April 11 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Brett McKeehan, Amy Woodyatt, Fernando Alfonso III and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 1710 GMT (0110 HKT) December 27, 2020
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4:49 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

For the first time in US history, every state is under a disaster declaration simultaneously

From CNN's Jason Hoffman

A boarded-up bar on Manhattan's Upper East Side on April 11.
A boarded-up bar on Manhattan's Upper East Side on April 11. B.A. Van Sise/NurPhoto via Getty Images

President Trump has approved a disaster declaration for Wyoming in response to coronavirus, making the current pandemic the first time in history that every state in the country is under a federal disaster declaration simultaneously.

This is the 55th disaster declaration issued in response to coronavirus.

All 50 states plus the US Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have all received a federal disaster declaration.

2:25 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

There are only 61 ventilators left in New Jersey state warehouses, officials say

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy arrives at the Edison Field Medical Station at the N.J. Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey on April 8.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy arrives at the Edison Field Medical Station at the N.J. Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey on April 8. Chris Pedota/The Record via AP

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the state is "literally at the edge" in regards to the number of ventilators available to treat coronavirus patients.

There are 61 ventilators available in the state warehouses, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said.

Persichilli said there is a concern about the number of ventilators, and that they are looking for another option.

"We do inventories of alternative ventilators, anesthesia machines, BiPAP machines, home ventilators," Persichilli said. "We’re having the most efficient and effective result with anesthesia machines, of which we have a lot of, but they do have to be modified.”

Murphy said officials were on the phone with the White House Saturday morning and expressed that ventilators are a priority.

Some context: The latest model projections report the hospitalizations in New Jersey will peak at 15,922 and ICU admissions will be about 3,821 –– but that changes daily, Persichilli said.

She believes the state will have bed spaces for everyone, but the concern continues to be the availability of personal protection equipment and ventilators.

Persichilli also said the USNS Comfort, a military hospital ship in New York City, will now be accepting patients from New Jersey hospitals.

2:28 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

No decision made on New Jersey schools, governor says

Pool via News 12 NJ
Pool via News 12 NJ

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said no decision has been made with regards to schools at this time

When asked about the New York Governor’s comments on coordinating school openings, Murphy acknowledged that “some harmony in the region” would “be a good thing” saying he share's the New York governor's sentiment.

4:50 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

Pentagon is using Defense Production Act authority to ramp up N95 mask production

From CNN's Ryan Browne

The Pentagon is executing its first project under the authorities granted by the Defense Production Act (DPA) in order to produce more than 39 million N95 masks amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“On the evening of April 10, the Department of Defense received approval from the White House Task Force to execute the first DPA Title 3 project responding to Covid-19,” Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Mike Andrews said in a statement. “The $133 million project will use these authorities to increase domestic production capacity of N95 masks to over 39 million in the next 90 days."

The names of the companies involved were not immediately announced.

Some context: N95 masks have been seen as a critical resource and the Defense Department has already pledged 10 million such masks from its own stockpiles to the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Last week, President Trump separately authorized the Defense Production Act to be used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to obtain N95 masks from 3M.

4:51 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

Texas waives physicians-in-training regulations to combat coronavirus

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on April 6.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on April 6. Eric Gay/AP

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is waiving regulations on physicians-in-training (PIT) permit holders to increase health care capacity to fight coronavirus in the state.

With restrictions waived, PIT permit holders will be able to work at any Texas hospital or facility associated with the Graduate Medical Education (GME) training program. They will also be able to practice in areas outside their GME training program with physician oversight.

For example, under these temporary waivers, residents in a surgical residency program can assist in an Emergency Department if a surge of patients is experienced. These waivers will increase the availability of medically trained individuals to help assist the coronavirus response.

"These temporary waivers will expand the staffing capacity of our hospitals and medical facilities, ensuring Texans will have access to the care needed during the response to Covid-19," Abbott said. "I am grateful for all the frontline health care workers across the state serving their fellow Texans during this challenging time."

Texas has 12,398 confirmed coronavirus cases and 248 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

4:52 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

550 crew members of USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Ryan Browne

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is seen docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on April 10.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is seen docked at Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor on April 10. Tony Azios/AFP via Getty Images

There are 550 sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt who have tested positive for coronavirus as of Saturday, according to a statement from the US Navy.

So far, 92% of the sailors have been tested and 3,696 of them have now been moved ashore.

Some context: CNN reported on Thursday that a sailor from the USS Theodore Roosevelt who had tested positive for coronavirus was admitted to an intensive care unit in Guam after being found unresponsive.

4:53 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

Florida and Idaho families can now use EBT cards online to buy food

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Florida and Idaho families who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are now allowed to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards online due to the coronavirus pandemic, an announcement from US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a press release Saturday.

The approval allows states to expedite the implementation of online purchasing by stores that are already authorized to take SNAP benefits, according to the release.

People who receive such benefits should be able to use them for online retailers later this month, the release said.

4:55 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

Air Force medically evacuated three contractors from Afghanistan due to coronavirus

From CNN's Ryan Browne

The US Air Force medically evacuated three contractors who tested positive for Covid-19 from Afghanistan to Germany on Friday, according to a statement from Air Mobility Command spokeswoman Rose Ripley.

This is the first time the Air Force has medically evacuated someone sick from coronavirus, and marks the first operational use of the "Transport Isolation System," according to the statement. 

The system was developed during the Ebola outbreak and is designed to move patients ill with an infectious disease. 

4:57 p.m. ET, April 11, 2020

714 members of the New York Fire Department have tested positive for coronavirus

The New York Fire Department says 714 members have tested positive for the coronavirus, FDNY spokesman Jim Long told CNN. This figure includes firefighters, EMS and civilian personnel.

Overall, 2,700 members are currently out sick or on medical leave. This includes all injuries and other illnesses, in addition to coronavirus cases.

On Friday, EMS received 4,459 medical calls. FDNY tweeted on Saturday urging people to only call 911 if it's a real emergency.

See FDNY's tweet: