usatoday--2020-03-31--Defense Department watchdog to oversee $2 trillion coronavirus rescue bill - live updates

WASHINGTON — Glenn Fine , the inspector general for the Defense Department , was appointed to head the committee that will oversee the largest rescue package in U.S. history .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last week , provides more than $ 2 trillion to help stave off the economic IMPACTS caused by the COVID-19 outbreak that has now killed more than 3,000 people in the U.S. and nearly 40,000 people worldwide .
The CARES Act calls for the establishment of a Pandemic Response Accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds approved in the massive stimulus bill , as well as the two previous emergency spending bills that were passed to address the outbreak .
Fine will head that nine-person committee composed of inspector generals from other departments .
`` I look forward to working with my fellow Inspectors General on the Committee to provide effective , independent oversight of the funding provided by the pandemic legislation , '' Fine said in a statement on Monday .
`` Through our efforts , we will seek to promote transparency and ensure that funds are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mandate to respond to this public health crises . ''
'Much of it was junk ’ : Trump , Pelosi claim credit for beating back bad ideas in coronavirus stimulus During the contentious debate ahead of the final bill 's passage , the establishment of an oversight committee to prevent waste and abuse was insisted upon by congressional Democrats who were particularly concerned that the nearly $ 500 billion allocated to help large industries could become a corporate `` slush fund . ''
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer , D-N.Y. , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is critical to holding President Trump and his administration accountable to the letter and spirit of the law , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` Glenn Fine has a good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor and former DOJ Inspector General , and must exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements the CARES Act as intended . ''
Fine has served as the acting inspector general for the Pentagon since 2016 and he joined the Defense Department 's Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to that , he served at the inspector general for the Department of Justice from 2000 to 2011 , according to his DoD biography .
A co-captain on the Harvard University basketball team , Fine was drafted by the NBA 's San Antonio Spurs , but he went on the law school instead .
He also obtained a master 's degree from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar .

Top White House advisers predict as many as 240,000 US deaths from coronavirus - live updates
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: President Trump says over 1 million tested in U.S. President Trump announced at the coronavirus task force briefing that over 1 million Americans had been tested for coronavirus. USA TODAY, Wochit
Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this article misidentified the Abbott test that is available to states as the ID NOW COVID-19 point-of-care tests, which will be shipped Wednesday. The tests available to states run on Abbott’s m2000 platform.
Trump says impeachment 'probably' distracted him from fighting coronavirus
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump had a hard time deciding Tuesday whether impeachment distracted him from fighting the coronavirus – but he eventually claimed it "probably" did.
"Well, I don't like to think it did – I think I handled it very well," Trump said. "But I guess it probably did ... I mean, I got impeached."
He added that, "I certainly devoted a little time to thinking about it."
Trump echoed the claims of supporters who blamed the administration's slow response to the coronavirus on the president's impeachment case.
The Senate impeachment trial – which began with the swearing-in of senators on Jan. 16 and ended with Trump's acquittal on Feb. 5 – "diverted the attention of the government," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaking Tuesday to radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt.
Critics described the impeachment argument – one employed by many Trump supporters in recent weeks – as excuse mongering.
Trump, they noted, began taking questions about coronavirus in January and downplayed the threat until late February, well after the trial ended.
Joshua Geltzer, a former national security aide during the Obama administration, said impeachment previewed Trump's response, including his ignoring government experts and relying on private sources of information.
"Mitch McConnell just blamed Trump’s COVID-19 failures on impeachment," tweeted Geltzer, a visiting law professor at Georgetown University. "That’s wrong—dead wrong. In fact, the opposite is true: impeachment warned McConnell & other Americans about exactly how Trump would screw this up."
– David Jackson
Birx: States have half a million Abbott tests, but they're not being utilized
About 500,000 coronavirus tests released last month by Abbott Laboratories are available and not being utilized by states, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, who's leading the White House coronavirus task force.
"It is disappointing to me right now that we have about 500,000 capacity of Abbott tests that are not being utilized. So they are out, they're in states, they're not being run and not utilized," Birx told reporters at a White House daily briefing Tuesday.
The test, which the Illinois-based company began distributing March 18, is used on Abbott's m2000 RealTime system that is currently available in hospitals and molecular laboratories across the U.S. Birx said the task force is working to create awareness that these tests are available as hospitals have become reliant on the platforms available to them for COVID-19 over the last month
Abbott is set to release its new ID NOW COVID-19 point-of-care tests Wednesday. The new test can give positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in about 13 minutes.
Birx declined to provide any further details on whether hospitals are aware these tests are available to them or to which states they have been distributed. Her comments came after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, contradicted President Donald Trump's claim that problems with coronavirus testing had been resolved. Hogan told NPR Tuesday that while the administration has taken some steps to create new tests, "they're not actually produced and distributed out to the states."
Trump has faced mounting pressure from states over the availability of tests as well as a shortage of medical supplies for health care workers treating coronavirus patients. Many Americans with symptoms of COVID-19 have found it difficult to be tested and those who have been tested have been told it will take more than a week to get results.
In recent days Trump has touted that the U.S. has conducted more tests than any other country, but he leaves out a key piece of context: While the U.S. has surpassed South Korea in terms of raw tests, it has administered far fewer tests per capita given that the U.S. is more than six times the size of South Korea.
– Courtney Subramanian
Potential COVID-19 treatment: Convalescent plasma, antibodies Why a treatment used for over a century on diseases like measles, mumps and influenza could work to treat the new coronavirus strain. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
White House says the hottest coronavirus hot spots are in New York and New Jersey
WASHINGTON – In assessing the threat of the coronavirus nationwide President Donald Trump and his health aides showed models Tuesday indicating that two states have it worse than anybody: New York and New Jersey.
Citing the high number of cases in the greater New York City area, Trump said that New York and New Jersey "got off to a very late start" in trying to contain the coronavirus.
Trump has also been accused of getting a late start in fighting the coronavirus. Numerous governors, including Andrew Cuomo in New York, have said the federal government has been slow and disorganized in delivering necessary medical supplies.
Trump also offered sympathy to his former hometown, saying "We pray for the doctors and the nurses, for the paramedics and the truck drivers, and the police officers and the sanitation workers, and above all, the people fighting for their lives in New York and all across our land.”
Analysts said New York got hit hard in part because of heavy travel at the start of the new year between the Big Apple and Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus originated.
– David Jackson
White House advisers predict as many as 240,000 US coronavirus deaths
WASHINGTON – Members of President Donald Trump’s administration laid out dire estimates Tuesday to underscore the potential impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, a grim prediction they said was at the center of the president’s decision to extend strict social distancing guidelines through the end of April.
Federal public health officials said that between 100,000 and 240,000 could succumb to the virus by the end of the year – making it one of the nation’s worst public health crises – said Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator.
