President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump volunteers kept ‘VIP’ list of leads for medical supplies: report Over half of workforce at Tyson plant in Iowa tests positive for coronavirus Trump offers support for those who have lost family due to coronavirus MORE confirmed that Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci was model for hero in romance novel by Sally Quinn Trump, officials don’t wear masks on trip to mask-making facility Trump says Fauci, Birx will still be involved in COVID-19 efforts MORE and Deborah Birx will still be involved in the administration’s efforts to combat the coronavirus as the White House winds down its task force to fight the disease.

“They will be, and so will other doctors, and so will other experts in the field,” the president said Tuesday when asked if Fauci and Birx, who both serve on the task force, would continue advising the White House on its COVID-19 efforts. “We are bringing our country back.”

Fauci is the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, while Birx is the head of the White House coronavirus task force. Fauci in particular has garnered heavy praise in the media for his work throughout the crisis.

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Vice President Pence, who oversees the task force, confirmed Tuesday that the White House is exploring winding the panel down. The move comes as most states are preparing to loosen restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus even as several areas still face rising COVID-19 cases and deaths. 

“I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level,” Pence said at a briefing. “And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with [the Federal Emergency Management Agency].”

“It really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country,” he added. 

Pence’s office confirmed that Birx, who was brought in from the State Department, will “continue to review and analyze data and work with the departments in agencies to help that data inform their decision making processes.” 

Members of the task force are expected to return to their respective departments and work on the government’s coronavirus response from there once they disband.

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COVID-19 has infected more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. and killed more than 70,000. Cases have continued to rise across the country, though numbers of cases and deaths have fallen in New York, which has been the epicenter of the U.S. crisis. 

States have begun to reopen their economies, leading to worries about an increase in cases. 

The White House has shifted its focus to the economy, which has been devastated by the lockdowns used to control the spread of the disease. Trump on Tuesday emphasized the importance of reopening the country even as he said it could lead to new cases.

Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinRussia emerges as coronavirus hot spot; Putin sees approval ratings fall Government warns Russia may try to advise 2020 candidates, campaigns in secret Pulitzer Prize awards include reporting on climate change, Putin MORE’s approval ratings are down as the country reported 10,000 new coronavirus cases for four consecutive days.

Russia’s leading independent pollster, the Levada Center, said Putin’s approvals have fallen to 59 percent, a 20-year low, The New York Times reported. This marks an 11-point drop from October and a 4-point drop from March.

The report comes as the nationwide total of coronavirus cases has risen to at least 165,929 and three Cabinet ministers, most recently culture minister Olga Lyubimova, have tested positive.

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Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has also tested positive, leading Putin to sign a decree appointing first Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as acting prime minister last week. Mishustin, 54, played a central role in the Russian response to the pandemic after becoming prime minister in January, but was forced to self-isolate after he was diagnosed.

The pandemic initially showed a slower growth rate in Russia than in the U.S. and Europe, but has reached a stage where total cases double every 10 days. The current growth rate is among the highest in the world.

Although a spokesman for Putin’s office said the Kremlin is taking the Levada data with a grain of salt, government-affiliated pollsters have shown Putin’s approvals declining, as well. Levada, which typically conducts polls face-to-face, took the April survey by phone due to the pandemic. As a result, some respondents may have been reluctant to voice their criticisms of Putin by phone, potentially overstating his support in the poll, according to the Times.

Russia imposed a partial lockdown in March, with residents of Moscow required to display travel permits to show they are essential workers. In late April, the government quarantined thousands of troops who had been set to participate in the now-canceled Victory Day parade through Red Square, citing possible exposure to the virus during rehearsals.

Welcome to Tuesday’s Overnight Health Care. 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump volunteers kept ‘VIP’ list of leads for medical supplies: report Over half of workforce at Tyson plant in Iowa tests positive for coronavirus Trump offers support for those who have lost family due to coronavirus MORE is ready to start winding down his coronavirus task force. The former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority filed a whistleblower complaint on the U.S. COVID-19 response and Senate Republicans aren’t ready to move forward on the next coronavirus relief bill.

We’ll start at the White House: 

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White House plans to scale back coronavirus task force

Despite the ongoing deaths, hospitalizations and high numbers of cases across the country, the White House is preparing to wind down its coronavirus task force. 

Vice President Pence’s office told reporters at a limited briefing that his plan is to scale back the task force’s role by Memorial Day. 

Members are likely to return to their respective departments and manage the coronavirus response from there. President Trump wants to move on, and focus on reopening the economy.

“I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level,” Pence said at the briefing. “And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA,” he added, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country.”

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to address some initial criticism of the decision, saying it was false to suggest Trump would no longer involve medical experts as he looks toward reopening the economy.

Read more here. 

More from the White House: Trump won’t allow Fauci to testify before House because it’s ‘a bunch of Trump haters’

 

Ousted vaccine chief says administration put politics over science

The Trump administration’s former vaccine chief warned top officials about a shortage of critical resources and supplies for fighting the coronavirus as early as January, but the administration took no action, according to a whistleblower complaint.

Rick Bright, the former head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, alleges that his efforts to “prioritize science and safety over political expediency” rankled political leaders across the administration and directly resulted in his ouster.

Bright says he pressed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) about the threat of the virus and the urgent need to act, but “encountered indifference which then developed into hostility from HHS leadership.”

Unproven drugs: One of the more explosive details in the report is Bright’s allegation that he was pressured by top officials at HHS to promote the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Bright said he opposed the broad use of those drugs because they lacked scientific merit, even though the administration promoted them to fight the coronavirus and demanded that New York and New Jersey be “flooded” with the drugs.

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What’s next: Bright’s attorneys said he will be testifying in Congress next week, at a hearing that will be called by Rep. Anna EshooAnna Georges EshooOvernight health care: White House plans to scale back coronavirus task force Democrats frustrated in coronavirus oversight efforts Ousted vaccine chief says administration put politics over science MORE (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee subpanel on Health. 

Read more here.

 

Openings may put black workers at disproportionate COVID-19 risk

African Americans have been hit disproportionately by COVID-19, a trend likely to continue or even rise as states begin to reopen for business.

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Black Americans are more likely than their white counterparts to work in the service industries that have been shuttered for the past several weeks, and they are also more likely to suffer from some health conditions that make people vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.

Advocates say black workers may also feel they have little choice but to return to work given their economic situations.

“The reality is people who will continue to get COVID are low-wage workers, people of color, who feel they must go back to work and don’t have the flexibility to stay at home,” said Jocelyn Frye, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

She said such workers are less likely to have health insurance and paid leave to support them when they get sick. 

“It exacerbates a problem we’re still trying to figure out. It’s irresponsible, and it suggests a lack of meaningful concern about the disproportionate impacts of reopening when those rates are rising and not falling,” Frye said.

Read more here.

 

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Health chairman warns Senate could become ‘coronavirus spreading machine’ without testing

While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell pressed to expand coronavirus testing in Senate Battle brewing over how to get more relief money to Americans Ratcliffe vows to deliver unvarnished intelligence MORE (R-Ky.) and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiMcConnell pressed to expand coronavirus testing in Senate Pelosi says she believes Biden’s denial of assault claim: ‘I’m not going to answer this question again’ Hillicon Valley: Uber, Lyft sued in California | Ratcliffe refuses to say whether Russian interference favored Trump | Facebook takes down QAnon conspiracy accounts | Airbnb cuts workforce MORE (D-Calif.) have pushed back on White House offers of tests for lawmakers, Sen. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderMcConnell pressed to expand coronavirus testing in Senate Overnight health care: White House plans to scale back coronavirus task force 13 things to know for today about coronavirus MORE says it is crucial senators are tested before they return home. 

“We’re doubling the amount of testing up to two million a week, there ought to be enough tests to test 535 members of Congress who come to one of the nation’s coronavirus hot spots before they go back home around the country and infect people in their districts,” the Tennessee Republican said.

“Members of Congress would represent sort of a virus-spreading machine, coming in here to a coronavirus hot spot and then going home,” he warned.

Alexander, who has taken the lead for GOP senators on assessing the deployment of tests, said McConnell “knows my thoughts.”

Another senator who attended Tuesday’s Senate Republican lunch — the first held in more than six weeks — said Alexander raised his concerns at the meeting.

Read more here. 

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Models under scrutiny as coronavirus gets more politicized

Models that estimate the rapid spread or quick extinction of the coronavirus have become the latest partisan flashpoint in a politicized pandemic that has Americans searching for answers — and finding sharply contrasting information.

