usatoday--2020-04-02--As coronavirus deaths and cases soar, should New York leaders have acted sooner?

ALBANY – The number of coronavirus deaths in New York on Wednesday jumped 25 % in one day — an average of more than 16 deaths an hour — and will exceed 2,000 overall Thursday .
All of the deaths happened in a mere 18 days , putting New York , particularly the city , at the epicenter of COVID-19 and far ahead of any state in the nation .
Now the question is : Should New York leaders have shut down the state sooner ?
New York officials and President Donald Trump this week clashed over the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first confirmed coronavirus case March 1 .
Trump , a Republican , on Tuesday asserted Democratic New York officials failed to act swiftly to close schools and ban gatherings , leading to the state ’ s current place as the leader of the coronavirus pandemic with more than 83,000 confirmed cases and a projection of at least 16,000 deaths over the next several months .
“ For whatever reason , New York got off to a very late start and you see what happens when you get off to a late start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House press briefing .
Trump also contrasted New York ’ s response with other states such as California and Washington , which imposed shutdowns sooner and have now reported far fewer confirmed cases , at about 8,500 and 5,300 cases , respectively .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s spokeswoman responded by blasting the Trump administration ’ s handling of the crisis , and Cuomo said New York has acted promptly as the cases and deaths grew .
`` This is not the time to debate but the states were not slow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Dani Lever , Cuomo 's communications director , said in a statement .
More : Coronavirus in New York : Check our interactive map of cases and deaths by county How COVID-19 testing was delayed in New York , US Central to the issue are early missteps in testing for coronavirus across the country , a public health expert said .
New York City health officials in early February , for instance , were asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for access to coronavirus testing in what proved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Further , the federal agency initially distributed flawed coronavirus tests to states , including New York , which eventually created its own test to ramp up its testing effort in March .
More : COVID-19 : How New York City became epicenter of coronavirus pandemic , what that means Now more than two dozen private labs are testing in New York , and the Westchester-based Regeneron said Wednesday it is donating 500,000 test kits “ Good leaders make the best judgment available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they quickly seek more relevant information , ” said Dr. Robert Amler , dean of New York Medical College ’ s School of Health Sciences and Practice .
“ It ’ s my impression that is exactly what happened ( in New York ) , ” added Amler , who coordinated the CDC 's measles surveillance , investigation and control program in the 1980s .
Amler noted experts will only be able to determine how effective social distancing measures have been in the U.S. when more robust testing is achieved .
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part to its aggressive testing .
“ It ’ s only at that point … that we can really look back and understand what happened and how effective our responses were at different stages of the battle , ” he said .
More : This New York boy was beating cancer .
Then coronavirus hit .
Now his treatment is in limbo What Cuomo , de Blasio say about social distancing timeline Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have stressed they acted as quickly as they could to shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases piled up .
But should they have done it sooner and would it have made any difference ?
“ I think in retrospect we deliberated too long on the various shutdown steps , ” Mark Levine , a New York City councilman who heads its health committee , told Politico .
“ We ’ re racing against the clock in slowing the spread of this , and even a day or two can change the trajectory.
” More : Coronavirus : The rent is due the first of the month .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York had its first case March 1 and a day later determined a New Rochelle lawyer was positive and likely had spread it to members of his religious congregation .
On March 3 , 1,000 people in New Rochelle were put in quarantine , and a week later it was turned into a containment area that limited gatherings and shuttered schools .
It was n't until March , 12 , when the number of cases statewide hit 325 , that Cuomo announced a statewide ban on gatherings of 500 or more individuals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all smaller gatherings to be cut in half .
On March 16 , two days after the first death in the state , New York ordered all schools closed by March 18 , when the number of cases hit 2,300 .
Cuomo then , on March 20 , ordered all non-essential businesses to close starting on March 22 , when the number of cases swelled to 15,000 and deaths reached 114 .
There was hesitancy for days by de Blasio and Cuomo to close the city schools , the nation 's largest school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We said closing schools , if you can reduce the negative , childcare , student meals , etc.
, then I think it 's a good strategy .
But , we have to address those two negatives .
The worst negative is if we lose essential workers , '' Cuomo said March 15 a day before all schools were shuttered .
Later that day , he closed NYC and suburban schools .
De Blasio , meanwhile , has faced the brunt of criticism as Cuomo has been lauded for his daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope with the hard facts .
The mayor has been knocked , in particular , for initially downplaying the virus after it was clear it would rapidly spread in the city due to its population density and status as an international gateway .
He even unknowingly spread misinformation , the Washington Post noted .
“ Occasional contact , glancing contact , temporary contact does not , from everything we know about coronavirus , lead to transmission , ” he said March 3 .
Cuomo sought to balance concerns about the virus — such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stockpile of supplies , beds and ventilators — with urging people not to panic .
`` As I said from day one , the level of anxiety is not connected to facts , '' he said March 23 .
`` There is no chaos .
The net effect : Many people will get the virus , but few will be truly endangered . ''
More : CDC issues 'domestic travel advisory ' for NY , NJ and Connecticut .
Here 's what it means Should New York have acted sooner ?
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying his team tried to weigh the impact of shutting down the state and the economic impact of doing so with the rising threat to public health .
`` We were one of the first to shut it down .
Shutting it down is not without criticism , right ?
You ’ re trying to balance this , '' he told reporters in Albany .
`` Shutting it down is a very drastic measure , but I think we were one of the first .
Also , you want to do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create more fear and more panic . ''
He and de Blasio spent days debating publicly whether to have a `` shelter in place '' order , with Cuomo on March 20 ultimately calling it `` NYS on Pause '' — which has shut down all non-essential businesses at least until mid-April .
`` I never used the term shelter in place because I believed that was an inflammatory term and incorrect , by the way , '' Cuomo said Sunday , saying `` shelter in place '' suggests a bomb scare or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stay at home plan is in effect .
Here ’ s what you need to know Other states took other early steps .
On March 16 , a `` shelter-in-place '' order was mandated in the San Francisco area , another densely populated city , even though there was about 500 cases statewide .
Three days later , Gov .
Gavin Newsom made the order statewide when the state 's positive cases hit 900 .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine shuttered schools for three weeks starting March 16 , and eight states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the school year , including neighboring Vermont , according to tracking by Education Week .
New York has been closing them at two weeks intervals , with the latest order extending the closure through April 15 .
More : Coronavirus deaths in New York projected at 16,000 or more ; NYC patients moved upstate Still , experts said the blame for any slow response should lie with the federal government — which New York leaders have regularly condemned , particularly as cases spread in mid-March .
Dr. Irwin Redlener , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbia University , said Trump ’ s comment on a late start in New York was ironic “ given how late and delayed the federal response has been since the beginning , starting with the extraordinary ineptness ” in organizing mass testing .
More : Behind restaurants , a $ 300 billion food-distribution network is on the brink due to coronavirus How New York coronavirus testing compares to other states Researchers are reporting vast differences in COVID-19 testing efforts across the country , despite limited details coming from the federal government .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count of testing .
Trump administration officials have said that ’ s partly because they didn ’ t want to slow down availability of the test by imposing uniform reporting requirements .
But the COVID Tracking Project website is collecting data from state and local governments and appears to be one of the more reliable sources in the nation on testing data .
It reported more than 1 million tests conducted across the country as of Wednesday morning , including 205,000 in New York .
In contrast , California had about 88,000 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website shows .
Cuomo has pointed to New York ’ s head start on testing as one reason it has more confirmed cases so far but warned other communities will face similar outbreaks soon .
“ Anyone who says the situation is a New York City only situation is in a state of denial , ” he said Monday , calling New York a canary in the coal mine .
“ What you see us going through here , you will see happening all across this country . ''
Yet other factors driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include New York City ’ s densely packed population of 8.6 million , twice as large as the next biggest city , Los Angeles , at 4 million .
“ In those parts of the country where you had large congregations of people such as in New York City subways and Mardi Gras ( in New Orleans ) …it appears that those are the typical places where you ’ ve had large numbers of cases being reported , ” Amler said .
More : This New York boy was beating cancer .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in limbo 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

