saraacater--2020-04-23--CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: 842,624 infected, 46,785 deaths in U.S.

842,624 people are infected with the coronavirus in the U.S. and there have been 46,785 fatalities nationwide .
The number of infected worldwide has reached 2,647,512 with 184,372 deaths .
The weekly job reports numbers released Thursday revealed that 26 million people have filed for unemployment insurance in the U.S. in the last five weeks .
Over 4 million Americans applied for the economic support in the last week alone .
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on a $ 484 billion stimulus package that passed the Senate on Wednesday .
President Donald Trump signed an executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 day period , with some exceptions .
“ This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens.
” Trump said , “ Crucially , it will also preserve our health care resources for American patients.
” There are currently 825,306 cases of the coronavirus and 45,075 fatalities in the U.S. On Tuesday , President Donald Trump provided further details regarding his plan to halt immigration for 60 days saying that it will have “ certain exemptions.
” The President is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s something we have to have in this country , ” Trump said .
“ We have to have it.
” CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield told The Washington Post Tuesday that a second wave of the coronavirus could be more devastating than the first .
“ There ’ s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through , ” Redfield told The Washington Post .
“ And when I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of put their head back , they don ’ t understand what I mean.
” He also added that the coronavirus , combined with a regular flu season will stress the health care system .
The coronavirus has infected 787,960 people in the United States and has taken 42,364 lives nationwide .
All available evidence suggests the coronavirus originated in bats and was not a “ laboratory construct ” , World Health Organization spokesperson Fadela Chaib said at a briefing in Geneva today .
“ At this stage , it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus which caused the Covid-19 pandemic , ” Chaib said at a briefing .
“ However , all available evidence suggests that the virus has a natural animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus .
The virus most probably has its ecological reservoir in bats.
” During the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Monday , President Donald Trump announced that he will “ suspend immigration to the United States ” with a soon to come executive order .
“ In light of the attack from the Invisible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens , I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States !
” The President wrote on Twitter .
There are no further details yet on the executive order .
Georgia , Tennessee , and South Carolina announced plans to reopen their economies .
South Carolina will begin on Tuesday by opening public beaches and allowing “ some retailers ” to open with strict social distancing measures , Governor Henry mcMaster announced Monday in an executive order .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 759,786 in the U.S. Nationwide fatalities have also increased to 40,683 .
Texas will be the first state to reopen its economy using the Trump administration ’ s phased approach .
Beginning Monday , the state will begin with opening state parks .
Visitors are advised to wear masks , maintain social distancing , and keep gatherings to less than five people .
Click here to read the details of Texas Governor Greg Abbott ’ s executive order .
On Sunday , President Donald Trump shared that the national stockpile of ventilators had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to states in need .
As of Sunday , there have been 4 million coronavirus tests distributed , which exceeds any other country , according to the White House .
There are currently 671,425 cases of the coronavirus and 33,286 fatalities in the U.S .
The number of cases worldwide is 2,173,431 .
Global fatalities also reached 146,291 .
President Donald Trump released a plan for “ opening up America again ” during his press conference on Thursday .
The plan gives state governors three phases for steadily reopening their economy .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the shutdown of non-essential businesses in his state to May 15 .
The President scolded Democrats on Twitter Friday for not returning to Washington earlier than April 20 , when Congress is scheduled to be back in session .
On Thursday , the need for additional funding for American workers and small business owners became all too real when the SBA ’ s payment protection program site closed all loan applications after running out of funding .
Worldwide cases of the coronavirus have surpassed 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S is 639,664 .
There have been 30,985 fatalities in the U.S .
According to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday , 5,245,000 Americans applied for unemployment insurance last week .
President Donald Trump is expected to issue a plan for state governors to ease social distancing guidelines .
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of coronavirus antibody tests to determine immunity .
Chembio Diagnostic Systems , Ortho Clinical Diagnostics , and Abbott Laboratories .
The number of people infected with the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of fatalities is 26,059 .
During Tuesday ’ s White House press conference , President Donald Trump announced a pause in U.S. funding to the World Health Organization .
“ Today , I am instructing made administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization ’ s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus , ” Pres .
Trump told the nation .
The WHO discouraged member countries from instituting early travel bans in curbing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world about how the virus is spread , which it earlier said is not from person-to-person .
President Trump and health experts on the task force , however , banned travel to China in January , which set the U.S. apart from many countries like Italy , one of the hardest hit countries .
Trump called the WHO “ China-centric ” last week accusing its leaders of supporting China more than the U.S. , which is its biggest contributor .
In terms of reopening the economy , the President said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coronavirus has infected over 1.9 million people worldwide and has killed over 120,000 people , according to Johns Hopkins University .
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Tuesday morning on Fox & Friends that the administration is encouraging Americans who had the coronavirus to donate blood plasma for treating new patients .
He also shared that new saliva testing is becoming available as a more comfortable alternative to testing .
The saliva test will provide health care workers on the frontlines the ability too receive testing multiple times a day , Hahn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus and has a death toll of over 21,000 people .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he is working with governors in the northeast region of the U.S. as collaborative effort to reopen the economy .
Cuomo also said that “ the worst is over ” for his state .
Governor Abbott of Texas also signaled Tuesday that he ’ s developing a plan to reopen his state ’ s economy and is set to announce “ a new small business initiative in Texas.
” One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy , allowed some retail stores to reopen on Tuesday .
Over 20,000 people have died from the virus in Italy since it landed in the country .
The number of cases worldwide topped 1.8 million on Sunday and the global death toll rose above 110,000 , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The United States has confirmed more than 556,000 cases , with New York City alone reporting over 104,000 infections .
More than 22,000 people have died countrywide .
Speaking on Sunday , the country ’ s top medical expert on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told CNN that lives would have been saved if mitigation efforts had started earlier .
Dr. Fauci said on CNN that he “ can ’ t guarantee ” US voters will be able to cast their ballot for president in person in November , saying that there could be a rebound in coronavirus cases in autumn or winter .
More than 29,000 members of the National Guard supporting Covid-19 response There are over 467,184 people infected with the coronavirus in the U.S .
The number of deaths in the country has reached 17,836 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York officials confirmed Friday that Hart Island will be used to bury unclaimed coronavirus victims , according to CNN .
“ It is likely that people who have passed away from ( coronavirus ) … .
will be buried on the Island in the coming days , ” New York City Mayor Press Secretary Freddi Goldstein told CNN .
Hart Island is a public cemetery operated by Department of Corrections .
New York State saw a negative net change in intensive care admissions on Thursday for the first time since the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Friday .
World Health Officials said on Friday that the coronavirus appears to be slowing in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe like Spain , Italy , Germany and France , however , lifting stay-at-home orders too soon could lead to a “ deadly resurgence.
” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said that the U.S. economy could reopen in May .
More than 14,700 people have died from the new coronavirus in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins University .
More than 432,000 people across the country have been sickened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading in New York City as early as February , weeks before the Big Apple ’ s first confirmed case , according to a report citing new research .
A crew member aboard the USNS Mercy Hospital ship , which is docked in Los Angeles to provide medical support during the pandemic , has tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
US Navy Lt. Andrew Bertucci told CNN the crew member is “ currently isolated aboard the ship , and will soon transfer to an off-ship isolation facility where they will self-monitor for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 , and more than 88,000 have died .
Rising cases in Japan : Tokyo reported 144 new infections on Wednesday — the largest increase for the capital in a single day .
Big jump in Singapore : Another 142 infections were recorded in Singapore on Wednesday — the largest rise in new cases in the city-state .
South Korea ’ s flag carrier Korean Air has instructed more than 70 % of its employees to take paid leave , at a reduced rate , for six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Chinese government ’ s mishandling of the coronavirus epidemic from its start at a wet market in Wuhan has shown its overall incompetence and has put us all in danger , Buck Sexton , the host of “ The Buck Sexton Show ” said on Tuesday .
There are 399,929 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 12,911 fatalities in the U.S. New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy told residents to avoid holding family gatherings during Passover and Easter .
World trade is expected to fall by between 13 % and 32 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupts normal economic activity and life around the world , the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) said in its annual trade report and outlook .
WTO economists believe the decline will likely exceed the trade slump brought on by the global financial crisis of 2008 .
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio says officials have seen some progress in fighting the virus , he cautions against relaxing social distancing guidelines .
The city of Wuhan , where the virus originated , has opened back up after a 76-day travel ban .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes and go to work beginning Wednesday at 7 A.M. To leave the city , residents must have an app on their phones that ’ s used for “ data-tracking and government surveillance ” to prove that they are not infected with the virus , according to the Associated Press .
According to local reports , 65,000 people left the city by plane or train in the first few hours after the ban was lifted .
During Tuesday ’ s White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing , President Donald Trump threatened to pause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who he called “ China centric.
” The President criticized their early advice in which they discouraged him from instituting his January 31 travel ban on China .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer penned a letter Wednesday describing their priorities for Interim Relief for small businesses and working families .
Both the House and the Senate are set to return to session on April 20 .
“ The heartbreaking acceleration of the coronavirus crisis demands bold , urgent and ongoing action from Congress to protect Americans ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , “ As Democrats have said since Day One , Congress must provide additional relief for small businesses and families , building on the strong down-payment made in the bipartisan CARES Act.
” Here are some of the Democrats ’ priorities for interim funding : • $ 250 billion in assistance to small businesses , with $ 125 billion channeled through community-based financial institutions that serve farmers , family , women , minority and veteran-owned small businesses and nonprofits in rural , tribal , suburban and urban communities across our country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses can access this critical funding and are not turned away by banks ; • $ 100 billion for hospitals , community health centers and health systems , providing desperately needed resources to the frontlines of this crisis , including production and distribution of national rapid testing and Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) ; • $ 150 billion for state and local governments to manage this crisis and mitigate lost revenue , doubling down on the investment secured in the CARES Act ; • Strong additional support for families with a 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help put food on the table .
There are 368,449 people with the coronavirus and 11,000 fatalities in the U.S. President Donald Trump authorized the use of the USNS Comfort docked in Manhattan , NY for Covid patients on Monday .
The vessel was originally prepared to take patients needing hospital care for conditions other than Covid .
However , after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo requested its use for Covid patients Monday , President Trump gave his approval .
This week Vice President Mike Pence will hold four conference calls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans on coronavirus , according to spokesperson Katie Miller .
US Surgeon General Jerome Adams said by the end of this week , the will have been 2 million coronavirus tests completed across the United States .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that President Trump is looking at how to reopen parts of the U.S. economy as the coronavirus pandemic forces an unprecedented shutdown of business throughout the country .
After negotiating with 3M , The President announced Monday that the company will produce “ 55.5 million high-quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel in the U.S. Last week , it was discovered that the 3M ’ s Personal Protective Equipment was going overseas when domestic consumers were awaiting their shipments .