Conservatives contend that they are exaggerating the threat posed by the pandemic, spurring an economic catastrophe that will be worse than the virus itself. Those on the left see an administration downplaying the health risk and cherry-picking models that are hopelessly optimistic.

Not helpful: The model most widely touted by the White House, produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, has proven itself so deeply incorrect that it has drawn criticism even from fellow statisticians at the school. That model has managed to be at once far too pessimistic, projecting that some states would need 10 or 20 times as much hospital capacity than they actually needed, and too optimistic, showing the number of cases and deaths plunging at an unrealistic rate.

Read more here.

 

Related: Cuomo: Death estimates rising because states are reopening

 

Pfizer begins human trials of potential coronavirus vaccine

Pfizer and the German company BioNTech announced Tuesday that they have begun human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine. 

The first stage of the trial will involve up to 360 people, testing factors including whether the vaccine is safe and what the right dosage level is. 

Pfizer and BioNTech are actually testing four vaccine candidates at the same time, all different versions of what is known as an mRNA vaccine. The companies hope testing all four vaccines will allow the process to move faster by seeing which one works the best. 

Read more here.

 

What we’re reading:

Barr urges Trump administration to back off call to fully strike down ObamaCare (CNN.com) 

Trump hits the road as coronavirus response becomes re-election pitch (NBC News)

Kushner coronavirus effort said to be hampered by inexperienced volunteers (Washington Post) 

With Crispr, a Possible Quick Test for the Coronavirus (New York Times)

 

State by state: 

Illinois coronavirus updates: Pritzker reveals reopening plan, state sees deadliest day (NBC 5)

Texas gov. admits dangers of reopening state on private call with lawmakers (Daily Beast)

Barbershop in Washington state reopens in defiance of coronavirus order, customers line up (NBC) 

 

Op-eds in The Hill:

Coronavirus vaccines, drugs are just a Band-Aid approach to zoonotic viruses 

Do fear and the media help to make a horrible pandemic worse?

The US should follow Sweden’s approach to combating COVID-19

A national immigrant advocacy group has launched a fund for immigrant workers who are ineligible for federal coronavirus stimulus funds.

Faith in Action, a national community organizing network, told Newsweek that various workers have been forced to continue as essential workers but been ineligible for aid due to rules that restrict immigrants without a Social Security number from receiving CARES Act funds.

Richard Morales, policy and program director for Faith in Action’s LA RED campaign, told the publication that “excluding immigrants from financial support forces people to work, putting them directly in the path of the virus.”

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“Asking people to choose between their health and putting food on their tables is not a real choice,” Morales said. “Instead of ensuring that members of all communities in this country had the support and protection they need from the virus, Congress went out of its way to exclude immigrants from receiving a stimulus check, making a clear choice about who is disposable.”

The funds the group raises will be distributed throughout pre-established funds in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and California. The group plan to set up further accounts in other states in the days ahead, according to Newsweek.

Recipients of the money will include parts of the “essential workforce” like health care workers, grocery clerks, farmworkers, and workers at dairy and meatpacking plants. The latter industry, which is largely composed of immigrant workers, has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, including an Iowa Tyson Foods plant where over half the workforce has tested positive.

“Many of the folks that have been affected by the current situation find themselves with no job or working fewer hours–this creates anxiety and uncertainty,” Pastor Leo Castro, a clergy member with Nevada ACTIONN, said in a statement, according to Newsweek.

“When the income decreases, something at home has to go and many times what goes is food or medicine,” he added. “I don’t see fear among the people, instead I see concern regarding provision. It is critical that those of us who can donate do, so that we can continue to provide the urgent support immigrants need so that nobody is deciding between food and medicine.”

The Senate Rules Committee on Thursday advanced President TrumpDonald John TrumpGuidelines drafted by CDC were rejected by Trump administration citing religious freedom, economic concerns: report Tara Reade represented by well-known lawyer, Trump campaign donor Barr says it was ‘duty’ to drop Flynn case: ‘It upheld the rule of law’ MORE’s nominee to serve as a member of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an agency that has been sidelined since August due to a lack of commissioners.

The Senate panel voted along party lines to advance Texas attorney Trey Trainor’s nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Democrats cited his past views on campaign finance in voicing their opposition.

If the Senate confirms Trainor, who was an adviser to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, the FEC will have a quorum, allowing it to resume business. The agency has lacked the required four commissioners needed to vote on proposals ever since former Commissioner Matthew Petersen resigned last year, leaving the agency largely powerless during the run-up to a presidential election.

