There are 10,710 cases in the state, with 237 deaths, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health.
April 3 coronavirus news
By Joshua Berlinger, Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Rob Picheta, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN
Updated 8:02 a.m. ET, April 4, 2020
99 Posts
Sort by
California coronavirus cases exceed 10,000
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
There are now at least 261,438 coronavirus cases in the US
There are at least 261,438 cases of coronavirus in the US and 6,699 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.
So far, on Friday, 15,865 new cases and 641 deaths have been reported, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins.
The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases. Wyoming is the only state not reporting a death from coronavirus.
North Carolina governor: “This pandemic is a war. And we need the armor to fight it.”
From CNN's Chris Boyette
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a press conference Friday that the federal government should do more to direct industries to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for those on the front lines treating patients with Covid-19.
“I know the President has ordered some companies to ramp up productions of ventilators. This is important, and badly needed. But the federal government can and should do more to direct industries to help produce these supplies,” Cooper said. “This pandemic is a war. And we need the armor to fight it.”
North Carolina has received three shipments of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile but not the amount they have requested, Cooper said.
“We're grateful for these supplies. But to be clear, we've gotten just 33% of what we've asked for and told not to expect more anytime soon," Cooper added.
Some context: The governor said that North Carolina, like many states in the country, is grappling with shortages of critical medical supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic and trying to find ways to buy more.
“Now of course we know that we can't rely solely on the National Stockpile, and our emergency management teams are working around the clock to find the equipment that is so badly needed by those on the front line of this pandemic, we're not the only ones,” Cooper said.
US military preparing to deploy additional forces to support coronavirus response
From CNN's Ryan Browne
The US military is preparing to deploy additional forces in support of the coronavirus response, including 15 Army task forces, a US defense official told CNN.
The US Navy has placed two additional Navy Expeditionary Medical Treatment Facilities, one active duty and the other drawn from the reserves on "prepare to deploy orders." The Navy earlier sent two of these units to New Orleans and Dallas. They consist of about 450 personnel, 150 of which are doctors.
The location of where the units are being sent has yet to be determined and that decision will be made by Federal Emergency Management Agency. The official said the units should be ready to deploy in about 72 hours. While they are expected to go to New York, FEMA will make that decision.
The Navy and Air Force are also mobilizing volunteer reservists.
The Army has also created from its reserves 15 teams known as "Urban Area Medical Task Forces" to help bolster the coronavirus response. These teams will consist of 85 personnel each, 20 of whom will be doctors, for a total of 1,275 personnel. The task forces are intended to serve as an augmentation element, going into retrofitted arenas and convention centers in support of HHS. The official said these forces should be mobilized by Tuesday.
There is acknowledgement within the Department of Defense that the situation in New York is deteriorating to the point where the US military has to draw more from its own medical capabilities, assuming risk at defense installations, in order to help combat the pandemic.
By the numbers: These additional forces will join the US military's 460 doctors, 1,117 nurses and other medical personnel already assisting civilian communities in their response to the coronavirus.
Supreme Court to postpone remaining two weeks of arguments
From CNN's Ariane de Vogue
The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will postpone the remaining two weeks of arguments that were set to begin on April 20 and that it is considering rescheduling some of the 20 or so cases that it has had to put off so far in response to Covid-19.
“The court will consider rescheduling some cases from the March and April sessions before the end of the Term, if circumstances permit in light of public health and safety guidance at that time,” said court spokesperson Kathy Arberg. “The court will consider a range of scheduling options and other alternatives if arguments cannot be held in the courtroom before the end of the term.”
According to the statement, the justices will release opinions for all the cases that have been argued so far this term.
Pentagon deploying a mortuary affairs unit to NYC to support the medical examiner
From CNN's Barbara Starr
The Pentagon is deploying a deploying a mortuary affairs unit to New York City to support the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a US defense official said Friday.
The deployment is at the request of Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Under our Defense Support to Civil Authorities mission, U.S. Northern Command is facilitating this request on behalf of DoD. These highly trained specialists will assist New York City with the solemn duty of properly handling human remains during this pandemic. Forty-two Soldiers from the 54th Quartermaster Company, from Fort Lee, Va., have deployed to Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Federal and local laws regulate how these operations are conducted in the United States,” the official said.
North Carolina says 43% of people diagnosed with Covid-19 are ages 25-49
From CNN's Chris Boyette
Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), announced Friday that 43% of people diagnosed with Covid-19 are ages 25-49.
So far, 29% are age 50-64 and 20% are age 65 and up, Cohen said.
While Covid-19 has been more deadly and severe for people older than 60 and those with underlying health, health officials and leaders around the country have been imploring younger people to practice social distancing.
“We're entering the first weekend of my order to stay at home. I need you to do just that. I know it's tempting to get away from all this and gather with friends and extended family, especially when Friday means the end of the week. Don't,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday. “This virus is still spreading quickly. No one is immune. There is no vaccination, and social distancing is our best protection… Lots of Tar Heel blue skies are in our forecast. I know it's hard, but stay at home anyway. We're in a crucial time period for flattening the curve. And we still need you to step up.”
By the numbers: NCDHHS reports 2,093 cases of Covid-19 in the state with 19 deaths. This up from 764 cases a week ago, according to Cohen.
There are 259 people in the hospital, the NCDHHS reports.
Pennsylvania has more than 800 people hospitalized for coronavirus
From CNN's Laura Ly
There are currently about 852 people in Pennsylvania hospitalized due to Covid-19 — about 10% of all cases, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said today.
Of those hospitalized, 241 have required intensive care, and 147 have needed ventilators, Levine said, adding that 12% of the state's nursing homes had at least one confirmed case.
Pennsylvania governor asks all residents to wear masks when leaving their home
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked in a press conference Friday that all Pennsylvanians wear a mask anytime they leave their home for essential needs.
“Today I am asking all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask anytime you leave your house. Masks help prevent people from sharing illnesses. They don’t do a great job at keeping people from getting sick, and they’re not foolproof. So it’s critical that our first act, as Secretary Levine said, is to ask ourselves if we really need to leave our house. If we don’t really, truly need to leave, then we shouldn’t,” Wolf said.
Wolf said that N95 and paper masks should still be reserved for healthcare workers, and that residents should use cloth to cover their nose and mouth, or make their own mask. Guidelines for making your own mask can be found on the state’s website, Wolf said.
“Wearing a mask will help us cut down the possibility that we might be infecting an innocent bystander, like that grocery store cashier, the pharmacist, or someone stocking shelves,” he said.