The President further invoked the use of the Defense Production Act last week to ensure the issue would be resolved .
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s condition as he suffers from the coronavirus worsened over the weekend and he was admitted to a London hospital ’ s Intensive Care Unit .
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed Tuesday that Johnson received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that the Prime Minister didn ’ t have pneumonia and had not been put on a ventilator .
There are currently 337,933 people in the U.S. infected with the coronavirus and 10,993 people have died in the country from the disease .
Experts on the White House Coronavirus Task Force warned that this week would likely be one of the deadliest since the start of the pandemic .
“ This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans ’ lives , quite frankly , ” U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview on “ Fox News Sunday ” with host Chris Wallace .
“ This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment , our 9/11 moment , only it ’ s not going to be localized .
It ’ s going to be happening all over the country .
And I want America to understand that.
” On Monday morning , President Donald Trump shared on Twitter that docked cruise ships with passengers infected with the coronavirus that “ no other countries would allow ” were being closely treated by medical personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were “ under strict supervision ” and will be given permission to disembark “ when appropriate.
” Last week , two ships were awaiting U.S. clearance to dock off the Florida coast.The most recent ship to dock was the Coral Princess Ship which carried seven passengers and five crew members who tested positive for the coronavirus .
On Friday , Holland America ’ s Zaandam and the Rotterdam disembarked in Florida .
Those ships reported a total of 233 passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms .
There were 14 people evacuated to local hospitals from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations .
However , pausing a global tourist industry does not happen instantaneously or easily , ” said Vice Admiral Dan Abel , Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations .
“ The federal , state , local and industry cooperation to achieve this feat truly represents the whole-of-nation approach directed by the president and is essential to fighting the spread of this virus and working to minimize the loss of life.
” The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Saturday that 114 cruise ships are currently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and U.S. Centers for Disease Control have stopped cruises from the U.S .
The CDC has also advised the general population to wear cloth masks when going out in public for necessities .
Click here to learn how to make your own .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 1,000,000 .
The U.S. number of case increased to 245,601 with 6,058 now dead .
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro announced Thursday the implementation of a “ Buy American ” executive order to ensure that after the coronavirus pandemic comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buys American for essential medicines ” and supplies .
Further , the order will cut regulations for the FDA and EPA to incentivize domestic innovation .
“ The key here is having advanced manufacturing on U.S. soil that can leapfrog other countries so we don ’ t have to worry about competing against cheap sweatshop labor , lax environmental regulations , different tax regimes , and the massive subsidies of foreign governments who are actually directly attacking our industrial base , ” Navarro said .
The White House also cracked down on 3M @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prioritizing foreign profits over domestic need .
The order , invoked by the Defense Production Act , calls on Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to “ use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire , from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company , the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
” In a written statement released Friday , the company asserted that the administration asked “ that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns over potential “ humanitarian implications ” where foreign countries could “ retaliate and do the same , as some have already done.
” 3M added , “ If that were to occur , the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease .
That is the opposite of what we and the Administration , on behalf of the American people , both seek.
” The President ’ s doctor also tested President Trump a second time for the coronavirus , announcing that the test came back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no symptoms , the physician said in a statement .
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached 216,772 in the U.S. Thursday .
The U.S. fatalities increased to 5,137 .
The latest state to implement stay at home orders is Florida , which the State ’ s Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday afternoon .
It is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and is set to end on April 30 .
“ All persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services or conduct essential activities , ” the order stated .
The Mayor of Los Angeles advised residents Wednesday to wear masks when leaving their homes .
During Wednesday ’ s White House Task Force press conference , the President and Pentagon officials revealed that they have intelligence that the drug cartels are looking to exploit the coronavirus crisis in the country .
“ We came upon some intelligence some time ago that the drug cartels as a result of COIVD-19 were going to try to take advantage of the situation and try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said , without providing further detail .
“ We ’ re at war with COVID-19 , we ’ re at war with terrorists , and we ’ re at war with drug cartels as well.
” In response , the Department of Defense is enhancing counternarcotics operation in Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea .
Two cruise ships operated by Holland America Line off the coast of Florida reached a deal with the U.S. to disembark passengers in the U.S .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since March .
At least eight people tested positive for the virus and four guests have died on one of the vessels .
There are currently 189,663 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 4,081 deaths in the U.S. Globally , there are 877 , 422 confirmed cases and 43,537 deaths .
In New York City , the epicenter of the country ’ s national crisis , there are 41,771 cases and 1,096 fatalities .
During Tuesday ’ s White House Task Force briefing , President Donald Trump and his team offered a sobering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before it gets better .
Additionally , the Task Force issued new social distancing guidelines in a new “ 30 days to stop the spread ” guideline .
“ We ’ re going to go through a very tough two weeks , ” Trump said .
“ And then , hopefully , as the experts are predicting , I think a lot of us are predicting after having studied it so hard , you ’ re gon na start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel.
” The United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is the worst global crisis since World War II .
“ The combination of the two facts and the risk that it contributes to enhanced instability , enhanced unrest , and enhanced conflict are things that make us believe that this is the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War , ” Guterres explained .
The number of worldwide confirmed cases of the coronavirus surpassed 800,000 .
In the U.S. , there are 164,610 cases .
The number of deaths in the U.S. have climbed to over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia and the District of Columbia have all increased social distancing measures by implementing “ stay-at-home ” orders to the public .
Virginia ’ s order is effective immediately and will last through June 10 .
The three regions have also increased the penalties for residents who don ’ t cooperate with the social distancing guidelines .
In D.C. , violators will face misdemeanor charges with a fine of $ 5,000 and 90 days in jail .
Virginians who violate the order could face Class I misdemeanors , punishable by up to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine .
Maryland violators could face up to a year in jail and/or a $ 5,000 fine .
The USNS Comfort docked in Manhattan , NY on Monday and it will begin serving patients on Tuesday .
Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio are warning that the worst is yet to come and applauded the President ’ s fast-tracking of the floating hospital .
During Monday ’ s White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing , the President revealed a new test for the virus that would diagnose patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created by Abbott Laboratories , an Illinois Health Care technology company .
The source of the coronavirus pandemic , Wuhan , China , has recently come under scrutiny for its early reports on the death toll .
The Chinese government reported 2,535 people had died from the virus in Wuhan , but , now , there ’ s questions as to whether that number was downplayed .
According to many reports , there are truckloads of urns being brought into the city .
The U.S. number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surpassed 143,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of worldwide cases surpassed 700,000 .
New York remains the epicenter for the epidemic in the U.S. with 776 deaths .
The U.S. Navy ’ s hospital ship Comfort arrived Monday in Manhattan to serve patients in the area .
the floating hospital is equipped with 1,000 beds , 12 operating rooms , and 8 ICU beds .
On Sunday , the President extended the social distancing guidelines for the country until April 30 .
During the news conference , Trump said that the number of deaths in the U.S. will peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully see an end come June 1 .
The U.S Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of life saving treatments for patients suffering from the coronavirus , hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine .
The drugs are used to fight malaria , however , doctors have seen success in patients diagnosed with the coronavirus .
As the U.S. coronavirus death toll sailed past 1,000 , the governor of New York — the state with the worst outbreak so far — warned residents they ’ re “ still on the way up the mountain.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis filed unemployment claims in record numbers , with the Labor Department reporting Thursday a surge to 3.28 million .
Businesses across the country have shut down amid a policy of social distancing aimed at keeping the virus ’ s growth in check .
Individual states have reported websites crashing amid a rush to file .
Late Wednesday , the Senate unanimously passed a $ 2 trillion stimulus package called the CARES Act — the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act — that boosts unemployment insurance payouts and aims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To provide additional ways for Americans to access cash , the bill also allows people to take a withdrawal of up to $ 100,000 from their retirement savings , including 401 ( k ) s or individual retirement accounts , without the typical penalty .
As hospital ICUs and morgues began filling up in some U.S. cities , the Senate passed an unprecedented $ 2 trillion relief package to help American workers , businesses and the severely strained health care system survive the pandemic .
Hospitals in London are experiencing a “ continuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a group that represents Britain ’ s hospitals , ambulance services and community health services .
Louisiana has seen a spike in the number of coronavirus cases , with more than 400 on Wednesday .
Gee , who is currently the LSU Health Care Services Division CEO , said the federal government needs to step in , especially to provide more ventilators .
At least 4,089 people have now died from Covid-19 in Spain with a total of 56,188 cases recorded , according to Spanish Health Ministry data released Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died of coronavirus has risen to 37 , the Italian Federation of Medical Professionals said Thursday .
Italy , the new epicenter of the virus , has recorded more than 70,000 cases and more than 7,000 deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday more than 30,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the state and “ we ’ re still on the way up the mountain.
” The peak of the pandemic – the point where the most people are coming into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , Cuomo said .
New York medical supply shortages spread to some Long Island hospitals .
Catholic Health Services , which is comprised of six acute care hospitals on Long Island , New York , tells CNN they are now in need of isolation gowns , procedural masks with and without face shields , and N95 respirators of all sizes .
Fourteen million US jobs could be lost by this summer as businesses shutter in response to the coronavirus pandemic , the Economic Policy Institute predicts in a new report .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all private sector jobs lost , the group writes .
Retail , leisure and hospitality are expected to take the biggest hits .
The stimulus bill includes $ 324 million for the State Department , and it specifically includes funds for “ evacuation expenses , ” according to a draft obtained by CNN .
The proposed legislation doesn ’ t specify who would be evacuated , whether it ’ s US diplomats or American citizens living overseas , or potentially both .
Nearly three dozen state attorneys general have called on Amazon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Even new protections by your company including heightened monitoring , bans on certain advertisements , and bans on selling certain items , have failed to remove unconscionably priced critical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the attorneys general wrote .
Italy has recorded 683 deaths in the past day , with a total number of 7,503 fatalities from coronavirus , according to the civil protection agency .
All travelers returning to Canada will have to enter a 14-day mandatory quarantine as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant spike in coronavirus cases and hundreds of thousands of people return home to Canada by both air and land border crossings .
President Trump said Tuesday during a Fox News virtual townhall that he wants the country ’ s economy re-opened by Easter amid questions over how long people should stay home and businesses should remain closed to slow the spread of coronavirus .
Trump argued he doesn ’ t want “ to turn the country off ” and see a continued economic downfall from the pandemic .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicides by the thousands ” if coronavirus devastates the economy .
Meanwhile , the World Health Organization said Tuesday the U.S. could become the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the U.S .
So it does have that potential , ” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said , according to the Reuters news agency .
GOP Rep. Doug Collins sent a letter to Pompeo Tuesday , urging him to temporarily ban exports of medical supplies related to coronavirus over concerns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries instead of states seeking the same equipment .
Three sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for coronavirus and have been flown to a military medical facility for treatment , the acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said Tuesday .
“ Three cases of COVID19 have been identified among personnel currently deployed and underway on the USS Theodore Roosevelt , these are our first three cases of COVID19 on a ship that is deployed , “ Modly said .
Medical workers in Spain account for 13.6 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Fernando Simón , director of the Spanish Coordinating Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies at Spain ’ s Ministry of Health .
About 20 % of people on the planet have been told to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19 , which has infected nearly 400,000 people globally and killed more than 17,000 people .
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 is now approaching 600 and there are more than 46,000 cases across the nation , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Doctor says he ’ s 3-4 weeks from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Distributed Bio co-founder and CEO Dr. Jacob Glanville revealed on “ The Story with Martha MacCallum ” Thursday that his company ’ s laboratory is three to four weeks away from engineering a therapeutic antibody to combat the coronavirus .
“ What my company is doing is adapting antibodies to recognize and neutralize the novel coronavirus .
So this would … [ be ] sort of skipping what a vaccine does , ” Glanville said .
“ Instead of giving you a vaccine and waiting for it to produce an immune response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away .
And so within about 20 minutes , that patient has the ability to neutralize the virus.
” Mortgages : – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today at a press conference in Albany that he will suspend mortgage payments for 90 days for borrowers who face financial hardship such as losing their job .
The announcement is intended to provide financial relief for those impacted by the coronavirus .
“ This is a real-life benefit , ” Cuomo said .
“ People are under tremendous economic pressure .
Making a mortgage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one stressors .
Eliminating that stressor for 90 days , I think , will go a long way.
” Cuomo said he will also temporarily postpone or suspend foreclosures , and he will waive fees for ATMs , credit cards and overdrafts .
Two active duty Army mobile hospital units have received “ prepare to deploy ” orders , according to Army Chief of Staff General James McConville .
The units receiving the orders are the 47th Combat Support Hospital based at Joint-Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state which has seen a significant virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Fort Campbell , Kentucky .
Both units typically deploy with hundreds of troops , including full surgical and trauma care capability .
The State Department is preparing to raise its travel advisory worldwide to Level 4 : Do Not Travel – the highest level — in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
President Trump has signed a second , mammoth financial relief package to help Americans weather the coronavirus crisis , as new data on the pandemic brings warnings for younger generations that , while their parents are still most at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invincible.
” The phase-2 relief package approved Wednesday night will provide free testing to build a clearer picture of how much COVID-19 there really is in the U.S .
It will also expand funding for food security programs and for paid sick , family and medical leave for workers at companies with 500 employees or fewer .
Domino ’ s Pizza is looking to hire up to 10,000 workers as people shift their eating habits to takeout or delivery amid restrictions surrounding the growing coronavirus pandemic .
Prince Albert II of Monaco has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told CNN .
Japan Olympic Committee ( JOC ) board member Kaori Yamaguchi has called for the Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because athletes are unable to prepare adequately as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic , she told the Nikkei newspaper .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo attempted to assuage concerns this morning by saying “ there is no quarantine plan for New York City ” as it relates to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The federal government is working on a $ 1 trillion coronavirus stimulus package to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abyss opened by the coronavirus pandemic .
Other major governments have announced similar plans , aimed at keeping businesses afloat as virtually all of their customers are told to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19 .
Officials in New York are clearly debating a lockdown for America ’ s biggest city , too , but for most Americans , it remains just a stern recommendation .
“ Stay at home as much as possible , limit the spread , ” Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Tuesday , reiterating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide to avoid unnecessary travel and all gatherings .
“ We do not want to look like Italy does two weeks from now.
” There are signs Italy ’ s national lockdown is starting to slow the spread of the disease , but the strict measures came too late to prevent a disaster .
COVID-19 has killed more than 2,500 people in the country .
Hospitals , doctors and nurses have been pushed beyond capacity .
JetBlue announced today that it will make a 40 % cut to its schedule as it weathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
The Justice Department announced overnight that it ’ s closing an additional 10 immigration courts , spread out across the country , through April 10 as the novel coronavirus has spread to all 50 states .
A statement released by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham says the April 21 official state visit of Spain ’ s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia has been postponed in its entirety .
US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams called on healthy Americans to donate blood .
Click below to see an interactive map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China is sending 100,000 novel coronavirus test kits and other essential medical supplies to the Philippines to assist the country “ in fighting the epidemic , ” according to Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that no gatherings with 50 people or more — including weddings , festivals , parades , concerts , sporting events or conferences — be held in the United States for the next eight weeks in one of the federal government ’ s most sweeping efforts to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country increasingly prepared for the coronavirus pandemic , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that schools in New York City , the nation ’ s largest public school system , will close .
The city ’ s mayor , Bill de Blasio , said they would close Monday and would reopen April 20 at the earliest .
California called for all people 65 and older to shelter in their homes .
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered all bars and restaurants in the state to close .
The move will affect the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Reserve cut interest rates to nearly zero to prop up the economy during the pandemic .
There are 1,701 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Friday .
There are now a reported 40 deaths across the country .
The number of worldwide cases reported are 135,467 .
The Trump Administration will begin implementing a travel ban from Europe , with the exception of the U.K. Friday at midnight .
The ban will span for travelers from Europe ’ s Schengen Area , which includes : Austria , Belgium , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , and Switzerland .
The suspension will last 30 days .
The White House said citizens returning to the U.S. from Europe “ will be directed to a limited number of airports where screening can take place ” where they will undergo “ appropriate screenings.
” There were more than 1,030 cases in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than just a week earlier .
At least 32 people have died of the virus nationwide , and there are cases in 37 states — 15 of which have declared emergencies — and Washington D.C .
In origin country China , there was mounting evidence that strict control measures pay off .
Premier Xi Jinping has declared the disease “ basically curbed , ” and with only about 10 new domestic infections reported in China on Wednesday , other countries were adopting similar tactics .
Italy has the biggest outbreak outside China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 infections .
The whole nation is under travel restrictions , with stricter controls in hard-hit northern regions .
New York state has taken dramatic action to contain one of the largest known virus clusters in the U.S. , setting up a “ containment area ” of about three square miles around the city of New Rochelle , less than 10 miles from the heart of Manhattan .
There were at least 108 confirmed cases there alone .
A cruise ship hit by the new coronavirus is headed to the port of Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though passengers were destined to stay aboard the ship for at least another day .
California residents will be brought to facilities within the state , and non-residents will be taken to locations in other states , including a military base in Marietta , Georgia .
OES said 1,000 passengers are California residents .
The number of cases worldwide continues to climb .
According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins , there have been more than 109,600 confirmed cases of the virus as of Sunday morning .
More than 60,000 people have recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
Right now there are 483 cases of confirmed infected with COVID-19 in United States , and 20 confirmed deaths .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said on Sunday that while he hopes it doesn ’ t come to it , the government could shut down certain sections of the country hit hard by the coronavirus .
Speaking during an interview on “ Fox News Sunday , ” Fauci said that “ anything is possible ” when asked if measures like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be enacted in the U.S. to help prevent the continued spread of the coronavirus .
“ I don ’ t think it would be as draconian as nobody in or nobody out , ” Fauci said .
“ But if we continue to get cases like this , particularly at the community level , there will be what we call ‘ mitigation , ’ where we have to essentially do social distancing , keep people out of crowded places , take a look at seriousness , do you really need to travel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important among the most vulnerable.
” Fox News is reporting the first cases of coronavirus in Georgia .
The two infections are tied to a father and his 15-year-old son , reports state .
On Monday , health officials in Georgia confirmed the state ’ s first two cases of the novel coronavirus .
The U.S. has seen an increasing list of cases across the country and test kits for the virus are expected to increase substantially by the end of the week .
There have been at least nine deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracking map estimates over 94,000 infections worldwide with more than 3,200 deaths associated with the virus .
Dr. Stephen Hahn , the F.D.A.
’ s commissioner , said Monday at a press briefing that actions taken by the agency to allow private labs and companies to begin making their own tests would allow for quicker expansion of testing for the virus across the nation .
“ With this new policy , we have heard from multiple companies and multiple academic centers , and we expect to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , next week , and throughout the month , ” said Dr. Hahn .
“ There will be — the estimates we ’ re getting from industry right now , by the end of this week , close to a million tests will be able to be performed.
” The Georgia Department of Public Health ( DPH ) said the two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Fulton County .
The father and son had recently returned from Italy , which has seen a surge of cases in recent weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his son saw a private doctor before they were tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) in Atlanta.
” Monday , March 2 : The virus has now spread to at least 12 states , with almost 90 cases in all and two deaths .
Both U.S. fatalities were in Washington state — residents of a King County nursing home where dozens more were sick and being tested for the virus .
Both of the victims had underlying health conditions .
The disease has killed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 89,197 , with the vast majority of cases and deaths in China .
While the number of new cases recorded daily in that epicenter country has declined for weeks , the virus continues spreading fast in South Korea , Iran and Italy , prompting increased travel warnings and restrictions .
Saturday , Feb 29 : The US Food and Drug Administration announced on Saturday a policy allowing certain US labs to test for the novel coronavirus using diagnostics the labs developed and validated , even before the agency has reviewed them .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agency says .
Iraq reports five new positive cases of coronavirus , the Health Ministry says .
That brings the country ’ s total to 13 .
Japan confirms 9 new cases of novel coronavirus , bringing total to 944 .
Qatar has become the latest Middle Eastern country to report its first case of coronavirus .
The patient , a 36-year-old man , returned from Iran , which has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths outside China .
The news on Saturday comes amid growing concerns in the Gulf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to holy sites such as Mecca and Medina .
In Europe , Italy has reported 888 coronavirus cases and 18 deaths , the most in Europe .
On Friday , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned that the spread of the virus is “ getting bigger ” .
More than 85,000 people have been infected worldwide .
Friday , Feb 28 : There are now 62 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the United States , Dr. Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing on Friday .
• 44 people who were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship Thursday , Feb 27 : Israeli scientists are on the cusp of developing the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus , according to Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis .
If all goes as planned , the vaccine could be ready within a few weeks and available in 90 days , according to a release .
“ Congratulations to MIGAL [ The Galilee Research Institute ] on this exciting breakthrough , ” Akunis said .
“ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enabling us to provide a needed response to the grave global COVID-19 threat , ” Akunis said , referring to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
• South Korea spike : The East Asian country reported 334 new cases and one death today , bringing the national total to 1,595 cases and 13 deaths .
Many of the cases are linked to a religious group in the country ’ s south .
• Military infections : Joint US-South Korea military drills have been postponed “ until further notice ” after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South Korean military contracted the virus .
• Travel disrupted : Numerous countries are implementing travel restrictions for those coming to and from South Korea , while the US is advising people to reconsider any travel plans to the country .
• European spread : Italy now has 400 cases — the largest outbreak outside Asia .