Joseph Spector and David Robinson, New York State Team

As coronavirus deaths and cases soar, should New York leaders have acted sooner?
Show Caption Hide Caption Gov. Cuomo 'couldn't protect' brother CNN's Chris Cuomo from COVID-19 Addressing his brother, CNN's Chris Cuomo, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo emphasizes that no one can be completely protected against COVID-19. Associated Press, USA TODAY
ALBANY – The number of coronavirus deaths in New York on Wednesday jumped 25% in one day — an average of more than 16 deaths an hour — and will exceed 2,000 overall Thursday.
All of the deaths happened in a mere 18 days, putting New York, particularly the city, at the epicenter of COVID-19 and far ahead of any state in the nation.
Now the question is: Should New York leaders have shut down the state sooner?
New York officials and President Donald Trump this week clashed over the state’s emergency response in the weeks after its first confirmed coronavirus case March 1.
Trump, a Republican, on Tuesday asserted Democratic New York officials failed to act swiftly to close schools and ban gatherings, leading to the state’s current place as the leader of the coronavirus pandemic with more than 83,000 confirmed cases and a projection of at least 16,000 deaths over the next several months.
“For whatever reason, New York got off to a very late start and you see what happens when you get off to a late start," Trump said during a White House press briefing.
Trump also contrasted New York’s response with other states such as California and Washington, which imposed shutdowns sooner and have now reported far fewer confirmed cases, at about 8,500 and 5,300 cases, respectively.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s spokeswoman responded by blasting the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis, and Cuomo said New York has acted promptly as the cases and deaths grew.
"This is not the time to debate but the states were not slow to respond — the federal government was absent," Dani Lever, Cuomo's communications director, said in a statement.
More: Coronavirus in New York: Check our interactive map of cases and deaths by county
How COVID-19 testing was delayed in New York, US
Central to the issue are early missteps in testing for coronavirus across the country, a public health expert said.
New York City health officials in early February, for instance, were asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for access to coronavirus testing in what proved to be a fruitless effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Further, the federal agency initially distributed flawed coronavirus tests to states, including New York, which eventually created its own test to ramp up its testing effort in March.
More: COVID-19: How New York City became epicenter of coronavirus pandemic, what that means
Now more than two dozen private labs are testing in New York, and the Westchester-based Regeneron said Wednesday it is donating 500,000 test kits
“Good leaders make the best judgment available with the information they have, and they quickly seek more relevant information,” said Dr. Robert Amler, dean of New York Medical College’s School of Health Sciences and Practice.
What is a national emergency? President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what that actually means. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
“It’s my impression that is exactly what happened (in New York),” added Amler, who coordinated the CDC's measles surveillance, investigation and control program in the 1980s.
Amler noted experts will only be able to determine how effective social distancing measures have been in the U.S. when more robust testing is achieved.
New York's high number of positive cases is in part to its aggressive testing.
“It’s only at that point … that we can really look back and understand what happened and how effective our responses were at different stages of the battle,” he said.
More: This New York boy was beating cancer. Then coronavirus hit. Now his treatment is in limbo
What Cuomo, de Blasio say about social distancing timeline
Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have stressed they acted as quickly as they could to shut down schools and businesses as the coronavirus cases piled up.
But should they have done it sooner and would it have made any difference?
“I think in retrospect we deliberated too long on the various shutdown steps,” Mark Levine, a New York City councilman who heads its health committee, told Politico.
“We’re racing against the clock in slowing the spread of this, and even a day or two can change the trajectory.”
More: Coronavirus: The rent is due the first of the month. Here's how NY is protecting tenants
New York had its first case March 1 and a day later determined a New Rochelle lawyer was positive and likely had spread it to members of his religious congregation.
On March 3, 1,000 people in New Rochelle were put in quarantine, and a week later it was turned into a containment area that limited gatherings and shuttered schools.
It wasn't until March, 12, when the number of cases statewide hit 325, that Cuomo announced a statewide ban on gatherings of 500 or more individuals, which shut down Broadway, and required all smaller gatherings to be cut in half.
On March 16, two days after the first death in the state, New York ordered all schools closed by March 18, when the number of cases hit 2,300.
Cuomo then, on March 20, ordered all non-essential businesses to close starting on March 22, when the number of cases swelled to 15,000 and deaths reached 114.
There was hesitancy for days by de Blasio and Cuomo to close the city schools, the nation's largest school district, and others across the state.
"We said closing schools, if you can reduce the negative, childcare, student meals, etc., then I think it's a good strategy. But, we have to address those two negatives. The worst negative is if we lose essential workers," Cuomo said March 15 a day before all schools were shuttered.
Later that day, he closed NYC and suburban schools.
More: Coronavirus: Andrew Cuomo apologizes to unemployment seekers for 'deluged' system
De Blasio, meanwhile, has faced the brunt of criticism as Cuomo has been lauded for his daily, detailed briefings that mix messages of hope with the hard facts.
The mayor has been knocked, in particular, for initially downplaying the virus after it was clear it would rapidly spread in the city due to its population density and status as an international gateway.
He even unknowingly spread misinformation, the Washington Post noted.
“Occasional contact, glancing contact, temporary contact does not, from everything we know about coronavirus, lead to transmission,” he said March 3.
Cuomo sought to balance concerns about the virus — such as trying to build up the state's stockpile of supplies, beds and ventilators — with urging people not to panic.
"As I said from day one, the level of anxiety is not connected to facts," he said March 23. "There is no chaos. The net effect: Many people will get the virus, but few will be truly endangered."
More: CDC issues 'domestic travel advisory' for NY, NJ and Connecticut. Here's what it means
Should New York have acted sooner?
On Sunday, Cuomo claimed he acted prudently, saying his team tried to weigh the impact of shutting down the state and the economic impact of doing so with the rising threat to public health.
"We were one of the first to shut it down. Shutting it down is not without criticism, right? You’re trying to balance this," he told reporters in Albany.
"Shutting it down is a very drastic measure, but I think we were one of the first. Also, you want to do it in a way that doesn’t create more fear and more panic."
He and de Blasio spent days debating publicly whether to have a "shelter in place" order, with Cuomo on March 20 ultimately calling it "NYS on Pause" — which has shut down all non-essential businesses at least until mid-April.
"I never used the term shelter in place because I believed that was an inflammatory term and incorrect, by the way," Cuomo said Sunday, saying "shelter in place" suggests a bomb scare or terrorist threats.
More: New York's stay at home plan is in effect. Here’s what you need to know
Other states took other early steps.
On March 16, a "shelter-in-place" order was mandated in the San Francisco area, another densely populated city, even though there was about 500 cases statewide.
Three days later, Gov. Gavin Newsom made the order statewide when the state's positive cases hit 900.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine shuttered schools for three weeks starting March 16, and eight states have already closed schools for the remainder of the school year, including neighboring Vermont, according to tracking by Education Week.
New York has been closing them at two weeks intervals, with the latest order extending the closure through April 15.
More: Coronavirus deaths in New York projected at 16,000 or more; NYC patients moved upstate
Still, experts said the blame for any slow response should lie with the federal government — which New York leaders have regularly condemned, particularly as cases spread in mid-March.
Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, said Trump’s comment on a late start in New York was ironic “given how late and delayed the federal response has been since the beginning, starting with the extraordinary ineptness” in organizing mass testing.
More: Behind restaurants, a $300 billion food-distribution network is on the brink due to coronavirus
How New York coronavirus testing compares to other states
Researchers are reporting vast differences in COVID-19 testing efforts across the country, despite limited details coming from the federal government.
There is no “official” U.S. government count of testing. Trump administration officials have said that’s partly because they didn’t want to slow down availability of the test by imposing uniform reporting requirements.
But the COVID Tracking Project website is collecting data from state and local governments and appears to be one of the more reliable sources in the nation on testing data.
It reported more than 1 million tests conducted across the country as of Wednesday morning, including 205,000 in New York.
In contrast, California had about 88,000 tests and Washington had 65,000 tests, the website shows.
Cuomo has pointed to New York’s head start on testing as one reason it has more confirmed cases so far but warned other communities will face similar outbreaks soon.
“Anyone who says the situation is a New York City only situation is in a state of denial,” he said Monday, calling New York a canary in the coal mine.
“What you see us going through here, you will see happening all across this country."
Yet other factors driving the nation’s largest COVID-19 outbreak include New York City’s densely packed population of 8.6 million, twice as large as the next biggest city, Los Angeles, at 4 million.
“In those parts of the country where you had large congregations of people such as in New York City subways and Mardi Gras (in New Orleans)…it appears that those are the typical places where you’ve had large numbers of cases being reported,” Amler said.
More: Andrew Cuomo's order to hospitals: Expand capacity or face state takeover
More: This New York boy was beating cancer. Then coronavirus hit. Now his treatment is in limbo
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


usatoday--2020-04-02--6 lawmakers now have coronavirus. How the outbreak has changed how Congress does business

