Coronavirus USA live updates: news, cases, deaths and stimulus checks, today
Coronavirus United States live: latest news - 23 August
US coronavirus latest: 16:00 PT / 19:00 ET (01:00 CEST Monday 24 August)
Latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University.
Worldwide
Cases: 23,309,597
Deaths: 806,543
Recoveries: 15,007,062
US
Cases: 5,698,843
Deaths: 176,756
Recoveries: 1,997,761
Coronavirus-related stories you might be interested in:
Trump's convalescent plasma 'miracle' questioned
It has been clarified that the 'emergency use authorisation' is not an approval and the 'promising efficacy' is not the same as the president's 'very effective' claims.
Handy announcement ahead of the Republican National Convention tomorrow.
US FDA authorizes use of blood plasma to treat coronavirus
As announced by President Trump, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday said it authorized the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from Covid-19 as a treatment for the disease, a day after President Donald Trump blamed the agency for impeding the rollout of coronavirus vaccines and therapeutics for political reasons.
The announcement from the FDA of a so-called “emergency use authorization” also comes on the eve of the Republican National Convention, where Trump will be nominated to lead his party for four more years. A day before the FDA's announcement, Trump tagged the agency's Commissioner Stephen Hahn in a tweet and said, 'The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics.'
'Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!'
The FDA, which appeared to rush with an announcement on Sunday, said early evidence suggests blood plasma can decrease mortality and improve the health of patients when administered in the first three days of their hospitalization.
It was not immediately clear what the immediate impact of this decision would be. 'It appeared that the product is safe and we're comfortable with that and we continue to see no concerning safety signals,' said Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said on a conference call with reporters. The agency also said it determined this was a safe approach in an analysis of 20,000 patients who received this treatment. So far, 70,000 patients have been treated using blood plasma, the FDA said. Patients who benefited the most from this treatment are those under 80 years old and who were not on a respirator, the agency said. Such patients had a 35 percent better survival rate a month after receiving the treatment. FDA Director Stephen Hahn said Trump had not spoken to him or the agency and did not play a role in its decision to make the announcement on Sunday.
Trump urged people who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate blood - which is where the plasma comes from.
How pandemic measures have affected fire response
“Slavery has played a crucial role in helping California fight fires for year.
But the coronavirus - and the release of slaves to protect them from it - has highlighted the state’s dependence on a program some say should be abolished.” FTFY
CMU threatens to suspend partying students
“CMU has put a tremendous amount of time into planning for a safe return to campus this fall, which included outlining expectations for our campus community such as requirements to wear face coverings, social distance and avoid large gatherings,” the university said in a statement provided by Heather L. Smith, executive director of communications.
“It is disappointing to see that some of our students are choosing to ignore these expectations. This sort of irresponsible and reckless behavior not only puts our in-person living and learning at risk, it also puts lives at risk.
Trump to make vaccine announcement
As per this feed by Andy Slavitt, the president will address the nation later with news on vaccine development.
We will bring you coverage of that briefing live.
Second stimulus check: who's to blame for lack of payments?
There had appeared to be a clear consensus from Democrats, Republicans and the White House on checks being issued to Americans suffering financially in the pandemic.
And fingers are being pointed after they were not forthcoming...
Trump administration considering fast-tracking UK Covid-19 vaccine before election
The Trump administration is considering fast-tracking an experimental Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca Plc and Oxford University for use in the U.S. ahead of the 3 November elections, the Financial Times has reported.
One option being explored would involve the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarding “emergency use authorization” in October to the potential vaccine, which was developed by Oxford and licensed to AstraZeneca, the FT reported.
Florida and New York: examining a media coronavirus narrative failure
Florida and New York are two of the four most populous states in the country. Since March both states have received among the most media attention in the country for their responses to the coronavirus. The mainstream media has almost universally praised New York governor Andrew Cuomo for his leadership while almost universally denigrating the leadership of Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
New York has been held up as a model for all states to follow — lauded as a success story by almost all mainstream media — while Florida has been ridiculed as representing all that is wrong with the nation’s response to the coronavirus.