And the virus is spreading across Europe , with several countries reporting their first cases , including Norway , Romania , Georgia , and North Macedonia .
Many European countries are now implementing emergency measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine with travel restrictions .
• Middle East borders closed : Iran now has 139 cases and 19 deaths .
This week , the virus has spread to across Middle Eastern nations including Kuwait , Bahrain , and Lebanon , prompting similar travel restrictions and closed borders as seen in Asia and Europe .
• US warning : United States health officials warn the country may have had its first case of community transmission — where the patient did not have “ relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking precautions ; San Francisco , which has no cases , declared a state of emergency .
• More new cases outside China : For the first time in the outbreak , the number of new cases reported outside of China in a single day was larger than those reported inside the country , said the World Health Organization .
China reported 412 newly confirmed cases yesterday , while 459 additional cases were reported outside of China , according to the WHO ’ s daily report .
Department of Homeland Security ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Fox News on Monday that the origin of the coronavirus outbreak remains virtually unknown — and refused to rule out a startling theory that the virus may have originated in a high-security biochemical lab in Wuhan , China .
“ Our colleagues at CDC [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] and NIH [ National Institutes of Health ] on the task force have made it very clear .
We don ’ t yet know the origin of this particular virus , ” Cuccinelli told Siegel on “ Tucker Carlson Tonight.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how this one started yet , ” he continued .
“ There is a biological facility in the … province that people worry about .
But I will say the reading that I have done of medical professionals suggest that the structure of the virus seems unlikely to have been man-made because if it was made to be a threat , you would expect to see certain characteristics that aren ’ t present.
” “ Does that mean it rules it out ?
” Cuccinelli added , “ No , not absolutely.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask Congress for emergency funds to help the administration fight the outbreak of the coronavirus , which has infected almost 80,000 people around the world and accounted for more than 2,000 deaths .
The formal request may be around $ 1 billion , two individuals with knowledge of the matter told Politico .
A federal judge has temporarily blocked state and federal officials from moving as many as 50 Americans infected with the coronavirus to a city in southern California for quarantine .
U.S. District Judge Josephine Stanton , an Obama appointee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transfer of coronavirus patients from Travis Air Force Base in Northern California to Costa Mesa in Orange County .
The patients were previously quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan after a mini-outbreak on the vessel .
Meanwhile news from mainland China reported 97 new deaths Saturday .
According to the health commission , 96 deaths occurred in Hubei province and one person died in Guangdong .
In addition , China also reported 648 more confirmed cases .
This brings the global total number of deaths to 2,456 , and the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 78,442 .
Friday , Feb 21 : The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has passed 30 , health officials said Friday .
Most of the 34 cases are people who were evacuated by the U.S. from a cruise ship in Japan over the weekend , Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters .
Eighteen of the over 300 Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship were infected with COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , according to Messonnier , the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Respiratory Diseases .
All of the Americans evacuated from the ship are nearly halfway through a two-week quarantine since returning to the U.S. late Sunday night .
The fight against the novel coronavirus took a turn for the worse on Wednesday night , as Chinese health officials in the Hubei province reported 242 new deaths and 14,840 new cases of the flu-like virus .
That brings the worldwide death toll to at least 1,357 and the number of confirmed cases to more than 60,000 .
The rise in cases comes as Chinese officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , lung imaging can be used to diagnose the virus in a suspected patient , in addition to the standard nucleic acid tests , according to AFP .
The CDC also announced Wednesday that another American evacuee from Wuhan , China , had been diagnosed with the coronavirus , bringing the total number of U.S. cases to 14 .
Although that evacuee had been quarantined at the same base as another coronavirus patient , the CDC said there is no evidence of contact between the two .
Wuhan Coronavirus death toll in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll now surpasses the toll from the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003 , according to data released from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus map tracker Sunday .
In comparison , the SARS epidemic killed 774 people worldwide during that global outbreak .
According to China ’ s National Health Commission the infections are now at 37,198 .
According to The New York Times 89 deaths and 2,656 new cases were recorded in the preceding 24 hours .
Those deaths mostly occurred in Hubei Province , the heart of the outbreak .
Further , a U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to U.S. officials on Saturday .
However , Dr. Marc Siegel , Fox News medical analyst , said there is no need for Americans to worry about a major outbreak in the United States .
Siegel , who appeared on “ Fox & Friends : Weekend , ” said ‘ Chinese misinformation and secrecy has made the virus harder to control , but the United States has done a great job in helping to control the spread and treat infected people.
’ For more details on the death toll go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb 4 : The deadly new coronavirus continued to spread apace on Tuesday , with more than 23,500 cases confirmed worldwide and at least 490 deaths in China alone .
The vast majority of the infections , and all but two of the deaths , were in mainland China .
Chinese officials have agreed to let American experts into the country as part of a World Health Organization team in the coming days , and senior members of the Communist Party have admitted “ shortcomings and deficiencies ” in the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a people ’ s war of prevention ” against the epidemic Monday , threatening punishment for anyone deemed to be neglecting their duties as control efforts ramped up .
As of Monday evening there were more than 19,700 confirmed cases in more than two dozen countries , the vast majority of them in China , according to the World Health Organization .
There have been at least 425 deaths in China , and one in the Philippines .
A pandemic is described as a disease that spreads across a large region , across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus is reportedly spreading at a similar pace to influenza compared to the slow-moving SARS and MERS , according to the New York Times .
“ It ’ s very , very transmissible , and it almost certainly is going to be a pandemic , ” Dr. Anthony S. Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , told the paper .
Sunday , Feb 2 : Three more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in California on Sunday , including two people in San Benito County , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 .
The first death outside of China was reported in the Philippines on Sunday There are at least 17,373 confirmed cases worldwide , with the majority in China , the World Health Organization said .
There are 362 deaths worldwide — more than the death toll of SARS — with 360 of those deaths in China .
Saturday , Feb 1 : 8th U.S. case of coronavirus confirmed in Massachusetts The number of confirmed coronavirus cases keeps rising .
As of Saturday , there were 12,036 cases globally , and an eighth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
U.S. officials on Friday declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency .
As a result of the declaration , foreign nationals who have traveled to China in the last two weeks and aren ’ t immediate family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents will be temporarily banned from entering the U.S. , according to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar .
Azar also announced that anyone entering the U.S. who has been in China ’ s Hubei province in the last two weeks will be subject to a two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice mayor Xu Honglan spoke to reporters in a news conference .
Xianwang said the efforts to contain the virus are “ severe and complex ” as the number of confirmed cases grows .
There is also concern over a shortage of medical supplies and masks , Honglan explained .
World Health Organization declared a global health emergency Thursday as the Coronavirus continues to spread .
The WHO announcement the decision at a meeting , after 19 nations confirmed patients with the virus .
Moreover , on Thursday the United States confirmed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The White House has told airline executives it ’ s considering suspending flights from China to the U.S. amid an escalating outbreak of a new coronavirus that has infected thousands of people across the world , people familiar with the matter said .
The restrictions could affect flights into and out of China , as well as airports across the United States , the officials said .
U.S. health officials are fast-tracking work on a coronavirus vaccine , hoping to start an early-stage trial within the next three months , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic , and a phase 1 trial does not mean “ you have a vaccine that ’ s ready for deployment , ” said Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
United Airlines plans to suspend some China flights next month because of a “ significant decline in demand ” for service to the country as it battles the growing number of coronavirus cases .
The flight cancellations take effect Feb. 1 and last through Feb. 8 .
Top U.S. health officials and infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the coronavirus outbreak .
The briefing , hosted by U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar , was held at the agency ’ s headquarters in Washington , D.C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield will also speak , as well as representatives from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
The coronavirus outbreak has killed 107 people and infected 4,474 people in China , state-run newspaper the People ’ s Daily reported on Tuesday .
The U.S. Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for China from Level 2 to Level 3 asking Americans to “ reconsider travel to China due to the novel coronavirus.
” They added that some areas have “ added risk.
” The death toll in China had risen to at least 80 by Monday .
Most of those deaths , 76 people , were in the central province of Hubei , the center of the outbreak .
Shanghai , a city of 24 million , recorded its first death on Saturday .
Across China there have been 2,744 confirmed cases , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The youngest confirmed case is a 9-month-old girl in Beijing .
Thailand and Hong Kong have each reported eight cases of infection ; the United States , Taiwan , Australia and Macau have five each ; Singapore , Japan , South Korea and Malaysia each have reported four ; France has three ; Canada and Vietnam have two , and Nepal has one .
There have been no deaths from the virus reported outside China .
The death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus now stands at 80 , with almost 2,800 cases confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency procedures to try and rein in the pathogen ’ s global spread .
A fifth U.S. case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Arizona ’ s Maricopa County .
A statement released on Sunday from the Arizona Department of Health Services described the patient as “ a member of the Arizona State University community who does not live in university housing.
” What are the symptoms of coronavirus ?
For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections , reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure .
Click here for more from CDC .
NBC News reported that , two more cases of the new coronavirus have been diagnosed in the U.S. , bringing the national total to four .
The new cases are both in California — one each in Los Angeles County and Orange County — in addition to one case in Washington state and another in Chicago .
The State Department is reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Consulate in Wuhan amid a deadly coronavirus outbreak in the central Chinese city .
The department said in an email Sunday that it is arranging a flight from Wuhan to San Francisco on Tuesday as part of an effort to relocate diplomats and some private U.S. citizens Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering launched tracking map website of the Wuhan ‘ coronavirus ’ as it appears to be rapidly spreading around the globe .
The website tracks the spread of the deadly virus in real time and provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand what is happening and know more about the spread of this flu .
News reports of the virus and the increasing infections , along with the death toll , is frightening enough when you don ’ t understand what it really means and if it could potentially affect you or members of your family .
The website also offers a blog that explains almost everything you need to know about the virus .
I have to admit I was more concerned about how rapid the virus is traveling and with two cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more resources to understand it helps alleviate that concern .
The Johns Hopkins University blog on the Coronavirus brings home how quickly this virus has traveled since it was first reported to the World Health Organization : “ On December 31 , 2019 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) was informed of an outbreak of “ pneumonia of unknown cause ” detected in Wuhan City , Hubei Province , China – the seventh-largest city in China with 11 million residents .
As of January 23 , there are over 800 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in at least 20 regions in China and nine countries/territories .
The first reported infected individuals , some of whom showed symptoms as early as December 8 , were discovered to be among stallholders from the Wuhan South China Seafood Market .
Subsequently , the wet market was closed on Jan 1 .
The virus causing the outbreak was quickly determined to be a novel coronavirus .
On January 10 , gene sequencing further determined it to be the new Wuhan coronavirus , namely 2019-nCoV , a betacoronavirus , related to the Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus ( SARSCoV ) .
However , the mortality and transmissibility of 2019-nCoV are still unknown , and likely to vary from those of the prior referenced coronaviruses.
” Johns Hopkins Civil Engineering Professor Lauren Gardner worked with the center to build the map and website .
It “ displays up-to-the-minute statistics from various sources : the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , the National Health Commission of the People ’ s Republic of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites , ” the press release states .
For more on the Johns Hopkins ‘ Coronavirus tracking map go here .