WASHINGTON – After the House passed a $ 2 trillion emergency aid package to help Americans reeling from the coronavirus last week , one of their colleagues back home announced he had tested positive for the potentially deadly disease .
A few hours later , another disclosed he , too , had contracted COVID-19 .
Three days later , there was a third .
The growing group of lawmakers who have contracted the virus – now at six – has underscored the dangerous predicament that Congress has found itself in as lawmakers aim to keep themselves healthy while working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afloat across the country .
As Congress begins to discuss a possible fourth piece of legislation to tackle the impacts of the coronavirus , here is what lawmakers face and how they 're attempting to maneuver around the virus .
Six members of Congress with coronavirus diagnosis As of Thursday , at least six members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus : one U.S .
Senator and five members of the House of Representatives .
More than two dozen have gone into self-quarantine after potentially interacting with someone who tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being in close contact with the lawmakers who tested positive .
At least two congressional staff members have tested positive as well .
Valazquez , Kelly and Cunningham announced their diagnoses after Friday 's historic vote on the $ 2 trillion coronavirus bill .
Kelly and Cunningham did not travel to Washington for the vote .
Valazquez , who said she started to notice symptoms the Sunday after , did go to D.C. where she spoke on the House floor and attended a signing ceremony with House leadership , including House Speaker Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' Pelosi said she `` kept my distance from all of the members '' at the signing ceremony , McAdams had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe shortness of breath .
He told the Salt Lake Tribune the experience `` felt awful like I was hit by a truck . ''
More : Which members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 ?
Congress has been put in an even more dangerous predicament because many members are in the age group at high risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus : those 65 years and older .
About half of the 100-member Senate is 65 or older and , in the House , 146 of its members are above that age .
The average age of a member of the House is 58 , and 63 in the Senate .
The older pack of lawmakers also includes its leaders , who have played a key role in quickly passing coronavirus legislation .
Pelosi turned 80 this week and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 78 .
Convening Congress also stands in opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines that recommend against coming together in gatherings of more than 10 people .
There are normally 535 total members of the House and Senate , and many more staff members coming in and out of the Capitol .
The spike in coronavirus cases across the U.S. also led to the rise in demands that Congress be allowed to vote remotely .
`` It ’ s time for us to have this conversation about how to protect members and their families , staff and their families , in the way that we vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re facing a public health crisis such as the one that we have at this moment , '' said Sen. Dick Durbin , D-Ill. , one of the leading voices demanding that lawmakers be allowed to vote remotely .
Pelosi commissioned House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern , D-Mass.
, to research the possibility .
McGovern sent out a report outlining the issues with voting remotely but offered the option of voting by proxy , something that would require a change in the House 's rules and a vote of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have rejected the idea of voting remotely .
Pelosi on a Tuesday conference call with reporters knocked down the idea again , explaining that it 's something that could be considered `` way down the road '' if warranted .
`` Let ’ s not waste too much time on something that ’ s not going to happen , '' she said .
When will Congress come back ?
TBD The House and Senate are on a recess without a definitive end date .
Both chambers had a prescheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus has left that up in the air .
There is also still a chance that Congress could be called back earlier if another coronavirus relief package is needed , but congressional leaders have indicated they believe the end of April would likely be the next time legislation is needed .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer penned a letter to fellow Democrats on Tuesday indicating that everything is in flux due to the virus .
`` We will listen to the advice from medical experts as to when we can proceed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it is not possible to give a definitive return date , '' he wrote .
Many lawmakers had trouble returning to Washington last week because of scarce flight availability , a hurdle that could worsen over time should the virus persist .
In mid-March , after the first two members of Congress were diagnosed with the coronavirus , Attending Physician of the United States Congress Brian P. Monahan issued new guidance for members of Congress , and said offices and locations at risk were cleaned using `` CDC approved cleaning methods to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others . ''
And when members of Congress came back to vote on the stimulus bill last week , all members of the House had to use hand sanitizer as they came on and off the floor , and hand sanitizer dispensers were placed at the doors .
Before every press conference with members of Congress , staff members thoroughly wiped down the podium and microphones to minimize transmission risk .
The few reporters left at the Capitol all sat several feet apart from each other to try to adhere to social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers space to adhere to those guidelines , even as the number of press at the Capitol dwindled due to the threat from the virus .
The police and support workers inside the Capitol are also at risk .
Two members of the Capitol Police have also tested positive for the coronavirus , prompting an outcry from their labor committee , which has asked for every frontline officer to be tested , for extra hazard pay for officers , and protective equipment for officers .

Christal Hayes and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

6 lawmakers now have coronavirus. How the outbreak has changed how Congress does business
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
WASHINGTON – After the House passed a $2 trillion emergency aid package to help Americans reeling from the coronavirus last week, one of their colleagues back home announced he had tested positive for the potentially deadly disease.
A few hours later, another disclosed he, too, had contracted COVID-19. Three days later, there was a third.
The growing group of lawmakers who have contracted the virus – now at six – has underscored the dangerous predicament that Congress has found itself in as lawmakers aim to keep themselves healthy while working on vital legislation to keep families and businesses afloat across the country.
As Congress begins to discuss a possible fourth piece of legislation to tackle the impacts of the coronavirus, here is what lawmakers face and how they're attempting to maneuver around the virus.
Coronavirus: How much families can expect from the stimulus package? Families across the U.S. will get a portion of money from the federal government's sweeping $2 trillion stimulus package. But how much? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Coronavirus live updates: CDC reviewing face mask policy; Prince Charles feeling better; US death toll tops 4,000
Six members of Congress with coronavirus diagnosis
As of Thursday, at least six members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus: one U.S. Senator and five members of the House of Representatives.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C.
Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Pa.
Rep. Nydia Valazquez, D-N.Y.
Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.
More than two dozen have gone into self-quarantine after potentially interacting with someone who tested positive. Others have also done so after being in close contact with the lawmakers who tested positive. At least two congressional staff members have tested positive as well.
Valazquez, Kelly and Cunningham announced their diagnoses after Friday's historic vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus bill. Kelly and Cunningham did not travel to Washington for the vote. Valazquez, who said she started to notice symptoms the Sunday after, did go to D.C. where she spoke on the House floor and attended a signing ceremony with House leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In a Tuesday interview with MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Pelosi said she "kept my distance from all of the members" at the signing ceremony,
McAdams had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe shortness of breath.
He told the Salt Lake Tribune the experience "felt awful like I was hit by a truck."
More: Which members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19?
Aging Congress increases risks
Congress has been put in an even more dangerous predicament because many members are in the age group at high risk of getting severely ill or dying from the coronavirus: those 65 years and older.
About half of the 100-member Senate is 65 or older and, in the House, 146 of its members are above that age.
The average age of a member of the House is 58, and 63 in the Senate.
The older pack of lawmakers also includes its leaders, who have played a key role in quickly passing coronavirus legislation. Pelosi turned 80 this week and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 78.
Convening Congress also stands in opposition to the Trump administration's social distancing guidelines that recommend against coming together in gatherings of more than 10 people. There are normally 535 total members of the House and Senate, and many more staff members coming in and out of the Capitol.
Anxious lawmakers push for remote voting
The spike in coronavirus cases across the U.S. also led to the rise in demands that Congress be allowed to vote remotely.
"It’s time for us to have this conversation about how to protect members and their families, staff and their families, in the way that we vote on the floor of the Senate when we’re facing a public health crisis such as the one that we have at this moment," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., one of the leading voices demanding that lawmakers be allowed to vote remotely.
More: Tradition-bound Congress considers voting remotely as coronavirus illnesses hit home
Pelosi commissioned House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., to research the possibility. McGovern sent out a report outlining the issues with voting remotely but offered the option of voting by proxy, something that would require a change in the House's rules and a vote of approval.
But both Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have rejected the idea of voting remotely. Pelosi on a Tuesday conference call with reporters knocked down the idea again, explaining that it's something that could be considered "way down the road" if warranted.
"Let’s not waste too much time on something that’s not going to happen," she said.
When will Congress come back? TBD
The House and Senate are on a recess without a definitive end date. Both chambers had a prescheduled break that would end April 20 but the coronavirus has left that up in the air.
There is also still a chance that Congress could be called back earlier if another coronavirus relief package is needed, but congressional leaders have indicated they believe the end of April would likely be the next time legislation is needed.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer penned a letter to fellow Democrats on Tuesday indicating that everything is in flux due to the virus.
"We will listen to the advice from medical experts as to when we can proceed with the business of Congress in Washington, so it is not possible to give a definitive return date," he wrote.
Many lawmakers had trouble returning to Washington last week because of scarce flight availability, a hurdle that could worsen over time should the virus persist.
Headed to DC to vote on #coronavirus bill. Plane is pretty empty. Pray for America and our frontline workers. pic.twitter.com/Mw3SQFKEnX — Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) March 27, 2020
Maintaining a safe (and clean) Capitol
In mid-March, after the first two members of Congress were diagnosed with the coronavirus, Attending Physician of the United States Congress Brian P. Monahan issued new guidance for members of Congress, and said offices and locations at risk were cleaned using "CDC approved cleaning methods to ensure there is no residual risk to others."
And when members of Congress came back to vote on the stimulus bill last week, all members of the House had to use hand sanitizer as they came on and off the floor, and hand sanitizer dispensers were placed at the doors.
Before every press conference with members of Congress, staff members thoroughly wiped down the podium and microphones to minimize transmission risk. The few reporters left at the Capitol all sat several feet apart from each other to try to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Reporters were urged to give lawmakers space to adhere to those guidelines, even as the number of press at the Capitol dwindled due to the threat from the virus.
The police and support workers inside the Capitol are also at risk.
Two members of the Capitol Police have also tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting an outcry from their labor committee, which has asked for every frontline officer to be tested, for extra hazard pay for officers, and protective equipment for officers.


