usatoday--2020-03-22--Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 40 years of government experience. He's facing his biggest test yet

ALBANY - Toward the end of New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo 's daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday at the state Capitol , he veered into how the growing crisis is affecting him personally .
His eyes welled up ever so slightly , a rarity for the tough-talking , self-described `` Queens boy '' who rides motorcycles and fixes muscle cars on the weekends .
But Cuomo knows this challenge is different than any other he has dealt with in nearly 40 years in and around state and federal governments ; a career officially started at age 25 in 1982 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mario , who went on to three terms as governor .
One of his three daughters , all in their 20s , was self-quarantined because of the novel coronavirus .
His 88-year-old mother and former New York first lady , Matilda , is holed up in her Manhattan apartment .
Cuomo himself is living in the cavernous governor 's mansion a block from the state Capitol .
`` I have not seen my daughter in over two weeks .
It breaks my heart , '' Cuomo said softly .
`` And then this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next to her because of this virus .
There is a distance between me and my daughter because of this virus .
It saddens me to the core , and it frightens me to the core . ''
The fright is both personal and professional .
Cuomo , 62 , is staring down the largest outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation in New York , a place with the most dense population in the country .
Cuomo 's experience , though , is unmatched by any governor in the U.S. ; he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has set up a war room within his suite of offices at the Capitol .
He urged the federal government to make more ventilators , sent the New York National Guard to the virus ' hot spot in New Rochelle and scoffed at suggestions state lawmakers might stay home rather than continue the legislative session in Albany .
The Democratic governor 's control of the situation has set up fights and some criticism from local leaders , but he has insisted that state government is in charge .
He has served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by wielding all the power of the state 's massive government to close schools , malls , bars and restaurants , and at the same time he has taken on the role as its comforter in chief by preaching calm in the face of crisis .
`` We will lose people , yes , like we lose people every year with the flu , '' he said Tuesday .
`` We are going be challenged and tested .
There are going to be periods of chaos , yes .
We have been through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus : New York residents ordered to stay home as much as possible Cuomo 's aides and supporters said this challenge is what Cuomo is built for — that at his core , instilled by learning at his father 's side , is the belief that people need an effective government at their time of most need .
`` In his DNA is the notion that government matters , '' said Benjamin Lawsky , a former aide when Cuomo was attorney general from 2007 through 2010 and then when Cuomo took office as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time in life , people don ’ t want to be bothered with the government .
But in a time of real crisis , everyone knows that government matters .
The world sort of starts to align with his vision of what government is supposed to be about . ''
Supporters say that few politicians understand the levers of government like Cuomo does or have a better grasp of the consequences of government action or inaction .
That savvy has garnered him praise from supporters — and scorn from foes — during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Coronavirus restrictions in New York : A list of the latest closures you need to know In 1998 , when he was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development , Cuomo wrote a 55-page book titled , `` HUD Disaster Recovery Guidebook . ''
The subtitle was , `` Promoting Recovery , Hope and a New Beginning . ''
Howard Glaser , who worked under Cuomo at HUD and was his first director of state operations in Albany , recalled Cuomo 's visits to floods in Grand Forks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in subsequent years to Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic and Hurricane Mitch , which destroyed over half a million homes in Central America .
`` So he quickly built up a lot of experience , with the details of logistics , with making government work during crisis , '' Glaser said .
Glaser was at Cuomo 's side during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 , traveling the flooded streets of lower Manhattan as water poured out of subway stations .
A year earlier , it was Hurricane Irene that crushed upstate .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Job one , to marshal and deploy the resources of government to address the crisis and protect people .
Job two , to communicate the severity of the problem while conveying confidence that we ’ ll pull through , '' Glaser said in an email .
More : The Army Corps of Engineers will aid NY .
Why it may be a major boost to fighting coronavirus More : Coronavirus : Yes , you can get cocktails delivered in New York .
Here 's what to know How Cuomo is juggling his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elbows-out style of governing is often his greatest strength but also one his critics pounce on .
He has used it to bend the will of the Legislature and to raise enough campaign cash to win three terms , crushing opponents to his ideological left and right with ease .
The response to the coronavirus has put his governing bravado on full display .
His executive orders have usurped much of the local control ; he said it 's important to have continuity across the state .
He took exception to New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the city may `` shelter in place '' because of the growing number of cases .
More : Local governments brace for revenue to plummet .
How it will impact New York taxpayers '' I spent half my day knocking down rumors that we 're going to imprison people in their homes , that there is going to be a roadblock around New York City , '' Cuomo said Thursday on CNN .
But his style has also produced results from an unlikely ally : President Donald Trump , a Republican who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every turn , whether it is immigration , tax reform or political rhetoric .
Trump and Cuomo , both from Queens , soon figured they were better off working together than as adversaries .
The enormity of the virus ' potential became more apparent in recent days .
More : Coronavirus : NY may need 24,000 more ventilators to fight COVID-19 .
Here ’ s how it could get them Cuomo went from putting the federal response on par with the botched rescue after Hurricane Katrina to praising Trump 's commitment after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cajoling worked : Trump went on national television to say he and Cuomo had reached a detente .
`` We had a very good talk , and I think we are right down the same track , '' Trump said .
`` So it ’ s going to be very successful . ''
That day the federal government said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would come to New York to help assess how to build more hospital beds .
A day later , Trump announced a massive Navy hospital ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River .
On Friday , Cuomo said he talked again to Trump about a possible antidote , just hours after the governor declared a shutdown on all non-essential businesses .
Cuomo has received praise for his handling of the situation from Democrats and Republicans , putting aside scandals that had rocked his administration , including the conviction of two close aides in bid rigging and bribery cases .
The Democratic governor has led a coalition of Northeastern governors to all commit to the same business closures so there is uniformity for residents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol after drawing criticisms for years for not making himself readily available to the Albany press corps .
His office did not make him available for an interview for this article .
The briefings have had moments of levity , like when he said the new state-made hand sanitizer smelled like a `` floral bouquet '' or when he has chided reporters who have been covering him for years .
He goes daily on national news programs , something he eschewed during his first term in office , and has given updates on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger brother , Chris — where the exchanges have drifted into comical arguments over who is their mother 's favorite .
In The New York Times , media columnist Ben Smith had a piece titled `` Andrew Cuomo is the Control Freak We Need Right Now . ''
He likened him to `` the purest master of the machine since Lyndon Johnson in his prime '' amid a wobbly federal response to the pandemic .
His daily briefings , which are usually aired live on national TV , has even got him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in Jezebel titled `` Help , I Think I 'm in Love with Andrew Cuomo ?
?
? ''
went viral .
Cuomo then gave the reporter a courtesy call .
But there are growing challenges ahead that will test Cuomo 's bandwidth .
A deal for an on-time state budget is due by March 31 amid a plummeting economy and lawmakers contracting coronavirus .
His social agenda , which includes legalizing marijuana and softening controversial bail reforms , faces an uncertain fate .
He 's facing pressure to provide an economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to renters as the state 's finances are in tatters .
