We update the Wuhan virus data below every morning at 9 a.m. ET.
1. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m.ET: 1,688,709 – Total deaths: 99,846 – Total recoveries: 451,745 – Active Cases: 1,137,616.
2. World: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m.ET: 5,529,601 – Total deaths: 347,166– Total recoveries: 2,318,612 – Active Cases:2,863,823
+505 Americans died yesterday from the Wuhan virus
3. Gov. Andrew Cuomo reverses Executive Order sending positive virus patients to nursing homes. He may soon be under an independent investigation regarding his EO.
4. Gilead gets FDA authorization for remdesivir to treat coronavirus, Trump says
5. Michigan, Maine, Arizona, Ohio, Illinois and more extend stay-at-home orders
6. State Representative in Illinois files suit against Governor for stay-at-home order, judge rules in favor
7. Pennsylvania removed more than 200 probable deaths from their tally, questioning reporting of COVID death
President Donald Trump raised the prospect of moving the Republican National Convention from Charlotte, N.C., on Monday.
What Trump tweeted: “I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!”
Hertz filed for bankruptcy Friday night, the latest victim of the sudden economic downturn sparked by the Wuhan virus pandemic.
A company statement said: “The impact of Covid-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company’s revenue and future bookings. Uncertainty remains as to when revenue will return and when the used-car market will fully re-open for sales, which necessitated today’s action.”
In a cringe-worthy blunder on The Breakfast Club, Democratic presidential hopeful, Joe Biden implied that African Americans who are considering voting for Donald Trump, “ain’t Black.”
What happened: The remark came near the end of an interview with Charlamagne tha God, who for over 18 minutes, questioned the former vice president on his record, his running mate, and his plans for Black America
A divided Senate voted on Thursday to confirm Representative John Ratcliffe of Texas, a fierce conservative ally of President Trump’s, to become the next director of the nation’s spy agencies.
The final tally in the Senate was 49 to 44, with Mr. Ratcliffe receiving far more votes against him than any other nominee to the intelligence post since it was created in late 2004.
Newly declassified portions of a key Susan Rice email confirm that Michael Flynn was personally targeted during a January 5 Oval Office meeting with Obama.
What happened: On Jan. 20, 2017, as President Donald Trump was being inaugurated, former White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice sent herself a bizarre email detailing the Jan. 5 meeting between her, Obama, then-Vice President Joe Biden, then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, and fired former Federal Bureau of Investigations Director James Comey.
Richard Grenell today declassified the entire email showing portions we weren’t able to see for years, including portions regarding then-President Barack Obama.
Phlow, a U.S.-based, public benefit drug manufacturing corporation, has received federal government funding of $354 million for advanced manufacturing of America’s most essential medicines at risk of shortage, including medicines for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
What we know: This project has been funded with federal funds from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The RNC announced the hiring of 300 additional staffers for Trump Victory, which is the joint field effort between the national party and the Trump reelection campaign.
The new hires: Will be deployed by June and will bring to 1,100 the number of staffers in nearly two-dozen states being targeted in November’s general election.
Four NFL players were arrested in a span of less than 24 hours from early Saturday morning to Saturday evening.
First arrest: The first player arrested was Washington wide receiver Cody Latimer, in an incident that started with a shots fired call shortly after midnight. Latimer was booked on charges of assault in the second degree, menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
Second and Third arrest: During the day on Saturday two NFL players, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar and Giants cornerback Deandre Baker both turned themselves in. Arrest warrants were issued for the two players on Thursday, after Baker was accused of using a semi-automatic firearm on Wednesday to rob multiple people, with Dunbar’s help, of more than $11,000 in cash plus watches and other valuables worth more than $60,000. Both are facing multiple felonies and decades in prison after allegedly robbing a number of unknown individuals at gunpoint earlier this week in Florida.
President Donald Trump revealed Monday he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug he has pushed for weeks as a treatment for the Wuhan Virus. Clinical trials of the drug have shown promise as well, worldwide.
President Trump told reporters today at the White House: “I take it,” he told reporters. “All I can tell you is, so far, I feel okay.”
*Story is developing
Uber is laying off another 3,000 employees and is also closing 45 offices worldwide.
What’s happening: Rides have been hit hard amid the Wuhan virus. More specifically, rides are down about 80%, according to the company.
Even though rides are down, Uber Eats delivery business is ‘poppin’: In Q1, Uber Eats experienced major growth with gross bookings of $4.68 billion, up 52% from that same quarter one year ago.
Records show the Democratic socialist congresswoman from The Bronx still hasn’t paid a 7-year-old tax bill leftover from a failed business venture.
What’s going on: AOC had founded Brook Avenue Press, a publishing house that sought designers, artists, and writers from urban areas to help paint The Bronx in a positive way in children’s stories, in 2012.
Martin Shkreli’s request to get an early release from prison was rejected by a judge, who wasn’t convinced by the 37-year-old’s argument that he could use his pharmaceutical expertise to help cure Wuhan virus. Shkreli was charged and convicted in federal on two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to commit securities fraud. In 2018, Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and up to $7.4 million in fines.
District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto wrote in an order issued Saturday: “The court does not find that releasing Mr. Shkreli will protect the public, even though Mr. Shkreli seeks to leverage his experience with pharmaceuticals to help develop a cure for Covid-19 that he would purportedly provide at no cost. In any event, Mr. Shkreli’s self-described altruistic intentions do not provide a legal basis to grant his motion.”
The House approved Friday a package of historic rules changes so Congress can keep functioning even while it’s partly closed. The shift will dramatically change the look, if not the operation, of the legislative branch — launching a 21st century WFH House, like others, “working from home.”
The essential worker, minus Congress: Even though millions of Americans are having to go work at grocery stores, sanitation, law enforcement, and hospitals, Nancy Pelosi feels that Congress shouldn’t have to go to work during the Wuhan virus. Keep in mind, neither the Civil War nor Great Depression nor any other national crisis has pushed the House to allow lawmakers to vote by proxy
What happened: A rule change backed by Democrats and approved by the House on a 217-189 vote Friday night allowing for proxy voting and remote committee meetings to guard against the spread of the coronavirus. The new rules are labeled as “temporary” for 45 days, in government there is rarely a “temporary” duration to any new centralization of power.
The Trump administration on Friday unveiled the official flag to be used by the Space Force, the newest branch of the military.
President Trump held an Oval Office ceremony where the flag was unfurled, signing a proclamation denoting Armed Forces Day alongside military leaders.
President Trump said: “Space is going to be the future, both in terms of defense and offense and so many other things,” Trump said. “And already, from what I’m hearing and based on reports, we’re now the leader in space.”