csmonitor--2020-03-31--Democracy test: Hungary, Serbia leaders expand emergency powers

Soldiers patrol the streets with their fingers on machine gun triggers .
The army guards an exhibition center-turned-makeshift-hospital crowded with rows of metal beds for those infected with the coronavirus .
And Serbia 's president warns residents that Belgrade 's graveyards wo n't be big enough to bury the dead if people ignore his government 's lockdown orders .
Since President Aleksandar Vucic announced an open-ended state of emergency on March 15 , parliament has been sidelined , borders shut , a 12-hour police-enforced curfew imposed and people over 65 banned from leaving their homes – some of Europe 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Serbian leader , who makes dramatic daily appearances issuing new decrees , has assumed full power , prompting an outcry from opponents who say he has seized control of the state in an unconstitutional manner .
Rodoljub Sabic , a former state commissioner for personal data protection , says by proclaiming a state of emergency , Mr. Vucic has assumed `` full supremacy '' over decision-making during the crisis , although his constitutional role is only ceremonial .
`` He issues orders which are automatically accepted by the government , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and balances . ''
In ex-communist Eastern Europe and elsewhere , populist leaders are introducing harsh measures including uncontrolled cellphone surveillance of their citizens and lengthy jail sentences for those who flout lockdown decrees .
The human rights chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said while she understands the need to act swiftly to protect populations from the COVID-19 pandemic , the newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight .
`` A state of emergency – wherever it is declared and for whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim , and only remain in place for as long as absolutely necessary , '' said the OSCE rights chief , Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir .
In times of national emergency , countries often take steps that rights activists see as curtailing civil liberties , such as increased surveillance , curfews and restrictions on travel , or limiting freedom of expression .
China locked down whole cities earlier this year to stop the spread of the virus as India did with the whole nation .
Amnesty International researcher Massimo Moratti said states of emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but warned that the restrictive measures should not become a `` new normal . ''
`` Such states need to last only until the danger lasts , '' he told The Associated Press .
In European Union-member Hungary , parliament on Monday passed a law giving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán 's government the right to rule by decree for as long as a state of emergency declared March 11 is in effect .
The law also sets prison terms of up to five years for those convicted of spreading false information about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those interfering with efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus , like a curfew or quarantine .
Rights groups and officials say the law creates the possibility of an indefinite state of emergency and gives Mr. Orbán and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights and crack down on freedom of the press .
`` Orban is dismantling democracy in front of our eyes , '' said Tanja Fajon , a member of the European Parliament , `` This is a shame for Europe , its fundamental values and democracy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an excuse to kill democracy and media freedom . ''
`` This is not the way to address the very real crisis that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , '' said David Vig , Amnesty International 's Hungary director .
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said criticism of Hungary 's bill were `` political attacks based on the wrong interpretation or intentional distortion '' of its contents .
Other governments have also adopted extreme measures .
In Israel , Benjamin Netanyahu 's caretaker government passed a series of emergency executive measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new virus .
These include authorizing unprecedented electronic surveillance of Israeli citizens and a slowdown of court activity that forced the postponement of Mr. Netanyahu 's own pending corruption trial .
In Russia , authorities have turned up the pressure on media outlets and social media users to control the narrative amid the country 's growing coronavirus outbreak .
Moscow went on lockdown Monday and many other regions quickly followed suit .
Under the guise of weeding out coronavirus-related `` fake news , '' law enforcement has cracked down on people sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media that criticize the government 's response to the outbreak .
In Poland , people are worried about a new government smartphone application introduced for people in home quarantine .
Panoptykon Foundation , a human rights group that opposes surveillance , says some users who support government efforts to fight the pandemic worry that by using the app they could be giving too much private data to the conservative government .
In El Salvador , the ruling government was mostly praised by some for its quick response to the pandemic .
But some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leadership .
While nearly 800 coronavirus cases and 16 deaths have been recorded in Serbia , according to Johns Hopkins University , testing has been extremely limited and experts believe the figures greatly under-represent the real number of victims .
Images of the transformation of a huge communist-era exhibition hall in Belgrade into a makeshift hospital for infected patients has triggered widespread public fear of the detention camp-looking facility that is filled with row-upon-row of 3,000 metal beds .
The Serbian president said he was glad that people got scared , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spot if that would stop Serbs from flouting his stay-at-home orders .
`` Someone has to spend 14 to 28 days there , '' Mr. Vucic said .
`` If it 's not comfortable , I do n't care .
We are fighting for people 's lives . ''
`` Do not Drown Belgrade , '' a group of civic activists , has launched an online petition against what they call Mr. Vucic 's abuse of power and curtailing of basic human rights .
It says his frequent public appearances are creating panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We do not need Vucic 's daily dramatization , but the truth : Concrete data and instructions from experts , '' the petition says .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Jovana Gec , Pablo Gorondi in Budapest , Hungary , and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Soldiers patrol the streets with their fingers on machine gun triggers. The army guards an exhibition center-turned-makeshift-hospital crowded with rows of metal beds for those infected with the coronavirus. And Serbia's president warns residents that Belgrade's graveyards won't be big enough to bury the dead if people ignore his government's lockdown orders.
Since President Aleksandar Vucic announced an open-ended state of emergency on March 15, parliament has been sidelined, borders shut, a 12-hour police-enforced curfew imposed and people over 65 banned from leaving their homes – some of Europe's strictest measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Serbian leader, who makes dramatic daily appearances issuing new decrees, has assumed full power, prompting an outcry from opponents who say he has seized control of the state in an unconstitutional manner.
Rodoljub Sabic, a former state commissioner for personal data protection, says by proclaiming a state of emergency, Mr. Vucic has assumed "full supremacy" over decision-making during the crisis, although his constitutional role is only ceremonial.
"He issues orders which are automatically accepted by the government," Mr. Sabic said. "No checks and balances."
In ex-communist Eastern Europe and elsewhere, populist leaders are introducing harsh measures including uncontrolled cellphone surveillance of their citizens and lengthy jail sentences for those who flout lockdown decrees.
The human rights chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said while she understands the need to act swiftly to protect populations from the COVID-19 pandemic, the newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight.
"A state of emergency – wherever it is declared and for whatever reason – must be proportionate to its aim, and only remain in place for as long as absolutely necessary," said the OSCE rights chief, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir.
In times of national emergency, countries often take steps that rights activists see as curtailing civil liberties, such as increased surveillance, curfews and restrictions on travel, or limiting freedom of expression. China locked down whole cities earlier this year to stop the spread of the virus as India did with the whole nation.
Amnesty International researcher Massimo Moratti said states of emergency are allowed under international human rights law but warned that the restrictive measures should not become a "new normal."
"Such states need to last only until the danger lasts," he told The Associated Press.
In European Union-member Hungary, parliament on Monday passed a law giving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government the right to rule by decree for as long as a state of emergency declared March 11 is in effect.
The law also sets prison terms of up to five years for those convicted of spreading false information about the pandemic and up to eight years for those interfering with efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, like a curfew or quarantine.
Rights groups and officials say the law creates the possibility of an indefinite state of emergency and gives Mr. Orbán and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights and crack down on freedom of the press.
"Orban is dismantling democracy in front of our eyes,"said Tanja Fajon, a member of the European Parliament, "This is a shame for Europe, its fundamental values and democracy. He [Orban] abused coronavirus as an excuse to kill democracy and media freedom."
"This is not the way to address the very real crisis that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said David Vig, Amnesty International's Hungary director.
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga said criticism of Hungary's bill were "political attacks based on the wrong interpretation or intentional distortion" of its contents.
Other governments have also adopted extreme measures.
In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's caretaker government passed a series of emergency executive measures to try to quell the spread of the new virus. These include authorizing unprecedented electronic surveillance of Israeli citizens and a slowdown of court activity that forced the postponement of Mr. Netanyahu's own pending corruption trial.