Without intervention, Birx said, as many 2.2 million could have died.
Presented to the president over the weekend, the data explains why Trump backed down from an earlier notion of “reopening” the country by Easter, or potentially opening parts of the nation that were less hard hit, officials said. Trump announced Sunday he would extend social distancing guidelines through April 30.
“Our country is in the midst of a great national trial,” Trump said Tuesday. “We’re going to go through a very tough two weeks.”
Trump’s top health officials, including Anthony Fauci, director of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that models are not always accurate and will be influenced by how seriously Americans take orders to avoid contact with others.
Trump and others have said April could be a particularly deadly month in the ongoing battle with the virus. Johns Hopkins University tallied more than 181,000 confirmed cases as of midday Tuesday – more than any other nation -- and more than 3,600 deaths.
The president said on Sunday that he hoped the nation would be “well on our way to recovery” by June 1. The social distancing guidelines recommend Americans work from home and avoid groups larger than 10.
– John Fritze
Trump: Americans face 'very, very painful two weeks'
WASHINGTON – With the number of coronavirus deaths rising, President Donald Trump warned Americans on Tuesday to prepare for what he said would be difficult days ahead.
“We’re going to go through a very rough two weeks,” he said during a news conference with his coronavirus task force.
Trump’s remarks came as the number of coronavirus deaths surged past 3,200 on Tuesday, eclipsing the death total from the 9/11 terror attacks. More than 500 deaths were reported nationwide Monday, the highest daily total since the first American died six weeks ago.
Trump indicated the worst isn’t over, warning of a “very, very painful two weeks" ahead.
“As a nation, we face a difficult few weeks as we approach that really important day when we’re going to see things get better,” he said. “Our strength will be tested, and our endurance will be tried. This is the time for all Americans to come together and do our part.”
– Michael Collins
Pelosi says she, Congress are not responsible for slow response
WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama appeared to take a swipe at President Donald Trump's initial skepticism of the coronavirus pandemic, a rare rebuff for a 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," he added, linking to an article announcing the rollback of environmental mileage standards put in place by Obama in 2012.
The Trump administration has faced sharp criticism for its handling of the U.S. outbreak, which has crippled the U.S. economy and claimed more than 3,100 lives as of Tuesday. Trump initially sought to downplay the pandemic and suggested opening up the economy by Easter, or April 12, as recently as last week. The president has since said strict social distancing guidelines will remain in place through April 30.
Obama, who has mostly used his Twitter account to praise workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic and promote advice from public health experts, seldom weighs in on Trump's record.
The 44th president's tweet also blasted Trump's decision to roll back an Obama-era rule designed to push automakers to produce more fuel efficient vehicles to limit pollution in the global fight against climate change. The new mileage standard is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to reverse his predecessor's policies.
- Courtney Subramanian
Virginia GOP suggests politics at play in Northam's 'stay at home' order
The Republican Party of Virginia suggested Tuesday that Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam set his statewide "stay at home" order to expire on June 10 because the GOP primary is going to be held on June 9.
“In these challenging times, we want to give the Governor the freedom to make necessary decisions without partisan rancor, but the timeline seems all too convenient,” said party chairman Jack Wilson. “We ask that Governor Northam show us the data that led to his decision."
Wilson said while they were not implying Northam was "purposefully engaging in voter suppression," an "explanation would help to mitigate any concerns.”
On Monday, Northam ordered Virginia residents to stay home, except for certain activities like getting groceries or to get medical care, in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Virginia has 1,250 confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed at least 27 people in the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
Virginia's Republican Party canceled its presidential primary this year, citing overwhelming support for President Donald Trump. But GOP voters still have to decide on who will try to unseat incumbent Sen. Mark Warner, as well as races for House members and local representatives.
- William Cummings
Cuomo: FEMA 'bigfooted' states, drove up ventilator prices
As New York continues its search for much-needed ventilators, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the Federal Emergency Management Agency “basically bigfooted” individual states and drove up prices, comparing buying ventilators to online auctions.
“It’s like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator,” Cuomo said. “You see the bid go up cause California bid. Illinois bid. Florida bid. New York bid. California rebids. That’s literally what we’re doing. I mean, how inefficient. And then, FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding. And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50, so FEMA is driving up the price. What sense does this make?”
Cuomo then said he believes FEMA “should’ve been the purchasing agent” for medical equipment before becoming the sole distributor to states in need.
Cuomo released data indicating New York had more than 75,000 positive cases – including more than 9,000 new cases – with a death toll of 1,550, as of Tuesday morning.
- Lorenzo Reyes
Pompeo: no need to ease sanctions on Iran, other nations affected by coronavirus
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that he saw no need to ease tough U.S. sanctions on Iran or other nations that have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has urged world leaders to back off such crippling economic penalties to ensure that people in those targeted countries have access to food, medicine and other vital supplies as they confront the pandemic.
“This is the time for solidarity not exclusion,” Guterres said last week.
Pompeo has overseen the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, implementing a series of escalating sanctions aimed at crippling Tehran’s economy and weakening its leaders.
Iran is reeling from the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 40,000 reported infections and nearly 3,000 reported deaths. Skeptics say those figures are misleadingly low, fearing a much more widespread crisis.
Pompeo noted that U.S. sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian goods, and he argued that Iran, Venezuela and other countries should be able to get anything they need to address the pandemic.
“The goods that are needed for each of these countries to resolve that coronavirus problem in their nations are not sanctioned,” Pompeo said during a State Department briefing Tuesday.
Pompeo said the Trump administration has offered humanitarian aid to Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, among other sanctioned countries, but that assistance has been rejected.
“Some of these countries continue to build bombs and missiles and nuclear capability, all the while their people are starving,” he said.
- Deirdre Shesgreen
Pompeo: State Department official dies from coronavirus
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that a State Department official has died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“We've had a State Department official pass away as a result of this virus ... one of our team members,” Pompeo said during a briefing Tuesday. “We now have 3,000 Americans who have been killed. This is tragic.”
A State Department spokesperson later said two locally employed staff members at U.S. embassies in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kinshasa, Congo, have died from COVID-19.
“We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, and thank them for their loved ones' service to the United States,” said the spokesperson, who was not authorized to speak on the record because of State Department policy. “We do not at this time have any reports of COVID-19-related deaths of American staff within the Department of State's domestic and global workforce.”
The State Department’s 75,000-workforce – deployed in more than 200 locations across the globe – has been deeply affected by the pandemic. In January, the agency began evacuating diplomats from the U.S. consulate in Wuhan, China, the outbreak’s initial epicenter, and authorized departures have continued from other hotspots.
“Really there aren’t any posts that are immune to the spread of coronavirus,” Dr. William Walters, the agency’s deputy chief medical officer for operations, told reporters during a Monday briefing.
