- U.S.Yahoo News
Birx warns of coming coronavirus hot spots across the U.S.
Louisiana is poised to become the next epicenter of the coronavirus crisis, White House officials said Thursday, citing new data that shows that 26 percent of the tests for COVID-19 in that state in recent days have come back positive. The New York area remains a “very clear and important hot zone,” Dr. Deborah Birx said at Thursday's briefing of the White House coronavirus task force as she revealed testing statistics on specific states. “What we're seeing finally is testing improving,” said Birx, a renowned veteran of the HIV/AIDS fight who is now serving as the response coordinator for the coronavirus task force.
- BusinessYahoo News
Two years before coronavirus, CDC warned of a coming pandemic
Two years ago, some of the nation's top public health officials gathered in an auditorium at Emory University in Atlanta to commemorate the 1918 influenza pandemic — also known as “the Spanish flu” — which had killed as many as 40 million people as it swept the globe. Implicit was the understanding that while the 1918 pandemic was a singular catastrophe, conditions in the 21st century were ideal for another outbreak. Long before the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, and then soon spread to nearly every country on Earth, the 2018 conference offered proof that epidemiologists at the CDC and other institutions were aware that a new pandemic was poised to strike.
- U.S.Business Insider
'An act of modern piracy': A mask shipment from 3M bound for Germany was reportedly diverted to the US
Koen van Weel/AFP/Getty Images A shipment of 3M protective masks that was bound for Berlin was diverted in Thailand and sent to the US, the Financial Times reported. Andreas Geisel, Berlin's interior minister, told the newspaper that the diversion of the 200,000 masks was "an act of modern piracy." President Donald Trump had criticized 3M for sending masks to countries other than the US, though the company has also increased imports to the US of the critical protective equipment.
- U.S.Reuters
Exclusive: How elite U.S. college students brought COVID-19 home from campus
Forty-four students at the University of Texas at Austin tested positive for the disease after returning from spring break in Mexico, according to a state university spokeswoman. In March, the University of Tampa said five students traveling together during spring break had tested positive. In a statement, Vanderbilt said: "Just as for our peers around the country, COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for our community as we have sought, above all, to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
- U.S.The Daily Beast
‘New York Is in Crisis’: Cuomo Pleads for Help as State Suffers Worst Single-Day Death Toll
More people in New York State have died in the last 24 hours than in most of March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday—but the Empire State, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S., is still struggling to find enough medical equipment to combat the pandemic. “The curve continues to go up,” Cuomo said at a Friday briefing in Albany, adding that, in the last day, the state saw its “highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started.” “New York is in crisis," he said.
- U.S.Associated Press
Navy fires captain who sought help for virus-stricken ship
The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired by Navy leaders who said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the ship's commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, “demonstrated extremely poor judgment” in the middle of a crisis. Modly's decision to remove Crozier as ship commander was immediately condemned by members of the House Armed Services Committee, who called it a “destabilizing move” that will “likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleet's readiness."
- U.S.USA TODAY
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wears 'That Woman from Michigan' T-shirt on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah'
DETROIT – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been a frequent guest on cable news networks during the coronavirus crisis and on Wednesday, she landed on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah." But it wasn't a comedy routine. She used the time on the television show to plead the state's case for needing more personal protection equipment, ventilators and health care professionals who are willing to relocate to southeast Michigan to help ease the hospital overcrowding that is leading to staffing shortages.
PoliticsYahoo News Video3M pushes back at Trump over order to produce more face masks
Manufacturing giant 3M pushed back Friday against criticism from President Trump over production of face masks that are badly needed by American health care workers.
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
27 Best Home Office Decor Ideas to Keep You in the Zone
Work from home and keep your sanity with these decor ideas that will help Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- U.S.Yahoo News
Coronavirus poses special risk to millions of Americans with diabetes
As the worsening coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country, millions of Americans living with diabetes face heightened risks from COVID-19. Around 30 million Americans have diabetes, mostly of the type II (previously called “adult-onset”) variety. A quarter of U.S. adults with diabetes are over 65, an age that has been shown to delineate increased COVID-19 mortality rates.
- PoliticsBloomberg
Biden Says He Spoke to Sanders to Discuss Running Mate Process
It was the first time he has publicly acknowledged private conversations with his only remaining rival in the Democratic primary race. “I am in the process and I've actually had this discussion with Bernie because he's a friend,” Biden said during a virtual fundraiser. Biden said he's likely going to start the process of vetting running mates in mid-April.The Sanders campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The fundraiser was hosted by Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft Corp., and his wife, Kathy Surace-Smith, the senior vice president of Nanostring Technologies Inc. The event was live-streamed, and the Biden campaign said 181 people attended.
- U.S.Business Insider
The US Army warned 2 months ago that the coronavirus could kill as many as 150,000 Americans
Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images The US Army assessed in February that the coronavirus could kill as many as 150,000 Americans, the Daily Beast reported Thursday, citing an unclassified briefing document. The "black swan" or worst-case scenario assessment has become nearly the best-case scenario for the US as the White House warns that the virus may kill 100,000 to 240,000 Americans. The number of coronavirus cases in the US has already topped 200,000, and more than 5,000 people have died.
