theguardian--2020-03-17--Trump says coronavirus upheaval could last beyond August

Subdued into realism , Donald Trump has warned that social upheaval caused by the coronavirus outbreak could last beyond August .
The US president , who previously claimed the virus would soon disappear “ like a miracle ” , struck a less bombastic tone on Monday and sought to manage expectations when asked how long “ the new normal ” will be in place .
“ We ’ ll see what happens but they think August , could be July , ” Trump told reporters at the White House , “ Could be longer than that.
” He added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my son .
He said : ‘ How bad is this ?
’ It ’ s bad .
It ’ s bad.
” On another day of nationwide upheaval and tumbling stocks , with US confirmed cases of coronavirus surpassing 4,000 , Trump unveiled aggressive new guidelines for the next 15 days in a bid to slow the spread of the virus .
He urged Americans to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and said citizens should avoid discretionary travel and not go to bars , restaurants , food courts or gyms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home .
The advice came after weeks of criticism that federal government inaction has created a vacuum , notably with lack of testing kits , forcing state and local leaders to step in by cancelling events and closing schools .
“ We ’ ve made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now , ” Trump said .
“ We ’ d much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it .
“ If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now , we will rally together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus.
” In a tweet late on Monday , Trump joined other Republicans in labeling the Covid-19 “ the Chinese virus ” , an effort that has drawn widespread criticism for its stigmatizing of the country .
The White House coronavirus taskforce pleaded with young people to follow the new guidelines even though they were at lesser risk of suffering if they contract the virus .
Older people , especially those with underlying health problems , are at the greatest risk .
Dr Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America does what we ask for over the next 15 days , we will see a dramatic difference , ” If one person in a household becomes infected , the whole household should self-quarantine for 14 days , Birx added .
As financial markets suffered their worst day since 1987 , Trump acknowledged that a recession is possible but promised the economy will eventually rebound .
Facing a tough re-election contest in November , Trump has long tied his own political fortunes to the stock market .
Calling the virus an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re not thinking in terms of recession , we ’ re thinking in terms of the virus … The market will take care of itself.
” He promised to “ back the airlines 100 % ” but offered no details on support for the industry which has been hit suddenly and hard , especially by the US banning most travel from the UK and the EU .
Trump denied that a nationwide curfew is under consideration and said he was not in favour of postponing the election .
It should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet at the Camp David retreat in Maryland in June , he added .
The US supreme court postponed oral arguments for the first time in more than a century ; the last time was in 1918 , due to the Spanish flu epidemic .
On Capitol Hill , a nearly empty House of Representatives met to adopt a resolution to make what were described as technical changes to a coronavirus response measure .
It will probably pass the Senate this week .
Hospitals are bracing for an influx of coronavirus patients that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leave them overwhelmed .
Trump was criticised for again abandoning state governors when he reportedly told them to get their own ventilators for coronavirus sufferers during a conference call .
“ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves , ” he told the governors , according to a recording obtained by the New York Times .
“ We will be backing you , but try getting it yourselves .
Point of sales , much better , much more direct if you can get it yourself.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rosy picture but took a swipe at Andrew Cuomo , the Democratic governor of New York , where the president was born and built his business .
He tweeted : “ Just had a very good tele-conference with Nation ’ s Governors .
Went very well .
Cuomo of New York has to ‘ do more ’ .
” Cuomo , also on Twitter , snapped back : “ I have to do more ?
No YOU have to do something !
You ’ re supposed to be the President.
” He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too .
Just give me control of the Army Corps of Engineers and I ’ ll take it from there.
” Earlier Cuomo had announced a regional agreement with New Jersey , New York and Connecticut to shut all cinemas , casinos and gyms as of 8pm .
Restaurants and bars in the three states - home to more than 22 million – will serve takeout and delivery only .
Trump was asked about the Twitter spat with Cuomo at Monday ’ s White House briefing .
“ I think he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s an area of the country that ’ s very hot right now .
New Rochelle , a place I know very well , I grew up right near New Rochelle .
I think it ’ s an area that has to be tamped down even more cause it ’ s a hotbed , there ’ s no question about it , ” he said , referring to a suburb of New York City that became a coronavirus cluster and was put under restrictions last week .
Reporters at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in every other seat in the White House briefing room , to follow social distancing recommendations .
Although Trump ’ s tone had appreciably shifted , some of his more typical braggadocio style was still evident .
One journalist asked him to give himself marks out of 10 for his response to the outbreak .
“ I ’ d rate it a 10 , ” Trump said .
“ I think we ’ ve done a great job .
”


theguardian--2020-03-17--US states improvise rules to combat coronavirus in absence of federal leadership

In Ohio and Massachusetts they closed restaurants and bars , in Florida they closed beaches and at least 32 states closed schools .
The emergency measures brought in across America to combat coronavirus have all been slightly different from state to state – but for weeks they have had one thing in common : nobody was acting on guidelines issued by the federal government , because there weren ’ t any .
“ You see a whole hodgepodge of efforts being taken across the country , ” said Andrew Cuomo , the governor of New York , which announced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey and Connecticut on Monday to close all gyms , movie theaters and casinos .
“ This state is doing this , this state is doing this , this city is doing this – it ’ s chaos .
I think it actually feeds the feeling that the country ’ s out of control and there is no clear direction … This is a national problem , and we need federal leadership.
” A country of 330 million people with regional and economic diversity spanning from the tourist district of New Orleans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily rely on local leadership to help meet local needs .
But one of the most powerful lessons to emerge in the first months of the global health emergency , analysts say , has been the ability of an organized national government response to slow the spread of coronavirus .
China , South Korea , and Japan used mandatory quarantines , shutdowns and curfews to go from more than a 1,000 new cases per day each to figures now in the low-tens .
“ You look at the countries who have handled this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s China , South Korea , Italy , they were all handled by national leadership , ” said Cuomo , a Democrat .
“ This is a national problem .
It can not be done in a piecemeal method .
You need federal parameters.
” The US federal government , by contrast , did not issue guidelines for the closure of businesses or restrictions on travel or large gatherings until Monday afternoon , leaving it up to America ’ s patchwork of state and local authorities to decide what rules are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines in an afternoon news conference , recommending that people avoid gatherings of 10 or more and stay home if they ’ re sick .
The recommendations said bars , restaurants and gyms should be closed “ in states with evidence of community transmission ” – but no state was safe from community transmission .
“ It seems to me that if we do a really good job we ’ ll not only hold the death down to a level that is much lower than the other way had we not done a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about July , August , something like that , ” Donald Trump said at the news conference .
“ I say it washes through.
” Trump told state governors in a conference call on Monday that they should pursue the acquisition of key medical equipment themselves instead of waiting for Washington to act .
“ Respirators , ventilators , all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves , ” Trump told the governors , according to a recording obtained by the New York Times .
“ We will be backing you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , much better , much more direct if you can get it yourself.
” Trump has often downplayed the coronavirus threat , calling it “ mild ” , saying “ I ’ m not concerned ” and promising “ it will go away , just stay calm ” .
Asked about a shortage of diagnostic tests , he said : “ I don ’ t take responsibility at all.
” The emergency response of the White House has seemed to be guided by concern for the hotel and cruise industries , which Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the performance of the stock market , which in the past weeks has crashed through a series of floors .
As a new week of struggle with coronavirus began on Monday – the first day in which many Americans either stayed home from their jobs or reluctantly attended , began home schooling or inventoried their pantries – the White House announced a news conference not for the morning but for 3:30pm , in what critics said was a transparent attempt to score a market rally in the last half-hour of trading .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump in previous days had announced made-up federal initiatives , such as a web site engineered by Google to help people find testing locations , which the company only later , more than 24 hours after the fact , agreed to begin working on .
The Centers for Disease Control has advised people to avoid large gatherings and said anyone who has come into contact with a known carrier should seek medical advice and self-quarantine for two weeks .
In the vacuum of guidance , state governors have made rules on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down all bars and restaurants in the state until next month .
Pennsylvania announced similar restrictions , but only for certain counties .
In Ohio , the Republican governor , Mike DeWine , announced statewide closures .
“ We ’ re two days from St Patrick ’ s Day , when people get together and crowd into bars , ” DeWine said .
“ We are at a crucial , crucial stage.
” The Maryland governor on Monday closed the port of Baltimore to cruise ships seeking to dock , banned evictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s medical volunteer corps and announced the automatic reactivation of expired medical licenses .
The federal government , by contrast , has not yet announced moves by the defense department , National Guard , Army Corps of engineers or Veterans ’ Administration – which has a nationwide network of hospitals – to help set up field hospitals , rededicate medical facilities , contract with private companies to accelerate manufacture of key supplies , maintain order or otherwise manage the expected wave of critical Covid-19 cases .
Without federal guidance , local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders .
In Pennsylvania , the governor at the weekend advised people to stay home , and the commissioner of Montgomery county , which includes the Philadelphia suburbs , told people to cancel gatherings .
But the mayor of Philadelphia , Jim Kenney , had different advice , telling people to go out to eat , the Philadelphia Inquirer reported .
“ I would recommend you wash your hands , you stay out from within three feet of people , and go out and have dinner – and tip your waitstaff because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenney said .
While school districts across California closed , schools stayed open in the district of House majority leader Kevin McCarthy , a close Trump ally who calls Covid-19 “ Chinese coronavirus.
” McCarthy ’ s Republican colleague , Devin Nunes , encouraged people at the weekend to “ go to your local pub ” .
“ Everybody is so well unified and working so hard , ” he tweeted on Monday .
“ It is a beautiful thing to see .
They love our great Country .
We will end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @

In Ohio and Massachusetts they closed restaurants and bars, in Florida they closed beaches and at least 32 states closed schools.
The emergency measures brought in across America to combat coronavirus have all been slightly different from state to state – but for weeks they have had one thing in common: nobody was acting on guidelines issued by the federal government, because there weren’t any.
“You see a whole hodgepodge of efforts being taken across the country,” said Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, which announced a tri-state agreement on Monday with neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut on Monday to close all gyms, movie theaters and casinos.
“This state is doing this, this state is doing this, this city is doing this – it’s chaos. I think it actually feeds the feeling that the country’s out of control and there is no clear direction … This is a national problem, and we need federal leadership.”
A country of 330 million people with regional and economic diversity spanning from the tourist district of New Orleans to the frozen fracking grounds of Alaska will necessarily rely on local leadership to help meet local needs.
But one of the most powerful lessons to emerge in the first months of the global health emergency, analysts say, has been the ability of an organized national government response to slow the spread of coronavirus. China, South Korea and Japan used mandatory quarantines, shutdowns and curfews to go from more than a 1,000 new cases per day each to figures now in the low-tens.
“You look at the countries who have handled this, I don’t care if it’s China, South Korea, Italy, they were all handled by national leadership,” said Cuomo, a Democrat. “This is a national problem. It cannot be done in a piecemeal method. You need federal parameters.”
The US federal government, by contrast, did not issue guidelines for the closure of businesses or restrictions on travel or large gatherings until Monday afternoon, leaving it up to America’s patchwork of state and local authorities to decide what rules are best.
The White House announced new guidelines in an afternoon news conference, recommending that people avoid gatherings of 10 or more and stay home if they’re sick. The recommendations said bars, restaurants and gyms should be closed “in states with evidence of community transmission” – but no state was safe from community transmission.
“It seems to me that if we do a really good job we’ll not only hold the death rate down to a level that is much lower than the other way had we not done a good job, but people are talking about July, August, something like that,” Donald Trump said at the news conference. “I say it washes through.”
Trump told state governors in a conference call on Monday that they should pursue the acquisition of key medical equipment themselves instead of waiting for Washington to act.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment – try getting it yourselves,” Trump told the governors, according to a recording obtained by the New York Times. “We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point-of-sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
Trump has often downplayed the coronavirus threat, calling it “mild”, saying “I’m not concerned” and promising “it will go away, just stay calm”. Asked about a shortage of diagnostic tests, he said: “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
The emergency response of the White House has seemed to be guided by concern for the hotel and cruise industries, which Trump has repeatedly promised to support, and for the performance of the stock market, which in the past weeks has crashed through a series of floors.
As a new week of struggle with coronavirus began on Monday – the first day in which many Americans either stayed home from their jobs or reluctantly attended, began home-schooling or inventoried their pantries – the White House announced a news conference not for the morning but for 3:30pm, in what critics said was a transparent attempt to score a market rally in the last half-hour of trading.
In trying to stop the market hemorrhage, Trump in previous days had announced made-up federal initiatives, such as a website engineered by Google to help people find testing locations, which the company only later, more than 24 hours after the fact, agreed to begin working on.
The Centers for Disease Control has advised people to avoid large gatherings and said anyone who has come into contact with a known carrier should seek medical advice and self-quarantine for two weeks.
In the vacuum of guidance, state governors have made rules on the fly. The Democratic governor of Illinois shut down all bars and restaurants in the state until next month. Pennsylvania announced similar restrictions, but only for certain counties. In Ohio, the Republican governor, Mike DeWine, announced statewide closures.
“We’re two days from St Patrick’s Day, when people get together and crowd into bars,” DeWine said. “We are at a crucial, crucial stage.”
The Maryland governor on Monday closed the port of Baltimore to cruise ships seeking to dock, banned evictions, mobilized state troopers, activated the state’s medical volunteer corps and announced the automatic reactivation of expired medical licenses.
The federal government, by contrast, has not yet announced moves by the defense department, national guard, Army Corps of engineers or Veterans’ Administration – which has a nationwide network of hospitals – to help set up field hospitals, rededicate medical facilities, contract with private companies to accelerate manufacture of key supplies, maintain order or otherwise manage the expected wave of critical Covid-19 cases.
Without federal guidance, local officials have in some cases issued conflicting orders. In Pennsylvania, the governor at the weekend advised people to stay home, and the commissioner of Montgomery county, which includes the Philadelphia suburbs, told people to cancel gatherings.
But the mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, had different advice, telling people to go out to eat, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“I would recommend you wash your hands, you stay out from within three feet of people, and go out and have dinner – and tip your waitstaff because they’re struggling right now,” Kenney said.
While school districts across California closed, schools stayed open in the district of the Houseminority leader, Kevin McCarthy, a close Trump ally who calls Covid-19 “Chinese coronavirus”.
McCarthy’s Republican colleague, Devin Nunes, encouraged people at the weekend to “go to your local pub”.
Where many Americans hear conflicting messages, Trump heard harmony.
“Everybody is so well unified and working so hard,” he tweeted on Monday. “It is a beautiful thing to see. They love our great Country. We will end up being stronger than ever before!”


theguardian--2020-03-17--Three states hold primaries as coronavirus upends 2020 election