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Rules Committee Chairman Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntHillicon Valley: Digital contact tracing faces roadblocks | NY AG, Zoom reach deal | Uber, Lyft hit hard by pandemic GOP senator blocks more flexibility for state and local governments amid coronavirus Senate panel advances Trump FEC nominee in party-line vote MORE (R-Mo.) called Trainor “undoubtedly qualified” and said his confirmation is needed so that the FEC can carry out its duties.

“Without a quorum, the FEC cannot fulfill its most important functions, including providing formal guidance to federal candidates as they work to address the unique challenges they face during the coronavirus pandemic,” Blunt said. “Trey Trainor’s confirmation would fill a vacancy, balance party representation, and, most importantly, allow the FEC to do its job.”

Democrats have adamantly opposed Trainor, arguing that his nomination should have been moved forward alongside a Democratic FEC nominee, as has traditionally occurred.

The FEC currently has one Republican, one Democrat and one independent, with three commissioner vacancies.

Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharOVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill Top Republican knocks ‘vice presidential wannabes’ for criticism of Pentagon’s coronavirus response Senate panel advances Trump FEC nominee in party-line vote MORE (Minn.), the top Democrat on the committee, argued Thursday that Trainor’s past work went against what the FEC stands for when it comes to campaign finance disclosures.

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“Today we are asked to move forward with a nominee who, based on his record, doesn’t believe in campaign finance law. Yet the entire point of the FEC is to enforce campaign finance law,” Klobuchar said during the hearing. “It is critical that the FEC has commissioners that believe in its mission.”

During his confirmation hearing in March, Trainor was pressed by Democrats on whether he would recuse himself from FEC cases involving President Trump. Trainor said he would not accept a “blanket recusal” if confirmed.

It is unclear when the Senate will vote on Trainor’s nomination. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDon’t hold Puerto Rico hostage: Pass the Earthquake Supplemental OVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill On The Money: 3.2 million more Americans file new jobless claims | Schumer, Pelosi set to unveil ‘Rooseveltian’ relief package | Pelosi pushes back on Trump’s call for capital gains tax cuts MORE (R-Ky.) had no details on timing as of Thursday.

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The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee defended Thursday the Pentagon’s response to the coronavirus pandemic against criticism from “vice presidential wannabes.”

“I think overall, so far, they’ve done a pretty good job,” Rep. Mac ThornberryWilliam (Mac) McClellan ThornberryOVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill Top Republican knocks ‘vice presidential wannabes’ for criticism of Pentagon’s coronavirus response Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill MORE (R-Texas) said Thursday about the Pentagon’s response to the crisis. “There’s always criticism, and some has gotten some attention recently from some vice presidential wannabes. But I think if you look at it objectively, it’s been good.”

Thornberry appeared to be referencing a letter nine Senate Democrats sent to Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill Top Republican knocks ‘vice presidential wannabes’ for criticism of Pentagon’s coronavirus response Where are the carriers? MORE last week expressing “grave concern” about how the Pentagon has handled the coronavirus crisis.

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Among the signatories were former Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenBarr says it was ‘duty’ to drop Flynn case: ‘It upheld the rule of law’ OVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill On The Money: 3.2 million more Americans file new jobless claims | Schumer, Pelosi set to unveil ‘Rooseveltian’ relief package | Pelosi pushes back on Trump’s call for capital gains tax cuts MORE (D-Mass.), Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisBarr says it was ‘duty’ to drop Flynn case: ‘It upheld the rule of law’ OVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill Democrats renew calls for Barr to resign after DOJ drops Flynn case MORE (D-Calif.) and Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharOVENIGHT DEFENSE: Navy secretary nominee: Service in ‘rough waters’ after ‘failure of leadership’| Senate fails to override Trump’s Iran war powers veto| Top Armed Services Republican expects to address Pentagon border wall funds in defense policy bill Top Republican knocks ‘vice presidential wannabes’ for criticism of Pentagon’s coronavirus response Senate panel advances Trump FEC nominee in party-line vote MORE (D-Minn.), who are all considered to be in the running for presumptive presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenTara Reade represented by well-known lawyer, Trump campaign donor 1996 court document shows Tara Reade told ex-husband of harassment in Biden’s Senate office Father and son accused in Ahmaud Arbery shooting arrested MORE’s vice presidential pick.