In Russia, authorities have turned up the pressure on media outlets and social media users to control the narrative amid the country's growing coronavirus outbreak. Moscow went on lockdown Monday and many other regions quickly followed suit.
Under the guise of weeding out coronavirus-related "fake news," law enforcement has cracked down on people sharing opinions on social media, and on media that criticize the government's response to the outbreak.
In Poland, people are worried about a new government smartphone application introduced for people in home quarantine. Panoptykon Foundation, a human rights group that opposes surveillance, says some users who support government efforts to fight the pandemic worry that by using the app they could be giving too much private data to the conservative government.
In El Salvador, the ruling government was mostly praised by some for its quick response to the pandemic. But some raised similar concerns about over reach by its leadership.
While nearly 800 coronavirus cases and 16 deaths have been recorded in Serbia, according to Johns Hopkins University, testing has been extremely limited and experts believe the figures greatly under-represent the real number of victims.
Images of the transformation of a huge communist-era exhibition hall in Belgrade into a makeshift hospital for infected patients has triggered widespread public fear of the detention camp-looking facility that is filled with row-upon-row of 3,000 metal beds.
The Serbian president said he was glad that people got scared, adding he would have chosen even a worse-looking spot if that would stop Serbs from flouting his stay-at-home orders.
"Someone has to spend 14 to 28 days there," Mr. Vucic said. "If it's not comfortable, I don't care. We are fighting for people's lives."
"Do not Drown Belgrade," a group of civic activists, has launched an online petition against what they call Mr. Vucic's abuse of power and curtailing of basic human rights. It says his frequent public appearances are creating panic in an already worried society.
"We do not need Vucic's daily dramatization, but the truth: Concrete data and instructions from experts," the petition says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Jovana Gec, Pablo Gorondi in Budapest, Hungary, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-06--As America braces for 'hardest' week, Europe sees progress

Americans braced for what the nation 's top doctor warned Sunday would be `` the hardest and saddest week '' of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy 's .
Britain 's prime minister , Boris Johnson , was hospitalized , 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a `` precautionary step . ''
Amid the dire news , there were also glimmers of hope in some hard-hit areas – the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City , Spain , France , and Italy .
The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders , who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns .
The U.S. is still awaiting the peak , and Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths .
`` This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment , our 9/11 moment , '' he told `` Fox News Sunday . ''
In a rare televised address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth II also appealed to Britons to rise the occasion , while acknowledging enormous disruptions , grief , and financial difficulties .
`` I hope in the years to come , everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge , '' she said .
`` And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any . ''
In New York City , the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic , daily deaths dropped slightly , along with intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed breathing tubes , but New York state Gov .
Andrew Cuomo warned that it was `` too early to tell '' the significance of those numbers .
Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news .
Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks – 525 , said Angelo Borrelli , the head of the national Civil Protection agency .
The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing .
Even so , Mr. Borrelli warned , `` This good news shouldn ’ t make us drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Spain , too , and new deaths declined for the third straight day , dropping to 674 – the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week .
`` We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel , '' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said .
The outlook , however , remained challenging in Britain , which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday , surpassing Italy 's increase .
Italy still has by far the world ’ s highest coronavirus death toll – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been hospitalized , though his office said it was not an emergency and that the Conservative will undergo tests .
There are concerns that Mr. Johnson 's government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still `` flout the rules . ''
`` The vast majority of people are following the public health advice , which is absolutely critical , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hancock told Sky TV .
`` But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that – it ’ s quite unbelievable , frankly , to see that . ''
As the numbers of diagnosed cases rose , the deputy head of Britain 's National Health Service Providers said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers .
`` I think that we are just a week away from the surge of this , '' Saffron Cordery told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune to lure of the good weather either .
Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping in Naples , Rome , Genoa , and even the hard-hit Veneto city of Padua .
Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began on March 10 risked being reversed .
Restrictions on movement vary from country to country .
In Germany and Britain , residents can get out to exercise and walk their dogs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the post office , and do other essential tasks .
Yet in Serbia and South Africa , dog walking is not allowed .
In France , heat-seeking drones have been whizzing over Fontainebleau forest to identify rule-breakers after the former royal estate in the Paris suburbs was closed to the public .
In Sweden , authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing , but schools , bars , and restaurants are still open .
At the Vatican , Pope Francis celebrated Mass and blessed palms for Palm Sunday in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Usually tens of thousands of faithful would have crowded the square outside .
In New Orleans , Rev .
Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a table near the back of his Saint Augustine Catholic Church – so people could get them while also observing social distancing .
Worldwide , more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The true numbers are certainly much higher , due to limited testing , different ways nations count the dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus .
The rapid spread of the virus in the U.S. has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear .
An Associated Press review of federal purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March – more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic – to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks , mechanical ventilators , and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers .
By that time , hospitals in several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the federal stockpile .
Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said his the state will return more than 400 of the 500 ventilators it has received from the federal government so they can go to New York and other states hit harder by the pandemic .
Rebekah Gee , who heads the Louisiana State University ’ s health care services division , warned that the private and public sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading to price increases .
Ms. Gee , who once ran the state ’ s Department of Health , said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns , while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong .
`` Our whole country is at war with this virus , '' she said .
`` This needs a coordinated approach , and right now that ’ s not happening . ''
Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned of looming shortages for ventilators and intensive care unit beds .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said Sunday that he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon , but that the virus is unlikely to be completely eradicated this year .
This is the first known outbreak of the virus , and scientists are still learning about it .
In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. , officials said Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
D'Emilio reported from Rome .
AP writers around the world contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Americans braced for what the nation's top doctor warned Sunday would be "the hardest and saddest week" of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy's.
Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson, was hospitalized, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a "precautionary step."
Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope in some hard-hit areas – the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain, France, and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns.
The U.S. is still awaiting the peak, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths. "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment," he told "Fox News Sunday."
In a rare televised address to her country, meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II also appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief, and financial difficulties.
"I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge," she said. "And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any."
In New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that it was "too early to tell" the significance of those numbers.
Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news. Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks – 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing.
Even so, Mr. Borrelli warned, "This good news shouldn’t make us drop our guard."
Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 – the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week.
"We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.
The outlook, however, remained challenging in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italy's increase. Italy still has by far the world’s highest coronavirus death toll – almost 16,000.
Mr. Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the Conservative will undergo tests.
There are concerns that Mr. Johnson's government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still "flout the rules."
"The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home," Mr. Hancock told Sky TV. "But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that – it’s quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that."
As the numbers of diagnosed cases rose, the deputy head of Britain's National Health Service Providers said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers.
"I think that we are just a week away from the surge of this," Saffron Cordery told Sky TV.
Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping in Naples, Rome, Genoa, and even the hard-hit Veneto city of Padua.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began on March 10 risked being reversed.
Restrictions on movement vary from country to country. In Germany and Britain, residents can get out to exercise and walk their dogs, as well as go to the supermarket, the post office, and do other essential tasks. Yet in Serbia and South Africa, dog walking is not allowed.
In France, heat-seeking drones have been whizzing over Fontainebleau forest to identify rule-breakers after the former royal estate in the Paris suburbs was closed to the public.
In Sweden, authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing, but schools, bars, and restaurants are still open.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated Mass and blessed palms for Palm Sunday in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica. Usually tens of thousands of faithful would have crowded the square outside.
In New Orleans, Rev. Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a table near the back of his Saint Augustine Catholic Church – so people could get them while also observing social distancing.
Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead, and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.
The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus.
The rapid spread of the virus in the U.S. has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear.
An Associated Press review of federal purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March – more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic – to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators, and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers.
By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of patients without adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the federal stockpile. Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said his the state will return more than 400 of the 500 ventilators it has received from the federal government so they can go to New York and other states hit harder by the pandemic.
