Coronavirus USA: news summary for Tuesday 23 June
Coronavirus live US: latest Covid-19 news - 23 June
US coronavirus latest: 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET on Tuesday 23 June (22:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 9,157,912 cases have been detected worldwide, with 473,849 deaths and 4,585,373 people have recovered.
In the USA, there have been 2,328,562 confirmed cases and 120,913 deaths with 640,198 people recovering from the virus.
New hopes for coronavirus vaccine by start of 2021
Fauci said there's a reasonable chance a vaccine will be available by the "beginning of 2021." He said that a billion doses of a vaccine might be available within a year or two, because companies already were starting to plan to make doses should one of the vaccines under development prove effective. The FDA's Hahn emphasized that while vaccine development is moving quickly, no corners are being cut in terms of safety.
EU countries may bar U.S. travellers because of coronavirus failures - reports
European Union countries eager to revive their economies are prepared to block Americans from entering because the United States has failed to control the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Times reported from Brussels on Tuesday, citing draft lists of acceptable travellers.
The United States, which has the most coronavirus cases in the world and is experiencing a surge in new infections, would be in the same category as No.2 hot spot Brazil and Russia, according to the Times, citing the proposal.
In March, when cases were rising in Europe, Trump banned most EU citizens from entering the United States in a bid to curb the outbreak.
Apple, Google, Amazon take aim at Trump visa ban
U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended the entry of some foreign workers in a bid to boost domestic hiring, sparking opposition from corporate America and tech sector executives including Google's Sundar Pichai and Tesla's Elon Musk.
The visa suspension, effective June 24, will last until the end of the year and is expected to open up 525,000 jobs for U.S. workers.
Alphabet Inc's Google: Pichai, Alphabet's chief executive officer, said in a tweet, "Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today's proclamation - we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
U.S. coronavirus task force members: Trump hasn't asked us to slow testing
Four top U.S. public health officials and members of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force said on Tuesday that he has not asked them to slow down testing for the virus.
Testifying before the House Energy & Commerce Committee, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, and the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir all said that the president had not asked them to slow down the testing.
Trials with Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to start in Brazil
Human clinical trials in Brazil for a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University started this weekend, sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement late on Monday.
Trials will count on 2,000 health worker volunteers in Sao Paulo and 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro and are being conducted by Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo and hospital chain Rede D'Or, respectivelly.
Brazil's health regulator Anvisa approved human clinical trials for the potential vaccine, developed by Oxford and supported by AstraZeneca Plc, earlier in June.
Brazil, where the disease is still rife, is the first country outside the United Kingdom to start testing the Oxford vaccine.
Researchers expect to launch the vaccine by year-end.
Why is Trump talking about a bipartisan stimulus check?
Here is a deeper look at what Trump meant about a bipartisan stimulus relief package.
An utterly bizarre claim by the church where Trump will hold his rally in Arizona has been debunked by an expert.
Where U.S. coronavirus cases are on the rise
The United States saw a 25% increase in new cases of COVID-19 in the week ended June 21 compared to the previous seven days, with Arizona, Florida and Texas experiencing record surges in new infections, a Reuters analysis found.
Twenty-five U.S. states reported more new cases last week than the previous week, including 10 states that saw weekly new infections rise more than 50%, and 12 states that posted new records, according to the analysis of data from The COVID
Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the outbreak. Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at
24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84% from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 tests that came back positive in the state rose to 10%, from 7%.
New cases in Florida rose 87% last week to almost 22,000, with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11%.
Arizona reported 17,000 new cases, a 90% increase, with 20% of tests coming back positive, according to the analysis.
Many in America believe re-opening the economy will be enough to save it and get it back on more sturdy ground but that is not the case. Economists have learned from previous shocks like this one that the labour market doesn't just easily adjust to them.
Stimulus Check: When did Trump say the second stimulus check could arrive?
The big debate in America over stimulus check remains what exactly the economic aid will look like for ordinary citizens. Trump says there will be another stimulus check but was coy on what that means.
Trump says he is not worried at all about speech in Arizona with a group of young people in a church.
Dr. Anthony Fauci to Be Subject of show based on Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers
HBO Max is developing an anthology series based on Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers — with Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as its first subject.
It is one of the most sought-after products in recent months with shops needing to have it and people stocking up for home. Here's how hand sanitizer's mass production ends up with it on your grocery store shelves.
MLBPA rejects proposed 60-game season
The fate of the 2020 Major League Baseball season is now in the hands of commissioner Rob Manfred after the players union said it rejected the owners' proposal for a 60-game schedule.
According to multiple media reports on Monday, the MLB Players Association executive board voted 33-5 against the offer from management.
Manfred is now widely expected to exercise his power to implement a season of 50 to 60 games. However, ESPN reported that a faction of hardline owners could push the commissioner to cancel the season completely, with players' salaries possibly outweighing the income that could be generated by holding games with empty stadiums.
By rejecting MLB's latest proposal, the union preserves its right to file a grievance over the length and financial terms of the season, maintaining that owners didn't negotiate in good faith. Manfred has made the same accusation regarding the MLBPA's negotiation strategy.