Small Minnesota City Loses Entire Police Force Amid Recruitment Struggles
In an unexpected turn of events, the city of Goodhue in southeastern Minnesota finds itself without a police force as...


saraacater--2020-04-24--Stunning Brady Docs Disclosed By Gov Exonerate Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Defense Says

Stunning documents withheld for years from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn ’ s defense reveal that the retired three-star general did not commit any crimes , as suggested by Department of Justice prosecutors in former Robert Mueller ’ s special counsel investigation , his attorney said .
The new evidence was turned over to Sidney Powell , Flynn ’ s defense lawyer , by U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea , who obtained the information after an extensive review by attorneys appointed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr to review Flynn ’ s case .
Barr ’ s team included United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jensen , who is handling the Flynn matter , along with prosecutors from the office of the deputy attorney general , Jeffrey A. Rosen .
The documented evidence was sent to Powell by Shea but is under court seal .
“ The enclosed documents were obtained and analyzed by USA EDMO in March and April 2020 and are provided to you as a result of this ongoing review ; additional documents may be forthcoming .
These materials are covered by the Protective Order entered by the Court on February 21 , 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Powell , who could not discuss the exact contents of the Brady material she has now obtained but has been fighting for since taking Flynn ’ s case , told SaraACarter.com the material exonerates her client .
“ What else has the FBI buried , ” said Powell to this reporter Friday .
“ Where ’ s the original 302 ?
And obviously some of the good agents are finally stepping up.
” In the supplement to Flynn ’ s motion to dismiss his case for egregious government misconduct Powell stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government produced to Mr. Flynn stunning Brady evidence that proves Mr. Flynn ’ s allegations of having been deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.
” “ It also defeats any argument that the interview of Mr. Flynn on January 24 was material to any ‘ investigation.
’ The government has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecution—knowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn , ” she added .
According to the documents produced by the government Powell “ has found further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically , ” referring to the DOJ prosecutor in Flynn ’ s case , Brandon Van Grack .
“ Not only did he make baseless threats to indict Michael G. Flynn , he made a side deal not to prosecute Michael G. Flynn as a material term of the plea agreement , but he required that it be kept secret between himself and the Covington attorneys expressly to avoid the requirement of Giglio v. United States , 405 U.S. 150 ( 1972 ) .
Exs .
1 , 2 , ” she states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 at the latest , partisan FBI and DOJ leaders conspired to destroy Mr. Flynn , ” Powell argued to the court in the motion .
“ These documents show in their own handwriting and emails that they intended either to create an offense they could prosecute or at least get him fired .
Then came the incredible malfeasance of Mr. Van Grack ’ s and the SCO ’ s prosecution despite their knowledge there was no crime by Mr. Flynn.
” “ All this new evidence , and the government has advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the crimes were committed by the FBI officials and then the prosecutors , ” Powell ’ s motion to dismiss Flynn ’ s case states .
“ The government ’ s misconduct in this case is beyond shocking and reprehensible .
It mandates dismissal.
” “ Furthermore , this Court should order the government immediately to provide the defense with unredacted copies of the documents we have filed under seal solely in an abundance of caution because the government produced them under the protective order , and we request that they be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the motion states .
Powell , who has had a long battle to obtain the evidence and is still fighting to obtain information from FBI Director Christopher Wray , who replaced fired FBI Director James Comey said , “ this Court must dismiss this concocted prosecution of General Flynn in full recognition of the travesty of justice that it is .
”

