| Trump escalates battle with World Health Organization over coronavirus response Posted: 10 Apr 2020 02:38 PM PDT  Reprising the skeptical tone he has applied to the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, President Trump accused the World Health Organization of helping China to conceal the number of its citizens that have been infected by the coronavirus.
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| Animal shelters say in coronavirus lockdown people are looking for new friends Posted: 10 Apr 2020 03:03 PM PDT  Kelsey Pierce, a musician and songwriter in New York City, had always wanted to foster a dog with her roommate, Allyson Backus, but because of their busy schedules it was never a real possibility. Since all of New York is currently on a stay-at-home order because of the coronavirus pandemic, the pair were finally able to take on a furry friend.
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| The US just became the first country in the world to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours Posted: 11 Apr 2020 02:22 AM PDT  The US reported 2,108 deaths on Friday and passed 500,000 confirmed cases, but White House officials say the speed of the outbreak is easing off.
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| N.J. Sees Peak in Three Days; Johnson Out of ICU: Virus Update Posted: 09 Apr 2020 01:26 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- New York state reported the fewest hospitalizations since the outbreak began even as it recorded the most deaths in a 24-hour period. The top U.S. infectious-disease expert said the final death toll may be lower than earlier estimated.Spain is poised to extend a nationwide lockdown, a step also being considered by Italy. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken out of intensive care and moved back to the main hospital ward.Stocks rallied after the Federal Reserve acted to provide as much as $2.3 trillion in aid, even as huge numbers of Americans again applied for jobless benefits.Key Developments:Global cases top 1.5 million; deaths pass 93,000: Johns HopkinsSpain, Italy to extend lockdowns amid persistent rise in casesCostly CT scans filling virus testing void for U.S. doctorsUBS, Credit Suisse will split payouts for 2019 into two installmentsSouth Korea's CDC says virus may "reactivate" in cured patientsRhode Island Surge; Michigan Deaths Top 1,000 (4:21 p.m. NY)A surge in Rhode Island helped push U.S. coronavirus cases higher Thursday, with infections growing by double-digit percentages in a dozen states.U.S. cases rose 7.5% to 451,491, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. That's below the average 10% daily increase over the week.In New York -- the hardest-hit state -- deaths reached a new high while hospitalizations fell to their lowest level since the crisis started. It reported 799 dead and 200 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours. New cases in the state rose 7.1% to 159,937, eclipsing the numbers in Italy and Spain.New Jersey cases rose 7.6% to 51,027, the fifth-straight day of increases of 10% or less. The state, which has the second-highest number of infections, expects to reach the peak of the outbreak in two to three days.Elsewhere:Rhode Island had the biggest daily increase, with cases rising 41%, to 1,727California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state had a decrease in the number of people with the virus in intensive care units -- 1,132, a 1.9% drop from Wednesday. Newsom asked residents not to interpret the positive news as a trend.Michigan, the state with the third-highest number of cases, hit a grim milestone, with deaths jumping more than 100 to surpass 1,000 in total. Cases increased 5.7% to 21,504.French President Meets Malaria Drug Backer (4:21 p.m. NY)French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Marseille to meet with Didier Raoult, the doctor and researcher who put hydroxychloroquine on the map as a Covid-19 treatment. He stayed at the hospital Raoult heads for more than three hours and was shown the team's latest research.South Africa Extends Lockdown (3 p.m. NY)South Africa extended a nationwide lockdown by two weeks to April 30, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a televised speech. While the nation is at very beginning of a "monumental struggle" against coronavirus, Ramaphosa said evidence shows the lockdown is working. South Africa has 1,934 cases up from 1,845 on Wednesday.N.J. Expects Peak in 2 to 3 Days (2:30 p.m. NY)New Jersey expects to reach the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in two to three days, the state's health commissioner said.At its high point, the state expects 14,400 residents to be hospitalized from Covid-19 and as many as 1,880 patients in intensive care, Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Thursday at a press briefing.New Jersey has about 7,363 residents hospitalized, and 1,523 in ICU, Governor Phil Murphy reported. He also pointed to signs that social distancing is helping to slow the rate of infection across the state.Last week, cases in numerous counties were doubling every three days. Murphy on Thursday pointed to a current map showing no counties with that high rate.Raab Says Too Soon to End U.K. Limits (1:20 p.m. NY)It's too soon for the U.K. to relax the lockdown imposed almost three weeks ago that was set to end Monday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a televised briefing."Deaths are still rising, and we still haven't seen the peak of the virus," he said.U.K. deaths rose by 881 to bring the total to 7,978. Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, warned he expects the number of deaths to increase for "a few weeks."Raab, in charge of the government while Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in critical care with the virus, said the premier is still in intensive care and is making progress: "He's in good spirits."Italy's Deaths, Cases Rise (12:15 p.m. NY)Italy reported a higher number of new coronavirus cases and deaths as the government considers extending a national lockdown.Civil protection authorities reported 4,204 new cases, up from 3,836 a day earlier. Italy registered 610 deaths in the past 24 hours, compared with 542 the day before. Total fatalities reached 18,279.The country's decision to ramp up testing is probably behind the recent pickup, as more previously unreported cases are discovered. Italy conducted almost 100,000 in the past two days.Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is preparing to extend the national lockdown that ends April 13 for another two weeks, said officials who asked not to be identified discussing a confidential issue.N.Y. Hospitalizations Drop (12:10 p.m. NY)New York City reported a record 824 deaths in 24 hours, a grim sign that despite flattening infection curves and lower hospital admissions, the crisis in the largest U.S. city is far from over.Statewide, the rate worsened with 799 new deaths on Thursday, 779 the previous day and 731 the day before that. The city and state take snapshots at different times during the day, which may account for the discrepancy in reporting.At his daily briefing, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported only 200 net new hospitalizations over 24 hours, the lowest number since the crisis broke out. That number had been as high as 1,400. But Cuomo is urging people to keep social distancing practices in place and keep the progress going.Turkey Aids Israel With Medical Gear (11:30 a.m. NY)Turkey approved the sale of medical equipment on humanitarian grounds to Israel, including face masks, protective overalls and sterile gloves. Israel is expected to allow a similar shipment of Turkish aid to reach Palestinian authorities without delay, according to a senior Turkish official in Ankara.Three planes from Israel are expected Thursday at an air base near Incirlik to pick the cargo, said the official, who asked not to be named discussing the sensitive issue. Turkey will donate medical aid for the Palestinians within the next few days, the official said.Israeli authorities weren't immediately available for comment on Thursday, which is a public holiday in the country.Africa Has Chance to Contain Outbreak: WHO (10:40 a.m. NY)Much of the African continent still has a chance to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization said at its weekly Africa briefing. While a few African countries are experiencing a rapid increase in local transmissions, more than 30 nations can still prevent a larger outbreak by testing, contact tracing and isolating patients, the WHO said.Merkel Says Tighter Measures Likely Unnecessary (9:56 a.m. NY)Tighter measures to contain the coronavirus in Germany probably won't be necessary as the slowing spread of the disease gives grounds for "cautious hope," Merkel told reporters in Berlin on Thursday after a cabinet meeting.GE Sees Cash Flow Keeping Pace Despite Hit to Earnings (9:28 a.m. NY)General Electric Co. said its first-quarter cash flow will be in line with expectations even as the outbreak brings profit "materially below" its prior projection. GE withdrew its forecast for the full year.Canada's Curve May Be Flattening (9:17 a.m. NY)Three weeks after the governments of Canada's three most populous provinces told their 28.4 million residents to stay home, the measures appear to be working. The provinces, which have three-quarters of Canada's people, have recorded just 1.2 deaths from Covid-19 per 100,000 residents. That compares with 32 for New York, 10 for Michigan and 6 for Washington.Canada's coronavirus case count has been increasing slower than most countries, said Theresa Tam, the nation's chief public health officer. The number doubles every three to five days. The