Walters said there are about 75 known cases among State Department employees working abroad and about 30 cases among the agency’s U.S.-based workforce.
- Deirdre Shesgreen
Coronavirus: What to do if you believe you're infected Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer Ann Sacker explains the steps you should take if you believe you have the novel coronavirus. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Rep. Max Rose to deploy for National Guard to help NY coronavirus response
Freshman Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y., will deploy Wednesday for the National Guard to help his state's coronavirus efforts.
He will deploy to Staten Island and serve as an operations officer. Rose, a Purple Heart recipient who served in Afghanistan, said he would be able to leave his post to vote on another coronavirus package if needed. Rose represents Staten Island, New York City's southernmost borough.
"My activation and deployment is nothing compared to what our city, state, and country has asked of all them. And it’s certainly nothing compared to the other men and women serving in uniform both here at home and overseas," Rose said. "I am just trying to do my duty and my small part.”
New York has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. and on Monday, a Navy hospital ship arrived in Manhattan's harbor to help treat the thousands who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Christal Hayes
Pelosi says US needs to institute vote-by-mail
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak will likely require the country to move toward voting by mail in upcoming elections.
Pelosi said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" she thought the $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law last week by President Donald Trump should have had more funding for the states to address "the reality of life that we are going to have to have more vote by mail." The final bill allocated $400 million toward helping states vote during the outbreak, while the Democratic version of the legislation included $4 billion for that purpose.
President Donald Trump criticized the effort to include funding for elections in the bill during a Fox News interview on Monday.
"The things they had in there were crazy. They had things – levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again," the president said on "Fox & Friends."
"I feel sad that the President doesn't have confidence in his own party," Pelosi said Tuesday. She said she did not think vote by mail would negatively affect Republicans' chances to the polls.
- William Cummings
McConnell: impeachment diverted attention away from coronavirus
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., added his name Tuesday to the list of people who blamed the slow response to the coronavirus on President Donald Trump's impeachment.
The Senate impeachment trial – which began with the swearing-in of senators on Jan. 16 and ended with Trump's acquittal on Feb. 5 – "diverted the attention of the government," McConnell told radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt.
Trump critics have described the impeachment argument – one employed by many Trump supporters in recent weeks – as an excuse.
Trump, they noted, began taking questions about coronavirus in January and downplayed the threat until late February, well after the trial ended.
Trump supporters like Sean Hannity have long claimed that impeachment diverted the government's attention from issues like the coronavirus.
Also on the Hewitt show Tuesday, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said: "I have to tell you that in mid-January and late-January, unfortunately, Washington, especially the Congress, was consumed with another matter – you may recall the partisan impeachment of the President."
On Feb. 27, Trump said during a speech at the White House that the virus was "going to disappear. One day – it's like a miracle, it will disappear." He then said, "you know, it could get worse before it gets better. It could maybe go away. We'll see what happens."
Three weeks before, the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump of House impeachment charges that he abused power and obstructed a congressional investigation into his team's efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Democratic political opponent Joe Biden.
- David Jackson
GOP Maryland governor: Trump's testing claims 'not true'
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday on NPR's Morning Edition that President Donald Trump was incorrect in saying coronavirus testing problems had been resolved.
"Yeah, that's just not true. I mean I know that they've taken some steps to create new tests, but they're not actually produced and distributed out to the states." Hogan said, when host Rachel Martin asked him about Trump's assertions. "No state has enough testing."
In a coronavirus task force briefing yesterday, Trump said America's coronavirus testing was better "than any country in the world."
The Maryland Republican said he was listening to the "smart team" in the White House like Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci who were giving accurate information.
Hogan, who issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday, had a grim outlook for states' pandemic preparedness.
"There's nobody in America that's prepared," he said.
- Nicholas Wu
Pelosi: she and Congress do not take responsibility for slow coronavirus response
In a Tuesday morning interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Congress do not take responsibility for the country's slow response to the coronavirus at the beginning of the year.
"No, not at all," she said Tuesday on MSNBC in response to a question from co-host Willie Geist about whether she or Congress bore responsibility.
Instead, she said she was "proud" of the work Congress did, the "speed" with which coronavirus response bills passed, and the "bipartisanship that was the hallmark of it all."
"We can only go as fast as the signature," she said of the White House's support for legislation.
The House Speaker added that she was "sad" there was "no respect for science" from the White House in the beginning but President Donald Trump "will say and do what he does."
- Nicholas Wu
Pentagon watchdog to oversee $2 trillion in coronavirus relief funds
Glenn Fine, the inspector general for the Defense Department, was appointed to head the committee that will oversee the largest rescue package in U.S. history.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last week, provides more than $2 trillion to help stave off the economic IMPACTS caused by the COVID-19 outbreak that has now killed more than 3,000 people in the U.S. and nearly 40,000 people worldwide.
The CARES Act calls for the establishment of a Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to oversee the distribution of the funds approved in the massive stimulus bill, as well as the two previous emergency spending bills that were passed to address the outbreak. Fine will head that nine-person committee composed of inspector generals from other departments.
"I look forward to working with my fellow Inspectors General on the Committee to provide effective, independent oversight of the funding provided by the pandemic legislation," Fine said in a statement on Monday. "Through our efforts, we will seek to promote transparency and ensure that funds are being used consistently with the law’s mandate to respond to this public health crises."
'Much of it was junk’: Trump, Pelosi claim credit for beating back bad ideas in coronavirus stimulus
During the contentious debate ahead of the final bill's passage, the establishment of an oversight committee to prevent waste and abuse was insisted upon by congressional Democrats who were particularly concerned that the nearly $500 billion allocated to help large industries could become a corporate "slush fund."
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was pleased with Fine's appointment.
"The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is critical to holding President Trump and his administration accountable to the letter and spirit of the law," Schumer said in a statement. "Glenn Fine has a good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor and former DOJ Inspector General, and must exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements the CARES Act as intended."
- William Cummings
Trump clashes with CNN's Acosta
President Donald Trump's rocky relationship with the news media was on display again Monday, as he bristled at questions about his handling of the coronavirus outbreak during a White House news conference.
CNN's Jim Acosta – with whom Trump has clashed on several occasions, including a 2018 exchange that led to a failed White House effort to revoke Acosta's press credentials – asked the president, "What do you say to Americans who are upset with you over the way you downplayed this crisis over the last couple of months?"
Acosta proceeded to quote several of Trump's earlier comments in which he said the outbreak "was very much under control" and that "it will go away" like a "miracle."
"It will go away. And we're going to have a great victory," Trump told Acosta. He went on to defend the accuracy of the previous comments while simultaneously explaining he said them because, "I want to keep the country calm. I don't want panic in the country."