More : Coronavirus in New York : As testing grows , positive cases jumped by 1,000 in one day .
Here 's where .
And he has wanted to cut aid to hospitals to fund a massive gap in Medicaid , but now those health-care facilities are on the front line of protecting the state .
He estimates New York will need more than 24,000 new ventilators and perhaps as many as 110,000 new hospitals beds as people get sick from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has instilled on state government has n't been able to stop coronavirus from spreading .
He will undoubtedly need to put more control on people 's movement to slow it .
The number of confirmed cases in New York nearly doubled overnight Thursday to 4,152 and grew to 7,100 on Friday , with more than 26 deaths .
So Cuomo says the state will continue to prepare , but even a control freak ca n't control this one .
`` Nobody can tell you when this is going to end , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home from a closed college , at his side .
`` Nobody can tell you . ''
More : Coronavirus : NY businesses need to keep 75 % of staff home ; Relief coming on mortgages More : COVID-19 may overwhelm hospitals .
Here 's how race for treatments could help Joseph Spector is the New York state editor for the USA TODAY Network .
He can be reached at JSPECTOR @ Gannett.com or followed on Twitter : @ GannettAlbany We cover the stories from the New York State Capitol and across New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your family .
Please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription to the New York publication nearest you .
Check out the latest offer .

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 40 years of government experience. He's facing his biggest test yet
Show Caption Hide Caption Cuomo: 'This is an extraordinary time in this nation's history' Gov. Andrew Cuomo talked emotionally about balancing his role as governor and his own concerns about his family during a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau Chief
ALBANY - Toward the end of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's daily coronavirus briefing Tuesday at the state Capitol, he veered into how the growing crisis is affecting him personally.
His eyes welled up ever so slightly, a rarity for the tough-talking, self-described "Queens boy" who rides motorcycles and fixes muscle cars on the weekends.
But Cuomo knows this challenge is different than any other he has dealt with in nearly 40 years in and around state and federal governments; a career officially started at age 25 in 1982 as the campaign manager for his father, Mario, who went on to three terms as governor.
One of his three daughters, all in their 20s, was self-quarantined because of the novel coronavirus. His 88-year-old mother and former New York first lady, Matilda, is holed up in her Manhattan apartment. Cuomo himself is living in the cavernous governor's mansion a block from the state Capitol.
"I have not seen my daughter in over two weeks. It breaks my heart," Cuomo said softly.
"And then this concept of maybe I can't get next to her because of this virus. There is a distance between me and my daughter because of this virus. It saddens me to the core, and it frightens me to the core."
The fright is both personal and professional. Cuomo, 62, is staring down the largest outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation in New York, a place with the most dense population in the country.
Cuomo's experience, though, is unmatched by any governor in the U.S.; he's also currently the longest serving one. He has set up a war room within his suite of offices at the Capitol.
He urged the federal government to make more ventilators, sent the New York National Guard to the virus' hot spot in New Rochelle and scoffed at suggestions state lawmakers might stay home rather than continue the legislative session in Albany.
The Democratic governor's control of the situation has set up fights and some criticism from local leaders, but he has insisted that state government is in charge.
He has served as New York's commander in chief by wielding all the power of the state's massive government to close schools, malls, bars and restaurants, and at the same time he has taken on the role as its comforter in chief by preaching calm in the face of crisis.
"We will lose people, yes, like we lose people every year with the flu," he said Tuesday. "We are going be challenged and tested. There are going to be periods of chaos, yes. We have been through that before also."
More: Coronavirus: New York residents ordered to stay home as much as possible
A career built for crisis
Cuomo's aides and supporters said this challenge is what Cuomo is built for — that at his core, instilled by learning at his father's side, is the belief that people need an effective government at their time of most need.
"In his DNA is the notion that government matters," said Benjamin Lawsky, a former aide when Cuomo was attorney general from 2007 through 2010 and then when Cuomo took office as governor in 2011.
"A lot of time in life, people don’t want to be bothered with the government. But in a time of real crisis, everyone knows that government matters. The world sort of starts to align with his vision of what government is supposed to be about."
Supporters say that few politicians understand the levers of government like Cuomo does or have a better grasp of the consequences of government action or inaction. That savvy has garnered him praise from supporters — and scorn from foes — during his 10 years in office.
More: Coronavirus restrictions in New York: A list of the latest closures you need to know
In 1998, when he was secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Cuomo wrote a 55-page book titled, "HUD Disaster Recovery Guidebook." The subtitle was, "Promoting Recovery, Hope and a New Beginning."
Howard Glaser, who worked under Cuomo at HUD and was his first director of state operations in Albany, recalled Cuomo's visits to floods in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1997; and in subsequent years to Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic and Hurricane Mitch, which destroyed over half a million homes in Central America.
"So he quickly built up a lot of experience, with the details of logistics, with making government work during crisis," Glaser said.
Glaser was at Cuomo's side during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, traveling the flooded streets of lower Manhattan as water poured out of subway stations. A year earlier, it was Hurricane Irene that crushed upstate.
"Throughout, he focused on two jobs: Job one, to marshal and deploy the resources of government to address the crisis and protect people. Job two, to communicate the severity of the problem while conveying confidence that we’ll pull through," Glaser said in an email.
More: The Army Corps of Engineers will aid NY. Why it may be a major boost to fighting coronavirus
More: Coronavirus: Yes, you can get cocktails delivered in New York. Here's what to know
How Cuomo is juggling his role amid the coronavirus crisis
Cuomo's elbows-out style of governing is often his greatest strength but also one his critics pounce on. He has used it to bend the will of the Legislature and to raise enough campaign cash to win three terms, crushing opponents to his ideological left and right with ease.
The response to the coronavirus has put his governing bravado on full display. His executive orders have usurped much of the local control; he said it's important to have continuity across the state.
He took exception to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio suggesting Wednesday that the city may "shelter in place" because of the growing number of cases.
More: Local governments brace for revenue to plummet. How it will impact New York taxpayers
"I spent half my day knocking down rumors that we're going to imprison people in their homes, that there is going to be a roadblock around New York City," Cuomo said Thursday on CNN.
But his style has also produced results from an unlikely ally: President Donald Trump, a Republican who has been criticized by Cuomo at almost every turn, whether it is immigration, tax reform or political rhetoric.
Trump and Cuomo, both from Queens, soon figured they were better off working together than as adversaries. The enormity of the virus' potential became more apparent in recent days.
More: Coronavirus: NY may need 24,000 more ventilators to fight COVID-19. Here’s how it could get them
Cuomo went from putting the federal response on par with the botched rescue after Hurricane Katrina to praising Trump's commitment after a Tuesday morning call between the two leaders.
The cajoling worked: Trump went on national television to say he and Cuomo had reached a detente.
"We had a very good talk, and I think we are right down the same track," Trump said. "So it’s going to be very successful."
That day the federal government said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would come to New York to help assess how to build more hospital beds.
A day later, Trump announced a massive Navy hospital ship was on its way to the Hudson River.
