March 30 coronavirus news

President Donald Trump acknowledged Sunday for the first time that deaths in the United States from coronavirus could reach 100,000 or more, adding that if the death toll stays at or below 100,000, "we all together have done a very good job."

Trump's assertion came after he was asked about comments the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, made earlier Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that based on models, 100,000 Americans or more could die from the virus.

On Sunday, Trump said during an evening news conference at the White House that he'd decided to extend the nationwide social distancing guidelines -- which include suggested limits on large gatherings -- for another 30 days to April 30.

During his news conference, Trump said he received what he called the "most accurate" or "most comprehensive" study today about the potential death toll from Covid-19.

He said there could be up to more than 2 million cases if "we did nothing" but he did not give more details on the exact number. Fauci told CNN earlier Sunday that the US could see millions of cases of coronavirus.

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The coronavirus crisis is posing new civil liberties dilemmas for governments which need to balance protecting public health without unconstitutionally limiting individual rights.

That's already created controversy in the United States, including over President Donald Trump's threat to create state quarantines.

Civil libertarians say governments have the power to take extraordinary measures to stop the pandemic, but the power is not without limits.

So what can government do in times like these? Civil libertarians say steps to prevent the spread of the deadly virus should be weighed in terms of whether effective -- and lawful.

Legal experts say that broad measures that are reasonable and apply to everyone, for example "shelter in place" requirements, are generally lawful. But if government begins to target certain individuals or businesses, there should be ways to ensure a hearing and due process of law. Quarantines have been imposed over the centuries, but longstanding case law dictates that they not be unreasonable or arbitrary.

Is there any way to push back on government decisions? Since the early 1800s, federal and state courts have granted governments broad latitude to impose quarantines for public health. But government actions are beginning to be tested.

For instance, federal judges in recent days ordered the release of certain immigrants at high-risk of illness held in detention facilities.

Abortion-rights advocates have sued state officials that have tried to shut down clinics, as in Ohio and Texas, categorizing them as nonessential services in coronavirus orders. Gun rights activists have similarly challenged state laws that would close firearms stores. The National Rifle Association on Friday sued California over such a policy.

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Indian PM Modi apologizes for lockdown hardships as cases pass 1,000: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apologized for the hardships caused by India's nationwide lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed the 1,000 mark.

China's local epidemic "blocked": China's National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said a news conference Sunday that local transmission in the country was now "blocked," as the daily number of new cases remains in the low double digits. But Mi warned that the chance for a second wave of infections imported from other countries remains high.

Tokyo cases spike: Japan's health ministry announced Tokyo's largest jump in cases yet on Sunday, with 68 new infections confirmed. Countrywide, there were 173 new cases. The spike comes a week after the 2020 Olympics scheduled to be held in the city were postponed until next year.  

Australia closes playgrounds and outdoor areas: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has strengthened already tough social distancing laws in Australia, limiting all gatherings in public spaces to two people and shutting playgrounds and skate parks. Morrison urged all residents to "stay home."

Philippines reports its single largest daily rise in cases: There were 343 new cases of the coronavirus recorded in the Philippines on Sunday, a massive jump which brought the country's total to 1,418. The Department of Health also reported three additional fatalities due to the coronavirus, bringing the death toll in the Philippines to 71. 

Plane with medical supplies crashes in Manila: A plane which was heading from the Philippine capital to Tokyo with medical supplies and personnel exploded shortly after takeoff on Sunday. All eight people onboard were killed, including a flight medic, a doctor and a nurse.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apologized for the hardships caused by a nationwide lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed the 1,000 mark.

There are now 1,024 confirmed cases in India, according to data from the country's health ministry. They include 27 deaths, and 95 patients who have been discharged from hospital.

Modi apologizes for lockdown: India -- the second most populous country in the world -- has gone into complete lockdown in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus.

In a radio address on Sunday -- the fifth day of the nationwide lockdown -- Modi said he was sorry for the hardships caused by the decision to shut down non-essential services.

The 21-day lockdown has prompted thousands of migrant workers to attempt to leave India's major cities as they were left without jobs or pay. Experts have questioned the viability and sustainability of a nationwide lockdown, which is scheduled to end on April 14.