"I could cause panic much better than even you. I would make you look like a minor league player," Trump told Acosta. "Instead of asking a nasty, snarky question like that, you should ask a real question."
Coronavirus: Justice Department launches inquiry of senators who sold large chunks of stock before coronavirus market slide
Trump later turned his ire on PBS NewsHour's Yamiche Alcindor, whom he told the previous day to "be nice" and not ask "threatening questions" after she asked about his statement that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was requesting more ventilators than needed.
On Monday, Alcindor asked Trump why the U.S. trailed South Korea in per capita testing for the virus.
"I know South Korea better than anybody," Trump replied. "You know how many people are in Seoul? You know how big the city of Seoul is?" he asked, trying to explain that the difference was due to population density. Trump then claimed Seoul's population is 38 million when, according to the city's government, it is actually about 10 million.
"You should be saying, congratulations to the men and women who have done this job, who have inherited a broken testing system and who have made it great," Trump said to Alcindor. "And if you don’t say it, I’ll say it. I want to congratulate all of the people, you have done a fantastic job."
- William Cummings


usatoday--2020-03-31--COVID-19 claims the life of its first US service member, a New Jersey National Guardsman

WASHINGTON -- A New Jersey National Guardsman is the first U.S. service member to die of COVID-19 , the Pentagon announced Monday night .
The Guardsman died Saturday and had been hospitalized since March 21 .
Earlier Monday , the Pentagon had announced that the number of COVID-19 cases among troops , their families and civilian employees had surpassed 1,000 .
There were 1,043 cases compared with 613 on Friday , a 70 % increase .
The first dependent of a service member died of the disease , according to the Pentagon .
There are 569 troops with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : Trump says more than 1 million Americans have been tested for coronavirus No other information was released about the Guard member from New Jersey .
`` Today is a sad day for the Department of Defense as we have lost our first American service member – active , reserve or Guard – to coronavirus , '' Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement .
`` This is a stinging loss for our military community , and our condolences go out to his family , friends , civilian co-workers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has forced the Pentagon to shutter recruiting facilities , scrap major training exercises , halt travel and enforce social distancing on its posts .
Units that are needed for rapid deployment to hot spots around the globe are being sequestered to keep them from becoming infected .

COVID-19 claims the life of its first US service member, a New Jersey National Guardsman
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
WASHINGTON -- A New Jersey National Guardsman is the first U.S. service member to die of COVID-19, the Pentagon announced Monday night.
The Guardsman died Saturday and had been hospitalized since March 21.
Earlier Monday, the Pentagon had announced that the number of COVID-19 cases among troops, their families and civilian employees had surpassed 1,000. There were 1,043 cases compared with 613 on Friday, a 70% increase.
The first dependent of a service member died of the disease, according to the Pentagon. There are 569 troops with the disease, 26 of whom are hospitalized.
More: Trump says more than 1 million Americans have been tested for coronavirus
No other information was released about the Guard member from New Jersey.
"Today is a sad day for the Department of Defense as we have lost our first American service member – active, reserve or Guard – to coronavirus," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. "This is a stinging loss for our military community, and our condolences go out to his family, friends, civilian co-workers and the entire National Guard community. "
The disease has forced the Pentagon to shutter recruiting facilities, scrap major training exercises, halt travel and enforce social distancing on its posts. Units that are needed for rapid deployment to hot spots around the globe are being sequestered to keep them from becoming infected.


usatoday--2020-03-31--Top White House advisers predict as many as 240,000 US deaths from coronavirus - live updates

Trump says impeachment 'probably ' distracted him from fighting coronavirus WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump had a hard time deciding Tuesday whether impeachment distracted him from fighting the coronavirus – but he eventually claimed it `` probably '' did .
`` Well , I do n't like to think it did – I think I handled it very well , '' Trump said .
`` But I guess it probably did ...
I mean , I got impeached . ''
He added that , `` I certainly devoted a little time to thinking about it . ''
Trump echoed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's slow response to the coronavirus on the president 's impeachment case .
The Senate impeachment trial – which began with the swearing-in of senators on Jan. 16 and ended with Trump 's acquittal on Feb. 5 – `` diverted the attention of the government , '' said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , speaking Tuesday to radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt .
Critics described the impeachment argument – one employed by many Trump supporters in recent weeks – as excuse mongering .
Trump , they noted , began taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat until late February , well after the trial ended .
Joshua Geltzer , a former national security aide during the Obama administration , said impeachment previewed Trump 's response , including his ignoring government experts and relying on private sources of information .
`` Mitch McConnell just blamed Trump ’ s COVID-19 failures on impeachment , '' tweeted Geltzer , a visiting law professor at Georgetown University .
`` That ’ s wrong—dead wrong .
In fact , the opposite is true : impeachment warned McConnell & other Americans about exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Birx : States have half a million new Abbott tests , but they 're not being utilized About 500,000 coronavirus tests released this week by Abbott Laboratories are available and not being utilized by states , according to Dr. Deborah Birx , who 's leading the White House coronavirus task force .
`` It is disappointing to me right now that we have about 500,000 capacity of Abbott tests that are not being utilized .
So they are out , they 're in states , they 're not being run and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a White House daily briefing Tuesday .
The new test , released by the Illinois-based company this week , can give positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in about 13 minutes .
Birx said the task force is working to create awareness that these tests are available as hospitals have become reliant on the platforms available to them for COVID-19 over the last month .
Birx declined to provide any further details on whether hospitals are aware these tests are available to them or to which states they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , contradicted President Donald Trump 's claim that problems with coronavirus testing had been resolved .
Hogan told NPR Tuesday that while the administration has taken some steps to create new tests , `` they 're not actually produced and distributed out to the states . ''
Trump has faced mounting pressure from states over the availability of tests as well as a shortage of medical supplies for health care workers treating coronavirus patients .
Many Americans with symptoms of COVID-19 have found it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been tested have been told it will take more than a week to get results .
In recent days Trump has touted that the U.S. has conducted more tests than any other country , but he leaves out a key piece of context : While the U.S. has surpassed South Korea in terms of raw tests , it has administered far fewer tests per capita given that the U.S. is more than six times the size of South Korea .
White House says the hottest coronavirus hot spots are in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat of the coronavirus nationwide President Donald Trump and his health aides showed models Tuesday indicating that two states have it worse than anybody : New York and New Jersey .
Citing the high number of cases in the greater New York City area , Trump said that New York and New Jersey `` got off to a very late start '' in trying to contain the coronavirus .
Trump has also been accused of getting a late start in fighting the coronavirus .
Numerous governors , including Andrew Cuomo in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been slow and disorganized in delivering necessary medical supplies .