Rebekah Gee, who heads the Louisiana State University’s health care services division, warned that the private and public sector have been competing with each other, leading to price increases.
Ms. Gee, who once ran the state’s Department of Health, said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns, while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong.
"Our whole country is at war with this virus," she said. "This needs a coordinated approach, and right now that’s not happening."
Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming shortages for ventilators and intensive care unit beds.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday that he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon, but that the virus is unlikely to be completely eradicated this year.
This is the first known outbreak of the virus, and scientists are still learning about it. In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo had tested positive for the virus.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. D'Emilio reported from Rome. AP writers around the world contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-30--Angela Merkel rises to the coronavirus leadership challenge

In her first address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic , German Chancellor Angela Merkel calmly appealed to citizens ' reason and discipline to slow the spread of the virus , acknowledging as a woman who grew up in communist East Germany how difficult it is to give up freedoms , yet as a trained scientist emphasizing that the facts do n't lie .
Then , wearing the same blue pantsuit from the televised address , the 65-year-old popped into her local supermarket to pick up food , wine , and toilet paper to take back to her Berlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regular shopping stop , but photos snapped by someone at the grocery store were shared worldwide as a reassuring sign of calm leadership amid a global crisis .
With the coronavirus outbreak , Ms. Merkel is reasserting her traditional strengths and putting her stamp firmly on domestic policy after two years in which her star seemed to be fading , with attention focused on constant bickering in her governing coalition and her own party 's troubled efforts to find a successor .
Merkel has run Germany for more than 14 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing crises .
She reassured her compatriots in the 2008 financial crisis that their savings were safe , led a hard-nosed but domestically popular response to the eurozone debt crisis , and then took an initially welcoming – but divisive – approach to an influx of migrants in 2015 .
In the twilight of her chancellorship , she faces her biggest crisis yet – a fact underlined by her decision last week to make her first television address to the nation other than her annual New Year 's message .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she told her compatriots .
`` Since German unification – no , since World War II – there has been no challenge to our country in which our acting together in solidarity matters so much . ''
With Germany largely shutting down public life , she alluded to her youth in communist East Germany as she spelled out the scale of the challenge and made clear how hard she found the prospect of clamping down on people 's movement .
`` For someone like me , for whom freedom of travel and movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only be justified by absolute necessity , '' she said .
But they were , she said , `` indispensable at the moment to save lives . ''
The drama was evident in Ms. Merkel 's words , but the manner was familiar : Matter-of-fact and calm , reasoning rather than rousing , creating a message that hit home .
It is a style that has served the former physicist well in juggling Germany 's often-fractious coalitions and maintaining public support over the years .
`` Merkel painted a picture of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but she did not speak of war , '' the influential Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper wrote .
`` She did not rely on martial words or gestures , but on people 's reason .
... Nobody knows if that will be enough , but her tone will at least not lead the people to sink into uncertainty and fear . ''
Ms. Merkel 's response to the coronavirus pandemic is still very much a work in progress , but a poll released Friday by ZDF television showed 89 % of Germans thought the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw Ms. Merkel strengthen her lead as the country 's most important politician , and a strong 7 % rise for her center-right Union bloc after months in which it was weighed down by questions over its future leadership .
The poll , done by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen , had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points .
The chancellor initially had Health Minister Jens Spahn be the public face of the government 's response , drawing some criticism but has taken center stage over the past two weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine on Sunday after a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for the coronavirus .
Since then she has twice tested negative for the virus herself but continues to work from home .
On Monday , she led a Cabinet meeting by phone from home and then issued an audio message setting out a huge government relief package to cushion the blow of the crisis to business – a format she said was `` unusual , but it was important to me . ''
Her vice chancellor , Olaf Scholz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of her coalition partner Social Democrats , has also had a chance to shine in the crisis , leading the way with the aid package that will allow Germany to offer businesses more than 1 trillion euros ( $ 1.1 trillion ) that he described as a `` bazooka . ''
The jury is still out on how the government 's approach will work , but after having run a budget surplus for a half-decade , Germany is well-prepared to offer the massive aid program .
Its health care system has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in patients from overwhelmed Italy and France , with intensive care beds still available .
Although Germany has registered the third-highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe with 57,695 , it has only seen 433 people die , placing it sixth in Europe behind Italy , Spain , France , Britain , and even the Netherlands .
Italy alone has over 10,000 dead .
Experts have attributed Germany 's success partially to widespread and early testing for the virus , among other things .
In an audio message on Thursday night , Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was far too early to declare victory over COVID-19 , saying “ now is not the time to talk about easing measures.
” No matter what the outcome of Germany 's virus-fighting efforts , it wo n't change the fact that the Merkel era is drawing to a close .
Ms. Merkel has never shown any signs of backing off her 2018 vow to leave politics at Germany 's next election , due next year .
But the crisis may burnish her government 's lackluster image and improve its chances of making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after persistent speculation that it would n't last the full legislative term .
And it certainly could put her successor on a better footing – though just who that will be is also up in the air .
Ms. Merkel stepped down as her party 's leader in 2018 but her own choice as a successor , Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer , lasted just over a year before declaring that she would step down after failing to establish her authority .
The decision on who will take over the leadership of Ms. Merkel 's Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in April , but has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic .
This story was reported by the Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

In her first address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel calmly appealed to citizens' reason and discipline to slow the spread of the virus, acknowledging as a woman who grew up in communist East Germany how difficult it is to give up freedoms, yet as a trained scientist emphasizing that the facts don't lie.
Then, wearing the same blue pantsuit from the televised address, the 65-year-old popped into her local supermarket to pick up food, wine, and toilet paper to take back to her Berlin apartment. For her, it was a regular shopping stop, but photos snapped by someone at the grocery store were shared worldwide as a reassuring sign of calm leadership amid a global crisis.
With the coronavirus outbreak, Ms. Merkel is reasserting her traditional strengths and putting her stamp firmly on domestic policy after two years in which her star seemed to be fading, with attention focused on constant bickering in her governing coalition and her own party's troubled efforts to find a successor.
Merkel has run Germany for more than 14 years and has over a decade's experience of managing crises. She reassured her compatriots in the 2008 financial crisis that their savings were safe, led a hard-nosed but domestically popular response to the eurozone debt crisis, and then took an initially welcoming – but divisive – approach to an influx of migrants in 2015.
In the twilight of her chancellorship, she faces her biggest crisis yet – a fact underlined by her decision last week to make her first television address to the nation other than her annual New Year's message.
"This is serious – take it seriously," she told her compatriots. "Since German unification – no, since World War II – there has been no challenge to our country in which our acting together in solidarity matters so much."
With Germany largely shutting down public life, she alluded to her youth in communist East Germany as she spelled out the scale of the challenge and made clear how hard she found the prospect of clamping down on people's movement.
"For someone like me, for whom freedom of travel and movement were a hard-won right, such restrictions can only be justified by absolute necessity," she said. But they were, she said, "indispensable at the moment to save lives."
The drama was evident in Ms. Merkel's words, but the manner was familiar: Matter-of-fact and calm, reasoning rather than rousing, creating a message that hit home.
It is a style that has served the former physicist well in juggling Germany's often-fractious coalitions and maintaining public support over the years.
"Merkel painted a picture of the greatest challenge since World War II, but she did not speak of war," the influential Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper wrote. "She did not rely on martial words or gestures, but on people's reason. ... Nobody knows if that will be enough, but her tone will at least not lead the people to sink into uncertainty and fear."
Ms. Merkel's response to the coronavirus pandemic is still very much a work in progress, but a poll released Friday by ZDF television showed 89% of Germans thought the government was handling it well. The poll saw Ms. Merkel strengthen her lead as the country's most important politician, and a strong 7% rise for her center-right Union bloc after months in which it was weighed down by questions over its future leadership.
The poll, done by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The chancellor initially had Health Minister Jens Spahn be the public face of the government's response, drawing some criticism but has taken center stage over the past two weeks.
