Coronavirus Pandemic : The US response

[MenInG]

US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency to help handle the growing outbreak of coronavirus.

The declaration - "two very big words", according to Mr Trump - allows the federal government to tap up to $50bn (£40bn) in emergency relief funds.

The move loosens regulations on the provision of healthcare and could speed up testing - the slow pace of which has been criticised widely.

There are 1,701 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and 40 deaths.

Several US states have taken measures to stem the infections rate, including banning large gatherings, sporting events and closing schools.

The virus originated in China last December, but Europe is now the "epicentre" of the global pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said on Friday, as several European countries reported steep rises in infections and deaths.

Italy has recorded its highest daily toll yet - 250 over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections in the country.

Mr Trump's administration has come under recent scrutiny over its failure to provide Americans with widespread coronavirus testing.

What did Mr Trump announce?
The decision on the state of emergency was announced by Mr Trump in a live address from the White House Rose Garden.

The "next eight weeks are critical," Mr Trump said.

Amongst the measures envisaged as part of the emergency response are:

The US Health Secretary Alex Azar and health officials can waive certain laws and license requirements, giving more flexibility to healthcare providers

Hospitals have been asked to activate their emergency preparedness plans

Up to 500,000 additional coronavirus tests will be available by early next week, though authorities are not recommending tests without clear need; private labs and vaccine developers will be able to provide five million coronavirus tests within the month, though authorities are not recommending tests for those without symptoms

Interest on all student loans is to be waived until further notice as a measure to ease the burden for students as universities and colleges across the country shut their doors

Democrats in Congress and heavily-affected states had been urging Mr Trump to issue the order, which will also allow more people to qualify for government health insurance.

Later on Friday, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she had reached a deal with the White House on a package to assist people affected by the outbreak.

It includes two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, free virus testing for those without insurance and food aid.

Does Trump need a virus test?

Urged again to explain why he hasn't taken a coronavirus test following reports that he has been in the company of people who have tested positive recently, Mr Trump said he had no symptoms and there was no need for a test. But he added that he was likely to have one "fairly soon", anyway.

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began a 14-day self-isolation period on Friday after his wife tested positive.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsanaro has tested negative, despite one of his top aides falling sick recently. Both men had recently met US officials including President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence.

President Trump's travel ban on 26 European countries, which was met with anger and confusion. this week, will go into effect on Friday at midnight EDT (04:00 GMT on Saturday).

What is a national emergency?
The 1988 Stafford Act gives the president alone the ability to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to co-ordinate a national response to "natural catastrophes" within the US.

Donald Trump said "national emergency" were two very big words, but the declaration sounds more dramatic than it is, says the BBC's Anthony Zurcher.

There are currently more than 30 national emergencies in effect. Mr Trump has declared several national emergencies in his presidency, including one last year to redirect military funds to build a southern border wall to prevent illegal immigration.

He has also issued the order to deal with wildfires in California and flooding in the Midwest.

Can we answer your question on the coronavirus?
Type your question here

It marks the first use of the order to fight a pandemic since President Barack Obama issued one to fight the swine flu virus.

President Bill Clinton issued a national emergency to pay for efforts to stop the spread of West Nile virus in the US Northeast.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51882381

 

[MenInG]

A ban on non-Americans travelling from 26 European countries comes into force in the US - BBC

 

[MenInG]

The US is to extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The ban will begin at midnight EST on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday), Vice-President Mike Pence announced.

President Trump's travel ban on 26 European countries, members of the Schengen free movement zone, came into force on Saturday.

Mr Pence also announced that free coronavirus testing would be provided for every American.

Speaking at the same news conference, President Trump said he had been tested himself and expected to get the results in the next 48 hours.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51891662

 

[Slog]

Too late

 

[last_knight]

Too late

Still a Right.

 

[Uzi]

Trump's handling on the crisis was poor at best. I think he said something along the lines of 'keep calm, it will go away'. What an idiot. They were too late in reacting so now he is trying to save face somewhat.

 

[MenInG]

The White House announced Saturday that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

The move is being taken out of an abundance of caution in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesman.

Trump and Pence attended an afternoon news conference at the White House, and Trump said he had his own temperature taken before speaking to reporters.

“It was totally normal,” Trump said. “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have been here. ”

Trump has had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have tested positive for the pandemic virus. On Friday, he declared a state of emergency as schools and workplaces across the country shuttered, flights were canceled and Americans braced for war against the health threat.

Trump spent time last weekend at his private club in Florida with at least three people who have now tested positive.

The Brazilian Embassy in Washington announced late Friday that the country’s chargé d’affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump’s dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and an individual who attended a fundraiser Sunday with Trump, according to two Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.

Trump has been known to flout public health advice — and was eagerly shaking hands during an event Friday — but acknowledged he “most likely” will be tested soon. The White House physician has indicated that Trump’s interactions were low risk and testing was not necessary.

A representative from the White House physician’s office took the temperate of members of the media who were at the White House on Saturday, going around to each person and putting the device to their heads. A reporter with a suspected elevated temperature was not allowed into the briefing room for a news conference with Trump and Pence about the outbreak.

Public health officials say that individuals with a cough and elevated temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher are deemed concerning.

Pence’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, tweeted that according to the White House Medical Unit, the temperature was taken three times over a 15 minute period and all three registered above the 1004. guidelines.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...us-outbreak/story-5HLOBrtiMV1QA3rXVAveMM.html

 

[sjahmed23]

Trump needs to be locked away he shoulda allowed the experts like Fauci run the show from the get go now its too late. What an idiot president we have who is only thinking abiut his reelection and stock market in a crisis where thousands can die and economy is under severe stress. This man is pathetic beyond measure, I hope republicans and his supporters get some sense knocked into them.

 

[Sirris]

From USA to Europe everyone failed to respond at the appropriate time. We all failed. I too was taking the news about the new virus from China too lightly and not looking at the proper info.

 

[ManFan]

This response shows the ineptitude of those in the government.

NYC is almost in complete shutdown and it could have been all avoided to an extent.

 

[moghul]

ER of one of the neighboring hospital is closed as they mismanaged suspected Covid 19 cases, our ER is overwhelmed.

 

[MenInG]

US President Donald Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus, the White House physician has said.

"This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative," Sean Conley said in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Trump underwent a test days after hosting a meeting at his Florida resort with a Brazilian delegation, some of whom have tested positive.

Fabio Wajngarten, an aide to the Brazilian president, was among those later confirmed to have the disease.

"One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, the president remains symptom-free," Mr Conley said.

Mr Trump, aged 73, did not self-isolate after that meeting, saying he had no symptoms.

But after a barrage of further questions during a new conference at the White House, he said he would get tested.

He was checked on Friday, the White House physician said.

"I have been in daily contact with the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and White House Coronavirus Task Force, and we are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation," Mr Conley's statement said.

Official US advice is that people who have contact with a confirmed case should stay at home for 14 days.

The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths.

On Friday, President Trump declared a national state of emergency to release $50bn (£40bn) to fight the spread of the virus.

What about the Mar-a-Lago visit?
Mr Wajngarten, a press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, posted a photograph of himself standing close to Mr Trump.

The Brazilian official tested positive several days after that visit.

Other Brazilians in Mr Bolsonaro's entourage at Mar-a-Lago have since tested positive including lawyer Karina Kufa, Senator Nelsinho Trad and Brazil's ambassador to the US, Nestor Forster.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez - who also met Mr Wajngarten during his US trip - announced on Friday that he had been infected.

The Brazilian delegation also met Mr Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, also present at Mar-a-Lago, has announced that he will self-quarantine "in an abundance of caution".

Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would enter 14 days of self-quarantine after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for the virus.

Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said he was taking advice from doctors and "it was explained to me that as long as I show no symptoms at all there is no value in being tested".

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez tested positive for the virus, the government confirmed.

Officials said they both remained in the prime minister's residence at La Moncloa in Madrid and were doing fine.

Spain is Europe's worst-hit country after Italy.

Meanwhile in the UK, health minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries was diagnosed with the coronavirus earlier this week.

