cnbc--2020-03-24--Doctors warn coronavirus deaths could 'skyrocket' if restrictions are loosened as Trump wants

People line up to get a test at Elmhurst Hospital due to coronavirus outbreak on March 24 , 2020 in Queens , New York , United States .
There are now more than 35,000 cases of COVID-19 in the United States as governments scramble to contain the spread .
A day earlier , an article in The Atlantic authored by two doctors called for `` a true national pause — a cessation of all nonessential activities '' for at least two weeks in the United States , which could significantly slow the progression of the pandemic .
Also Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. reached 50,206 , with deaths linked to the virus reaching 600 .
Trump said Tuesday , `` I would love to have the country opened up , and just raring to go , by Easter , '' which is on April 12 this year .
Trump has been motivated by a desire to reverse at least some of the massive economic fallout from restrictions of varying forms around the country in reaction to the virus outbreak .
`` It 's going to be a lot more people , '' said Tan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital of Chicago .
`` If you do n't keep the restrictions or make them stricter , you 're going to have more people infected , hospitalized , and dying from the disease , '' said Dr. Tina Tan , a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America .
Those doctors said that President Donald Trump , governors and health officials should actually impose even stronger restrictions to stem the spread of the pandemic than are in effect now .
Doctors who specialize in infectious diseases warned Tuesday that deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase if the Trump administration relaxes guidelines that have encouraged Americans to minimize contact with one another .
Twenty Democratic members of the House of Representatives in a letter to Trump on Tuesday urged him to `` immediately issue a nationwide 'shelter-in-place ' order '' for at least two weeks for the same reason .
Tan said she agreed that a shutdown of that type could decrease the death toll that is now looming .
`` We 're going to completely overwhelm the hospital system , '' without tighter restrictions than those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are many systems right now that are right on the edge .
It does n't take much to push them over . ''
`` Look at Italy , '' she said , referring to the country that at the moment has the highest number of active coronavirus cases .
`` They made some restrictions , then tightened , '' she said .
`` Then a lot of people died . ''
More than 6,800 people in Italy have died from the outbreak .
`` Loosening restrictions makes absolutely no sense if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Tan said .
`` I really think now that people are worth more than actually trying to save the economy right now . ''
Dr. Greg Poland , a member of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota , said , `` This is fundamentally a tension , worldwide , between politics , economics and lives , and how is that going to shake out ? ''
`` That 's what I 'm worried about , '' Poland said .
Poland said the rate of transmission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tan , he said that relaxing guidelines could speed up the number of cases and deaths .
`` From a pandemic point of view , the more you keep people distanced from one another , and [ practice regular ] handwashing , they can not get infected , '' he said .
`` We have n't even reached the peak of this pandemic yet , '' he said .
Bringing people back together in business and social settings in coming weeks `` means that you are doing that with the full knowledge that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical system , and increasing mortality , '' Poland said .
`` As you increase the demand on the health-care system , the mortality rate goes up .
It skyrockets , '' Poland said .
He said tight restrictions that discourage interactions between people should be continued for some time to slow the spread of the virus .
`` This is not weeks , this is months , plural , '' Poland said .
`` What we 're seeing right now is a reflection of transmissions that happened 14 to 28 days ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality is you have to have no cases , wait 14 to 28 days , and see if there are no [ additional ] cases , and then say 'all clear . '
'' He compared the pandemic to a house fire .
`` If your house is on fire , and I come squirt some water in a corner for a while , yeah , I do n't burn that corner , but the rest of the house is on fire , '' Poland said .
`` There is no halfway [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the house still burns down . ''
An analysis by researchers at Imperial College in London projected that 2.2 million Americans could die from the coronavirus without suppression efforts like the ones adopted by states and encouraged by the federal government .
With restrictions , the death toll could drop to 1.1 million , or even less , depending on the strength and prevalence of the restrictions .
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CNBC 's `` Squawk Box '' on Tuesday that the U.S. has `` several more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider lifting stringent coronavirus mitigation measures such as stay-at-home orders .
`` This is going to be a long fight , '' said Gottlieb , who is a CNBC contributor .
`` I think we need to keep this going for several more weeks , but there is an end to this , and we know where it is , '' Gottlieb said .

A day earlier, an article in The Atlantic authored by two doctors called for "a true national pause — a cessation of all nonessential activities" for at least two weeks in the United States, which could significantly slow the progression of the pandemic.
Trump said Tuesday, "I would love to have the country opened up, and just raring to go, by Easter," which is on April 12 this year.
Trump has been motivated by a desire to reverse at least some of the massive economic fallout from restrictions of varying forms around the country in reaction to the virus outbreak.
"It's going to be a lot more people," said Tan, who works at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
"If you don't keep the restrictions or make them stricter, you're going to have more people infected, hospitalized, and dying from the disease," said Dr. Tina Tan, a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Those doctors said that President Donald Trump , governors and health officials should actually impose even stronger restrictions to stem the spread of the pandemic than are in effect now.
Doctors who specialize in infectious diseases warned Tuesday that deaths in the U.S. from the coronavirus could dramatically increase if the Trump administration relaxes guidelines that have encouraged Americans to minimize contact with one another.
Twenty Democratic members of the House of Representatives in a letter to Trump on Tuesday urged him to "immediately issue a nationwide 'shelter-in-place' order" for at least two weeks for the same reason.
Tan said she agreed that a shutdown of that type could decrease the death toll that is now looming.
"We're going to completely overwhelm the hospital system," without tighter restrictions than those in effect now, Tan said.
"There are many systems right now that are right on the edge. It doesn't take much to push them over."
"Look at Italy," she said, referring to the country that at the moment has the highest number of active coronavirus cases.
"They made some restrictions, then tightened," she said. "Then a lot of people died." More than 6,800 people in Italy have died from the outbreak.
"Loosening restrictions makes absolutely no sense if you look at it from a health perspective," Tan said. "I really think now that people are worth more than actually trying to save the economy right now."
Dr. Greg Poland, a member of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said, "This is fundamentally a tension, worldwide, between politics, economics and lives, and how is that going to shake out?"
TWEET
"That's what I'm worried about," Poland said.
Poland said the rate of transmission of the coronavirus has been increasing exponentially. Like Tan, he said that relaxing guidelines could speed up the number of cases and deaths.
"From a pandemic point of view, the more you keep people distanced from one another, and [practice regular] handwashing, they cannot get infected," he said.
"We haven't even reached the peak of this pandemic yet," he said.
Bringing people back together in business and social settings in coming weeks "means that you are doing that with the full knowledge that you are increasing surge demand on the medical system, and increasing mortality," Poland said.
"As you increase the demand on the health-care system, the mortality rate goes up. It skyrockets," Poland said.
He said tight restrictions that discourage interactions between people should be continued for some time to slow the spread of the virus.
"This is not weeks, this is months, plural," Poland said.
"What we're seeing right now is a reflection of transmissions that happened 14 to 28 days ago," he said. "The reality is you have to have no cases, wait 14 to 28 days, and see if there are no [additional] cases, and then say 'all clear.'"
He compared the pandemic to a house fire.
"If your house is on fire, and I come squirt some water in a corner for a while, yeah, I don't burn that corner, but the rest of the house is on fire," Poland said. "There is no halfway [response], and if there is, the house still burns down."
An analysis by researchers at Imperial College in London projected that 2.2 million Americans could die from the coronavirus without suppression efforts like the ones adopted by states and encouraged by the federal government.
With restrictions, the death toll could drop to 1.1 million, or even less, depending on the strength and prevalence of the restrictions.
Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday that the U.S. has "several more weeks" to go before officials should consider lifting stringent coronavirus mitigation measures such as stay-at-home orders.
"This is going to be a long fight," said Gottlieb, who is a CNBC contributor.
"I think we need to keep this going for several more weeks, but there is an end to this, and we know where it is," Gottlieb said.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Trump wants 'packed churches' and economy open again on Easter despite the deadly threat of coronavi

Trump wants 'packed churches' and economy open again on Easter despite the deadly threat of coronavirus

