Following a 10:00am meeting with President Trump and the COVID-19 task force members, Vice-President Mike Pence will be holding a press briefing at noon.
UPDATE: Video Added (Just Hit Play)
The YouTube ID of mdZY2XPIXdM?start=1311 is invalid.At approximately 1:00am this morning the House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Response Act [H.R.6201] (House Link Here)
The final text of the bill is also embedded below.
The Bill passed: 363-Yay/40-Nay with 26-Not Voting [Vote Tally Here]
[scribd id=451664181 key=key-TpgzK792x3tz3D3azeRw mode=scroll]
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Additionally, President Trump exercised statutory authorities to declare a national emergency in response to the coronavirus. The unprecedented action invites States, territories, and tribes to access over $42 billion in existing funding to combat the coronavirus.
This is a bold step for the brand. It takes very strong leadership to make a decision like this. All Apple Inc. retail stores will be closed; however, on-line distribution centers will remain open. Workers will continue to receive their regular pay despite the closures.
(Via CNBC) Apple said it will close all of its stores outside of Greater China until March 27 to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading.
The iPhone maker’s online store will remain open as well as its “Apple Store” app.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company had learned lessons from the outbreak in China and that is why it is taking these steps.
“One of those lessons is that the most effective way to minimize risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance,” Cook wrote in a blog post late on Friday. “As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers.” (read more)
After an evening meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, President Trump has announced his support for House Resolution 6201 – The Cononavirus Response Act.
You can find the text of the House Bill HERE
Earlier today President Trump and the COVID-19 task force held a press conference to outline the latest mitigation steps. [Transcript Below]
[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you. Thank you.
A beautiful day in the Rose Garden. Appreciate everybody being here. Today, I’d like to provide an update to the American people on several decisive new actions we’re taking in our very vigilant effort to combat and ultimately defeat the coronavirus.
We’ve been working very hard on this. We’ve made tremendous progress. When you compare what we’ve done to other areas of the world, it’s pretty incredible. A lot of that had to do with the early designation and the closing of the borders.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is saying the Democrats and White House have made an agreement to pass the content of the Coronavirus Response Act. However, there is no confirmation from the White House (yet).
President Trump is meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in the White House right now.
WASHINGTON – House Democrats and the Trump administration reached agreement on a coronavirus response package Friday after a day of grueling negotiations, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
“We are proud to have reached an agreement with the Administration to resolve outstanding challenges, and now will soon pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” she wrote to Democrats after hours of back-and-forth with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
President Trump will hold a press conference on COVID-19 today at 3:00pm ET. It is expected that President Trump will declare a national emergency.
UPDATE – Video Added
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, began exhibiting flu-like symptoms after returning from a speaking engagement in the U.K.
Mrs. Trudeau has now been confirmed to be infected with the Chinese Coronavirus.
Surprisingly, sources tell CTV News the couple’s children are not showing symptoms and are not being quarantined.
CANADA – Canadian government officials announced Thursday night that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for the coronavirus and “will remain in isolation for the time being.”
They also said the prime minister “is in good health,” and his wife “is feeling well,” showing “mild” symptoms. (link)
The White House Coronavirus Task Force includes: Vice President Mike Pence; Ambassador Debbie Brix, White House Corona Virus Response Coordinator; Secretary Alex Azar, Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Robert Redfield, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Stephen Hahn, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Food and Drug Administration; and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Earlier today Dr. Anthony Fauci gives an update on coronavirus outbreak and how the White House is trying to combat the spread.
Elania Plott is a CNN analyst who notes in her conversations with supporters of President Trump the disdain and distrust in media is worse than any time she can remember:
Perhaps this short recap video will help explain. CNN is now claiming that anyone who uses the term “Wuhan Virus” or “Chinese Corona Virus” is being xenophobic and racist. The Media Research Center looked into it and captured some rather stark hypocrisy: