Coronavirus: Trump backs economic relief deal reached with ...

Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that one Democrat did not vote in favor of the bill.

WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly passed legislation to provide economic relief to Americans affected by coronavirus after President Donald Trump said Friday he would support the sweeping measure.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was adopted 363-40 with every Democrat and most Republicans voting in favor of the measure. The vote was conducted shortly after midnight Friday following two days of around-the-clock negotiations between Democratic leaders and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

The bill now heads to the Senate for an expected vote Monday.

“I fully support H.R. 6201: Families First CoronaVirus Response Act, which will be voted on in the House this evening. This Bill will follow my direction for free CoronaVirus tests, and paid sick leave for our impacted American workers,” Trump tweeted.

Trump said he encouraged Republican and Democratic lawmakers to "VOTE YES" on the package.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an agreement earlier Friday, but Trump appeared to cast doubt on that measure during a Rose Garden press conference where he declared the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency.

For several hours White House aides declined to offer clear guidance on whether they agreed with Pelosi about the economic package. Trump’s remarks and the subsequent silence from the White House left the fate of the legislation unclear. Rank-and-file Republicans in the House were unlikely to go along with an agreement without a clear understanding that the president would sign it.

"We don't think the Democrats are giving enough," Trump said.

Coronavirus a national emergency:What Trump's declaration mean?

The legislation would ensure sick leave for affected workers and include money for testing for Americans, including the uninsured. Trump and lawmakers have been under pressure to ease fears over the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has halted many parts of public life, forced the closure of schools and pummeled financial markets.

But Trump appears to have not won a key provision he had sought: a payroll tax holiday. Trump blamed Democrats for opposing the idea, but it also drew a chilly response from a number of Senate Republicans.

Republicans won at least one concession: Small businesses with 50 employees or fewer would not be required to provide more than 14 days of paid sick leave if it "would risk closing the business." The federal government would cover the cost if businesses that qualify for the exemption choose to provide this support to their employees.

– John Fritze and Ledyard King

Trump sought reboot with Rose Garden news conference

After days of criticism of his handling of the coronavirus, President Donald Trump sought to regain his footing with his Rose Garden news conference laying out his most specific plans yet to fight the pandemic.

His declaration of a national emergency added momentum to Friday's rebound in the battered stock market.

Flanked by senior public health and private industry officials, Trump ran through a other actions, such as waiving federal regulations to expand hospital capacity and suspending interest payments on federal student loans..

Trump was seeking a reboot after his Wednesday prime-time address when he stumbled over his words and later had to correct misstatements. His Oval Office remarks led to a massive selloff on Wall Street.

'This will pass.’ Trump seeks to regain footing as he declares coronavirus emergency

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In the Rose Garden, Trump repeatedly cut off reporters when their questions turned to fact checking or following up on his claims. At one point, reporters questioned whether Trump felt any responsibility for an initial slow federal response after he removed White House officials charged with pandemic response, Trump said he did not, and quickly moved on to the next question.

“I just think it’s a nasty question,” Trump said. “We’re doing a great job.”

Trump was unapologetic about the test shortages and other problems with the response. And he took several swipes at his predecessor, President Barack Obama, while also criticizing Democrats on Capitol Hill.

– John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian

Third person who visited Trump's resort tests positive for coronavirus

The Brazilian Embassy identified a second official late Friday who tested positive with coronavirus and interacted with President Donald Trump.

Brazil's Chargé d'Affaires Ambassador Nestor Forster sat Trump’s table and posed for multiple photos with the president last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

“Following medical advice, Amb. Forster will extend his self-quarantine, which he had already placed himself into as a precautionary measure, for another two weeks,” the embassy said.

This makes Forster the third person who has tested positive that visited Trump's Florida resort.

Fabio Wajngarten, a senior adviser to Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive for the novel coronavirus five days after he was among a group of officials who met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Additionally, Trump Victory, a super PAC that supports the president, sent an email to supporters about a donor who was at Mar-A-Lago on Sunday who tested positive for COVID-19.

When asked if he would be tested for coronavirus by reporters after these potential exposures, Trump said he "most likely" will be tested, despite not having symptoms.

– Savannah Behrmann

Mnuchin signals deal on economic package

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin appeared to signal Friday that the White House is on board with a coronavirus response legislation announced earlier by House Democrats, despite some pushback from President Donald Trump.