US President Donald Trump ( L ) speaks during a virtual town hall meeting from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington , DC , on March 24 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants the U.S. economy to `` open '' back up by Easter Sunday , despite expert warnings about the deadly threat of the coronavirus .
Easter is April 12 , less than three weeks away .
Trump 's remarks in a Fox News `` virtual town hall '' event at the White House came as more states imposed extreme measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home , to try to slow the spread of the disease .
`` We 're opening up this incredible country .
Because we have to do that .
I would love to have it open by Easter , '' Trump said .
`` I would love to have that .
It 's such an important day for other reasons , but I 'd love to make it an important day for this .
I would love to have the country opened up , and rarin ' to go by Easter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that aired Tuesday afternoon , Trump said he offered the holiday as a deadline because `` Easter 's a very special day for me . ''
`` Would n't it be great to have all the churches full ? ''
Trump asked .
`` You 'll have packed churches all over our country … I think it 'll be a beautiful time . ''
Trump added that `` I 'm not sure that 's going to be the day , '' but `` that would be a beautiful thing . ''
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to back off the idea even further .
`` We 'll only do it if it 's good , '' Trump said , adding that he is `` very much in touch '' with White House experts .
`` I just think it would be a beautiful timeline . ''
`` Our decision will be based on hard facts and data as to the opening '' of the economy , Trump said in that presser .
`` Every decision is grounded solely in the health , safety and wellbeing of our citizens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's suggestion that Americans could gather en masse amid the coronavirus outbreak .
`` Obviously Trump is not rooted in reality , '' said Dr. Tina Tan , a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a staff member at Lurie Children 's Hospital of Chicago .
`` This is the making of a major public health disaster .
I am not sure where he is getting his information from , but it is extremely flawed , '' Tan said .
The number of people found to have COVID-19 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing kits have been made more available to states .
At least 46,500 cases of COVID-19 , including 590 deaths , have so far been confirmed in the U.S. , according to Johns Hopkins University .
With a growing number of Americans not willing to attend church , many churches have already canceled their in-person Easter services .
`` Our current plan is to have Masses and other Holy Week liturgies celebrated privately by the priests , with no congregation present , '' a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area has quickly become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and other tri-state officials banned large gatherings of people last week .
Medical experts , including the Trump administration 's scientific point man in the crisis , Dr. Anthony Fauci , have strongly advocated restrictions on people-to-people contact , saying it 's better to overreact now than to be sorry later .
`` I think we should really be overly aggressive and get criticized for overreacting , '' he told NBC last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Easter timeline , Fauci said there could be flexibility in different areas of the country where coronavirus cases are less prevalent .
Fauci has been lauded across the aisle for his straight talk about the coronavirus , offering blunt risk assessments – even at times when Trump has downplayed the threat .
Fauci was absent from the White House 's most recent briefings on the virus , but appeared at the Tuesday evening briefing .
A senior administration official told CNBC that Fauci was at the White House on Monday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force earlier Tuesday .
Fears about the coronavirus — and the impact of government containment efforts on businesses and workers — have prompted a dramatic surge in unemployment and have sent stocks spiraling down in recent weeks .
The White House and leading lawmakers are working long hours on Capitol Hill to hash out the final details of a massive stimulus bill that would offer relief to those affected by the virus .
The stimulus package is expected to cost at least $ 1.5 trillion and could include direct cash payments to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for small businesses .

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants the U.S. economy to "open" back up by Easter Sunday, despite expert warnings about the deadly threat of the coronavirus.
Easter is April 12, less than three weeks away.
Trump's remarks in a Fox News "virtual town hall" event at the White House came as more states imposed extreme measures, including shutting down businesses and ordering residents to stay home, to try to slow the spread of the disease.
"We're opening up this incredible country. Because we have to do that. I would love to have it open by Easter," Trump said.
"I would love to have that. It's such an important day for other reasons, but I'd love to make it an important day for this. I would love to have the country opened up, and rarin' to go by Easter."
In a second interview with Fox that aired Tuesday afternoon, Trump said he offered the holiday as a deadline because "Easter's a very special day for me."
"Wouldn't it be great to have all the churches full?" Trump asked. "You'll have packed churches all over our country … I think it'll be a beautiful time."
Trump added that "I'm not sure that's going to be the day," but "that would be a beautiful thing."
At a press briefing Tuesday evening, Trump appeared to back off the idea even further. "We'll only do it if it's good," Trump said, adding that he is "very much in touch" with White House experts. "I just think it would be a beautiful timeline."
"Our decision will be based on hard facts and data as to the opening" of the economy, Trump said in that presser. "Every decision is grounded solely in the health, safety and wellbeing of our citizens."
Medical experts had recoiled at Trump's suggestion that Americans could gather en masse amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"Obviously Trump is not rooted in reality," said Dr. Tina Tan, a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a staff member at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
"This is the making of a major public health disaster. I am not sure where he is getting his information from, but it is extremely flawed," Tan said.
The number of people found to have COVID-19 has increased significantly in recent days, as testing kits have been made more available to states.
At least 46,500 cases of COVID-19, including 590 deaths, have so far been confirmed in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.
With a growing number of Americans not willing to attend church, many churches have already canceled their in-person Easter services.
"Our current plan is to have Masses and other Holy Week liturgies celebrated privately by the priests, with no congregation present," a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York told CNBC.
The New York metro area has quickly become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other tri-state officials banned large gatherings of people last week.
Medical experts, including the Trump administration's scientific point man in the crisis, Dr. Anthony Fauci, have strongly advocated restrictions on people-to-people contact, saying it's better to overreact now than to be sorry later.
"I think we should really be overly aggressive and get criticized for overreacting," he told NBC last week.
Asked at the White House on Tuesday about the Easter timeline, Fauci said there could be flexibility in different areas of the country where coronavirus cases are less prevalent.
Fauci has been lauded across the aisle for his straight talk about the coronavirus, offering blunt risk assessments – even at times when Trump has downplayed the threat. Fauci was absent from the White House's most recent briefings on the virus, but appeared at the Tuesday evening briefing.
A senior administration official told CNBC that Fauci was at the White House on Monday and had numerous meetings with the coronavirus task force earlier Tuesday.
Fears about the coronavirus — and the impact of government containment efforts on businesses and workers — have prompted a dramatic surge in unemployment and have sent stocks spiraling down in recent weeks.
The White House and leading lawmakers are working long hours on Capitol Hill to hash out the final details of a massive stimulus bill that would offer relief to those affected by the virus. The stimulus package is expected to cost at least $1.5 trillion and could include direct cash payments to Americans and around $350 billion in relief for small businesses.


cnbc--2020-03-24--White House tells anyone who has left NYC that they should self quarantine

Deborah Birx , coronavirus response coordinator , speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump , left , listens during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Friday , March 20 , 2020 .
White House officials Tuesday urged anyone leaving the New York City metropolitan area to self-isolate and monitor themselves carefully for 14 days as President Donald Trump called the region a `` hot spot '' for coronavirus cases .
`` For anyone in the New York metropolitan area who has traveled , our task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature , be sensitive to symptoms , '' Vice President Mike Pence , chair of the administration 's coronavirus task force , said during a White House press briefing .
`` And we are asking anyone who has traveled out of the New York City metropolitan area to anywhere else in the country to self isolate for 14 days . ''
Deborah Birx , the task force coordinator , and Anthony Fauci , another task force member and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said the precaution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in the nation 's most populous city .
Birx said that the 14 days should start based on the time that the individual left New York .
She said that cases were already springing up in Long Island suggesting that infected individuals had left the city .
Cornavirus cases have been doubling approximately every three days in New York and have surpassed 25,000 , with more than 3,000 people needing to be hospitalized , according to Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
The state projects it could need as many as 140,000 hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The problem is concentrated in New York City , whose 8.4 million inhabitants make it the densest major city in the country , according to government statistics .
`` It 's a very serious situation and they have suffered terribly through no fault of their own , but what we are seeing now is that understandably people want to get out of New York , '' Fauci said at Tuesday 's briefing .
`` They 're going to Florida .
They 're going to Long Island .
They 're going to different places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these individuals are infected , '' Fauci said , calling the statistics `` disturbing . ''
`` That 's about eight to 10 times more than in other areas , which means when they go to another place , for their own safety , they 've got to be careful , monitor themselves , '' Fauci said .
`` If they get sick , bring it to the attention of a physician , get tested .
Also , the idea of self-isolating for two weeks will be very important . ''
Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his handling of the crisis , lashed out at those in the federal government during an address earlier Tuesday .
He said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would send the state 400 ventilators .
`` Four hundred ventilators ?
I need 30,000 ventilators .
You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators ? ''
Cuomo said .
The governor said that the situation in New York was likely to be replicated in other states in the coming weeks .
`` New York is the canary in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` New York is going first . ''
Correction : This story was updated to correctly attribute a quote to Vice President Mike Pence .

Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump, left, listens during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 20, 2020.
White House officials Tuesday urged anyone leaving the New York City metropolitan area to self-isolate and monitor themselves carefully for 14 days as President Donald Trump called the region a "hot spot" for coronavirus cases.
"For anyone in the New York metropolitan area who has traveled, our task force is encouraging you to monitor your temperature, be sensitive to symptoms," Vice President Mike Pence, chair of the administration's coronavirus task force, said during a White House press briefing. "And we are asking anyone who has traveled out of the New York City metropolitan area to anywhere else in the country to self isolate for 14 days."
Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, and Anthony Fauci, another task force member and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the precaution was necessary given the high rate of infections in the nation's most populous city.
Birx said that the 14 days should start based on the time that the individual left New York. She said that cases were already springing up in Long Island suggesting that infected individuals had left the city.
Cornavirus cases have been doubling approximately every three days in New York and have surpassed 25,000, with more than 3,000 people needing to be hospitalized, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state projects it could need as many as 140,000 hospital beds within two to three weeks. The problem is concentrated in New York City, whose 8.4 million inhabitants make it the densest major city in the country, according to government statistics.
"It's a very serious situation and they have suffered terribly through no fault of their own, but what we are seeing now is that understandably people want to get out of New York," Fauci said at Tuesday's briefing. "They're going to Florida. They're going to Long Island. They're going to different places."
"About one per 1000 of these individuals are infected," Fauci said, calling the statistics "disturbing."
"That's about eight to 10 times more than in other areas, which means when they go to another place, for their own safety, they've got to be careful, monitor themselves," Fauci said. "If they get sick, bring it to the attention of a physician, get tested. Also, the idea of self-isolating for two weeks will be very important."
Cuomo, who has tangled with Trump over his handling of the crisis, lashed out at those in the federal government during an address earlier Tuesday. He said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would send the state 400 ventilators.
"Four hundred ventilators? I need 30,000 ventilators. You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators?" Cuomo said.
The governor said that the situation in New York was likely to be replicated in other states in the coming weeks.
"New York is the canary in the coal mine," Cuomo said. "New York is going first."
Correction: This story was updated to correctly attribute a quote to Vice President Mike Pence.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Trump approval rating rises as he responds to the coronavirus outbreak

President Donald Trump arrives with Vice President Mike Pence to address the coronavirus response daily briefing at the White House in Washington , March 23 , 2020 .
Crises are often the ticket to higher approval ratings for politicians , and President Donald Trump , it appears , is no exception .
During an election year , any bump could have significant ramifications .
In the latest Gallup poll , released Tuesday , Trump 's approval rating hit 49 % , matching his best performance in the poll .
Earlier this month , Trump 's approval rating was at 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-point boost comes amid the president 's near daily participation in coronavirus task force briefings and series of moves to combat the pandemic in the United States .
This is the second time Trump has received a 49 % approval rating in a Gallup poll .
The first time was in a February poll conducted at the time of his impeachment trial .
The most recent Gallup poll was conducted from March 13 to 22 , around the time Trump began responding more seriously to the coronavirus , which has roiled markets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump initially played down the impact of the outbreak but changed his approached .
On the first day of the poll , he declared a national emergency , freeing up financial resources to assist Americans affected by the health and economic crisis .
Since then , he has pledged to waive all interest on federal student loans as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the economy , the result of harsh measures put in place to contain the virus .
But a week after his promise , borrowers said they were still being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers , Trump said he would put the Korean War-era Defense Production Act `` into gear '' to mobilize private business resources to fight the coronavirus .
The act enables the government to compel businesses to manufacture supplies needed during a crisis , such as medical masks , ventilators , gloves and testing swabs .
But he has not taken much advantage of that wartime power .
The administration first used it on Tuesday to gain access to 60,000 coronavirus test kits , according to Politico .
Several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departments have been begging Trump to use the act to increase production of protective gear for first responders .
The Trump administration 's coronavirus task force on March 16 released guidelines that urged Americans for a two-week period to avoid going to restaurants or bars or attending social gatherings of more than 10 individuals , and recommended most employees work from home .
But Trump has in the last few days indicated that he would like to loosen those measures to restart the crashing economy by Easter , despite the virus ' acceleration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gallup poll for his handling of the crisis .
Sixty percent of Americans indicated they approve of the way the president is steering the country in response to the pandemic , while 38 % said they disapprove .
Nearly all Republicans surveyed in the poll , 94 % , said they approved of his response , while 60 % of independents and 27 % of Democrats said the same , according to Gallup .
The poll , which had a margin of error of 4 percentage points , comes on the heels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's popularity creeping upward recently .
An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted between March 18 and 19 found that 55 % of people approve of the way Trump is handling the outbreak .
And a Real Clear Politics polling average clocks Trump 's popularity at about 44 % , also having increased marginally since his first actions in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Still , Trump is not enjoying the kind of boost that other presidents have received during disasters .
The president 's approval rating has consistently hovered below 50 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted between March 11 and 13 found that only 45 % of people approved of the way Trump was handling the outbreak , while 51 % did not .
Following 9/11 , a catastrophe that galvanized the nation in similar fashion to the current crisis , former President George Bush 's approval rating skyrocketed in the days after , hovering between 86 % and 90 % .
Trump is managing the pandemic amid the backdrop of the 2020 election .
It 's all but certain that former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger .
Sen. Bernie Sanders has yet to drop out of the race , but Biden is the leader by far among pledged delegates .
Trump lags in the race against Biden , according to a Real Clear Politics polling average .
Biden has 50.9 % of support , compared with Trump 's 43.9 % .

Trump initially played down the impact of the outbreak but has since changed his tune. On the first day of the poll, he declared a national emergency , freeing up financial resources to assist Americans affected by the health and economic crisis.
The most recent Gallup poll was conducted from March 13 to 22, around the time Trump began responding more seriously to the coronavirus, which has roiled markets and infected hundreds of thousands of people globally.
This is the second time Trump has received a 49% approval rating in a Gallup poll. The first time was in a February poll conducted at the time of his impeachment trial .
Earlier this month, Trump's approval rating was at 44%, according to Gallup. The 5-point boost comes amid the president's near daily participation in coronavirus task force briefings and series of moves to combat the pandemic in the United States.
In the latest Gallup poll , released Tuesday, Trump's approval rating hit 49%, matching his best performance in the poll.
During an election year, any bump could have significant ramifications.
Crises are often the ticket to higher approval ratings for politicians, and President Donald Trump , it appears, is no exception.
Since then, he has pledged to waive all interest on federal student loans as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the economy. But a week after his promise, borrowers said they were still being charged interest.
And last week, following mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers, Trump said he would put the Korean War-era Defense Production Act "into gear" to mobilize private business resources to fight the coronavirus. The act enables the government to compel businesses to manufacture supplies needed during a crisis, such as medical masks, ventilators, gloves and testing swabs.
But he has not taken much advantage of that wartime power. The administration first used it on Tuesday to gain access to 60,000 coronavirus test kits, according to Politico. Several governors, mayors and police and fire departments have been begging Trump to use the act to increase production of protective gear for first responders.
The Trump administration's coronavirus task force on March 16 released guidelines that urged Americans for a two-week period to avoid going to restaurants or bars or attending social gatherings of more than 10 individuals, and recommended most employees work from home.
But Trump has in the last few days indicated that he would like to loosen those measures to restart the crashing economy by Easter, despite the virus' acceleration.
Trump gets good marks in the Gallup poll for his handling of the crisis.
Sixty percent of Americans indicated they approve of the way the president is steering the country in response to the pandemic, while 38% said they disapprove.
Nearly all Republicans surveyed in the poll, 94%, said they approved of his response, while 60% of independents and 27% of Democrats said the same, according to Gallup.
The poll, which had a margin of error of 4 percentage points, comes on the heels of other public surveys that have shown Trump's popularity creeping upward recently.
An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted between March 18 and 19 found that 55% of people approve of the way Trump is handling the outbreak.
On March 25, Trump matched his highest approval rating on Real Clear Politics, with 46.3% of respondents saying they approved of the job he was doing overall.
Still, Trump is not enjoying the kind of boost that other presidents have received during disasters. The president's approval rating has consistently hovered below 50% in national polls throughout his term.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll conducted between March 11 and 13 found that only 45% of people approved of the way Trump was handling the outbreak, while 51% did not.
Following 9/11, a catastrophe that galvanized the nation in similar fashion to the current crisis, former President George Bush's approval rating skyrocketed in the days after, hovering between 86% and 90%.
Trump is managing the pandemic amid the backdrop of the 2020 election. It's all but certain that former Vice President Joe Biden will be the Democratic challenger. Sen. Bernie Sanders has yet to drop out of the race, but Biden is the leader by far among pledged delegates.
Trump lags in the race against Biden, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average. Biden has 50.9% of support, compared with Trump's 43.9%.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Mitt Romney tests negative for coronavirus, but will remain quarantined for 14-day period

Sen. Mitt Romney has tested negative for coronavirus , but will remain quarantined for a 14-day period , he announced in a post on Twitter on Tuesday .
Senators can not vote from quarantine under current rules .
`` Thankfully I 've tested negative for COVID-19 , '' the Utah Republican wrote .
`` Nevertheless , guidance from my physician , consistent with the CDC guidelines , requires me to remain in quarantine as the test does not rule out the onset of symptoms during the 14-day period . ''
Romney announced on Sunday that he had entered into self-quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he had tested positive .
Paul and Romney had been in contact in the days beforehand , Romney 's office said .
Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , also said he would enter into quarantine following the release of Paul 's test results .
An increasing number of high-profile individuals have come down with the new virus in recent days as the number of confirmed U.S. cases approaches 50,000 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
The virus is not fatal for the vast majority of people but disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic conditions .
At least two lawmakers in the House of Representatives , Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart , R-Fla. and Ben McAdams , D-Utah , have tested positive for coronavirus .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative .
Romney was an early proponent of using direct cash payments to ease the economic pain caused by the unfolding public health crisis .
The 2012 Republican nominee for president proposed last week sending every American adult $ 1,000 .
The idea of direct cash payments has since gained steam .
Markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement on a stimulus deal that is said to include bailouts for hard-hit industries in addition to $ 2,400 checks for married couples and $ 500 per child .