This story is developing.
Stunning documents withheld for years from former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s defense reveal that the retired three-star general did not commit any crimes, as suggested by Department of Justice prosecutors in former Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation, his attorney said.
The new evidence was turned over to Sidney Powell, Flynn’s defense lawyer, by U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea, who obtained the information after an extensive review by attorneys appointed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr to review Flynn’s case. Barr’s team included United States attorney in St. Louis, Jeff Jensen, who is handling the Flynn matter, along with prosecutors from the office of the deputy attorney general, Jeffrey A. Rosen.
The documented evidence was sent to Powell by Shea but is under court seal.
“The enclosed documents were obtained and analyzed by USA EDMO in March and April 2020 and are provided to you as a result of this ongoing review; additional documents may be forthcoming. These materials are covered by the Protective Order entered by the Court on February 21, 2018,” Shea’s letter to Powell states.
Powell, who could not discuss the exact contents of the Brady material she has now obtained but has been fighting for since taking Flynn’s case, told SaraACarter.com the material exonerates her client.
“What else has the FBI buried,” said Powell to this reporter Friday. “Where’s the original 302? And obviously some of the good agents are finally stepping up.”
In the supplement to Flynn’s motion to dismiss his case for egregious government misconduct Powell stated Friday that “this afternoon, the government produced to Mr. Flynn stunning Brady evidence that proves Mr. Flynn’s allegations of having been deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.”
“It also defeats any argument that the interview of Mr. Flynn on January 24 was material to any ‘investigation.’ The government has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecution—knowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn,” she added.
According to the documents produced by the government Powell “has found further evidence of misconduct by Mr. Van Grack specifically,” referring to the DOJ prosecutor in Flynn’s case, Brandon Van Grack.
“Not only did he make baseless threats to indict Michael G. Flynn, he made a side deal not to prosecute Michael G. Flynn as a material term of the plea agreement, but he required that it be kept secret between himself and the Covington attorneys expressly to avoid the requirement of Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). Exs. 1, 2,” she states in the motion.
“Since August 2016 at the latest, partisan FBI and DOJ leaders conspired to destroy Mr. Flynn,” Powell argued to the court in the motion. “These documents show in their own handwriting and emails that they intended either to create an offense they could prosecute or at least get him fired. Then came the incredible malfeasance of Mr. Van Grack’s and the SCO’s prosecution despite their knowledge there was no crime by Mr. Flynn.”
“All this new evidence, and the government has advised there is more to come, proves that the crimes were committed by the FBI officials and then the prosecutors,” Powell’s motion to dismiss Flynn’s case states. “The government’s misconduct in this case is beyond shocking and reprehensible. It mandates dismissal.”
“Furthermore, this Court should order the government immediately to provide the defense with unredacted copies of the documents we have filed under seal solely in an abundance of caution because the government produced them under the protective order, and we request that they be unsealed as provided herein as Exhibit 3,” the motion states.
Powell, who has had a long battle to obtain the evidence and is still fighting to obtain information from FBI Director Christopher Wray, who replaced fired FBI Director James Comey said, “this Court must dismiss this concocted prosecution of General Flynn in full recognition of the travesty of justice that it is.”
Jennie S. Taer contributed to this report.


saraacater--2020-04-24--LIVE: White House Coronavirus Task Force Briefing

President Donald Trump , along with the White House Coronavirus Task Force , are updating the American public on the @ @ @ @ @ COVID19 virus and what will be the next steps to opening up the economy .

Officials found an illegal Chinese biotech laboratory being conducted in a warehouse in Reedley, California. The Chinese medical company Prestige Biotech “was the largest creditor of the now defunct med-tech company Universal Meditech and took control of it following bankruptcy. The Chinese-run company did not have a license to operate in California” reports National Review.
Wang Zhaolin, a spokesman for Prestige Biotech, told the San Joaquin Valley Sun that the mice “were genetically engineered to catch and carry the Covid-19 virus,” the newspaper reported. Court documents further showed that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted tests on the more than 800 chemicals found at the site and that over 20 infectious agents were found present, including Hepatitis B and C, streptococcus pneumonia, chlamydia, rubella, and Herpes 1 and 5.
The investigation began in April after a garden hose was illegally attached to the back of the building. Biological agents from the building were destroyed July 7 following a legal abatement process by the Fresno County Public Health Department.
Foreign Desk News reports:
According to reports, the tenant of the illegal lab was Prestige BioTech; a company registered in Nevada and unlicensed for business in California. City officials spoke with the company’s President, Xiuquin Yao, who told officials that Prestige BioTech transferred assets belonging to a defunct company, Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to the Reedley warehouse from Fresno after UMI went bankrupt.
Another official from the company, Wang Zhaolin, told investigators the mice were genetically engineered to catch and spread the COVID-19 virus.
The lab had “around 30 refrigerators, operational and non-operational freezers, incubators, and medical testing supplies. Upon searching the building, officials found 800 different chemicals and have yet to identify all of them.”


saraacater--2020-04-24--DOD On USNS Comfort Departing NY: ‘Expectations were far worse…than what we’ve seen’

The US Navy Ship Comfort will be departing New York City after President Donald Trump deployed the ship at the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio nearly three and a half weeks ago Jonathan Rath Hoffman , assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs , told reporters Friday .
Moreover , although he didn ’ t provide exact numbers on the matter , Hoffman said that the “ expectations were far worse… than what we ’ ve seen.
” For that reason , Gov .
Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio are returning this ship to DOD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look at a city like New York , the expectations were a far worse situation than what we ’ ve seen , ” he said addressing questions of whether deploying Comfort was a waste of DOD resources .
“ Having our forces and having our people forward deploy with that capability and not needing it was far better than not having them there and needing it.
” The Defense Department , Hoffman said , will be consulting FEMA to pinpoint the vessel ’ s next deployment location and to expect a decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days.
” “ We expect the Comfort will be heading back to Norfolk , where it will go through kind of the normal post-deployment cycle , where we will restock it .
It will be just prepared for the next deployment , ” Hoffman said .
“ We have said from the start… we wanted to be very careful with our deployment of those assets because we wanted to ensure that they are mobile , that they can be used somewhere else .
So our goal all along has been to use them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the need no longer exists , to prepare them to move to the next location , ” He added .
The ship holds over 1,000 medical care workers and has the capacity of 500 beds , which Hoffman indicated that the number of patients never hit that number , but that there were a “ fair number ” of patients cared for on the ship .
As of last Friday , 71 of its 500 beds were occupied , CNBC reported .
There are currently 146,139 people infected with the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus statewide .

