This story on the new coronavirus is updated throughout the day with national news and developments from around our network of local Patches. Scroll down for links, helpful for day-to-day living and the most recent stories.
We’re All In This Together: Help Patch Help Our Communities
President Donald Trump has expanded on his tweet that said he’ll issue an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States to fight “the attack from the Invisible Enemy” and to protect U.S. jobs.
Workers received a boost Tuesday afternoon when the Senate approved a roughly $480 billion relief package to again fund a depleted small-business lending program designed to help thousands of businesses waiting for their loans to be approved.
The latest coronavirus relief legislation will next need to be passed by the House before being signed by Trump.
Trump urged the House to pass the bill quickly and said it will vote “probably” Wednesday.
The legislation would authorize the Paycheck Protection Program to spend an additional $310 billion, assign $75 billion to hospitals and designate $25 billion to coronavirus testing.
Senate Approves $480 Billion For New Relief Package
Trump took time during Tuesday’s briefing to expand on his vaguely worded tweet that he’s considering closing the nation’s border to immigrants to protect “the jobs of the GREAT American citizens.”
He said an executive order barring new immigration will apply only to people seeking green cards, will last 60 days and won’t affect workers entering the United States on a temporary basis.
It’s a far cry from a complete halt on immigration.
Additionally, the issuance of new green cards and work visas has already been stopped under the shutdown of nonessential services to slow the spread of the virus.
In an appearance on Fox News Channel, National security adviser Robert O’Brien framed the president’s action as necessary to protect the health of the American people, comparing it to limits Trump placed on travel to the United States from China in January.
“We’re trying to do everything, the president’s trying to do everything he can to put the health of the American people first during this crisis,” O’Brien said. “So this is one step. It’s not dissimilar to the restrictions on travel from China that he implemented back on Jan. 29 at the very outset of this public health crisis.”
Meanwhile, a panel of experts organized by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has recommended against doctors using a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for treatment of patients with COVID-19.
The combination of the two drugs increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, according to the panel.
The warning against taking hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for COVID-19 directly contradicts comments made by Trump as he has repeatedly touted the treatment as promising.
The panel’s recommendation against using a combination of the drugs to battle the COVID-19 virus occurred the same day that researchers funded by the National Institute of Health and the University of Virginia published results showing hydrochloroquine had no benefits in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veteran hospitals.
There were more deaths among those given hydrochloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.
The nationwide study included 368 patients, which is the largest look so far at the use of hydrochloroquine with or without azithromycn in the United States, according to the Associated Press.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn commented on the study during Tuesday’s White House briefing.
“This study is a small, retrospective study at the VA and … this is something that a doctor would need to consider as part of a decision in writing a prescription for hydroxychloroquine,” Hahn said at Tuesday’s briefing.
More Deaths, No Benefit From Drug In VA Virus Study
In other news Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr said in a recent interview that the Justice Department will consider taking legal action against governors who impose overly stringent rules for dealing with the coronavirus after the crisis subsides in their state.
“We have to give businesses more freedom to operate in a way that’s reasonably safe,” Barr said on the “Hugh Hewitt Show.” “To the extent that governors don’t and impinge on either civil rights or on the national commerce — our common market that we have here — then we’ll have to address that.”
Barr Threatens Legal Action Against Governors Over Lockdowns
Barr’s comments arrived on a backdrop of Trump recently signaling his support for protesters demonstrating against stay-at-home orders in a number of states with Democratic governors.
Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, a Democrat, accused the president of “fomenting rebellion” and “spewing dangerous, anti-democratic rhetoric.”
Numbers: Latest U.S. Confirmed Cases And Death
Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Also, for updated coverage on national news surrounding coronavirus, sign up for the Patch Across America daily newsletter.
From Across America
Drones Used To Find ‘Hot Spots’
The CT town is teaming with a company called Draganfly to use drones to scan areas of town to measure body heat and other health data.
Pregnant IL Jail Inmate Tests Positive For Coronavirus
The woman has been held in the jail’s medical unit in lieu of the $25,000 cash portion of her bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Shake Shack Returns $10M Small Business Loan
The restaurant, which operates 189 locations, has secured other funding and returned the loan so it could be given to other businesses.
Coronavirus: Family Wedding Ceremony Finds A Way
Mick McGovern, 70, of Attleboro, and Susan Nestelle, 53, of Barrington, got married in front of Mick’s 92-year-old mother, Estelle, on Saturday.
NJ Doctor’s Crazy Pants Bring Smiles To Community
Dr. Marc Milano of Hillsborough has been wearing a different pair of crazy pants every day to boost morale amid the new coronavirus.
Yes, Unicorns Do Exist During Coronavirus
At a time when rainbows and unicorns are overshadowed by the deadly coronavirus pandemic, a Seminole Heights resident is bringing a bit of magic to her neighborhood.
Physical Education Matters Now More Than Ever
By supporting physical-education teachers, we have an opportunity to improve children’s health and fitness in a post-coronavirus era.
‘Don’t Lose Hope’: A Day Of A Coronavirus Nurse
“It makes all the fear disappear knowing that I am making a difference during this time,” a coronavirus nurse told Patch.
MD Couple 3D-Prints Face Shields For Hospitals
Hobie and Alicia Cohen have already delivered more than 2,500 face shields to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and Germantown.
CDC Botched Coronavirus Testing Kits: Report
The delayed rollout of testing kits for the new coronavirus in the United States was reportedly traced to an error at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
MN Gov. Launches Statewide Homemade Mask Drive
Gov. Tim Walz launched a weeklong, statewide homemade mask drive to encourage Minnesotans to create homemade masks for donation.
NYC Task Force Will Combat Coronavirus Harassment
A new Human Rights task force will crack down on new coronavirus harassment and discrimination in New York City, officials announced.
Click Here: cheap all stars rugby jersey
Miami Police Chief Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said he tested positive for the new coronavirus less than a month after the city’s mayor beat the illness.
Sheriff Refuses To Enforce ‘Safer At Home’ Extension
Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said his department will no longer enforce Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers “Safer At Home” order, saying that deputies will now “leave the enforcement of public health orders to the health department experts.”
Read More By State
Want to see what’s going on in other Patch towns and states?
Click here and type in the name of the city in the upper left corner.
Patch Coronavirus Resources