Sen. Mitt Romney has tested negative for coronavirus, but will remain quarantined for a 14-day period, he announced in a post on Twitter on Tuesday. Senators cannot vote from quarantine under current rules.
"Thankfully I've tested negative for COVID-19," the Utah Republican wrote. "Nevertheless, guidance from my physician, consistent with the CDC guidelines, requires me to remain in quarantine as the test does not rule out the onset of symptoms during the 14-day period."
Romney tweet
Romney announced on Sunday that he had entered into self-quarantine after Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that he had tested positive. Paul and Romney had been in contact in the days beforehand, Romney's office said. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also said he would enter into quarantine following the release of Paul's test results.
An increasing number of high-profile individuals have come down with the new virus in recent days as the number of confirmed U.S. cases approaches 50,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The virus is not fatal for the vast majority of people but disproportionately affects those who are older or have chronic conditions.
At least two lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. and Ben McAdams, D-Utah, have tested positive for coronavirus. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative.
Romney was an early proponent of using direct cash payments to ease the economic pain caused by the unfolding public health crisis. The 2012 Republican nominee for president proposed last week sending every American adult $1,000.
The idea of direct cash payments has since gained steam. Markets soared on Tuesday as Congress neared an agreement on a stimulus deal that is said to include bailouts for hard-hit industries in addition to $2,400 checks for married couples and $500 per child.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Joe Biden's business allies are pushing Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar as potential VP picks

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at his South Carolina primary night rally in Columbia , South Carolina , U.S. , February 29 , 2020 .
Joe Biden is in the process of narrowing down his list of potential running mates , and his allies in the business community are weighing in with their favorite choices .
Since Biden announced earlier this month that he plans to pick a woman as his nominee for vice president , leaders of Wall Street , Silicon Valley and other industries have been reaching out to him and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join him on the ticket , according to people with direct knowledge of the matter .
Some of these business leaders involved with the lobbying effort are fundraising for Biden 's campaign .
They declined to be named in this story because these conversations were deemed private .
Biden said Tuesday that he is looking to cut down his list of potential running mates in order to begin the vetting process , but he would not say whom he is considering .
The names being floated and pushed to Biden by this group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klobuchar , two of his former rivals in the primary ; Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada ; Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ; and Florida Rep. Val Demings , these people added .

Joe Biden is in the process of narrowing down his list of potential running mates, and his allies in the business community are weighing in with their favorite choices.
Since Biden announced earlier this month that he plans to pick a woman as his nominee for vice president, leaders of Wall Street, Silicon Valley and other industries have been reaching out to him and his presidential campaign about whom they think should join him on the ticket, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Some of these business leaders involved with the lobbying effort are fundraising for Biden's campaign. They declined to be named in this story because these conversations were deemed private.
Biden said Tuesday that he is looking to cut down his list of potential running mates in order to begin the vetting process, but he would not say whom he is considering.
The names being floated and pushed to Biden by this group include Sens. Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar, two of his former rivals in the primary; Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; and Florida Rep. Val Demings, these people added.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Trump, Pence held call on economy with investors including Paul Tudor Jones, Stephen Schwarzman

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held a call to discuss the coronavirus impact on the economy , according to sources .
Investors on the call included Third Point 's Dan Loeb , Blackstone 's Stephen Schwarzman , Vista Equity 's Robert Smith , Intercontinental Exchange 's Jeffrey Sprecher and Paul Tudor Jones , hedge fund manager and co-founder of Just Capital .
The call with some of Wall Street 's top investors and hedge fund leaders was less focused on potential actions the administration could take to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top money managers are viewing markets and the U.S. economy , the people familiar with the matter said .
The call also included discussion on what more the Federal Reserve could do to support industries that are feeling outsized pressure as a result of the virus and how the central bank could help companies from seizing up .
Sources described the call to CNBC 's Scott Wapner as `` constructive '' and that the general idea was that the U.S. economy can not be allowed to crash .
Those persons also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't be permanent and that the U.S. needs a thoughtful tact when dealing with the virus and even a date-certain approach to getting back to business .
The call came earlier on Tuesday , before Trump said that he 'd like to see the U.S. economy `` reopen '' by Easter , less than three weeks away .
The president said in a Fox News `` virtual town hall '' event at the White House that he 'd like to unleash the American economy by mid-April despite the protective measures instituted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the coronavirus .
`` We 're opening up this incredible country .
Because we have to do that .
I would love to have it open by Easter , '' Trump said .
`` I would love to have that .
It 's such an important day for other reasons , but I 'd love to make it an important day for this .
I would love to have the country opened up , and rarin ' to go by Easter . ''

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held a call with some of the most prominent investors and leaders on Wall Street to discuss the coronavirus impact on the economy, according to sources.
Investors on the call included Citadel's Ken Griffin, Third Point's Dan Loeb, Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, Vista Equity's Robert Smith, Intercontinental Exchange 's Jeffrey Sprecher and Paul Tudor Jones, hedge fund manager and co-founder of Just Capital.
The call Tuesday took place just an hour before Trump warned of a drastic decline in U.S. economic growth if the nationwide shutdown continued. Trump also said Tuesday that he'd like to see the U.S. economy "reopen" by Easter, less than three weeks away, a step-change from a previous suggestion that the country wouldn't turn the corner until several months from now.
The call with some of Wall Street's top investors and hedge fund leaders was less focused on potential actions the administration could take to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus. Instead, it was more focused on how America's top money managers are viewing markets and the U.S. economy, the people familiar with the matter said.
kayla tweet
The call also included discussion on what more the Federal Reserve could do to support industries that are feeling outsized pressure as a result of the virus and how the central bank could help certain corners of the financing markets from seizing up.
Sources described the call to CNBC's Scott Wapner as "constructive" and that the general idea was that the U.S. economy cannot be allowed to crash. Those people also said that the call reiterated that the virus won't be permanent and that the U.S. needs a thoughtful tack when dealing with the virus and even a date-certain approach to getting back to business.
wapner tweet
"They're saying 25 points of GDP," Trump said in a televised town hall appearance Tuesday.
One invisible in the change in messaging is Nick Ayers, the Georgia political strategist who served as chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence until January 2019. Ayers, who now sits on the board of global software company, Veeam, has sounded the alarm on a long-term shutdown to the White House and has served as a backchannel with corporate executives who share that fear. Ayers, CNBC has learned, arranged Tuesday's call with Wall Street investors.
The president said in a Fox News "virtual town hall" event at the White House that he'd like to unleash the American economy by mid-April despite the protective measures instituted by a slew of states to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
"We're opening up this incredible country. Because we have to do that. I would love to have it open by Easter," Trump said.
"I would love to have that. It's such an important day for other reasons, but I'd love to make it an important day for this. I would love to have the country opened up, and rarin' to go by Easter."


cnbc--2020-03-24--Pentagon estimates that coronavirus will plague US for months as Trump pushes to restart economy

( L-R ) Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley hold an end of year press conference at the Pentagon on December 20 , 2019 in Arlington , Virginia .
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon 's top leaders said Tuesday that they were planning for the coronavirus pandemic to plague the United States for months .
`` I think we need to plan for this to be a few months long at least and we 're taking all precautionary measures to do that , '' Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon .
Alongside Esper , the nation 's top military officer said that while it was unclear how long the deadly outbreak would last , he gave an estimate of up to three months .
`` You 're looking at eight to 10 to 12 weeks , call it three months , based on what we know from other countries like China , Hong Kong , South Korea , etc.
, that may or may not apply to the United States , '' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time as the military brass expressed their expectations , President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he wants the U.S. economy to `` open '' back up by Easter Sunday , even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country accelerates .
Easter is April 12 , less than three weeks away .
Trump 's remarks in a Fox News `` virtual town hall '' event at the White House came as more states imposed extreme measures , including shutting down businesses and ordering residents to stay home , to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus has infected more than 398,000 worldwide , though many have recovered .
In the U.S. more than 46,500 cases have been reported so far .
On Tuesday , the number of active-duty U.S. service members who have tested positive for the coronavirus jumped from 133 to 174 overnight , according to the latest figures provided by the Pentagon .
As of Tuesday , the Pentagon has a total of 321 cases , 174 are active-duty military , 59 are civilians , 61 dependents and 27 contractors .
Over the weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractor , who worked at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency , died on Saturday after testing positive for the coronavirus .
This is the first reported death from the virus within the DOD .

