeks to establish a fund to finance the purchase of private rental properties by not-for-profits , public housing authorities , community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The legislation was developed with grassroots organizations including People ’ s Action , the Center for Popular Democracy ( CPD ) and PolicyLink .
Such groups hope to introduce the kind of solutions they wanted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis .
Dianne Enriquez , CPD housing campaign coordinator , said the 2008 crisis wiped out “ millions of dollars in generational wealth ” , particularly in black and brown communities , when people lost their homes .
“ It created a devastation that we have not recovered from in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that as a result , “ we are now a majority renter nation ” .
In New York , statewide tenant coalition Housing Justice for All is aiming to organize a million renters to withhold rent and compel the governor , Andrew Cuomo , to cancel rent and mortgage payments .
Tenants are also organizing in Philadelphia and California , where thousands have pledged to withhold rent on 1 May .
Omar ’ s bill proposes “ an amazing way to use the federal stimulus package to not just provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real-estate market that ’ s based on speculation and private profit to a housing situation that prioritizes homes ” , said Cea Weaver , campaign coordinator at Housing Justice for All .
“ It provides a pathway to a different ownership structure that doesn ’ t rely on eviction and rent hikes to make money .
”

The Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar has unveiled a bill that would cancel rent and mortgage payments for millions of Americans struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the legislation announced on Friday, landlords and mortgage holders would be able to have losses covered by the federal government. The program would extend for a month beyond the end of the national emergency, which was declared on 13 March, and would be made retroactive to cover April payments.
The proposal comes amid an unprecedented housing crisis: 31% of Americans in rental accommodation could not pay rent at the beginning of this month. Millions have lost their jobs since.
Federal answers have been limited. The Cares Act stimulus package included $12bn for Department of Housing and Urban Development programs targeting homelessness and rental assistance. But those funds do little to address the needs of millions of Americans who now find themselves on the edge of acute housing insecurity.
National housing groups have called for more funding for rental relief. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates it would cost about $76.1bn over 12 months to provide relief to the 11.5 million people who are already or soon will become severely housing cost-burdened. The group is demanding $100bn in emergency solutions grants towards short-term rental assistance.
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads ‘rent strike’ in Seattle, Washington, on 1 April. Photograph: Ted S Warren/AP
But many housing advocates are concerned that such assistance would fail to provide the long-term protection needed to prevent mass evictions. A federal eviction moratorium established through the Cares Act extends only through mid-May, prohibiting evictions within properties with federally backed mortgages.
Without an enforcement mechanism, or a clear way for tenants to find out if their property is covered, evictions have continued.
Omar’s bill seeks to tie federal funding to clear renter protections. In order to receive funds, landlords and lenders would be required to follow a set of fair renting and lending practices for five years. These terms would prohibit rent increases, evictions without just cause, discrimination against voucher holders and more. Any owner or mortgagee who breaks the terms would be subject to a fine.
Perhaps most ambitiously, the legislation seeks to establish a fund to finance the purchase of private rental properties by not-for-profits, public housing authorities, community land trusts and state and local governments.
The legislation was developed with grassroots organizations including People’s Action, Democracy Collaborative and PolicyLink. Such groups hope to introduce the kind of solutions they wanted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
Dianne Enriquez, CPD housing campaign coordinator, said the 2008 crisis wiped out “millions of dollars in generational wealth”, particularly in black and brown communities, when people lost their homes.
“It created a devastation that we have not recovered from in the 12 years since,” she said, adding that as a result, “we are now a majority renter nation”.
In New York, statewide tenant coalition Housing Justice for All is aiming to organize a million renters to withhold rent and compel the governor, Andrew Cuomo, to cancel rent and mortgage payments. Tenants are also organizing in Philadelphia and California, where thousands have pledged to withhold rent on 1 May.
Omar’s bill proposes “an amazing way to use the federal stimulus package to not just provide direct relief but the long-term transformation of a real-estate market that’s based on speculation and private profit to a housing situation that prioritizes homes”, said Cea Weaver, campaign coordinator at Housing Justice for All.
“It provides a pathway to a different ownership structure that doesn’t rely on eviction and rent hikes to make money.”


theguardian--2020-04-17--One reason why people of color are dying at higher rates in the US? The air they breathe | Mustafa S

One reason why people of color are dying at higher rates in the US? The air they breathe | Mustafa Santiago Ali

