Good Monday morning.
Here’s what is on the president’s agenda today:
- The president has lunch with the Vice President
- 5:00PM Members of the Coronavirus Task Force hold a press briefing
Here’s my latest at Real Clear Policy: Media is Woefully Irresponsible on Supposed Link Between Vaping & COVID-19
Put it on your to-do list: The latest episode of Happy Hour with Julie and Liz is in the can. Go and listen!
Here’s the latest on the Chinese Virus:
Buckle up, kids, the social distancing has been extended to April 30. “The better you do, the faster this whole nightmare will end,” the President said Sunday . According to CNN, the president said “that modeling shows that the peak of the death rate will likely hit in two weeks. We can expect that by June 1st, we will be well on our way to recovery, we think by June 1st. A lot of great things will be happening.”
Dr. Fauci says the U.S. could have 100K+ Chinese Virus deaths and millions of people infected. Fauci appeared on a Sunday political snuff show and said, “We’re going to have millions of cases,” Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, noting that projections are subject to change, given that the disease’s outbreak is “such a moving target.”
Video of Dr. Fauci telling @jaketapper that "Looking at what we're seeing now, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 cases… excuse me, deaths. I mean, we're going to have millions of cases." #CNNSOTU
These next few weeks could be pretty rough.pic.twitter.com/Vh6xB4Fele
— The Darkest Timeline Numbersmuncher (@NumbersMuncher) March 29, 2020
The FDA has approved chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for emergency use for patients hospitalized with the Chinese Virus. Also, the USDA has also approved a new technology “to sterilize protective masks worn by those treating coronavirus victims.” Battelle, a Columbus-based non-profit, makes a machine that can sterilize up to 80,000 masks a day. The FDA originally only allowed Battelle to decontaminate 10,000 masks a day.
Trump says some hospitals are hoarding ventilators. Well, I don’t blame them, what happens if they need them? Can they get them back? I hope my neighborhood hospital doesn’t give up their ventilators. “We have some healthcare workers, some hospitals … hoarding equipment including ventilators,” Trump said at the White House following a meeting with corporate executives. “We have to release those ventilators — especially hospitals that are never going to use them.” I don’t think so.
Do you rely on Instacart for delivery? I have some bad news for you. “A group called the Gig Workers Collective is calling for a nationwide walk-out Monday. They’ve been asking Instacart to provide workers with hazard pay and protective gear, among other demands.” The company is trying to hire 300,000 more contractors to make deliveries and already has 200,000 contractors working for the company. Instacart says it will make “hand sanitizer available to its full service shoppers.” Did you think you could just use Amazon Prime Now? Not so fast. Amazon workers are also staging a walk out. “Employees are protesting Amazon’s decision to keep the Staten Island warehouse open despite news of a confirmed case of the virus there last week, said Christian Smalls, an assistant manager at the facility who is leading the walkout.” Amazon said they are testing temperatures at their facility sites.
Corona:
Trump spars with CNN reporter when confronted with past remarks
Trump extends federal social distancing guidelines to April 30
Trump Admin Names Gun Makers, Retailers Essential Businesses Nationwide
Florida coronavirus checkpoints screen for motorists from hardest-hit areas
Instacart makes more changes ahead of planned worker strike
State Department says it’s retrieved over 18,000 US citizens stranded abroad amid coronavirus pandemic
A Rhode Island police officer bought groceries for an elderly shut-in who had no food at home
TSA lists airports where 61 screeners tested positive for coronavirus
At least 6 Alabama nursing homes have coronavirus patients, report says
Coronavirus quarantines, stay-at-home orders lead to pollution drop, studies find
These national and state parks are closed amid coronavirus outbreak
Maryland man arrested for breaking coronavirus order, hosting bonfire party
Trump: Coronavirus-fighting supplies have landed at JFK
Here’s the next big problem after New York gets ventilators
Media bias is real and the lack of coverage of these two Trump actions on COVID-19 prove it
Trump boasts White House briefing ratings in attack of ‘Lamestream Media’
Armed vigilantes in Maine chop down tree, block driveway to force neighbor to self-quarantine amid coronavirus pandemic
At least 8 strains of the coronavirus are spreading across the globe
Texas expands quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers
Poland’s coronavirus-crisis election unleashes political warfare
‘That’s Enough’: Trump Attacks, Then Cuts Off PBS Reporter During Coronavirus Briefing
Michigan state lawmaker dies of suspected coronavirus infection
Liberty University students report symptoms that suggest coronavirus: report
Emergency field hospital being built in Central Park for coronavirus patients
Graham: Pelosi comment on Trump is ‘most shameful, disgusting statement by any politician in modern history’
Former FDA commissioner says it’s ‘too early to lift’ coronavirus restrictions
White House coronavirus coordinator: All governors and mayors need to ‘prepare like New York is preparing now’
Experts warned Trump off New York-New Jersey-Connecticut lockdown
Chinese Markets Reopen — And They Still Sell Bats, Dogs And Cats
Sen. Cotton: Chinese government ‘still lying’ about coronavirus as evidence indicates rising death tolls
Kudlow won’t reveal timeline for opening up economy devastated by coronavirus: ‘I don’t know’
Coronavirus Jailbreak: Eight Sex Offenders Freed in Cuomo’s New York
Other morsels:
NY Times called ‘ridiculous’ for labeling Sen. Tom Coburn ‘ultraconservative,’ ‘Dr. No’ in obit
Trump says US will not pay for Prince Harry and Meghan’s security. They say they don’t need the help
Justice Department reviews stock trades by lawmakers after coronavirus briefings
At least 17 reported tornadoes hit Central US during severe weather outbreak
And that’s all I’ve got, not go buy some toilet paper!