Three states will hold their presidential primaries as scheduled on Tuesday , but an election in Ohio was thrust into chaos when the state defied a judge ’ s orders and proceeded to delay the election hours before polls open amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak .
Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are competing again on Tuesday for the opportunity to lead their party in a campaign season suddenly overshadowed by a pandemic that closed borders , shaken the economy and swept every corner of public life .
“ It ’ s like you are having an argument with your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sudden a meteor lands in the middle of your street , ” said Jared Leopold , a former spokesman for Washington governor Jay Inslee ’ s presidential campaign .
“ It immediately refocuses the debate.
” More than 4,600 Americans have tested positive for the virus , despite limited testing , with 85 deaths .
The message from officials was that the outbreak would worsen dramatically .
On Sunday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more be held in the US for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday advised people not to gather in groups of more than 10 , and asked people to stay away from public spaces , including bars and restaurants in an effort to slow the spread of what he called an “ invisible enemy ” .
Against that backdrop , Mike DeWine , the Republican governor of Ohio , announced on Monday that he would seek to postpone the election until 2 June .
But hours later an Ohio county judge rejected the request , saying that it would set a terrible precedent for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eleventh hour .
DeWine then instructed the state ’ s director of health , Amy Acton , to order polls closed on Tuesday as a health emergency .
He argued that forcing an election in the midst of an “ unprecedented public health crisis ” would put poll workers and voters at “ an unacceptable ” risk of contracting the virus .
“ We should not force people to make this choice , a choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as American citizens , ” DeWine said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I think when we look back on this , we are going to be glad we did this.
” The decisions came days after Louisiana and Georgia said they would delay their upcoming primary elections in response to the outbreak .
Kentucky followed suit shortly after Ohio on Monday , announcing that it would delay its primary from 19 May to 23 June .
Florida , Arizona and Illinois were expected to hold their primaries as scheduled .
Officials in the states have said they were taking precautions to ensure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including sanitizing voting machines and offering curbside voting .
But concern mounted amid reports of poll worker shortages in certain precincts and voter confusion over polling locations .
“ We have no guarantee that there will be a safer time to hold this election in the near future , and elections do not end on election day , ” said the Arizona secretary of state , Katie Hobbs .
“ The longer we wait , the more difficult and dangerous it could become.
” In a post-debate interview , Sanders questioned the wisdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked on CNN after Sunday ’ s debate if Tuesday ’ s contests should go ahead , Sanders said : “ That is a very good question.
” He added that he was “ not sure it makes a lot of sense ” to have older people who are more susceptible to the virus standing in line to vote .
Biden was poised to have another successful night after two consecutive weeks of racking up primary victories over his liberal challenger .
In a boost to his prospects on the eve of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of last week ’ s presidential primary in Washington , a state Sanders had hoped to win .
The coronavirus dominated the first one-on-one Democratic debate on Sunday night , with both candidates calling for aggressive government action to battle the pandemic .
“ This is like we are being attacked from abroad , ” Biden said .
“ This is something that is of great consequence .
This is like a war.
” The virus has reshaped the campaign in other ways , as well .
Trump is not holding his signature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their late 70s , are forgoing big gatherings , opting instead to hold virtual town halls and live-streamed events .
On the eve of the primary , Sanders participated in a digital rally from his hometown of Burlington , while Biden held a “ tele-town hall ” with voters from the states holding primary contests on Tuesday .
The election delays have added another layer of unpredictability to a Democratic primary that only just began to clarify after months of twists and surprises .
Suddenly Democrats are facing real questions about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of a pandemic .
Simon Rosenberg , a veteran Democratic consultant and the president of the New Democrat Network and the New Policy Institute , said coronavirus presented an “ unprecedented ” challenge for the party .
“ Democrats now must to find a way to complete this primary given the uncertainty of when each state is going to vote and whether we ’ re even going to be able to have a convention in July , ” he said .
In contests in recent weeks , exit polls have found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major crisis .
Perhaps as a consequence , the race has tilted dramatically in his favor .
After a run of commanding victories , Biden enters Tuesday ’ s primaries with a lead of more than 150 delegates .
Sanders , who was the frontrunner after the Nevada caucuses in February , faces a narrow path to the nomination that would require him to greatly outperform expectations on Tuesday in states he lost to Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Biden leads by a wide margin in Florida , which has the most delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise for elements of Fidel Castro ’ s communist revolution in Cuba sparked a predictably fierce backlash in the emigré community .
In Arizona , new polling by Monmouth University shows Biden beating Sanders by 20 points .
The senator , who has greatly expanded his support among Hispanics , is leading Biden among that demographic – but not by the dominating margins he has enjoyed elsewhere .
Furthermore , the difference is offset by Biden ’ s strength with white voters and those older than 50 .
Sanders ’ defeat in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his chances in the Midwest , where his team hopes to perform strongly and cut into Biden ’ s delegate lead .
In 2016 , Sanders narrowly lost Illinois , though limited polling has shown his opponent with a significant edge .
In Sunday ’ s debate , both candidates offered assurances that they would support the other fully in the general election .
“ If I lose this thing , Joe wins – Joe , I will be there for you , ” Sanders said .
Biden promised to campaign for Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than either of us , ” he said .

Joe Biden swept three key primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona on Tuesday night, dominating a third consecutive week of elections as he built a nearly indomitable lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
His resounding victories all but eliminated a path for his rival, Bernie Sanders, whose campaign is at a crossroads as he contemplates whether to stay in a fight for the liberal agenda he has championed for decades, or to exit and help Democrats unify the party behind his opponent as the country faces a public health crisis.
After the win, Biden made an overture to Sanders’ supporters, as he seeks to add to his lead. Biden said he and Sanders shared common goals, regarding healthcare, inequality and the climate crisis.
“So let me say especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders, I hear you. I know what’s at stake,” Biden said, in a a livestream video posted after the Florida and Illinois results were declared.
“I know what we have to do. Our goal as a campaign, and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify this party, and then to unify the nation.”
Sanders has far more support than Biden among young voters, who are more likely to be skeptical of Biden’s incremental approach.
Biden’s victories came as Donald Trump formally sealed the Republican presidential nomination, surpassing the necessary delegate threshold after facing no significant opposition.
Tuesday’s elections underscored the uncertainty surrounding the Democratic presidential primary amid a global outbreak that has closed borders, roiled the economy and touched nearly every corner of public life. Ohio, which was also due to vote on Tuesday, postponed its elections, defying a court order and closing polls, even as Florida, Illinois and Arizona moved forward despite pressure to delay their contests.
Before polls closed on Tuesday, Sanders delivered an address responding to the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. He predicted the US government would ultimately spend $2tn “to prevent deaths, job losses and to avoid an economic catastrophe” and called for every American household to receive monthly payments of $2,000 during the crisis.
“Our country and our world are facing an unprecedented series of crises,” he said in remarks that made no reference to the election.
More than 6,300 Americans have tested positive for the virus, despite limited testing, with 108 deaths as of Tuesday evening. The message from officials is that the outbreak will worsen dramatically.
On Monday, Trump advised Americans not to gather in groups of more than 10, further restricting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommended that no gatherings with 50 people or more be held for the next eight weeks.
Against that backdrop, Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio, announced on Monday afternoon that he would seek to postpone the election until 2 June. Hours later an Ohio county judge rejected the request, saying it would set a “terrible” precedent.
DeWine instructed the state’s director of health to declare a public health emergency. He argued that holding the election would place voters and poll workers in potential danger.
“We should not force people to make this choice, a choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as American citizens,” DeWine said at a press conference, adding: “I think when we look back on this, we are going to be glad we did this.”
Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, assailed the move for causing “more chaos and confusion” and sought to discourage other states from following suit.
But it may be too late. Louisiana and Georgia were the first states to announce they would delay their primaries in response to the outbreak. Kentucky joined Ohio on Monday, choosing to delay its primary from 19 May to 23 June. And on Tuesday, Maryland became the fifth state to postpone its presidential primary election, moving it from 28 April to 2 June.
Officials in Florida, Arizona and Illinois took additional precautions to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers, including sanitizing voting machines and offering curbside voting. But there were reports of poll worker shortages and confusion over polling locations.
This video has been removed. This could be because it launched early, our rights have expired, there was a legal issue, or for another reason. Biden and Sanders bump elbows in 'hands-off' Democratic debate – video
The virus has reshaped the 2020 election campaign in other ways. Trump is not holding his signature rallies and the Democratic candidates, both in their late 70s, are forgoing big gatherings, opting instead to hold virtual town halls and live-streamed events. On the eve of the latest primaries, Sanders participated in a digital rally from his hometown of Burlington, while Biden held a “tele-town hall”.
The election delays have added another layer of unpredictability to a primary that has seen months of twists and surprises. Simon Rosenberg, a veteran consultant and the president of the New Democrat Network and the New Policy Institute, said coronavirus presented an “unprecedented” challenge for the party.
“Democrats now must to find a way to complete this primary given the uncertainty of when each state is going to vote and whether we’re even going to be able to have a convention in July,” he said.
Padding his delegate lead further, Biden was also finally declared the winner of last week’s primary in Washington, a state Sanders hoped to win.
In his remarks on Tuesday night, Biden made an explicit appeal to Sanders’ loyal supporters.
“I hear you. I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do,” he said. “Our goal as a campaign, and my goal as a candidate, is to unify this party and unify this nation.
“Senator Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision,” Biden said, before running through a list of issues Sanders and his supporters have championed, including healthcare, income inequality and the climate crisis.
Daniel Strauss and Adam Gabbatt contributed to this story.


theguardian--2020-03-17--Ohio primary vote halted at last minute amid coronavirus court battle

Heath officials in Ohio have postponed the state ’ s primary vote just hours before polls were set to open , an 11th-hour decision that came after a judge denied the Governor ’ s request to postpone the vote because of the coronavirus .
Health director Amy Acton declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening out of fear of exposing voters and volunteer poll workers , many of them elderly .
Arizona , Florida and Illinois were proceeding with their presidential primaries .
Earlier on Monday , Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recommended that his state postpone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections .
DeWine said he alone did not have the authority to postpone the election , but lawyers would file a lawsuit to try to move the in-person voting date to 2 June .
“ We can not conduct this election tomorrow , ” DeWine said , adding that Ohioans should not be forced to make the “ choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as [ an ] American citizen ” .
Later on Monday , in an interview with CNN , DeWine said without drastic moves tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them “ over the age of 65 ” would be in places where the virus could spread .
“ We in Ohio have to take very tough actions and I know people in Ohio today are very upset , I respect that , ” DeWine added .
But a Franklin county court of common pleas judge declined to order the postponement on Monday evening .
According to a NBC news affiliate , Judge Richard Frye said he was reluctant to override the election date set by the Ohio legislature and that coronavirus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The attempted move by Ohio ’ s Governor was the latest example of elected American officials in executive positions taking extra steps to fight the pandemic .
The White House on Monday announced new guidelines in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus .
In a press conference announcing the new guidelines Trump said he thought postponing elections are “ unnecessary.
” Four states were set to hold primary elections on Tuesday as Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden faces off against rival Bernie Sanders for the presidential nomination .
In person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Arizona , Illinois , and Florida , despite all facing pressure to stop mass gatherings or activities that could spread the virus .
Georgia already postponed next week ’ s primary , and Louisiana has postponed its scheduled 4 April primary .
Kentucky announced on Monday it would postpone its primary from 19 May to 23 June .
“ My hope is that this delay will allow us to have a normal election , ” secretary of state Michael Adams said in a video message .
Last week Ohio officials relocated 160 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior living facilities .
In Illinois on Monday , Governor JB Pritzker ordered that events with gatherings larger than 50 people be canceled .
The Illinois Department of Public Health also offered guidance for both pollworkers and voters participating in the election on Tuesday , which includes practicing social distancing and “ cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection ” .
Tammy Patrick , a former Arizona election official and a senior adviser at the bipartisan Democracy Fund , noted that many pollworkers and election officials are elderly , the demographic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
It ’ s unclear what impact the election changes or the virus itself will have on election officials .
“ We don ’ t know yet what impact this will have on not only the amount of pollworkers we have , ” Patrick said .
“ But the amount of election officials that do this work … they also have the ability to get sick – secretaries of state , all the state election boards , local boards.
” Florida governor Ron DeSantis vowed again on Monday that the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran Democratic pollsters said the pandemic and varying state responses could dramatically change turnout .
“ The real answer is we have no idea [ what will happen ] unfortunately , ” said Democratic pollster Pete Brodnitz .
“ I mean it ’ s just not one unprecedented thing , it ’ s an unprecedented thing combined with an unusual thing.
” The two remaining serious campaigns in the Democratic primary – former vice-president Biden ’ s and Vermont senator Sanders ’ – have drastically recalibrated their campaign schedules to give virtual town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try and continue campaigning while preventing mass gatherings of people .
The voting precautions come at a time when the Sanders campaign needs high turnout among young voters who generally favor him to help reverse the momentum back in his direction .
Biden needs older Democratic voters to come out in droves to further fuel his lead in the primary .
“ I mean we have the Sanders campaign which is pretty obviously in a downward direction , ” Brodnitz said .
“ Which means his supporters have to take that into account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it ’ s harder to motivate people under those conditions .
And then you have the Coronavirus which is going to be a particular concern to older voters.
” Cornell Belcher , another Democratic pollster , said all the unusual factors going into the elections on Tuesday meant that this “ is really uncharted waters ” .
“ I don ’ t know what turnout ’ s going to look like when you have such uncertainty and fear out there , ” Belcher said .
Belcher added that it wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the primaries but he said it ’ s arguable that “ Biden clearly has a broader coalition of voters .
Does Biden have a stronger core base of voters than Sanders ?
I don ’ t know if he does.
” “ So the question will come ‘ does the broadness of Biden ’ s support enough to overcome what I think is clearly a base energy advantage that Sanders has , ” Belcher said .

Heath officials in Ohio have postponed the state’s primary vote just hours before polls were set to open, an 11th-hour decision that came after a judge denied the governor’s request to postpone the vote because of the coronavirus.
The health director, Amy Acton, declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening out of fear of exposing voters and volunteer poll workers, many of them elderly.
Arizona, Florida and Illinois were proceeding with their presidential primaries.
Earlier on Monday, Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine recommended that his state postpone in-person voting during Tuesday’s primary elections. DeWine said he alone did not have the authority to postpone the election, but lawyers would file a lawsuit to try to move the in-person voting date to 2 June.
“We cannot conduct this election tomorrow,” DeWine said, adding that Ohioans should not be forced to make the “choice between their health and their constitutional rights and their duties as [an] American citizen”.
Later on Monday, in an interview with CNN, DeWine said without drastic moves tens of thousands of poll workers, many of them “over the age of 65” would be in places where the virus could spread.
“We in Ohio have to take very tough actions and I know people in Ohio today are very upset, I respect that,” DeWine added.
But a Franklin county court of common pleas judge declined to order the postponement on Monday evening. According to a NBC news affiliate, Judge Richard Frye said he was reluctant to override the election date set by the Ohio legislature and that coronavirus has been an issue of concern since January.
The attempted move by Ohio’s governor was the latest example of elected American officials in executive positions taking extra steps to fight the pandemic. The White House on Monday announced new guidelines in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. In a press conference announcing the new guidelines Trump said he thought postponing elections was “unnecessary”.
Four states were set to hold primary elections on Tuesday as the Democratic frontrunner, Joe Biden, faces off against rival Bernie Sanders for the presidential nomination. In-person votes were still set to take place in Arizona, Illinois, and Florida, despite all facing pressure to stop mass gatherings or activities that could spread the virus.
Georgia already postponed next week’s primary and Louisiana has postponed its scheduled 4 April primary. Kentucky announced on Monday it would postpone its primary from 19 May to 23 June. “My hope is that this delay will allow us to have a normal election,” the secretary of state, Michael Adams, said in a video message.
Last week Ohio officials relocated 160 polling sites that originally were located in senior living facilities. In Illinois on Monday, Governor JB Pritzker ordered that events with gatherings larger than 50 people be canceled. The Illinois department of public health also offered guidance for both poll workers and voters participating in the election on Tuesday, which includes practicing social distancing and “cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection”.
Tammy Patrick, a former Arizona election official and a senior adviser at the bipartisan Democracy Fund, noted that many poll workers and election officials are elderly, the demographic that makes them particularly vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus. It’s unclear what impact the election changes or the virus itself will have on election officials.
“We don’t know yet what impact this will have on not only the amount of poll workers we have,” Patrick said. “ But the amount of election officials that do this work … they also have the ability to get sick – secretaries of state, all the state election boards, local boards.”
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, vowed again on Monday that the state’s primary would go ahead.
But veteran Democratic pollsters said the pandemic and varying state responses could dramatically change turnout.
“The real answer is we have no idea [what will happen] unfortunately,” said Democratic pollster Pete Brodnitz. “I mean it’s just not one unprecedented thing, it’s an unprecedented thing combined with an unusual thing.”
The two remaining serious campaigns in the Democratic primary – former vice-president Biden’s and Vermont senator Sanders’– have drastically recalibrated their campaign schedules to give virtual town hall and tele-town hall events, to try to continue campaigning while preventing mass gatherings of people.
The voting precautions come at a time when the Sanders campaign needs high turnout among young voters who generally favor him to help reverse the momentum back in his direction. Biden needs older Democratic voters to come out in droves to further fuel his lead in the primary.
“I mean we have the Sanders campaign which is pretty obviously in a downward direction,” Brodnitz said. “Which means his supporters have to take that into account when they’re ready to vote. And it’s harder to motivate people under those conditions. And then you have the coronavirus which is going to be a particular concern to older voters.”
Cornell Belcher, another Democratic pollster, said all the unusual factors going into the elections on Tuesday meant that this “is really uncharted waters”.
“I don’t know what turnout’s going to look like when you have such uncertainty and fear out there,” Belcher said.
Belcher added that it wasn’t clear who had the advantage going into the primaries but he said it was arguable that “Biden clearly has a broader coalition of voters. Does Biden have a stronger core base of voters than Sanders? I don’t know if he does.
“So the question will come ‘does the broadness of Biden’s support enough to overcome what I think is clearly a base energy advantage that Sanders has,” Belcher said.


theguardian--2020-03-17--US Covid-19: millions of Californians told to 'shelter-in-place' – as it happened

The mayor of Kansas City , Missouri , has ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants except for pick-up @ @ @ @ @ gatherings of more than 10 people in line with the president ’ s recommendation .
@ @ @ @ @ school closures from Wednesday and stopped visits to retirement homes and long term care facilities @ @ @ @ @ events had already been cancelled , many Kansas City bars and restaurants remained open although @ @ @ @ @ regular business .
“ We understand these drastic measures will have unprecedented impacts on our @ @ @ @ @ and recognize that this is one of the most challenging periods our city and nation @ @ @ @ @ Lucas said in a tweet .
There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ but there has been one death of a 70-year-old man in a long term care @ @ @ @ @ Kansas , as well as five confirmed cases in nearby Johnston county .

Kari Paul (now), Joan E Greve, Kenya Evelyn and Martin Belam (earlier)

17 Mar 2020 00.47 GMT Thanks for reading our blog on this exhausting news day! Here are some news points to keep in mind: San Francisco’s “shelter-in-place” lockdown leaves room for Californians to do outdoor activities like hike and walk.
The CDC announced its first employee sick with coronavirus.
California is set to spend up to $1bn on coronavirus relief. That’s all from me folks! Stay home if you can, and stay safe.
17 Mar 2020 00.40 GMT Evening Summary Thanks for reading our blog on this exhausting news day! Here are some news points to keep in mind: San Francisco’s “shelter-in-place lockdown leaves room for Californians to do outdoor activities like hike and walk.
The CDC announced its first employee sick with coronavirus.
California is set to pay up to $1bn in corona relief. That’s all from me folks! Stay home if you can, and stay safe.
Updated at 00.43 GMT
17 Mar 2020 00.26 GMT Chris McGreal The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, has ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants except for pick-up and delivery, and barred gatherings of more than 10 people in line with the president’s recommendation. Quinton Lucas also announced extensive school closures from Wednesday and stopped visits to retirement homes and long term care facilities. Although concerts and other events had already been cancelled, many Kansas City bars and restaurants remained open although with a sharp fall in regular business. “We understand these drastic measures will have unprecedented impacts on our local businesses and working families and recognize that this is one of the most challenging periods our city and nation has ever faced,” Lucas said in a tweet. There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kansas City, Missouri, but there has been one death of a 70-year-old man in a long term care facility in Kansas City, Kansas, as well as five confirmed cases in nearby Johnston county.
Updated at 00.48 GMT
17 Mar 2020 00.02 GMT Donald Trump tweeted about Covid-19 on Monday calling it “the Chinese virus” and promising to take steps to mitigate its effects on US industries. The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Updated at 00.03 GMT
16 Mar 2020 23.48 GMT California is being forced to halt census outreach due to coronavirus, threatening the state’s ability to get an accurate count of its population, according to a report from Cal Matters. From the report: State and community organizers are particularly concerned about this year’s survey. California faces powerful headwinds, not only from the mounting threat of COVID-19, the infection caused by the virus, but also from widespread distrust sowed by the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, including a failed push to include a citizenship question on the census. For California, the stakes have never been higher: A low turnout could jeopardize one of the state’s 53 congressional seats, along with billions in federal funding.
16 Mar 2020 23.39 GMT California is prepared to spend $1bn on emergency coronavirus aid, Gavin Newsom announced Monday. The state’s governor has asked the state legislature to immediately free up $500m to address coronavirus, a fund that will be increased by $50m as needed until reaching a maximum of $1bn. These funds will also go towards local governments to help address coronavirus among homeless communities, providing hotel beds for the unsheltered. “Our state, our nation, and our world are facing a challenge unprecedented in modern times,” Newsom said in a letter to the assembly and senate. “The Covid-19 pandemic compels us all to find new ways of coming together, even as we must also seek out new ways of staying apart.
Updated at 23.58 GMT
16 Mar 2020 23.18 GMT The California governor, Gavin Newsom, posted on Monday a number of measures residents of the state can take to help during the coronavirus epidemic. A few ways you can help out your community 👇 pic.twitter.com/Sd5RlgRy11 — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 16, 2020 It suggests donating to a shelter, delivering meals to seniors and creating hygiene kits to drop off to people experiencing homelessness.
Updated at 23.58 GMT
16 Mar 2020 23.14 GMT Health secretary announces Covid-19 vaccine trial A trial evaluating a vaccine to protect against Covid-19 has begun at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is funding the trial, announced. The trial is the first of its kind in the world, the HHS secretary, Alex Azar, said in a statement. “When the world faces a new public health threat, so often, American scientists and entrepreneurs have been the first to start uncovering ways to fight back”, he said. “The president’s whole-of-government, whole-of-America approach is using our best minds and all the resources we have to protect the American people from this unprecedented threat.”
The study is evaluating different doses of the experimental vaccine for safety and its ability to induce an immune response in participants. The vaccine was developed by NIAID scientists and their collaborators at the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc.; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) supported the clinical manufacturing of the vaccine candidate.
Updated at 00.00 GMT
16 Mar 2020 23.02 GMT William Barr, the US attorney general, sent out a directive on Monday to US attorneys telling them to focus investigating and prosecuting criminals taking advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to scam Americans. This includes fake cures for the coronavirus being peddled online and phishing emails from scammers posing as the World Health organization or the CDC. “This pandemic is dangerous enough without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated”, Barr wrote.
Updated at 23.07 GMT


theguardian--2020-03-17--Trump sees the coronavirus as a threat to his self-interest – not to people | Adam Gaffney

A fictional film about a US president mismanaging the response to a dangerous pandemic would never depict its lead character anywhere near as selfish and bumbling as Donald Trump in the age of Covid-19 .
He ’ d be too cartoonish and inept to be believable .
And yet , here we are .
At a press conference Sunday – the same day that state governors declared closures of bars and restaurants and when the Covid-19 death count shot up in Italy – the American president spent more time gushing over the Federal Reserve ’ s interest rate cut , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping Americans well-supplied , and praising Friday ’ s rise in the stock market ( “ almost 2,000 points !
” ) than , say , addressing the health concerns of the public .
Trump ’ s response goes beyond incompetence – it ’ s a political abomination .
However uncoordinated his administration ’ s moves have been , Trump has made it clear he sees this pandemic chiefly as a threat to the market and wealthy peoples ’ personal interests ( and relatedly , his own political future ) – not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or claim .
“ What ’ s happened with the Fed is phenomenal news , ” Trump gushed at the press conference , “ what ’ s happening with all of these incredible companies is phenomenal news !
” “ Relax , ” he later continued , “ we ’ re doing great , it all will pass.
” These words hardly matched the reality on the ground , as Covid-19 was shutting down whole nations across Europe , and American hospitals were cancelling elective surgeries to prepare for a potential surge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ impulse to protect the powerful led the administration to undercut the nation ’ s public health infrastructure long before the rise of coronavirus – a fact that helps contextualize his response today .
For instance , he signed an executive order in January 2017 that froze hiring of federal workers , leading to almost 700 vacancies at the Centers of Disease Control ( CDC ) ; some such positions were at a key department that “ regulates some of the world ’ s most dangerous bacteria and viruses and manages the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , the Washington Post reported .
That same year , Trump and Congressional Republicans nearly succeeded in passing a bill that would have gutted Medicaid – and that also would have eliminated the Prevention and Public Health Fund , the source of 12 % of the CDC ’ s budget .
Such cuts had one big beneficiary : corporations and the very wealthy , who would have seen big tax cuts had the repeal legislation passed .
Later , in 2018 , it disbanded the White House ’ s pandemic office charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting no leadership structure in its place .
Since the pandemic began , the administration has hardly reprioritized .
As Politico ’ s Dan Diamond reported , Trump opposed evacuating a cruise ship that was stuck off the coast of California , even though it seemed like the right thing to do , noting that : “ I don ’ t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn ’ t our fault.
” As Diamond suggested in an interview on National Public Radio ’ s Fresh Air , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers on coronavirus , the better for the president , the better for his potential reelection this fall.
” In that same vein , the president has baselessly boosted the stock market while providing deceptive public health reassurances .
“ The Coronavirus , ” he tweeted on 24 February , “ is very much under control in the USA … Stock Market starting to look very good to me !
” Trump built on this idea last Friday .
At a press conference where he finally declared Covid-19 a national emergency , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO after another – “ celebrities in their own right , ” he gushed , “ … the biggest business people , the greatest retailers anywhere in the world.
” After the conference , he sent a note to his supporters , obtained and reported by CNN , that trumpeted : “ From opening of press conference , biggest day in stock market history !
” It included a graph of the Dow Jones Industrial Average with his signature – as much a statement of his political priorities as historians are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump will realize that he can not bullshit his way past biology .
Viruses are immune to propaganda ; Covid-19 will advance regardless of Trump ’ s avarice .
From his push to grind up Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the rich in 2017 , to his bungling stock-market-obsessed response to Covid-19 in 2020 , Trump and company have elevated self-interest above life .

A fictional film about a US president mismanaging the response to a dangerous pandemic would never depict its lead character anywhere near as selfish and bumbling as Donald Trump in the age of Covid-19. He’d be too cartoonish and inept to be believable.
And yet, here we are. At a press conference on Sunday – the same day that state governors declared closures of bars and restaurants and when the Covid-19 death count shot up in Italy – the American president spent more time gushing over the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut, heaping praise on big corporate retailers for keeping Americans well-supplied, and praising Friday’s rise in the stock market (“almost 2,000 points!”) than, say, addressing the health concerns of the public.
Trump’s response goes beyond incompetence – it’s a political abomination. However uncoordinated his administration’s moves have been, Trump has made it clear he sees this pandemic chiefly as a threat to the market and wealthy people’s personal interests (and relatedly, his own political future) – not to the people whose lives it will threaten or claim.
“What’s happened with the Fed is phenomenal news,” Trump gushed at the press conference, “what’s happening with all of these incredible companies is phenomenal news!” “Relax,” he later continued, “we’re doing great, it all will pass.” These words hardly matched the reality on the ground, as Covid-19 was shutting down whole nations across Europe, and American hospitals were cancelling elective surgeries to prepare for a potential surge of the critically ill.
Trump and his allies’ impulse to protect the powerful led the administration to undercut the nation’s public health infrastructure long before the rise of coronavirus – a fact that helps contextualize his response today. For instance, he signed an executive order in January 2017 that froze hiring of federal workers, leading to almost 700 vacancies at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); some such positions were at a key department that “regulates some of the world’s most dangerous bacteria and viruses and manages the nation’s stockpile of emergency medical countermeasures”, the Washington Post reported.
That same year, Trump and congressional Republicans nearly succeeded in passing a bill that would have gutted Medicaid – and that also would have eliminated the Prevention and Public Health Fund, the source of 12% of the CDC’s budget. Such cuts had one big beneficiary: corporations and the very wealthy, who would have seen big tax cuts had the repeal legislation passed. Later, in 2018, it disbanded the White House’s pandemic office charged with responding to outbreaks like Covid-19 – putting no leadership structure in its place.
Since the pandemic began, the administration has hardly reprioritized. As Politico’s Dan Diamond reported, Trump opposed evacuating a cruise ship that was stuck off the coast of California, even though it seemed like the right thing to do, noting that: “I don’t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.” As Diamond suggested in an interview on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air, “[t]he lower the numbers on coronavirus, the better for the president, the better for his potential re-election this fall.”
In that same vein, the president has baselessly boosted the stock market while providing deceptive public health reassurances. “The Coronavirus,” he tweeted on 24 February, “is very much under control in the USA … Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”
Trump built on this idea last Friday. At a press conference where he finally declared Covid-19 a national emergency, Trump bizarrely passed the microphone to one corporate CEO after another – “celebrities in their own right”, he gushed, “… the biggest business people, the greatest retailers anywhere in the world”. After the conference, he sent a note to his supporters, obtained and reported by CNN, that trumpeted: “From opening of press conference, biggest day in stock market history!” It included a graph of the Dow Jones Industrial Average with his signature – as much a statement of his political priorities as historians are likely to uncover.
Sooner or later, however, Trump will realize that he cannot bullshit his way past biology. Viruses are immune to propaganda; Covid-19 will advance regardless of Trump’s avarice. From his push to grind up Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the rich in 2017, to his bungling stock-market-obsessed response to Covid-19 in 2020, Trump and company have elevated self-interest above life.


theguardian--2020-03-17--The US will continue to face national security threats – and must be prepared | Michael H Fuchs

While the United States and governments around the world scramble to address the rapidly spreading coronavirus , officials are trying to keep people healthy and plan for the impacts on everyday life and the global economy .
Governments must also urgently plan for the impact of the coronavirus on national security .
The US will continue to face a wide array of national security threats – some of them exacerbated by the response to the pandemic , others created because of it .
Existing national security challenges will be made worse as countries take extreme measures to respond to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people – which is already at historic levels – could drive more instability as countries close their borders , if outbreaks occur in camps or if people flee countries incapable of handling the pandemic at home .
The situation could deteriorate even further if leaders attempt to scapegoat refugees and foreigners , as we have already seen across Europe and the United States , where Donald Trump called it a “ foreign virus ” .
Governments must protect critical infrastructure such as cyber-networks .
As large numbers of people attempt to telework , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep their economies and essential functions going amidst the crisis .
And what happens if large parts of the CIA , defense department , and state department are told to telework , only to learn that the agencies don ’ t have the capacity for that many people to do so at the same time ?
Tensions between countries could escalate .
Trump ’ s surprise announcement of a travel ban on Europe has angered America ’ s transatlantic allies .
South Korea has criticized Japan for a supposedly lax response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship between two key US allies that is already strained .
And as friction between the United States and China grows , the Chinese Communist party ’ s botched initial response to the disease has fueled anti-China rhetoric and conspiracies in the US , with some members of the Congress calling the disease “ Chinese coronavirus ” and one senator even suggesting the disease could be a Chinese bioweapon .
China ’ s slow and secretive response to the initial outbreak was dangerous , and there are many substantive criticisms of how China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist attacks are dangerous and wrong .
As officials are consumed by the coronavirus response , there are numerous ongoing conflicts – including wars in Afghanistan , Yemen and Syria – that the US and other countries now will have far less time and energy to attempt to resolve .
In addition to adding complexity to current threats , the measures governments take to try to stop the coronavirus will create new challenges .
US military readiness is already being affected , as US navy ships in Asia have been quarantined , US-South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and US soldiers around the world are just as susceptible to the disease as everyone else .
The disruption in global supply chains will mean difficulty getting resources necessary for a national security emergency , whether it ’ s an attack or a humanitarian disaster .
And there are always countries looking to take advantage of a crisis : Iranian attacks that killed US and British soldiers in Iraq , North Korean missile tests and a Russian fighter jet that was intercepted near Alaska were recent reminders that national security threats don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In countries hardest hit by the disease , political stability could even be at risk .
While China is attempting to spin its response to the virus as a success , it has been censoring and hiding information about how it allowed the crisis to spread in the first place .
If the crisis in China spikes again , widespread dissatisfaction could terrify the CCP , which is already perpetually anxious about its grip on power .
The same goes for Iran and Italy – both of which are in full blown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences the pandemic in similar proportions .
This could also upend politics in democracies that go to the polls in the coming weeks and months , as voters judge how their government has responded – and as governments attempt to ensure that elections can safely take place .
This pandemic also poses a danger to the basic functions of government .
With a number of members of Congress already self-quarantining – some of whom Trump has been in contact with – and senior officials in other governments already infected , all levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place clear guidelines for continuity of government .
The way in which the United States and others respond to coronavirus will also have an impact on geopolitics .
Despite its early disastrous actions that allowed the disease to spread , China is now attempting to portray its subsequent response as a success at the same time that America flails .
And the contrast of America the USbanning travel from Europe while China sends medical assistance to Italy has not gone unnoticed .
Like after the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power could emerge based on how countries act now .
While relevant officials must spend their time responding to the health aspects of the coronavirus first and foremost , others must begin preparing for national security contingencies .
This is just the beginning of a massive global health crisis that could become far worse , and governments must learn the lessons quickly and begin changing policies that can help mitigate this pandemic as well as prevent the next one .
To name just a few , governments should enhance multilateral coordination through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publics , establish pandemic prevention and response capabilities and boost assistance for health systems in developing countries .
The longer and more devastating the pandemic is , the more threats to national security will grow .
And so , stopping the spread of the pandemic as swiftly and effectively as possible will be essential to safeguarding national security , as well as saving lives and the economy .