On Friday, Cuomo said he talked again to Trump about a possible antidote, just hours after the governor declared a shutdown on all non-essential businesses.
More: Coronavirus: President Trump, NY Gov. Cuomo trade barbs, then compliments
The challenges ahead for Cuomo
Cuomo has received praise for his handling of the situation from Democrats and Republicans, putting aside scandals that had rocked his administration, including the conviction of two close aides in bid rigging and bribery cases.
The Democratic governor has led a coalition of Northeastern governors to all commit to the same business closures so there is uniformity for residents.
He holds daily briefings at the state Capitol after drawing criticisms for years for not making himself readily available to the Albany press corps. His office did not make him available for an interview for this article.
The briefings have had moments of levity, like when he said the new state-made hand sanitizer smelled like a "floral bouquet" or when he has chided reporters who have been covering him for years.
He goes daily on national news programs, something he eschewed during his first term in office, and has given updates on the nightly CNN show hosted by his younger brother, Chris — where the exchanges have drifted into comical arguments over who is their mother's favorite.
In The New York Times, media columnist Ben Smith had a piece titled "Andrew Cuomo is the Control Freak We Need Right Now." He likened him to "the purest master of the machine since Lyndon Johnson in his prime" amid a wobbly federal response to the pandemic.
His daily briefings, which are usually aired live on national TV, has even got him a bit of a fanbase. A column Thursday in Jezebel titled "Help, I Think I'm in Love with Andrew Cuomo???" went viral. Cuomo then gave the reporter a courtesy call.
More: Chris Cuomo debates brother Andrew Cuomo over mom's 'favorite son' during CNN coronavirus coverage
But there are growing challenges ahead that will test Cuomo's bandwidth.
A deal for an on-time state budget is due by March 31 amid a plummeting economy and lawmakers contracting coronavirus. His social agenda, which includes legalizing marijuana and softening controversial bail reforms, faces an uncertain fate.
He's facing pressure to provide an economic stimulus and to extend new mortgage protections to renters as the state's finances are in tatters.
More: Coronavirus in New York: As testing grows, positive cases jumped by 1,000 in one day. Here's where.
And he has wanted to cut aid to hospitals to fund a massive gap in Medicaid, but now those health-care facilities are on the front line of protecting the state.
He estimates New York will need more than 24,000 new ventilators and perhaps as many as 110,000 new hospitals beds as people get sick from the virus.
And all the control he has instilled on state government hasn't been able to stop coronavirus from spreading. He will undoubtedly need to put more control on people's movement to slow it.
The number of confirmed cases in New York nearly doubled overnight Thursday to 4,152 and grew to 7,100 on Friday, with more than 26 deaths.
So Cuomo says the state will continue to prepare, but even a control freak can't control this one.
"Nobody can tell you when this is going to end," he said Thursday with his daughter Michaela, home from a closed college, at his side.
"Nobody can tell you."
More: Coronavirus: NY businesses need to keep 75% of staff home; Relief coming on mortgages
More: COVID-19 may overwhelm hospitals. Here's how race for treatments could help
Joseph Spector is the New York state editor for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JSPECTOR@Gannett.com or followed on Twitter: @GannettAlbany
Support local journalism
We cover the stories from the New York State Capitol and across New York that matter most to you and your family. Please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription to the New York publication nearest you. Check out the latest offer.


usatoday--2020-03-22--First federal inmate tests positive for coronavirus; quarantined in Brooklyn detention center

WASHINGTON–The Trump administration is considering the release of some federal prisoners in an attempt to reduce the risk of a larger outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation 's largest prison system .
President Donald Trump Sunday acknowledged the potential vulnerability of elderly inmates , saying that the administration is weighing the move to include `` totally non-violent prisoners '' after the nation 's largest detention system reported its first known case of the coronavirus involving an inmate .
The prisoner has been quarantined at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn .
Federal officials said the inmate , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 16 , shortly after arriving at the New York facility .
He was taken to an outside hospital three days later where he was tested for the virus .
Following his March 20 discharge from the hospital , authorities said he returned to the Brooklyn detention center and was `` immediately placed in isolation . ''
Prison officials were notified of the positive test results Saturday .
`` BOP staff will continue to monitor this inmate , '' the agency said in a statement , adding that the prisoner remains in isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control ) guidelines are being followed , including the conduct of a contact investigation and additional sanitation of affected areas . ''
An undisclosed number of other inmates who shared housing with the prisoner also are being quarantined .
The isolation order may extend to staff members who were in contact with the prisoner .
There were no known cases of virus involving Brooklyn staffers , though the agency has reported that a staffer in Grand Praire , Texas and another in Leavenworth , Kansas have tested positive .
Neither of the infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said .
The positive test prompted renewed calls Sunday for the Justice Department to approve the release of pre-trial detainees , the elderly and the chronically ill to reduce the risk of a larger outbreak in Brooklyn at at other facilities .
David Patton , executive director the federal defender service in New York , said that as many 700 prisoners in the Brooklyn facility and at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan could meet the Centers For Disease Control 's standard as vulnerable to contracting the virus .
But Patton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing that the threat of the coronavirus should not be a factor in authorizing release .
`` This is a real disaster waiting to happen , '' Patton said Sunday .
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. , called on federal prison officials to intervene and begin reducing the population of its prisons and detention centers to avoid a larger outbreak .
`` It will be a catastrophe if the Department of Justice continues to proceed if everything is normal , '' Jeffries said .
Earlier this month , the federal system announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities that house more than 170,000 inmates for at least a month .
The contact restriction also applies to attorney-client meetings , except when approved by prison authorities .
All inmate transfers and staff travel have been halted as well .
Everyday life upended : Coronavirus is changing everyday life across the US In trenches of justice system : Coronavirus is altering operations in the trenches of America 's criminal justice system Similar restrictions have been announced by local jails and state prison systems across the country , including California and Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases in confined spaces , could spread quickly , county officials in Oklahoma and South Carolina have been releasing dozens of prisoners to reduce density in their jails .
Roger Werholtz , a former director of the Kansas Department of Corrections , has said that the actions by the federal government and states are encouraging .
But agencies still face the challenge of safeguarding prisoners who can not follow one of the key recommendations to avoid contracting the virus : to limit social interactions .
`` This idea of social distancing can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking the general public to do , '' Werholtz said .
`` And when you want to segregate people from each other , you can not do it in many cases .
It will be really difficult to lock down the population in ways that can be beneficial . ''
The BOP currently has no known cases of COVID-19 among staff at MDC Brooklyn .

Trump weighs release of some federal prisoners after inmate tests positive for coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption Federal government releases 2,200 prisoners as First Step Act kicks in The Federal government released 2,200 people from prison as the First Step Act kicked in allowing more days to be shaved off for good behavior. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is considering the release of some federal prisoners in an attempt to reduce the risk of a larger outbreak of the coronavirus in the nation's largest prison system.