usatoday--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: Trump says he would 'absolutely' take a call from Biden offering advice

WASHINGTON –President Donald Trump said he would `` absolutely '' take a call from former Vice President Joe Biden after the Democratic candidate 's campaign said Wednesday that he would be willing to call the White House and offer the administration advice on the coronavirus response .
“ Oh sure , absolutely .
I 'd love to speak with him , '' Trump said at the White House coronavirus press briefing when asked if he would take the call .
He added : `` I always found him to be a nice guy . ''
Kate Bedingfield , Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Our teams will be in touch and we will arrange a call . ''
More : Pence urges churches not to worship in groups larger than 10 people The offer from the Democratic front-runner came after Kellyanne Conway , a senior adviser to Trump , said of Biden 's criticism of the administrations response to COVID-19 : “ I think it ’ s really disappointing to have President Obama ’ s number two , who apparently doesn ’ t talk much to him , out there , criticizing , instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did that we thought was effective . '
” “ Why doesn ’ t Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support ?
” Conway continued , dismissing Biden “ in his bunker ” in Wilmington , Delaware , '' just lobbing criticism . ''
Mike Pence : 'Italy may be the most comparable '' to the US on coronavirus cases and deaths Bedingfield , responded to Conway 's remarks , saying , `` Vice President Biden has been extending his advice for months , and he did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Donald Trump is not accountable for coronavirus itself – but he is accountable for the federal government ’ s slow and chaotic response to this outbreak , ” Bedingfield continued .
“ Unfortunately , Trump spent months after the virus was discovered disregarding repeated warnings from his scientific and intelligence experts , and downplaying the threat of this outbreak to the American people .
He could have heeded Vice President Biden ’ s public advice not to take China ’ s word as they misled the world about their efforts to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , Biden said that it is Trump 's “ responsibility ” to do more in the coronavirus response , including ramping up the use of the Defense Production Act .
More : Will coronavirus cancel the conventions ?
Biden says 'it 's hard to envision ' a Dem convention in July Biden additionally said it would be “ wise ” for Trump to speak with former President Barack Obama , saying that their administration oversaw the Ebola outbreak response in 2014 .
They also oversaw the swine flu outbreak in 2009 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t get a sense that the president wants to hear from anybody . ''
`` It ’ s all about , like , asking governors to thank him for what he ’ s doing as president ?
Come on .
What is this all about ?
” Biden said , referring to Trump on Friday saying he has asked Vice President Mike Pence not to call governors he says have not been `` appreciative '' enough of the administration 's efforts on coronavirus .
On Tuesday , Obama appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skepticism of the coronavirus pandemic , a rare rebuff from the former president , who tends not to weigh in on the work of other presidents .
`` We 've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic , '' Obama tweeted Tuesday , without directly naming the president .
`` We ca n't afford any more consequences of climate denial .
All of us , especially young people , have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall . ''
Bedingfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote a literal playbook for pandemic response , but unfortunately Trump 's administration left it on the shelf .
Now , we have more coronavirus cases than any other country . ''

Coronavirus: Trump says he would 'absolutely' take a call from Biden offering advice
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus Conversations: Are we close to a cure? What does the pipeline look like for a cure for coronavirus? Reporters from the USA TODAY Network talk about America's most urgent questions. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he would "absolutely" take a call from former Vice President Joe Biden after the Democratic candidate's campaign said Wednesday that he would be willing to call the White House and offer the administration advice on the coronavirus response.
“Oh sure, absolutely. I'd love to speak with him," Trump said at the White House coronavirus press briefing when asked if he would take the call. He added: "I always found him to be a nice guy."
Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy communications director, told USA TODAY: "Our teams will be in touch and we will arrange a call."
More: Pence urges churches not to worship in groups larger than 10 people
The offer from the Democratic front-runner came after Kellyanne Conway, a senior adviser to Trump, said of Biden's criticism of the administrations response to COVID-19: “I think it’s really disappointing to have President Obama’s number two, who apparently doesn’t talk much to him, out there, criticizing, instead of saying 'Hey, here is what we did that we thought was effective.'”
“Why doesn’t Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support?” Conway continued, dismissing Biden “in his bunker” in Wilmington, Delaware, "just lobbing criticism."
Mike Pence: 'Italy may be the most comparable" to the US on coronavirus cases and deaths
Bedingfield, responded to Conway's remarks, saying, "Vice President Biden has been extending his advice for months, and he did so again on the air last night.”
“Donald Trump is not accountable for coronavirus itself – but he is accountable for the federal government’s slow and chaotic response to this outbreak,” Bedingfield continued. “Unfortunately, Trump spent months after the virus was discovered disregarding repeated warnings from his scientific and intelligence experts, and downplaying the threat of this outbreak to the American people. He could have heeded Vice President Biden’s public advice not to take China’s word as they misled the world about their efforts to stop the spread.”
Appearing on MSNBC Tuesday night, Biden said that it is Trump's “responsibility” to do more in the coronavirus response, including ramping up the use of the Defense Production Act.
More: Will coronavirus cancel the conventions? Biden says 'it's hard to envision' a Dem convention in July
'Gross misjudgment': Experts say Trump's decision to disband pandemic team hindered coronavirus response
Biden additionally said it would be “wise” for Trump to speak with former President Barack Obama, saying that their administration oversaw the Ebola outbreak response in 2014. They also oversaw the swine flu outbreak in 2009.
However, Biden stated Tuesday that “I don’t get a sense that the president wants to hear from anybody."
"It’s all about, like, asking governors to thank him for what he’s doing as president? Come on. What is this all about?” Biden said, referring to Trump on Friday saying he has asked Vice President Mike Pence not to call governors he says have not been "appreciative" enough of the administration's efforts on coronavirus.
More: Barack Obama takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump's handling of coronavirus pandemic
On Tuesday, Obama appeared to take a swipe at Trump's initial skepticism of the coronavirus pandemic, a rare rebuff from the former president, who tends not to weigh in on the work of other presidents.
"We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic," Obama tweeted Tuesday, without directly naming the president. "We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall."
Bedingfield continued that "The Obama-Biden administration even wrote a literal playbook for pandemic response, but unfortunately Trump's administration left it on the shelf. Now, we have more coronavirus cases than any other country."
Contributing: Courtney Subramanian, Rebecca Morin


usatoday--2020-04-02--'I never knew how bad a senator you are': Trump and Schumer trade barbs over coronavirus response

