The US has surpassed China and Italy, with more than 82,000 cases per Johns Hopkins tally. A lack of early action and setbacks in testing could be to blame. During a Coronavirus Task Force briefing, Donald Trump expressed skepticism at the news that the US was worst hit by the pandemic, accusing China of sharing false dat

Trump continued to push the idea that the US could revise physical distancing guidelines within two weeks, despite warnings from public health experts that doing so would have disastrous consequences. He said more guidance would come next week, but for now, he told Americans to stay home, just relax, stay home.

During the briefing, Dr. Deborah Birx who is leading the US response to the coronavirus pandemic.said reports that hospitals were running out of beds and ventilators, and consideringdo not resuscitate protocols were irresponsible. She provided an optimistic assessment of the crisis and indicated that predictions that 20 to 60 or 70% of Americans would contract the virus did not match. conditionson the ground. But her rosy outlook was somewhat at odds with what public health experts and hospitals have been reporting so far.

The US labor department announced that a record 3.3 million people filed claims for unemployment. The Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, said the US may very well be headed into a recession. Lawmakers said the emergency economic relief package that passed the Senate last night will help.

Nancy Pelosi is certain that the House will pass the $2tn stimulus package that was approved by the Senate last night. With 435 members, there are some logistical challenges to ensuring the vote is carried out in adherence to social distancing guidelines.