skynewsus--2020-04-02--'Heartbreaking sadness' as newborn baby becomes 'world's youngest COVID-19 victim'

A six-week-old baby with coronavirus has died in Connecticut - reportedly the youngest person to die after catching the disease .
Connecticut governer Ned Lamont tweeted his `` heartbreaking sadness '' in confirming the first paediatric death in the state linked to COVID-19 .
It is unclear if the baby had underlying health conditions .
`` A 6-week-old newborn from the Hartford area was brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived , '' Mr Lamond tweeted on Wednesday .
`` Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was COVID-19 positive .
This is absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to COVID-19 .
`` This is a virus that attacks our most fragile without mercy .
This also stresses the importance of staying home and limiting exposure to other people .
Your life and the lives of others could literally depend on it .
Our prayers are with the family at this difficult time . ''
The confirmed coronavirus-linked death toll in the US has almost doubled in three days to 5,137 , with 216,722 confirmed cases .
Four new American states imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic , putting over 80 % of Americans under lockdown .
President Donald Trump said he saw no need to issue a nationwide decree , with 39 states and the District of Columbia now forcing residents to stay home except for essential outings .
He also told a White House briefing on Wednesday he was considering halting flights to coronavirus hot spots , such as New York , New Orleans and Detroit .
`` We 're certainly looking at it , but once you do that you really are clamping down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Mr Trump told a White House news briefing .
New York state remains the epicentre of the outbreak in America , accounting for more than a third of US deaths .
White House medical experts forecast that even if Americans hunker down in their homes to slow the spread , some 100,000 to 240,000 people could die with the respiratory disease .
A 12-year-old girl in Belgium is the youngest known person to have died in Europe after catching coronavirus .
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim in the UK is understood to be a 13-year-old from London , Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab .
Doctors have said the death toll of healthy children who have coronavirus is significantly lower than that of adults , but it is nonetheless climbing .

A six-week-old baby with coronavirus has died in Connecticut - reportedly the youngest person to die after catching the disease.
Connecticut governer Ned Lamont tweeted his "heartbreaking sadness" in confirming the first paediatric death in the state linked to COVID-19.
It is unclear if the baby had underlying health conditions.
Image: Connecticut governor Ned Lamont tweeted that a six-week-old baby with coronanirus died
"A 6-week-old newborn from the Hartford area was brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived," Mr Lamond tweeted on Wednesday.
"Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was COVID-19 positive. This is absolutely heartbreaking. We believe this is one of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to COVID-19.
"This is a virus that attacks our most fragile without mercy. This also stresses the importance of staying home and limiting exposure to other people. Your life and the lives of others could literally depend on it. Our prayers are with the family at this difficult time."
The confirmed coronavirus-linked death toll in the US has almost doubled in three days to 5,137, with 216,722 confirmed cases.
Four new American states imposed sweeping stay-at-home rules on Wednesday in response to the pandemic, putting over 80% of Americans under lockdown.
President Donald Trump said he saw no need to issue a nationwide decree, with 39 states and the District of Columbia now forcing residents to stay home except for essential outings.
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He also told a White House briefing on Wednesday he was considering halting flights to coronavirus hot spots, such as New York, New Orleans and Detroit.
"We're certainly looking at it, but once you do that you really are clamping down on an industry that is desperately needed," Mr Trump told a White House news briefing.
New York state remains the epicentre of the outbreak in America, accounting for more than a third of US deaths.
White House medical experts forecast that even if Americans hunker down in their homes to slow the spread, some 100,000 to 240,000 people could die with the respiratory disease.
A 12-year-old girl in Belgium is the youngest known person to have died in Europe after catching coronavirus.
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
The youngest victim in the UK is understood to be a 13-year-old from London, Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab.
Both children were apparently healthy.
Doctors have said the death toll of healthy children who have coronavirus is significantly lower than that of adults, but it is nonetheless climbing.


skynewsus--2020-04-01--Trump reveals plans to repatriate Britons trapped on COVID-19-infected ship

Donald Trump has revealed plans to allow British passengers trapped on a coronavirus-infected cruise ship where four people have died to return home .
More than 200 UK nationals have been left stranded after an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Zaandam cruise ship , which has been refused permission to dock in the US .
Four passengers have died on the cruise ship , including 75-year-old British man John Carter whose widow has been isolated and on her own since his death .
Mr Carter 's family have since pleaded with the US president and Florida authorities to allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House briefing on Wednesday , Mr Trump confirmed plans to repatriate British passengers onboard the Zaandam and its sister ship the Rotterdam , which is carrying those without coronavirus-symptoms .
`` We 're looking at the two ships , '' he said .
`` We have Canada notified .
A lot of Canadians , a lot of British on the ship .
`` They 're coming to take the people that are on the ship back to their homeland .
Canada is coming .
The UK is coming .
`` We have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're taking care of that .
I 'm speaking to the governor about that a lot .
It 's a tough situation . ''
Mr Trump added : `` You can understand you have people that are sick on those ships and states - they have enough problems right now - do n't want to take them .
We have to from a humane standpoint .
`` We do n't have a choice .
I do n't want to do that but we have to .
People are dying . ''
Asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US , Mr Trump replied : `` We 're going to do something .
`` At a minimum we 're sending medical teams on board the ships .
We 're taking the Canadians off and giving them to Canadian authorities .
They 're going to take them back home .
The same thing with the UK .
`` We have to help the people .
They 're in big trouble , no matter where they 're from . ''
Almost 200 people have fallen ill on board the Zaandam and there are nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four people who died were confirmed to have the virus .
In a plea to Mr Trump , the family of Mr Carter said they have only had minimal contact with his widow as her mobile phone is no longer working .
`` She is struggling to eat the limited meals and is feeling unwell , '' they said .
`` She is obviously distressed and extremely frightened .
The family added that it was `` imperative '' that the docking is authorised so that the passengers and crew can receive `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need '' .
Florida governor Ron DeSantis had said the state 's health care system is stretched too thin to take on the ships ' coronavirus cases , but he would accept the Florida residents on board .
`` My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital beds , '' he said .
The Zaandam and the Rotterdam , which are owned by cruise operator Holland America , passed through the Panama Canal on Monday and were seeking to dock in Florida later this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires in Argentina on 7 March , a day before the US State Department advised against cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida .
The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio , Chile , then complete another 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , on 7 April .
But since 15 March , the Zaandam has assumed pariah-like status , having been denied entry @ @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump has revealed plans to allow British passengers trapped on a coronavirus-infected cruise ship where four people have died to return home.
More than 200 UK nationals have been left stranded after an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Zaandam cruise ship, which has been refused permission to dock in the US.
Four passengers have died on the cruise ship, including 75-year-old British man John Carter whose widow has been isolated and on her own since his death.
Image: John Carter died on board the Zaandam cruise ship
Mr Carter's family have since pleaded with the US president and Florida authorities to allow the ship to dock.
In a White House briefing on Wednesday, Mr Trump confirmed plans to repatriate British passengers onboard the Zaandam and its sister ship the Rotterdam, which is carrying those without coronavirus-symptoms.
"We're looking at the two ships," he said.
"We have Canada notified. A lot of Canadians, a lot of British on the ship.
"They're coming to take the people that are on the ship back to their homeland. Canada is coming. The UK is coming.
"We have some people who are quite sick and we're taking care of that. I'm speaking to the governor about that a lot. It's a tough situation."
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Image: Donald Trump said the cruise passengers and crew were in a 'tough situation'
Mr Trump added: "You can understand you have people that are sick on those ships and states - they have enough problems right now - don't want to take them. We have to from a humane standpoint.
"We don't have a choice. I don't want to do that but we have to. People are dying."
Asked if the passengers would be allowed into the US, Mr Trump replied: "We're going to do something.
"At a minimum we're sending medical teams on board the ships. We're taking the Canadians off and giving them to Canadian authorities. They're going to take them back home. The same thing with the UK.
"We have to help the people. They're in big trouble, no matter where they're from."
Image: Passengers are stranded on the Zaandam cruise ship
Almost 200 people have fallen ill on board the Zaandam and there are nine confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Two of the four people who died were confirmed to have the virus.
In a plea to Mr Trump, the family of Mr Carter said they have only had minimal contact with his widow as her mobile phone is no longer working.
"She is struggling to eat the limited meals and is feeling unwell," they said.
"She is obviously distressed and extremely frightened.
The family added that it was "imperative" that the docking is authorised so that the passengers and crew can receive "the urgent assistance that they so desperately need".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:11 Elderly couple locked down on cruise
Florida governor Ron DeSantis had said the state's health care system is stretched too thin to take on the ships' coronavirus cases, but he would accept the Florida residents on board.
"My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital beds," he said.
The Zaandam and the Rotterdam, which are owned by cruise operator Holland America, passed through the Panama Canal on Monday and were seeking to dock in Florida later this week.
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The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires in Argentina on 7 March, a day before the US State Department advised against cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida.
The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, then complete another 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 7 April.
But since 15 March, the Zaandam has assumed pariah-like status, having been denied entry at a succession of ports.


