President Trump says CDC to issue 'strong Travel Advisory' for NY, NJ and CT
From CNN's Gregory Clary
President Donald Trump said in a tweet that after consulting with the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, he is asking the CDC to issue "a strong Travel Advisory" to be administered by those governors, in consultation with the federal government.
Trump said a "quarantine will not be necessary." This comes after he said earlier Saturday that he's considering mandatory short-term (two-week) quarantine on New York, certain parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Trump's suggestion of a mandatory quarantine was strongly opposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who questioned whether it would be legal.
8:52 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
More than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in the US
From CNN’s Hollie Silverman
Medical workers take a patient on a gurney into United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, on March 19. David J. Phillip/AP
More than 2,000 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States as of 7:45 p.m. EST Saturday, according to a CNN count compiled through data on state health department websites.
There are 2,010 deaths reported as of Saturday. The US reached 1,000 deaths on Thursday.
There are at least 117,688 cases of coronavirus in the US as of Saturday, according to CNN Health's tally of cases that are detected and tested through US public health systems.
For the most up-to-date U.S. numbers compiled by CNN, please check this map which automatically refreshes every 10 minutes:
Livestreamed concert raises more than $2 million for WHO coronavirus charity
From CNN’s Melissa Alonso
Twitch, the video streaming platform for gamers, says it has raised more than $2.2 million so far for the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Twitch is hosting a livestreamed concert to raise the money. Musicians, athletes, gamers and celebrities performed live from their homes for the 12-hour Twitch charity event. John Legend, Garth Brooks and Barry Gibb were among the many who performed for hundreds of thousands watching online.
Sting, Shaggy and Diplo are slated to close the live event at 11:30 p.m. ET, according to Twitch's website.
9:31 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Nurse describes New Orleans hospital conditions
From CNN’s Kay Jones
A nurse at a downtown New Orleans hospital has described to CNN the very difficult conditions at the facility. The nurse, who did not want to be identified out of fear that speaking to the media could lead to employment repercussions, described the situation at the hospital after finishing a shift two days ago.
"We are averaging five to seven intubations and three to four deaths a day. We have had to set up a temporary morgue (white box) outside the ED next to ambulance ramp for those who expire from COVID-19, this temporary morgue is full," the nurse said.
The nurse told CNN that while the situation at the hospital is dire, the staff are in better shape than some.
“We are being asked to recycle our N95 masks. We only have 16 unused ventilators left in hospital. We’ve been told the surrounding hospitals are at max capacity without ventilators, leaving our hospital and one other major hospitals left to care for these patients," the nurse said. "EMS are having to recruit volunteer EMT workers to help as New Orleans EMS paramedics are either in quarantine for exposure or sick themselves."
The nurse offered a grim prediction:
If this type of workflow continues into April, we will not be able to sustain as a hospital."
8:53 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
ER worker describes 'every man for themselves' atmosphere regarding protective equipment at New York hospital
From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen
A physician assistant working in the emergency room of a hospital in the New York borough of Queens described an "every man for themselves" atmosphere surrounding personal protective equipment (PPE). CNN is not naming this health care worker because they feared repercussions at the hospital for speaking to the media.
This physician assistant told CNN staff were informed two days ago that they would have to make their N95 mask last for five days and that they have been given tips by management about how to keep them clean.
PPE is being prioritized for those staff working with intubated patients, who are the most at risk of infection, the physician's assistant said. Intubation is when a tube is inserted through the mouth and into the patient's airway, so the patient can be placed on a ventilator to assist with breathing.
The physician assistant hasn't heard when the hospital will receive more supplies.
You have people out on the streets that have masks and meanwhile the hospitals are all running out of masks," the physician assistant told CNN.
The physician assistant described a crowded ER that is essentially doubling as an intensive care unit due to the large numbers of people who need to be intubated due to Covid-19.
“There’s patients everywhere," the physician assistant said.
Chairs and stretchers are being brought in to compensate for the influx of patients. Oxygen supplies are being replaced constantly.
"I think that no one ever expected to need this many supplies in a short period of time," the worker said.
The ER worker emphasized that they felt the hospital administration and management's support of staff has been "pretty impressive" and that they have been checking in on the ER staff's needs, even helping staff members find hotel rooms so that they do not need to go home and possibly sicken their families.
The physician assistant wanted to emphasize to the public the importance of social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus.
"You need to stay home, you need to stay away from people” they told CNN.
8:39 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
New York governor says he will sue Rhode Island if it doesn't retract policy of stopping cars with NY plates
From CNN’s Laura Ly
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference at the Javits Center on March 27. Gabriele Holtermann-Gorden/Sipa USA/AP
"That clearly is unconstitutional," Cuomo said, adding he understands Rhode Island's goal of trying to slow the spread of coronavirus.
"But there's a point of absurdity, and I think what Rhode Island did is at the point of absurdity. Again, it is not even legal," he said.
No state should be using police to prohibit interstate travel in any way, Cuomo said.
7:59 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
A letter from UK Prime Minister will be sent to 30 million households urging people to stay home
From CNN's Lauren Kent
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will write letters to households across the UK urging people to stay home, according to a Downing Street statement on Saturday.
The Prime Minister's letters will be sent to 30 million households next week and will say the following:
"We know things will get worse before they get better. But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal. ...That is why, at this moment of national emergency, I urge you, please, to stay at home, protect the (National Health Service) and save lives.”
UK residents will receive a leaflet outlining the government’s coronavirus advice, with clear explanations of symptoms, rules on leaving the house and rules on self-isolating with symptoms. The letters and leaflets are expected to cost $7.2 million (£5.8 million) to print and distribute.
The statement added that Johnson "is continuing to lead the Government’s response to coronavirus as he self isolates after testing positive for the virus."
7:38 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
At least 215 million Americans are under stay-at-home orders
From CNN’s Molly Silverman, Andie Garcia, Chuck Johnston and Hollie Silverman
A nearly empty street in Detroit, Michigan, on March 24. Seth Herald/AFP/Getty Images
At least 215 million Americans are under stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders as of 6 p.m. ET Saturday, according to a CNN count.
States have announced additional orders that will take effect late Saturday and Monday.
By Sunday morning, at least 216.9 million Americans will be under the same orders and by Monday that number will jump to at least 225 million.
This count includes local city and county orders as well. The numbers were tallied using census data.
8:39 p.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Cuomo on a possible mandatory short-term quarantine for NY, NJ and Connecticut: 'I don’t even believe it’s legal'
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN locking down states isn't legal and would lead to "total mayhem." He called Trump's suggestion a "federal declaration of war" on states.
"I don’t even believe it’s legal," Cuomo said. "That’s not a quarantine, that’d be a lockdown. If you said that we’re geographically confining people, that’d be a lockdown. Then we would be Wuhan, China, and that wouldn’t make sense."
Cuomo says New York is the financial sector of the country and it’d be paralyzed if the state was put on lockdown.
"How would you ever operationally stop goods from coming to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut? … I can’t believe he’s considering that," Cuomo said.
"As a governor, I’m not going to close down my borders."