She kept that up after going into quarantine on Sunday after a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for the coronavirus. Since then she has twice tested negative for the virus herself but continues to work from home.
On Monday, she led a Cabinet meeting by phone from home and then issued an audio message setting out a huge government relief package to cushion the blow of the crisis to business – a format she said was "unusual, but it was important to me."
Her vice chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who is also finance minister and a member of her coalition partner Social Democrats, has also had a chance to shine in the crisis, leading the way with the aid package that will allow Germany to offer businesses more than 1 trillion euros ($1.1 trillion) that he described as a "bazooka."
The jury is still out on how the government's approach will work, but after having run a budget surplus for a half-decade, Germany is well-prepared to offer the massive aid program. Its health care system has been in good enough shape to be taking in patients from overwhelmed Italy and France, with intensive care beds still available.
Although Germany has registered the third-highest number of coronavirus infections in Europe with 57,695, it has only seen 433 people die, placing it sixth in Europe behind Italy, Spain, France, Britain, and even the Netherlands. Italy alone has over 10,000 dead.
Experts have attributed Germany's success partially to widespread and early testing for the virus, among other things.
In an audio message on Thursday night, Ms. Merkel cautioned, however, that it was far too early to declare victory over COVID-19, saying “now is not the time to talk about easing measures.”
No matter what the outcome of Germany's virus-fighting efforts, it won't change the fact that the Merkel era is drawing to a close. Ms. Merkel has never shown any signs of backing off her 2018 vow to leave politics at Germany's next election, due next year.
But the crisis may burnish her government's lackluster image and improve its chances of making it through to the fall of 2021, after persistent speculation that it wouldn't last the full legislative term.
And it certainly could put her successor on a better footing – though just who that will be is also up in the air. Ms. Merkel stepped down as her party's leader in 2018 but her own choice as a successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, lasted just over a year before declaring that she would step down after failing to establish her authority.
The decision on who will take over the leadership of Ms. Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party was supposed to be made in April, but has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by the Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-02-13--The reason behind China's spike in reported coronavirus cases

China on Thursday reported a sharp spike in deaths and infections from a new virus , but the rise comes from a new classification system in the hardest-hit province .
The change broadens the scope of diagnoses to identify and treat signs of the virus sooner in efforts to contain its spread .
The new approach came on the same day that the province of Hubei and its capital , Wuhan , replaced their top officials in an apparent response to public criticism of how authorities have handled the epidemic .
The World Health Organization is seeking more clarity from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definition and reporting protocol .
`` It is our current understanding that the new case definition widens the net , and includes not only lab-confirmed cases but also clinically diagnosed cases based on symptoms and exposure , '' said WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic in an email to The Associated Press .
`` The jump in cases today reflects the broader definition , '' he said .
In breaking down the large number of new cases in China , National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said Hubei had adopted a revised diagnosis and treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of patients .
In its statement , the Hubei health commission explained that it had changed its tally of cases to include “ clinically diagnosed cases , ” in addition to those confirmed by a test .
The statement did not elaborate on what clinical diagnosis entails , but the Hubei government had last week said it would start recognizing CT scan results as a way to speed up the confirmation of suspected cases , reported by Quartz .
The move to include cases confirmed by CT scan results means that case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also include probable cases , said Benjamin Cowling , division head of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong , reported Quartz .
One expert said the changed case definition in Hubei likely speaks to the crush of patients the health system is experiencing and the backlog of untested samples .
`` Clearly in Wuhan , the health system is under extreme pressure and so the first priority has to be the patient , '' said Mark Woolhouse , a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case definitions to rely on doctors ' diagnoses rather than wait for laboratory confirmation , and that these kinds of changes usually happen when there are simply too many patients to process in a fast-moving outbreak .
`` I 'm not surprised that this has happened given the way the outbreak has been going in China , '' Mr. Woolhouse said .
`` You have to be pragmatic and take the concerns of the patient first and treat them as if they already have the disease , even in the absence of lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-level officials in Hubei and Wuhan .
Hours after the announcement of the spike in new cases , the Chinese government announced a political shakeup in Hubei , reported TIME .
On Thursday , the Communist Party secretary of Hubei , Jiang Chaoliang , was removed from his post , according to state media .
The mayor of Shanghai , Ying Yong , will replace him .
“ Sacrificing a provincial party secretary is a big deal , and not a step Xi would have taken lightly , ” says Steve Tsang , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s SOAS China Institute .
“ So , it reflects both a sense of pressure as well as a determination to articulate strength and control.
” Mr. Jiang is the highest-ranking party official removed from office thus far over the outbreak , according to the TIME report .
The public has widely criticized local officials for failing to respond quickly and decisively to the new virus .
Authorities initially assured people that there was little to no risk of human-to-human transmission , a statement that was later retracted .
Wuhan residents said hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Doctors who tried to share information early on were reprimanded by police for `` spreading rumors . ''
An advance team of WHO experts has been in China since Monday .
The team is here to `` discuss specific arrangements for the China-WHO joint mission with the Chinese side , '' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily online briefing .
`` The purpose of the joint mission is that experts of both sides can have in-depth communication on the situation and efforts of prevention and control , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other affected countries , '' Mr. Geng said .
The death toll in China reached 1,367 , up 254 from the previous day .
The number of confirmed cases jumped 15,152 to 59,804 .
The unusually large increases of cases were due to the change in Hubei 's approach to include `` clinical diagnosis '' cases .
In an unprecedented measure to contain the disease , recently named COVID-19 , the Chinese government has placed the hardest-hit cities – home to more than 60 million – under lockdown .
One district in Shiyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented `` wartime measures , '' barring residents from leaving even their apartment compounds for two weeks .
According to a local government notice , neighborhood committees will distribute basic necessities at a fixed time and at fixed prices , as well as help residents purchase any medicine they might urgently need .
Many countries have implemented travel restrictions on recent visitors to China , which has more than 99 % of the world 's reported infections .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Grant Peck in Bangkok ; Maria Cheng in London , and researchers Liu Zheng and Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report .
Material from Time and Quartz was used in this report .

China on Thursday reported a sharp spike in deaths and infections from a new virus, but the rise comes from a new classification system in the hardest-hit province. The change broadens the scope of diagnoses to identify and treat signs of the virus sooner in efforts to contain its spread.
The new approach came on the same day that the province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, replaced their top officials in an apparent response to public criticism of how authorities have handled the epidemic.
The World Health Organization is seeking more clarity from China on the updates to its case definition and reporting protocol.
"It is our current understanding that the new case definition widens the net, and includes not only lab-confirmed cases but also clinically diagnosed cases based on symptoms and exposure," said WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic in an email to The Associated Press.
"The jump in cases today reflects the broader definition," he said.
In breaking down the large number of new cases in China, National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said Hubei had adopted a revised diagnosis and treatment plan aimed at accelerating the identification and treatment of patients.
In its statement, the Hubei health commission explained that it had changed its tally of cases to include “clinically diagnosed cases,” in addition to those confirmed by a test. The statement did not elaborate on what clinical diagnosis entails, but the Hubei government had last week said it would start recognizing CT scan results as a way to speed up the confirmation of suspected cases, reported by Quartz.
The move to include cases confirmed by CT scan results means that case definition has broadened from only laboratory-confirmed to also include probable cases, said Benjamin Cowling, division head of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong, reported Quartz.
One expert said the changed case definition in Hubei likely speaks to the crush of patients the health system is experiencing and the backlog of untested samples.
"Clearly in Wuhan, the health system is under extreme pressure and so the first priority has to be the patient," said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh.
He said it wasn't unprecedented for case definitions to rely on doctors' diagnoses rather than wait for laboratory confirmation, and that these kinds of changes usually happen when there are simply too many patients to process in a fast-moving outbreak.