skynewsus--2020-04-02--Stacy's Mom songwriter, 52, dies after testing positive for coronavirus

The co-frontman of US band Fountains of Wayne , best known for their single Stacy 's Mom , has died after testing positive for coronavirus .
Adam Schlesinger was fighting the illness in a New York hospital before his death on Wednesday morning , his family said in a statement .
US media reports state he died of `` complications from the coronavirus '' but it is unclear if he had any underlying health conditions .
The 52-year-old had earned an Oscar nomination in 1997 for writing the title track on That Thing You Do !
, a music comedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best known as the bass player , backing singer and co-songwriter of Fountains Of Wayne , the power pop band whose hits included Stacy 's Mom and Hey Julie .
They formed in New Jersey in 1995 and were named after a lawn ornament store in the state .
He won the Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics for Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal from TV musical drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2019 .
It was one of his three Emmy wins .
Schlesinger won a Grammy in 2009 for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greatest Gift Of All !
He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and Tony awards during his career .
Hanks paid tribute to the songwriter on Twitter , adding he would not have launched his Playtone record label and production company without Schlesinger 's help .
The actor , who himself tested positive for coronavirus , described the musician as a `` One-der '' .
Chris Carrabba , from the band Dashboard Confessional , tweeted : `` I am grasping for the right words .
`` My dear friend Adam Schlesinger has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : `` I knew him best as a mentor , and a friend .
`` We must take this seriously .
People are sick and dying .
It is hard to stay locked indoors but lives will be saved .
Take care of each other .
Rest In Peace , my dear friend . ''
Aline Brosh McKenna is co-creator of the TV musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , which Schlesinger wrote songs for .
She wrote on Twitter : `` Adam was so funny , so kind , so opinionated , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together and agreed and disagreed and rejoiced and bemoaned and celebrated and it felt extra sweet for me because I 'd known him so long .
`` I love that guy .
I love all the memories . ''
McKenna also shared a song he sent to her and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom .
Singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins said he was `` really sweet and beyond talented '' .
She tweeted : `` I 'm heartbroken to hear about Adam Schlesinger 's passing .
He was one of the 1st people I ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the road with Fountains of Wayne back in the day .
He was really sweet and beyond talented .
My heart goes out to his family and band mates . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren said : `` RIP Adam Schlesinger .
Love and prayers to his family .
Thank U for the songs . ''
Schlesinger was divorced and is survived by his two daughters .
The number of people who have died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has risen to 3,393 , surpassing China 's 3,305 reported fatalities .

The co-frontman of US band Fountains of Wayne, best known for their single Stacy's Mom, has died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Adam Schlesinger was fighting the illness in a New York hospital before his death on Wednesday morning, his family said in a statement.
US media reports state he died of "complications from the coronavirus" but it is unclear if he had any underlying health conditions.
The 52-year-old had earned an Oscar nomination in 1997 for writing the title track on That Thing You Do!, a music comedy directed by Tom Hanks.
He was best known as the bass player, backing singer and co-songwriter of Fountains Of Wayne, the power pop band whose hits included Stacy's Mom and Hey Julie.
They formed in New Jersey in 1995 and were named after a lawn ornament store in the state.
He won the Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics for Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal from TV musical drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2019.
It was one of his three Emmy wins.
Schlesinger won a Grammy in 2009 for his work on A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!
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He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and Tony awards during his career.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:57 Coronavirus: What you need to know
Hanks paid tribute to the songwriter on Twitter, adding he would not have launched his Playtone record label and production company without Schlesinger's help.
The actor, who himself tested positive for coronavirus, described the musician as a "One-der".
Hanks added: "Lost him to COVID-19. Terribly sad today. Hanx."
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Chris Carrabba, from the band Dashboard Confessional, tweeted: "I am grasping for the right words.
"My dear friend Adam Schlesinger has passed away from COVID-19."
Carrabba added: "I knew him best as a mentor, and a friend.
"We must take this seriously. People are sick and dying. It is hard to stay locked indoors but lives will be saved. Take care of each other. Rest In Peace, my dear friend."
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Aline Brosh McKenna is co-creator of the TV musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which Schlesinger wrote songs for.
She wrote on Twitter: "Adam was so funny, so kind, so opinionated, so clever, so passionate. We worked together and agreed and disagreed and rejoiced and bemoaned and celebrated and it felt extra sweet for me because I'd known him so long.
"I love that guy. I love all the memories."
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McKenna also shared a song he sent to her and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom.
Singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins said he was "really sweet and beyond talented".
She tweeted: "I'm heartbroken to hear about Adam Schlesinger's passing. He was one of the 1st people I ever co-wrote a song with and we went on the road with Fountains of Wayne back in the day. He was really sweet and beyond talented. My heart goes out to his family and band mates."
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Acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren said: "RIP Adam Schlesinger. Love and prayers to his family. Thank U for the songs."
Schlesinger was divorced and is survived by his two daughters.
The number of people who have died in the US after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 3,393, surpassing China's 3,305 reported fatalities.


