New York governor: We're "cautiously optimistic" that infection rate is slowing
At least 777 people across New York died from coronavirus yesterday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. That's down from 799 the day before.
In total, 7,844 people have died from coronavirus in the state, the governor said.
While the state continues to lose a "tremendous number of lives," Cuomo said he's "cautiously optimistic" that the infection rate is slowing.
Cuomo said the change in ICU admissions is "a negative number" today — the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started.
"That means there are fewer people in the intensive care units statewide than there were," he explained.
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11:31 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Vermont governor extends emergency declaration until May 15
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced today he is extending the state's emergency declaration and all corresponding directives until May 15.
"We are making big sacrifices to save lives, but we cannot let our foot off the gas just yet. We will continue to watch the trends, and as soon as the data shows a downward trend, we can open the spigot, a quarter turn at a time, to get folks back to work in a way that’s responsible and safe," Scott said in a Facebook post.
11:30 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
US federal government plans to buy $2 billion worth of ventilators to distribute to states
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz
The US Department of Health and Human Services is planning on buying $2 billion worth of ventilators for its strategic national stockpile and will distribute the needed medical equipment to states, a department spokesperson said on Friday.
The ventilator deals are meant "to ensure we never have a shortage of ventilators," the spokesperson said.
The pledge comes on the heels of HHS announcing contracts this week with GM and Philips. Those two agreements promise 73,000 ventilators to the federal agency's stockpile this year, for a total price of about $1.14 billion.
HHS said this week it's planning on awarding more contracts like the GM and Philips deals for more ventilators. The HHS office that runs the stockpile has also encouraged state governments to use and to try to tap into their own supplies of ventilators.
"We have been pleased to see states like Oregon, California and Washington step up to do this," the HHS spokesperson said. "Ordering and supplying brand new ventilators takes time; states and hospitals should do what they can today to get resources where they are needed most."
11:21 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
At least 1 New Jersey inmate has died from coronavirus
Marcus Hicks, New Jersey’s Department Of Corrections commissioner, said there are 129 staff members who are infected with coronavirus, and 20 inmates have tested positive.
One inmate has died from the virus.
There are 400 inmates on medical quarantine who are not symptomatic, Hicks said. More than 1,000 employees are also in quarantine status, he added.
Moments ago, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced he is signing an executive order allowing the possible release of some low-risk, vulnerable inmates in the prison system in the wake of the pandemic.
Hicks stressed that no inmate convicted of a serious crime would be considered. He said he does not have an exact number on how many individuals this may impact.
11:11 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
New Jersey governor will sign executive order that may allow some inmates to be released
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tours an emergency field hospital being prepared at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, on April 2. Michael Mancuso/Pool/Getty Images
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced he is signing an executive order allowing the possible release of some low-risk, vulnerable inmates in the prison system in the wake of the pandemic.
Under this order, low-risk inmates whose age or health status puts them at risk, who have been denied parole within the last year or whose sentences are set to expire in the next three months “may be” – and he stresses “may be” – placed on temporary home confinement or granted parole if already eligible, through an expedited process, Murphy said.
No one convicted of a serious crime, such as murder or sex assault, will be eligible for consideration, he said.
A “robust” process will help determine whether an individual is eligible and each will have an individualized release plan addressing housing and medical services.
“No one who cannot meet these standards will be released,” he said. All under home confinement will be subject to Department of Corrections supervision, he said.
“We have dual or twin responsibilities here. Protecting those who work in our prisons, and those who are incarcerated,” he added.
Social distancing is “extremely hard to accomplish in a prison setting” Murphy added and “allowing some of our most vulnerable individuals who do not pose a public safety threat to temporarily leave prison will protect both their health and the health and safety of the men and women working in our correctional facilities”
10:56 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Ohio governor says that coronavirus guidelines are working but “we can't let this monster up”
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine praised residents of his state for following steps to help slow the spread of coronavirus, but warned that it’s not yet time to get back to normal.
“Ohioans have done a great job. They've changed the future, but we've got to keep doing it. We're doing well but we can't let this monster up,” he said in an interview with CNN’s Jim Sciutto.
“We've got this monster down a little bit, but you're still seeing a significant number of Ohioans who are dying every day and going into the hospital, so we’re not through this yet.”
The Republican governor said that while institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati have increased testing, the state needs to ramp up its capabilities to truly get a handle on the virus.
“Part of the plan we are now in the process of putting together will certainly involve robust testing. It's going to be absolutely necessary to be able to get people back to work,” he said.
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10:38 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Brazil's president booed as he physically interacts with crowds of people during virus outbreak
From CNN's Flora Charner
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, left, poses for a photo while visiting a local bakery. Eduardo Bolsonaro/From Twitter
Images of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro hugging supporters and posing with people at a local bakery circulated online Thursday evening.
A video was shared by his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, and showed the Brazilian president with members of his cabinet interacting with a large group of people.
No one appeared to be wearing masks or any other protective gear. According to affiliate CNN Brasil, some people booed the president and banged pots from windows and balcony in protest.
Bolsonaro has dismissed the coronavirus in the past as a "little flu" and said he believes impact on Brazil's economy will be much worse. He has been pushing to lift self-isolation measures imposed by governors in several Brazilian states.
10:24 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Oakland is closing 74 miles of city streets to make more room for physical distancing
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
About 74 miles of Oakland, California, streets will be closed to give bicyclists and pedestrians more room to spread out during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Libby Schaaf gave a preview of the new initiative, dubbed Oakland Slow Streets, in a virtual town hall Thursday night.
Parks are too crowded to maintain proper physical distancing, Chief Resilience Officer Alexandra McBride noted, so the city's creative solution is to take advantage of the 20% to 30% of land dedicated to roads.
City streets will close roads to vehicular traffic mostly in and around residential neighborhoods. The official rollout of this emergency and details are expected to be released later today.
10:18 a.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Melinda Gates says coronavirus will be "horrible in the developing world"
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
Melinda Gates says she’s very concerned that vulnerable, poor populations in developing countries will not be able to handle the coronavirus crisis.
“It’s going to be horrible in the developing world. And part of the reason you're seeing the case numbers still don't look very bad, it’s because they don't have access to very many tests,” said Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is putting billions of dollars behind eight potential vaccines for the coronavirus.
“If you live in a slum, you can't physical distance. You have to go out and get your meal. You don't have clean water to wash your hands,” she said in an interview with CNN’s Poppy Harlow. “We have a crisis on our hands that we aren't even talking about in the United States.”
Gates said that the coronavirus pandemic will set the world back in terms of gender equity as well.
“70% of the health care workers around the world are women. Women do more than two times the unpaid labor in their homes. So they're caring for people in the health system and they’re caring for people at home,” she said.