Ms Dorries said she has been self-isolating at home.

Ten more people in the UK have died in the past 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 21.

Last month, Iran's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi was confirmed as being infected.

The minister was earlier seen sweating profusely at a news conference.

Iran is one of the countries worst-hit by the virus, with more than 600 deaths confirmed.

The virus has spread to every province in Iran, and people are fearful that the true scale of the outbreak is even worse than is being disclosed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51893445

 

[MenInG]

US airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe are brought into force.

Long queues formed as travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs.

Earlier, Vice-President Mike Pence said a ban imposed on travel from European nations would be extended to the UK and Ireland on Tuesday.

The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker said the long lines at Chicago's O'Hare airport were "unacceptable".

Passengers are being questioned about their medical histories and checked for symptoms.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said his office was working with airlines to improve screening times.

Some public health experts have noted that waiting in crowded terminals could potentially lead to more people becoming infected with the virus.

On Friday, President Trump declared a national state of emergency to release $50bn (£40bn) to fight the spread of the virus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51895246

 

[LongHorn]

You can imagine how bad the infection probability it in a cramped arrivals area with thousands of travelers waiting for hours......

Even if Trumps reaction was not ideal, the Democrats trying to exaggerate numbers for a political reason are no saints either

 

[Yossarian]

UK Government response

https://youtu.be/HSD1d-6P6qI?t=18

 

[Yossarian]

.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HSD1d-6P6qI?start=18" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[MenInG]

New York's mayor has ordered restaurants, bars and cafes to only sell food on a take-away or delivery basis as the city battles to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Bill de Blasio also moved to close nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert venues.

In a written statement, he said: "This is not a decision I make lightly.

"These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality."

Similarly in Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive order Sunday to close bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues and gyms until at least 31 March.

Mr Garcetti said restaurants will be closed to the public but will be allowed to do takeout and delivery. Supermarkets will remain open.


The decision comes just hours after Donald Trump urged the public to stop hoarding groceries during the coronavirus outbreak, telling Americans to "take it easy" and "relax".

How Italians are coping under lockdown
During a briefing, the president also hailed the "very good news" that the Federal Reserve had slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to a target range of 0% to 0.25%.

US officials have recorded nearly 3,000 COVID-19 cases and 62 deaths linked to the virus.

A new round of restrictions and border closures have been announced globally.

Spain has enforced a nationwide quarantine, while Austria's chancellor said his government was limiting people's movement nationwide.

This came shortly after the country's Tyrol province followed Italy and Spain, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential errands and work.

Neighbouring Slovenia said it would shut down all public transport starting today and planned to shut all but food shops and pharmacies.

Estonia and Latvia confirmed they would close their borders to foreign nationals, except residents, from Tuesday.

Turkey has put aside quarantine beds for more than 10,000 people returning from pilgrimage to Islam's holy sites in Saudi Arabia.

Italy, the worst-hit European country with more than 21,000 infections and 1,400 deaths, wound its nearly week-old lockdown still tighter.

The transport ministry banned passengers from taking ferries to the island of Sardinia, and also banned overnight train trips - which many in the worst-affected north had been taking to reach homes and families in the south.

Nearby Morocco has suspended all international flights.

France, which has reported 4,500 cases and 91 deaths, went ahead with nationwide elections to choose mayors and other local leaders despite a crackdown on public gatherings.

The state of Bavaria in neighbouring Germany, which had reported nearly 3,800 cases and eight deaths nationwide as of Saturday, also went ahead with municipal elections.

There were tough steps being taken in southeast Asia too, with soldiers and police sealing the densely populated Philippine capital Manila from most domestic travellers, in one of the region's most drastic containment measures.

In Indonesia, president Joko Widodo asked all people to work, study and worship from home.

In China, where the virus was first detected, those arriving on overseas flights were routed to a converted exhibition centre for initial checks before being shuttled off to their homes or other quarantine locations.

The virus has infected more than 169,000 people worldwide and killed over 6,500.

China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Spain are the countries with the most cases.

indefinitely due to concerns about the outbreak, with prayers continuing to be held on the sprawling esplanade outside.

