I could only wish this was an April Fools Day thread but, it’s reality. This is where we are today.
Worldometer:
- The death toll in the U.S. grew by more than 800 on Tuesday.
- The Trump Show painted a very grim reality during yesterday’s briefing and projected 100,000 to 240,000 deaths from the virus, with mitigation.
- New York City’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic passed 1,000 on Tuesday, according to the city’s health department, as officials warned that it could be nearly another week before the outbreak peaked.
- Louisiana reported by far its largest number of new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period Tuesday afternoon, with reported infections and deaths each jumping about 30 percent
- Memos between the White House and the CDC show federal officials are debating whether to recommend that face coverings be routinely worn in public because of increasing evidence that people who are asymptomatic can spread the virus.
- Hawaii has reported its first death from the coronavirus, leaving Wyoming as the only US state without a fatality from Covid-19.
Trump acknowledged Tuesday that Covid-19 is worse than the seasonal flu, despite claiming otherwise multiple times in the past.
“It’s not the flu. It’s vicious,” Trump said of Covid-19 Tuesday while discussing a personal friend of his who is in a coma battling coronavirus.
- The Trump administration has decided against reopening Obamacare enrollment to uninsured Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, defying calls from health insurers and Democrats to create a special sign-up window amid the health crisis.
- California estimates that as many as 3,500 inmates could be released early as part of an ongoing effort to limit crowding in prisons and the spread of coronavirus.
- A Russian plane loaded with medical equipment and protective medical gear was ready to take off for the United States on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, after President Vladimir Putin offered help to Trump.
- Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that the impeachment of Trump distracted the administration’s attention away from the coronavirus crisis.
- Trump says he doesn’t think he would have responded differently to early indications of the novel coronavirus’ spread if he wasn’t being impeached.
“I don’t think I would have acted very differently or I don’t think I would have acted any faster,” Trump said during a White House press briefing.
I think I handled it very well, but I guess it probably did (distract me). I mean, I got impeached. I think, you know, I certainly devoted a little time to thinking about it.”
- As states across the country have pleaded for critical medical equipment from a key national stockpile, Florida has promptly received 100 percent of its first two requests — with President Trump and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis both touting their close relationship.
- States including Oklahoma and Kentucky have received more of some equipment than they requested, while others such as Illinois, Massachusetts and Maine have secured only a fraction of their requests.
- Fact check: Trump again touts anti-malaria drugs without scientific proof:
- Facts First: Trump is right that the drugs have been available for a while, but he’s wrong to imply that they’ve been proven safe for Covid-19 patients. Public health officials have said testing is still needed, and trials are underway.
