U.S. Coronavirus Blog: Pence Keeping His Distance; China Sued

This story on the new coronavirus is updated throughout the day with national news and developments from around our network of local Patches. Scroll down for links, helpful for day-to-day living and the most recent stories.

We’re All In This Together: Help Patch Help Our Communities


As the new week begins, Vice President Mike Pence was reportedly in self-quarantine this weekend after his press secretary tested positive for the new coronavirus on Friday. However, a spokesperson said he plans to return to the White House Monday.

Also, the U.S response to the new coronavirus is taking some heat from a prominent figure while a group of Americans and U.S. businesses are looking for someone to take responsibility for the outbreak that’s claimed more than 79,000 lives.

One of those Americans is Saundra Andringa-Meuer. Before coronavirus, she was a healthy 61-year-old mother of six who never smoked or drank alcohol. Then she became seriously ill with the COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, after traveling from her Wisconsin home to help her son move from college in Connecticut.

Now, she’s joining dozens of other American virus patients and some U.S. businesses in taking a new legal step — attempting to sue China over the spread of the virus, which first originated in the city of Wuhan.

“I do feel that they hid it from the world and from Americans,” Andringa-Meuer said. “I don’t feel we had to have the loss of life. I don’t think we had to have the economy shut down. It disrupted all of American lives. I do believe we need to right some of these wrongs.”

At least nine lawsuits have been filed in against China, which claim authorities there did not do enough to corral the virus initially. The suits also allege China tried to hide what was happening in the outbreak center of Wuhan and sought to conceal their actions and what they knew.

Eight of the lawsuits are potential class actions that would represent thousands of people and businesses. One was filed by the attorney general of Missouri, which is so far the only state to take legal action against China.

RELATED:

U.S. Virus Patients, Businesses Sue China Over Outbreak

Mike Pence Is Keeping His Distance: AP

While his office won’t call it self-quarantining, the vice president is reportedly limiting his exposure to other people after his press secretary tested positive for the coronavirus.

Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller, who tested positive Friday, had been in recent contact with Pence but not with President Donald Trump. She is married to Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser.

An earlier report from Bloomberg said the vice president was planning to self-quarantine; however, the assertion was denied by White House spokesman Devin O’Malley.

“Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine,” said spokesman Devin O’Malley. “Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow.”

The positive test for the senior Pence aide came one day after White House officials confirmed that a member of the military serving as one of Trump’s valets had tested positive for COVID-19.

Pence repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19 since his exposure but is following the advice of medical officials.

RELATED:

Obama Calls Virus Response A ‘Disaster’

The U.S. response to the new coronavirus pandemic is taking some heat from former President Barack Obama, who until now has managed to keep himself out of the spotlight through much of Donald Trump’s presidency.

During a conversation with the Obama Alumni Association, Obama called Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster.” He also used the call as an opportunity to tout his former vice president, Joe Biden.

“What we’re fighting against is these long-term trends in which being selfish, being tribal, being divided, and seeing others as an enemy — that has become a stronger impulse in American life,” Obama said. “And by the way, we’re seeing that internationally as well. It’s part of the reason why the response to this global crisis has been so anemic and spotty.”

Obama added, “It would have been bad even with the best of governments. It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset — of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to heck with everybody else’ — when that mindset is operationalized in our government.”

Government Turned Down Millions Of N95 Masks: Report

It was Jan. 22, and orders for masks were pouring into Michael Bowen’s medical supply company outside Fort Worth. He could make an additional 1.7 million N95 masks a week to meet demand, but he wanted to give the federal government first dibs.

But communications over several days with senior agency officials — including Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary for preparedness and emergency response — left Bowen with the impression that there was little immediate interest, The Washington Post reported.

In the end, the government did not take Bowen up on his offer.

The exchange between Bowen and U.S. officials was briefly described in an 89-page whistleblower complaint filed this week by Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Emails show Bright pressed Kadlec and other agency leaders on the issue of mask shortages, but his pleas went unanswered.

Bright ultimately was removed from his job and placed in a lesser position, and he alleges the move was done in retaliation by Kadlec and other officials. The Department of Health and Human Services denies the allegations.


Fauci Among Virus Task Force Members In Self Quarantine

Three members of the White House coronavirus task force placed themselves in self-quarantine over the weekend after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

This includes Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and a familiar face at Trump’s now-defunct daily coronavirus briefings.

Also quarantining are Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Stephen Hahn.

Fauci’s institute said that he has tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue to be tested regularly. It added that he is considered at “relatively low risk” based on the degree of his exposure, and that he would be “taking appropriate precautions” to mitigate the risk to others.


April Unemployment Highest Since Great Depression

With the release of April’s unemployment numbers, nearly all the job growth in the 11 years since the last recession was lost.

U.S. unemployment hit 14.7 percent April, the highest rate since the Great Depression as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The losses, reported by the Labor Department, reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry.

RELATED:

33.5 Million Have Filed For Unemployment Since Coronavirus Hit

Pandemic Especially Tough On Minorities: AP-NORC Poll

33 Million Americans Are Jobless; 77 Percent Believe They’ll Get Jobs Back


Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Also, for updated coverage on national news surrounding coronavirus, sign up for the Patch Across America daily newsletter.


From Across America

‘Permanent Economic Damage’ If Country Doesn’t Reopen

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said reopening the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic must be done in a “thoughtful way” but that not lifting lockdown measures could lead to “permanent economic damage.”


Children Hospitalized With Rare Coronavirus-Linked Condition

Several Illinois children have been hospitalized with a rare inflammatory illness related to coronavirus, according to media reports. The illness is similar to Kawasaki disease.


UFC Return Could Provide Blueprint For Other Leagues

Dana White and the UFC look like the big winners following their rousing show at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, an event that could serve as a blueprint for other sports leagues around the country and the world as they start to resume during a global pandemic.

Click Here: cheap Cowboys jersey


Donated Remdesivir Shipped To United States

Donated doses of the experimental drug Remdesivir have been shipped to some states, according to U.S. health officials.


NY Stay-At-Home Extended To June 6

An executive order extends New York’s stay-at-home for any regions still showing signs of coronavirus spread, state records show.


FL Barbershops, Hair And Nail Salons To Reopen

Barbershops, nail salons and hair salons in all but two of Florida’s 67 counties can reopen on Monday.


On Coronavirus Frontlines, Moms Sacrifice More Than Ever

From an RV in Fresno to an apartment in Chicago to a pregnancy ward in Boston, moms on the coronavirus frontines are giving their all.


Lightfoot Sets Goal To Reopen Chicago Public Schools in Fall

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says it’s her goal to open Chicago Public Schools in the fall because kids need structure in-class learning provides.


Inside The Nursing Home With NY’s Most Coronavirus Deaths

The Parker Jewish Institute on the Queens-Nassau border has the most COVID-19 deaths of any nursing home in the state.


Read More By State

Want to see what’s going on in other Patch towns and states?

Click here and type in the name of the city in the upper left corner.


Patch Coronavirus Resources