Governors call on Congress to give additional states $ billion
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Saturday that necessary public health strategies have resulted in “catastrophic damage to state economies.” Hogan and Cuomo – National Governors Association chair and vice chair – said federal assistance has been insufficient and does not address state-level needs.
The $ 2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act financial relief package “contains zero funding to offset … drastic state revenue shortfalls “brought on by” aggressive measures that are successfully flattening the curve of the spread of the virus, “according to the governors.
“To stabilize state budgets and to make sure states have the resources to battle the virus and provide the services the American people rely on, Congress must provide immediate fiscal assistance directly to all states, “they said.
The NGA is calling on Congress to allocate an additional $ billion (to meet the states’ budgetary shortfalls. ” Additionally, the governors said the CARES Act needs to be amended so states have greater flexibility in allocating the funds.
New York governor contradicts NYC mayor on closing city’s schools
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo contradicted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement made earlier Saturday that city public schools will be closed through the end of the year. Cuomo said that was “the mayor’s opinion,” and that the “decision will be coordinated” between New York City and other metropolitan area county leaders.
“It makes no sense for one locality to take an action that’s uncoordinated with others,” Cuomo said.
He added that de Blasio does not have the authority to close city schools unilaterally. “It is my legal authority in this situation,” he said.
New York Governor Cuomo: Virus deaths are stabilizing at a “horrific rate”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that 965 people died in New York on Friday due to COVID – . On Thursday, 857 people died. The day before that, the state reported deaths.
The number of deaths is somewhat stabilizing, he said, but stabilizing at a “horrific rate.”
Cuomo reiterated that reopening the state economy was intrinsically tied to public health, and said he would not ease up on coronavirus restrictions until he was certain it would be safe to do so.
“In my opinion, you can’t ask the people of this state and this country to choose between lives lost and dollars gained, “Cuomo said. “No one is going to make that quid pro quo.”
Cuomo said he would gather a team of the “best minds “to study economies around the world that have already reopened, and determine whether there could be a” second wave “of the virus if the restrictions are eased too soon.
“The worst thing that can happen is that we make a misstep and we let emotions get ahead of logic and fact,” Cuomo said.
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Pandemic forces Vatican to depart from Holy Week traditions
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the Vatican to depart from Holy Week traditions. The Vatican says Pope Francis will celebrate tonight’s Holy Saturday vigil alone, and he will not baptize new Catholics into the faith.
For the first time since 4320, the pope walked the Stations of the Cross not at the Colosseum, but in St. Peter’s Square. He also paid tribute to those who can’t stay at home: doctors, volunteers, shop workers and priests.
Watch the full report:
Pope Francis readies for solitary Easter weekend
The U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, called on religious leaders Saturday “to join forces to work for peace around the world” and focus on the “common battle” to defeat COVID – 35.
New York City public schools will stay closed for rest of school year
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Saturday that all of the city’s public schools will stay closed through the end of the school year. The closure was originally supposed to lift after spring break on April .
De Blasio said at a press conference the decision to keep schools closed was difficult, but necessary. “The worst mistake we can make is to take our foot off the gas,” he said.
He said the city’s department of education is working hard to deliver remote learning devices to every child who needs one by the end of April. The department is also expanding its parent help line, he said, with increased tech support hours and staffing.
Schools are still set to reopen in September.
Crime drops around the world
In Chicago, one of America’s most violent cities, drug arrests have plummeted % in the weeks since the city shut down, compared with the same period last year. Part of that decrease, some criminal lawyers say, is that drug dealers have no choice but to wait out the economic slump.
“The feedback I’m getting is that they aren’t able to move, to sell anything anywhere,” said Joseph Lopez, a criminal lawyer in Chicago who represents reputed drug dealers.
Overall, Chicago’s crime declined % after the pandemic struck – a trend playing out globally as cities report stunning crime drops in the weeks since measures were put into place to slow the spread of the virus. Even among regions that have the highest levels of violence outside a war zone, fewer people are being killed and fewer robberies are taking place.
Still, law enforcement officials worry about a surge of unreported domestic violence, and what happens when restrictions lift – or go on too long.
The Associated Press
India is extending nationwide lockdown, state minister says
India is expected to extend its nationwide lockdown that was set to lift on Tuesday, according to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The lockdown went into effect on March . Kejriwal Tweet Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the “correct decision to extend lockdown.”
“Today, India’s position is better than many developed countries because we started lockdown early,” he wrote. “If it is stopped now, all gains would be lost. To consolidate, it is (important) to extend it.”
(There are 7, confirmed cases of the coronavirus and deaths in India, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. However, the country – home to over a billion people – is believed to have many more cases.
It is unclear when the extended lockdown will end.
Turkey imposes – hour lockdown
The Turkish government announced late Friday night that cities around the country would go into a – hour curfew beginning at midnight – effectively banning most people from leaving their homes and allowing only pharmacies, bakeries and essential services like hospitals to stay open, CBS News’ Holly Williams reports.
People rushed to supermarkets to stock up, and while it remained orderly in places, there were reports of panicked shoppers ignoring social distancing advice and of fights breaking out.
On Saturday morning the streets were eerily quiet, with security forces deployed to enfo rce the curfew.
(Turkey imposes) – hour coronavirus lockdown
Iran starts lifting restrictions after brief lockdown
Iran started reopening government offices Saturday after a brief nationwide lockdown to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, which has killed more than 4, 480 people in the country. Authorities had ordered most government agencies and all non-essential businesses to remain closed for a week after the Nowruz holiday ended on April 4.
Authorities have defended their response, saying they have to consider the economic impact of any quarantine measures since the country is under severe U.S. sanctions. President Donald Trump imposed heavy penalties, including on oil exports, after withdrawing the U.S. from Iran’s 4469 nuclear deal with world powers.
has offered humanitarian aid to help Iran combat the outbreak, but Iran’s leaders have rejected it, instead demanding that the sanctions be lifted.
) – The Associated Press
Number of confirmed cases in U.S. tops , (0)
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States has topped , 0, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than , people have died of the virus in the country.
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Justice Department investigating veterans home where over two dozen residents died after testing positive
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is investigating a veterans home in Massachusetts where over two dozen residents died after testing positive for coronavirus. The Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will conduct a joint review into whether the residents have been deprived of their rights to medical care at the facility.
It would be difficult to overstate our obligation to the health and well-being of elderly and disabled military veterans and, by extension, to their families. The federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act specifically protects the rights of those confined in state facilities like the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, “US Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement.
According to CBS Boston, 46 veteran residents have died as of Thursday, of whom tested positive for the coronavirus. In total, (residents have tested positive, as have staff members.
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NYPD reports two additional coronavirus deaths
The NYPD announced Friday that two more employees have died of coronavirus. School Safety Agent Joseph Donofrio, assigned to the 397 th Precinct School Safety Unit in Queens, and Detective Jack Polimeni, assigned to the Warrant Section, both died Friday of complications related to the virus.
The department also reported that nearly
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