Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
April 6. 2020
Good morning, !
For the next two weeks, I will be testing a new weekday morning version of Cut to the News. Please feel free to let me know what you think, tell me about any bugs, and offer suggestions. I hope you enjoy it.
Best,
Keith
Leading the News . . .
Death toll from coronavirus in U.S. drops slightly . . . The COVID-19 pandemic is 'almost certainly' killing a number of Americans who are not included in the country's climbing death toll, according to government officials and public health experts involved in the count.
At least 25,607 new coronavirus cases and 1,134 new deaths were reported in the US on Sunday, bringing the nationwide totals to 337,915 and 9,622 respectively. As it stands, Sunday's single-day increase in cases is the smallest one recorded over the past six days - though it is expected to rise as more comprehensive figures come in.
The single-day spike in deaths is also currently 363 below the one reported on Saturday - but that number is also likely to rise. Daily Mail
Nation's top doctor tells U.S. to prepare for "Pearl Harbor moment" . . . The U.S. surgeon general told Americans to brace themselves for a horrifying continuation of the coronavirus outbreak this week, saying “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor, our 9/11 moment.” Speaking as the nationwide toll of
coronavirus cases surged past 300,000 with more than 9,000 deaths, Vice Admiral Dr. Jerome Adams warned, “this is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives. He continued: This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment. Only, it’s not going to be localized, it’s going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that.” New York Daily News
New York reports first decline in daily coronavirus deaths . . . New York State reported 594 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, fewer than the 630 it reported on Saturday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at his daily news briefing. The state has had 4,159 fatalities so far. New Jersey, which has the second-highest number of U.S. cases, reported a slowdown in the death rate: Fatalities rose by 71 on Sunday, compared with 200 the
day before. It also reported fewer new cases, 3,381, for a total of 37,505. Total deaths are 917. As President Donald Trump and other leaders warned of rising death tolls, Cuomo said it was too early to say if the outbreak had reached a peak in New York -- the center of the nation’s outbreak. Bloomberg
Scientists discover coronavirus "Achilles Heel" . . . Scientists have discovered an 'Achilles heel' of the coronavirus that could open a path for a potential vaccine. A study used an antibody from a SARS survivor and tracked how it latched on to a specific area of the SARS virus in order to kill it. The team at Scripps Research then observed how the SARS antibody gripped on to the same spot on the COVID-19 coronavirus sample. This spot of weakness could can be targeted with drugs and guide the development of a vaccine. Daily Mail
Trump refuses to let Fauci answer about hydroxychloroquine . . . President Donald Trump stopped Dr. Tony Fauci from answering a question about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating the coronavirus as he tried to push a more hopeful message about the pandemic. Trump has promoted use of the drug to treat coronavirus, after unproven evidence in other countries that it might help. He has even said he'd consider taking
hydroxychloroquine himself.
But when reporters tried to get the opinion of Dr Fauci - who has previously warned against seeing the malaria medication as a wonder drug - Trump stepped in and stopped the question. Daily Mail
Boris Johnson still in the hospital with coronavirus . . . British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests, 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said. He was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with "persistent symptoms" - including a temperature. It is said to be a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor. The prime minister remains in charge of the
government, but the foreign secretary is expected to chair a coronavirus meeting on Monday morning. Mr Johnson, 55, spent the night in hospital and is having what has been described as a series of "routine tests". BBC
Is it safe to go to the supermarket? . . . While supermarkets aren't the safest place to go right now because of social distancing concerns, there are ways to keep customers as safe as possible when traveling to stock up on the necessary amount of food or supplies. Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel said on Tuesday that he prefers constant hand sanitizing over wearing gloves during supermarket trips. “Gloves accumulate germs,
gloves accumulate viruses,” Siegel told “ Fox & Friends," responding to a viewer's question on whether wearing gloves at the grocery store is necessary. “You’re going to not even realize when you touch something then you have it on the gloves, then you transfer it to your face, then you can get infected," he explained. Fox News
Bronx Zoo tigers infected with coronavirus . . . The coronavirus is infecting New Yorkers of all stripes. A 4-year-old Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the COVID-19 bug after developing a dry cough, the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement Sunday. “Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three
African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” the statement read. The diagnosis was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa “out of an abundance of caution,” the society said. The big cats are on the mend, the WCS said. New York Post
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Democrats struggle to keep up with Trump messaging on coronavirus . . . The Democrats’ efforts come as Trump has used his bully pulpit to dominate headlines and the air waves, particularly with the daily White House briefing on the crisis. He and his coronavirus task force — comprised of Vice President Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other medical experts — have held daily press briefings, which have attracted
millions of television viewers. That’s put congressional Democrats and former Vice President Joe Biden, the party’s likely presidential nominee, at a disadvantage as they try to protect their House majority and flip control of the Senate and White House. The Hill
Whistleblower fired by Trump says he was just doing his job . . . The intelligence community watchdog removed abruptly late Friday by President Donald Trump says he believes Trump ousted him because of his evenhanded handling of a whistleblower complaint that ultimately led to the president's impeachment.