Yet when you look at the data, it’s quite clear the media has gotten this completely wrong.
Clay Travis has a look at one of the many confusing narratives being written.
Marco becomes hurricane as it moves towards US Gulf coast
As the battle against Covid-19 continues, other challenges are threatening further destruction. Storm Marco strengthened into a hurricane on Sunday afternoon as it continued to move towards the US Gulf coast, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
'Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds expected along portions of the US Gulf coast,' said the NHC's latest bulletin.
Marco was located about 300 miles (482.8 km)south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 460 miles southeast of Lafayette, Louisiana, the forecaster said. The storm's maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 miles per hour with higher gusts, it added.
57% of Republicans, 10% of Democrats
You may have seen the above statistics trending today on Twitter. The video clip explains exactly why it's grabbing attention.
How the pandemic has changed us already
In a piece for The Atlantic, Joe Pinsker considers the impact of Covid-19 on our day-to-day lives going forward.
During the past five months, many prognosticators have prognosticated about how the coronavirus pandemic will transform politics, work, travel, education, and other domains. Less sweepingly, but just as powerfully, it will also transform the people who are living through it, rearranging the furniture of their inner life.
When this is all over—and perhaps even long after that—how will we be different?
Full article below...
The pain in Spain came once, and then again
Spain went hard on the coronavirus spread when it arrived, locking down the country and relatively quickly getting on top of the situation.
Since the easing of restrictions, however, the case numbers have quickly returned to near the highs of the pandemic. The WSJ looks at what the US can learn from this experience.
Masks don't hide your emotions
A reminder, if you still need it, that a face covering is for the right reasons.
WHO offers seven tips to help prevent spread of Covid-19
The World Health Organisation has developed a brief video in showing citizens how they can do their bit to avoid the virus from spreading.
Murray makes winning return at eerie Western and Southern Open
Andy Murray claimed a hardfought 7-6(6) 3-6 6-1 first-round win over American Frances Tiafoe at the Western and Southern Open on Saturday, as the ATP Tour made a jarring return from a five-month Covid-19 hiatus.
From a tournament normally played in Cincinnati but moved to New York because of the coronavirus pandemic to masked ball boys and girls, there was very little normal about the return of professional men's tennis.
With no spectators allowed into the sprawling Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, matches were played in eerie silence under the shadow of the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium that will be centerstage when the U.S. Open starts on Aug. 31.
Cardboard cutout Chicago White Sox fans at Guaranteed Rate Field during a recent MLB game
(photo Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports)
Vaccine latest
Russia expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential Covid-19 vaccine by the year end, gradually ramping up production to 6 million doses a month, the RIA news agency cited industry minister Denis Manturov as saying on Sunday.
Large-scale testing of the vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya institute, is due to start in Russia next week.
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo to visit Sudan in coming days, official says
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to visit Sudan in the coming days, a Sudanese government official said on Sunday.
Sudan has been normalising relations with the United States since the overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 but is still seeking removal from a list of countries the U.S. considers as state sponsors of terrorism.
Pompeo is also due to visit Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Monday and Tuesday following an accord between the two countries this month to forge full relations.
The Sudanese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to give details of Pompeo's visit.
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
Republican National Convention 2020: dates, schedule, speakers, time and how to watch
All you need to know ahead of the 2020 Republican National Convention
The 2020 Republican National Convention will be virtual four day event staged in Charlotte (North Carolina) running from 24-27 August.
Joe Biden economic plan: stimulus check, unemployment benefits and more
Joe Biden economic plan: stimulus check, unemployment benefits and more
As millions of Americans are waiting for Congress to approve and send a second round of payments, Joe Biden wants people to receive a third direct payment if elected.
Marco forecast to become hurricane as governors urge residents to take precautions
Marco, one of two tropical storms headed for the U.S. Gulf Coast, was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane later on Saturday as coastal governors urged residents to prepare for the unprecedented weather event amid the pandemic.