- PoliticsReuters
Pelosi wants more for small business and individuals in next U.S. coronavirus legislation
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that $350 billion in already-passed coronavirus legislation was not enough for small businesses, and she wants more money in next bill being developed now in the Democratic-run House. "I don't think the 350 is enough for small business," she said on CNBC. Pelosi also called for "another direct payment" to Americans for coronavirus economic relief, in addition to the $1200 payment already approved for individuals making up to $75,000 a year.
- WorldThe Guardian
How coronavirus has halted Central American migration to the US
Border closures and strict lockdowns prompted by the Covid-19 crisis have disrupted the migrant trail through Central America and Mexico, forcing some would-be migrants to postpone their journeys – and stopping many others in their tracks. The result has been a deterrent more effective than any wall Donald Trump could build. Activists across the region have reported a steep decline in the number of migrants coming from Central America since the restrictions were implemented.
BusinessAFPOil rockets as Trump signals end to price war
Oil prices rocketed Thursday, posting the largeset percent increase ever, after US President Donald Trump said Russia and Saudi Arabia planned to end their price war by slashing output. But the initial surge cooled after Russia denied it had spoken with Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest exporter of crude. After Trump tweeted that Saudi and Russia could slash production by up to 15 million barrels, Brent hit $36.29 a barrel, up almost 46 percent, and West Texas Intermediate soared around 35 percent to $27.39.
- U.S.NBC News
Feds distribute thousands of surgical masks, gloves seized by FBI
The federal government said Thursday that it is distributing tens of thousands of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment to medical personnel in New York and New Jersey after seizing the materials earlier this week. The Justice Department said FBI agents discovered the stash during an operation by its Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force. Among the items were 192,000 N-95 masks, 130,000 surgical masks, 598,000 medical grade gloves, as well as surgical gowns, hand sanitizer and spray disinfectant.
- WorldCBS News
"Shoot them dead": Duterte orders police to kill Filipinos who defy coronavirus lockdown
Despite that, many in a Manila slum took to the streets Wednesday to protest a lack of supplies, arguing they had not received any food packs since the lockdown started two weeks ago. "I will not hesitate my soldiers to shoot you," Duterte said in forceful tones Wednesday. On Thursday, as often happens after Duterte makes these sorts of inflammatory public remarks, Filipino officials rushed to insist that the president was simply using hyperbole to communicate the gravity of the situation.
- HealthThe Daily Beast
Dr. Fauci Shuts Down ‘Fox & Friends’ on Coronavirus Cure: ‘We Don’t Operate on How You Feel’
Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci left the hosts of Fox & Friends disappointed and frustrated Friday when he threw cold water on their insistence that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is a game-changing cure for the coronavirus. Citing a recent poll showing that 37 percent of doctors around the world feel the drug is currently the most effective treatment of COVID-19, co-host Steve Doocy added that frequent Fox News guest Dr. Mehmet Oz recently touted a small Chinese study that found the drug had some efficacy in treating the virus. Doocy went on to play a clip of Dr. Oz wondering whether Fauci was impressed with the results of that study.
U.S.USA TODAYDriver who said woman coughed on his bus has died of coronavirus
A Detroit bus driver, who complained and warned in a Facebook video post about the dangers of the coronavirus, has died. Jason Hargrove died Wednesday night of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, according to Glenn Tolbert, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26. Tolbert, reached at home late Thursday, said he also had tested positive hours earlier and felt sick.
- BusinessBloomberg
BofA Prepares for Deluge of Small-Business Loan Applications
“We know for these businesses speed is of the essence,” the bank said in a statement. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company had staff working overnight Thursday to prepare for expected high volumes of applications Friday. The initiative is part of the $2.2 trillion government stimulus package and is aimed at helping small businesses survive the devastating impact of the pandemic.
U.S.Yahoo News VideoBirx: 5 states could be among next coronavirus 'hot spots'
Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, listed several states that could be the next “hot spots” for large numbers of COVID-19 cases, based on how many positive cases they have now.
- LifestylePopular Mechanics
10 Great Deals on Apparel From REI’s 25% off Sale
Act fast to score discounts on Patagonia, Nike, Smartwool, and more. From Popular Mechanics
- BusinessReuters
New York reports deadliest day from coronavirus, makes plea for help
New York suffered its deadliest single day from the novel coronavirus, with 562 additional deaths in the last 24 hours for a total of 2,935 fatalities, by far the most of any U.S. state, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. Cuomo warned that people were "going to die in the near term" due to a lack of ventilators and hospital beds and called for resources from across the United States to be deployed to New York to help it deal with the growing crisis in the state - the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. "New York is in crisis.
- WorldBusiness Insider
China declared whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang a 'martyr' following a local campaign to silence him for speaking out about the coronavirus
An investigation by the Chinese Communist Party found on March 19 that the actions of law enforcement in Wuhan was "irregular" and "improper." "Martyr" is the highest honor the Communist Party of China can bestow on a citizen killed working to serve the country. The country will honor him with three minutes of silence on Saturday.
- PoliticsNBC News
Pelosi eyes another round of checks to families before tackling infrastructure
President Donald Trump has said Congress should next tackle an infrastructure bill, and in recent days, Pelosi has said that the next stimulus bill could include public work projects. But on Friday, she appeared to shift her position by stating that the acceleration of the coronavirus spread demands that lawmakers pass another measure that mirrors the $2 trillion package signed into law last month, including unemployment benefits and small business assistance, and delay infrastructure.