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ripped Sen. Charles Schumer in a notably nasty letter on Thursday , blaming his support of impeachment in part for New York 's lack of readiness regarding the spread of the coronavirus .
`` If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax , which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere ( except increasing my poll numbers ) , and instead focused on helping the people of New York , then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the 'invisible enemy , '' Trump wrote to that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York resident , Trump also told Schumer : `` I ’ ve known you for many years , but I never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York , until I became President . ''
Schumer responded with a more tempered letter , saying it was Trump 's government that was not ready for the coronavirus pandemic .
More : Trump has n't ordered any ventilators from GM , despite saying he was using wartime powers to force production - sources More : New York ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they last through health care ?
`` As the Coronavirus spreads rapidly into every corner of our nation and its terrible , grim toll grows more severe with each passing day , the tardiness and inadequacy of this Administration ’ s response to the crisis becomes more painfully evident , '' Schumer told Trump .
Trump 's letter was the latest volley in a new war of words with the Senate 's top Democrat .
Schumer , D-N.Y. , has been an outspoken critic of what he called the Trump administration 's `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
During an appearance Thursday on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe , '' Schumer said Trump needs new leadership for the counter-coronavirus effort .
He also urged Trump to make use of a federal law designed to compel private industries to make more equipment .
`` President Trump needs to harness industry to quickly produce more medical supplies and equipment under the Defense Production Act NOW , '' Schumer tweeted .
`` He needs to appoint a czar like a military or logistics expert to lead the effort to make and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed . ''
State spat : Trump calls some governors 'complainers ' as he 's criticized over delivery of coronavirus supplies In a tweet responding to Schumer , Trump claimed that `` New York has gotten far more than any other State , '' adding that , `` It wouldn ’ t matter if you got ten times what was needed , it would never be good enough . ''
In his follow-up letter , made public as Trump conducted a coronavirus news conference at the White House , the president accused Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wrong in every way . ''
Schumer did not address the tone of Trump 's letter but repeated the same criticisms of the administration 's response that he has made before .
`` This is a matter of the utmost urgency for the health of every American , '' Schumer concluded .
`` Regrettably , our national response is far behind where it should be .
But by acting now , there is still time to help protect our medical professionals , reduce suffering and save lives . ''
Trump sent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , D-Calif. , in December during the height of the impeachment crisis .
In his harangue to Pelosi , Trump wrote : “ Your Speakership and your party are held hostage by your most deranged and radical representatives of the far left .
Look at yourself and others .
Do not take our country down with your party .
”

'Confused' and 'bad senator:' Trump and Schumer trade barbs over coronavirus response
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ripped Sen. Charles Schumer in a notably nasty letter on Thursday, blaming his support of impeachment in part for New York's lack of readiness regarding the spread of the coronavirus.
"If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the 'invisible enemy," Trump wrote in a reply to a letter Schumer had sent him earlier in the day.
A former New York resident, Trump also told the state's senior senator: "I’ve known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York, until I became President."
Schumer had sent a more tempered letter to Trump, saying it was the federal government that was not ready for the coronavirus pandemic.
More: Trump hasn't ordered any ventilators from GM, despite saying he was using wartime powers to force production - sources
More: New York ties bind Trump and Schumer, but can they last through health care?
"As the Coronavirus spreads rapidly into every corner of our nation and its terrible, grim toll grows more severe with each passing day, the tardiness and inadequacy of this Administration’s response to the crisis becomes more painfully evident," Schumer told Trump.
Trump's letter was the latest volley in a new war of words with the Senate's top Democrat. Schumer, D-N.Y., has been an outspoken critic of what he called the Trump administration's "confused and uncoordinated" response to the coronavirus pandemic.
During an appearance Thursday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Schumer said Trump needs new leadership for the counter-coronavirus effort. He also urged Trump to make use of a federal law designed to compel private industries to make more equipment.
"President Trump needs to harness industry to quickly produce more medical supplies and equipment under the Defense Production Act NOW," Schumer tweeted. "He needs to appoint a czar like a military or logistics expert to lead the effort to make and get the supplies where they’re needed."
State spat: Trump calls some governors 'complainers' as he's criticized over delivery of coronavirus supplies
In a tweet responding to Schumer, Trump claimed that "New York has gotten far more than any other State," adding that, "It wouldn’t matter if you got ten times what was needed, it would never be good enough."
In his follow-up letter, made public as Trump conducted a coronavirus news conference at the White House, the president accused Schumer of "incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way."
Schumer's letter repeated the same criticisms of the administration's response that he has made before.
"This is a matter of the utmost urgency for the health of every American," Schumer concluded. "Regrettably, our national response is far behind where it should be. But by acting now, there is still time to help protect our medical professionals, reduce suffering and save lives."
Trump sent a similarly nasty letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in December during the height of the impeachment crisis.
In his harangue to Pelosi, Trump wrote: “Your Speakership and your party are held hostage by your most deranged and radical representatives of the far left. Look at yourself and others. Do not take our country down with your party.”


usatoday--2020-04-02--Georgia Gov. Kemp slammed after saying he just learned coronavirus could spread without symptoms

After previously resisting calls to issue a statewide order for people to stay home to contain the spread of the coronavirus , Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp announced he was issuing such a directive and that it would take effect Friday .
Though Kemp 's tightening of restrictions was welcomed by health officials , he drew criticism for his explanation that he was taking the step because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was now `` finding out that this virus is now transmitting before people see signs . ''
`` The CDC has announced that individuals can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than previously thought , even if they have no symptoms , '' Kemp said at a news conference Wednesday .
He called the information `` a revelation and a game changer . ''
The first-term Republican said that based on earlier CDC directives , his office had previously only been advising those who did not feel well to stay home .
`` Those individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad , '' Kemp said .
`` We did n't know that until the last 24 hours . ''
Kemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor was referring to a March 30 update from the CDC that said several studies show evidence of infected people who never showed symptoms .
Because people who do n't appear sick are not usually tested , `` the prevalence of asymptomatic infection and detection of pre-symptomatic infection is not well understood , '' the CDC said .
The governor 's office also referred to comments from CDC director Robert Redfield , who told NPR on Monday that the new coronavirus was `` three times as infectious as flu , '' largely because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected never show symptoms and for those that do , they may not appear for up to 48 hours .
While Redfield 's comments reflect a new understanding of the level of asymptomatic transmission , he and other health officials have warned that people who do not appear sick could be spreading the disease since late January .
At a Jan. 31 White House news briefing , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said `` in the beginning , we were not sure if there were asymptomatic infection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak than what we ’ re seeing .
Now we know for sure that there are . ''
Though the study Fauci based that comment on was later determined to be flawed by public health officials because the patient was found to have had mild symptoms , a Feb. 19 study – which the CDC cites in its update – appeared to confirm asymptomatic spread .
`` I don ’ t think there ’ s any question that someone who is without symptoms and carrying the virus can transmit the virus to somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times later that month .
On Feb. 13 , Redfield told CNN 's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that he had discovered `` the spectrum of this illness is much broader than was originally presented .
There 's much more asymptomatic illness . ''
He said they were talking with medical professionals in China to determine `` how much of the asymptomatic cases are driving transmission . ''
And on March 14 , Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator , said , `` Until you really understand how many people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we think it ’ s better for the entire American public to know that the risk of serious illness may be low , but they could be potentially spreading the virus to others . ''
Democrats seized on Kemp 's remarks that he was just learning the illness could be spread by people not displaying symptoms .
`` If they had better election laws Stacey Abrams would be governor of Georgia .
Brian Kemp ’ s negligence could cost Americans thousands of lives , '' tweeted Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
`` Kemp ’ s admission reveals that he and his administration hadn ’ t been listening to the health officials , including members of the White House coronavirus task force , who have been sharing that information for months , '' the Democratic Party of Georgia said in a statement .
`` Health officials knew .
Americans knew .
Brian Kemp failed to act , and now Georgians are paying the price . ''
`` This is why we need a national test , trace , and quarantine program , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because Governors and Mayors are n't public health experts , and Kemp is n't alone in totally misunderstanding the science and making fatal mistakes as a consequence . ''

Georgia Gov. Kemp slammed after saying he just learned coronavirus could spread without symptoms
Show Caption Hide Caption CDC could change guidelines on mask-wearing amid coronavirus outbreak The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been asked to review its guidance on wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY, Wochit
After previously resisting calls to issue a statewide order for people to stay home to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced he was issuing such a directive and that it would take effect Friday.
Though Kemp's tightening of restrictions was welcomed by health officials, he drew criticism for his explanation that he was taking the step because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was now "finding out that this virus is now transmitting before people see signs."
"The CDC has announced that individuals can be infected and begin to spread coronavirus earlier than previously thought, even if they have no symptoms," Kemp said at a news conference Wednesday. He called the information "a revelation and a game changer."
The first-term Republican said that based on earlier CDC directives, his office had previously only been advising those who did not feel well to stay home.
"Those individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad," Kemp said. "We didn't know that until the last 24 hours."
Kemp's press secretary told USA TODAY the governor was referring to a March 30 update from the CDC that said several studies show evidence of infected people who never showed symptoms. Because people who don't appear sick are not usually tested, "the prevalence of asymptomatic infection and detection of pre-symptomatic infection is not well understood," the CDC said.
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
The governor's office also referred to comments from CDC director Robert Redfield, who told NPR on Monday that the new coronavirus was "three times as infectious as flu," largely because as many as 25% of those infected never show symptoms and for those that do, they may not appear for up to 48 hours.
While Redfield's comments reflect a new understanding of the level of asymptomatic transmission, he and other health officials have warned that people who do not appear sick could be spreading the disease since late January.
At a Jan. 31 White House news briefing, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said "in the beginning, we were not sure if there were asymptomatic infection, which would make it a much broader outbreak than what we’re seeing. Now we know for sure that there are."
Though the study Fauci based that comment on was later determined to be flawed by public health officials because the patient was found to have had mild symptoms, a Feb. 19 study – which the CDC cites in its update – appeared to confirm asymptomatic spread.
"I don’t think there’s any question that someone who is without symptoms and carrying the virus can transmit the virus to somebody else," Fauci told The New York Times later that month.
On Feb. 13, Redfield told CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that he had discovered "the spectrum of this illness is much broader than was originally presented. There's much more asymptomatic illness." He said they were talking with medical professionals in China to determine "how much of the asymptomatic cases are driving transmission."
And on March 14, Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said, "Until you really understand how many people are asymptomatic and asymptomatically passing the virus on, we think it’s better for the entire American public to know that the risk of serious illness may be low, but they could be potentially spreading the virus to others."
Democrats seized on Kemp's remarks that he was just learning the illness could be spread by people not displaying symptoms.
"If they had better election laws Stacey Abrams would be governor of Georgia. Brian Kemp’s negligence could cost Americans thousands of lives," tweeted Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who was a presidential candidate into early March.
If they had better election laws Stacey Abrams would be governor of Georgia. Brian Kemp’s negligence could cost Americans thousands of lives. https://t.co/hFCBZ60v0a — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 2, 2020
"Kemp’s admission reveals that he and his administration hadn’t been listening to the health officials, including members of the White House coronavirus task force, who have been sharing that information for months," the Democratic Party of Georgia said in a statement. "Health officials knew. Americans knew. Brian Kemp failed to act, and now Georgians are paying the price."
"This is why we need a national test, trace, and quarantine program," tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. "Because Governors and Mayors aren't public health experts, and Kemp isn't alone in totally misunderstanding the science and making fatal mistakes as a consequence."


usatoday--2020-04-02--FDA eases restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men during coronavirus pandemic

WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday updated its guidelines on blood donations from gay men to better meet the demand for blood during the coronavirus pandemic .
Male donors who have had sex with another man within the past three months should not donate , the FDA said .
That abstinence period was decreased from the 12 months previously recommended .
`` The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges to the U.S. blood supply , '' the FDA said in a statement .
`` Donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood drives . ''
The policy for female donors who have had sex with a man who had sex with another man to wait to donate blood was also reduced to three months from 12 months , as well as for people who got recent tattoos or piercings .
Blood donation guidelines for gay men were first implemented as the HIV/AIDS crisis unfolded in the 1980s and initially constituted a lifetime ban for gay men .
That was revised in 2015 to the one-year restriction , but many LGBTQ rights advocates have long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said on Twitter that this is a `` step forward , '' but `` more needs to be done . ''
`` While this change by the FDA is a step in the right direction , it still bases itself in bias rather than science , '' David said .
`` Creating a policy based on identity as opposed to risk is irrational and given the current COVID-19 crisis , it is more critical than ever to prioritize science and facts over fear and bias . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologic data , the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply , '' the agency said .
The updated recommendations are for immediate implementation , the FDA said , and are expected to remain in place at least through the pandemic .
Blood establishments do not have to change their policies to comply with the new FDA recommendations .
`` We believe these updated recommendations will have a significant and positive impact on our blood supply , '' @ @ @ @

FDA eases restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men during coronavirus pandemic
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 pandemic myths debunked There is a lot of misinformation out there about coronavirus. We sort the facts from falsehoods. USA TODAY, Wochit
WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday updated its guidelines on blood donations from gay men to better meet the demand for blood during the coronavirus pandemic.
Male donors who have had sex with another man within the past three months should not donate, the FDA said. That abstinence period was decreased from the 12 months previously recommended.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges to the U.S. blood supply," the FDA said in a statement. "Donor centers have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives."
Coronavirus updates:Democrats delay convention; unemployment claims soar; Dr. Fauci gets security after threats
The policy for female donors who have had sex with a man who had sex with another man to wait to donate blood was also reduced to three months from 12 months, as well as for people who got recent tattoos or piercings.
Blood donation guidelines for gay men were first implemented as the HIV/AIDS crisis unfolded in the 1980s and initially constituted a lifetime ban for gay men. That was revised in 2015 to the one-year restriction, but many LGBTQ rights advocates have long considered these restrictions to be discriminatory.
Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said on Twitter that this is a "step forward," but "more needs to be done."
"While this change by the FDA is a step in the right direction, it still bases itself in bias rather than science," David said. "Creating a policy based on identity as opposed to risk is irrational and given the current COVID-19 crisis, it is more critical than ever to prioritize science and facts over fear and bias."
Opinion:Red Cross asks for blood donations amid coronavirus. Because I'm gay, I'm excluded.
"Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data, the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply," the agency said.
The updated recommendations are for immediate implementation, the FDA said, and are expected to remain in place at least through the pandemic. Blood establishments do not have to change their policies to comply with the new FDA recommendations.
"We believe these updated recommendations will have a significant and positive impact on our blood supply," the FDA said.


usatoday--2020-04-02--Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wears 'That Woman from Michigan' T-shirt on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah'

DETROIT – Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has been a frequent guest on cable news networks during the coronavirus crisis and on Wednesday , she landed on Comedy Central ’ s `` The Daily Show with Trevor Noah . ''
But it wasn ’ t a comedy routine .
She used the time on the television show to plead the state ’ s case for needing more personal protection equipment , ventilators and health care professionals who are willing to relocate to southeast Michigan to help ease the hospital overcrowding that is leading to staffing shortages .
Her one light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T-shirt she wore , which she proudly displayed “ That Woman from Michigan , ” as a jab at President Donald Trump , who criticized her frequently last week and over the weekend , but refused to say her name .
Instead , he called her that woman from Michigan , which has taken off as a hashtag on Twitter and a T-shirt that has been a hot seller .
Trump to Mike Pence : :'Do n't call the woman in Michigan , ' aka Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer She declined to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her twice if Michigan was getting slighted by the Trump administration because of her criticism of the federal government ’ s response to the coronavirus .
As of Wednesday afternoon , the state has 9,334 coronavirus cases and 337 deaths from the COVID-19 virus .
“ I don ’ t think anyone has the energy to deal with politics right now .
All of our energy , all of our focus has to be on meeting the needs of our people , ” she said .
“ People are dying .
Those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved ones and family .
I don ’ t have anytime to think about anything other than fighting COVID-19.
” She noted the fight is not between the federal and state governments .
“ The enemy is the virus .
... We ’ re not getting as much as we hoped for from the federal government , so we ’ ve got to supplement that by contracting with whoever we can get masks from , tests from and we end up bidding against one another and it ’ s a destructive way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Whitmer 's choice of clothing for the show was not the first time she decided to make a fashion statement .
When she appeared on Meet The Press on Sunday , she wore a “ Everbody versus COVID-19 ” T-shirt .

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wears 'That Woman from Michigan' T-shirt on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah'
Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit streets empty after Michigan's stay at home order Following Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's "stay home" order to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus, Detroit streets were eerily empty. Brian Kaufman, Detroit Free Press Videographer
DETROIT – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been a frequent guest on cable news networks during the coronavirus crisis and on Wednesday, she landed on Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah."
But it wasn’t a comedy routine. She used the time on the television show to plead the state’s case for needing more personal protection equipment, ventilators and health care professionals who are willing to relocate to southeast Michigan to help ease the hospital overcrowding that is leading to staffing shortages.
Her one light note on the show was the blue T-shirt she wore, which she proudly displayed “That Woman from Michigan,” as a jab at President Donald Trump, who criticized her frequently last week and over the weekend, but refused to say her name. Instead, he called her that woman from Michigan, which has taken off as a hashtag on Twitter and a T-shirt that has been a hot seller.
Trump to Mike Pence:: 'Don't call the woman in Michigan,' aka Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Trevor talks with @GovWhitmer about Michigan’s struggle to get coronavirus supplies from the federal government. pic.twitter.com/3EvFnJQ9hK — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) April 2, 2020
She declined to take the bait from Noah, who asked her twice if Michigan was getting slighted by the Trump administration because of her criticism of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus. As of Wednesday afternoon, the state has 9,334 coronavirus cases and 337 deaths from the COVID-19 virus.
“I don’t think anyone has the energy to deal with politics right now. All of our energy, all of our focus has to be on meeting the needs of our people,” she said. “People are dying. Those are stories, they are people who leave loved ones and family. I don’t have anytime to think about anything other than fighting COVID-19.”
She noted the fight is not between the federal and state governments. “The enemy is the virus. ... We’re not getting as much as we hoped for from the federal government, so we’ve got to supplement that by contracting with whoever we can get masks from, tests from and we end up bidding against one another and it’s a destructive way of going about trying to fix this problem.”
Whitmer's choice of clothing for the show was not the first time she decided to make a fashion statement. When she appeared on Meet The Press on Sunday, she wore a “Everbody versus COVID-19” T-shirt.
Follow Kathleen Gray on Twitter: @michpoligal.


usatoday--2020-04-02--Enforcing the shutdown: Law enforcement grapples with policing stay-at-home orders, social distancin

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan is no longer asking .
He ’ s directing residents to stay home to avoid a larger outbreak of the coronavirus .
And his unvarnished warning has had real-world consequences .
Authorities have charged at least two people in recent days with violating bans on public gatherings of more than 10 people – an offense that could result in a year in jail , a $ 5,000 fine , or both .
Since last week , police agencies across the state have responded to 597 calls reporting potential violations of Hogan 's orders , Maryland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was time , ” Hogan said this week , “ to take more aggressive action.
” We 're not playing around : Hogan says arrest for coronavirus offense sends 'great message' The governor ’ s declaration mirrors a struggle across the country to enforce a patchwork of new stay-at-home orders , social-distancing directives and quarantines imposed in an effort to contain the march of a deadly virus that had claimed more than 5,000 lives as of Thursday .
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott has issued a flurry of self-quarantine orders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities to self-isolate for 14 days or risk 180 days in jail and a $ 1,000 fine .
In Florida , authorities charged the pastor of a megachurch with violating local orders prohibiting groupings of more than 10 people .
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said he has no regrets about taking action against the Rev .
Rodney Howard-Browne .
“ He left us with no choice , ” Chronister said , referring to the weekend church gathering that drew between 400 and 500 worshipers .
“ We stopped just short of begging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives in danger.
” The potential jeopardy , police officials and analysts said , does n't apply only to the suspected offenders .
As law enforcement becomes more engaged in policing the new coronavirus-related prohibitions , they are also risking exposing themselves to infection .
More than 1,000 New York Police Department officers have been infected .
In Detroit , hundreds of officers have been quarantined and the police chief has tested positive ; in Houston 130 officers have been in isolation and at least a dozen have been infected .
`` Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the greater good , '' said Chuck Wexler , executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum .
`` The best outcome is to get people to voluntarily comply .
Unfortunately , we 're just on the front end of this thing .
I fear the public 's patience is going to be stretched as time goes on .
If there ever was a time to put community policing into practice , now is the time . ''
The popular enforcement strategy , which relies heavily on relationship-building between police and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been more crucial , said Art Acevedo , president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association .
`` It 's in everybody 's best interest to get voluntary compliance , and most of us are trying to to approach it that way , '' said Acevedo , who also serves as Houston 's police chief .
`` We should only use the hammer ( arrests or citations ) as a measure of last resort .
I do n't know of any department that has taken a different approach .
We 're trying to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Virus infecting cops : As more police get coronavirus , public safety could suffer 'Complete chaos ' : How the pandemic is upending the criminal justice system Chronister , the Florida sheriff whose deputies arrested the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church on Sunday , said he provided Howard-Browne `` every opportunity '' to avoid the spectacle of a police action .
Starting last Friday , the sheriff said his office contacted the church after learning that it was inviting congregants to weekend services , in violation of the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chronister said the discussions continued through the weekend and included a meeting between sheriff 's office officials and church leaders .
`` He ( the pastor ) left us no choice but to exercise our law enforcement authority , '' Chronister said , referring to a gathering that swelled to an estimated 400 to 500 worshipers .
`` This had nothing to do with the freedom of religion or the right to worship , '' the sheriff said , adding that the church has the technology to livestream its services or broadcast them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reason to put countless lives in jeopardy . ''
Liberty Counsel , the law firm representing Howard-Browne , said the county order banning large gatherings including `` faith-based events , '' was overly `` broad '' and open to interpretation .
`` Pastor Howard-Browne and the church took extra precautions for the church meeting , '' the law firm said , noting that church officials `` enforced the six-foot distance between family groups in the auditorium as well as the overflow rooms . ''
Officials said all staffers wore gloves , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received hand sanitizer . ''
`` The church spent $ 100,000 on a hospital grade purification system set up throughout the church that provides continuous infectious microbial reduction that is rated to kill microbes , including those in the coronavirus family , '' the firm stated .
`` Shame on all of them for making us do our job , '' the sheriff said .
Churches in Florida and across the country are expected to draw even more law enforcement scrutiny in the midst of the Easter season .
But policing the gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week when some state officials , including Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , declared religious services as `` essential '' activities .
Abbott , the Texas governor , also has left the door open to religious services .
`` If religious services can not be conducted from home or through remote services , they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the ( Centers For Disease Control ) by practicing good hygiene , environmental cleanliness , and sanitation , and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Across the nation , police enforcement has been sporadic as states and localities continue to rely on most residents to comply voluntarily with orders to stay at home and avoid gathering in groups .
But increasingly , some states are patrolling their borders to stop travelers from entering if they do not have “ essential ” reasons .
That ’ s particularly the case near New York and in states that draw vacationers , such as Florida and Hawaii .
At least 11 states have orders in place directing most non-residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another seven states target travelers from particular states , such as New York .
In Hawaii , violators of the stay-at-home order face some of the stiffest penalties on the books to date : fines of up to $ 5,000 and a year in jail .
Police in Honolulu have issued dozens of citations and made at least two arrests , mostly aimed at people gathering in public parks , according to local media reports .
In Florida , which at first targeted only counties in the southeast part of the state before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been set up on interstate highways .
Violators could be fined up to $ 500 , jailed up to 60 days , or both .
`` A social gathering in a public space is not an essential activity , '' DeSantis ' order said , following weeks in which the state 's beaches had remained open and crowded .
`` Local jurisdictions shall ensure that groups of people greater than ten are not permitted to congregate in any public space . ''
Washington State , which saw the nation ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a 'see something-say something ' policy .
Residents are invited to complete online forms detailing suspected violations by local businesses operating when they should be closed .
The state threatens violators with citations , suspension notices , revoked business licenses – even criminal charges .
Some states that order out-of-staters to quarantine themselves for 14 days have drawn complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union for violating travelers ' rights .
West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice ’ s order cast a wide net , particularly targeting travelers from “ Louisiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy , and China.
” Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo initially targeted New Yorkers , but objections from the ACLU led her to expand it to anyone entering the state .
State police and the National Guard stopped cars and checked the state ’ s major airport , train stations and bus depots .
Some people have found themselves under arrest for violating coronavirus regulations : In New Jersey , two Lakewood men were charged with maintaining a nuisance for staging large weddings , and more than a dozen property owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , the owner of a Brooklyn bar was arrested when more than a dozen people were found drinking and gambling inside what appeared to be a closed facility .
Among the charges : reckless endangerment .
At the end of February , the Texas judiciary began preparations for a `` storm '' that is expected to continue ravaging the country for weeks , if not months .
`` We quickly began to realize that we needed to move on a number fronts , '' said David Slayton , director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early global spread of the coronavirus .
Since then , the state has created a kind of parallel court system to handle potential cases arising from quarantine violations and isolation orders now in effect across the state .
A cadre of 31 trial court judges and 25 appellate court justices have been assembled to consider cases .
Slayton said all have been provided training by the Health Law and Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center .
Another 250 attorneys have been identified to serve as quasi public defender system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arise .
Noncompliance with public health control orders are Class B misdemeanors , punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $ 2,000 fine .
Penalties could rise to a year in jail and up to a $ 4,000 fine if suspects resist or evade arrest .
So far , Slayton said , there has been little need , as only one quarantine violation case has emerged in the Houston area .
The case was ultimately resolved after the suspect tested negative for the virus .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Acevedo , the Houston police chief .
`` Most people recognize what we 're dealing with and they are getting it . ''
In recent weeks , Acevedo said officers have been in the streets dispersing larger gatherings and encouraging others to keep their distance .
`` So many people are losing jobs on a daily basis as a result of this ; we do n't want to make their situations worse , '' the chief said .
But if there is a need to bring a heavier response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We ca n't opt out of police work , '' he said .
Last weekend in Chicago , police made a wrenching decision to `` expedite '' a funeral service at a local church that had drawn up to 60 people , many of them elderly .
Police said they observed many `` drinking from the same spiritual cup . ''
`` Given the public health impacts and the current stay at home order , officers expedited the completion of the funeral service and dispersed patrons , '' police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sincerely the last thing we want to do , but public health during this climate is vastly important for everyone . ''
Police made no arrests and issued no citations .