Trump also offered sympathy to his former hometown , saying `` We pray for the doctors and the nurses , for the paramedics and the truck drivers , and the police officers and the sanitation workers , and above all , the people fighting for their lives in New York and all across our land.
” Analysts said New York got hit hard in part because of heavy travel at the start of the new year between the Big Apple and Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
White House advisers predict as many as 240,000 US coronavirus deaths WASHINGTON – Members of President Donald Trump ’ s administration laid out dire estimates Tuesday to underscore the potential impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States , a grim prediction they said was at the center of the president ’ s decision to extend strict social distancing guidelines through the end of April .
Federal public health officials said that between 100,000 and 240,000 could succumb to the virus by the end of the year – making it one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health crises – said Deborah Birx , the White House coronavirus response coordinator .
Without intervention , Birx said , as many 2.2 million could have died .
Presented to the president over the weekend , the data explains why Trump backed down from an earlier notion of “ reopening ” the country by Easter , or potentially opening parts of the nation that were less hard hit , officials said .
Trump announced Sunday he would extend social distancing guidelines through April 30 .
“ Our country is in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Tuesday .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks.
” Trump ’ s top health officials , including Anthony Fauci , director of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , warned that models are not always accurate and will be influenced by how seriously Americans take orders to avoid contact with others .
Trump and others have said April could be a particularly deadly month in the ongoing battle with the virus .
Johns Hopkins University tallied more than 181,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than any other nation -- and more than 3,600 deaths .
The president said on Sunday that he hoped the nation would be “ well on our way to recovery ” by June 1 .
The social distancing guidelines recommend Americans work from home and avoid groups larger than 10 .
Trump : Americans face 'very , very painful two weeks' WASHINGTON – With the number of coronavirus deaths rising , President Donald Trump warned Americans on Tuesday to prepare for what he said would be difficult days ahead .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rough two weeks , ” he said during a news conference with his coronavirus task force .
Trump ’ s remarks came as the number of coronavirus deaths surged past 3,200 on Tuesday , eclipsing the death total from the 9/11 terror attacks .
More than 500 deaths were reported nationwide Monday , the highest daily total since the first American died six weeks ago .
Trump indicated the worst isn ’ t over , warning of a “ very , very painful two weeks '' ahead .
“ As a nation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we approach that really important day when we ’ re going to see things get better , ” he said .
“ Our strength will be tested , and our endurance will be tried .
This is the time for all Americans to come together and do our part.
” Pelosi says she , Congress are not responsible for slow response WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama appeared to take a swipe at President Donald Trump 's initial skepticism of the coronavirus pandemic , a rare rebuff for a president who tends not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , '' he added , linking to an article announcing the rollback of environmental mileage standards put in place by Obama in 2012 .
The Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. outbreak , which has crippled the U.S. economy and claimed more than 3,100 lives as of Tuesday .
Trump initially sought to downplay the pandemic and suggested opening up the economy by Easter , or April 12 , as recently as last week .
The president has since said strict social distancing guidelines will remain in place through April 30 .
Obama , who has mostly used his Twitter account to praise workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic and promote advice from public health experts , seldom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 44th president 's tweet also blasted Trump 's decision to roll back an Obama-era rule designed to push automakers to produce more fuel efficient vehicles to limit pollution in the global fight against climate change .
The new mileage standard is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to reverse his predecessor 's policies .
Virginia GOP suggests politics at play in Northam 's 'stay at home ' order The Republican Party of Virginia suggested Tuesday that Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam set his statewide `` stay at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 because the GOP primary is going to be held on June 9 .
“ In these challenging times , we want to give the Governor the freedom to make necessary decisions without partisan rancor , but the timeline seems all too convenient , ” said party chairman Jack Wilson .
“ We ask that Governor Northam show us the data that led to his decision . ''
Wilson said while they were not implying Northam was `` purposefully engaging in voter suppression , '' an `` explanation would help to mitigate any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia residents to stay home , except for certain activities like getting groceries or to get medical care , in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Virginia has 1,250 confirmed cases of the virus , which has killed at least 27 people in the state , according to the Virginia Department of Health .
Virginia 's Republican Party canceled its presidential primary this year , citing overwhelming support for President Donald Trump .
But GOP voters still have to decide on who will try to unseat incumbent Sen. Mark Warner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members and local representatives .
As New York continues its search for much-needed ventilators , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said the Federal Emergency Management Agency “ basically bigfooted ” individual states and drove up prices , comparing buying ventilators to online auctions .
“ It ’ s like being on eBay with 50 other states , bidding on a ventilator , ” Cuomo said .
“ You see the bid go up cause California bid .
Illinois bid .
Florida bid .
New York bid .
California rebids .
That ’ s literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean , how inefficient .
And then , FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding .
And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50 , so FEMA is driving up the price .
What sense does this make ?
” Cuomo then said he believes FEMA “ should ’ ve been the purchasing agent ” for medical equipment before becoming the sole distributor to states in need .
Cuomo released data indicating New York had more than 75,000 positive cases – including more than 9,000 new cases – with a death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning .
Pompeo : no need to ease sanctions on Iran , other nations affected by coronavirus Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that he saw no need to ease tough U.S. sanctions on Iran or other nations that have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
The United Nations Secretary-General , António Guterres , has urged world leaders to back off such crippling economic penalties to ensure that people in those targeted countries have access to food , medicine and other vital supplies as they confront the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not exclusion , ” Guterres said last week .
Pompeo has overseen the Trump administration ’ s “ maximum pressure ” campaign against Iran , implementing a series of escalating sanctions aimed at crippling Tehran ’ s economy and weakening its leaders .
Iran is reeling from the coronavirus outbreak , with more than 40,000 reported infections and nearly 3,000 reported deaths .
Skeptics say those figures are misleadingly low , fearing a much more widespread crisis .
Pompeo noted that U.S. sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian goods , and he argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to get anything they need to address the pandemic .
“ The goods that are needed for each of these countries to resolve that coronavirus problem in their nations are not sanctioned , ” Pompeo said during a State Department briefing Tuesday .
Pompeo said the Trump administration has offered humanitarian aid to Iran , North Korea , and Venezuela , among other sanctioned countries , but that assistance has been rejected .
“ Some of these countries continue to build bombs and missiles and nuclear capability , all the while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that a State Department official has died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
He did not identify the individual or provide details of the person 's rank within the agency .
“ We 've had a State Department official pass away as a result of this virus … one of our team members , ” Pompeo said during a briefing Tuesday .
“ We now have 3,000 Americans who have been killed .
This is tragic.
” The State Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 locations across the globe – has been deeply affected by the pandemic .
In January , the agency began evacuating diplomats from the U.S. consulate in Wuhan , China , the outbreak ’ s initial epicenter , and authorized departures have continued from other hotspots .
