Coronavirus USA: news summary for Tuesday 01 September

CORONAVIRUS

FDA may approve vaccine earlier than expected

FDA chief Stephen Hahn says there will be no bowing to political pressure but the Emergency Use Authorization program could produce a vaccine by November.

CORONAVIRUS

Herman Cain's tweet that everyone is talking about... after his death

Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain died from coronavirus in July but before he passed away he tweeted that the virus was “not as deadly” as “mainstream media” made it out to be.

White House slams WHO over criticism of push for Covid-19 vaccine

(Reuters) The White House on Tuesday pushed back on concerns expressed by the World Health Organization after a US health official said a coronavirus vaccine might be approved without completing full trials.

"The United States will continue to engage our international partners to ensure we defeat this virus, but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.

"This President will spare no expense to ensure that any new vaccine maintains our own FDA's gold standard for safety and efficacy, is thoroughly tested, and saves lives," he said.

Donald Trump in Kenosha

The US president is in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to meet community leaders and speak to law enforcement officials in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake on 23 August. Blake, 29, was hit four times in the back from seven shots fired as he attempted to enter the driver's side door of his car, sparking protests across the city. 

US panel says health workers, first responders should be first to get Covid-19 vaccines

A panel of experts set up to advise the United States on how best to allocate Covid-19 vaccines said on Tuesday that high risk workers in healthcare facilities and first responders should get them first as part of a recommended four-phase rollout plan.

The plan was suggested by a special committee of experts from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Academy of Medicine, an independent advisory body. The directors of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health charged the panel with devising the plan in late June. (Reuters)

Fauci debunk false death toll theory supported by Trump

White House coronavirus advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has debunked online theories that only 6% of the official coronavirus death toll (now at 183,000-plus) was actually caused by the virus itself, while the remaining 94% percent had been caused by other underlying illnesses.

President Trump himself was quick to disseminate the claims on Sunday in a tweet that was later removed by Twitter. 

Speaking about the refuted theory on Good Morning America, Fauci stated: “That does not mean that someone who has hypertension or diabetes who dies of Covid didn’t die of Covid-19. They did.

"So the numbers you’ve been hearing -- there are 180,000 plus deaths -- are real deaths from Covid-19. Let (there) not be any confusion about that.” 

Students won't go back into schools till 21 September in New York City

Students in New York City were scheduled to go back for in-person learning on 10 September. That's been pushed back to 21 September, said Mayor Bill de Blasio in press conference. The move comes after talks with unions, which were carried out in a "constructive spirit" said De Blasio. Remote instruction for students begins on 16 September. 

New York City schools to delay class start under safety deal with unions

New York City public schools, the largest U.S. school system, will delay the start of classes by 11 days to 21 September under an agreement with education unions that had pushed for additional coronavirus safety measures, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday.

Progress being made on new Covid-19 relief package

"You have a certain amount allocated for this program, another amount for another program. As you do that, you build it from the ground up. That's what we have been trying to do - base it on facts, base it on the cost associated with each program. We’re making real progress,” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows says about negotiations for a new stimulus package. “The biggest stumbling block that remains is the amount of money that would go to state and local help. The Speaker is still at 915 billion dollars which is just not a number based on reality”

Senate Republicans likely to take up Covid-19 relief bill next week - Meadows

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Tuesday that he expects Senate Republicans to bring up a targeted Covid-19 relief package bill next week and that the Trump administration may take executive action to assist U.S. airlines.

In an interview on CNBC, Meadows said he expected Republicans' legislation would be "more targeted" than House Democrats' offer and include about $500 billion in additional financial aid.

Nearly 3 in 4 adults plan to get Covid-19 vaccine

Around 74% of adults globally are wiling to get immunized against the coronavirus if a vaccine became available, although it may not be enough to  halt the spread of the virus, according to a new survey released on Tuesday. 

The survey by World Economic Forum and market research firm Ipsos involved 20,000 adults from 27 different countries between 24 July and 7 August.  China was the most enthusiastic country with 97% of respondents indicating they would want to be vaccinated, while Russia was the least willing with only 54% keen on the idea of getting the jab.