Kevin Johnson and Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

Enforcing the shutdown: Law enforcement grapples with policing stay-at-home orders, social distancing, quarantines
Show Caption Hide Caption 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
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is no longer asking.
He’s directing residents to stay home to avoid a larger outbreak of the coronavirus. And his unvarnished warning has had real-world consequences.
Authorities have charged at least two people in recent days with violating bans on public gatherings of more than 10 people – an offense that could result in a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both. Since last week, police agencies across the state have responded to 597 calls reporting potential violations of Hogan's orders, Maryland State Police reported Thursday.
“It was time,” Hogan said this week, “to take more aggressive action.”
We're not playing around: Hogan says arrest for coronavirus offense sends 'great message'
The governor’s declaration mirrors a struggle across the country to enforce a patchwork of new stay-at-home orders, social-distancing directives and quarantines imposed in an effort to contain the march of a deadly virus that had claimed more than 5,000 lives as of Thursday.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a flurry of self-quarantine orders, calling for visitors from heavily-infected states and cities to self-isolate for 14 days or risk 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. In Florida, authorities charged the pastor of a megachurch with violating local orders prohibiting groupings of more than 10 people.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said he has no regrets about taking action against the Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne.
“He left us with no choice,” Chronister said, referring to the weekend church gathering that drew between 400 and 500 worshipers. “We stopped just short of begging him not to put people’s lives in danger.”
The potential jeopardy, police officials and analysts said, doesn't apply only to the suspected offenders. As law enforcement becomes more engaged in policing the new coronavirus-related prohibitions, they are also risking exposing themselves to infection.
More than 1,000 New York Police Department officers have been infected. In Detroit, hundreds of officers have been quarantined and the police chief has tested positive; in Houston 130 officers have been in isolation and at least a dozen have been infected.
"Law enforcement is being asked to decide what is the greater good," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. "The best outcome is to get people to voluntarily comply. Unfortunately, we're just on the front end of this thing. I fear the public's patience is going to be stretched as time goes on. If there ever was a time to put community policing into practice, now is the time."
The popular enforcement strategy, which relies heavily on relationship-building between police and local neighborhoods to mediate disputes, has never been more crucial, said Art Acevedo, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
"It's in everybody's best interest to get voluntary compliance, and most of us are trying to to approach it that way," said Acevedo, who also serves as Houston's police chief. "We should only use the hammer (arrests or citations) as a measure of last resort. I don't know of any department that has taken a different approach. We're trying to build bridges, not tear them down."
Virus infecting cops: As more police get coronavirus, public safety could suffer
'Complete chaos': How the pandemic is upending the criminal justice system
'Countless lives in jeopardy'
Chronister, the Florida sheriff whose deputies arrested the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church on Sunday, said he provided Howard-Browne "every opportunity" to avoid the spectacle of a police action.
Starting last Friday, the sheriff said his office contacted the church after learning that it was inviting congregants to weekend services, in violation of the county's ban on large public gatherings. Chronister said the discussions continued through the weekend and included a meeting between sheriff's office officials and church leaders.
"He (the pastor) left us no choice but to exercise our law enforcement authority," Chronister said, referring to a gathering that swelled to an estimated 400 to 500 worshipers.
"This had nothing to do with the freedom of religion or the right to worship," the sheriff said, adding that the church has the technology to livestream its services or broadcast them on television. "There was simply no reason to put countless lives in jeopardy."
Liberty Counsel, the law firm representing Howard-Browne, said the county order banning large gatherings including "faith-based events," was overly "broad" and open to interpretation.
"Pastor Howard-Browne and the church took extra precautions for the church meeting," the law firm said, noting that church officials "enforced the six-foot distance between family groups in the auditorium as well as the overflow rooms."
Officials said all staffers wore gloves, and "every person who entered the church received hand sanitizer."
"The church spent $100,000 on a hospital grade purification system set up throughout the church that provides continuous infectious microbial reduction that is rated to kill microbes, including those in the coronavirus family," the firm stated.
Chronister remains unswayed.
"Shame on all of them for making us do our job," the sheriff said.
Churches in Florida and across the country are expected to draw even more law enforcement scrutiny in the midst of the Easter season. But policing the gatherings may have been made more difficult this week when some state officials, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, declared religious services as "essential" activities.
Abbott, the Texas governor, also has left the door open to religious services.
"If religious services cannot be conducted from home or through remote services, they should be conducted consistent with the guidelines from the president and the (Centers For Disease Control) by practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19," the Texas guidelines state.
Mass releases: Jails releasing hundreds amid coronavirus, up from dozens weeks ago
Enforcement sporadic
Across the nation, police enforcement has been sporadic as states and localities continue to rely on most residents to comply voluntarily with orders to stay at home and avoid gathering in groups.
But increasingly, some states are patrolling their borders to stop travelers from entering if they do not have “essential” reasons. That’s particularly the case near New York and in states that draw vacationers, such as Florida and Hawaii.
At least 11 states have orders in place directing most non-residents to self-quarantine for 14 days after entering. Another seven states target travelers from particular states, such as New York.
In Hawaii, violators of the stay-at-home order face some of the stiffest penalties on the books to date: fines of up to $5,000 and a year in jail. Police in Honolulu have issued dozens of citations and made at least two arrests, mostly aimed at people gathering in public parks, according to local media reports.
In Florida, which at first targeted only counties in the southeast part of the state before issuing a statewide order Wednesday, checkpoints have been set up on interstate highways. Violators could be fined up to $500, jailed up to 60 days, or both.
"A social gathering in a public space is not an essential activity," DeSantis' order said, following weeks in which the state's beaches had remained open and crowded. "Local jurisdictions shall ensure that groups of people greater than ten are not permitted to congregate in any public space."
Washington State, which saw the nation’s first cluster of coronavirus illnesses and deaths, has a 'see something-say something' policy. Residents are invited to complete online forms detailing suspected violations by local businesses operating when they should be closed. The state threatens violators with citations, suspension notices, revoked business licenses – even criminal charges.
Some states that order out-of-staters to quarantine themselves for 14 days have drawn complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union for violating travelers' rights.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s order cast a wide net, particularly targeting travelers from “Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China.”
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo initially targeted New Yorkers, but objections from the ACLU led her to expand it to anyone entering the state. State police and the National Guard stopped cars and checked the state’s major airport, train stations and bus depots.
Some people have found themselves under arrest for violating coronavirus regulations:
In New Jersey, two Lakewood men were charged with maintaining a nuisance for staging large weddings, and more than a dozen property owners were ticketed for oversized groups.
In New York, the owner of a Brooklyn bar was arrested when more than a dozen people were found drinking and gambling inside what appeared to be a closed facility. Among the charges: reckless endangerment.
A shadow court system
At the end of February, the Texas judiciary began preparations for a "storm" that is expected to continue ravaging the country for weeks, if not months.
"We quickly began to realize that we needed to move on a number fronts," said David Slayton, director of the Texas Office of Court Administration, noting the early global spread of the coronavirus.
Since then, the state has created a kind of parallel court system to handle potential cases arising from quarantine violations and isolation orders now in effect across the state.
A cadre of 31 trial court judges and 25 appellate court justices have been assembled to consider cases. Slayton said all have been provided training by the Health Law and Policy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center. Another 250 attorneys have been identified to serve as quasi public defender system for suspected offenders, should the need arise.
Noncompliance with public health control orders are Class B misdemeanors, punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $2,000 fine. Penalties could rise to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine if suspects resist or evade arrest.
So far, Slayton said, there has been little need, as only one quarantine violation case has emerged in the Houston area. The case was ultimately resolved after the suspect tested negative for the virus.
"We have not had to use the hammer yet," said Acevedo, the Houston police chief. "Most people recognize what we're dealing with and they are getting it."
In recent weeks, Acevedo said officers have been in the streets dispersing larger gatherings and encouraging others to keep their distance.
"So many people are losing jobs on a daily basis as a result of this; we don't want to make their situations worse," the chief said.
But if there is a need to bring a heavier response, Acevedo said police will not flinch.
"We can't opt out of police work," he said.
Last weekend in Chicago, police made a wrenching decision to "expedite" a funeral service at a local church that had drawn up to 60 people, many of them elderly.
Police said they observed many "drinking from the same spiritual cup."
"Given the public health impacts and the current stay at home order, officers expedited the completion of the funeral service and dispersed patrons," police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. "This is sincerely the last thing we want to do, but public health during this climate is vastly important for everyone."
Police made no arrests and issued no citations.
Fact check: What's true and what's false about coronavirus?