"It is hard not to think that the President’s loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General," Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general said in a statement Sunday, "and from my commitment to continue to do so." Politico
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Calls grow to reduce dependency on China . . . Calls are growing for the U.S. to reduce its dependence on China for key medicines and supplies as Americans face widespread shortages in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. While the U.S. supply chain's heavy reliance on Beijing for medical manufacturing has been glaringly apparent for roughly two decades, both lawmakers and administration officials say the virus has
exposed just how vulnerable the country is as it leans on China and other nations to help provide the tools necessary to combat the pathogen. Peter Navarro, President Trump’s economic adviser, pledged this week that the United States would move away from its reliance on other nations and toward building up its own capabilities to produce drugs and medical supplies. The Hill
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Stocks jump on easing coronavirus toll . . .
U.S. equity futures jumped alongside stocks in Europe and Asia after the reported death tolls in some of the world’s coronavirus hot spots showed signs of easing over the weekend. The dollar was steady and Treasuries fell. Contracts on all three main American gauges rallied after New York state fatalities fell for the first time and President Donald Trump said he sees signs the pandemic is beginning to level off. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped led by automakers and travel and
leisure shares after Italy and Spain said they had the fewest deaths in more than two weeks, and Germany and France reported the lowest numbers in days. Bloomberg
Queen Elizabeth delivers historic address to Britons . . . The Queen delivered a historic rallying cry to the British public tonight, urging them to come together in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in a poignant television address. Speaking
from Windsor Castle, where the 93-year-old monarch is isolating with Prince Philip, she told millions of Brits watching from home: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' Her Majesty's extraordinary intervention is only the fifth time she has addressed the nation during her 67-year reign and comes as the UK death toll from the pandemic neared 5,000, with 621 new deaths today. She invoked the spirit of the Second World War, repeating Dame Vera Lynn's famous words as she
promised the nation: 'We will meet again'. Daily Mail
China begins to profit from pandemic it started . . . China has sold nearly four billion masks to foreign countries since March, officials said Sunday, as they tried to stem widespread fears over the quality of medical exports. Despite Chinese cases dwindling, Beijing has encouraged factories to increase production of medical supplies as the pandemic kills over 60,000 globally and parts of the world face a protective equipment shortage.
AFP
Japan to declare state of emergency . . . Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in Japan, a government official said Monday, as a recent surge in infections sweeps Tokyo and other major cities. The declaration is expected on Tuesday, and will take effect Wednesday, according to an administration source. Once declared, prefectural governors will be able to tell the public to stay at home and
request the closure of schools and other facilities. Abe is required to specify which areas will be targeted and for how long. Major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka will likely be targeted, the government official added. Kyodo News
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Two to twenty weeks to get stimulus checks . . . The US government is preparing to send out direct payments to help individuals amid the coronavirus pandemic, but those who need the money most may be waiting the longest to see it. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said at a White House coronavirus briefing that payments would go out within two weeks to people whose direct deposit details are on file with the government, echoing
comments he made after passage of the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that payments would not go out until mid-April. He added that a web portal would be established for people to supply their details and that checks would be sent to anyone else, but did not specify a timeline. Trump administration officials told lawmakers it could take up to 20 weeks for all of the stimulus payments to be distributed. CNN
Stephen Moore: US facing possible depression . . . Moore warned the nation could be “facing a potential Great Depression scenario” if the United States stays on lockdown much past the beginning of May, as well as an additional amount of deaths caused by the raised unemployment rate. “At some point soon, we’re going to have to make some real decisions about what kind of a calamity we are causing through this lockdown of our economy,” Moore told
host John Catsimatidis. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be inattentive to the public health concern — we should. … But at some point, we have to worry about what we’re doing to our society, and what kind of economy we’re going to have after this is all over.” Breitbart
Renters in turmoil as government relief efforts fall short . . .