(L-R) Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley hold an end of year press conference at the Pentagon on December 20, 2019 in Arlington, Virginia.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon's top leaders said Tuesday that they were planning for the coronavirus pandemic to plague the United States for months.
"I think we need to plan for this to be a few months long at least and we're taking all precautionary measures to do that," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said during a virtual town hall from the Pentagon.
Alongside Esper, the nation's top military officer said that while it was unclear how long the deadly outbreak would last, he gave an estimate of up to three months.
"You're looking at eight to 10 to 12 weeks, call it three months, based on what we know from other countries like China, Hong Kong, South Korea, etc., that may or may not apply to the United States," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley said.
At the same time as the military brass expressed their expectations, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he wants the U.S. economy to "open" back up by Easter Sunday, even as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country accelerates.
Easter is April 12, less than three weeks away.
Trump's remarks in a Fox News "virtual town hall" event at the White House came as more states imposed extreme measures, including shutting down businesses and ordering residents to stay home, to try to slow the spread of the disease.
The virus has infected more than 398,000 worldwide, though many have recovered. In the U.S. more than 46,500 cases have been reported so far.
On Tuesday, the number of active-duty U.S. service members who have tested positive for the coronavirus jumped from 133 to 174 overnight, according to the latest figures provided by the Pentagon. As of Tuesday, the Pentagon has a total of 321 cases, 174 are active-duty military, 59 are civilians, 61 dependents and 27 contractors.
Over the weekend, the Department of Defense confirmed that a contractor, who worked at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, died on Saturday after testing positive for the coronavirus. This is the first reported death from the virus within the DOD.
-- CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this article.


cnbc--2020-03-24--House panel says remote voting during coronavirus outbreak creates 'serious' challenges

The U.S. Capitol is reflected in a pool of rain water on Capitol Hill in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Monday , March 23 , 2020 .
As the coronavirus hits Congress and lawmakers start to call for remote voting , a key House committee outlined a slew of challenges in adopting the process in a report released Monday night .
The House is currently out of Washington , awaiting a looming vote on a mammoth proposal to curb the economic destruction caused by the pandemic .
Some members of Congress have worried about returning to the Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator tested positive for the coronavirus disease COVID-19 , and looked for alternatives to voting in person .
`` While these concerns are completely valid , implementing remote voting would raise serious security , logistical , and constitutional challenges , '' staff of the Democratic-held House Rules Committee wrote in the report .
A remote voting system could become vulnerable to cyberattacks or get challenged in court , the committee staff wrote .
In addition , it would take time to set up the process , which `` likely can not be accomplished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the report said .
Support for remote voting has grown in both parties and both chambers of Congress in recent days .
Nearly 70 House Democrats wrote a letter to Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern , D-Mass.
, on Monday pushing for a rules change , Politico reported .
`` We need to provide a mechanism through which Congress can act during times of crisis without having to assemble in one place , '' the lawmakers wrote .
The Rules Committee report said the panel would have to change a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , which would compound the technological , security and constitutional difficulties .
If representatives could not unanimously agree on the changes , they would have to return to the Capitol anyway to pass the tweaks to the rules .
The committee outlined several alternatives to remote voting .
The report said using existing practices such as unanimous consent or voice vote would be `` by far the best option . ''
With unanimous consent , the House can quickly pass legislation without representatives present to vote .
However , any one lawmaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The House used unanimous consent to pass changes to the last piece of coronavirus relief legislation earlier this month .
But objections from Rep. Louie Gohmert , R-Texas , delayed its approval .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNBC on Tuesday that she hopes to use unanimous consent to pass the developing Senate agreement on a stimulus package .
She said if that method fails , she would bring the House back , pass the chamber 's own plan and go to a conference committee with the Senate — which would hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules , House members could also vote in person but with the vote open for longer than usual , which would reduce the number of people on the chamber 's floor .
The House could also set a provisional quorum , which would essentially allow lawmakers to pass legislation even with mass vacancies .
The Rules Committee report lists potential rules changes aside from remote voting .
The House could increase the number of objections required to block a bill from passing by unanimous consent .
The chamber could also establish proxy voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to Washington gives another member authority to cast an actual vote for them .
Of course , these potential changes pose one of the same issues as remote voting : if lawmakers object to the overhauling the rules , they would have to come into the Capitol to pass them .

The U.S. Capitol is reflected in a pool of rain water on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 23, 2020.
As the coronavirus hits Congress and lawmakers start to call for remote voting, a key House committee outlined a slew of challenges in adopting the process in a report released Monday night.
The House is currently out of Washington, awaiting a looming vote on a mammoth proposal to curb the economic destruction caused by the pandemic. Some members of Congress have worried about returning to the Capitol, particularly after two representatives and one senator tested positive for the coronavirus disease COVID-19, and looked for alternatives to voting in person.
"While these concerns are completely valid, implementing remote voting would raise serious security, logistical, and constitutional challenges," staff of the Democratic-held House Rules Committee wrote in the report.
A remote voting system could become vulnerable to cyberattacks or get challenged in court, the committee staff wrote. In addition, it would take time to set up the process, which "likely cannot be accomplished in time to address the current crisis," the report said.
Support for remote voting has grown in both parties and both chambers of Congress in recent days. Nearly 70 House Democrats wrote a letter to Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., on Monday pushing for a rules change, Politico reported.
"We need to provide a mechanism through which Congress can act during times of crisis without having to assemble in one place," the lawmakers wrote.
The Rules Committee report said the panel would have to change a range of existing guidelines to adopt remote voting, which would compound the technological, security and constitutional difficulties. If representatives could not unanimously agree on the changes, they would have to return to the Capitol anyway to pass the tweaks to the rules.
The committee outlined several alternatives to remote voting. The report said using existing practices such as unanimous consent or voice vote would be "by far the best option."
With unanimous consent, the House can quickly pass legislation without representatives present to vote. However, any one lawmaker can object and hold up a bill.
The House used unanimous consent to pass changes to the last piece of coronavirus relief legislation earlier this month. But objections from Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, delayed its approval.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNBC on Tuesday that she hopes to use unanimous consent to pass the developing Senate agreement on a stimulus package. She said if that method fails, she would bring the House back, pass the chamber's own plan and go to a conference committee with the Senate — which would hold up desperately needed aid.
Under existing rules, House members could also vote in person but with the vote open for longer than usual, which would reduce the number of people on the chamber's floor. The House could also set a provisional quorum, which would essentially allow lawmakers to pass legislation even with mass vacancies.
The Rules Committee report lists potential rules changes aside from remote voting. The House could increase the number of objections required to block a bill from passing by unanimous consent.
The chamber could also establish proxy voting, in which a representative unable to go to Washington gives another member authority to cast an actual vote for them.
Of course, these potential changes pose one of the same issues as remote voting: if lawmakers object to the overhauling the rules, they would have to come into the Capitol to pass them.
Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Cuomo fires back at Trump on coronavirus: No American will say speed up economy at cost of human lif

Cuomo fires back at Trump on coronavirus: No American will say speed up economy at cost of human life