President Donald Trump on Sunday acknowledged the potential vulnerability of elderly inmates, saying that the administration is weighing the move to include "totally nonviolent prisoners" after the nation's largest detention system reported its first known case of the coronavirus involving an inmate. The prisoner has been quarantined at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Federal officials said the inmate, who was not identified, complained of chest pains March 16, shortly after arriving at the New York facility. He was taken to an outside hospital three days later, where he was tested for the virus.
Coronavirus live updates: Medical aid for 3 states as US death tolls hits 417; stimulus, checks hit snag; Sen. Rand Paul tests positive
Following his March 20 discharge from the hospital, authorities said he returned to the Brooklyn detention center and was "immediately placed in isolation." Prison officials were notified of the positive test results Saturday.
"BOP staff will continue to monitor this inmate," the agency said in a statement, adding that the prisoner remains in isolation. "All (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines are being followed, including the conduct of a contact investigation and additional sanitation of affected areas."
An undisclosed number of other inmates who shared housing with the prisoner also are being quarantined. The isolation order may extend to staff members who were in contact with the prisoner.
There were no known cases of virus involving Brooklyn staffers, though the federal Bureau of Prisons has reported that a staffer in Grand Prairie, Texas, and another in Leavenworth, Kansas, have tested positive. Neither of the infected staffers had contact with inmates, the agency said.
Calls for more prisoner releases
The positive test prompted renewed calls Sunday for the Justice Department to approve the release of pretrial detainees, the elderly and the chronically ill to reduce the risk of a larger outbreak in Brooklyn at at other facilities.
David Patton, executive director the federal defender service in New York, said that as many 700 prisoners in the Brooklyn facility and at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan could meet the CDC's standard as vulnerable to contracting the virus.
But Patton said federal prosecutors are opposing bail requests, arguing that the threat of the coronavirus should not be a factor in authorizing release.
"This is a real disaster waiting to happen," Patton said Sunday.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called on federal prison officials to intervene and begin reducing the population of its prisons and detention centers to avoid a larger outbreak.
"It will be a catastrophe if the Department of Justice continues to proceed if everything is normal," Jeffries said.
Precautions already taken at prisons
Earlier this month, the federal system announced it was halting visitation across its 122 facilities that house more than 170,000 inmates for at least a month. The contact restriction also applies to attorney-client meetings, except when approved by prison authorities.
All inmate transfers and staff travel have been halted, as well.
Similar restrictions have been announced by local jails and state prison systems across the country, including California and Texas.
Everyday life upended: Coronavirus is changing everyday life across the US
In trenches of justice system: Coronavirus is altering operations in the trenches of America's criminal justice system
Fearing the virus, like other diseases in confined spaces, could spread quickly, county officials in Oklahoma and South Carolina have been releasing dozens of prisoners to reduce density in their jails.
Roger Werholtz, a former director of the Kansas Department of Corrections, has said the actions by the federal government and states are encouraging. But agencies still face the challenge of safeguarding prisoners who cannot follow one of the key recommendations to avoid contracting the virus: to limit social interactions.
"This idea of social distancing cannot be achieved in prison like we are asking the general public to do," Werholtz said. "And when you want to segregate people from each other, you cannot do it in many cases. It will be really difficult to lock down the population in ways that can be beneficial."
The BOP has no known cases of COVID-19 among staff at MDC Brooklyn.


usatoday--2020-03-23--Congress looks to break stalemate on coronavirus emergency package as stocks turmoil deepens - updat

Congress looks to break stalemate on coronavirus emergency package as stocks turmoil deepens - updates

WASHINGTON – The Senate will try again Monday to break its logjam over an emergency stimulus package intended to stem @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Democrats , who are pushing for more restrictions on corporate bailouts , negotiated @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration on the details of the legislation .
Senators are planning to reconvene @ @ @ @ @ in Congress weighed heavily on the battered stock market , which had its worst week @ @ @ @ @ week .
On Sunday evening , futures for the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled more @ @ @ @ @ & Poor ’ s 500 futures fell 5 % , triggering an automatic shock absorber @ @ @ @ @ to convene at noon EDT .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , blasted @ @ @ @ @ GOP-crafted coronavirus rescue package and said he hoped they would have a “ change of @ @ @ @ @ financial markets opened Monday morning .
McConnell noted there were already signs of another bad @ @ @ @ @ Congress remained gridlocked over how to help laid-off workers and shuttered businesses .

Ledyard King, Nicholas Wu and Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY

Trump says he wants to ease up on coronavirus related shutdowns 'pretty soon' amid concerns about economy - updates
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: What to do if you believe you're infected Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer Ann Sacker explains the steps you should take if you believe you have the novel coronavirus. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday said his administration is looking at ways to ease economic restrictions it stressed just days earlier even as the U.S. braces for a jump in coronavirus cases and states tighten restrictions on people and businesses.
"I'm not looking at months," Trump said of the duration of social distancing guidelines that have led to school and business closures. "We will be back in business as a country pretty soon."
Trump’s suggestion comes as others are taking their most strict measures yet. On Monday, four U.S. states announced more rigid orders for residents and businesses, an International Olympic Committee member revealed this year's games would be postponed and U.S. deaths approached 600, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard.
The federal government, Trump said, will use data "to recommend new protocols” to allow local economies to “cautiously resume their activity at the appropriate time."
Coronavirus: Trump signals growing impatience with coronavirus-related economic shutdowns
He did not say when those protocols would be rolled out as the coronavirus spreads across the U.S.
The remarks were a major departure from Trump's prediction just days ago that the guidelines could potentially be in place through the summer. Trump appeared to signal that parts of the country that are less hard hit could be placed under less strict guidelines than states like New York and California.
At the same time, Trump admitted the outbreak will only get worse in the U.S. Trump said he agreed with his surgeon general’s prediction that the number of coronavirus cases would jump.
“This is going to be bad,” Trump said. “We’re trying to make it so it’s much, much less bad.”
- John Fritze and Sean Rossman
Trump: first lady Melania Trump tests negative for coronavirus
President Donald Trump said Monday that first lady Melania Trump tested negative for coronavirus.
"She's great, she's fine," said Trump, hesitating slightly before answering a question about his wife's test: "Negative."
Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence initially declined to be tested, noting that they did not have symptoms. But pressure grew for both officials amid reports that they had contact with others who tested positive. Pence's office said last week that one of his aides tested positive for the virus.
Trump said he got the test only after facing questions from reporters.
- John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian
Trump offers rare praise for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell
President Donald Trump offered rare words of praise for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday.
Trump, a frequent critic of the central bank and especially its chairman, said Powell has done a good job in trying to boost the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump said he even called Powell on Monday.
“I called up Jerome Powell and said, Jerome, you’ve done a really good job,” Trump told reporters. “I was proud of him.”
Just a little more than a week ago, Trump complained that the central bank needed to be “more proactive” and argued it had not done enough to juice the economy. But his criticism has softened since the Fed cut short-term interest rates to zero on March 15.
“That took courage,” Trump said, adding that Powell did “the right thing.”
“He has really stepped up over the last week,” Trump said.