When Lillie Rodriguez received a summons to eviction court last week, she was both afraid and utterly confused. The county courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, where she rents a single-family home, had already shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the notice she received did not mention this, and ordered her to report for a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on April 2 or receive a default judgement against her. It felt like a Catch-22. Unsure what else to do, Rodriguez began a frantic search for friends and
relatives who could take her in, along with her two children. Last year, the Mississippi legislature passed a law eliminating a 10-day grace period for tenants to move out, meaning Rodriguez could be locked out immediately following her court date, whenever that happened. “I can’t be out on the street right now,” she said. Huffington Post
Production of Corona beer is halted . . .
Production of Corona beer is being temporarily suspended in Mexico because of the coronavirus pandemic. Grupo Modelo, the company that makes the beer, posted the announcement on Twitter, stating that it's halting production and marketing of its beer because the Mexican government has shuttered non-essential businesses. The Anheuser-Busch Inbev-owned company
also makes Modelo and Pacifico beers. CNN
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I don't have coronavirus but it might kill me anyway . . . On March 23, a Monday, I went in for a routine cancer biopsy at Duke University Hospital. Even before we had the results, my doctor told me he wasn’t sure they would be able to administer another round of immunotherapy treatment. The treatment is actually a weakened version of a vaccine used to treat tuberculosis. It’s a live bacterium, so health care providers must wear gloves and
masks for the 30 minutes it takes to administer it. My doctor told me that, while the vaccine was still available, there weren’t enough masks and gloves to administer it to cancer patients like me. All I could do was hope the biopsy results came back negative so I wouldn’t need the treatment at all. Politico
Legendary kicker Tom Dempsey dies of coronavirus . . . Tom Dempsey, whose 63-yard-field goal in 1970 set the NFL record and gave New Orleans Saints fans a rare raucous moment in the franchise's lean early years, died late Saturday of complications from the novel coronavirus, his family said. He was 73.Dempsey — who overcame astronomical odds to establish what was then considered a virtually unbeatable record — contracted the virus in March during
an outbreak at the Lambeth House retirement home in Uptown New Orleans. He is one of at least 15 residents there to die after being stricken with the disease. Before long-distance place-kicking became a staple of the sport, Dempsey's thunderous boot not only beat the Detroit Lions 19-17 on the last play of the game at Tulane Stadium on Nov. 8, 1970, but also stood as the NFL record for more than four decades. It beat the previous record by a full 7 yards. New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reporters without masks grill Trump about not wearing mask . . . Reporters at the White House press briefing on Sunday repeatedly asked President Donald Trump why he chose not to wear a medical mask. One reporter, who was not wearing a mask, noted the former Vice President Joe Biden said he would start wearing a mask outdoors, and he asked President Trump if he and the White House task force would start wearing masks. Breitbart
Arizona man arrested after posting video of him coughing on gas pump . . . A man was arrested in Yuma after coughing on a gas pump handle, the Yuma Police Department said. A 23-year-old man from Winterhaven, California, was arrested by Yuma police for Unlawful Use of Infectious Biological Substance after police received numerous Facebook messages sharing the video on Saturday evening, Sgt. Lori Franklin said. The video showed the man
coughing on the gas pump handle and referencing the spread of the new coronavirus. Arizona Republic
Cats take a stand against hoarding toilet paper . . . Seventeen cats who are refusing to get the message that there is a shortage. Buzzfeed
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Have a great day.
Keith
Keith Koffler
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