Iran said it had nearly 14,000 virus cases and 724 deaths, while Egypt has reported 110 cases, including two fatalities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial on serious corruption charges, which was supposed to begin this week, was postponed for two months because of restrictions on public gatherings.

Guatemala has logged its first fatality from coronavirus as nations in South and Central America ramped up measures to contain the infection, with Panama banning entry of non-resident foreigners and Honduras closing its borders to passenger traffic for a week.

The leaders of Argentina and Peru also announced border closures.

Several African governments have closed borders, cancelled flights and imposed strict entry and quarantine requirements to contain the spread of coronavirus.

South Africa declared a national state of disaster and warned the outbreak could have a "potentially lasting" impact and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.

Kenya suspended travel from any country with reported COVID-19 cases.

In West Africa, Ghana will ban entry from Tuesday to anyone who has been to a country with more than 200 coronavirus cases in the past 14 days, unless they are an official resident or Ghanaian national.

In southern Africa, Namibia ordered schools to close for a month after recording its first two cases.

Djibouti, which has no confirmed case of COVID-19, has suspended all international flights and Tanzania cancelled flights to India and suspended school games.

In other developments:

Globally more than 162,000 are infected and over 6,000 have died
Guatemala logs its first fatality from COVID-19
Italy records 368 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, its biggest one day rise
France is preparing an order that would put the country under partial lockdown to combat the epidemic
Britain will isolate older people "within weeks" and force into quarantine anyone diagnosed with coronavirus
Public Health England (PHE) warned health chiefs the epidemic in the UK could last until spring 2021
Jordan confirms 12 new cases of the coronavirus
More major retailers shut stores in the US including Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon Athletica

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...s-world-reacts-to-spread-of-covid-19-11958145

 

[The Viper]

"We've made the decision to further toughen the guidelines and blunt the infection now."

US President Donald Trump says Americans should be schooled at home and there should not be gatherings of more than 10 people

 

[Nadeemp]

a bit late i would say

 

[King-Misbah]

a bit late i would say

What about the UK? We got BOJO who doesn't seem to care tbh. All schools, offices are still running as usual.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

What about the UK? We got BOJO who doesn't seem to care tbh. All schools, offices are still running as usual.

Time bomb ticking

 

[moghul]

Being at the forefront of the battle field against corona virus in USA, I can tell you that USA's preparation and dealing with this crisis has been a shame, criminal, almost. Everyone in government is now behaving like they never heard of this virus a week ago.

I'm a physician, working in ICU and involved in taking care of some covid 19 positive patients also. So far we have enough ICU beds and ventilators but not sure if we faced any surge , we will be able to handle that. Tests to diagnosed the patients taking too long and there is severe shortage of the protective gears whole seeing a suspected or positive patient.

Nurse are most at risk, they are the ones who spend most time with the patients, far more than us doctors. Even ERs are not prepared. One of the medical resident in our hospital who is showing all the symptoms could not be tested and staying home and is very worried and we don;t know whether he had exposed others or not.

Very concerned at the moment but things are not out of hand, will win this war but the way current administration handled this crisis has been awful, regrettable.

 

[MenInG]

The deadly coronavirus has now hit all 50 states in the US as West Virginia reported its first case of the infection on Tuesday.

Announcing West Virginia's first Covid-19 patient, Governor Jim Justice said: "We knew this was coming."

New York City said it was considering a lockdown similar to one in the San Francisco Bay area.

There have so far been 108 deaths in the US from coronavirus and more than 6,300 confirmed cases nationwide.

Globally, there are about 200,000 cases and nearly 8,000 people have died.

As the Trump administration seeks a $1tn economic stimulus package, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reportedly warned Republican senators privately on Tuesday evening that if Congress failed to act, US unemployment could hit 20% - almost double the jobless rate during the Great Recession after the 2008 financial crisis.

What is New York City considering?
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would decide within two days whether to order the city's 8.5 million residents to "shelter in place".

Such a move could largely confine people to their homes, while allowing them to make necessary trips to buy groceries or medicine, walk a dog or exercise as long as they avoid public interaction.

"It's a very, very difficult decision," Mr de Blasio said. "We've never been here before. I have never heard of anything like this in the history of New York City."

Officials in the San Francisco Bay area have already ordered 6.7 million residents to stay home for all but the most crucial outings until 7 April.

US Vice-President Mike Pence said the White House may call on the US military to establish field hospitals in virus hot spots if requested by state governors.

He told a White House news conference on Tuesday that the Army Corps of Engineers could be asked to set up field hospitals, known as Mash (mobile army surgical hospital) units, or help expand existing hospitals.

Pentagon chief Mark Esper said the US military would make available five million respirator masks and up to 2,000 ventilators to the US health department.

He said the military would also open its 14 certified coronavirus labs to test non-military personnel.

On Tuesday, Florida joined 11 other states in closing bars and restaurants in one of the most subdued St Patrick's Day celebrations the US has marked in peacetime.

Organisers of the Kentucky Derby - America's longest continuously held sports event - postponed the horse race until September.

It was the latest rite of spring to fall from the calendar because of the coronavirus, along with the Masters golf tournament, the March Madness basketball extravaganza and baseball season.

The country's largest enclosed shopping centre, the Mall of America in Minnesota, said it would close until the end of the month.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies were ordered to make fewer arrests to avoid jail crowding where the virus could spread.

Twenty-two people were infected with the respiratory illness at a nursing home in suburban Chicago.

Meanwhile, the US and Canada are reportedly finalising an agreement to suspend non-essential travel between the two countries and are expected to issue a statement in the coming days.

How is President Trump responding?
President Donald Trump - who is seeking re-election in November - told a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon that travel restrictions within the US were on the table.

"You can do a national lockdown," Mr Trump said. "Hopefully, we're not going to need that. It's a very big step."

Trump angers Beijing with 'Chinese virus' tweet
He also defended his tweet on Monday calling the infection the "Chinese virus", which his critics said was racist.

"It did come from China," he told reporters.

Mr Trump also said on Tuesday of the outbreak: "I've felt that it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic."

Last month he struck a more optimistic tone, saying the US coronavirus outbreak "within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51939392

 

[MenInG]

Nevada will shutter all non-essential businesses, including Las Vegas casinos

 

[MenInG]

The White House has defended Ivanka Trump's personal trip to New Jersey last week even as federal guidelines advise Americans to remain at home.

The president's eldest daughter and her family travelled from Washington DC to the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster to celebrate Passover.

"Her travel was not commercial," the White House said. "She chose to spend a holiday in private with her family."

Both the nation's capital and New Jersey are under stay-at-home orders.

Ms Trump, her husband and fellow administration adviser Jared Kushner, and their three children went to "a closed-down facility considered to be a family home", the statement to US media said.

The White House added that the "travel was no different than had she been traveling to/from work", and "the location was less populated than the surrounding area near her home" in Washington.

According to current federal coronavirus guidelines, people should "avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits".

There are currently 653,825 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the nation, with nearly 31,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Washington DC has been under a stay-at-home order since 1 April, with residents told to leave home for "essential" travel only.

New Jersey has been a hotspot for the outbreak, with over 71,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,100 deaths - second to its neighbour, New York, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in the US.

Shortly ahead of her trip, Ms Trump, who is a senior adviser to the president, had told her Twitter followers: "Those lucky enough to be in a position to stay at home, please, please do so."

The day before Passover, 7 April, she also shared a tweet by New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy that asked residents to celebrate health workers by "by staying home for them".

Last month, Governor Murphy called on residents with second homes in the state to avoid travelling until restrictions eased.

The Centers for Disease Control's guidance for the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut region also urges residents to "refrain from non-essential domestic travel".

Last week, Scotland's chief medical officer resigned after similar travel during the pandemic.

Dr Catherine Calderwood had apologised for taking two trips to her second home and initially said she planned to continue in the role, but quit on Sunday.

She had earlier been given a police warning for breaking the lockdown rules after photographs emerged of Dr Calderwood and her family visiting Earlsferry in Fife - more than an hour's drive from her main family home in Edinburgh.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52317673