Asked if he has any regrets about how he has responded to the coronavirus pandemic, Trump said he had none. “I think we’ve handled it really well,” he said, adding that he looks forward, not backward.
- Michael Collins
Where is Fauci?
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s highly respected infectious disease expert, did not attend Monday’s briefing on coronavirus at the White House – an absence that reporters noticed immediately.
It was particularly noteworthy because Fauci gave a remarkably candid interview to Science magazine, posted Sunday evening, in which he admitted being at odds with Trump over several issues.
Trump said he had just been with Fauci and did not express any irritation with the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“He’s a good man. I like Dr. Fauci,” Trump said. “He’s not here because we weren’t discussing” issues that he is best at addressing, the president said.
Asked if Fauci agrees with him on the need to reopen the economy soon, Trump said "he doesn't not agree."
- Deirdre Shesgreen
Birx: If Paul followed guidelines, he would not have put other senators at risk
Dr. Deborah Birx, leader of the White House coronavirus task force, seemed to suggest Sen. Rand Paul, who has tested positive for COVID-19, had not been adhering to the government’s social distancing guidelines.
“Each person has to be responsible in the way that they decrease their interaction with others,” she said. Everyone needs to keep six feet apart and assume that “everyone you’re interacting with could be positive," she added.
Her remarks came in response to a question about contradictory messages: Birx and others have said that Americans should not get tested if they don’t have symptoms or exposure to the virus.
But Paul got tested even though he had no symptoms. In between taking the test and getting the results, Paul had lunch with other lawmakers and even went swimming in the Senate gym.
“If he had been following these guidelines, he wouldn't have been infecting others because of the social distancing, washing your hands, doing everything that we talked about,” Birx.
- Deirdre Shesgreen
Birx: US learning from China South Korea
Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said the U.S. is learning from China and South Korea.
"The two areas that have moved through their curve is China and South Korea. So those are the two countries that we’re learning from. Those were 8-10 week curves. Each state and each hot spot in the United States is going to be its own curve because the seed came in at different times.”
- Jeanine Santucci
Trump declines to say whether he will ease social distancing measures
President Donald Trump declined to say directly that he would ease social distancing measures in order to restart the economy next week, but suggested guidelines could be different based on how hard a state or location has been hit.
“You’ll see what happens,” Trump said. "It’s not going to be three or four months” before life returns to normal, Trump said. “Parts of our country are very lightly affected.”
“At a certain point we have to get open,” Trump said. “We have to get moving. We don’t want to lose these companies…We’ll be doing something relatively quickly.”
- John Fritze
Trump agrees coronavirus cases will jump
President Donald Trump said he agreed with the surgeon general’s prediction that the number of coronavirus cases would jump.
Trump said he agreed with the surgeon general’s prediction that the number of coronavirus cases would jump.
“This is going to be bad,” Trump said. “We’re trying to make it so it’s much, much less bad.”
Trump said he agreed with public health officials that the death rate from the virus would be "bad," but he also returned to comparing coronavirus to the seasonal flu.
"It’s going to be bad," Trump said. "We have a lot of people dying from the flu. Certainly this is going to be bad. And we’re trying to make it so that it’s much, much less bad."
- Michael Collins and John Fritze
Pence: 'self-collected swabs' for tests will soon be available
Vice President Mike Pence said “self-collected swabs” for the coronavirus would soon be available, so Americans can test themselves for infection.
“This will expedite the testing process,” Pence said, and also “reduce the risk to health care providers.”
He said the tests would be available at clinics and drive-through testing sites, but did not say where or how soon.
Pence said the test is “less invasive," collected at the end of the nasal passage. Trump and others have described the test as unpleasant because the swab goes so far up the nose.
Pence said 313,000 coronavirus tests have been completed in the U.S. A little more than 41,000 Americans have contracted the virus, he added.
- Michael Collins
Pence: Facebook donated more than 700,000 masks
Vice President Mike Pence said Facebook donated its reserve of over 700,000 masks, which they had because of wildfires in California.
"Health workers urgently need more protective gear," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook on Sunday. "To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued. We're also working on sourcing millions of more to donate. I hope you're all staying healthy and safe!"
- Jeanine Santucci
Trump abandons 'Chinese virus' in opening remarks
President Donald Trump abandoned the term "Chinese virus" in his opening remarks at a press conference about the coronavirus Monday, the first time he has done so in days.
Trump, who has drawn criticism for echoing the term, generally uses it in his opening remarks. Instead, Trump echoed an earlier tweet suggesting that Asian Americans should be "protected" and not blamed for a virus that researchers believe began in China.
"The spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way shape or form," Trump said.
Trump had frequently referred to coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” despite mounting criticism among Asian-American advocates, health experts and Democratic lawmakers who warn referring to the virus by a location-specific name stigmatizes ethnic groups.
- John Fritze
Birx: no child under 15 has died in Europe
Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said one child age 14 died of the virus in China, but no child under 15 has died of the virus in Europe.
“That should be reassuring to the moms and dads out there,” she said.
Birx also said the New York metro area of New Jersey, New York City and parts of Long Island have an attack rate close to one in 1,000, which fives times what other areas are seeing.
- Michael Collins
Trump signs order prohibiting hoarding
President Donald Trump said he signed an executive order to prohibit the hoarding medical equipment and supplies, including hand sanitizers and face masks.
The order designates certain medical supplies as "scarce," he said, which makes it a crime to stockpile these items.
"We will not allow anyone to exploit the suffering of American citizens for their own profit," Trump said.
Barr: Hoarders, expect 'a knock on the door'
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department plans to identify cases in which hoarding may be interfering with efforts to address large medical supply shortages at hospitals across the country. Barr said the administration convened their first task force meeting to address issues of price gouging.
He added the Justice Department was not seeking out consumers or businesses stockpiling supplies for their own operations, but people hoarding on an industrial scale.
“If you have a big supply of toilet paper in your house this is not something you have to worry about," he said. But if you're hoarding masks in a warehouse, "then you're going to get a knock on the door."
- Courtney Subramanian and John Fritze
Trump: new protocols being considered to allow local economies to 'cautiously resume'
President Donald Trump said Monday the federal government will use data "to recommend new protocols to allow local economies to cautiously resume their activity at the appropriate time."
He did not say when those protocols would be rolled out as the coronavirus spreads across the U.S.
"America will again, and soon, be open for business – a lot sooner than three or four months, which somebody was suggesting," he said.
Coronavirus: Should Congress move immediately to remote voting? Sen. Rand Paul’s coronavirus diagnosis adds to debate
He said once the medical community “gives the OK,” certain places will be free to end the social distancing practices and other restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus.
Trump also encouraged Congress to pass a stimulus now being negotiated in the Senate.
"Now Congress must demonstrate the same bipartisanship again and join together to pass the Senate bill as written, and avoid playing any more partisan games," he said.
What else was said at the news conference:
Trump said coronavirus started out as a medical problem, and the U.S. will not allow it to become a financial problem.
Trump announced the postponement for the deadline for compliance with real ID requirements.