Tropical Storm Marco, located about 105 miles (168.98 km) east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico with winds of 65 mph, was expected to intensify as it moved through the Yucatan Channel into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest bulletin.
To the east, Tropical Storm Laura was packing 40 mph winds as it moved west at 18 mph about 30 miles southwest of Ponce, Puerto Rico, the center said. It is forecast to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast on Wednesday, NHC projections show.
US Covid-19 cases by state
A graphic depicting the most affected US states by the coronavirus poandemic
Company confirms photoshopping Obama as part of Newcastle United takeover bid
The Singapore-registered company that says it is close to buying English soccer club Newcastle United admits it doctored photos of former U.S. President Barack Obama in marketing materials used to publicise the newly formed group.
Bellagraph Nova Group (BN Group) also said some of the information in those materials was released prematurely or contained errors after Reuters found inconsistencies when speaking to firms and persons BN Group says it is involved with.
Speaking on behalf of BN Group's principals, Nereides Antonio Giamundo de Bourbon, head of investor relations, acknowledged that the company had altered photos of Obama to make it look as though he had attended a meeting with its executives in Paris.
His admission came on Wednesday in response to questions from the media and the BN Group has now removed the photos from its website.
WHO says children aged 12 and over should wear masks like adults
The World Health Organization (WHO) said children aged 12 and over should wear masks to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic under the same conditions as adults, while children between six and 11 should wear them on a risk-based approach.
Children aged 12 and over should particularly wear a mask when a one-metre distance from others cannot be guaranteed and there is widespread transmission in the area, the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a document on the WHO website dated Aug. 21.
California case average drops to seven-week low
California reported the fewest average coronavirus cases and total hospitalizations this week in nearly two months, indicating that the summer’s crushing caseload has eased — even as epidemiologists warn of another potential upswing this fall.
The state’s seven-day average for new cases hit 6,662 Friday, according to data compiled by this news organization, the lowest it’s been since 5 July. Hospitalizations, meanwhile, have dipped to 4,772 statewide, down from a peak of more than 7,000 in late July and marking the fewest patients since the end of June.
Even deaths — which take longer to catch up to case and hospitalization rates — have dropped off significantly, with the fewest average weekly deaths as of Friday (119) since July 30 (117).
DC Fandome trailers and teasers: Batman, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Suicide Squad...
DC to the isolation rescue
If you're a fan of the world of DC Comics and find yourself isolation from the real world at this time, this could be for you...
Government Covid-19 response considered
The Brennan Center has been tracking the Trump administration's actions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The full report can be accessed via the tweet below.
6-year-old becomes youngest in Florida to die from Covid-19
A 6-year-old girl in west-central Florida became the youngest Florida resident to die from the coronavirus, according to health records.
According to records from the Florida Department of Health, the girl, who lived in Hillsborough County, was one of seven new deaths reported in the county, WFLAreported.
The agency’s list of deaths state’s the girl’s death was counted Monday. She becomes the eighth child in Florida to die from Covid-19, WTVT reported.
Covid-19 catch-up
Here is a selection of some of the coronavirus-related stories that have been making the headlines over the last 24 hours:
- With fewer in-person medical appointments and more virtual ones, patients are monitoring their health at home and catching potentially deadly signs and symptoms earlier
- Minnesota and Nebraska link Covid-19 cases to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
- Trump says without proof that FDA 'deep state' slowing Covid-19 trials
- The United States has closed lanes at select ports of entry at the border with Mexico and will conduct more secondary checks to limit non-essential travel and the spread of coronavirus
- Serena Williams believes the withdrawal of some of the world's top tennis players from this year's US Open amid the Covid-19 pandemic will not take the shine off a potential record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title for her.
- Organizers of the Kentucky Derby said on Friday that no fans would be allowed to attend the race on 5 Sept as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in Louisville
Coronavirus live US updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live, United States-focused coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which has registered over 23 million cases and over 800,000 deaths worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
In the US, the globe's worst-affected country, there have been over 5.6 million cases and more than 176,000 fatalities, JHU records.