The warnings from Cuomo and Pelosi came as the governor revealed that the number of coronavirus cases in New York is peaking sooner than expected .
Trump and his top economic advisor , Larry Kudlow , both suggested Tuesday that the government would relax strict guidelines designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Also Tuesday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , during an interview with MSNBC said , `` The cost to the economy of many more people getting affected and sick is an even bigger cost than we 're seeing now . ''
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose between public health and the economy then it 's no contest .
No American is going to say 'accelerate the economy at the cost of human life , ' '' Cuomo argued .
`` I understand what the president is saying that this is unsustainable that we close down the economy and we continue to spend money .
There is no doubt about that , '' Cuomo said at a news conference in New York City .
Cuomo warned , as many health experts have , that many more people could die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pullback in widespread efforts to slow the spread of the virus .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday pushed back hard against the idea raised by President Donald Trump of easing restrictions from coronavirus mitigation efforts in an effort to revive the U.S. economy .
Trump said Tuesday , `` I would love to have the country opened up , and just raring to go , by Easter , '' which is on April 12 this year .
Health experts have said that slowing the rate of transmission is essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat critically ill patients with the coronavirus .
The now widely used phrased `` flatten the curve '' refers to keeping the peak level of current coronavirus cases below the level of available beds in intensive care units .
Experts say steps like closing nonessential businesses , schools and limiting contacts between people are crucial to accomplish that goal .
An analysis by researchers at Imperial College in London projected that 2.2 million Americans could die from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , without suppression efforts like the ones adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
With restrictions , the death toll could drop to 1.1 million , or less , depending on the strength and prevalence of restrictions .
But in recent days , Trump has chafed at the dramatic economic fallout of those restrictions , which have rocked stock market indexes , and threatened to leave the U.S. in recession when he stands for reelection in November .
On Tuesday , he repeated a warning that `` the cure can not be worse ... than the problem . ''
Trump tweeted Tuesday : `` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` They will practice Social Distancing and all else , and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly .
We can do two things together , '' Trump tweeted .
`` THE CURE CAN NOT BE WORSE ( by far ) THAN THE PROBLEM !
Congress MUST ACT NOW .
We will come back strong ! ''
Kudlow , director of the National Economic Council , said later Tuesday morning that some states with low numbers of confirmed cases might be able to ease off their restrictions quickly .
Dr. Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration as director of the Food and Drug Administration , warned Monday night on Twitter that , `` There 's a strong and understandable desire to return to better times and a functioning economy . ''
`` But it should not be lost on anyone that there 's no such thing as a functioning economy and society so long as covid-19 continues to spread uncontrolled in our biggest cities , '' wrote Gottlieb , who is a CNBC contributor .
Gottlieb told CNBC 's `` Squawk Box '' on Tuesday : `` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to slow the spread of the virus .
`` I think we need to keep this going a couple of more weeks , '' he said .
`` It 's going to be another three , four weeks until we see the peak of the pandemic curve , '' Gottlieb said .
Richard Horton , editor-in-chief of The Lancet , a British medical journal , blasted Trump 's idea of easing guidance on the coronavirus .
`` President Trump : you once called COVID-19 'the new hoax ' and now you say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cure be worse than the problem , ' '' Horton wrote .
`` You are facing a virus that will kill thousands of Americans unless you suppress transmission and shield the most vulnerable .
Step up . ''
Neil Ferguson , lead author of the Imperial College analysis , has said on Twitter in recent days that `` the first priority is to get case numbers down . ''
`` There will then be a ( limited ) breathing space to assess less disruptive longer term solutions , '' Ferguson wrote .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigation `` actions take a massive economic toll : millions of lost jobs , billions if not trillions of dollars of wealth wiped away . ''
`` It is tempting , at this point , to say that the cure is worse than the disease , '' wrote the authors , Dr. Aaron Carroll , professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine , and Dr. Ashish Jha , professor of Global Health at Harvard University .
`` It is n't .
While the cure has large side effects , the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we 're taking our medicine haphazardly—and as a result , experiencing all of the side effects and few of the benefits .
That needs to change . ''
The authors called for `` a true national pause — a cessation of all nonessential activities '' for at least two weeks , with total participation by U.S. residents .
`` If we all distanced ourselves from one another for that long , the outbreak would slow down significantly , '' they wrote .
The article also said it was essential to have `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Even today , we do n't know how many people are infected in the community and how many people without symptoms are spreading the infection to others . ''

The warnings from Cuomo and Pelosi came as the governor revealed that the number of coronavirus cases in New York is peaking sooner than expected. Trump and his top economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, both suggested Tuesday that the government would relax strict guidelines designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Also Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., during an interview with MSNBC said, "The cost to the economy of many more people getting affected and sick is an even bigger cost than we're seeing now."
"But if you ask the American people to choose between public health and the economy then it's no contest. No American is going to say 'accelerate the economy at the cost of human life,'" Cuomo argued.
"I understand what the president is saying that this is unsustainable that we close down the economy and we continue to spend money. There is no doubt about that," Cuomo said at a news conference in New York City.
Cuomo warned, as many health experts have, that many more people could die than otherwise would if there is a pullback in widespread efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday pushed back hard against the idea raised by President Donald Trump of easing restrictions from coronavirus mitigation efforts in an effort to revive the U.S. economy.
Trump said Tuesday, "I would love to have the country opened up, and just raring to go, by Easter," which is on April 12 this year.
Health experts have said that slowing the rate of transmission is essential to avoid overwhelming the capacity of hospitals to treat critically ill patients with the coronavirus.
Tweet
The now widely used phrased "flatten the curve" refers to keeping the peak level of current coronavirus cases below the level of available beds in intensive care units. Experts say steps like closing nonessential businesses, schools and limiting contacts between people are crucial to accomplish that goal.
An analysis by researchers at Imperial College in London projected that 2.2 million Americans could die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, without suppression efforts like the ones adopted by states and encouraged by the federal government.
With restrictions, the death toll could drop to 1.1 million, or less, depending on the strength and prevalence of restrictions.
But in recent days, Trump has chafed at the dramatic economic fallout of those restrictions, which have rocked stock market indexes, and threatened to leave the U.S. in recession when he stands for reelection in November. On Tuesday, he repeated a warning that "the cure cannot be worse ... than the problem."
Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Our people want to return to work."
"They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly. We can do two things together," Trump tweeted. "THE CURE CANNOT BE WORSE (by far) THAN THE PROBLEM! Congress MUST ACT NOW. We will come back strong!"
Trump Tweet
Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said later Tuesday morning that some states with low numbers of confirmed cases might be able to ease off their restrictions quickly.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served in the Trump administration as director of the Food and Drug Administration, warned Monday night on Twitter that, "There's a strong and understandable desire to return to better times and a functioning economy."
"But it should not be lost on anyone that there's no such thing as a functioning economy and society so long as covid-19 continues to spread uncontrolled in our biggest cities," wrote Gottlieb, who is a CNBC contributor.
Tweet
Tweet
Gottlieb told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday: "This is going to be a long fight" to slow the spread of the virus.
"I think we need to keep this going a couple of more weeks," he said.
"It's going to be another three, four weeks until we see the peak of the pandemic curve," Gottlieb said.
Tweet
Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, a British medical journal, blasted Trump's idea of easing guidance on the coronavirus.
"President Trump: you once called COVID-19 'the new hoax' and now you say 'we're not going to let the cure be worse than the problem,'" Horton wrote.
"You are facing a virus that will kill thousands of Americans unless you suppress transmission and shield the most vulnerable. Step up."
Tweet
Neil Ferguson, lead author of the Imperial College analysis, has said on Twitter in recent days that "the first priority is to get case numbers down."
"There will then be a (limited) breathing space to assess less disruptive longer term solutions," Ferguson wrote.
An Atlantic article published Monday noted that coronavirus mitigation "actions take a massive economic toll: millions of lost jobs, billions if not trillions of dollars of wealth wiped away."
"It is tempting, at this point, to say that the cure is worse than the disease," wrote the authors, Dr. Aaron Carroll, professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, and Dr. Ashish Jha, professor of Global Health at Harvard University.
"It isn't. While the cure has large side effects, the disease is worse. The real problem is that we're taking our medicine haphazardly—and as a result, experiencing all of the side effects and few of the benefits. That needs to change."
The authors called for "a true national pause — a cessation of all nonessential activities" for at least two weeks, with total participation by U.S. residents.
"If we all distanced ourselves from one another for that long, the outbreak would slow down significantly," they wrote.
The article also said it was essential to have "massive, coordinated testing of the population."
"Even today, we don't know how many people are infected in the community and how many people without symptoms are spreading the infection to others."


cnbc--2020-03-24--Trump requests supplies from South Korea to help combat coronavirus, report says

President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a joint press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on June 30 , 2019 .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in for medical equipment to help combat coronavirus , according to a state-funded news agency .
During a phone call between the two leaders , Moon said the country will provide `` maximum support '' if it is available , the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported .
The South Korean leader also told Trump the support could require approval from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump responded that he would seek the approval within the day , according to the outlet .
It was not immediately clear what type of medical equipment Trump was seeking .
South Korea has been praised for its swift and effective response to COVID-19 , marked by rapid mass testing .
The country , which has seen its number of new daily infections generally decline over the past several weeks , has exported test kits around the world .
The White House confirmed that the two leaders spoke on Tuesday but did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Today , President Donald J. Trump and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea discussed their nations ' respective efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic , '' the White House said .
`` President Trump reiterated his commitment to employ the full weight of the United States Government and work with global leaders to save lives and restore economic growth . ''
The phone call lasted 23 minutes and was made at Trump 's `` urgent request , '' Yonhap reported .
It was the first phone call between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the call to praise the Federal Reserve 's decision to expand its currency exchange program , according to Yonhap .
The Fed has announced it would extend lines known as dollar swaps to central banks in a number of countries , including South Korea , amid rising demand for dollars around the world .

