April 1 coronavirus news

Vice President Mike Pence said the worst of the coronavirus for the United States could be over by early June if all guidelines are followed. 

“I never want to minimize the loss. I just want to make sure people know there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can save lives between now and the summertime by putting these guidelines into practice,” Pence said. 

But Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said that while there are early indications that social distancing appears to be working, the US could see another surge of the coronavirus in the fall.

Pence said he agrees with that assessment. “We believe that the likelihood is that, just like the flu, that the coronavirus will likely manifest again either in the fall or in the winter of next year.”

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There are at least 188,637 cases of coronavirus in the the US and 3,911 deaths, according to CNN Health's tally of US cases that are detected and tested in the country through its public health systems.

The total includes cases from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.

Wyoming is the only state not reporting a death from coronavirus. 

For the most up-to-date US numbers compiled by CNN, please check this map which automatically refreshes every 10 minutes.

 Vice President Mike Pence sought to cast blame on the Centers for Disease Control and China when pressed by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on why the US was so late in understanding the enormity of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I will be very candid with you and say that in mid-January the CDC was still assessing that the risk of the coronavirus to the American people was low. The very first case, which was someone who had been in China – in late January around the 20th day of January,” Pence said. 

He continued:

Pressed again by Blitzer, he later added, “The reality is that we could’ve been better off if China had been more forthcoming,” adding that the “outbreak was real in China… long before the world learned in December.”

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While the White House has issued national social distancing guidelines through April, federal officials have not mandated a nationwide shelter-in-place order. Many individual states however, have issued those kinds of restrictions.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer just asked Vice President Mike Pence why the Trump administration hasn't given such an order.

Pence added that officials continue to look at "every option."

"We're going to continue to bring the president the best recommendations based on real-time data and science for what every state, what every community should be doing," he said.

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Vice President Mike Pence said that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking at the the issue of masks "as a protective measure" for all Americans "right now."

He said that the White House task force will make a recommendation on that to President Trump.

On the timing of that recommendation, Pence told CNN's Wolf Blitzer during an interview today, "We'll bring those recommendations to the President at the appropriate time." 

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is continuing her workouts at the Supreme Court gym during the coronavirus pandemic, according to her longtime personal trainer.

Bryant Johnson, Ginsburg's trainer, told the news outlet Law360 on Tuesday that Ginsburg, 87, and a four-time cancer survivor, does not want to stop her sessions.  

Washington, DC, has implemented a stay-at-home order and closed all public gyms due to the pandemic.

The court and Johnson have not returned CNN's requests for comment. 

Johnson told Law360 that he has canceled his appointments with other clients and has only been working with Ginsburg. The court building has been closed to the public but staffers continue to visit the offices for official business.

Johnson said he is taking extra precautions and keeping a safe distance between him and Ginsburg during their sessions. He said he wipes "every piece of equipment" he thinks Ginsburg will come in contact with and washes his hands after. 

"Her choice is, she doesn't make excuses not to do it," Johnson told Law360. "So we find ways to do it."

Social distancing at the Capitol: The city's "stay-at-home order" from April 1 through April 24 says all residents should remain in their homes except for "essential activities," like buying groceries. 

Residents can also "engage in allowable recreational activities" outdoors with household members, such as walking, hiking, dog-walking, biking and other activities where there is no person-to-person contact. 

Washington, DC, requirements for social distancing, as recommended by health experts, is to maintain 6 feet of distance from other individuals.

The court indefinitely postponed a slate of 11 cases that were to be heard in March — but has yet to announce alternatives for regular oral arguments scheduled for April.

Vice President Mike Pence urged every American to "do their part" and follow the federal coronavirus guidelines.

"The next two weeks, the next 30 days are vital," Pence said. "The future is on our hands."

On Sunday, President Trump said he would extend nationwide social distancing guidelines for another 30 days, an abrupt back-down from his push to reopen the country as coronavirus continues to spread.

The White House's social distancing guidance advises all Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 and urges older people to stay at home.

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There are nearly 100 sailors who have tested positive for Covid-19 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a senior defense official tells CNN. The Navy has every expectation that the number will rise, source added.

About 1,000 of more than 4,000 crew members have been tested so far. The official said about 1,000 sailors have been moved ashore in Guam and that is expected to rise to 3,000 in the coming days.  

Guam’s Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said on Wednesday she will allow sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt in Guam if they test negative for coronavirus and undergo a 14-day quarantine. 

Some context: CNN reported Tuesday that the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a US Navy aircraft carrier where an outbreak of the coronavirus has spread to at least 70 sailors, has warned Navy leadership that decisive action is required to save the lives of the ship's crew.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN's John King Tuesday that the Navy was working to get the sailors off the ship. "We don't disagree with the (Commanding Officer) on that ship and we're doing it in a very methodical way because it's not the same as a cruise ship, that ship has armaments on it, it has aircraft on it, we have to be able to fight fires if there are fires on board the ship, we have to run a nuclear power plant, so there's a lot of things that we have to do on that ship that make it a little bit different and unique but we're managing it and we're working through it," he added.

The famous Wimbledon tennis tournament has been canceled, organizers announced today.

"It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic," tournament organizers said in a statement.

Organizers said they would offer refunds to those who purchased tickets for this summer's tournament.