“ Really there aren ’ t any posts that are immune to the spread of coronavirus , ” Dr. William Walters , the agency ’ s deputy chief medical officer for operations , told reporters during a Monday briefing .
Walters said there are about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working abroad and about 30 cases among the agency ’ s U.S.-based workforce .
Rep. Max Rose to deploy for National Guard to help NY coronavirus response Freshman Rep. Max Rose , D-N.Y. , will deploy Wednesday for the National Guard to help his state 's coronavirus efforts .
He will deploy to Staten Island and serve as an operations officer .
Rose , a Purple Heart recipient who served in Afghanistan , said he would be able to leave his post to vote on another coronavirus package if needed .
Rose represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southernmost borough .
`` My activation and deployment is nothing compared to what our city , state , and country has asked of all them .
And it ’ s certainly nothing compared to the other men and women serving in uniform both here at home and overseas , '' Rose said .
`` I am just trying to do my duty and my small part.
” New York has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. and on Monday , a Navy hospital ship arrived in Manhattan 's harbor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Pelosi says US needs to institute vote-by-mail House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak will likely require the country to move toward voting by mail in upcoming elections .
Pelosi said on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe '' she thought the $ 2 trillion CARES Act signed into law last week by President Donald Trump should have had more funding for the states to address `` the reality of life that we are going to have to have more vote by mail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million toward helping states vote during the outbreak , while the Democratic version of the legislation included $ 4 billion for that purpose .
President Donald Trump criticized the effort to include funding for elections in the bill during a Fox News interview on Monday .
`` The things they had in there were crazy .
They had things – levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again , '' the president said on `` Fox & Friends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President does n't have confidence in his own party , '' Pelosi said Tuesday .
She said she did not think vote by mail would negatively affect Republicans ' chances to the polls .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , added his name Tuesday to the list of people who blamed the slow response to the coronavirus on President Donald Trump 's impeachment .
The Senate impeachment trial – which began with the swearing-in of senators on Jan. 16 and ended with Trump 's acquittal on Feb. 5 – `` diverted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell told radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt .
Trump critics have described the impeachment argument – one employed by many Trump supporters in recent weeks – as an excuse .
Trump , they noted , began taking questions about coronavirus in January and downplayed the threat until late February , well after the trial ended .
Trump supporters like Sean Hannity have long claimed that impeachment diverted the government 's attention from issues like the coronavirus .
Also on the Hewitt show Tuesday , Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mid-January and late-January , unfortunately , Washington , especially the Congress , was consumed with another matter – you may recall the partisan impeachment of the President . ''
On Feb. 27 , Trump said during a speech at the White House that the virus was `` going to disappear .
One day – it 's like a miracle , it will disappear . ''
He then said , `` you know , it could get worse before it gets better .
It could maybe go away .
We 'll see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump of House impeachment charges that he abused power and obstructed a congressional investigation into his team 's efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Democratic political opponent Joe Biden .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan said Tuesday on NPR 's Morning Edition that President Donald Trump was incorrect in saying coronavirus testing problems had been resolved .
`` Yeah , that 's just not true .
I mean I know that they 've taken some steps to create new tests , but they 're not actually produced and distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , when host Rachel Martin asked him about Trump 's assertions .
`` No state has enough testing . ''
In a coronavirus task force briefing yesterday , Trump said America 's coronavirus testing was better `` than any country in the world . ''
The Maryland Republican said he was listening to the `` smart team '' in the White House like Drs .
Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci who were giving accurate information .
Hogan , who issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday , had a grim outlook for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nobody in America that 's prepared , '' he said .
Pelosi : she and Congress do not take responsibility for slow coronavirus response In a Tuesday morning interview on MSNBC 's Morning Joe , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Congress do not take responsibility for the country 's slow response to the coronavirus at the beginning of the year .
`` No , not at all , '' she said Tuesday on MSNBC in response to a question from co-host Willie Geist about whether she or Congress bore responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` proud '' of the work Congress did , the `` speed '' with which coronavirus response bills passed , and the `` bipartisanship that was the hallmark of it all . ''
`` We can only go as fast as the signature , '' she said of the White House 's support for legislation .
The House Speaker added that she was `` sad '' there was `` no respect for science '' from the White House in the beginning but President Donald Trump `` will say and do what he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general for the Defense Department , was appointed to head the committee that will oversee the largest rescue package in U.S. history .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last week , provides more than $ 2 trillion to help stave off the economic IMPACTS caused by the COVID-19 outbreak that has now killed more than 3,000 people in the U.S. and nearly 40,000 people worldwide .
The CARES Act calls for the establishment of a Pandemic Response Accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds approved in the massive stimulus bill , as well as the two previous emergency spending bills that were passed to address the outbreak .
Fine will head that nine-person committee composed of inspector generals from other departments .
`` I look forward to working with my fellow Inspectors General on the Committee to provide effective , independent oversight of the funding provided by the pandemic legislation , '' Fine said in a statement on Monday .
`` Through our efforts , we will seek to promote transparency and ensure that funds are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mandate to respond to this public health crises . ''
'Much of it was junk ’ : Trump , Pelosi claim credit for beating back bad ideas in coronavirus stimulus During the contentious debate ahead of the final bill 's passage , the establishment of an oversight committee to prevent waste and abuse was insisted upon by congressional Democrats who were particularly concerned that the nearly $ 500 billion allocated to help large industries could become a corporate `` slush fund . ''
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer , D-N.Y. , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is critical to holding President Trump and his administration accountable to the letter and spirit of the law , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` Glenn Fine has a good reputation as a tough federal prosecutor and former DOJ Inspector General , and must exercise his full oversight authority to ensure that the Trump administration implements the CARES Act as intended . ''
President Donald Trump 's rocky relationship with the news media was on display again Monday , as he bristled at questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a White House news conference .
CNN 's Jim Acosta – with whom Trump has clashed on several occasions , including a 2018 exchange that led to a failed White House effort to revoke Acosta 's press credentials – asked the president , `` What do you say to Americans who are upset with you over the way you downplayed this crisis over the last couple of months ? ''
Acosta proceeded to quote several of Trump 's earlier comments in which he said the outbreak `` was very much under control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away '' like a `` miracle . ''
`` It will go away .
And we 're going to have a great victory , '' Trump told Acosta .
He went on to defend the accuracy of the previous comments while simultaneously explaining he said them because , `` I want to keep the country calm .
I do n't want panic in the country . ''
`` I could cause panic much better than even you .
I would make you look like a minor league player , '' Trump told Acosta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , snarky question like that , you should ask a real question . ''
Coronavirus : Justice Department launches inquiry of senators who sold large chunks of stock before coronavirus market slide Trump later turned his ire on PBS NewsHour 's Yamiche Alcindor , whom he told the previous day to `` be nice '' and not ask `` threatening questions '' after she asked about his statement that New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo was requesting more ventilators than needed .