President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a joint press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on June 30, 2019.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in for medical equipment to help combat coronavirus, according to a state-funded news agency.
During a phone call between the two leaders, Moon said the country will provide "maximum support" if it is available, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported.
The South Korean leader also told Trump the support could require approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and Trump responded that he would seek the approval within the day, according to the outlet. It was not immediately clear what type of medical equipment Trump was seeking.
South Korea has been praised for its swift and effective response to COVID-19, marked by rapid mass testing. The country, which has seen its number of new daily infections generally decline over the past several weeks, has exported test kits around the world.
The White House confirmed that the two leaders spoke on Tuesday but did not say whether Trump made such a request.
"Today, President Donald J. Trump and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea discussed their nations' respective efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic," the White House said. "President Trump reiterated his commitment to employ the full weight of the United States Government and work with global leaders to save lives and restore economic growth."
The phone call lasted 23 minutes and was made at Trump's "urgent request," Yonhap reported. It was the first phone call between the two leaders this year.
Moon also used the call to praise the Federal Reserve's decision to expand its currency exchange program, according to Yonhap. The Fed has announced it would extend lines known as dollar swaps to central banks in a number of countries, including South Korea, amid rising demand for dollars around the world.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Lawmakers closing in on deal for $25 billion in cash coronavirus aid for airlines

People walk through a sparse international departure terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport ( JFK ) as concern over the coronavirus grows on March 7 , 2020 in New York City .
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were close to a deal on a massive aid package for airlines that would include $ 25 billion in cash grants so carriers maintain payroll as they struggle from the impact of the coronavirus , people briefed on the discussions said Tuesday .
The aid , part of a broader stimulus package aimed at blunting the economic damage from the spreading coronavirus , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lobbyists and the labor unions that contended loans alone would not be enough to preserve jobs .
The package also includes $ 4 billion in cash grants to keep paying workers at cargo carriers and $ 3 billion for airline contractors , such as caterers , one of the people said .
The aid would also include a similar amount in loans , the person said .
Lawmakers are also considering government-owned stock warrants as a condition of the aid , but that point has not been finalized .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity stakes in companies that receive bailouts .
Lawmakers said earlier Tuesday that they were close to a deal on the overall legislation .
U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have sought a total of $ 58 billion in government aid , half of it in loans and the other half in cash grants .
Republican senators had proposed that sum but all in loans , which airlines and labor unions said would saddle carriers with debt and make a recovery more difficult .
Airline shares surged on news that lawmakers were nearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed nearly 36 % higher , Delta gained 21 % and United rose close to 26 % .
The coronavirus and draconian measures to stop its spread have decimated travel demand .
While a final deal is not done , the $ 25 billion in grants for passenger airlines would go toward paying U.S. airline employees , who number 750,000 , through the end of the September , according to a person briefed on the negotiations .
Thousands of others work as airline contractors , in airports and elsewhere in aviation .
U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would not furlough workers through Aug. 31 if they received half of their request in grants .
They also said they would cap executive pay and pause buybacks for the life of government loans .
Reuters earlier reported the near deal on grants , saying the total sum of these grants would be $ 32 billion , including payouts to airline contractors and cargo carriers .

People walk through a sparse international departure terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) as concern over the coronavirus grows on March 7, 2020 in New York City.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were close to a deal on a massive aid package for airlines that would include $25 billion in cash grants so carriers maintain payroll as they struggle from the impact of the coronavirus, people briefed on the discussions said Tuesday.
The aid, part of a broader stimulus package aimed at blunting the economic damage from the spreading coronavirus, would be a resounding victory for airlines, their lobbyists and the labor unions that contended loans alone would not be enough to preserve jobs. The package also includes $4 billion in cash grants to keep paying workers at cargo carriers and $3 billion for airline contractors, such as caterers, one of the people said.
The aid would also include a similar amount in loans, the person said. Lawmakers are also considering government-owned stock warrants as a condition of the aid, but that point has not been finalized. President Donald Trump last week said he would consider government equity stakes in companies that receive bailouts.
Lawmakers said earlier Tuesday that they were close to a deal on the overall legislation.
U.S. passenger and cargo airlines have sought a total of $58 billion in government aid, half of it in loans and the other half in cash grants. Republican senators had proposed that sum but all in loans, which airlines and labor unions said would saddle carriers with debt and make a recovery more difficult.
Airline shares surged on news that lawmakers were nearing a deal. In afternoon trading, American closed nearly 36% higher, Delta gained 21% and United rose close to 26%.
The coronavirus and draconian measures to stop its spread have decimated travel demand.
While a final deal is not done, the $25 billion in grants for passenger airlines would go toward paying U.S. airline employees, who number 750,000, through the end of the September, according to a person briefed on the negotiations.
Thousands of others work as airline contractors, in airports and elsewhere in aviation. U.S. airline executives pledged over the weekend that they would not furlough workers through Aug. 31 if they received half of their request in grants. They also said they would cap executive pay and pause buybacks for the life of government loans.
Reuters earlier reported the near deal on grants, saying the total sum of these grants would be $32 billion, including payouts to airline contractors and cargo carriers.


cnbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus is disrupting the 2020 election. Here are the states that have postponed their primaries

