The White House announced Saturday that President Trump has approved Michigan’s request for a disaster declaration.
“Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Michigan and ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected,” the White House said in a statement.
This approval comes as Trump and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have exchanged attacks in recent days about the federal response to the coronavirus as well as the actions of both leaders.
The declaration means federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments as well as certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for all areas in Michigan impacted by Covid-19.
9:02 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
There are at least 102,702 coronavirus cases in the US
From CNN's Alta Spells
There are at least 102,702 cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States, according to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the country through public health systems,
So far, 1,590 people have died in total in the US from coronavirus.
The total includes cases from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and other U.S. territories, as well as all repatriated cases.
8:52 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Trump opens the door to calling up former service members
From CNN's Ryan Browne
Alex Brandon/AP
President Trump signed an executive order Friday afternoon which could potentially lead to former active duty military members being recalled into service.
This order grants the Defense Secretary the authority to order up members but as of now, there is no indication of anyone being called up.
“Decisions about which individuals may be activated are still being reviewed. Generally, these members will be persons in headquarters units and persons with high demand medical capabilities whose call-up would not adversely affect their civilian communities,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.”
“This is a dynamic situation, we do not currently have a projected number of expected activations, but the Department is now fully authorized to make activations as needed. We will provide updates as they become available,” Hoffman added.
In most cases, after concluding their military obligations, service members will enter into what is known as the Individual Ready Reserve.
Some context: That ready reserve status requires no active participation, leading the vast majority of service members to consider being in that status the same as being out of the military.
Most service members are in that designation for a period of years.
There have been a handful of cases in the past where members of this reserve have been called up for active duty — such as during the height of both Iraq wars.
Usually this is used when the military needs some specific skill sets.
8:42 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Iran's coronavirus cases surpass 35,000; death toll over 2,500
From CNN's Ramin Mostaghin in Tehran
People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital set up by the Iranian army at an international exhibition center in Tehran, Iran, on March 26. Ebrahim Noroozi/AP
Iran has reported 139 more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total to 2,517.
At least 3,076 more cases were also recorded, bringing the total number of infected people to 35,409, Iranian Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced on state television.
The US believes the real numbers of cases and deaths in the country are higher than those being reported.
Here's some background: Iran declared an intercity travel ban starting Thursday for two weeks to help stop the spread of coronavirus
Iran lashes out at US: In a tweet on Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US is impeding the global fight against coronavirus with its sanctions on Iran.
8:25 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Domestic violence "very likely" to increase during lockdowns, UN warns
From CNN's Radina Gigova in Atlanta
Restrictive measures and lockdowns adopted by a number of countries for extended periods of time intensify the risk of domestic violence, the United Nations has warned.
“It is very likely that rates of widespread domestic violence will increase, as already suggested by initial police and hotline reports," UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Simonovic, said in a statement Friday.
"For too many women and children, home can be a place of fear and abuse. That situation worsens considerably in cases of isolation such as the lockdowns imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said, adding that this could also lead to increased number of "intimate partner femicides."
Simonovic said the risk is "aggravated" at a time when there are fewer or no shelters and help services available for victims. Less community support, fewer police interventions and less access to justice as many courts are closed are also contributing factors, she said.
Furthermore, the emergency measures needed to fight the pandemic have increased women's burden regarding domestic work and the care of children, elderly relatives and sick family members, Simonovic said.
To make matters worse, restrictions of movement, financial constraints and generalized uncertainty embolden perpetrators and provide them with additional power and control,” she said.
Simonovic expressed particular concerns about women at higher risk of domestic violence, such as women with disabilities, undocumented migrant women and victims of trafficking.
As making phone calls might be dangerous in a context of home confinement, helplines can facilitate access by providing online chats and texting services for victims, States should also come up with new and creative solutions to support them,” she said. “Governments must not allow the extraordinary circumstances and restrictive measures against Covid-19 to lead to the violation of women’s right to a life free from violence.”
