Trump news: US coronavirus cases pass 11,000 as president promotes vaccine that FDA says isn’t ready
Administration's promised backlog of respirators could take more than a year to reach hospitals
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has boasted of a vaccine to treat the coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases in the US reaches 11,000, saying health officials will "fast-track" treatments. But the Federal Drug Administration said the vaccine was still an estimated "12 months" out as the agency assures that that its product is both "safe and effective".
In New York alone, the number of Covid-19 cases doubled overnight to almost 2,000, prompting mayor Bill de Blasio to call on the president to mobilise the US military.
He told CNN: “I want their medical teams, which are first rate, I want their logistical support, I want their ability to get stuff from factories all over the country where they’re needed most."
As the pandemic spreads, the US markets are taking a significant hit, with the Dow Jones dropping below 20,000 points and unemployment rates escalating.
The president was “too bad” the contagion has spread “because we never had an economy as good as the economy we had ... but we’ll be back”.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has warned against all travel outside the country as the president prodded at reporters at his White House coronavirus briefing and its new social-distancing-friendly seating arrangement, once again prompting critics to demand that health officials deliver those crucial updates.
He said: "We should probably get rid of about, another 75-80 per cent of you .... I'll have just two or three that I like in this room."
The president pointed to one reporter and told them: "You should leave immediately."
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Trump says he doesn't view coronavirus as 'act of god' and laments damage to economy
The president began by again pointedly referring to the disease as the "Chinese Virus" and joking about the media being nicer to him thanks to social distancing.
Here are a few other things he's mentioned so far:
He has also struggled badly with drug names throughout as he bids to reassure the public the government is pursuing a number of options in search of a vaccine.
Meanwhile, House majority leader Steny Hoyer has written to colleagues to say they will not reconvene to vote until the next emergency bill to tackle the outbreak is ready.
Trump announces coronavirus treatment push, despite US being far away from vaccine
Here's John T Bennett on the president's latest briefing.
FDA commissioner hails 'record time for development of a vaccine' as surgeon general calls for blood donors
With the press conference concluding, here are a few more key lines from Pence and the other members of his task force:
US and Europe told to learn from past Asia pandemics to beat coronavirus
As the Chinese city of Wuhan - the global epicentre of the outbreak - reports no fresh cases, countries in west are being urged to follow the tactics deployed in Asia to contain the contagian.
Actress Lana Condor slams ‘racist and xenophobic’ Trump for ‘Chinese Virus’ tweets
Asian Americans are adding their voices to the outcry against the president for attempting to rebrand the disease as Beijing's responsibility, with Lana Chandor, star of Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before slamming the president on Twitter in impressively blunt fashion.
Bravo.
Adam White has more on this.
First Lady Melania Trump releases coronavirus PSA
The First Lady released a public service announcement on Twitter on Thursday to address the current pandemic in the US.
During her address, she said the American life will look significantly different now, but "this is not how we'll live forever."
"While changes need to be made now, this is not how we'll live forever. Our children will return to school, people will return to work, we will gather at the places of worship, concerts, and sporting events again," Mrs Trump says.
"I urge you to stay connected to family and loved ones through the video chats, phone calls, social media and other safe technologies," the First Lady added, and she encouraged everyone to pay attention to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Her address ended by saying: "And remember, while many of us are apart, we are all in this together."
US to issue a 'red warning' advising Americans against international travel
The US state department is planning to advise Americans against all international travel in a new advisory to combat the coronavirus pandemic, according to Politico.
The level four "red warning" usually applies to the most high-risk countries around the world. Its application to all international travel would mark a significant step in Washington's efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
The advisory would also call on all Americans abroad to return to the US or prepare to "shelter in place," Politico reported.
Richard Hall with the full story:
Trump calls for Syria to release journalist Austin Tice
Donald Trump has called on Syria to release American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in the country nearly eight years ago and is believed to have been detained by the Syrian regime.
"We have one young gentleman, Austin Tice, and we're working very hard with Syria to get him out. We hope the Syrian government will do that," Mr Trump said at a press conference on Thursday.
Full story here:
White House signs bill requiring states to share coronavirus data
Officials said on Thursday they signed a bill that would now require state and private labs to share test results with the government.
Previously, there was no requirement on states to share the data.
This measure comes after states, like New York, started to use their own labs to test people for Covid-19. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is one agency that has been behind on exact numbers of tests given out nationwide.
Trump claims economy will bounce back 'rapidly' after virus is contained
During his press conference on Thursday, President Trump claimed the US economy would bounce back "rapidly" once Covid-19 is contained.
"I believe ... when this is defeated ... I think we're going to up very rapidly," he said. "Our economy will go back to where it was and beyond."
All the gains the stock market made during Mr Trump's presidency was wiped out on Wednesday when the Dow dropped below 20,000 points. Unemployment rates have also surged with companies letting workers go during the pandemic.
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