Trump said the U.S. brought home 103 American citizens stranded in Brazil. Most of them were senior citizens.
Trump said 148 countries are now affected by coronavirus. But, "we will be back in business as a country pretty soon."
- John Fritze and Michael Collins
Trump: 'We totally protect our Asian American community'
President Donald Trump called for protecting the Asian American community on Monday amid criticism that by using the term “Chinese virus” to describe the coronavirus pandemic he has stigmatized Chinese Americans.
“It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world,” Trump tweeted Monday minutes before a White House briefing on coronavirus. “They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!”
Coronavirus: Trump weighs easing of tough coronavirus guidelines amid growing alarm about economy
Trump reiterated his call to protect the Asian American community at a Monday evening press conference.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” despite mounting criticism among Asian-American advocates, health experts and Democratic lawmakers who warn referring to the virus by a location-specific name stigmatizes certain ethnic groups.
The World Health Organization has urged people to be careful with language used to describe COVID-19, insisting that it not be referred to as the "Chinese" or "Wuhan" virus. Any mention of location could lead to discrimination or stigmatization, the group warns. Researchers say coronavirus originated in China and Trump has defended his use of the term as “accurate.”
"It's not racist at all, no," Trump told reporters last week when pressed on the term. "It comes from China. I want to be accurate."
- John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian
Poll: More Americans approve of governors' response to coronavirus than Trump's
More Americans say the country's governors are handling the unfolding coronavirus crisis better than President Donald Trump, according to a Monmouth University poll released Monday.
The poll found 72% of Americans said they approved of their state governor's response to COVID-19 compared to 50% who said Trump was doing a good job. Just 18% disapproved of their state's governor while 45% said Trump was doing a bad job dealing with the outbreak.
The poll also fell along partisan lines, with 89% of Republicans, 48% of Independents and 19% of Democrats approving of Trump's handling of the virus. The governors' praise appeared to be more bipartisan with 73% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats and 67% of Independents who said their governor was doing a good job.
The poll was conducted between March 18th and 22nd with a margin of error of 3.4%.
- Courtney Subramanian
What's in the Democrats' stimulus counter-offer?
House Democrats are proposing a financial rescue plan to help the nation recover from the coronavirus pandemic that, at $2.5 trillion, would dwarf the roughly $2 trillion package Republicans and the Trump administration have been touting.
The package, released Monday afternoon by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would provide $1,500 to every individual, up to $7,500 for a family of five. The benefit “would be available to anyone with an individual taxpayer identification number, as well as to our nation’s retirees and unemployed individuals,” according to an outline obtained by USA TODAY.
The plan also would:
Eliminate medical costs for all Americans, even those uninsured, for treatments and vaccines (When one is developed) relating to COVID-19.
Provide $150 billion to hospitals for costs related to fighting the disease.
Give up to $600 to workers affected by COVID-19 and eligible for unemployment compensation benefits.
Create a $500 billion pool of grants and interest-free loans for small businesses.
Supply nearly $60 billion for schools and universities to help them keep running.
Ensure states can carry out 2020 elections with $4 billion in grant funding for states,
Imposes a national requirement that states provide both 15 days of early voting and “no-excuse” absentee vote-by-mail.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, the top Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee, called the proposal “left-wing nonsense.”
“While Americans are trying to figure out how to keep their loved ones safe and pay this month’s rent, Speaker Pelosi is trying to use this outbreak to her political advantage,” he said. “The House Democrats’ bill is just a wish list of everything they haven’t been able to accomplish.”
- Ledyard King and Nicholas Wu
Stimulus package stalls again in Senate
WASHINGTON – An effort in the Senate to move forward with a nearly $2 trillion economic stimulus package to combat the coronavirus crisis has stalled for the second day in a row over continued disagreements between Republicans and Democrats.
The largely party-line vote (with Republican for and Democrats against) was 49-46 to end debate and move forward. Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure for a final floor vote.
The measure is designed to provide direct payments to most Americans, throw a lifeline to small businesses shuttered across the country, and rescue large industries, such as the airlines, battered by the coronavirus crisis. But Democrats want more protections for workers from layoffs and loss of heath coverage, more money for states to deal with the crisis, and more aid for students facing student debt repayment.
After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell angrily dismissed the Democratic opposition as “procedural obstruction” that could delay a vote on the measure until the end of the week.
Coronavirus cases in Congress send lawmakers packing Coronavirus cases have showed up in Congress, and with more and more lawmakers choosing to quarantine, why can't the legislature move to remote votes? Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY
"Democrats take responsibility for our workers who require that any corporation that takes taxpayer dollars must protect their workers wages and benefits, not CEO pay, stock buybacks or layoffs," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the Senate vote. "The Senate Republican bill put corporations first, but because of the insistence of leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, progress has been made."
- Ledyard King
State Department tracking 13,000 Americans stranded abroad
The State Department is tracking at least 13,500 Americans who are stranded abroad and need U.S. help getting back to the United States, a senior official told reporters on Monday.
The State Department has already brought about 5,000 Americans home from 17 countries, and officials are hoping to bring another 1,600 U.S. citizens back this week from countries across the globe.
“We’re looking at 16 or so flights in the next five days and about 1,600 passengers identified for those flights with room for more,” said this official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.
“It has been a lot of hard work and it is going to be a lot of hard work going forward,” this person said. “We are devoting all of our resources to this.”
The State Department has set up a call center to help marooned Americans, but officials say the best way to get on the agency’s radar is to register online with the agency’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, called STEP.
“The only way to find someone is if they are registering with STEP. That’s how we build the manifests for these flights," the person said.
The call center phone number is 202-501-4444 for those overseas and 888-407-4747 for those calling within the U.S. on behalf of stranded family or friends.
- Deirdre Shesgreen
Pentagon to deploy field hospitals to New York, Seattle
The Pentagon plans to deploy field hospitals to New York and Seattle later this week to help those cities deal with the coronavirus pandemic, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday.
The Army’s largest field hospitals can accommodate 248 beds, he said. More of the mobile facilities will be offered in coming weeks. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy’s hospital ship, the Mercy, is set to sail to Los Angeles as soon as today. The USS Comfort, the Navy’s other hospital ship, is being repaired. It is scheduled to sail to New York in April.
The disease has forced the military to cancel some training exercises, and Esper acknowledged that the virus could affect the Pentagon’s readiness to conduct combat missions if it worsens. He said 133 troops were being treated for the illness.
At the Pentagon, about 60% of the workforce has been telecommuting, Esper said. Security has tightened, he said, and screening of visitors for fever may begin soon.
- Tom Vanden Brook
Rand Paul: people without symptoms need testing
A day after announcing he became the first senator to contract coronavirus, Sen. Rand Paul urged his colleagues on Capitol Hill to get tested for COVID-19 as well.
“I believe we need more testing immediately, even among those without symptoms,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement shared with reporters. “I had no symptoms and no specific encounter with a COVID-19 positive person. I had, however, traveled extensively in the U.S. and was required to continue doing so to vote in the Senate. That, together with the fact that I have a compromised lung, led me to seek testing. Despite my positive test result, I remain asymptomatic for COVID-19.”