A priest wearing gloves waits in front of a cemetery chapel in Madrid on March 27. Bernat Armangue/AP
Spain's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 5,690, an increase of 832 -- or 17% -- since the last set of figures were reported Friday, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health.
The rate of increase is slightly lower than in the past two days (19%).
Spain is one of countries worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Severe limits on people's movements here have been extended for a further two weeks and the authorities are trying to source sufficient protective equipment for a health service that is already very stretched.
The ministry’s latest figures show that the number of active cases rose by 8.8% -- from 49,844 to 54,273 -- with the figures excluding those who have died or recovered.
Some 12,285 individuals had recovered, a 31% increase on the tally of 9,357 reported Friday. Meanwhile, 40,630 people remain hospitalized.
South Korea says three Korean coronavirus test kit makers obtain US FDA preapproval
From CNN's Sophie Jeong in Seoul
Three South Korean coronavirus kit manufacturers have obtained preapproval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), South Korea's foreign ministry said in a press release on Saturday.
“By obtaining this FDA pre-approval, these domestic products can be sold in the US market,” the release said. The ministry did not name the manufacturers in its release.
Earlier this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke to US President Donald Trump. During the call, Trump asked Moon if South Korea would be able to provide support with medical equipment for the United States, South Korea's Presidential Office, the Blue House, said in a statement Tuesday.
7:00 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
These Italian care workers decided to self quarantine with their elderly patients
From Valentina Di Donato in Rome
Thirteen workers in an Italian retirement home have taken an unusual decision and decided to self-quarantine with the 60 elderly people they assist.
The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has reached 86,498, according to a tally by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. That puts the European country ahead of China, where 81,946 infections have been confirmed.
“We decided to self isolate ourselves because the Covid-19 situation here in Italy was getting worse," Ermanno Struzzeri, Vice President of the Onlus foundation San Riccardo Pampuri which runs the senior citizen care service on the outskirts of Milan told CNN.
"None of our guests are positive, thankfully.”
Thirteen retirement care home workers decided to self-quarantine at a senior citizen care service on the outskirts of Milan along with the 60 elderly guests they care for. Ermanno Struzzeri
“Our guests are very calm, they realize the situation, they appreciate what we have decided to do,” Struzzeri said.
We all eat our meals together, we are more than just colleagues,” Struzzeri said.
The workers started their quarantine on March 19, but told CNN they don't know how long it will last.
“Families haven’t been able to come to the home for a while so little has changed for them,” Struzzeri explained.
“We have a great relationship with our guests but in this situation there is more work, our work has become constant, but for them little has changed,” Struzzeri said.
8:21 a.m. ET, March 28, 2020
Germany coronavirus cases rise by nearly 15% in 24 hours
From CNN's Fred Pleitgen and Nadine Schmidt in Berlin
A woman wearing a protective mask walks stairs down to train platforms at nearly-deserted Hauptbahnhof main railway station on March 27 in Berlin, Germany. Public life has been restricted in an effort by authorities to slow the spread of infections. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
The number of coronavirus cases in Germany rose by nearly 15% in the last 24 hours after 6,294 new cases were reported, according to official numbers released Saturday by the Robert Koch Institute, the country’s infectious disease and control center.
Germany now has a total of 48,582 confirmed coronavirus cases and 325 deaths.
Merkel calls for patience: From her home quarantine, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the current social distancing measures will remain in place for a while longer and appealed to Germans to be patient.
“I want to assure you that I know how difficult the restrictions on personal contacts are, which are currently in place for everyone,” Merkel said in an audio message released on Saturday morning. “Each and everyone is a key piece in the battle against the virus,” Merkel added, acknowledging that a scaling back of the measures is not in sight.
Merkel said the number of infections is doubling about every 5.5 days at the moment, which is an improvement compared to a doubling every two days at the beginning. But that period must be closer to every 10 days if the health care system is not to be overwhelmed.
The Chancellor said she understands anxiety about Germany’s economic situation. “No one can say with certainty how long this difficult time will last. I have to ask you to be patient,” she said.