government expects between 22,580 to 31,850 cases by April 16, which could mean 500 to 700 total deaths, Tam said.Morgan Stanley's CEO Says He Had Virus, Now Recovered (9:10 a.m. NY)Gorman told staff he contracted coronavirus and has since recovered. He had flu-like symptoms last month and tested positive, he said in a message to the bank's employees. Gorman was never hospitalized, self-isolated in his home and has been cleared by his doctor.Fed Announces Plan for Muni, Business Aid; Jobless Claims (8:43 a.m. NY)The steps announced include starting programs to aid small and mid-sized businesses, as well as state and local governments.A total of 6.61 million Americans filed jobless claims in the week ended April 4, according to Labor Department figures released Thursday. That exceeded a median forecast of 5.5 million.Deaths in Sweden Increase Amid Relatively Relaxed Stance (8:41 a.m. NY)Sweden reported 106 more virus-related deaths on Thursday, taking the total to 793, on par with the daily gains reported in the past week. The Nordic country is under scrutiny as it continues to experiment with a laxer policy response compared with the rest of Europe. Restaurants, shopping centers and primary schools all remain open in Scandinavia's biggest economy. Deaths in Sweden continue to outpace its Nordic neighbors, which implemented stricter measures to curb the spread early on, and are now discussing how to lift them.U.S. Virus Fatalities Looking More Like 60,000, Fauci Says (8:10 a.m. NY)"I believe we are going to see a downturn" and projections look "more like the 60,000 than the 100,000 to 200,000," National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases chief Anthony Fauci said in response to an NBC interview question about virus fatality models. Fauci said he thinks the U.S. is starting to see a flattening of the curve in New York. "I don't want to jump the gun on that but I think that is the case," he said.Pfizer to Develop Vaccine by Year-End (8 a.m. NY)Pfizer and BioNTech said they will jointly develop a vaccine for Covid-19, potentially supplying millions of doses by the end of 2020. The two companies plan to jointly conduct the first clinical trials as early as the end of April, assuming regulatory clearance. Clinical trials for the vaccine candidates will initially be in the U.S. and Europe across multiple sites.Earlier, IBio jumped 25% in pre-market trading after reaching an agreement with the Infectious Disease Research Institute to support development of a vaccine for Covid-19. And Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding got an FDA "may proceed" letter to begin a Phase 2 trial of intranasal vazegepant to treat lung inflammation after COVID-19 infection.U.K. PM Johnson Continues to Improve (7:58 a.m. NY)"The prime minister had a good night and continues to improve in intensive care in St Thomas' Hospital," Boris Johnson's spokesman James Slack told reporters. Johnson is "receiving standard oxygen treatment," Slack said. U.K. officials are drawing up plans to extend the lockdown and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee at 3:30 p.m.World Hunger Could Double (7:56 a.m. NY)The number of people going hungry around the world could double in just a few months as the pandemic wreaks havoc on food supplies and hurts incomes, according to a group of major food companies, industry bodies and academics. The number of those suffering from chronic hunger may surge from about 800 million.Charity group Oxfam had earlier warned the economic hit from coronavirus threatens to put more than half a billion people into poverty unless countries take action to cushion the blow.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Faulty masks. Flawed tests. China's quality control problem in leading global COVID-19 fight Posted: 10 Apr 2020 10:18 AM PDT  Chinese companies producing faulty testing kits and masks are marring Beijing's attempts to assert leadership in the fight against the coronavirus.
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| IMF lends $191.8 million to North Macedonia to soften coronavirus blow Posted: 10 Apr 2020 04:11 PM PDT |
| Army's Seattle Field Hospital Closes After 3 Days, Without Treating a Single Patient Posted: 10 Apr 2020 09:56 AM PDT  The field hospital set up by the Army in Seattle's pro football stadium is shutting down without ever seeing a patient.
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| Exclusive: Russia collecting intelligence on U.S. supply line failures amid coronavirus crisis, DHS warns Posted: 10 Apr 2020 04:05 PM PDT  Russian spies are using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to collect intelligence on U.S. supply lines, which have struggled to provide sufficient medical equipment, according to an intelligence report issued earlier this week by the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Yahoo News.