“Civilian leadership of the department has failed to act sufficiently quickly, and has often prioritized readiness at the expense of the health of servicemembers and their families,” the senators wrote. “This failure has adversely affected morale, and, despite the department’s best intentions, undermined readiness.”

The eight-page letter cited a laundry list of examples, including the coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Esper pushing decisions on implementing social distancing and other guidance to local commanders, varied decisions across services such as the Marine Corps’ decision not to relax grooming standards while other services do and the decision to stop publicly releasing installation-specific data on infections.

Esper himself responded to the letter earlier this week, saying he was “very disappointed” lawmakers “would write a letter that includes a number of misleading, false or inaccurate statements.”

As of Thursday, the Pentagon reported a total of 5,086 coronavirus cases among service members, including 113 who have been hospitalized, 1,913 who have recovered and two who have died.

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Last month, Thornberry suggested he thinks the Pentagon could have been doing more earlier, but added the slow response was a nationwide issue and that he wanted “to be a little bit careful before I’m too critical.”

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Thornberry argued the Pentagon has responded “reasonably well” to the crisis. He cited the U.S. military’s assistance to local communities fighting the virus, as well as military labs’ research into treatments and vaccines.

“An enormous amount of resources has been devoted to helping the country deal with the situation,” he said. “Plus dealing with the service members, all of these people who are tightly engaged with each other and so forth. Trying to help the industrial base stay alive, DOD’s done a lot to try to assist them. And meanwhile they’ve got to keep doing their job of defending the country, as adversaries such as Iran, North Korea, China are testing us.”

Thornberry warned against “partisan” criticism of the response, saying that would prevent a “legitimate” lessons learned assessment.

“That’s what we have to avoid with coronavirus because there will be another incident — something like this, whether man-made, nature-inflicted or whatever — and we need to learn the lessons, and together be better prepared for the next thing,” Thornberry said. “And if what we do is we dissolve into our partisan corners, we will not have been taking advantage of it.” 

Video conferencing group Zoom will expand certain privacy and security protections for users as part of an agreement announced Thursday with New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

As part of an agreement, Zoom said it will implement a data security program and conduct risk assessment reviews to check for software vulnerabilities. The company will also enhance the security of user information by expanding encryption protocols, and will enable default passwords for every meeting to control access.

The company will also take steps to stop sharing user data with Facebook — an issue that has put the company in hot water over the past two months — and will investigate any reported misconduct on its platform, such as attacks around race, religion or sexual orientation. No monetary penalties were involved in the agreement.

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Most of the changes agreed to by Zoom as part of the agreement in New York are steps the company already initiated in response to a spike in security and privacy concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zoom took steps to stop sharing data with Facebook in March, and later rolled out “Zoom 5.0” to enhance encryption and include default passwords. 

“Our lives have inexorably changed over the past two months, and while Zoom has provided an invaluable service, it unacceptably did so without critical security protections,” James said in a statement. “This agreement puts protections in place so that Zoom users have control over their privacy and security, and so that workplaces, schools, religious institutions, and consumers don’t have to worry while participating in a video call.”

Zoom has seen record numbers of users as individuals move online for everything from work meetings to classes to happy hours during the coronavirus pandemic, increasing from 10 million daily participants in December to 300 million daily participants in April. 

But the increased usage has also led to issues including the new phenomenon of “Zoombombing,” which involves malicious hackers or other individuals gaining access to meetings and disrupting them with obscene statements or drawings.

Elementary school classes, work meetings and other confidential gatherings have been interrupted on Zoom as a result, with the FBI issuing a warning about the phenomenon and Capitol Hill taking notice.

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A Zoom spokesperson told The Hill that the company was “pleased to have reached a resolution with the New York Attorney General, which recognizes the substantial work that Zoom has completed as part of our 90-day security and privacy plan, including making a number of our pre-existing security features on by default and also introducing new security enhancements.”

“We are grateful for the New York Attorney General’s engagement on these important issues and are glad to have reached this resolution so quickly,” the spokesperson added. 

The agreement comes less than two months after James began looking into security issues at Zoom, with James sending a letter to the company asking questions around how it ensured the privacy of its users.

The settlement was also reached the day after the New York City Department of Education announced an agreement with Zoom that would reinstate the use of the platform for online classes after halting the use of the service in April due to concerns over Zoombombings.