"We have an agreement that reflects what the president talked about in his speech the other night," Mnuchin told Fox Business Network.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spent days negotiating with Mnuchin, announced an agreement had been reached on an economic package to help Americans cope with the impact of the coronavirus.

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But at a news conference earlier Friday where Trump announced a national emergency over the virus, the president suggested he had concerns about the progress of the talks with Democrats, and White House aides have so far declined to say whether they agree with Pelosi's assessment that a deal has been reached.

"We just don't think they’re giving enough," Trump said in his Rose Garden news conference. "We don't think the Democrats are giving enough."

– John Fritze

Trump announces cruise lines suspending operations

President Donald Trump announced that several major cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC – would suspend operations for 30 days beginning at midnight Friday at his request.

“It is a great and important industry – it will be kept that way!” Trump said in a tweet.

Trump’s request came after two companies – Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises – suspended operations Thursday for 60 days.

Passengers of two Princess Cruises ships, Diamond Princess and Grand Princess, have been quarantined abroad. In the U.S., nearly 700 people contracted coronavirus after being quarantined on board the Diamond Princess and at least 21 people have tested positive after being on Grand Princess.

The leading trade group, Cruise Lines International Association, had proposed greater screening for passengers and to deny boarding for people at higher risk from the virus. But Vice President Mike Pence said during a news conference announcing federal efforts to corral the outbreak that more steps were expected from the industry.

– Bart Jansen

Trump, lawmakers reach deal on coronavirus economic relief

Democratic congressional leaders and the Trump administration have reached a deal on an economic package to help Americans cope with the impact of the coronavirus, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who spent days negotiating it with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

The legislation would ensure sick leave for affected workers and include money for testing for Americans, including the uninsured. Trump and lawmakers have been under pressure to ease fears over the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has halted many parts of public life, forced the closure of schools and pummeled financial markets.

President Donald Trump, who has declared a national emergency, is expected to sign off on the deal shortly. And a vote in the House on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act could come within hours.

The legislation would:

Provide two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave.

Extend unemployment insurance to furloughed workers.

Beef up food assistance for needy families, including seniors, students and food banks.

Increase Medicaid funding for local, state, tribal and territorial governments and health systems, to help cover response to the emergency which has claimed dozens of lives and infected hundreds across the country.

“This legislation is about testing, testing, testing,” Pelosi, D-CA, said in a news release announcing the deal. “To stop the spread of the virus, we have secured free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured. We cannot fight coronavirus effectively unless everyone in our country who needs to be tested can get their test free of charge.”

– Ledyard King and Christal Hayes

Trump: I 'most likely' will be tested for coronavirus

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would most likely be tested for coronavirus, though he said he had no symptoms of infection and offered no timeline for being tested.

Speaking at a Rose Garden news conference, Trump was pressed about his interactions with officials who have tested positive, including an official from Brazil who met with Trump recently at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. At one point a reporter asked if Trump was being “selfish” for not taking a test and self-isolating himself. “I think I’ll do it anyway,” Trump responded. “We’re working on a schedule.”

– John Fritze

Help for cruise companies and airlines

President Trump said Friday he has waived all interest on federal student loans. He said the suspension would be in effect “until further notice.” Such a move could provide financial aid to workers experiencing reduced hours or layoffs.

Trump also said that with oil historically inexpensive after a recent plunge in prices, he has ordered the Energy Department to buy “large quantities of crude oil” for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Such a move can help support prices for the beleaguered oil industry and ensure the nation has sufficient reserve stockpiles in the event of an international crisis. The strategic reserve has about 645 million barrels of oil.

Benchmark U.S. crude prices have fallen more than 30% the past 10 days on shrinking global demand.

And Trump suggested the government could provide financial assistance to the ailing cruise line industry.

“It’s an industry that’s very badly impacted because of what’s going on with the virus,” he said, adding that the administration would probably help the cruise industry and the airlines if they ask.

– Paul Davidson

Trump: 'I don't take responsibility at all' for testing shortages

When asked if he is responsible for the delay in availability of coronavirus tests, President Donald Trump said: "I don't take any responsibility at all."

"We were given a set of circumstances, given rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time. It wasn't meant for this kind of an event, with the kind of numbers that we are talking about," Trump said.

"What we've done is redesign it very quickly," he added.

The president has repeatedly blamed the Obama administration for a rule that limited third-party laboratories from developing and running tests, but the rule was actually put in place under the Trump administration, according to an Associated Press fact check this month.