skynewsus--2020-04-02--US jobless claims surge to more than six million - 10 times previous record

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US last week hit a new record of more than 6 million as coronavirus measures took hold .
Figures from the US labour department showed the number of claims in the week ending 28 March climbed to 6.65 million , up from 3.3 million the previous week .
It was much higher than the 3.5 million estimate pencilled in by economists , and adds to fears about the depth of recession facing the world 's biggest economy as it fights the pandemic .
The report said that the virus `` continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' with nearly every state citing its impact on the figures .
More than 80 % of Americans are now under some form of lockdown , up from less than 50 % two weeks ago , prompting an avalanche of claims for jobless benefits .
The number of claims - which previously hit a record last week - have already far outstripped the levels seen during the last recession , when they peaked at 665,000 .
Experts warn that the country should brace for the numbers to continue escalating - thanks to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package signed into law by Donald Trump last week .
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker As part of the measures , self-employed and gig economy workers previously ineligible to claim the payments can now do so .
Gregory Daco , chief US economist at Oxford Economics in New York , said : `` The US labour market is in free-fall .
`` The prospect of more stringent lockdown measures and the fact that many states have not yet been able to process the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst is still to come . ''
Thursday 's data provides an early snapshot of the rapidly deteriorating jobs market .
The main headline US `` non-farm payroll '' jobs numbers for March , due on Friday , will only cover the picture up to the middle of the month , when only a handful of states were enforcing `` stay at home '' orders .
Retailers including Macy 's , Kohl 's and Gap said on Monday that they would furlough tens of thousands of workers as they prepare to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chief global strategist at JP Morgan Funds in New York , said : `` A rough look at the most affected industries suggests a potential payroll job loss of over 16 million jobs .
`` The loss would be enough to boost the unemployment rate from roughly 3.5 % to 12.5 % , which would be its highest rate since the Great Depression . ''

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US last week hit a new record of more than 6 million as coronavirus measures took hold.
Figures from the US labour department showed the number of claims in the week ending 28 March climbed to 6.65 million, up from 3.3 million the previous week.
It was much higher than the 3.5 million estimate pencilled in by economists, and adds to fears about the depth of recession facing the world's biggest economy as it fights the pandemic.
The report said that the virus "continues to impact the number of initial claims" with nearly every state citing its impact on the figures.
Image: The shocking figure is a huge spike and the largest the US has seen for decades
More than 80% of Americans are now under some form of lockdown, up from less than 50% two weeks ago, prompting an avalanche of claims for jobless benefits.
The number of claims - which previously hit a record last week - have already far outstripped the levels seen during the last recession, when they peaked at 665,000.
Experts warn that the country should brace for the numbers to continue escalating - thanks to the generous provisions of a $2.2trn stimulus package signed into law by Donald Trump last week.
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As part of the measures, self-employed and gig economy workers previously ineligible to claim the payments can now do so.
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Gregory Daco, chief US economist at Oxford Economics in New York, said: "The US labour market is in free-fall.
"The prospect of more stringent lockdown measures and the fact that many states have not yet been able to process the full amount of jobless claim applications suggest the worst is still to come."
Thursday's data provides an early snapshot of the rapidly deteriorating jobs market.
The main headline US "non-farm payroll" jobs numbers for March, due on Friday, will only cover the picture up to the middle of the month, when only a handful of states were enforcing "stay at home" orders.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:07 'We could be facing another Great Depression'
Retailers including Macy's, Kohl's and Gap said on Monday that they would furlough tens of thousands of workers as they prepare to keep shops shut for longer.
David Kelly, chief global strategist at JP Morgan Funds in New York, said: "A rough look at the most affected industries suggests a potential payroll job loss of over 16 million jobs.
"The loss would be enough to boost the unemployment rate from roughly 3.5% to 12.5%, which would be its highest rate since the Great Depression."


skynewsus--2020-04-02--Cruise ship with coronavirus patients on board allowed to dock in Florida

A cruise ship which has been floating at sea carrying passengers with suspected coronavirus after it was turned away from South American ports has finally been given permission to dock in Florida .
The Zaandam and sister ship the Rotterdam , which was sent to help it , were given the green light to disembark people at Port Everglades after days of negotiation with local officials .
Passengers have not been able to step on dry land for almost three weeks .
Four elderly people died on the Zaandam - including a British man - and at least two from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief maritime officer for Carnival Corp. , which owns the ships .
Earlier this week , he said nine people had tested positive for the virus .
There were 442 guests and 603 crew on the Zaandam , and 808 guests and 583 crew on the Rotterdam .
An elderly British couple aboard the Zaandam previously issued a desperate plea to the United States to allow the vessel to dock .
Tony and Jennie Wills from Earls Barton in Northamptonshire , spoke out after the state 's governor , Ron DeSantis , signalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers and crew dumped on his doorstep .
`` This is a real humanitarian crisis and we appeal , we pray , we implore America , all the governments around the world , please America , please let us land somewhere , '' Mrs Wills , 74 , said in a video message shared with Sky News .
`` Please , please , we just so all want to come home .
This is on behalf of absolutely everybody on board the two ships . ''
Her husband , 80 , had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise operator , Holland America Line , had been poor .
Mr Willis added : `` We are obviously realising there is a hell of a lot more illness on this boat than we ever realised and we are getting very , very worried .
We need to get off . ''
Mr DeSantis previously told a news conference : `` Just to drop people off at the place where we 're having the highest number of cases right now just does n't make a whole lot of sense . ''
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus briefing , President Trump said he would ask the governor to allow the ships to dock in Florida , saying : `` They 're dying on the ship .
`` I 'm going to do what 's right .
Not only for us , but for humanity . ''
Holland America has said 45 passengers who were mildly sick would stay on board until they recovered , but that it needed 10 people to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate medical care .
Broward County Commissioner , Michael Udine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer than five people to be taken to a hospital .
Mr DeSantis said passengers and crew who have no symptoms would be taken to airports by bus , but would not be allowed inside the terminals , and instead would directly board planes .
`` You ca n't just release them into the general public if they have been exposed , '' he said .
Holland America has said that guests fit for travel under guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control would transfer `` straight from the ship to flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on charter flights '' .
In a statement , it said : `` Out of an abundance of caution , these guests will be transported in coaches that will be sanitized , with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks . ''
Guests have not left the ship since 14 March , and have self-isolated in their cabins since 22 March .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker The Zaandam set sail from Buenos Aires on 7 March , and was originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voyage at San Antonio , Chile , on 21 March , before departing again for Fort Lauderdale .
The cruise was stranded off the coast of Panama after it was not allowed to dock in Chile and other ports along its path .

A cruise ship which has been floating at sea carrying passengers with suspected coronavirus after it was turned away from South American ports has finally been given permission to dock in Florida.
The Zaandam and sister ship the Rotterdam, which was sent to help it, were given the green light to disembark people at Port Everglades after days of negotiation with local officials.
Passengers have not been able to step on dry land for almost three weeks.
Four elderly people died on the Zaandam - including a British man - and at least two from COVID-19 - according to William Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corp., which owns the ships.
Image: The Zaandam ties up at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale
Earlier this week, he said nine people had tested positive for the virus.
There were 442 guests and 603 crew on the Zaandam, and 808 guests and 583 crew on the Rotterdam.
An elderly British couple aboard the Zaandam previously issued a desperate plea to the United States to allow the vessel to dock.
Tony and Jennie Wills from Earls Barton in Northamptonshire, spoke out after the state's governor, Ron DeSantis, signalled he did not want the vessel's passengers and crew dumped on his doorstep.
"This is a real humanitarian crisis and we appeal, we pray, we implore America, all the governments around the world, please America, please let us land somewhere," Mrs Wills, 74, said in a video message shared with Sky News.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:11 Elderly couple locked down on cruise
"Please, please, we just so all want to come home. This is on behalf of absolutely everybody on board the two ships."
Her husband, 80, had previously said information from the captain and the cruise operator, Holland America Line, had been poor.
Mr Willis added: "We are obviously realising there is a hell of a lot more illness on this boat than we ever realised and we are getting very, very worried. We need to get off."
Image: Jenni and Tony Wills say it has been 'pretty tough'
Mr DeSantis previously told a news conference: "Just to drop people off at the place where we're having the highest number of cases right now just doesn't make a whole lot of sense."
However, speaking at the White House's daily coronavirus briefing, President Trump said he would ask the governor to allow the ships to dock in Florida, saying: "They're dying on the ship.
"I'm going to do what's right. Not only for us, but for humanity."
Image: Donald Trump confirmed plans to repatriate British passengers onboard the Zaandam
Holland America has said 45 passengers who were mildly sick would stay on board until they recovered, but that it needed 10 people to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate medical care.
Broward County Commissioner, Michael Udine, said the agreement only allowed for fewer than five people to be taken to a hospital.
Mr DeSantis said passengers and crew who have no symptoms would be taken to airports by bus, but would not be allowed inside the terminals, and instead would directly board planes.
"You can't just release them into the general public if they have been exposed," he said.
Holland America has said that guests fit for travel under guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control would transfer "straight from the ship to flights for onward travel home, the majority on charter flights".
In a statement, it said: "Out of an abundance of caution, these guests will be transported in coaches that will be sanitized, with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks."
Guests have not left the ship since 14 March, and have self-isolated in their cabins since 22 March.
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:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
The Zaandam set sail from Buenos Aires on 7 March, and was originally scheduled to end the first leg of the voyage at San Antonio, Chile, on 21 March, before departing again for Fort Lauderdale.
The cruise was stranded off the coast of Panama after it was not allowed to dock in Chile and other ports along its path.


skynewsus--2020-04-02--US warship captain 'relieved of duty' over COVID-19 memo

A US aircraft carrier captain has been sacked after sending a scathing letter that was leaked to the public asking Navy leadership for stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak onboard .
Captain Brett Crozier , commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt , said in a memo that the vessel did not have enough quarantine and isolation facilities .
US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the commander exercised poor judgement by not safeguarding the memo from being released outside the chain of command .
More than 100 personnel on the ship have tested positive for coronavirus so far .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ described a bleak situation aboard the nuclear-powered carrier as more sailors tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory virus .
He called for `` decisive action '' , removing over 4,000 sailors from the ship and isolating them .
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker He said that unless the Navy acted immediately , it would be failing to properly safeguard `` our most trusted asset - our sailors '' .
The letter put the Pentagon on the defensive about whether it was doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members safe , and alarmed the families of those aboard the vessel , whose home port is in San Diego .
The carrier was in the Pacific when the Navy reported its first coronavirus case a week ago .
It has since docked at US Naval Base Guam on the southern end of the American island territory in the western Pacific .

A US aircraft carrier captain has been sacked after sending a scathing letter that was leaked to the public asking Navy leadership for stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak onboard.
Captain Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, said in a memo that the vessel did not have enough quarantine and isolation facilities.
US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the commander exercised poor judgement by not safeguarding the memo from being released outside the chain of command.
"It raised alarm bells unnecessarily," Mr Modly said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:44 Hospital ship prepares for NYC patients
More than 100 personnel on the ship have tested positive for coronavirus so far.
In the four-page letter, Cmdr Crozier described a bleak situation aboard the nuclear-powered carrier as more sailors tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory virus.
He called for "decisive action", removing over 4,000 sailors from the ship and isolating them.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
He said that unless the Navy acted immediately, it would be failing to properly safeguard "our most trusted asset - our sailors".
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:57 US's dependence on China 'cruel irony'
The letter put the Pentagon on the defensive about whether it was doing enough to keep the warship's crew members safe, and alarmed the families of those aboard the vessel, whose home port is in San Diego.
The carrier was in the Pacific when the Navy reported its first coronavirus case a week ago.
It has since docked at US Naval Base Guam on the southern end of the American island territory in the western Pacific.


skynewsus--2020-04-02--New York governor warns  'six days' of ventilators left

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has said the state has enough ventilators to last `` six days '' as he made a further appeal to manufacturers for help with personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday , Mr Cuomo said New York state had around 2,200 ventilators left in its stockpile , but around 350 more patients needed one each day .
This leaves just `` six days of ventilators '' for coronavirus patients `` at the current burn rate , '' he said , adding : `` If the apex happens within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases , if the apex is longer , we have an issue with ventilators . ''
His comments came as he turned to the `` cruellest irony '' of the US being forced to rely on China for production of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for frontline staff .
Such equipment can include face masks , gowns , and gloves to act as a barrier to prevent contraction of COVID-19 .
Mr Cuomo said : `` Many of these products in the normal marketplace were being produced in China and now you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Making a plea to domestic manufacturers , the governor said he had a `` business opportunity '' for anyone who could make PPE , and promised to `` pay a premium '' .
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker '' The gowns and gloves are not complicates components to manufacture , '' he said , before calling for companies to make them quickly .
He added : `` But we need it now ... We need these materials now . ''
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased by 8,669 on Thursday to reach a total of 92,381 , while 2,373 people have now lost their lives .
Meanwhile , Mr Cuomo said 21,000 healthcare workers outside of the state had volunteered to help fight the outbreak in New York , while a hospital in Staten Island for coronavirus patients only prepared to open for next week .
A field hospital in Brooklyn is also set to be constructed , making way for a further 750 beds .