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| Biden pledges to lower Medicare age and reduce some student debt in olive branch to Sanders supporters Posted: 09 Apr 2020 02:16 PM PDT  Former Vice President Joe Biden is reaching out to Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) supporters, just a little bit.Sanders suspended his 2020 run on Wednesday, though he pledged to keep collecting delegates and fighting for his progressive platform. So in an effort to win over Sanders' backers, Biden adopted a lighter version of some of Sanders' policies Thursday, pledging to lower the age of Medicare eligibility and forgive some student debt.In a Thursday blog post, Biden first promised he'd let Americans receive Medicare benefits once they turned 60, a small step down from the current eligibility age of 65. This "reflects the reality that, even after the current crisis ends, older Americans are likely to find it difficult to secure jobs," Biden wrote, though he was sure to point out that "those who prefer to remain on their employer plans would be permitted to do so." Sanders' health care plan, famously known as Medicare-for-all, would swap all private insurance to a universal public plan.Biden also adopted Sanders' and Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) plans to forgive student loan debt, albeit with several restrictions. Biden would "forgive all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for debt-holders earning up to $125,000," he said in the blog post. "Senator Sanders and his supporters can take pride in their work in laying the groundwork for these ideas," Biden finished in his post, though some Sanders backers weren't totally happy with Biden's proposals.More stories from theweek.com Trump's obsession with hydroxychloroquine is an encapsulation of his presidency Sting, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots perform 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' remotely, creatively A federal program promised small businesses up to $2 million in loans. Now it's maxing out at $15,000.
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| Almost Everything on Levi’s Site is 40 Percent Off Posted: 10 Apr 2020 03:52 PM PDT |
| Navy admiral admits that morale has taken a hit after USS Theodore Roosevelt's coronavirus outbreak and commander firing Posted: 10 Apr 2020 07:35 PM PDT  "There was lots of anxiety about the virus," US Navy Vice Adm. Bill Merz reportedly said.
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| Boris Johnson walking in hospital as UK sees record death toll Posted: 10 Apr 2020 10:56 AM PDT  Prime Minister Boris Johnson was able to walk in hospital on Friday some 24 hours after leaving intensive care treatment for COVID-19, as Britain recorded nearly 1,000 daily deaths from the virus for the first time. "The Prime Minister has been able to do short walks, between periods of rest, as part of the care he is receiving to aid his recovery," a Downing Street spokesman said. Johnson left intensive care at London's St Thomas' Hospital on Thursday evening, three days after being admitted due to his then-worsening condition.
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| Ecuador buckles under virus, broken oil lines and old debt Posted: 10 Apr 2020 02:55 PM PDT  Ecuador's President LenÃn Moreno unveiled an emergency economic plan Friday aimed at rescuing the South American nation hard hit by the new coronavirus and then dealt a second blow when two large pipelines broke, halting critical crude exports. Moreno in a nationwide broadcast urged the nation to come together, saying that Ecuador's massive foreign debt he inherited from past governments will have to be renegotiated, while large businesses earnings over $1 million annually will have to contribute 5% of their profits. "This economic emergency is unprecedented in the recent history of this country," Moreno said.
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| 'We've taken nothing off the table': US Defense Secretary open to reinstating fired navy captain who sent letter asking for coronavirus help Posted: 10 Apr 2020 03:27 AM PDT  Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he would consider reinstating US Navy Captain Brett Crozier, who was relieved of duty from the USS Theodore Roosevelt after sending a letter requesting the ship be evacuated over a spreading coronavirus infestation on board."We've taken nothing off the table," Mr Esper told CBS News. "My inclination is always to support the chain of command, and to take the recommendations seriously."
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| Moscow mayor warns city of 'serious test' as coronavirus numbers climb Posted: 10 Apr 2020 12:43 AM PDT  The mayor of Moscow urged residents of the capital to brace for a "serious test" from the new coronavirus and said the city would introduce a system of permits for movement to help enforce a lockdown, as infection numbers shot up across Russia. The country reported 1,786 new cases, bringing its tally to 11,917, even as Moscow and many other regions neared the end of their second week in a state of lockdown aimed at halting the contagion.