New York City's Brookdale University Medical Center says that the massive number of patients they are seeing during the Covid-19 crisis is causing a strain on the number of oxygen tanks available.

Brookdale's vice president of external affairs Khari Edwards confirmed to CNN they are short but could not say how short they are. 

A respiratory therapist at the hospital in Brooklyn tells CNN that the number of patients requiring oxygen has increased so dramatically that they have used nearly all their oxygen tanks, including about 50% of the emergency reserves. 

The respiratory therapist says that they are expecting a shipment on Monday morning to fully replenish their supply and the reserves. 

Now, instead of having nearly 130 tanks delivered twice a week, the respiratory therapist says the hospital is trying to get oxygen tank deliveries daily. They say they'll also be increasing the size of the deliveries until the crisis is over. 

The amount of time an oxygen tank lasts depends on its size and the oxygen concentration a patient needs, according to the respiratory therapist.  

New York state has the highest number of confirmed cases of any state in the US, with at least 59,513 infections and 965 deaths, according to CNN's tally.

President Donald Trump said he pushed to attend the opening of a field hospital at Javits Center in New York City -- but was told by the Secret Service that he would not be permitted to go.

The temporary hospital space at the Javits Center is expected to house roughly 2,900 beds to deal with an overflow of patients due to coronavirus. 

Trump also gave more detail about the hospital.

“In New York, we built 2,900 hospital rooms, beds,” Trump said. “This was done by the federal government, not by state government,” Trump said.

The Army Corps of Engineers was involved in converting the space.

A US Secret Service spokesperson said that, for operational security reasons, "the Secret Service does not discuss our protectees, protective means, methods and or protective responsibilities."

An attending physician in the anesthesiology department of a hospital in Long Island, New York state told CNN over the weekend that there are not enough supplies in the current battle against Covid-19.

The doctor described wiping down and reusing protective equipment meant for single use and also mentioned a short supply of bleach wipes. They also said the hospital has no more ventilators and that they are using anesthesia machines as ventilators. 

"There are just so many patients who are so sick it seems impossible to keep up with the demand," they told CNN.  

The bigger picture: The doctor's comments tally with other reports that hospitals are lacking in medical supplies.

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly said the state needs at least 30,000 ventilators to treat coronavirus patients, but it has only a fraction of that. 

Across the country, front-line health-care workers have described a grim scene of rationed personal protective equipment -- widely known as PPE -- and a lack of testing.

New York state has the most coronavirus cases in the US, with at least 59,513 people infected and 965 deaths, according to CNN's tally.

The number of novel coronavirus infections in the US has risen rapidly in the past week, surpassing both China and Italy to become the country with the most confirmed cases.

The US figures have more than quadrupled over the past seven days.

As of early Monday morning on March 23, the US had at least 34,000 cases of the virus, according to CNN's figures. There were only 414 deaths registered from Covid-19 across the country and many states still hadn't reported a fatality.

One week later, and there are more than 139,000 confirmed cases, according to CNN's figures -- over four times the number reported just a week ago.

Deaths has risen even faster. There have now been over 2,400 fatalities from the coronavirus, with Wyoming and Hawaii the only states yet to report a fatality.

Dr Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, said Sunday it was "entirely conceivable" that the number of infections could rise to one million.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that if the numbers of deaths could be contained to 100,000 or less, "we would have done a very good job."

Musician John Prine is in a critical condition in hospital after a "sudden onset" of coronavirus symptoms, his family says.

Prine, 73, was hospitalized on Thursday and intubated Saturday night, and continues to receive care but "his situation is critical," according to a family statement posted on his verified Twitter account.

"This is hard news for us to share," the statement continued. "But so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, we wanted to let you know, and give you the chance to send on more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you."

The news prompted tributes and supportive posts on social media.

Bette Midler, who has covered Prine's song, "Hello in There," tweeted: "One of the loveliest people I was ever lucky enough to know. He is a genius and a huge soul. Pray for him."

Musician Keb' Mo' dedicated an online performance of "I'm telling You Now" to Prine on Twitter.

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