The city’s Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said in a statement that the agency had “worked with Zoom to create a tailored platform that provides the safety and functionality schools need to engage in remote learning,” noting he was “happy that Zoom has addressed vulnerabilities over the last few weeks and effective immediately, our community can safely use the Department of Education licensed Zoom account for remote learning.”  

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said Zoom was “proud” to provide classes to the more than 1.1 million students in the city. 

“We look forward to continued partnership with the DOE and service to the educators and students in New York,” Yuan said in a statement. “We are proud and humbled to enable remote applications for schools, businesses and other organizations to stay connected and operational during this time.”

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-Updated at 8:45 p.m.

Researchers of a small study conducted in China detected COVID-19 in semen of patients hospitalized with the disease, according to a study published Thursday.

The researchers found that COVID-19 was present in the semen of six of 38 patients who participated and supplied a sample, according to the study published in JAMA Network Open.

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Researchers detected the virus in semen from four men who were still very sick with the infection as well as from two who were recovering. 

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The study did not, however, address whether it is possible for COVID-19 to be sexually transmitted. 

The study was conducted on patients with confirmed COVID-19 at the Shangqui Municipal hospital, a designated COVID-19 treatment hospital. 

Authors of the study noted that the study was limited by a small sample size and short subsequent follow-up. 

The results contrast a study of 34 Chinese men with COVID-19 published last month in the journal Fertility and Sterility in which U.S. and Chinese researchers found no evidence of the virus in semen tested between eight days and almost three months after diagnosis, The Associated Press reports.

The co-author of that report, John Hotaling of the University of Utah, told AP the new study involved men that were much sicker. 

Peter Schlegel, the immediate past president of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, told AP the new study should not be cause for alarm, but said for safety “it may be wise to avoid sexual contact with men until they are 14 days without symptoms.”

The House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released the long-delayed transcripts related to the GOP-led investigation by the panel into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The committee released 57 transcript interviews from 2017-2018 that reveal what was said behind closed doors as lawmakers sought to determine whether members of the Trump campaign and Russia coordinated to tip the scales of the election. While the committee has already released a report on its findings from the investigation, the transcripts have since been tied up in a classification review.

While former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE ultimately did not find evidence over the course of his own investigation of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, Democrats and Republicans on the committee were divided over the testimonies they received.

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House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Top Democrat demands ‘immediate explanation’ from Barr after Flynn case dropped Trump cheers DOJ move to drop Flynn case MORE (D-Calif.) asserted that the transcripts proved that Russia sought to hurt then-candidate Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe The good, the bad and the ugly of in-person presidential campaigns Fox’s Stirewalt: ‘You could not fathom a worse running mate’ for Biden than Hillary Clinton MORE’s campaign and help candidate Donald Trump — a point GOP lawmakers on the panel contested.

“Despite the many barriers put in our way by the then-Republican Majority, and attempts by some key witnesses to lie to us and obstruct our investigation, the transcripts that we are releasing today show precisely what Special Counsel Robert Mueller also revealed: That the Trump campaign, and Donald Trump himself, invited illicit Russian help, made full use of that help, and then lied and obstructed the investigations in order to cover up this misconduct,” Schiff said in a statement.

The transcripts detail interviews with a number of current and former Trump administration officials and Trump allies, including former chief strategist Steve BannonStephen (Steve) Kevin BannonHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Sunday shows preview: America braces for next month of pandemic Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers weigh in as US eyes phased reopening of economy MORE, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Trump volunteers kept ‘VIP’ list of leads for medical supplies: report April’s dumbest and most dangerous coronavirus declarations MORE, former campaign aide Corey LewandowskiCorey R. LewandowskiHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Hillicon Valley — Presented by Facebook — FCC fines mobile carriers 0M for selling user data | Twitter verified fake 2020 candidate | Dems press DHS to complete election security report | Reddit chief calls TikTok spyware Rod Blagojevich joins app where people can pay for personalized video message MORE, and former Director of National Intelligence Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Susan Collins says she will vote for Trump’s intelligence chief nominee Senate Intelligence gets its chance to grill John Ratcliffe MORE. 

The interviews also include those with top law enforcement and intelligence officials from the Obama administration, including former Director of National Intelligence James ClapperJames Robert ClapperHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Former intelligence chiefs slam Trump for removing officials Think this coronavirus crisis is bad? The next could be worse — if we don’t act now MORE and former deputy Attorney General Sally YatesSally Caroline YatesHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe GOP lawmakers rush to defend Flynn, attack FBI Who should be the Democratic vice presidential candidate? MORE. 