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| 'We're so slammed right now': Texas' abortion ban is sending women scrambling to clinics in other states during a pandemic Posted: 10 Apr 2020 04:08 PM PDT  Texas' ban on most abortions during the coronavirus pandemic may well wind up before the Supreme Court.
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| On post-COVID-19 reopening, Trump weighs 'biggest decision of my life' Posted: 10 Apr 2020 01:58 PM PDT  President Trump said Friday that determining when it will be safe to drop social distancing guidelines to stop the spread of the coronavirus is "the biggest decision I've ever had to make."
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| Italy and Austria share a border, but while one nation grapples with crippling coronavirus deaths, the other is preparing to lift its lockdown Posted: 09 Apr 2020 02:34 PM PDT  Despite announcing "a step-by-step resurrection" of Austria's economy, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said, "We are not out of the woods."
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| Rare look at stockpile handouts shows which states got ventilators, masks amid coronavirus Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:02 AM PDT  A federal report gives the nation its closest look yet at how the secretive Strategic National Stockpile distributed supplies amid the coronavirus.
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| Yemen's Houthi rebels sentence 4 reporters to death Posted: 11 Apr 2020 04:26 AM PDT  A court run by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday sentenced four journalists to death after their conviction on spying charges, their defense lawyer said. The four were among a group of 10 journalists who were detained by the Iran-backed rebels and accused of "collaborating with the enemy," in reference to the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, lawyer Abdel-Majeed Sabra said. Sabra identified the four who were sentenced to death as Abdel-Khaleq Amran, Akram al-Walidi, Hareth Hamid and Tawfiq al-Mansouri.
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| Iran's virus, sanctions-hit economy slowly reopens Posted: 11 Apr 2020 07:58 AM PDT  Iran allowed small businesses outside the capital to reopen Saturday, arguing the sanctions-hit economy in the country with the deadliest coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East cannot stay in lockdown. Iranians in several provinces reported a significant increase in cars on the roads as people went back to work, as some said the government's relaxation of measures was sending mixed messages.
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| India to export wheat to Afghanistan, Lebanon in diplomatic deals Posted: 10 Apr 2020 06:59 PM PDT  India will export 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan and 40,000 tonnes of the grain to Lebanon in diplomatic deals, the Indian farm minister said on Friday. Since India has produced more wheat than it consumes, New Delhi has decided to export the grain to Afghanistan and Lebanon after receiving requests from the two countries, Narendra Singh Tomar said in a Tweet. The Indian government has asked the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd, a farmers' cooperative, to supply wheat to Afghanistan and Lebanon under a government-to-government deal, Tomar said.
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| Recovered coronavirus patients test positive again in blow to immunity hopes Posted: 10 Apr 2020 09:17 AM PDT  South Korea reported on Friday that 91 recovered coronavirus patients have tested positive for the disease again, raising questions over health experts' understanding of the pandemic. The prospect of people being re-infected with the virus is of international concern, as many countries are hoping that infected populations will develop sufficient immunity to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic. The reports have also prompted fears the virus may remain active in patients for much longer than was previously thought. Korean health officials reported Friday that 91 patients thought to have been cleared of the virus had tested positive again, up from 51 people on Monday. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced it had sent a team to the city of Daegu, the worst hit area, to investigate why patients there were testing positive again.
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| Disillusionment grows over Trump's coronavirus briefings Posted: 09 Apr 2020 01:34 PM PDT  The Wall Street Journal becomes the latest news outlet to criticize President Trump's performances at the daily coronavirus task force briefings.
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| 10 Cosmic Close Calls That Changed Spaceflight Posted: 11 Apr 2020 06:46 AM PDT |
| Experts warn that there is no proof the coronavirus will stop spreading in warmer weather Posted: 09 Apr 2020 02:57 PM PDT  A recently released report indicates that warmer weather won't have a significant impact on the coronavirus.
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| Coronavirus has killed scores of Mexicans in New York. Their families are fighting to bring them home Posted: 11 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT  At least 150 Mexican citizens in the New York City area infected with the coronavirus have died. The crisis has made it nearly impossible to send home their bodies.