"I'm not surprised that this has happened given the way the outbreak has been going in China," Mr. Woolhouse said. "You have to be pragmatic and take the concerns of the patient first and treat them as if they already have the disease, even in the absence of lab confirmation."
China also appointed new high-level officials in Hubei and Wuhan.
Hours after the announcement of the spike in new cases, the Chinese government announced a political shakeup in Hubei, reported TIME. On Thursday, the Communist Party secretary of Hubei, Jiang Chaoliang, was removed from his post, according to state media. The mayor of Shanghai, Ying Yong, will replace him.
“Sacrificing a provincial party secretary is a big deal, and not a step Xi would have taken lightly,” says Steve Tsang, director of the University of London’s SOAS China Institute. “So, it reflects both a sense of pressure as well as a determination to articulate strength and control.”
Mr. Jiang is the highest-ranking party official removed from office thus far over the outbreak, according to the TIME report.
The public has widely criticized local officials for failing to respond quickly and decisively to the new virus. Authorities initially assured people that there was little to no risk of human-to-human transmission, a statement that was later retracted. Wuhan residents said hospitals were overcrowded and lacked sufficient medical supplies. Doctors who tried to share information early on were reprimanded by police for "spreading rumors."
An advance team of WHO experts has been in China since Monday. The team is here to "discuss specific arrangements for the China-WHO joint mission with the Chinese side," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily online briefing.
"The purpose of the joint mission is that experts of both sides can have in-depth communication on the situation and efforts of prevention and control, and come up with advice for China and other affected countries," Mr. Geng said.
The death toll in China reached 1,367, up 254 from the previous day. The number of confirmed cases jumped 15,152 to 59,804. The unusually large increases of cases were due to the change in Hubei's approach to include "clinical diagnosis" cases.
In an unprecedented measure to contain the disease, recently named COVID-19, the Chinese government has placed the hardest-hit cities – home to more than 60 million – under lockdown. One district in Shiyan, a city in Hubei, has implemented "wartime measures," barring residents from leaving even their apartment compounds for two weeks.
According to a local government notice, neighborhood committees will distribute basic necessities at a fixed time and at fixed prices, as well as help residents purchase any medicine they might urgently need.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Many countries have implemented travel restrictions on recent visitors to China, which has more than 99% of the world's reported infections.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Sopheng Cheang in Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Grant Peck in Bangkok; Maria Cheng in London, and researchers Liu Zheng and Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. Material from Time and Quartz was used in this report.


csmonitor--2020-04-15--Daily for April 15, 2020

Daily for April 15, 2020

To many on the left , President Donald Trump has been a manifest disaster in guiding America through the current pandemic .
But Maria Romero most definitely would beg to differ .
“ The man is not a magician , but he ’ s doing everything he can .
… He believes in America and he believes in Americans , ” says Ms. Romero , who lost her job at a car dealership outside of Chicago two weeks ago because of COVID-19 .
She tunes into President Trump ’ s coronavirus briefings every evening , saying they make her feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be bitter , I could say , ‘ This is President Trump ’ s fault ’ – but it ’ s not , ” she says .
“ Things were wonderful [ before COVID-19 ] .
He did it once , he ’ ll do it again .
I trust him.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
As the United States navigates a spring season like no other , with much of its population sheltering at home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s core supporters – call them “ superfans ” – remain staunchly behind a chief executive they believe was Making America Great Again before a pandemic unexpectedly upset his plans .
Democrats may maintain that the president initially downplayed the threat from the novel coronavirus .
The media may report that the White House failed to prepare for the pandemic by making sure the U.S. had adequate testing and medical supplies .
But these superfans , while they agree the crisis has been devastating , believe that President Trump has responded with strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rightly attuned to the need to get the economy moving again as soon as possible , despite warnings from public health experts that broadly reopening workplaces before a vaccine or treatments are available could lead to another spike in fatalities .
This unshaken faith in Mr. Trump ’ s leadership is not necessarily because his supporters have been less impacted by the virus – although so far it has hit hardest in urban areas like New York and Detroit , which tend to be predominantly Democratic .
Still , plenty of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 .
Recently , the Front Row Joes – a self-named group of Trump superfans who travel the country going to MAGA rallies – lost one of their own : Benjamin Hirschmann , a young political science student from Fraser , Michigan , known for his smile and MAGA cape .
In response , however , Mr. Trump ’ s fans are more convinced than ever that he ’ s the right man for the job .
In interviews , more than a dozen Trump voters tell the Monitor they believe Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now more than ever .
“ Everything he is doing is for the good of the country , ” says Cindy Hoffman , who owns an industrial tool sharpening business with her husband in Independence , Iowa .
“ It feels like he ’ s my father .
He ’ s going to protect me.
” As polarized as ever In a world in which everything has suddenly been upended , it ’ s perhaps revealing that views of Mr. Trump have remained as polarized as ever .
Typically , support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Americans “ rally round the flag.
” Former President George W. Bush ’ s approval rating , for example , hit a record 90 % after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 .
And in early to mid-March , Mr. Trump ’ s overall approval rating did rise modestly , from 44 % to 53 % , according to a Morning Consult poll .
But that proved to be short lived .
By the beginning of April , Mr. Trump ’ s approval rating had fallen back to 49 % , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than before .
In the latest Morning Consult poll , it stands at 43 % – about where it was at the end of February .
The president ’ s critics say his “ rally round ” bump evaporated because his leadership through the pandemic has been poor .
Mr. Trump ’ s initial dismissal of the threat from the novel coronavirus as “ contained ” – and the critical time his administration wasted once the threat was known , when it should have been ramping up testing and the production of medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they say .
The president ’ s hard-core supporters , however , disagree .
According to a recent YouGov poll , 27 % of those surveyed “ strongly approve ” of President Trump ’ s current job performance .
That may be a rough measure for Mr. Trump ’ s true base , the voters who will not abandon him under almost any foreseeable circumstance .
The daily press briefings the president has been holding may be one way he ’ s continuing to keep his most committed fans behind him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American University ’ s School of Communication .
While Mr. Trump has always had a knack for grabbing the spotlight , he has been more visible than ever in recent weeks .
In some ways , the briefings have taken the place of MAGA rallies , providing a forum for the president to promote himself and attack the news media , impart valuable information , and make assertions that are not always backed by facts .
“ Every day he has a chance to reach his people , ” says Mr. Mollica .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing everything he can to support us Americans .
… To everyone else , he might not make any sense , but [ his fans ] believe he is making America great again , even as the numbers [ of coronavirus deaths ] climb.
” Indeed , many Trump supporters believe that the crisis would be far worse with anyone else in the White House .
When Mr. Trump moved to restrict flights from China back in January , he was called a racist , notes Tommy Dugo , a moderator for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably saved a lot of lives , ” says Mr. Dugo .
And if the president snaps at reporters during his daily briefings , it ’ s only because they refuse to acknowledge anything positive , says Randal Thom , a dog breeder and painter from Lakefield , Minnesota , and a founder of the Front Row Joes .
“ You see the reporters there giving him snarky comments and ‘ gotcha ’ type of questions , ” says Mr. Thom .
Mr. Trump has been criticized by many for suggesting he may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deem advisable , saying : “ We can not let the cure be worse than the problem itself.
” The president ’ s supporters often repeat this sentiment , with some adding that the COVID-19 models predicting high mortality rates seem like part of a Democratic conspiracy to keep the markets down and hurt Mr. Trump ’ s chances of reelection .
According to a YouGov poll from late March more than half of Mr. Trump ’ s voters believe it will be safe to end social distancing by May 1 , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton believe that move should come later .
Likewise , while almost 65 % of Clinton voters say Americans are still not taking the risks of coronavirus seriously enough , some 60 % of Trump voters say Americans are either behaving appropriately or overreacting .
Some of the president ’ s supporters , including Mr. Thom , recently created the group “ ReOpen America ” to try to show lawmakers that many voters agree with the president .
“ We are doing this to counter the left ’ s strategy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to keep America shut down.
” Of course , not all of Mr. Trump ’ s voters are thrilled with his handling of COVID-19 .
Katy Ritter , a stay-at-home mom in Louisville , Kentucky , voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 , but she ’ s had some buyer ’ s remorse watching the president ’ s recent press conferences , and is not sure she ’ ll vote for him again in November .
“ We need to be led by a more compassionate person , ” says Ms. Ritter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beshear as an example .
“ We ’ re all in this together , and I want [ Trump ] to give us some of that unity that Andy is giving us.
” And there are some issues where Trump supporters and critics widely agree – such as support for the $ 2 trillion CARES Act , the largest emergency aid package in US history .
According to the YouGov poll , a majority of both Trump and Clinton voters “ strongly approve ” of the coronavirus relief legislation ’ s payments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended unemployment eligibility , and its $ 117 billion for hospitals .
“ Usually I ’ m not a fan of doling out money .
I think people should make their own way , ” says Ms. Romero , who recently got two part-time jobs : one at Home Depot , and one at a local grocery store .
“ But the stimulus is a necessity right now .
This is uncharted territory.
” The isolation of quarantine is also a shared experience across party lines .
Like many Americans , the Front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line together for days in advance of Mr. Trump ’ s rallies – have been looking for ways to connect in this unprecedented time .
Last week a dozen of them from across the country logged into Zoom for a “ virtual flag drop , ” reciting the Pledge of Allegiance together from their pixelated squares , some posing in front of Trump posters , others wearing red hats .
The Joes have also been connecting on Facebook to share memories of Mr. Hirschmann .
They ’ ve been sharing news articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drive-by vigil in front of the Hirschmanns ’ home in Michigan , and photos of Taco Bell chalupas , Mr. Hirschmann ’ s favorite .
When Ms. Hoffman first heard the news about Mr. Hirschmann ’ s death from COVID-19 , she immediately called his cell phone – praying it wasn ’ t true .
But Mr. Hirschmann ’ s mother answered , and confirmed that her son had passed away .
“ He was a mixture between my brother and my son , ” says Ms. Hoffman , her voice wavering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ d worry about him.
” Still , Ms. Hoffman doesn ’ t blame Mr. Trump in any way for what happened – and she doesn ’ t believe Mr. Hirschmann would , either .
“ I trust [ Trump ] with my life .
… And Ben said that actual phrase to me : ‘ I trust Trump with my life , ’ ” she recalls .
If he were here , he would tell people “ to trust Trump , ” she says .
“ I know that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

In crisis, Trump’s most ardent fans find they love him more Collapse
To many on the left, President Donald Trump has been a manifest disaster in guiding America through the current pandemic.
But Maria Romero most definitely would beg to differ.
“The man is not a magician, but he’s doing everything he can. … He believes in America and he believes in Americans,” says Ms. Romero, who lost her job at a car dealership outside of Chicago two weeks ago because of COVID-19.
She tunes into President Trump’s coronavirus briefings every evening, saying they make her feel reassured and hopeful.
“I could be bitter, I could say, ‘This is President Trump’s fault’ – but it’s not,” she says. “Things were wonderful [before COVID-19]. He did it once, he’ll do it again. I trust him.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
As the United States navigates a spring season like no other, with much of its population sheltering at home and the economy frozen, President Trump’s core supporters – call them “superfans” – remain staunchly behind a chief executive they believe was Making America Great Again before a pandemic unexpectedly upset his plans.
Democrats may maintain that the president initially downplayed the threat from the novel coronavirus. The media may report that the White House failed to prepare for the pandemic by making sure the U.S. had adequate testing and medical supplies.
But these superfans, while they agree the crisis has been devastating, believe that President Trump has responded with strong leadership. They think the president is rightly attuned to the need to get the economy moving again as soon as possible, despite warnings from public health experts that broadly reopening workplaces before a vaccine or treatments are available could lead to another spike in fatalities.
This unshaken faith in Mr. Trump’s leadership is not necessarily because his supporters have been less impacted by the virus – although so far it has hit hardest in urban areas like New York and Detroit, which tend to be predominantly Democratic. Still, plenty of the president’s supporters have lost loved ones to COVID-19. Recently, the Front Row Joes – a self-named group of Trump superfans who travel the country going to MAGA rallies – lost one of their own: Benjamin Hirschmann, a young political science student from Fraser, Michigan, known for his smile and MAGA cape.
In response, however, Mr. Trump’s fans are more convinced than ever that he’s the right man for the job. In interviews, more than a dozen Trump voters tell the Monitor they believe Mr. Trump’s unique talents are needed now more than ever.
“Everything he is doing is for the good of the country,” says Cindy Hoffman, who owns an industrial tool sharpening business with her husband in Independence, Iowa. “It feels like he’s my father. He’s going to protect me.”
As polarized as ever
In a world in which everything has suddenly been upended, it’s perhaps revealing that views of Mr. Trump have remained as polarized as ever.
Typically, support for the president goes up in a crisis, as Americans “rally round the flag.” Former President George W. Bush’s approval rating, for example, hit a record 90% after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. And in early to mid-March, Mr. Trump’s overall approval rating did rise modestly, from 44% to 53%, according to a Morning Consult poll.
But that proved to be short lived. By the beginning of April, Mr. Trump’s approval rating had fallen back to 49%, with the gap between Democrats and Republicans even wider than before. In the latest Morning Consult poll, it stands at 43% – about where it was at the end of February.
The president’s critics say his “rally round” bump evaporated because his leadership through the pandemic has been poor. Mr. Trump’s initial dismissal of the threat from the novel coronavirus as “contained” – and the critical time his administration wasted once the threat was known, when it should have been ramping up testing and the production of medical supplies – has almost certainly cost lives, they say.
Courtesy of Cindy Hoffman View caption Hide caption Benjamin Hirschmann (front row, left), Cindy Hoffman (front row, right), and Randal Thom (second from right in back row) pose with some of the other "Front Row Joes" ahead of a Make America Great Again rally in Elkhart, Indiana on May 10, 2018.
The president’s hard-core supporters, however, disagree. According to a recent YouGov poll, 27% of those surveyed “strongly approve” of President Trump’s current job performance. That may be a rough measure for Mr. Trump’s true base, the voters who will not abandon him under almost any foreseeable circumstance.
The daily press briefings the president has been holding may be one way he’s continuing to keep his most committed fans behind him, says Jason Mollica, a lecturer at American University’s School of Communication.
While Mr. Trump has always had a knack for grabbing the spotlight, he has been more visible than ever in recent weeks. In some ways, the briefings have taken the place of MAGA rallies, providing a forum for the president to promote himself and attack the news media, impart valuable information, and make assertions that are not always backed by facts.
“Every day he has a chance to reach his people,” says Mr. Mollica. “He tells his supporters he is doing everything he can to support us Americans. … To everyone else, he might not make any sense, but [his fans] believe he is making America great again, even as the numbers [of coronavirus deaths] climb.”
Indeed, many Trump supporters believe that the crisis would be far worse with anyone else in the White House.
When Mr. Trump moved to restrict flights from China back in January, he was called a racist, notes Tommy Dugo, a moderator for a pro-Trump Facebook group. “But that probably saved a lot of lives,” says Mr. Dugo.
And if the president snaps at reporters during his daily briefings, it’s only because they refuse to acknowledge anything positive, says Randal Thom, a dog breeder and painter from Lakefield, Minnesota, and a founder of the Front Row Joes. “You see the reporters there giving him snarky comments and ‘gotcha’ type of questions,” says Mr. Thom.
Mr. Trump has been criticized by many for suggesting he may want to reopen America before health officials deem advisable, saying: “We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.”
The president’s supporters often repeat this sentiment, with some adding that the COVID-19 models predicting high mortality rates seem like part of a Democratic conspiracy to keep the markets down and hurt Mr. Trump’s chances of reelection.
According to a YouGov poll from late March more than half of Mr. Trump’s voters believe it will be safe to end social distancing by May 1, whereas the majority of those who voted for Hillary Clinton believe that move should come later. Likewise, while almost 65% of Clinton voters say Americans are still not taking the risks of coronavirus seriously enough, some 60% of Trump voters say Americans are either behaving appropriately or overreacting.
Some of the president’s supporters, including Mr. Thom, recently created the group “ReOpen America” to try to show lawmakers that many voters agree with the president.
“We are doing this to counter the left’s strategy,” says Mr. Thom. “Their narrative is to keep America shut down.”
Shared experiences
Of course, not all of Mr. Trump’s voters are thrilled with his handling of COVID-19. Katy Ritter, a stay-at-home mom in Louisville, Kentucky, voted for Mr. Trump in 2016, but she’s had some buyer’s remorse watching the president’s recent press conferences, and is not sure she’ll vote for him again in November.
“We need to be led by a more compassionate person,” says Ms. Ritter, pointing to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear as an example. “We’re all in this together, and I want [Trump] to give us some of that unity that Andy is giving us.”
And there are some issues where Trump supporters and critics widely agree – such as support for the $2 trillion CARES Act, the largest emergency aid package in US history. According to the YouGov poll, a majority of both Trump and Clinton voters “strongly approve” of the coronavirus relief legislation’s payments to Americans making less than $99,000, extended unemployment eligibility, and its $117 billion for hospitals.
“Usually I’m not a fan of doling out money. I think people should make their own way,” says Ms. Romero, who recently got two part-time jobs: one at Home Depot, and one at a local grocery store. “But the stimulus is a necessity right now. This is uncharted territory.”
The isolation of quarantine is also a shared experience across party lines. Like many Americans, the Front Row Joes – who often would wait in line together for days in advance of Mr. Trump’s rallies – have been looking for ways to connect in this unprecedented time.
Last week a dozen of them from across the country logged into Zoom for a “virtual flag drop,” reciting the Pledge of Allegiance together from their pixelated squares, some posing in front of Trump posters, others wearing red hats.
The Joes have also been connecting on Facebook to share memories of Mr. Hirschmann. They’ve been sharing news articles about the 500 cars that partook in a drive-by vigil in front of the Hirschmanns’ home in Michigan, and photos of Taco Bell chalupas, Mr. Hirschmann’s favorite.
When Ms. Hoffman first heard the news about Mr. Hirschmann’s death from COVID-19, she immediately called his cell phone – praying it wasn’t true. But Mr. Hirschmann’s mother answered, and confirmed that her son had passed away.
“He was a mixture between my brother and my son,” says Ms. Hoffman, her voice wavering. “He would worry about me and I’d worry about him.”
Still, Ms. Hoffman doesn’t blame Mr. Trump in any way for what happened – and she doesn’t believe Mr. Hirschmann would, either.
“I trust [Trump] with my life. … And Ben said that actual phrase to me: ‘I trust Trump with my life,’” she recalls. If he were here, he would tell people “to trust Trump,” she says. “I know that’s what he would say.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-03-30--Trump extends social distancing rules, states push quarantines

President Donald Trump on Sunday extended the national voluntary social distancing guidelines for a month , bowing to public-health experts who told him the coronavirus pandemic could claim more than 100,000 lives in the U.S. , perhaps significantly more , if not enough is done to fight it .
It was a stark shift in tone by the president , who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks .
From the Rose Garden , he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “ aspirational.
” The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic .
But instead he decided to extend the guidelines through April 30 , a tacit acknowledgment he 'd been too optimistic .
Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on travel and gatherings .
It was a weekend of shifting winds .
On Saturday , President Trump backed away from calling for a quarantine for coronavirus hotspots in New York , New Jersey , and Connecticut , instead directing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be issued to stem the spread of the outbreak .
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted that the CDC was urging residents of the three states “ to refrain from non-essential travel for the next 14 days.
” The notion of a quarantine had been advocated by several governors , including Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis of Florida , who sought to halt travelers from the heavily affected areas to their states .
But it drew swift criticism from the leaders of the states in question , who warned it would spark panic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Trump announced he reached the decision after consulting with the White House task force leading the federal response and the governors of the three states .
He said he had directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention `` to issue a strong Travel Advisory , to be administered by the Governors , in consultation with the Federal Government.
” He added : “ A quarantine will not be necessary.
” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who has criticized the federal government ’ s response as his state became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roping off states would amount to “ a federal declaration of war.
” Mr. Cuomo said the prospect of a quarantine did n't come up when he spoke with Mr. Trump earlier Saturday , adding that he believed it would be illegal , economically catastrophic , “ preposterous , ” and shortsighted when other parts of the U.S. are seeing cases rise , too .
“ If you start walling off areas all across the country , it would be totally bizarre , counterproductive , anti-American , anti-social , ” Mr. Cuomo told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s financial capital would shock the stock market and “ paralyze the economy ” at a time when Mr. Trump has indicated he ’ s itching to get the economy back on track .
Mr. Trump made his initial remarks while on a trip to Norfolk , Virginia , to see off a U.S. Navy hospital ship heading to New York City to help with the pandemic .
At the event , he spoke to a sparse crowd at the naval base and cautioned Americans to take virus protections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is in a high-risk category and among those who have been advised to refrain from all non-essential travel .
The federal government is empowered to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states , but it 's not clear that means Mr. Trump can ban people from leaving their state .
It has never been tested in the modern era – and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged , the courts generally sided with public health officials .
Courts have ruled consistently for years that the authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely with the states , under provisions in the Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states .
The federal government , though , would have power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases .
Still , “ it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from traveling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak , '' said Lawrence Gostin , a Georgetown University law professor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's ability to order a quarantine on states .
But as Mr. Trump traveled to Norfolk , he tweeted : “ I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “ hot spots ” , New York , New Jersey , and Connecticut .
A decision will be made , one way or another , shortly.
” “ A lot of the states that are infected but don ’ t have a big problem , they ’ ve asked me if I ’ ll look at it , so we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said .
When asked about legal authority for quarantine , the incoming White House chief of staff , Mark Meadows , said officials are “ evaluating all the options right now.
” The governors of Florida , Maryland , South Carolina , and Texas already have ordered people arriving from the New York area to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival .
In a more dramatic step , Rhode Island police have begun pulling over drivers with New York plates so that the National Guard can collect contact information and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .
The Rhode Island National Guard started going door to door on Saturday in coastal areas to inform any New Yorkers who may have come to the state that they must self-quarantine for 14 days while Gov .
Gina Raimondo expanded the mandatory self-quarantine to anyone visiting the state .
Governor Raimondo also ordered residents to stay at home , with exceptions for getting food , medicine , or going to the doctor , and ordered nonessential retail businesses to close Monday until April 13 to help stop the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel operators to include new requirements that any out-of-state residents must quarantine for 14 days in their purchase agreements .
State Police set up a checkpoint on I-95 in Hope Valley on Friday where drivers with New York license plates must stop and provide contact information and were told to self-quarantine for two weeks , WPRI.com reported .
Mr. Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by Mr. DeSantis , one of the president 's most outspoken supporters .
It came a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic .
Mr. Trump said people “ go to Florida and a lot of people don ’ t want that .
So we ’ ll see what happens . ''
He later clarified it would not affect truckers or people transiting through , and would not affect trade .
Florida is a perennial swing state , and one Mr. Trump must win come November – plus he recently moved his residence from New York to Florida .
It also has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of old people , who are particularly vulnerable to the virus .
Mr. DeSantis confirmed he had spoken with the president about the possibility of a quarantine for the New York City area .
Speaking Saturday to reporters , Mr. DeSantis said Florida will soon set up a checkpoint along Interstate 95 to screen travelers from that area , similar to one already in place along Interstate 10 to screen people from Louisiana .