Federal guidelines discourage testing for those who are not showing symptoms even if they have come in contact with someone who has tested positive or is believed to have been exposed.
What Congress is considering: Congress' $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, visualized
“For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol,” Paul said. “The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested.”
Paul is one three members of Congress, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah who have announced they’ve tested positive.
- Ledyard King
'This is unbelievable': Senators get testy over stimulus delay
Tensions rose on the Senate floor Monday as lawmakers struggled to reach an agreement on a historic bailout package while the health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus continued to escalate.
“Take a deep breath,” Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said as senators bickered over whose fault it is that there’s no deal yet. “Everyone is emotional at this moment on both sides of the aisle. But we have a job to do.”
Durbin’s comments came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., went after his Democratic counterparts – particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
McConnell blamed Pelosi for undermining negotiations, saying things were going fine until she got involved.
“Get with the program,” McConnell said. “It’s time to pass historic relief. The country doesn’t have time for these political games.”
Durbin said he knows Pelosi “really unnerves a lot of people on that side of the aisle." But, he said Pelosi wanting to be part of negotiations "is not an outrageous idea.”
At one point, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blocked a routine request to speak from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
“Oh, come on,” Collins said. “This is unbelievable.”
Schumer said he objected to get clarity on the schedule as he continues to negotiate changes Democrats want to make to GOP package.
- Maureen Groppe
Pelosi unveils counter-offer to GOP stimulus bill
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled on Monday a counter-offer to the GOP stimulus proposal that includes priorities congressional Democrats have been pushing for in round-the-clock negotiations with GOP leaders and the Trump administration.
It includes:
Requiring President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to order private companies to manufacture respirators, masks and other needed equipment.
Providing more workers guaranteed paid family and medical leave.
Using nearly $40 billion to help states stabilize school funding and help colleges continue operating during the crisis.
Giving states billions in grant funding to help hold elections, including expanding early, absentee and mail voting.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Pelosi said the bill Democrats would introduce this afternoon would be "worker-oriented, not giving away the store" to corporations.
Speaking on the Senate floor Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blamed Pelosi for undermining negotiations on a nearly $2 trillion package designed to provide direct payments to most Americans, throw a lifeline to small businesses, and rescue large industries, such as the airlines, battered by the coronavirus crisis.
“We were this close and then the speaker of the House flew back from San Francisco (Sunday) and turned this into this left-wing episode of Supermarket Sweep,” he said, referring to the TV game show where contestants race through a grocery store grabbing items before time runs out. “Unrelated issues left and right."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remained optimistic a deal would be reached Monday.
“We’re very close to reaching a deal. Very close. Our goal is to reach a deal today. And we’re hopeful, even confident, that we will meet that goal,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. But, he added, “We have the obligation to get the details right.”
- Ledyard King and Maureen Groppe
Maryland, Massachusetts, Indiana tighten coronavirus measures
Republican governors in Maryland and Massachusetts on Monday ordered the closure of non-essential businesses, stopping short of shelter-in-place orders but taking the most drastic actions to date in both states.
The Maryland order goes into effect 5 p.m. EDT, while the Massachusetts order begins Tuesday at noon and extends to April 7.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he felt the measure was necessary because too many people were ignoring his order to avoid crowds of 10 or more, "literally endangering the lives" of others.
The executive orders in both states do not include industries deemed essential in guidelines issued last week by the federal government such as health care, food, agriculture, energy, first responders, transportation and public works. Liquor stores will also be exempt and restaurants can continue to serve to-go food.
“By taking this action now, we can significantly improve our position in this fight to slow down the spread of this virus,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said.
Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory, which urges everyone to stay home and limit "unnecessary activities," but he made clear he doesn't believe ordering people to their homes is the right call.
Fauci and Trump: 'I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down': Fauci addresses Trump coronavirus claims
He added: “There’s been a lot of talk about a government mandating people shelter in their homes. I do not believe I can or should order U.S. citizens to be confined to their homes days on end. It doesn’t make sense from a public health point of view and it’s not realistic.”
In Massachusetts, there have been 646 confirmed cases of the coronaries virus and five deaths. Maryland has 288 confirmed cases.
In Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered his state's residents to remain in their homes except for certain permitted activities, such as caring for others and ordering supplies.
- William Cummings and Joey Garrison
67 House members call for remote voting
Dozens of House lawmakers are calling on House leaders to adopt a temporary rule that allows remote voting by members during national emergencies, such as the current coronavirus crisis.
“My constituents need a voice in Congress right now,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said after he and 66 other members asked the Rules Committee to make the change. “It is critical that no matter how this crisis develops, I can continue to advocate for working families in my district—no matter where I am physically. And every Member of Congress should be able to do the same.”
The request to the Rules Committee, which is examining the issue, comes a day after Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul’s announcement that he tested positive for COVID-19 rattled the Senate. Nearly three dozen congressional lawmakers have announced steps to self-quarantine, or otherwise isolate themselves as a precaution.
North Dakota GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer backed the change as well, tweeting that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.”
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin implored his colleagues to move to remote voting during a speech on the Senate floor Monday, calling it “naïve for us to believe that that is the end of the challenge to our membership.”
“We should not be physically present on this floor at this moment,” said Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “Too many of our colleagues and their families are falling prey to this disease.”
Not long after he spoke, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri could be seen wiping down the desk of the presiding officer after taking over floor duties as debate continued.
- Ledyard King and Maureen Groppe
Fed says it will purchase securities to support markets
Pressure was building on Congress to break its logjam on a coronavirus rescue package.
Stocks slid again Monday despite the Federal Reserve’s decision to launch an expansion of lending programs to help the economy.
A week after the U.S. markets posted their worst week since the financial crisis, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down as much as 500 points in the opening minutes of trading.
The Fed said it plans to purchase an unlimited amount of Treasurys and mortgage securities in a bid to support financial markets. It also said that it would purchase commercial mortgage-backed securities as part of an expansion in its asset purchases, known in the market as quantitative easing.
Remote voting: Tradition-bound Congress considers voting remotely as coronavirus illnesses hit home
“We’ve got a lot of promise from the Fed, but they’re still going to need help from Congress,” says Scott Colyer, chief executive at Advisors Asset Management. “Does the Fed’s latest move solve our virus problem? No. Does it solve our unemployment problem? No. But it does allow markets to function. At the end of last week, we were sorely in need of that.”
- Jessica Menton and Ledyard King
On anniversary of signing, Obama says ACA needed more than ever
Former President Barack Obama recognized the 10-year-anniversary of his signing of the Affordable Care Act Monday in a tweet about the significance of the landmark law to the current health care crisis.
“It’s still under attack right when we need care the most,” Obama tweeted. “We have to protect it, build on it, until we cover everyone.”