The US Navy Ship Comfort will be departing New York City after President Donald Trump deployed the ship at the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio nearly three and a half weeks ago Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters Friday.
Moreover, although he didn’t provide exact numbers on the matter, Hoffman said that the “expectations were far worse… than what we’ve seen.” For that reason, Gov. Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio are returning this ship to DOD’s Northern Command.
“If you look at a city like New York, the expectations were a far worse situation than what we’ve seen,” he said addressing questions of whether deploying Comfort was a waste of DOD resources. “Having our forces and having our people forward deploy with that capability and not needing it was far better than not having them there and needing it.”
The Defense Department, Hoffman said, will be consulting FEMA to pinpoint the vessel’s next deployment location and to expect a decision on the matter in the “coming days.”
“We expect the Comfort will be heading back to Norfolk, where it will go through kind of the normal post-deployment cycle, where we will restock it. It will be just prepared for the next deployment,” Hoffman said.
“We have said from the start… we wanted to be very careful with our deployment of those assets because we wanted to ensure that they are mobile, that they can be used somewhere else. So our goal all along has been to use them in New York as needed and then when the need no longer exists, to prepare them to move to the next location,” He added.
The ship holds over 1,000 medical care workers and has the capacity of 500 beds, which Hoffman indicated that the number of patients never hit that number, but that there were a “fair number” of patients cared for on the ship. As of last Friday, 71 of its 500 beds were occupied, CNBC reported.
There are currently 146,139 people infected with the coronavirus in New York and 10,746 have died from the virus statewide.


saraacater--2020-04-24--Pres. Trump Signs ‘Phase 3.5’ Coronavirus Relief Package Into Law

President Donald Trump signed the $ 484 billion “ Phase 3.5 ” emergency interim coronavirus relief package into law inside of the Oval Office on Friday , after Congress passed legislation earlier in the week to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) for small businesses and add billions of dollars in aid to hospitals across the country during the COVID-19 crisis .
President Trump described the bill as “ great for small businesses ” and “ great for the workers , ” adding that it will “ extend relief to thousands of African-American and Hispanic American business owners.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional $ 310 billion in funds to the PPP , which was established in order to help businesses with less than 500 employees receive loans that can cover at least eight weeks of payroll , benefits , and other expenses .
Out of that $ 310 billion , $ 30 billion is reserved for community-based lenders , small banks and credit unions , while another $ 30 billion will go to mid-sized banks and credit unions .
The law will also provide an additional $ 50 billion for the Small Business Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lending program and $ 10 billion in SBA disaster grants .
The PPP was created as part of the “ Phase 3 ” stimulus package , known as the CARES Act , which was signed into law in March .
PPP converts small business loans to grants , which will be fully forgiven if at least 75-percent of the loan is used toward keeping employees on the payroll .
The PPP ran out of funding earlier this month , which prompted Congress to pass the “ Phase 3.5 ” relief package to replenish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs .
As of Friday , at least 869,172 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the U.S. and nearly 50,000 people have died nationwide .

President Donald Trump signed the $484 billion “Phase 3.5” emergency interim coronavirus relief package into law inside of the Oval Office on Friday, after Congress passed legislation earlier in the week to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses and add billions of dollars in aid to hospitals across the country during the COVID-19 crisis.
President Trump described the bill as “great for small businesses” and “great for the workers,” adding that it will “extend relief to thousands of African-American and Hispanic American business owners.”
“Phase 3.5” will provide an additional $310 billion in funds to the PPP, which was established in order to help businesses with less than 500 employees receive loans that can cover at least eight weeks of payroll, benefits, and other expenses. Out of that $310 billion, $30 billion is reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions, while another $30 billion will go to mid-sized banks and credit unions.
The law will also provide an additional $50 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) emergency disaster lending program and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants.
The PPP was created as part of the “Phase 3” stimulus package, known as the CARES Act, which was signed into law in March. PPP converts small business loans to grants, which will be fully forgiven if at least 75-percent of the loan is used toward keeping employees on the payroll. The PPP ran out of funding earlier this month, which prompted Congress to pass the “Phase 3.5” relief package to replenish it, as well as fund other programs.
As of Friday, at least 869,172 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the U.S. and nearly 50,000 people have died nationwide.
For more information, visit Fox News.


saraacater--2020-04-24--Texas Reopening Businesses Offering ‘Retail-to-go’

The State of Texas is slowly reopening its economy this week while implementing the Trump administration ’ s phased guidelines .
On Friday , stores began opening with what the State ’ s Governor Greg Abbott calls “ Retail-to-go ” , meaning that stores can open if they deliver products to customers ’ homes or to their cars with curbside pick-up .
To reduce person-to-person contact , all payments must be completed over the phone , and items must be placed in the back seats and trunks of cars , according to the plan .
“ Because we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ containing COVID-19 , we believe that all stores in Texas to be able to operate retail to go , ” Gov .
Abbott said .
The executive order requires employees and business owners to increase cleaning measures and practice good hygiene .
Texas is home to the country ’ s fourth-largest city , Houston , which for several days this week saw no new coronavirus deaths , according to reports .
According to the State ’ s Health Department , there are currently 21,944 patients infected with the virus and 561 have died @

The State of Texas is slowly reopening its economy this week while implementing the Trump administration’s phased guidelines.
On Friday, stores began opening with what the State’s Governor Greg Abbott calls “Retail-to-go”, meaning that stores can open if they deliver products to customers’ homes or to their cars with curbside pick-up.
To reduce person-to-person contact, all payments must be completed over the phone, and items must be placed in the back seats and trunks of cars, according to the plan.
“Because we’ve seen that this model works while also containing COVID-19, we believe that all stores in Texas to be able to operate retail to go,” Gov. Abbott said.
The executive order requires employees and business owners to increase cleaning measures and practice good hygiene.
Texas is home to the country’s fourth-largest city, Houston, which for several days this week saw no new coronavirus deaths, according to reports.
According to the State’s Health Department, there are currently 21,944 patients infected with the virus and 561 have died.


saraacater--2020-04-24--Union Reps Warn DHS Failure On Mexico Border Ports Of Entry Is A Nat Sec Nightmare That Could Lead T

Union Reps Warn DHS Failure On Mexico Border Ports Of Entry Is A Nat Sec Nightmare That Could Lead To Rise In COVID19 Infections

As most Americans are grappling with life under COVID19 lockdown , many having to cancel flights overseas and rarely leaving home , some U.S. residents along the southern border are not heeding warnings and being allowed by the Department of Homeland Security to travel freely into areas of Mexico where the novel coronavirus is on the rise .
Those same residents then return to the United States without receiving any medical checks or being required to quarantine , according to numerous CBP Union and Customs agents that spoke with this reporter .
The majority of non-essential travel , they say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nail salons , taking their pets to veterinarians , buying groceries and accessing other services not readily available to them in the United States but the risk is too great say officers who contend that failure to not stop the ‘ non-essential traffic ’ from the United States going south rests solely with their senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security .
Patricia Cramer , who is President of the Arizona chapter of the National Treasury Employee Union [ NTEU ] representing U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and Agriculture Specialists at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Sara Carter Show this week that the Department of Homeland Security isn ’ t doing its job and warned that failure to stop the flow of non-essential travel into Mexico is threatening not only CBP officers at the ports of entry but the nation ’ s security as well .
Currently , 288 CBP officers across the nation are infected with the novel coronavirus that has led to the deaths of nearly 50,000 Americans .
Cramer said , “ there ’ s no way President Trump knows this is going on because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop it immediately.
” “ If anyone was to come down to the U.S. Mexico border they would never think there was a pandemic going on , ” said Cramer , who was born in Mexico , became a citizen of the United States and has worked for decades with U.S. Customs and Border Protection .
“ You would think life is just normal .
And unfortunately , it ’ s a lot of U.S. citizens and green card holders that are going back and forth into Mexico you know to get tacos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nail salons , to go to vet appointments – I mean nonessential stuff.
” She added , “ no matter what your political views are you know every customs officer will tell you that the system is very broken and it has been broken because of politics and because of the people that have been in place that are heads of DHS you know and no matter your political view everybody should be concerned about the security of your country because there are some scary people and some scary things trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t for the frontline of America , our country would be in grave danger.
” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told Fox News host Martha McCallum ’ s ‘ The Story ’ Thursday night that Trump ’ s new Executive Order to halt some legal immigration to the United States amid the pandemic “ affects new immigrants that are coming into the U.S. these are individuals that are competing with Americans for jobs , basically any job in any industry and that ’ s really what the president is targeting.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns raised by Cramer and other Union representatives at the southern border but said DHS policy is to first “ protect the American people , and in this case protect American jobs.
” Cramer said there is no real protection for the American people or the officers if residents continue to travel back and further .
More importantly , she said , there is no system in place to test people re-entering the U.S. at the Ports of Entry who may have been infected with COVID19 .
She did , however , say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the checkpoints ” the Mexican government is taking temperatures of those crossing into their country .
She described the Port of Entry in San Luis , Arizona as having six-hour wait times to cross at certain times during the day and that “ local management has tried everything they can to help the custom ’ s officers working along the border .
“ The problem here is that the acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf and the acting commissioner Mark Morgan can do a lot more to protect the country and protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it ’ s not happening because we keep allowing these reckless people to go back and forth back and forth and you know constitutionally we can ’ t deny their entry .
That is very true .
But under a national emergency , we can stop their exit from the country .
And this is up to the DHS secretary .
And it ’ s not happening , Sara .
And we have to preserve the front line because could you imagine the front line is already cracking.
” John Monahan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in El Paso , Texas said the situation in his area of operations is similar to Cramers .
El Paso has three main international bridges , used for commerce , as well as pedestrian and visitor traffic .
Texas currently has 25 CBP officers infected with COVID19 , and nine of them are in El Paso .
“ Although the travel is greatly reduced in our area we still have a great number of people traveling back and forth to visit family , buy groceries , ” Monahan said .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary commerce but we should close traffic to non-essential traffic for at least 30 days to stop the spread.
” He said keeping the traffic flowing to cities like Juarez , which borders El Paso , is possibly leading to the unnecessary spread of COVID19 for people on both sides of the border and as important “ to our officers that are on the frontlines.
” “ How are we going to get control of COVID19 , ” Monahan questioned .
“ I would be more surprised if there wasn ’ t more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monahan , who described El Paso ’ s main three international bridges and the 800 to 900 employees working along the border that he represents .
“ If the administration really wants to have an effect on the COVID19 crisis along the border , the DHS needs to close down the bridges , except for the cargo that ’ s essential , ” said Monahan .
“ I ’ m not talking about a complete shutdown , but everyday travelers that aren ’ t abiding by the regulations and at least give us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