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has said the state has enough ventilators to last "six days" as he made a further appeal to manufacturers for help with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Mr Cuomo said New York state had around 2,200 ventilators left in its stockpile, but around 350 more patients needed one each day.
This leaves just "six days of ventilators" for coronavirus patients "at the current burn rate," he said, adding: "If the apex happens within that time frame, if the apex increases, if the apex is longer, we have an issue with ventilators."
His comments came as he turned to the "cruellest irony" of the US being forced to rely on China for production of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline staff.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:44 Hospital ship prepares for NYC patients
Such equipment can include face masks, gowns, and gloves to act as a barrier to prevent contraction of COVID-19.
Mr Cuomo said: "Many of these products in the normal marketplace were being produced in China and now you have everyone shopping in China."
Making a plea to domestic manufacturers, the governor said he had a "business opportunity" for anyone who could make PPE, and promised to "pay a premium".
Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
"The gowns and gloves are not complicates components to manufacture," he said, before calling for companies to make them quickly.
Advertisement
He added: "But we need it now...We need these materials now."
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York increased by 8,669 on Thursday to reach a total of 92,381, while 2,373 people have now lost their lives.
Meanwhile, Mr Cuomo said 21,000 healthcare workers outside of the state had volunteered to help fight the outbreak in New York, while a hospital in Staten Island for coronavirus patients only prepared to open for next week.
A field hospital in Brooklyn is also set to be constructed, making way for a further 750 beds.


skynewsus--2020-04-03--Ain't No Sunshine and Lean On Me singer Bill Withers dies

Soul singer Bill Withers , famous for a number of timeless classics such as Lean On Me and Ai n't No Sunshine , has died aged 81 .
The three-time Grammy winner , who withdrew from making music in the mid-1980s , died from heart complications , his family said .
His death comes as people across the world have found comfort in his music during the coronavirus pandemic , with healthcare workers , choirs , artists and more sharing their own renditions of Lean On Me .
In a statement , his family said : `` We are devastated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoted husband and father .
`` A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large , with his poetry and music , he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other .
`` As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends , his music forever belongs to the world .
In this difficult time , we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones . ''
Withers grew up in the coal mining town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last of six children .
He overcame a childhood stutter but did not begin his professional musical career until he was in his early thirties , after joining the navy at 17 .
He was the artist behind a number of hits from the 1970s and '80s that have stood the test of time , including Lovely Day and Just The Two Of Us .
Lean On Me , an ode to the power of friendship , was performed at the inaugurations of both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton , and , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among Rolling Stone 's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time .
Lovely Day , notable for its memorable sustained note of almost 19 seconds at the end , was his only song to make the top 10 in the UK .
Despite a relatively brief musical career , stopping recording in 1985 as he left `` the hype and the hoopla '' of the spotlight for a more private life , he produced nine albums and his songs provide the soundtracks of countless engagements , weddings and parties still to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on and remained a major influence on a number of artists who followed .
His track Grandma 's Hands was sampled on Blackstreet 's No Diggity in 1996 , while Just The Two of Us was covered by Will Smith in 1997 and sampled by Eminem in his song Bonnie and Clyde in the same year .
Withers was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 by Stevie Wonder , saying in his acceptance speech that it was like `` a lion opening the door for a kitty kat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a `` wonderful , odd odyssey , with ups , downs and sometimes screw-me-arounds '' , but that he would `` always remember the good things '' .
`` Bottom line is , check this out : Stevie Wonder knows my name - and the brother just put me in the Hall of Fame . ''
Paying tribute , Paul Williams , president and chairman of ASCAP ( American Society of Composers , Authors and Publishers , said : `` We lost a giant of songwriting today .
`` Bill Withers ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profound in the American songbook - universal in the way they touch people all over the world , transcending genre and generation .
`` He was a beautiful man with a stunning sense of humour and a gift for truth . ''
Withers is survived by his wife , Marcia , and children , Todd and Kori .

Soul singer Bill Withers, famous for a number of timeless classics such as Lean On Me and Ain't No Sunshine, has died aged 81.
The three-time Grammy winner, who withdrew from making music in the mid-1980s, died from heart complications, his family said.
His death comes as people across the world have found comfort in his music during the coronavirus pandemic, with healthcare workers, choirs, artists and more sharing their own renditions of Lean On Me.
Image: Withers was the voice behind timeless hits such as Lean On Me and Ain't No Sunshine. Pic: Alan Messer/Shutterstock
Image: Withers (centre) pictured with Muhammad Ali and Don King in 2008. Pic: Antidoteusa/Kobal/Shutterstock
In a statement, his family said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father.
"A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other.
"As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world. In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones."
Withers grew up in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, the last of six children. He overcame a childhood stutter but did not begin his professional musical career until he was in his early thirties, after joining the navy at 17.
He was the artist behind a number of hits from the 1970s and '80s that have stood the test of time, including Lovely Day and Just The Two Of Us.
Lean On Me, an ode to the power of friendship, was performed at the inaugurations of both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and, along with Ain't No Sunshine, is among Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
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Lovely Day, notable for its memorable sustained note of almost 19 seconds at the end, was his only song to make the top 10 in the UK.
Despite a relatively brief musical career, stopping recording in 1985 as he left "the hype and the hoopla" of the spotlight for a more private life, he produced nine albums and his songs provide the soundtracks of countless engagements, weddings and parties still to this day.
They have also lived on and remained a major influence on a number of artists who followed.
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
His track Grandma's Hands was sampled on Blackstreet's No Diggity in 1996, while Just The Two of Us was covered by Will Smith in 1997 and sampled by Eminem in his song Bonnie and Clyde in the same year.
Withers was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 by Stevie Wonder, saying in his acceptance speech that it was like "a lion opening the door for a kitty kat".
He said his career had been a "wonderful, odd odyssey, with ups, downs and sometimes screw-me-arounds", but that he would "always remember the good things".
"Bottom line is, check this out: Stevie Wonder knows my name - and the brother just put me in the Hall of Fame."
Image: Withers was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Stevie Wonder
Paying tribute, Paul Williams, president and chairman of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, said: "We lost a giant of songwriting today.
"Bill Withers' songs are among the most treasured and profound in the American songbook - universal in the way they touch people all over the world, transcending genre and generation.
"He was a beautiful man with a stunning sense of humour and a gift for truth."
Withers is survived by his wife, Marcia, and children, Todd and Kori.