Ten years ago today, I signed the Affordable Care Act into law. It protected preexisting conditions, cut the uninsured rate in half, and lots more. But it's still under political attack right when we need care the most. We have to protect it, build on it, until we cover everyone. pic.twitter.com/zz2v3DzMgq — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 23, 2020
The law expanding health insurance coverage and protections is once again in the courts, under a challenge brought by Republican attorneys general that is supported by the Trump administration.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, who famously described the law as a “big (expletive) deal” in a private comment that was picked up by a microphone at the bill signing ceremony, sent a letter to Trump and the lead GOP attorneys general Monday urging them to drop the lawsuit. Biden is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to take on Trump in the fall.
Trump was asked Sunday at the daily White House briefing on the coronavirus whether he would reconsider his position because of the pandemic.
“What we want to do is get rid of the bad health care and put in a great health care,” Trump said.
The administration has not put forward an alternative to ACA after Republicans in Congress were unable to pass their bill.
The U.S. Supreme Court, which has already upheld the law twice, will take up the latest suit in their next term. It’s likely to be scheduled for oral argument in the fall and a decision in 2021.
- Maureen Groppe
Klobuchar’s husband hospitalized with COVID-19
The husband of Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia, the Minnesota Democrat and former presidential candidate announced Monday.
Klobuchar said she is not getting tested for the virus, on the advice of her doctor, because she and her husband have not been together for the past two weeks and she is outside the 14-day period for getting sick.
“As everyone is aware, there are test shortages for people who need them everywhere and I don’t qualify to get one under any standard,” Klobuchar said in a statement.
She said her husband, John Bessler, professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, immediately quarantined himself when he started to feel sick even though he thought it was just a cold.
But his high temperature and bad cough persisted. When he started coughing up blood, he got tested and was checked into a Virginia hospital because his blood showed low oxygen levels, among other concerns. Bessler is now receiving oxygen but is not on a ventilator, according to Klobuchar’s statement.
“I love my husband so very much and not being able to be there at the hospital by his side is one of the hardest things about this disease,” Klobuchar said. She and their daughter, Abigail, have been “constantly calling and texting and emailing.”
Bessler is the first congressional spouse who is known to have COVID-19.
Three members of Congress – Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Ben McAdams, D-Utah – have announced they’ve tested positive.
- Maureen Groppe
Coronavirus: Social distancing key to fighting COVID-19 Social distancing matters. Here is how to do it and how it can help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Pentagon: COVID-19 cases nearly double over weekend
The Pentagon reported Monday that cases of coronavirus had nearly doubled to 243 troops, their family members and civilian employees.
That’s an increase of 119 patients since Friday when the number of cases totaled 124.
On Sunday, the Navy announced that three special warfare sailors training in Washington state had tested positive for the disease. They join a Navy commando who was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month.
Of the 243 COVID-19 cases, 133 are troops, seven of whom are hospitalized. Over the weekend, the Pentagon also reported its first death, that of a contract employee. So far, four troops and one civilian employee have recovered.
- Tom Vanden Brook
Trump signals he may lift federal coronavirus guidelines
President Donald Trump signaled in a tweet overnight that he is considering lifting social distancing guidelines that may be slowing the spread of the coronavirus but are hurting the economy.
“WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF,” Trump posted on Twitter just before midnight in Washington. “AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!”
Missed opportunity: The US had a chance to learn from anthrax, SARS, H1N1 and Ebola. So why is the federal coronavirus response so messy?
Public health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have recommended Americans work from home when they can and not congregate at restaurants or other businesses. The administration rolled out a 15-day plan on March 16 to “bend the curve” of new coronavirus cases.
Many of those officials, including Surgeon General Jerome Adams, have said that two weeks is “likely not enough time” to halt the spread of the virus in the country.
“If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” Trump said at the time. “And we're going to have a big celebration all together.”
Trump retweeted two users Monday morning who used similar language to urge that, at the end of 15 days, only “high risk groups” be isolated and that the rest of Americans go “back to work.”
Yet the restrictions are having a major impact on the economy. The Labor Department reported a 30% increase in unemployment claims last week. James Bullard, president of the St. Louis branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, predicted the unemployment rate could hit 30% in the U.S.
Several states, including New York, California and Illinois, have imposed stricter social distancing requirements. Even if Trump eased the federal guidelines next week it would not affect orders signed by governors in those and other states.
– John Fritze and David Jackson
Fauci addresses Trump's coronavirus claims
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has become the face of the White House's scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, frequently appearing alongside President Donald Trump during task force news conferences.
But he and the president have not always agreed on the facts surrounding the outbreak.
Remote voting: Tradition-bound Congress considers voting remotely as coronavirus illnesses hit home
For example, after Trump played up a drug used to treat malaria as a potential "game-changer" in the fight against coronavirus, Fauci said the only evidence that the drug could be helpful was "anecdotal." Fauci has also contradicted Trump on the timetable for a vaccine and the severity of the outbreak.
In an interview with Science magazine, Fauci said that he and Trump don't disagree on substantive issues.
"Even though we disagree on some things, he listens. He goes his own way. He has his own style," Fauci said. "But on substantive issues, he does listen to what I say."
But he said during news conferences, the president says things "in a way that I would not express it, because it could lead to some misunderstanding about what the facts are about a given subject."
When asked about Trump's claim that China could have told the world about the coronavirus three or four months earlier, Fauci grew defensive.
"What do you want me to do? I mean, seriously Jon, let’s get real, what do you want me to do?" he asked Science staff writer Jon Cohen.
– William Cummings
Why can't Congress agree?
As Congress negotiates over the stimulus package, here are the main sticking points:
Both sides want to give businesses a lifeline amid shutdowns that threaten to plunge the economy into a deep recession. Democrats want tough provisions to prevent corporations that receive federal bailouts from later engaging in stock buybacks that enrich their executives. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said his bill already includes Democrats' demands for conditions on loans and other aide to major businesses.
Democrats have called for provisions that would temporarily block evictions and foreclosures as families struggle with lost income. They also want additional funding for food stamps and an expansion of unemployment benefits.
Democrats and Republicans are also wrangling over how much money should go to hospitals and health providers to help them deal with the crisis.
– Deirdre Shesgreen
Senate to convene at noon EDT
The Senate will try again Monday to break its logjam over an emergency stimulus package intended to stem the damage from the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats, who are pushing for more restrictions on corporate bailouts, negotiated late into the night with the Trump administration on the details of the legislation.
Senators are planning to reconvene at noon.
The impasse in Congress weighed heavily on the battered stock market, which had its worst week since the financial crisis last week.
On Sunday evening, futures for the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled more than 900 points while Standard & Poor’s 500 futures fell 5%, triggering an automatic shock absorber.
The Senate is expected to convene at noon EDT.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blasted Democrats Sunday for opposing the GOP-crafted coronavirus rescue package and said he hoped they would have a “change of heart” after the U.S. financial markets opened Monday morning. McConnell noted there were already signs of another bad day on Wall Street as Congress remained gridlocked over how to help laid-off workers and shuttered businesses.
– Caren Bohan, Ledyard King, Jessica Menton