"Earlier this evening, the full Board reaffirmed the players' eagerness to return to work as soon and as safely as possible," the MLBPA said in a statement. "To that end we anticipate finalizing a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols with Major League Baseball in the coming days, and we await word from the league on the resumption of spring training camps and a proposed 2020 schedule.
Orlando Pride players test positive ahead of NSWL Challenge Cup
Orlando Pride announced on Monday that they will pull out of the NWSL Challenge Cup after six of their players tested positive for coronavirus.
29 states see cases jump
Experts have warned the first Covid-19 wave is far from over in the US as Trump calls for fewer tests and lockdown restrictions are eased.
Trump suspends entry of certain foreign workers until the end of the year
(Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign workers on Monday until the end of the year, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose.
The effects of the proclamation may not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters fail to bring down Andrew Jackson statue near White House
(Reuters) Protesters tried tearing down a statue of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, in a park near the White House on Monday, scrawling "killer scum" on its pedestal and pulling at ropes tied to the monument before police intervened.
The confrontation unfolded in Lafayette Square, where crowds peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer were forcibly displaced three weeks ago to make way for staged photos of President Trump holding a bible up in front a nearby church.
The thwarted effort to topple the famed bronze likeness of Jackson astride a rearing horse marked the latest attempt during protests growing out of Floyd's death to destroy monuments of historical figures considered racist or divisive.
White House adviser on future relief package
Speaking to CNBC, White House adviser Larry Kudlow has discussed what might feature in the next coronavirus relief package in the US, indicating that it will focus on tax-relief schemes and getting out-of-work Americans back into jobs.
"Things the president has talked about publicly," Kudlow said. "He has talked about a payroll tax holiday for the workforce, he’s occasionally talked about capital gains tax relief."
“He wants to help out with some form of tax relief. Restaurants, entertainment, athletic contests, things of that sort. We want to help out the tourism business, which has been hurt very badly. We also want to reward people who are reemploying, who are going back to work."
A restaurant in New York serves customers seated at sidewalk tables as the city moves into Phase 2 of reopening following restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Phase 2 permits the reopening of offices, in-store retail, outdoor dining, barbers and beauty parlors and numerous other businesses. It is the second of a four-stage reopening process designated by the state.
(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images/AFP)
FDA warning on hand sanitizer products
The FDA is warning consumers not to use nine different hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem in Mexico. They may contain methanol, which can be toxic if absorbed through the skin or ingested.
Methanol exposure can cause: "nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death."
The products are:
All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
Second stimulus check: Trump appears to confirm it'll happen
Good news it seems for those suffering economic hardship
A word of caution, it's not absolutely clear if Trump was talking about a stimulus check or a stimulus package, which might - or might not - contain a check.
WHO daily briefing - tweets
Check the twitter thread if you don't have an hour for Dr Tedros' full briefing.
WHO advice to countries:
Finding & testing suspected cases works.
Isolating & caring for the sick works.
Tracing & quarantining contacts works.
Protecting healthworkers works.
Good preliminary news on dexamethasone, too
New case map
From NPR's tracking the pandemic page, which you should have bookmarked.
Louisiana reopening on hold
Louisiana was all set to move to the next phase of reopening on Friday, but an uptick in cases and hospitalisations has seen governor John Bel Edwards say he'll keep current restrictions in place for four more weeks.
Louisiana today went past 3,000 deaths and 50,000 confirmed cases.
"We did too good a job"
Trump's position here is untenable. Members of his administration have said he was joking when he said he'd called for testing to be slowed down (120,000 people dead when you are in charge of the country may not, in fact, be great comic material), but asked directly he doesn't say he was joking. He sidesteps the question but indicates testing may have slowed down.
Trump is wrong about testing being the reason for cases spiking in the US. While more tests are likely to confirm more cases, if the increased testing is the reason for the rise in cases the proportion of positive tests would go down or remain steady, and that's not happening.
Latest stimulus check news
What is Trump's 'Kung flu' and what he said in Tulsa about tests to detect Covid-19
China hits back at Trump's use of "kung flu"
China has hit back at President Donald Trump's use of the racist term "kung flu" to describe the coronavirus.
"China ... firmly opposes any words or actions that try to use the origins of the coronavirus to stigmatize any country,” said Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry.
The WHO is opposed to linking diseases to any specific country or region.
Here's more on Trump using the term:
US death toll over 120,000
According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the total death toll from covid-19 has now passed 120,000 in the United States.
At the start of May President Trump said "hopefully we're going to come in under that 100,000 lives lost".
23 states are currently reporting rising levels of new daily cases.
Trump staffers test positive
Two staffers who were at Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday have tested positive for covid-19.
According to Trump's campaign team the two were wearing masks during the entire event and were quarantined as soon as they tested positive.
In total eight advance team staffers for the Tulsa rally have tested positive for the disease.
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
All the information you need to understand the coronavirus and ways to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Coronavirus live US updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live, United States-focused coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which as of 18:00 ET on Monday had registered over nine million cases and just over 470,000 deaths worldwide, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
We'll endeavour to keep you abreast of the chief developments occurring in the US, where the Covid-19 pandemic has so far led to over 2.3 million cases and over 120,000 fatalities.