skynewsus--2020-04-03--Robert F Kennedy's granddaughter and her son missing after kayak incident

A search has been launched for the daughter and a grandson of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend , the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy , after a canoe they were using in the Chesapeake Bay did not return to shore .
The missing relatives were identified as Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean , 40 , and McKean 's eight-year-old son , Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean .
Maryland governor Larry Hogan said he had spoken to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend about her missing relatives .
Ms Kennedy Townsend , who served two terms as Maryland 's lieutenant governor , is the eldest daughter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the US , who was assassinated in 1968 .
The search began on Thursday after the state Natural Resources Police responded to a report of two people on a canoe in the Chesapeake Bay who appeared to be in trouble after being hit by strong winds .
A statement from the agency said they may have been paddling the canoe from a home in Shady Side , Maryland , to retrieve a ball and could not paddle back to shore .
An overturned canoe matching the one used by the missing people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said .
The Maryland State Police , US Coast Guard and local police and fire departments have joined the search .

The search for the daughter and a grandson of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy, is being treated as a recovery mission.
Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and her eight-year-old son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean, are believed to have died after a canoe they were using in Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis in Maryland did not return to shore.
In a statement Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said: "With profound sadness, I share the news that the search for my beloved daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery."
Image: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend served two terms as Maryland's lieutenant governor
Ms Kennedy Townsend, who served two terms as Maryland's lieutenant governor, is the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy, former attorney general of the US, who was assassinated in 1968.
Maryland governor Larry Hogan said: "I reached out to and spoke with Lt. Gov. Townsend this morning and on behalf of the people of Maryland I expressed our most heartfelt sympathies and prayers to her and to her entire family during this difficult time."
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy III, McKean's cousin, tweeted on Saturday morning: "We love you Maeve. We love you Gideon. Our family has lost two of the brightest lights. Grateful for the prayers. Hold your loved ones tight."
The search for the mother and son began on Thursday after the state Natural Resources Police responded to a report of two people in a canoe in Chesapeake Bay who appeared to be in trouble after being hit by strong winds.
Image: Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968
A statement from the agency said they may have been paddling the canoe from a home in Shady Side, Maryland, to retrieve a ball and could not paddle back to shore.
An overturned canoe matching the one used by the missing people was found on Thursday night, it added.


skynewsus--2020-04-03--How one New York hospital is coping at the epicentre of crisis

From the moment we approach Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn , there are people everywhere .
Doctors and nurses spilling out on to the streets , intensely huddled for snatched conversations , rushing between a triage tent on the pavement and an extremely busy ER room dealing with the coronavirus pandemic .
The ambulances keep coming - the sound of sirens a constant theme .
Inside Brooklyn 's largest hospital , Dr Eitan Dickman , vice chair of emergency medicine , tells me they have had to rapidly adapt to an overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care units .
`` We 've opened up new medical units in order to accommodate for this increased demand of patients who are coming in so ill. '' They have already expanded their capacity by 50 % and they are prepared to do it by 250 % .
There are normally 17 beds in the room we are in .
Today , there are 32 patients , and the doors constantly swing open with new arrivals .
The sound of heart monitors punctuate the air , and there is the coarse clunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope with the deluge .
And then there is the patients , many elderly - but some appear to be in their thirties too - all clearly struggling to breathe .
Most have masks on to help get oxygen in .
`` Really the main effect that we 're seeing , '' says Dr Dickman , `` is a significant effect on impairing the lungs ability to provide the oxygen that the body needs .
`` And then it spreads .
It affects the heart .
It affects the kidney .
`` Ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' New York State has become the epicentre for the COVID-19 pandemic in the US .
At the time of writing , 92,381 have tested positive for the virus , and 13,383 people have been admitted to hospital .
Every day , the death toll reaches a new grim milestone - it currently stands at 2,373 .
As a team operating at the epicentre of this crisis , we have sadly become used to seeing bodies brought out on gurneys in the street and loaded into refrigerator trucks .
It is a painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premier medical capitals of the world , and a searing symbol of just how intensely COVID-19 has engulfed this city .
The virus does not discriminate and in this city of extremes , it is a brutal equaliser .
`` It affects people from all demographics and even people who are who are still intubated for potentially weeks on end if they end up very , very ill. Chronically ill , '' Dr Dickman says .
Elsewhere in the city , there 's a dire lack of personal protective equipment - some terrified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask to re-use what they are given .
They say it 's a risk to them and to the people they 're trying to treat .
But not at Maimonides .
They appear to have acted quickly , prepared and organised well and currently say they have enough supplies .
But they are keeping a close eye on the situation - they know it 's still at week or more away from the peak of the pandemic and it will certainly put pressure on their system .
It 's striking to see up-close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I look , I can see groups of doctors and nurses surrounding each patient .
It is a daunting climate even for the most experienced .
`` I 've seen the sickest people I 've ever seen in my life , '' his colleague tells me .
`` Everyone is really pushing themselves to the limit to try and take care of these patients , '' Dr. Dickman adds .
They 're learning on the job about COVID-19 and it 's a sharp and unforgiving learning curve .
He says : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are no classic symptoms .
`` Often times people will have respiratory complaints , but sometimes people had abdominal pain , which did n't make you think that they would have something related in their lungs , but they ended up ultimately being diagnosed . ''
Those that do make it he says , are in for a `` very rock road to recovery '' .
Everyone in this room is taking a risk .
Frontline medical staff are being exposed to COVID-19 on a daily basis .
As a team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metre ( 6ft ) distance rule throughout - we know the air is full of the virus .
As we leave the room , we start the process of removing our protective equipment - doffing as they call it .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker It is an anxiety-inducing protocol we have to follow .
One misstep - we are told - and we can easily expose ourselves to the virus .
There are goggles , gloves , N95 masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have been told to establish a clean area to dispose of it all , disinfect the camera equipment and avoid any cross-contaminating by touching each others items .
As a team , my producer , Emily Purser Brown , and cameraman Guy Siggers , have to keep a close eye on each other .
We have been spending our days watching each others behaviour - making sure we are not getting too close to anyone , that we do not touch our faces , that we are constantly washing our hands .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all look visibly shaken .
We have just witnessed a packed room of people struggling to survive , and I can still hear the whir of the machines .
After four weeks spent reporting on the virus , the reality of what it can do to the body has really hit us .
The emergency room was packed with people our parents ' age .
I recently spent a month in London on an ICU ward after my mother-in-law had severe complications following heart surgery .
It was traumatic and deeply upsetting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she miraculously pulled through .
But here , they can not have relatives standing by their bedside to encourage them .
Everyone is alone - it is too risky to have visitors at the hospitals .
It is a horrifying thought .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker I feel in awe of the medical professionals we have met at Maimonides Hospital .
I have never seen a more kinetic , demanding and surreal situation .
As we walk to the car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck parked , ready to carry the bodies of the dead .
But we know , the doctor and nurses inside are doing everything they can , adjusting rapidly to a dynamic and unpredictable situation with bravery and dexterity , to stop anyone getting there - to save as many lives as possible .

