This story on coronavirus developments is updated throughout the day with national news and developments from around our network of local Patches. Scroll down for links helpful to day-to-day living and stories on recent developments.
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President Donald Trump said he would like to reopen the country with a “big bang” when the number of cases of the new coronavirus hits a downward slope.
“We can do it in phases, go to some areas where — you know, some areas are much less affected than others,” he said at a news conference with the White House Coronavirus Task Force. “But it would be nice to be able to open with a big bang and open up our country, or certainly most of our country.”
Trump’s comments were delivered as the number of coronavirus cases continue to grow in the United States, with more than 425,000 confirmed cases and more than 14,500 deaths as of Thursday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, acknowledged in the same White House briefing that the coronavirus mitigation efforts are having a positive effect.
His assessment came with a warning: “Don’t get complacent.”
While Fauci’s message coincides with positive signs coming out of New York, some of the White House’s top health experts have identified other U.S. cities as hot spots for the virus in the coming days.
Dr. Deborah Birx, a leading figure in the White House’s response to the coronavirus, mentioned in an interview with Good Morning America that she was “concerned about” three areas.
“We are concerned about the metro area of Washington and Baltimore. We are concerned right now about the Philadelphia area,” Birx said.
Vice President Mike Pence said that Philadelphia residents need to practice social distancing efforts “now more than ever.”
Recap: White House Task Force Wednesday Coronavirus Briefing
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For the fourth day in a row, the New York saw a decline in new hospitalizations, ICU admissions and intubations, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, indicating the state’s social distancing measures have been effective.
The numbers could be a good omen for states including Massachusetts, where health officials Wednesday rolled out a new point system that hospitals may use to help doctors and nurses determine whom they should save amid scarce medical resources.
The Massachusetts guidelines were released a day after President Donald Trump bashed his acting inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for confirming U.S. hospitals are still without all the equipment, testing and protective gear they need.
The Crisis Standards of Care recommends hospitals prioritize treatment “to result in the best possible health outcomes for the population as a whole.” Essentially, the point system ranks patients based on who is most likely to benefit from intensive care, giving priority to health care workers, pregnant women and those most likely to survive a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Choosing Whom To Save: MA Issues Guidelines For Coronavirus Surge
Massachusetts on Tuesday saw the highest single-day number of deaths yet, 96. On Wednesday, the figures were slightly down with the state announcing 77 new deaths and 1,588 new cases for a total of 433 deaths and 16,790 cases.
While most of the conversation about hospital shortages has revolved around a lack of ventilators and protective equipment for health care workers, yet another new obstacle has emerged in the fight against coronavirus.
Hospitals, particularly those in hard-hit areas such as New York, are running low on the drugs needed to sedate patients on ventilators to keep them alive.
Almost 700 Marylanders Warned For Violating Stay-At-Home Order
Since Gov. Larry Hogan issued a stay-at-home executive order March 30, police officers in Maryland have conducted 14,905 compliance checks, arrested 14 people and issued 665 warnings to people who are violating the order.
AR-15 Giveaway To ‘Fight Looters’ During Pandemic: GOP Candidate
With the coronavirus pandemic spreading, a Georgia Republican running for Congress is giving away a semiautomatic rifle to one “lucky” supporter who can use it to shoot “looting hordes from Atlanta.”
Watch Touching Tribute To Hospital Workers In New Jersey
Cops and firefighters shared a moment of solidarity with staff at Newark Beth Israel, University Hospital, St. Michael’s and East Orange General.
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