To be a person of color in America often means to be unseen and unheard .
It means taking on the burdens of disproportionate impacts from pollution , wealth disparities , lack of healthcare and much more .
In many cases these burdens begin at your birth and never fully end until you take your last breath .
For too long our most vulnerable communities have been suffering in silence , putting on a brave face and accepting the trauma and stressors of systemic racism and discriminatory policies .
The Covid-19 pandemic has laid this reality bare .
The writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best : “ I am an invisible man .
I am a man of substance , of flesh and bone , fiber and liquids – and I might even be said to possess a mind .
I am invisible , understand , simply because people refuse to see me.
” Will the rest of America finally acknowledge the toll that structural inequality takes on communities of color , lower-wealth and indigenous peoples ?
For decades , organizations on the frontlines of environmental justice have pleaded with politicians and policymakers to pay attention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disadvantaged communities .
Activists knew all too well that toxins from industrial runoff and other sources were shortening the lives of many brown and black Americans , but policymakers rarely listened .
According to some estimates , more than 100,000 people die prematurely from air pollution every year in America .
About 25 million people – including 7 million children – have asthma .
We also know that a disproportionate share of those deaths are composed of African Americans and Latinx people .
One of the reasons that black and brown communities are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Covid-19 is the air they breathe .
A recent Harvard TH Chan school of public health study confirmed that “ people with Covid-19 who live in US regions with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die from the disease than people who live in less polluted areas ” .
Even as Covid-19 deaths in communities of color continue to dramatically rise , however , the US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has suspended enforcement of anti-pollution regulations .
This staggeringly regressive decision means that toxic pollutants which contribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lung diseases will be pumped into already overburdened and medically underserved communities .
These and other chronic medical conditions make vulnerable people more susceptible to Covid-19 .
The formula is quite clear : less enforcement + weaker environmental protections = more sickness and deaths in vulnerable communities .
To build on the mounting set of challenges that many of these communities face , they now have to deal with a lack of Covid-19 testing and sampling in underserved areas .
These communities are also dealing with food insecurity , crumbling water infrastructures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compound exposure and risk .
The term “ the wrong complexion for protection ” was coined by Latinx environmental justice leaders more than 30 years ago and popularized by Drs Robert Bullard and Beverly Wright in their book by the same name , which highlighted how people of color were disproportionately affected by toxic pollution .
American policymakers should have learned that lesson decades ago , and worked to remedy it .
Now , as Covid-19 ravages the United States , we are forced to live with the failure .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color can no longer be treated as dumping grounds for pollution .
They also need stronger and more accessible medical services .
We have a historic opportunity to rectify the systemic racism , disinvestment and lack of humanity that created a situation where black and brown people are dying at higher rates from Covid-19 .
If we don ’ t take advantage of this moment to do better , we risk proving earlier activists right .
Some Americans , it seems , are still “ the wrong complexion for protection ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Environmental Protection Network ( EPN ) and vice-president of environmental justice , climate , and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation .
He served as assistant associate administrator in the EPA Office of Environmental Justice from 1984 to 2017

To be a person of color in America often means to be unseen and unheard. It means taking on the burdens of disproportionate impacts from pollution, wealth disparities, lack of healthcare and much more. In many cases these burdens begin at your birth and never fully end until you take your last breath.
For too long our most vulnerable communities have been suffering in silence, putting on a brave face and accepting the trauma and stressors of systemic racism and discriminatory policies. The Covid-19 pandemic has laid this reality bare.
The writer and social critic Ralph Ellison said it best: “I am an invisible man. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids – and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.” Will the rest of America finally acknowledge the toll that structural inequality takes on communities of color, lower-wealth and indigenous peoples?
For decades, organizations on the frontlines of environmental justice have pleaded with politicians and policymakers to pay attention to the public health impacts of pollution on disadvantaged communities. Activists knew all too well that toxins from industrial runoff and other sources were shortening the lives of many brown and black Americans, but policymakers rarely listened.
According to some estimates, more than 100,000 people die prematurely from air pollution every year in America. About 25 million people – including 7 million children – have asthma. We also know that a disproportionate share of those deaths are composed of African Americans and Latinx people.
One of the reasons that black and brown communities are getting infected and dying at higher rates from Covid-19 is the air they breathe. A recent Harvard TH Chan school of public health study confirmed that “people with Covid-19 who live in US regions with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die from the disease than people who live in less polluted areas”.
Even as Covid-19 deaths in communities of color continue to dramatically rise, however, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended enforcement of anti-pollution regulations. This staggeringly regressive decision means that toxic pollutants which contribute to cancer, heart, kidney and lung diseases will be pumped into already overburdened and medically underserved communities. These and other chronic medical conditions make vulnerable people more susceptible to Covid-19.
The formula is quite clear: less enforcement + weaker environmental protections = more sickness and deaths in vulnerable communities.
To build on the mounting set of challenges that many of these communities face, they now have to deal with a lack of Covid-19 testing and sampling in underserved areas. These communities are also dealing with food insecurity, crumbling water infrastructures and existing biases in the medical system that compound exposure and risk.
The term “the wrong complexion for protection” was coined by Latinx environmental justice leaders more than 30 years ago and popularized by Drs Robert Bullard and Beverly Wright in their book by the same name, which highlighted how people of color were disproportionately affected by toxic pollution.
American policymakers should have learned that lesson decades ago, and worked to remedy it. Now, as Covid-19 ravages the United States, we are forced to live with the failure.
It’s time for a paradigm shift. Communities of color can no longer be treated as dumping grounds for pollution. They also need stronger and more accessible medical services.
We have a historic opportunity to rectify the systemic racism, disinvestment and lack of humanity that created a situation where black and brown people are dying at higher rates from Covid-19.
If we don’t take advantage of this moment to do better, we risk proving earlier activists right. Some Americans, it seems, are still “the wrong complexion for protection”.