Watch President Trump’s briefing

[cbsn]

States demand ventilators as feds ration limited supply

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government is sitting on a stockpile of ventilators even as states are bidding against each other to obtain the desperately needed medical devices from private manufacturers. FEMA, the agency tasked with coordinating the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak, has nearly 10,000 ventilators sitting idle. And less than half of the 2,000 military ventilators promised by the Pentagon have been deployed. FEMA says states shouldn’t expect shipments until they are within 72 hours of a crisis. It is asking states to answer a series of data-heavy questions to determine where the most urgent needs exist.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP

Trump admin moves toward promoting broader use of face masks

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many, if not all, Americans wear face coverings when leaving home, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The recommendations were still being finalized Thursday, and would apply at least to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said they will suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandanas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home – for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-IRS-PAYMENTS

Memo: Some in US may not get stimulus checks until August

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government expects to begin making payments to millions of Americans under the new stimulus law in mid-April, but some people without direct deposit information may not get checks until mid-August or later. That’s according to a memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The document from the House Ways and Means Committee says the IRS will make about 60 million payments to Americans through direct deposit in mid-April, likely the week of April 13. The IRS has direct deposit information for these individuals from their 2018 or 2019 tax returns. Paper checks will be issued, starting May 4, but could take up to 20 weeks.

BC-FINANCIAL MARKETS

Wall Street rises for first time in three days as oil spurts

NEW YORK (AP) – Wall Street climbed to its first gain in three days after strengthening oil prices revived beaten-down energy stocks. The S&P 500 rose 2.3% and benchmark U.S. oil jumped nearly 25% following a tweet from President Donald Trump saying he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia to dial down their price war. Their conflict had helped drag oil down below $20 earlier this week from $60 early this year, hurting energy stocks and raising worries about defaults. The rebound in oil overshadowed another dire report on the jobs market. Millions more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as businesses shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak.

AP POLL-VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECONOMY

AP-NORC poll: About half of workers lose income due to virus

WASHINGTON (AP) – About half of all working Americans say they or a member of their household have lost some kind of income due to the coronavirus pandemic, with low-income Americans and those without college degrees especially likely to have lost a job. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey found that 60% of Americans now say the national economy is “poor,” an alarmingly swift reversal from the 67% who called it “good” just two months ago. The spike in pessimism has followed a stock market collapse and the closures of businesses around the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

AP-US-ELECTION-2020-CONVENTIONS

Democrats delay nominating convention amid virus concerns

The Democratic National Committee is delaying its convention until the week of Aug. 17. The move comes after prospective nominee Joe Biden said he didn’t think it was possible to hold a normal convention in July because of the coronavirus. The viral pandemic is forcing Democrats and Republicans to take a close look at their summer conventions, which typically kick off the general election season. Republicans are expressing confidence they can pull off their convention as scheduled in late August. The Democrats’ change presents massive logistical issues for the tens of thousands of delegates, activists, party leaders and media who planned to descend on Milwaukee in July.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CRUISE SHIPS

Ill-fated cruise ships given approval to dock in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Passengers aboard two cruise ships that have had coronavirus cases and deaths have been given the green light to disembark at a Florida port. Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine said Thursday that an agreement had been reached between local, state and federal officials and Carnival Corp., which owns the Zaandam and the Rotterdam. And Port Everglades traffic records list the two ships’ arrival as “confirmed.” The cruise line Holland America is operating the ships. Holland America says 45 passengers who are mildly sick will stay on board until they recover, but that it needs 10 people to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate medical care.

AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LIFE-CARE-CENTER

Feds propose $611,000 fine at Seattle-area nursing home

SEATTLE (AP) – Federal authorities have proposed a $611,000 fine for a Seattle-area nursing home connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths. State regulators and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted an inspection of the Life Care Center of Kirkland on March 16, finding serious infractions that they said placed residents in immediate danger. Authorities said Life Care had at least partially fixed the most serious problems by the time they conducted follow-up inspection last weekend. In a letter to Life Care on Wednesday, CMS proposed a fine of $611,000, but said that could be adjusted up or down based on how Life Care continues to correct remaining problems.

AP-US-MED-VIRAL-OUTBREAK-BLOOD-DONATIONS

US eases blood donation limits for gay men due to shortage

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is making it easier for gay men and other groups to give blood because of the coronavirus outbreak. That’s to help meet a shortage in the nation’s blood supply. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it was cutting the abstinence period required for men who’ve had sex with men from one year to three months. The new policy also applies to people who have gotten tattoos and piercings. Canceled blood drives have decimated donations to the American Red Cross and other nonprofits that collect blood. Officials say the changes should permit thousands more Americans to give blood.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPAIN-LIFE DECISIONS

Agonizing decisions being made in Spain’s virus hot spots

ZARZA DE TAJO, Spain (AP) – Doctors in Spain’s overburdened hospitals are having to make agonizing decisions on who gets the best care during the coronavirus crisis, and the age of patients appears to matter more than ever. Two weeks ago, workers in Madrid’s busiest hospitals said patients over 80 were not given priority for intensive care unit beds because of their lower chance of survival. Guidelines distributed Wednesday to hospitals in the northeastern region of Catalonia recommended that virus patients over 80 not be intubated. The document said staff should “offer resources to those patients who can most benefit from them as far as years of life to be saved (and) avoid hospitalizations of people with scarce chances of survival.”

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)