Many airports in Florida also are screening travelers from certain areas , requiring them to self-isolate for 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reported cases with more than 121,000 .
There were roughly 2,000 deaths recorded by Saturday night , according to John Hopkins University .
New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy tweeted Saturday night that he 's been in communication with Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence and that their guidance “ does not change the rules that have been established and in place for over a week now '' in New Jersey .
He said the frontline response effort , like health care and supermarket workers , are still needed .
“ I encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and take personal responsibility to help us get through this public health emergency.
” Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont , also a Democrat , said at a news conference that Mr. Trump ’ s words about a quarantine have created a “ certain amount of confusion '' and that `` confusion can lead to panic.
” He said such a quarantine order would be “ impossible to enforce given the spider web of roads '' and that he hoped the White House would clarify what it wants .
After speaking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USS Comfort slowly made its way out of port .
The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance , but was rushed back into service to aid the city .
It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier days after its sister ship , the USNS Mercy , arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Ms. Long reported from Washington .
AP writers Lisa Rathke and David Goldman in Rhode Island , Jennifer Peltz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jill Colvin and Michael Balsamo in Washington , Michael Tarm in Chicago , Ben Finley in Norfolk , Virginia , Curt Anderson in Miami and Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus , Ohio , contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

President Donald Trump on Sunday extended the national voluntary social distancing guidelines for a month, bowing to public-health experts who told him the coronavirus pandemic could claim more than 100,000 lives in the U.S., perhaps significantly more, if not enough is done to fight it.
It was a stark shift in tone by the president, who only days ago mused about the country reopening in a few weeks. From the Rose Garden, he said his Easter revival hopes had only been “aspirational.”
The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the federal government expires Monday and Mr. Trump had expressed interest in relaxing the national guidelines at least in parts of the country less afflicted by the pandemic. But instead he decided to extend the guidelines through April 30, a tacit acknowledgment he'd been too optimistic. Many states and local governments have stiffer controls in place on travel and gatherings.
It was a weekend of shifting winds. On Saturday, President Trump backed away from calling for a quarantine for coronavirus hotspots in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, instead directing that a “strong Travel Advisory” be issued to stem the spread of the outbreak.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted that the CDC was urging residents of the three states “to refrain from non-essential travel for the next 14 days.”
The notion of a quarantine had been advocated by several governors, including Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who sought to halt travelers from the heavily affected areas to their states. But it drew swift criticism from the leaders of the states in question, who warned it would spark panic in a populace already suffering under the virus.
Mr. Trump announced he reached the decision after consulting with the White House task force leading the federal response and the governors of the three states. He said he had directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to issue a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government.”
He added: “A quarantine will not be necessary.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has criticized the federal government’s response as his state became the country's virus epicenter, said roping off states would amount to “a federal declaration of war.” Mr. Cuomo said the prospect of a quarantine didn't come up when he spoke with Mr. Trump earlier Saturday, adding that he believed it would be illegal, economically catastrophic, “preposterous,” and shortsighted when other parts of the U.S. are seeing cases rise, too.
“If you start walling off areas all across the country, it would be totally bizarre, counterproductive, anti-American, anti-social,” Mr. Cuomo told CNN. He added that locking down the nation’s financial capital would shock the stock market and “paralyze the economy” at a time when Mr. Trump has indicated he’s itching to get the economy back on track.
Mr. Trump made his initial remarks while on a trip to Norfolk, Virginia, to see off a U.S. Navy hospital ship heading to New York City to help with the pandemic. At the event, he spoke to a sparse crowd at the naval base and cautioned Americans to take virus protections, even though he himself, at 73, is in a high-risk category and among those who have been advised to refrain from all non-essential travel.
The federal government is empowered to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases between states, but it's not clear that means Mr. Trump can ban people from leaving their state. It has never been tested in the modern era – and in rare cases when any quarantine was challenged, the courts generally sided with public health officials.
Courts have ruled consistently for years that the authority to order quarantines inside states rests almost entirely with the states, under provisions in the Constitution ceding power not explicitly delegated to the federal government to states. The federal government, though, would have power under constitutional clauses regulating commerce to quarantine international travelers or those traveling state to state who might be carriers of deadly diseases.
Still, “it is entirely unprecedented that governors or the president would prevent people from traveling from one state to another during an infectious disease outbreak," said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor and public health specialist who questioned Mr. Trump's ability to order a quarantine on states.
But as Mr. Trump traveled to Norfolk, he tweeted: “I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “hot spots”, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.”
“A lot of the states that are infected but don’t have a big problem, they’ve asked me if I’ll look at it, so we’re going to look at it,” Mr. Trump said.
When asked about legal authority for quarantine, the incoming White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said officials are “evaluating all the options right now.”
The governors of Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas already have ordered people arriving from the New York area to self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival. In a more dramatic step, Rhode Island police have begun pulling over drivers with New York plates so that the National Guard can collect contact information and inform them of a mandatory, 14-day quarantine.
The Rhode Island National Guard started going door to door on Saturday in coastal areas to inform any New Yorkers who may have come to the state that they must self-quarantine for 14 days while Gov. Gina Raimondo expanded the mandatory self-quarantine to anyone visiting the state.
Governor Raimondo also ordered residents to stay at home, with exceptions for getting food, medicine, or going to the doctor, and ordered nonessential retail businesses to close Monday until April 13 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. She also directed realtors and hotel operators to include new requirements that any out-of-state residents must quarantine for 14 days in their purchase agreements.
State Police set up a checkpoint on I-95 in Hope Valley on Friday where drivers with New York license plates must stop and provide contact information and were told to self-quarantine for two weeks, WPRI.com reported.
Mr. Trump said the idea of isolating many in the trio of Democratic strongholds in the Northeast was pushed by Mr. DeSantis, one of the president's most outspoken supporters. It came a day after Mr. Trump made clear he wanted governors to be grateful when asking for federal support for the pandemic.
Mr. Trump said people “go to Florida and a lot of people don’t want that. So we’ll see what happens." He later clarified it would not affect truckers or people transiting through, and would not affect trade.
Florida is a perennial swing state, and one Mr. Trump must win come November – plus he recently moved his residence from New York to Florida. It also has a population of 21 million with a large percentage of old people, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Mr. DeSantis confirmed he had spoken with the president about the possibility of a quarantine for the New York City area. Speaking Saturday to reporters, Mr. DeSantis said Florida will soon set up a checkpoint along Interstate 95 to screen travelers from that area, similar to one already in place along Interstate 10 to screen people from Louisiana. Many airports in Florida also are screening travelers from certain areas, requiring them to self-isolate for 14 days.
The U.S. leads the world in reported cases with more than 121,000. There were roughly 2,000 deaths recorded by Saturday night, according to John Hopkins University.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Saturday night that he's been in communication with Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence and that their guidance “does not change the rules that have been established and in place for over a week now" in New Jersey. He said the frontline response effort, like health care and supermarket workers, are still needed. “I encourage all New Jerseyans to continue practicing aggressive social distancing and take personal responsibility to help us get through this public health emergency.”
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, said at a news conference that Mr. Trump’s words about a quarantine have created a “certain amount of confusion" and that "confusion can lead to panic.” He said such a quarantine order would be “impossible to enforce given the spider web of roads" and that he hoped the White House would clarify what it wants.
After speaking in Norfolk, Mr. Trump watched as the USS Comfort slowly made its way out of port. The 1,000-bed hospital ship had been undergoing planned maintenance, but was rushed back into service to aid the city.
It is scheduled to arrive Monday at a Manhattan pier days after its sister ship, the USNS Mercy, arrived in Los Angeles to perform a similar duty on the West Coast.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Ms. Long reported from Washington. AP writers Lisa Rathke and David Goldman in Rhode Island, Jennifer Peltz in New York City, Matt Perrone, Jill Colvin and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Michael Tarm in Chicago, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Curt Anderson in Miami and Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.