The most frequently cited reason for not wanting a vaccine is the concern about possible side effects. Other factors mentioned by respondents include their perception that a vaccine may not be effective or simply they’re not sufficiently at risk from the virus

Federal eviction protection comes to an end in 30 states

Tens of millions of people in rented accommodation could be at risk of being left homeless as the eviction protection established by the CARES Act back in March came to an end today. Until now, renters had been protected from eviction for being late on paying their rent. 

Over two-thirds of inmates test positive for coronavirus at Tennessee prison

More than 900 inmates at a Tennessee prison tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the past week, state health officials announced.

The medical director for the Tennessee Department of Corrections (DOC) and officials with the Tennessee Department of Health decided to test 1,410 inmates at the privately-run South Central Correctional Facility in Wayne County on 27-28 August 27, Newsweek reports. All inmates were asymptomatic at the time the tests were conducted, CoreCivic Public Affairs Manager Ryan Gustin confirmed.

 Several U.S. Midwestern states are experiencing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and positive test results, some linked to colleges reopening and others stemming from an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

The Trump administration and Senate Republicans have been in regular contact over possible coronavirus relief measures and the Senate’s top Republican will “hopefully” unveil a new bill next week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday.

AstraZeneca Plc said on Monday it began to enroll 30,000 participants aged above 18 in a late-stage study to evaluate its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222.

COVID-19 often goes undiagnosed in hospital workers; virus may impair heart functions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday the number of deaths due to the coronavirus had risen by 473 to 182,622 and reported 5,972,356 cases, an increase of 37,532 from its previous count.

French health authorities reported 3,082 new COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, sharply down from a caseload of above 5,000 each on the two previous days, but the Monday figure always tends to dip as there are less tests conducted on Sundays.

At least 260 coronavirus cases in 12 states associated with Sturgis motorcycle rally

At least 260 coronavirus cases in 12 states can be traced back to the Sturgis motorcycle rally, reports CNN correspondent, David P Gelles:

Colorado: 25 cases -- Michigan: 11 cases -- Minnesota: 46 cases -- Montana: 7 cases -- Nebraska: 7 cases -- New Hampshire: 8 cases -- New Jersey: 3 cases -- North Dakota: 30 cases -- South Dakota: 105 cases -- Washington: 3 cases -- Wisconsin: 2 cases -- Wyoming: 13 cases

In pictures: Activists rally In NYC's Times Square for fair wage for tipped workers 

With a a 24-foot wooden statue of 'Elena the Essential Worker' next to them, activists from One Fair Wage hold a demonstration in Times Square to demand a 'fair wage' for tipped workers during coronavirus and beyond on August 31, 2020 in New York City.

Demanding that all employers pay the full minimum wage with fair, non-discriminatory tips on top, the One Fair Wage campaign seeks to lift millions of tipped and sub minimum wage workers nationally out of poverty. According to the group, the restaurant industry includes 7 of the 10 lowest paying jobs in the country. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP)

Brazil passes 3.9 mln coronavirus cases, death toll at 121,381 - health ministry

Brazil reported 45,961 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 553 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday. Brazil has registered 3,908,272 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll from Covid-19 has risen to 121,381, according to ministry data, in the world's worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States. (Reuters)

New cases have declined 38% in the past month, says White House

Donald Trump has claimed that coronavirus cases in the US have fallen by 38% over the past month, in a White House press briefing where he once again referred to the disease as the "China Virus".

"Last week, we announced a breakthrough in testing that will allow us to have 150 million rapid point of care tests. These tests will give results in less than 15 minutes," added Trump. 

Biden discusses coronavirus during speech in Pittsburg

Presidential candidate Joe Biden brought up the coronavirus in a speech in Pittsburg earlier today, asking Americans if they "feel safer under Trump."

"More than 180,000 lives in just six months. An average of 1,000 people dying every day in the month of August. Do you really feel safer under Donald Trump?" Biden said, before going on to address Trump directly.

"Mr. Trump, you want to talk about fear?" Biden asked. "Do you know what people are afraid of in America? They're afraid they're going to get Covid. They're afraid they're going to get sick and die and that is in no small part, because of you." (Photo: Reuters)

Hello and welcome

We begin our new round of US coronavirus news on this Monday afternoon, as the total caseload in the country stands at 6,023,368, while deaths have surpassed 183,400.

We'll be bringing you all the lastest US-focued news and reaction as it breaks throughout the evening.