On Monday , Alcindor asked Trump why the U.S. trailed South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
`` I know South Korea better than anybody , '' Trump replied .
`` You know how many people are in Seoul ?
You know how big the city of Seoul is ? ''
he asked , trying to explain that the difference was due to population density .
Trump then claimed Seoul 's population is 38 million when , according to the city 's government , it is actually about 10 million .
`` You should be saying , congratulations to the men and women who have done this job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and who have made it great , '' Trump said to Alcindor .
`` And if you don ’ t say it , I ’ ll say it .
I want to congratulate all of the people , you have done a fantastic job . ''

William Cummings, David Jackson and Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-03-31--Captain of aircraft carrier asks U.S. Navy to evacuate crew amid 'accelerating' COVID-19 outbreak

The captain of an aircraft carrier is asking the U.S. Navy to step in to evacuate and isolate its crew as cases of the coronavirus have broken out among members .
In a four-page letter dated Monday and first obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle , Navy Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said that `` decisive action '' was required to prevent deaths from the coronavirus , and that the sailors on board were currently unable to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to keep them safe because of the ship 's close quarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not at war , and therefore can not allow a single Sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily . ''
First U.S. service member dies : National Guardsman , former Ocean County resident dies from coronavirus Coronavirus cases were first reported on the ship last week and continued to grow , prompting the Navy to announce it would conduct testing on all of the approximately 5,000 sailors aboard .
The Navy reported last Tuesday , March 24 , that three sailors had tested positive and been airlifted to a hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were diagnosed Wednesday and by Thursday that number had jumped to 23 sailors , according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly .
`` We expect additional positive tests , and those sailors who test positive will be transported to the U.S .
Naval Hospital Guam for further evaluation and treatment as necessary , '' Adm. Michael Gilday , chief of naval operations , said in a statement last week in response to the reported cases .
Gilday made clear last week that the Roosevelt remained capable of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive cases had so far been seriously ill. `` We are confident that our aggressive response will keep USS Theodore Roosevelt able to respond to any crisis in the region , '' Gilday said .
But Crozier stressed that there was an inordinate focus on testing for the virus , which he noted can not stop its spread , and that more should be done to prevent the outbreak instead .
Because of the ship 's conditions , Crozier said , all sailors on board must be considered to have come in close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individually isolated .
Crozier said in his letter that only a fraction of the infected crew had been taken off the ship , and that a group of sailors whose coronavirus tests initially did not return positive displayed symptoms within the next three days .
The letter outlines the conditions on the ship that facilitate the spread of the virus , including : the high number of sailors in a small space , shared restrooms , meals prepared and served by exposed personnel and tasks that require close contact .
He wrote that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation for 14 days to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
`` Due to a warship 's inherent limitations of space , we are not doing this .
The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating , '' Crozier said .
Citing an anonymous senior officer on board , the Chronicle reported that the number of positive coronavirus cases on the ship is now between 150 and 200 .
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN on Tuesday that `` we do n't disagree '' with Crozier , and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps . ''
`` I heard about the letter from Capt .
Crozier this morning , I know that our command organization has been aware or this for about 24 hours and we have been working actually the last seven days to move those sailors off the ship and get them into accommodations in Guam , '' Modly said , noting that bed space was an issue .
A source who asked not to be named because they weren ’ t authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY that the Navy is moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crew of the Roosevelt and is pursuing options to address the commanding officer ’ s concerns .
Military coronavirus cases continue to climb : All sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt to be tested Crozier requested that about 90 % of the thousands of individuals aboard be moved ashore to isolate , while 10 % remain to operate and sanitize the ship .
`` Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure , '' he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care . ''
`` This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do .
We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die . ''

Captain of aircraft carrier asks U.S. Navy to evacuate crew amid 'accelerating' COVID-19 outbreak
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: President Trump says over 1 million tested in U.S. President Trump announced at the coronavirus task force briefing that over 1 million Americans had been tested for coronavirus. USA TODAY, Wochit
The captain of an aircraft carrier is asking the U.S. Navy to step in to evacuate and isolate its crew as cases of the coronavirus have broken out among members.
In a four-page letter dated Monday and first obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Navy Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt said that "decisive action" was required to prevent deaths from the coronavirus, and that the sailors on board were currently unable to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to keep them safe because of the ship's close quarters.
Crozier wrote that "we are not at war, and therefore cannot allow a single Sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily."
First U.S. service member dies: National Guardsman, former Ocean County resident dies from coronavirus
Coronavirus cases were first reported on the ship last week and continued to grow, prompting the Navy to announce it would conduct testing on all of the approximately 5,000 sailors aboard.
The Navy reported last Tuesday, March 24, that three sailors had tested positive and been airlifted to a hospital in the Pacific. Five more sailors were diagnosed Wednesday and by Thursday that number had jumped to 23 sailors, according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
"We expect additional positive tests, and those sailors who test positive will be transported to the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam for further evaluation and treatment as necessary," Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, said in a statement last week in response to the reported cases.
Gilday made clear the Roosevelt remained capable of its missions. "We are confident that our aggressive response will keep USS Theodore Roosevelt able to respond to any crisis in the region," Gilday said last week.
But Crozier stressed that there was an inordinate focus on testing for the virus, which he noted cannot stop its spread, and that more should be done to prevent the outbreak instead. Because of the ship's conditions, Crozier said, all sailors on board must be considered to have come in close contact with the virus and should be individually isolated.
Crozier said in his letter that only a fraction of the crew had been taken off the ship, and that a group of sailors whose coronavirus tests initially did not return positive displayed symptoms within the next three days.
The letter outlines the conditions on the ship that facilitate the spread of the virus, including: the high number of sailors in a small space, shared restrooms, meals prepared and served by exposed personnel and tasks that require close contact. He wrote that the sailors needed to be placed in isolation for 14 days to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"Due to a warship's inherent limitations of space, we are not doing this. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating," Crozier said.
Citing an anonymous senior officer on board, the Chronicle reported that the number of positive coronavirus cases on the ship is now between 150 and 200.
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN on Tuesday that "we don't disagree" with Crozier, and that the Navy is "taking all the appropriate steps."
"I heard about the letter from Capt. Crozier this morning, I know that our command organization has been aware or this for about 24 hours and we have been working actually the last seven days to move those sailors off the ship and get them into accommodations in Guam," Modly said, noting that bed space was an issue.
A source who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY that the Navy is moving quickly to ensure the health and safety of the crew of the Roosevelt and is pursuing options to address the commanding officer’s concerns.