As the coronavirus spreads rapidly across the U.S. , measures to contain the deadly pathogen are playing unprecedented havoc with the 2020 election and disrupting the process of selecting the Democratic nominee .
So far , seven states have postponed their 2020 presidential primaries in response to the coronavirus outbreak that has roiled markets and prompted several governors to impose statewide lockdowns .
Rhode Island is the latest to pull the trigger , announcing on Monday that its primary would be delayed from April 28 to June 2 .
The postponements are among the hardships faced by former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they compete amid an uncertain political landscape for the chance to take on President Donald Trump in November .
Both candidates , the last Democratic contenders in a race that at one point saw more than two dozen , have stopped holding in-person events , instead opting to reach voters digitally .
The most recent Democratic debate between the two men , held on March 15 , was moved to Washington from Las Vegas and was conducted without a live audience .
Biden , with a commanding lead in pledged delegates , appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has yet to drop out of the race , though he has said he is considering his options .
To get ahead of the outbreak , state and local officials are taking drastic steps , in some cases shutting most retail and asking residents to stay home .
`` Social distancing '' has become the norm , as people are asked to keep at least six feet apart to decrease the risk of transmitting the virus .
The fear that in-person voting could spread the virus has prompted state officials and election commissioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primaries .
Here are the states that have so far postponed their primary election dates : The state was supposed to hold its primary election on March 24 but has postponed it to May 19 , a spokeswoman for the Georgia Democratic Committee told CNBC .
The decision came shortly after Gov .
Brian Kemp said he was declaring a public health state of emergency in response to the growing number of coronavirus cases in the state .
Georgia has 105 delegates up for grabs .
Indiana will have its 2020 primary on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
It was originally planned for May 5 .
`` My view on that fast-approaching primary election is it needed to be pushed back in order to again ensure the safety of our county employees , the poll workers , and the voters themselves , '' Holcomb said in a briefing .
Officials in Ohio are looking at June 2 as a new date for the presidential primary .
Gov .
Mike DeWine was originally blocked by the courts from postponing the primary on March 17 , the original date .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's health department intervened , issuing an order at the last minute to close the polls due to health concerns brought on by the outbreak .
The decision to reschedule the primary is now pending approval from the courts .
Rhode Island moved its 2020 primary to June 2 from the originally planned April 28 , Gov .
Gina Raimondo announced .
The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to postpone the state 's primary from April 28 to June 2 , the board 's deputy director of elections , Miguel Nunez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been `` pending the governor signing an emergency order , '' Nunez said .
`` I am following the advice of the Board of Elections , and will sign an executive order to do this , '' Raimondo said in a tweet .
Louisiana was the first state to postpone its presidential primary , rescheduling it to June 20 from the originally planned April 4 .
`` We want to protect the health and safety of all Louisianans by doing our part to prevent the spread of this highly infectious disease , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state will move its nominating contest to June 23 from the originally planned May 19 , Secretary of State Michael Adams announced .
He said he made the decision with Gov .
Andy Beshear during what he called `` unprecedented times . ''
`` My hope is that this delay will allow us to have a normal election , '' Adams said in a video posted to Twitter .
Other states have adjusted their election schedules as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the country , paralyzing normal activity .
Wyoming has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucus , which is scheduled for April 4 , encouraging mail-in votes instead and also urging voters to pick up and drop off individual ballots .
Alaska , whose primary is scheduled for the same date , also canceled the in-person voting portion , replacing it with `` a more extensive vote-by-mail process , '' the Alaska Democratic Party Executive Committee said in a release .
West Virginia will most likely not postpone its primary on May 12 , Mike Queen , deputy chief of staff and communications director for the secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state is urging its 1.2 million voters to fill out absentee ballots , but has taken precautions for anyone planning to vote in person .
`` We are maintaining the space requirements that the CDC has recommended , '' Queen said .
`` And we are only allowing so many people in the polling locations at any time .
We have looked into the purchase of wipes and screen wipes to sanitize [ the polling spaces and locations ] .
We have the luxury of a month to pull this plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fortunate than the other states . ''
Nebraska is also `` unlikely '' to postpone its May 12 primary , Cindi Allen , assistant secretary of state , told CNBC .
There are still 11 more Democratic primary dates , with 26 states and territories gearing up to cast ballots .
Delegate-rich states New York , with 274 delegates , and Pennsylvania , with 186 , are both set to hold primaries on April 28 .
Despite these disruptions , the Democratic National Committee has indicated that it plans to move forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As we navigate the unprecedented challenge of responding to the coronavirus , we 're exploring a range of contingency options to ensure we can deliver a successful convention without unnecessary risk to public health , '' said Katie Peters , communications director for the Democratic National Convention Committee .
`` This is a very fluid situation — and the convention is still more than three months away .
We are committed to sharing updates with the public in the coming weeks and months as our plans continue to take shape .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have originated in Wuhan , China , has spread to dozens of countries , with more than 387,382 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 16,767 deaths so far , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
There are at least 46,450 cases in the United States and at least 595 deaths , according to the latest tallies .
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A man casts his vote during the Florida primary election in Miami, Florida, on March 17, 2020. Eva Marie uzcategui | AFP | Getty Images
As the coronavirus spreads rapidly across the U.S., measures to contain the deadly pathogen are playing unprecedented havoc with the 2020 election and disrupting the process of selecting the Democratic nominee. Several states and territories have postponed their 2020 presidential primaries in response to the coronavirus outbreak that has roiled markets and prompted several governors to impose statewide lockdowns. Former Vice President Joe Biden became the last competitor and apparent nominee after Sen. Bernie Sanders announced he was dropping out of the race. To get ahead of the outbreak, state and local officials are taking drastic steps, in some cases shutting most retail and asking residents to stay home. "Social distancing" has become the norm, as people are asked to keep at least six feet apart to decrease the risk of transmitting the virus. The fear that in-person voting could spread the virus has prompted state officials and election commissioners to consider alternatives for conducting their elections. Here are the states and territories that have so far postponed their primary dates:
Puerto Rico
Though not a U.S. state, Puerto Rico has voting power in the presidential primary. The territory has decided to postpone its Democratic presidential primary indefinitely. Originally, Puerto Rico had postponed its Democratic primary from March 29 to April 26. Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced signed a bill into law on March 22 to postpone the primary. Puerto Rico has 51 delegates.
Ohio
Officials in Ohio set April 28 as the new date for the state's presidential primary after originally eyeing June 2. Officials also launched a public service announcement encouraging Ohio residents to vote by mail. Gov. Mike DeWine was originally blocked by the courts from postponing the primary on March 17, the original date. But right before the primary, the state's health department intervened, issuing an order at the last minute to close the polls due to health concerns brought on by the outbreak. Ohio has 136 delegates.
Delaware
The state has postponed its primary to June 2, Gov. John Carney announced. It was originally planned for April 28. "We moved Delaware's presidential primary to June 2, 2020," Carney tweeted. "Delawareans have a basic, fundamental right to vote. Today's order will preserve that right." Tweet Delaware has 21 delegates.
Indiana
Indiana will have its 2020 primary on June 2, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced. It was originally planned for May 5. "My view on that fast-approaching primary election is it needed to be pushed back in order to again ensure the safety of our county employees, the poll workers, and the voters themselves," Holcomb said in a briefing. The state has 82 delegates.
Maryland
The state is postponing its primary to June 2, Gov. Larry Hogan announced. The original date was April 28. "I have two main priorities: keeping Marylanders safe and protecting their constitutional right to vote," Hogan said at a press conference announcing the postponement. Hogan said he didn't want to "put Marylanders at risk, especially the poll workers and the election judges, most of whom are retirees and in the most vulnerable population." Maryland has 96 delegates.
Pennsylvania
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania voted to postpone the state's primary from April 28 to June 2. Both chambers of the Republican-controlled state legislature voted in favor of postponing the primary, and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill. The state has 186 delegates.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island moved its 2020 primary to June 2 from the originally planned April 28, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced. The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to postpone the state's primary from April 28 to June 2, the board's deputy director of elections, Miguel Nunez, told CNBC. But the decision had been "pending the governor signing an emergency order," Nunez said. "I am following the advice of the Board of Elections, and will sign an executive order to do this," Raimondo said in a tweet. Tweet Rhode Island has 26 delegates.
Georgia
The state was supposed to hold its primary election on March 24 but has postponed twice. The election will now be held on June 9. It was originally delayed to May 19, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Democratic Committee told CNBC in March. "I certainly realize that every difficulty will not be completely solved by the time in-person voting begins for the June 9 election, but elections must happen in less-than-ideal circumstances," Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said. "This postponement allows us to provide additional protection and safety resources to county election officials, poll workers and voters." Georgia has 105 delegates.
West Virginia
West Virginia postponed its primary to June 9 from the originally planned May 12. The state was unlikely to postpone its primary, Mike Queen, deputy chief of staff and communications director for the secretary of state's office, said to CNBC. The state was urging its 1.2 million voters to fill out absentee ballots, but had taken precautions for anyone planning to vote in person. West Virginia has 28 delegates.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a release that in-person voting is suspended until June 9. The original voting date was April 7. "As municipalities are consolidating polling locations, and absent legislative or court action, I cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing," Evers said in a release from his office. "The bottom line is that I have an obligation to keep people safe, and that's why I signed this executive order." He called for a special legislative session just days before the state's original primary date to cancel the in-person portion of voting. He said the state aims to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get ballots in. But the effort got shut down. Wisconsin has 84 delegates.
Kentucky
The state will move its nominating contest to June 23 from the originally planned May 19, Secretary of State Michael Adams announced. He said he made the decision with Gov. Andy Beshear during what he called "unprecedented times." "My hope is that this delay will allow us to have a normal election," Adams said in a video posted to Twitter. Tweet Kentucky has 54 delegates.
New York
The New York State Board of Elections on Monday canceled its Democratic presidential primary, scheduled for June 23, after striking off Sen. Bernie Sanders' name from the ballot. "I think it's time for us to recognize that the presidential contest is over," Commissioner Doug Kellner explained during a livestream announcing the decision. Despite dropping out of the race, Sanders urged his followers to vote for him in the remaining primaries in order to pick up delegates and influence the party platform at the Democratic National Convention, which is slated for August. Originally, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announce the state would move its presidential primary from April 28 to June 23 to ensure that people don't congregate in large crowds. "I don't think it's wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote, a lot of people touching one doorknob, a lot of people touching one pen," Cuomo said in a press conference. "So we are going to delay that." Cuomo also announced that all "New Yorkers will be able to vote absentee on the June 23rd primaries." Tweet New York has 274 delegates.
New Jersey
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the state's primary will be moved from June 2 to July 7. "Our democracy cannot be a casualty of COVID-19," Murphy said in a tweet. "We want to ensure that every voter can vote without endangering their health or safety." Tweet The state has 126 delegates.
Louisiana
The state postponed its presidential primary twice, making the new voting date July 11. Louisiana was the first state to postpone its presidential primary, rescheduling it the first time to June 20 from the originally planned April 4. "We want to protect the health and safety of all Louisianans by doing our part to prevent the spread of this highly infectious disease," Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin told reporters. The state has 54 delegates.
Connecticut
Connecticut has moved its 2020 primary to Aug. 11, the second time its 2020 presidential nominating contest was delayed. It was originally delayed to June 2 from the originally planned April 28, Gov. Ned Lamont announced. "In coordination with other states and our Secretary of the State, and in an effort to carry out Democracy while keeping public health a top priority, I have decided to move our presidential primary to June 2nd," Lamont tweeted. Tweet Connecticut has 60 delegates.
Other state actions