While the United States and governments around the world scramble to address the rapidly spreading coronavirus, officials are trying to keep people healthy and plan for the impacts on everyday life and the global economy. Governments must also urgently plan for the impact of the coronavirus on national security.
The US will continue to face a wide array of national security threats – some of them exacerbated by the response to the pandemic, others created because of it.
Existing national security challenges will be made worse as countries take extreme measures to respond to the coronavirus. The global crisis of displaced people – which is already at historic levels – could drive more instability as countries close their borders, if outbreaks occur in camps or if people flee countries incapable of handling the pandemic at home. The situation could deteriorate even further if leaders attempt to scapegoat refugees and foreigners, as we have already seen across Europe and the United States, where Donald Trump called it a “foreign virus”.
Governments must protect critical infrastructure such as cyber-networks. As large numbers of people attempt to telework, cyber-attacks could wreak havoc as countries attempt to keep their economies and essential functions going amid the crisis. And what happens if large parts of the CIA, defense department, and state department are told to telework, only to learn that the agencies don’t have the capacity for that many people to do so at the same time?
Tensions between countries could escalate. Trump’s surprise announcement of a travel ban on Europe has angered America’s transatlantic allies. South Korea has criticized Japan for a supposedly lax response to the pandemic, fueling tensions in a relationship between two key US allies that is already strained. And as friction between the United States and China grows, the Chinese Communist party’s botched initial response to the disease has fueled anti-China rhetoric and conspiracies in the US, with some members of the Congress calling the disease “Chinese coronavirus” and one senator even suggesting the disease could be a Chinese bioweapon. China’s slow and secretive response to the initial outbreak was dangerous, and there are many substantive criticisms of how China handled the response – but xenophobic and racist attacks are dangerous and wrong.
As officials are consumed by the coronavirus response, there are numerous ongoing conflicts – including wars in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria – that the US and other countries now will have far less time and energy to attempt to resolve.
In addition to adding complexity to current threats, the measures governments take to try to stop the coronavirus will create new challenges. US military readiness is already being affected, as US navy ships in Asia have been quarantined, US-South Korea military exercises have been cancelled, and US soldiers around the world are just as susceptible to the disease as everyone else. The disruption in global supply chains will mean difficulty getting resources necessary for a national security emergency, whether it’s an attack or a humanitarian disaster. And there are always countries looking to take advantage of a crisis: Iranian attacks that killed US and British soldiers in Iraq, North Korean missile tests and a Russian fighter jet that was intercepted near Alaska were recent reminders that national security threats don’t disappear when countries are focused elsewhere.
In countries hardest hit by the disease, political stability could even be at risk. While China is attempting to spin its response to the virus as a success, it has been censoring and hiding information about how it allowed the crisis to spread in the first place. If the crisis in China spikes again, widespread dissatisfaction could terrify the CCP, which is already perpetually anxious about its grip on power. The same goes for Iran and Italy – both of which are in full-blown crisis mode – and any country that experiences the pandemic in similar proportions. This could also upend politics in democracies that go to the polls in the coming weeks and months, as voters judge how their government has responded – and as governments attempt to ensure that elections can safely take place.
This pandemic also poses a danger to the basic functions of government. With a number of members of Congress already self-quarantining – some of whom Trump has been in contact with – and senior officials in other governments already infected, all levels of government will have to ensure they have in place clear guidelines for continuity of government.
The longer and more devastating the pandemic is, the more threats to national security will grow
The way in which the United States and others respond to coronavirus will also have an impact on geopolitics. Despite its early disastrous actions that allowed the disease to spread, China is now attempting to portray its subsequent response as a success at the same time that America flails. And the contrast of the US banning travel from Europe while China sends medical assistance to Italy has not gone unnoticed. Like after the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis, new perceptions of power could emerge based on how countries act now.
While relevant officials must spend their time responding to the health aspects of the coronavirus first and foremost, others must begin preparing for national security contingencies. This is just the beginning of a massive global health crisis that could become far worse, and governments must learn the lessons quickly and begin changing policies that can help mitigate this pandemic as well as prevent the next one. To name just a few, governments should enhance multilateral coordination through the World Health Organization, ensure transparency with publics, establish pandemic prevention and response capabilities and boost assistance for health systems in developing countries.
The longer and more devastating the pandemic is, the more threats to national security will grow. And so, stopping the spread of the pandemic as swiftly and effectively as possible will be essential to safeguarding national security, as well as saving lives and the economy.


theguardian--2020-03-17--Democratic primaries: three states head to polls amid coronavirus crisis – live

Eric Lutz reports for The Guardian from Chicago , Illinois : Voting in Illinois got underway with a dustup as to whether or not the election should have been held at all on Tuesday .
With the concerns over the spread of the coronavirus , and primary day drawing voters into lines that put them in close proximity with others , Chicago Board of Elections Spokesman Jim Allen said Tuesday that the agency had asked Governor J.B. Pritzker to cancel in-person voting in the state and switch entirely to a mail-in primary — but that Pritzker rejected the proposal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all see coming down the hill , ” Allen told reporters Tuesday .
“ Where is the mystery in this ?
” Pritzker ’ s office , however , quickly shot back , saying the governor had offered extra help in ensuring the safety of the election , including assistance from the National Guard , and emphasizing the importance of the election .
“ Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and we could not risk confusion and disenfranchisement in the courts , ” a Pritzker spokesperson said .
Illinois is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been scheduled to vote , but the state on Monday postponed its primary due to the pandemic that has spread across the globe and , in recent days , dramatically altered daily life in the United States .
Allen had called on Pritzker to do the same in Illinois .
But in their response , Pritzker ’ s office said that such a measure would not be possible in Illinois .
“ The governor can not unilaterally cancel or delay an election , ” a Pritzker spokesperson said .
Michael S. Kang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , told the Guardian that while “ Pritzker would usually be correct that ” a governor would be unable to postpone an election under Illinois law without legislative action , the governor does have “ special powers to modify election procedures if he first declares an emergency.
” “ These are exceptional times , ” Kang said in an email interview .
“ That said , I ’ m not sure what precedent there is for declaration of emergency along these lines .
There ’ s no established playbook for the current @ @ @