As most Americans are grappling with life under COVID19 lockdown, many having to cancel flights overseas and rarely leaving home, some U.S. residents along the southern border are not heeding warnings and being allowed by the Department of Homeland Security to travel freely into areas of Mexico where the novel coronavirus is on the rise. Those same residents then return to the United States without receiving any medical checks or being required to quarantine, according to numerous CBP Union and Customs agents that spoke with this reporter.
The majority of non-essential travel, they say is people visiting family, going to nail salons, taking their pets to veterinarians, buying groceries and accessing other services not readily available to them in the United States but the risk is too great say officers who contend that failure to not stop the ‘non-essential traffic’ from the United States going south rests solely with their senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security.
Patricia Cramer, who is President of the Arizona chapter of the National Treasury Employee Union [NTEU] representing U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and Agriculture Specialists at the Arizona Port of Entries, told The Sara Carter Show this week that the Department of Homeland Security isn’t doing its job and warned that failure to stop the flow of non-essential travel into Mexico is threatening not only CBP officers at the ports of entry but the nation’s security as well. Currently, 288 CBP officers across the nation are infected with the novel coronavirus that has led to the deaths of nearly 50,000 Americans.
Cramer said, “there’s no way President Trump knows this is going on because I’d believe he’d stop it immediately.”
“If anyone was to come down to the U.S. Mexico border they would never think there was a pandemic going on,” said Cramer, who was born in Mexico, became a citizen of the United States and has worked for decades with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “You would think life is just normal. And unfortunately, it’s a lot of U.S. citizens and green card holders that are going back and forth into Mexico you know to get tacos, to get haircuts, to go to nail salons, to go to vet appointments – I mean nonessential stuff.”
She added, “no matter what your political views are you know every customs officer will tell you that the system is very broken and it has been broken because of politics and because of the people that have been in place that are heads of DHS you know and no matter your political view everybody should be concerned about the security of your country because there are some scary people and some scary things trying to come through. And if it wasn’t for the frontline of America, our country would be in grave danger.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told Fox News host Martha McCallum’s ‘The Story’ Thursday night that Trump’s new Executive Order to halt some legal immigration to the United States amid the pandemic “affects new immigrants that are coming into the U.S. these are individuals that are competing with Americans for jobs, basically any job in any industry and that’s really what the president is targeting.”
He didn’t address the concerns raised by Cramer and other Union representatives at the southern border but said DHS policy is to first “protect the American people, and in this case protect American jobs.”
Cramer said there is no real protection for the American people or the officers if residents continue to travel back and further. More importantly, she said, there is no system in place to test people re-entering the U.S. at the Ports of Entry who may have been infected with COVID19. She did, however, say that in Mexico at “only some of the checkpoints” the Mexican government is taking temperatures of those crossing into their country.
She described the Port of Entry in San Luis, Arizona as having six-hour wait times to cross at certain times during the day and that “local management has tried everything they can to help the custom’s officers working along the border.
“The problem here is that the acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf and the acting commissioner Mark Morgan can do a lot more to protect the country and protect the frontline,” she said. “And it’s not happening because we keep allowing these reckless people to go back and forth back and forth and you know constitutionally we can’t deny their entry. That is very true. But under a national emergency, we can stop their exit from the country. And this is up to the DHS secretary. And it’s not happening, Sara. And we have to preserve the front line because could you imagine the front line is already cracking.”
John Monahan, the president of the local NTEU, in El Paso, Texas said the situation in his area of operations is similar to Cramers. El Paso has three main international bridges, used for commerce, as well as pedestrian and visitor traffic. Texas currently has 25 CBP officers infected with COVID19, and nine of them are in El Paso.
“Although the travel is greatly reduced in our area we still have a great number of people traveling back and forth to visit family, buy groceries,” Monahan said. “I’m not saying to close traffic to necessary commerce but we should close traffic to non-essential traffic for at least 30 days to stop the spread.”
He said keeping the traffic flowing to cities like Juarez, which borders El Paso, is possibly leading to the unnecessary spread of COVID19 for people on both sides of the border and as important “to our officers that are on the frontlines.”
“How are we going to get control of COVID19,” Monahan questioned.
“I would be more surprised if there wasn’t more infections with our officers,” said Monahan, who described El Paso’s main three international bridges and the 800 to 900 employees working along the border that he represents.
“If the administration really wants to have an effect on the COVID19 crisis along the border, the DHS needs to close down the bridges, except for the cargo that’s essential,” said Monahan. “I’m not talking about a complete shutdown, but everyday travelers that aren’t abiding by the regulations and at least give us a chance to flatten the curve.”


saraacater--2020-04-24--Donald Trump Jr.: We Need to Control Our Supply Chain – ‘Trump 2016 agenda was 100 percent right’

“ If there ’ s one thing that coronavirus has taught us , [ it ’ s ] that Donald Trump and his agenda in 2016 when he [ ran on ] the MAGA agenda was 100 percent right , ” Trump Jr. said .
“ We do need to control our supply chains .
We do need to have American manufacturing so the Chinese can ’ t do what they did , ” Donald Trump Jr. told “ Hannity ” in an interview on Fox News Thursday night .
“ Look how quick Mexico shut down the border to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey , you know , guys , it can actually be done.
’ So if [ there ’ s ] one thing that this has shown us [ it ’ s ] that Donald Trump was right all along , ” Trump Jr. said .
“ Donald Trump is a guy that got it and saw that.
” “ He ’ s also the guy that built the greatest economy America has ever known .
He ’ s the guy that can make America great again , again , once we get through @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Chinese Coast Guard and its maritime militia sailed into Philippine waters around the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, firing water cannons at Philippine vessels and crew seeking to re-supply a Philippine ship within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The US State Department called such actions by China “inconsistent with international law” and “unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations.” The State Department has maintained that China has “no lawful claim” to that area.
But rather than standing down, China is attempting to gaslight the Philippines and the world into accepting its narrative. A spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that China “has sovereignty” over the area, which it calls “Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao,” according to Xinhua. The area in dispute has always been a part of China, according to Global Times.
The CCP press also states that China “lawfully intercepted” the Philippine vessels, China’s actions towards the Philippines “was professional, restrained, and beyond reproach,” and that the “Philippine side ignored China’s goodwill and sincerity.”
Chinese media also paints the US, not China, as the aggressor. According to a spokesman from China’s Foreign Ministry, the US is “blatantly support[ing] the Philippines’ violation of China’s sovereignty, and its plot is doomed to fail,” according to Global Times. In responding to the incident, the US “continues to hype up the longstanding disputes between China [and its neighbors]” in order “to maintain hegemony and create a ‘security trap’” with those neighbors, according to the president of a Beijing think tank as cited by China Daily. The US has “no right to meddle” in the South China Sea” and is “creating trouble and sowing discord,” according to a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense as cited by that same article.
The CCP press pushes an alternative reality of international law to buttress its claims. The Philippines, not China, is in violation of international law, according to spokesmen of China’s Foreign Ministry and Coast Guard as cited by Global Times. The Philippines committed “illegal” acts by re-supplying its ship, and having its ship there in the first place, according to Global Times. Philippines v. China, or the South China Sea Arbitration, is “‘illegal, null and void’ as it violates international law[…]” according to a spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry, as cited by China Daily. The spokesman further said that “China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the [arbitration]. This position is clear and firm, and is a legitimate step to uphold the international rule of law.” A Global Times article similarly referred to the arbitration as the “so called South China Sea arbitration,” and that it is “illegal and invalid.”
China continues to bully its neighbors in the South China Sea. At the same time, it wages a sophisticated propaganda effort aimed at obscuring this fact to further its hegemony in the region. The United States needs a clear policy to lead its allies in the region against China’s growing threat.