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| Why Africa's coronavirus outbreak appears slower than anticipated Posted: 11 Apr 2020 09:40 AM PDT  When Africa's first case of coronavirus was detected in Egypt in February, the rest of the continent prepared for the brunt of a pandemic that has engulfed Europe and spread to the United States, infecting more than 1.6 million worldwide. Health experts warned of the devastation the deadly virus could cause in Africa, where most hospitals are desperately short of equipment and trained staff. Coronavirus has since spread to 52 African countries, but despite a steady rise in the number of confirmed cases, the continent continues to lag behind the global curve for infections and deaths.
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| Italy's daily coronavirus death toll and new cases push higher Posted: 11 Apr 2020 09:06 AM PDT |
| Pentagon May Relocate One of its 2 Navy Hospital Ships Posted: 10 Apr 2020 02:41 PM PDT  It is working with FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services to determine the next virus hot spots.
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| Footnotes indicate FBI knew of risk of disinformation in Steele dossier Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:23 PM PDT  The FBI was warned sections of the controversial Steele dossier could have been part of a "Russian disinformation campaign to denigrate U.S. foreign relations," according to the footnotes.
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| Trump news: President says American money built China in scathing attack as he threatens WHO funding in coronavirus briefing Posted: 10 Apr 2020 10:20 AM PDT  Donald Trump continued to assure Americans living under stay-at-home orders that the US economy will soon see a "big bounce" — despite an unprecedented number of families now seeking emergency relief from food banks across the country and record unemployment claims this week.More Americans have died of coronavirus this week than in the entire Iraq War, which claimed the lives of more than 4,500 US troops between 2003 and 2011. Mr Trump, frequently describing himself as a "war-time president," now is faced with a daily death toll that has eclipsed that of both world wars.
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| The US needs masks to fight coronavirus, but supplies from China fell as demand rose Posted: 10 Apr 2020 08:23 AM PDT  Just as medical workers need face masks more than ever to fight coronavirus, imports dropped. Why can't America get enough?
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| Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and wife to get divorced Posted: 11 Apr 2020 08:39 AM PDT  Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and his wife, Sheena Greitens, are divorcing, the couple announced on social media Saturday, nearly two years after Greitens resigned amid accusations that he took a compromising photo of a woman without her consent during a 2015 extramarital affair. Greitens was a rising Republican star after his 2016 election — a charismatic former Navy SEAL officer and Rhodes Scholar with presidential ambitions.
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| 'There are two pandemics': Chicago's gun violence persists amid lockdown Posted: 11 Apr 2020 06:05 AM PDT  Shootings and murders have remained fairly consistent during shelter-in-place, with the city registering more shootings in March than the previous year * Coronavirus – live US updates * Live global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageThe coronavirus pandemic has forced Chicago into lockdown, closing restaurants, bars, stores and even its celebrated lakefront. But the crisis hasn't slowed the city's devastating gun violence epidemic.While crime overall has ticked down slightly amid shelter-in-place orders from local leaders, shootings and murders have remained fairly consistent so far, with the city registering more shootings in March this year than the previous year.During the first weekend of April, two were killed and 18 were wounded, mostly on the city's predominantly black and brown South and West Sides. On Tuesday, as unseasonably warm temperatures in Chicago rose into the 80sF (27C), the city endured its most violent day of 2020, with at least 21 shot – including a five-year-old girl – and six killed."Violence of any kind is never acceptable," the mayor, Lori Lightfoot, said at a news conference this week decrying the violence. "But the fact that this is especially urgent right now as our ability to treat all Chicagoans is being stretched to the breaking point, we cannot allow this to happen and we will not allow this to happen."The ongoing violence in America's third-largest city puts additional strain to a healthcare system struggling to combat the novel coronavirus – and could be exacerbated by the pandemic that has dramatically altered life in the city for the foreseeable future.default "Anger, frustration and depression doesn't get put on hold while there's a pandemic going on," said Pastor Michael Pfleger of St Sabina, on the city's South Side. "It's still there, and it's heightened right now. All it does is heighten the reality of the neglect."The coronavirus has brought to the fore the existing racial disparities in Chicago, with black residents representing a majority of Covid-19 deaths in the city and Cook county. Experts fear that the health and economic impacts of the pandemic may worsen the structural conditions that feed the violence issues, compounding the city's already pronounced race and class inequalities."I think there's going to be a lasting impact on this, even beyond the direct public health impact of Covid," said Max Kapustin, senior researcher at the University of Chicago Crime Lab.The continued violence comes as hospitals in Chicago, like New York and other communities across the US that have been hit hard so far by the outbreak, grapple with a pandemic that has stretched their limited resources.Illinois's governor, JB Pritzker, has warned that intensive care unit beds are filling up quickly and that the state needs more ventilators, as the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases here rises above 15,000 and its death toll nears 500."Every one of those beds, every one of those ER beds, taken up by a gunshot victim could be somebody's grandmother, somebody with pre-existing conditions, somebody that is in danger of losing their lives because of the pandemic," Charlie Beck, the city's interim police chief, said in a news conference with Lightfoot."There are two pandemics in Chicago," Beck said, "and only one is virus-induced."> Anger, frustration and depression doesn't get put on hold while there's a pandemic going on> > Pastor Michael PflegerAt Mount Sinai hospital in Douglas Park on Chicago's West Side, one of the busiest trauma centers in the country, the dueling crises of Covid-19 and gun violence have stretched staff and resources.Even for longtime medical professionals at the facility on the frontline of the city's violence epidemic, the coronavirus pandemic has been shocking."I'm amazed by it," said Michele Mazurek, chief nurse officer and vice-president of patient care services. "We're used to trauma patients here. Covid is almost like its own trauma itself."The continued gun violence has forced the hospital to put into place its surge plan, with educators, nurse practitioners and Mazurek herself providing patient care at the hospital."The influx sometimes is incredible," Mazurek said. "It is stressing on our emergency room."Mount Sinai officials said it has been able to maintain a high level of care despite the obstacles, thanks to the efforts of staff. But, they said, the situation has already taken a toll on healthcare workers."I've been a nurse since 1993," Mazurek said. "This has been the hardest experience I've ever lived through."As of Wednesday, Chicago had seen a reported 550 shootings in 2020 – up 64 from last year. That number will probably continue to grow, particularly as the weather warms into the summer months, when violence in the city tends to spike."Unfortunately, the epidemic of gun violence continues to plague us every day, every hour of the day," Lightfoot said on Wednesday. "This level of violence is never acceptable. Never, ever."
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| Teams are retrieving up to 280 bodies a day from NYC homes. Not all of them are counted in the official death tally. Posted: 10 Apr 2020 10:01 AM PDT  Health officials say the actual number of people dying from COVID-19 in New York City is likely far higher than the official daily death tolls show.
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| India to extend world's largest pandemic lockdown for two weeks Posted: 11 Apr 2020 04:51 AM PDT  India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to extend the world's biggest pandemic lockdown for two weeks, state ministers said after talks Saturday on the growing fallout in the country. The three week lockdown is due to end Tuesday. Two states -- Odisha and Punjab -- have already extended the lockdown by around two weeks, but critics say a nationwide lockdown is needed to stop people moving between states and potentially taking the virus with them.
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| Empty pews, empty collection baskets: coronavirus hits U.S. church finances Posted: 11 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT |
| We can't shelter in place forever: How the coronavirus lockdown might end Posted: 10 Apr 2020 04:00 AM PDT  The coronavirus changed our lives. Health experts discuss how we might get back to normal.