Military coronavirus cases continue to climb: All sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt to be tested
In a phone call with reporters Tuesday, Adm. John Aquilino, Pacific Fleet commander, would not confirm the number of cases among sailors, but said the top priority is keeping them and their families safe. None of the sailors are seriously ill, he said, and the Navy is working with local officials in Guam to secure hotel rooms for isolation.
The challenge for the Navy is how to balance that priority with the need to maintain readiness for war-fighting should a crisis situation occur.
Aquilino said the number of sailors required to maintain operations would remain on the ship, and others would be rotated through 14 days of isolation, then retested before putting only healthy ones back on the ship.
Crozier requested that about 90% of the thousands of individuals aboard be moved ashore to isolate, while 10% remain to operate and sanitize the ship.
"We understand the request, we’ve been working it in advance. We continue to work it, and I’m optimistic that the additional quarantine and isolation capacity that is being discussed will be delivered shortly," Aquilino said, but declined to answer questions about specific numbers remaining on board and being rotated out.
"Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure," Crozier wrote. "Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care."
"This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do. We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Crozier said.
Aquilino said he and the ship's captain are on the same page, but that Crozier's disagreement Crozier's "disagreement, or his concern, is associated with the pace that we get sailors off, not that we're not going to get sailors off."
Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook


usatoday--2020-03-31--'We're not playing around': Md. Gov. Hogan says arrest for coronavirus offense sends 'great message'

ANNAPOLIS , Md .
– Gov .
Larry Hogan said Monday that he hoped the arrest last week of a man who violated his order against gatherings of 10 or more people would make it clear that he intends to enforce the measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
`` Most people are abiding by them , but a few people are refusing to , '' Hogan said of the measures during an interview with Fox News .
`` In this particular case , this man refused to cooperate and was arrested . ''
Hogan has responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first cases appeared .
Maryland was one of the first states to declare an emergency and to close its schools .
And on Monday , Hogan announced he issuing a `` stay at home '' directive for the state , which makes it a misdemeanor for residents to leave their homes except to get food , medicine or medical treatment as of 8 p.m. EDT .
Earlier this month , Hogan issued an executive order making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail , a fine of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to hold large gatherings .
On March 27 , officers arrested Shawn Marshall Myers , 41 , after he hosted about 60 people at his home for a bonfire .
It was the second time Myers had held a large gathering in a week after agreeing to break up another party at his home March 22 .
Hogan said the arrest `` sends a great message out there to folks that we 're not playing around .
`` When you do something like this you 're not only endangering your life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we 're not going to tolerate it . ''
Despite the aggressive actions designed to curb the spread , Hogan predicted that the Washington , D.C. , and the area surrounding the capital city would soon be as hard hit by the outbreak as New York , which now leads the nation in the number of confirmed cases .
`` We ’ ve doubled over the past just two days , and we look a lot like where New York was just a couple weeks ago , '' Hogan said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said experts `` concur that we are just on the next wave of hot spots . ''
There are now more than 1,400 confirmed cases in Maryland and at least 15 people have died of the illness , according to the Maryland Department of Health .
Steve Mnuchin : $ 2 trillion rescue bill should get US through 8-12 weeks of coronavirus outbreak Hogan said the spreading contagion in the region threatens hundreds of thousands of federal employees , many of whom are responsible for national security or are leading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Republican , has been a sharp critic of President Donald Trump and considered mounting a primary challenge against him .
As the chairman of the National Governor 's Association , he said he has pressured Trump to do more to address the `` tremendous shortage '' of equipment facing the states and health care workers .
`` The president has made the effort to communicate , but we 're still pressing because there 's still issues that all the states and the federal government , quite frankly , are having , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence , whom Trump appointed to coordinate the administration 's coronavirus response , `` has been terrific . ''
`` We 're going to keep pushing , but we really are trying to work together as best we can , because we 're all in this together , '' Hogan said .
Want to talk more about politics ?
: Join our Facebook group : ‘ Across the Aisle , Across the Nation.
’ On Sunday , Trump announced that he was extending the federal guidelines that call for aggressive social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had previously floated the idea of lifting the restrictions is some areas as soon as Easter .

'We're not playing around': Md. Gov. Hogan says arrest for coronavirus offense sends 'great message'
Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump extends social distancing guidelines to slow coronavirus spread President Donald Trump is extending the voluntary national shutdown for a month as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic rises in the U.S. Associated Press, Wochit
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday that he hoped the arrest last week of a man who violated his order against gatherings of 10 or more people would make it clear that he intends to enforce the measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
"Most people are abiding by them, but a few people are refusing to," Hogan said of the measures during an interview with Fox News. "In this particular case, this man refused to cooperate and was arrested."
Hogan has responded aggressively to the COVID-19 outbreak since the first cases appeared. Maryland was one of the first states to declare an emergency and to close its schools. And on Monday, Hogan announced he issuing a "stay at home" directive for the state, which makes it a misdemeanor for residents to leave their homes except to get food, medicine or medical treatment as of 8 p.m. EDT.
Earlier this month, Hogan issued an executive order making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, for people to hold large gatherings.
On March 27, officers arrested Shawn Marshall Myers, 41, after he hosted about 60 people at his home for a bonfire. It was the second time Myers had held a large gathering in a week after agreeing to break up another party at his home March 22.
Hogan said the arrest " sends a great message out there to folks that we're not playing around.
"When you do something like this you're not only endangering your life, but the lives of our fellow citizens, and we're not going to tolerate it."
Despite the aggressive actions designed to curb the spread, Hogan predicted that the Washington, D.C., and the area surrounding the capital city would soon be as hard hit by the outbreak as New York, which now leads the nation in the number of confirmed cases.
"We’ve doubled over the past just two days, and we look a lot like where New York was just a couple weeks ago," Hogan said of the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. He said experts "concur that we are just on the next wave of hot spots."
There are now more than 1,400 confirmed cases in Maryland and at least 15 people have died of the illness, according to the Maryland Department of Health.
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Hogan said the spreading contagion in the region threatens hundreds of thousands of federal employees, many of whom are responsible for national security or are leading the federal response to the outbreak.
Hogan, a Republican, has been a sharp critic of President Donald Trump and considered mounting a primary challenge against him. As the chairman of the National Governor's Association, he said he has pressured Trump to do more to address the "tremendous shortage" of equipment facing the states and health care workers.
"The president has made the effort to communicate, but we're still pressing because there's still issues that all the states and the federal government, quite frankly, are having," Hogan said, adding that Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump appointed to coordinate the administration's coronavirus response, "has been terrific."
"We're going to keep pushing, but we really are trying to work together as best we can, because we're all in this together," Hogan said.
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On Sunday, Trump announced that he was extending the federal guidelines that call for aggressive social distancing measure until April 30. He had previously floated the idea of lifting the restrictions is some areas as soon as Easter.