From the moment we approach Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, there are people everywhere.
Doctors and nurses spilling out on to the streets, intensely huddled for snatched conversations, rushing between a triage tent on the pavement and an extremely busy ER room dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Image: New York State has become the epicentre of COVID-19 in the US
The ambulances keep coming - the sound of sirens a constant theme.
Patient after patient arrives with breathing problems.
Inside Brooklyn's largest hospital, Dr Eitan Dickman, vice chair of emergency medicine, tells me they have had to rapidly adapt to an overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients.
Image: Dr Eitan Dickman is vice chair of emergency medicine at the Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn
"We have opened up a new ICU, new intensive care units.
"We've opened up new medical units in order to accommodate for this increased demand of patients who are coming in so ill."
Image: Patient after patient arrives with breathing problems at the hospital
They have already expanded their capacity by 50% and they are prepared to do it by 250%.
There are normally 17 beds in the room we are in.
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Today, there are 32 patients, and the doors constantly swing open with new arrivals.
The sound of heart monitors punctuate the air, and there is the coarse clunk of oxygen ventilators being carried through to cope with the deluge.
And then there is the patients, many elderly - but some appear to be in their thirties too - all clearly struggling to breathe.
Most have masks on to help get oxygen in.
Image: Workers fighting the virus at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn
"Really the main effect that we're seeing," says Dr Dickman, "is a significant effect on impairing the lungs ability to provide the oxygen that the body needs.
"And then it spreads. It affects the heart. It affects the kidney.
"Ultimately unfortunately often taking the ultimate toll."
New York State has become the epicentre for the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.
At the time of writing, 92,381 have tested positive for the virus, and 13,383 people have been admitted to hospital.
Every day, the death toll reaches a new grim milestone - it currently stands at 2,373.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:10 Trump warns of 'very painful two weeks'
As a team operating at the epicentre of this crisis, we have sadly become used to seeing bodies brought out on gurneys in the street and loaded into refrigerator trucks.
It is a painful, incongruous sight in one of the premier medical capitals of the world, and a searing symbol of just how intensely COVID-19 has engulfed this city.
The virus does not discriminate and in this city of extremes, it is a brutal equaliser.
"It affects people from all demographics and even people who are who are still intubated for potentially weeks on end if they end up very, very ill. Chronically ill," Dr Dickman says.
Elsewhere in the city, there's a dire lack of personal protective equipment - some terrified nurses forced to make their own or ask to re-use what they are given.
Image: The US has almost 260,000 cases of the virus
They say it's a risk to them and to the people they're trying to treat.
But not at Maimonides.
They appear to have acted quickly, prepared and organised well and currently say they have enough supplies.
But they are keeping a close eye on the situation - they know it's still at week or more away from the peak of the pandemic and it will certainly put pressure on their system.
It's striking to see up-close how this virus sucks resources.
Everywhere I look, I can see groups of doctors and nurses surrounding each patient.
It is a daunting climate even for the most experienced.
"I've seen the sickest people I've ever seen in my life," his colleague tells me.
"Everyone is really pushing themselves to the limit to try and take care of these patients," Dr. Dickman adds.
They're learning on the job about COVID-19 and it's a sharp and unforgiving learning curve.
He says: "We're finding out more and more that there are no classic symptoms.
"Often times people will have respiratory complaints, but sometimes people had abdominal pain, which didn't make you think that they would have something related in their lungs, but they ended up ultimately being diagnosed."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:16 New York families unable to say goodbye
Those that do make it he says, are in for a "very rock road to recovery".
Everyone in this room is taking a risk.
Frontline medical staff are being exposed to COVID-19 on a daily basis.
As a team, we make sure we observe the two metre (6ft) distance rule throughout - we know the air is full of the virus.
As we leave the room, we start the process of removing our protective equipment - doffing as they call it.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
It is an anxiety-inducing protocol we have to follow.
One misstep - we are told - and we can easily expose ourselves to the virus.
There are goggles, gloves, N95 masks and other protective clothing to take off.
We have been told to establish a clean area to dispose of it all, disinfect the camera equipment and avoid any cross-contaminating by touching each others items.
As a team, my producer, Emily Purser Brown, and cameraman Guy Siggers, have to keep a close eye on each other.
We have been spending our days watching each others behaviour - making sure we are not getting too close to anyone, that we do not touch our faces, that we are constantly washing our hands.
As we get in car, we all look visibly shaken.
We have just witnessed a packed room of people struggling to survive, and I can still hear the whir of the machines.
After four weeks spent reporting on the virus, the reality of what it can do to the body has really hit us.
The emergency room was packed with people our parents' age.
I recently spent a month in London on an ICU ward after my mother-in-law had severe complications following heart surgery.
It was traumatic and deeply upsetting, but eventually, surrounded by family, she miraculously pulled through.
But here, they cannot have relatives standing by their bedside to encourage them.
Everyone is alone - it is too risky to have visitors at the hospitals. It is a horrifying thought.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
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I feel in awe of the medical professionals we have met at Maimonides Hospital.
I have never seen a more kinetic, demanding and surreal situation.
As we walk to the car park, we suddenly see the refrigerator truck parked, ready to carry the bodies of the dead.
But we know, the doctor and nurses inside are doing everything they can, adjusting rapidly to a dynamic and unpredictable situation with bravery and dexterity, to stop anyone getting there - to save as many lives as possible.


skynewsus--2020-04-03--Trump urges Americans to wear face masks but says he 'doesn't want to'