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| Trump Rebuffs Democrats’ Bid for More Funds in Stimulus Bill Posted: 10 Apr 2020 12:46 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump repeated his opposition to Democrats' bid to add money for hospitals and localities to his administration's latest $250 billion stimulus plan, deepening the standoff over new efforts to bolster the economy frozen in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic."I'm certainly OK with helping the states and helping the hospitals," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday. The president added that he'd rather do it in the expected next phase of the economic response.Trump said in that measure he'll be seeking spending for infrastructure and a payroll tax moratorium -- both of which face some opposition among Democrats or Republicans in Congress.Democrats have insisted on supplementing the $250 billion for small business loans with $100 billion for hospitals and $150 billion for state and local governments struggling with the pandemic.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi each spoke separately with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Friday. Schumer said Mnuchin agreed to pursue bipartisan talks."There's no reason why we can't come to a bipartisan agreement by early next week," Schumer said in a statement.After Schumer released his statement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted that "I hope Democrats stop blocking more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program very soon. American jobs depend on it."Pressure will be on Congress to approve more stimulus at a time when more than 16 million Americans have lost their jobs over the past three weeks as the country shuts down. The political fallout could be severe if voters place the blame on either party for stalling aid.There still is a question about how quickly Congress could act, with most lawmakers out of town and approval of additional aid needing unanimous support in both the House and Senate. A single objection could derail the process.There had been no immediate negotiations among Schumer, McConnell, Pelosi and other top leaders after Democrats on Thursday rejected McConnell's bid to pass a $250 billion supplement to the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses. Mnuchin had requested approval of the funds by week's end.Pelosi, in talking with Mnuchin Friday, repeated her stance that a new aid package needs to help small businesses in "underserved areas" get access to loans, and that it must include new funds for hospitals and state and local governments, said her spokesman Drew Hammill.Hospitals and localities "are hemorrhaging money and paying for the coronavirus costs," Pelosi said Thursday on CNBC's "Mad Money" program. She said there's "plenty of room for negotiation."Risk of ShortfallIf leaders find a path forward, Monday may be the next chance to quickly approve more aid in the Senate without objection. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to return to Washington until the week of April 20. It's not clear that congressional leaders will keep to that date if most of the country remains shut down.In Thursday's Senate debate, McConnell argued that the original $350 billion small-business program is the only part of last month's massive $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue plan at immediate risk of a shortfall. He accused Democrats of trying to add other categories of funding that could be addressed later in a larger package."We need more funding and we need it fast," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "The country cannot afford unnecessary wrangling or political maneuvering."Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, a co-sponsor of the small business Paycheck Protection Program, objected to the majority leader's proposal. The program hasn't run out of money but others have, Cardin said, adding the small business loan process needs to be streamlined.A little more than half of the $350 billion designated for the small business loan program has been committed in the week since lenders began accepting applications.By Friday morning, about 587,000 applications had been processed totaling more than $151 billion from more than 4,100 lending institutions, according to the Small Business Administration. That amount hasn't been given to businesses yet, but rather is the value of loans registered for lenders to complete the process and disburse funds.Community-Based BanksThe proposal by Pelosi and Schumer also would bolster food assistance and ensure that small businesses are able to borrow from community-based and other financial institutions that serve companies owned by farmers, families, women, minorities and veterans.Democrats want a broad pool of lenders to work with small businesses to prevent some companies from being left behind, she said. To accomplish that, her party wants to ensure that half of the new PPP funds can't be used for loans made by big banks."There is a disparity in access to capital in our country," Pelosi told reporters. "We do not want this tragedy of the coronavirus to exacerbate that disparity or to solidify it."'No Data'Democrats are concerned that businesses with fewer traditional banking ties could miss out, she said."Secretary Mnuchin called and asked for a quarter-of-a-trillion dollars in 48 hours with no data," said Pelosi, adding that Democrats want to "figure out what the numbers are and where they are needed most urgently."Self-Employed Set to Join Virus Plan Already Overrun With DemandThere have been complaints of bigger banks only dealing with their existing customers.Over the past week, borrowers said they were turned away by banks when they didn't already have a lending account. Banks have been wary about quickly approving loans for new customers and blame time-consuming federal rules requiring them to verify customer identity to catch terrorists and money launderers.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Oversight erased, Supreme Court hijacked: Trump turns the presidency into a dictatorship Posted: 10 Apr 2020 11:13 AM PDT  Trump has stripped away the levers of independent oversight until there's nothing left. Our democracy is in the midst of a three-alarm fire.
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| Esper on possibly reinstating Navy captain fired for memo on virus Posted: 10 Apr 2020 07:45 AM PDT  More than 400 crew members on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the coronavirus so far.
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