Longtime Trump adviser Roger StoneRoger Jason StoneDemocrats renew calls for Barr to resign after DOJ drops Flynn case House panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe Trump cheers DOJ move to drop Flynn case MORE’s transcript had already become public as a result of his criminal case. He was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and other charges last year in connection with Mueller’s investigation. 

The release of the transcripts comes roughly two years after the GOP-controlled House Intelligence Committee concluded its investigation into Russian interference, a probe that was marked by partisanship. Republicans on the committee notably broke with the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the election in part to help Trump win — an opinion that goes against Democrats on the panel, the bipartisan findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Russia probe and the intelligence community assessment.

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Schiff eventually revived and expanded the committee’s investigation after Democrats won control of the House at the end of 2018. 

Mueller concluded his investigation in March 2019, finding that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election in “sweeping and systematic fashion.” While Mueller found that Trump’s campaign welcomed Russia’s release of hacked information, the special counsel did not find evidence to charge a conspiracy between the Kremlin and the campaign. Mueller also did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed the investigation.

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference was markedly bipartisan, with the committee concluding that Russia interfered with the goal of assisting the Trump campaign. The Senate panel has released four volumes of its investigation, with a fifth on counterintelligence measures still to come. 

The transcripts show that Coats spoke frankly about his conversations with Trump during his June 2017 interview. He said the president on a number of occasions raised the fact that he believed his job had been “compromised” by the assertion he colluded with the Russians. 

“He has each time said: I haven’t colluded with the Russians, but it is really hampering what I am trying to do. lt is saturating the news,” Coats told the panel. 

Coats at one point described a conversation he had with Trump, who vowed against the allegations that he slept with Russian prostitutes as laid out in the so-called Steele dossier — a compilation of memos detailing allegations about Trump’s contacts with Russia.

“I swear to you on the soul of my son, I had nothing to do with that prostitution. And for them to take me aside and raise that issue and then have it leaked,” Coats recalled the president telling him. 

“He said, ‘how would you like it if — how do you go home and talk to your wife when it is plastered all over the place that you were using prostitutes in Russia and you are having your family hear that and having your son hear that?’ … He was just really, really impacted,” he added.

Coats also told the committee that Trump asked him if he could publicly state that there was no collusion, and that he didn’t believe it was appropriate. 

“I guess he was thinking: Look, you are the Director of DNl. He was probably in his mind thinking: Hey, you are — if anybody knows what is going on in intelligence, from an intelligence standpoint, you must be, you say it. I did not think it was appropriate to do that,” Coats said. 

Coats went on to say that he did not feel influenced in his conversations with Trump but said that he was “uncomfortable at times because I didn’t think he should be asking me could I say something publicly.” He said he later expressed frustration with his staff at Trump’s request that he make a public statement about there being no collusion.

Clapper told the committee he never saw any “direct empirical evidence” that the Trump campaign or someone part of it was plotting or conspiring with the Russians to meddle in the election.

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Clapper also said he believed Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinHouse panel releases long-awaited transcripts from Russia probe When it comes to the pandemic, the US is not unlike Russia   Trump offers Russia assistance as its coronavirus cases soar MORE was “absolutely” successful in his effort to undermine the credibility of the U.S. election process.

Clapper described the Russian objectives as evolving from sowing discord to harming Clinton and said their approach shifted once they saw Trump to be a serious candidate.

“Their objectives evolved. First, sow discord. Tremendous animus towards Mrs. Clinton. And as things evolved, and when it became evident that President TrumpDonald John TrumpGuidelines drafted by CDC were rejected by Trump administration citing religious freedom, economic concerns: report Tara Reade represented by well-known lawyer, Trump campaign donor Barr says it was ‘duty’ to drop Flynn case: ‘It upheld the rule of law’ MORE was a serious candidate, then I think their approach evolved as well,” Clapper said in his July 2017 interview. 

Much of the news in the transcripts had either been leaked or previously revealed, whether in interviews or court hearings. 

Both Democrats and Republicans on the Intelligence panel voted unanimously in 2018 to make the transcripts available to the public, but they were delayed during a classification review.

“[I]t is long past time that these are released,” acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said in a statement, following their release.

Updated at 7:50 p.m.