Donald Trump has urged Americans to wear face masks in public to help fight the spread of coronavirus - but insisted he will not follow suit because `` he does n't want to '' .
Despite the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , the president said he had no intention of following the advice himself , adding : `` I 'm choosing not to do it . ''
Mr Trump said he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders .
`` It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` I just do n't want to wear one myself . ''
The new guidance has raised fears that it could cause a sudden run on masks if Americans turn to private industry to meet the expected surge in demand during the COVID-19 crisis .
Mr Trump and other administration officials sought to minimise any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and a variety of homemade coverings were perfectly acceptable .
Federal officials stressed that surgical masks and N95 respirators should be left for those on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the infection .
Friday 's announcement capped an evolution in messaging from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been confusing .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker This was evident as first lady Melania Trump tweeted : `` As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously . ''
The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies , but it is not clear if anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves .
It is believed the recommendations are a bid to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy , which could infect areas that so far have been mostly spared .
Under previous guidance , only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should `` STOP BUYING MASKS '' and said they were not effective in protecting the general public .
On Monday , he noted that the World Health Organisation does not recommend masks for healthy members of the population .
Three days later , he tweeted that though there remains `` scant '' evidence that wearing a mask , especially improperly , can protect the wearer , `` emerging data suggests facial coverings may prevent asymptomatic disease transmission to others '' .

Donald Trump has urged Americans to wear face masks in public to help fight the spread of coronavirus - but insisted he will not follow suit because "he doesn't want to".
Despite the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the president said he had no intention of following the advice himself, adding: "I'm choosing not to do it."
Mr Trump said he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders.
"It's a recommendation, they recommend it," he said.
"I just don't want to wear one myself."
Image: New guidance says Americans should wear face masks in public
The new guidance has raised fears that it could cause a sudden run on masks if Americans turn to private industry to meet the expected surge in demand during the COVID-19 crisis.
Mr Trump and other administration officials sought to minimise any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and a variety of homemade coverings were perfectly acceptable.
Federal officials stressed that surgical masks and N95 respirators should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.
Friday's announcement capped an evolution in messaging from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been confusing.
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Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
This was evident as first lady Melania Trump tweeted: "As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously."
The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies, but it is not clear if anyone is prepared for the potential rush that could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves.
It is believed the recommendations are a bid to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy, which could infect areas that so far have been mostly spared.
Under previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote on Twitter at the end of February that people should "STOP BUYING MASKS" and said they were not effective in protecting the general public.
On Monday, he noted that the World Health Organisation does not recommend masks for healthy members of the population.
Three days later, he tweeted that though there remains "scant" evidence that wearing a mask, especially improperly, can protect the wearer, "emerging data suggests facial coverings may prevent asymptomatic disease transmission to others".


skynewsus--2020-04-03--Robert F Kennedy's granddaughter and her son feared dead after kayak incident

The daughter and a grandson of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend , the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy , are believe to have died after a canoe they were using in the Chesapeake Bay did not return to shore .
The missing relatives were identified as Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean , 40 , and McKean 's eight-year-old son , Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean .
In a statement Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said : `` With profound sadness , I share the news that the search for my beloved daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery . ''
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Maryland 's lieutenant governor , is the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy , former attorney general of the US , who was assassinated in 1968 .
The search began on Thursday after the state Natural Resources Police responded to a report of two people on a canoe in the Chesapeake Bay who appeared to be in trouble after being hit by strong winds .
A statement from the agency said they may have been paddling the canoe from a home in Shady Side , Maryland , to retrieve a ball and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An overturned canoe matching the one used by the missing people was found on Thursday night , the agency said .
: : Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker


skynewsus--2020-04-04--Pink attacks 'travesty' of US testing after contracting COVID-19

Pink has demanded more COVID-19 testing in the US after revealing she contracted the deadly virus .
In an Instagram post , the singer described the illness as `` serious and real '' and said it affects the `` young and old , healthy and unhealthy , rich and poor '' .
She described current testing efforts as a `` travesty '' and urged people to stay at home .
She wants testing to be `` free and more widely accessible '' and has donated a million dollars to two emergency funds .
Pink and her son Jameson , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago , she said .
`` Fortunately , our primary care physician had access to tests and I tested positive , '' the star added .
`` My family was already sheltering at home and we continued to do so for the last two weeks following the instruction of our doctor . ''
They were re-tested a few days ago and are `` now thankfully negative '' .
Turning to testing , she said : `` It is an absolute travesty and failure of our government to not make testing more widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and more widely accessible to protect our children , our families , our friends and our communities . ''
American magazine The Atlantic launched an initiative called the COVID Tracking Project to `` fill a major gap in publicly available testing data '' .
It added : `` No governmental or institutional source is publishing complete testing data - including not just identified cases , but how many people have been tested , and where . ''
In his latest advice to the nation , Donald Trump urged Americans to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so himself because he `` does n't want to '' .
Pink said half of her donation was going to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia `` in honour of my mother , Judy Moore , who worked there for 18 years '' .
She is also giving $ 500,000 ( £407,000 ) to the City of Los Angeles Mayor 's Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund .
The star thanked healthcare professionals who are `` working so hard to protect our loved ones '' , adding : `` You are our heroes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` next two weeks are crucial '' and `` Please .
Stay .
Home '' .

Pink has demanded more COVID-19 testing in the US after revealing she contracted the deadly virus.
In an Instagram post, the singer described the illness as "serious and real" and said it affects the "young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor".
She described current testing efforts as a "travesty" and urged people to stay at home.
Image: Pink and Jameson at an awards show in November
She wants testing to be "free and more widely accessible" and has donated a million dollars to two emergency funds.
Pink and her son Jameson, three, were showing symptoms of COVID-19 two weeks ago, she said.
"Fortunately, our primary care physician had access to tests and I tested positive," the star added.
"My family was already sheltering at home and we continued to do so for the last two weeks following the instruction of our doctor."
They were re-tested a few days ago and are "now thankfully negative".
Turning to testing, she said: "It is an absolute travesty and failure of our government to not make testing more widely accessible.
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"We must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:24 Trump on masks: 'I don't think I'll be doing it'
American magazine The Atlantic launched an initiative called the COVID Tracking Project to "fill a major gap in publicly available testing data".
It added: "No governmental or institutional source is publishing complete testing data - including not just identified cases, but how many people have been tested, and where."
In his latest advice to the nation, Donald Trump urged Americans to wear masks while saying he will not be doing so himself because he "doesn't want to".
Pink said half of her donation was going to the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia "in honour of my mother, Judy Moore, who worked there for 18 years".
She is also giving $500,000 (£407,000) to the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund.
The star thanked healthcare professionals who are "working so hard to protect our loved ones", adding: "You are our heroes!"
She finished by saying the "next two weeks are crucial" and "Please. Stay. Home".