18 Mar 2020 04.09 GMT Primary night summary That’s it from me after another eventful primary night. Here’s how the results shook out: Joe Biden increased his delegate lead with a sweep of Florida, Illinois and Arizona. With Biden currently leading by about 39 points in Florida, where 219 pledged delegates are up for grabs, the former vice-president’s delegate lead over Bernie Sanders is starting to look insurmountable.
With Biden currently leading by about 39 points in Florida, where 219 pledged delegates are up for grabs, the former vice-president’s delegate lead over is starting to look insurmountable. Sanders is facing intensifying calls to drop out of the race. A number of Democratic strategists have declared the nominating contest to be effectively over and have suggested Sanders should withdraw and allow Biden to focus on the general election.
A number of Democratic strategists have declared the nominating contest to be effectively over and have suggested Sanders should withdraw and allow Biden to focus on the general election. Biden made a pitch for unity in his primary-night speech, calling on Sanders’ supporters to “put politics aside”. Biden said he and Sanders share a “common vision” for America, arguing all Democrats need to rally together to defeat Donald Trump.
calling on Sanders’ supporters to “put politics aside”. Biden said he and Sanders share a “common vision” for America, arguing all Democrats need to rally together to defeat Sanders addressed supporters early in the night and made no mention of tonight’s primaries. Instead, the Vermont senator focused on the proposals he would be submitting to Senate leadership to combat the coronavirus crisis and avoided discussing tonight’s results, leading some to wonder if Sanders similarly sees no path forward for his campaign.
Instead, the Vermont senator focused on the proposals he would be submitting to Senate leadership to combat the coronavirus crisis and avoided discussing tonight’s results, leading some to wonder if Sanders similarly sees no path forward for his campaign. The coronavirus crisis is upending the presidential primary. One of the four states that was supposed to hold its primary today, Ohio, postponed in-person voting to mitigate the spread of the virus, and Biden and Sanders addressed supporters virtually without an audience to avoid any kind of large gathering. Thanks for following our primary night coverage, and tune back in tomorrow morning when the US politics live blog returns. Joe Biden sweeps key primaries and moves closer to nomination Read more
Updated at 04.20 GMT
18 Mar 2020 03.54 GMT Progressive challenger declares victory over longtime House Democrat Progressive congressional candidate Marie Newman has declared victory over longtime House Democrat Dan Lipinski in Illinois. The AP has not yet called the race, so Newman’s victory is not official, but she currently leads Lipinski by four points with 92% of precincts reporting. I am bursting with pride and gratitude for the amazing coalition that helped bring about much needed change in our district. We are going to work together to lower health care costs, to fight climate change, and to build an economy that works for everyone. #NewDayInIL03 #IL03 — Marie Newman (@Marie4Congress) March 18, 2020 Newman narrowly lost a 2018 primary to Lipinski, who is one of the last pro-life Democrats left in the House. This time around, Newman was backed by a number of liberal organizations and enjoyed better name recognition after her 2018 bid, which appears to have carried her to victory. Newman’s apparent victory could inspire more primary challenges against some of the more conservative members of the House Democratic caucus.
Updated at 04.10 GMT
18 Mar 2020 03.35 GMT After tonight, about 60% of pledged delegates will have been awarded, and Joe Biden has built a significant delegate lead. With that in mind, some Democratic strategists are saying this marks the effective end to Bernie Sanders’ campaign. From a former senior adviser to Barack Obama: At this point in 2008, @BarackObama was headed of @HillaryClinton by 100 delegates. At the end of tonight, @JoeBiden’s lead will be 3X that. No Dem has ever come back from anything like this deficit.
The race for the nomination is over. That is the reality @BernieSanders faces. — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 18, 2020 The question now is whether the Vermont senator will choose to drop out of the race or continue even though virtually no path to the nomination remains.
Updated at 03.39 GMT
18 Mar 2020 03.30 GMT Tonight’s results provide more evidence that Bernie Sanders may have benefitted from opposition to Hillary Clinton in 2016. In Illinois, for example, Sanders is currently losing to Joe Biden by about 23 points, while he lost by only 2 points in 2016. Exit polls indicate Sanders lost a higher portion of self-described “moderate” and “somewhat liberal” voters in Illinois this time around. Illinois Dem primary phone poll
"Somewhat liberal":
Biden 68%
Sanders 28%
[In '16 exit poll, it was 51-49% Sanders]
"Moderate":
Biden 76%
Sanders 19%
[In '16 exit poll, it was 57-41% Clinton] — Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) March 18, 2020 Considering Sanders’ progressive platform, those numbers indicate some of his support in 2016 was meant more as a rebuke of Clinton.
18 Mar 2020 03.15 GMT Biden wins Arizona and completes sweep Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the Arizona primary, completing his three-state sweep tonight. Biden is leading Bernie Sanders by 39 points in Florida and 23 points in Illinois, meaning his victories tonight will signficantly increase his delegate lead. With his three wins tonight, Biden could soon secure an insurmountable delegate lead over Sanders, sparking questions about whether Sanders will drop out of the race.
Updated at 03.16 GMT
18 Mar 2020 03.04 GMT Like Florida, Arizona has a robust early voting operation, so the two states were not as affected by the coronavirus crisis. However, in Illinois, where early voting is less common, there appears to have been a notable drop in turnout today. Raw votes cast vs. '16 in '20 Dem primaries so far:
VA: +69%
TX: +45%
SC: +45%
TN: +38%
MI: +31%
MS: +19%
NH: +17%
VT: +17%
NC: +16%
MA: +15%
AL: +14%
MO: +6%
CA: +4% (still counting)
AR: +3%
OK: -10%
Wouldn't be surprised if IL ends up at -40%. — Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) March 17, 2020
18 Mar 2020 02.46 GMT Joe Biden appears to have secured a landslide victory in Illinois, which Hillary Clinton won by just 2 points in 2016. With 77% of precincts reporting, Biden leads Bernie Sanders by 23 points in Illinois, where 155 pledged delegates are up for grabs. Biden’s large margin of victory will help him pull farther ahead in the delegate count, as the former vice-president approaches a nearly insurmountable delegate lead over Sanders. For comparison, Clinton only won two more Illinois delegates than Sanders did in 2016.
Updated at 03.22 GMT
18 Mar 2020 02.35 GMT It will still be another half hour before we start seeing results from Arizona, even though polls closed there about 30 minutes ago. That’s because state law prohibits reporting of results until at least one hour after polls have closed, according to Politico. However, the race could quickly be called for Biden once results start to roll in, considering the former vice-president was leading Bernie Sanders by 20 points in a recent Arizona poll.
Updated at 03.23 GMT
18 Mar 2020 02.25 GMT While primary results continue to roll in, New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, provided an update on the city’s coronavirus cases. De Blasio said the city has now seen 923 cases of coronavirus and 10 deaths from the virus. “The idea of shelter-in-place has to be considered now,” the mayor said.
Updated at 03.23 GMT
18 Mar 2020 02.05 GMT Arizona polls close It is 10pm ET, so the polls have now closed in Arizona, where 67 pledged delegates are up for grabs. Joe Biden is considered the favorite to win the state, as a recent poll showed him leading Bernie Sanders there by 20 points. If Biden can win Arizona, he will have pulled off a sweep of the three states that held primaries today.
Updated at 03.31 GMT
18 Mar 2020 02.00 GMT A number of Democratic strategists are declaring the presidential primary to be effectively over after Joe Biden’s victories in Florida and Illinois. “This is over,” former Obama adviser David Axelrod said on CNN. “It’s over. The election is over tonight. I think that is very clear.” After Biden’s strong performance last week, some Democratic super Pacs said they were going to turn their attention to the general election, viewing Biden as the presumptive nominee. However, a number of primary contests are still ahead, and Bernie Sanders has not yet indicated he intends to call it quits.
Updated at 02.13 GMT
18 Mar 2020 01.45 GMT Biden to Sanders' supporters: 'I hear you' Joe Biden celebrated his primary victories in Florida and Illinois, saying his campaign had had a “very good night” and moved closer to securing the nomination. The former vice president then made a pitch for unity, directly addressing the supporters of Bernie Sanders and asserting it was time to “put politics aside.” Biden said he and Sanders shared a “common vision” to provide Americans with affordable health care and reduce income inequality in the country. Biden commended the “remarkable passion and tenacity” of Sanders’ supporters, asserting they had “shifted the fundamental conversation in this country.” “I hear you,” Biden told his opponent’s supporters. “I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do.” The message was clearly meant to unify Democratic voters as Biden looks ahead to his likely general-election race against Trump.
Updated at 01.52 GMT
18 Mar 2020 01.41 GMT Joe Biden delivered primary-night remarks from Wilmington, Delaware, after winning Florida and Illinois tonight. Biden noted he was speaking tonight without any kind of audience, in compliance with the CDC’s guideline to avoid gatherings larger than 10 people. Biden opened by saying he was thinking of those directly affected by the pandemic and thanking first responders who are fighting the virus. “I know we as a people are up to this challenge,” Biden said. “We always have been.”
18 Mar 2020 01.19 GMT Bernie Sanders is not currently winning a single Florida county, underscoring the scale of Joe Biden’s victory there. Bernie Sanders got crushed in Florida in 2016, but he still managed to win 9 counties and get 33% of the vote.
Now looks like he's not going to win single county and is just shy of 23%. pic.twitter.com/E5a4iNMKLM — Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) March 18, 2020 Considering the 219 pledged delegates up for grabs in Florida, Biden’s landslide victory will likely give him a signficant boost over Sanders in the delegate count.
18 Mar 2020 01.14 GMT Joe Biden will soon start delivering a primary-night speech after winning Florida and Illinois. (Watch his remarks here.) Biden is hoping to pull off a sweep tonight once Arizona’s polls close in about 45 minutes. But Biden’s apparently decisive victories in Florida and Illinois have already intensified calls for Bernie Sanders to drop out of the race.
18 Mar 2020 00.55 GMT Trump clinches Republican nomination Trump has officially secured the Republican presidential nomination after winning the Florida and Illinois primaries tonight. Trump has now been awarded more than the 1,276 delegates needed to win the nomination, as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders continue to fight for the Democratic nomination. This was the earliest point in the primary calendar that Trump could have secured the nomination. The president did attract a few primary challengers, such as former congressman Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, but none of them picked up any kind of signficant support among Republican voters. “Fueled by both our longtime supporters and the thousands of new voters that continue to join our movement, we are united and enthusiasm is on our side,” Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. “We have the strongest record of success, an unparalleled grassroots infrastructure, and are thrilled to have President Trump as our Party’s presumptive nominee once again.” Congratulations to Donald J. Trump on officially becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for President!
His home state of Florida just delivered him the delegates he needed.
Our party is united, our grassroots movement is fired up, and we are ready for FOUR MORE YEARS! pic.twitter.com/B4X9IaQp7f — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) March 18, 2020
18 Mar 2020 00.45 GMT Eric Lutz reports for the Guardian from Chicago, Illinois: Former vice president Joe Biden has won the Illinois primary, dealing another sharp blow to Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination. Biden, the campaign’s moderate frontrunner, had been heavily favored in the state, which went to Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Associated Press called the race just before 7:30pm local time, shortly after most polls closed. This year’s contest was complicated by concerns about coronavirus, which appeared to depress voter turnout in the state’s primary. Though Chicago officials reported a record-high turnout in early voting, authorities said voting on primary day on Tuesday was low and beset by technical challenges apparently brought on by the public health crisis. The win in Illinois continued the momentum Biden has been building since the South Carolina primary, which propelled him to a massive Super Tuesday victory — and further narrows Sanders’ path to the Democratic nominiation. Biden won Florida’s primary just minutes earlier. Polls have not yet closed in Arizona.