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The Trump administration reversed one of its own Food and Drug Administration policies that previously only authorized tests made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new regulation allows labs to develop coronavirus tests before the FDA reviews them.

Draft FDA guidance considered during the Obama administration called for tighter regulation of lab tests, but that guidance, which didn't pertain to public health emergencies, never went into effect, according to the Associated Press.

– Courtney Subramanian and John Fritze

No deal on economic relief package

President Donald Trump said Friday there is no deal yet on an emergency package to respond to the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic and accused Democrats of reneging on negotiations.

“We just don’t think they’re giving enough,” he said, but did not give specifics. “We thought we had something. All of a sudden, they didn’t agree to certain things they agreed to. … They’re not doing what’s right for the country.”

Trump’s remarks in the Rose Garden came about an hour after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, announced the House would move forward with a vote Friday on a sweeping package to confront the coronavirus.

The bill would include free testing for all Americans, including those uninsured, as well as two weeks of paid sick leave for those who have to skip work due to the virus. It would also included expanded food assistance, such as seniors’ meals, student lunches and food banks.

National emergency:What does Trump's emergency declaration for coronavirus mean?

Pelosi has spoken numerous times with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in an effort to reach a deal. One of the sticking points has been on the paid sick leave provisions.

Drew Hamill, Pelosi's spokesman, tweeted that the House speaker and Mnuchin had their latest conversation during the news conference.

– Ledyard King

Stocks welcome Trump's emergency declaration

Stocks recovered Friday following a brutal week of selling after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to free up about $50 billion in federal aid to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus. The Dow Jones industrial average finished the day up 1,985 points, or 9.4%, a day after plunging 2,352 points, for its worst loss since its nearly 23% drop on Oct. 19, 1987.

– David Brinkerhoff

Trump shakes hands with executives

President Donald Trump shook hands with an array of company executive who were invited to join him at his Rose Garden news conference to discuss the coronavirus response – despite repeated advice from his own public health experts against such contact.

Only one company official, Bruce Greenstein of the home healthcare provider LHC Group, moved his hand away from Trump’s outstretched hand and offered an elbow instead.

“I like that. That's good," Trump said a bit awkwardly after elbow-bumping Greenstein.

'I’m not concerned at all':Trump says he's not worried as coronavirus arrives in DC area

Trump himself may have been exposed to the virus; he had contact with Fabio Wajngarten, the communications secretary for Brazil's president, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Wajngarten was in Florida last weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and he posted a photo of himself standing next to the American leader.

Trump has said publicly that he's "not concerned" about the potential exposure, and the White House has said there's no reason for him to be tested.

"I don't have any of the symptoms," Trump said.

– Deirdre Shesgreen

Azar given broad authority to waive hospital regulations

President Donald Trump said the emergency declaration would give broad authority for Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to waive provisions of laws and regulations to give doctors and hospital "maximum flexibility to respond to the virus."

Under the declaration, Azar can:

Waive laws to enable telehealth services

Allow remote doctor visits and hospital check-ins

Waive certain federal licensing requirements so doctors from other states can provide services

Waive requirements limiting hospitals to 25 beds or a stay of 96 hours

Allowing hospitals to bring additional physicians on board and obtain additional office space

Waive rules that restrict hospital care of patients within the hospital itself

-- Courtney Subramanian

Trump: 'This will pass'

President Donald Trump, whose administration has been criticized heavily over a shortage of tests for coronavirus, promised to increase the number of tests but said administering them to everyone was not necessary.

"Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus and to help all Americans who have been impacted by this," Trump said. "Again, we don't want everybody taking this test. It's totally unnecessary. And this will pass. This will pass through and we're going to be stronger for it."

– Courtney Subramanian

Trump’s emergency declaration will come with more than just money

The most significant element of President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration will be federal disaster aid. Trump said up to $50 billion would be made available. Democrats and the Federal Emergency Management Agency had earlier estimated the number to be closer to $40 billion.

But it’s not just money. Trump said his order would waive several key regulations. Among them:

The order would waive rules so that telehealth can be more easily accessed, providing care in ways that will not require patients to come into a doctor’s office.

The order would waive rules limiting the number of beds and length of stays in hospitals.

The the order would waive rules about which parts of a hospital can treat patients, a move designed to deal with capacity and space if a large number of patients show up seeking care.

– John Fritze

Trump announces drive-through testing

President Donald Trump announced plans to partner with pharmaceutical and retail companies to set up drive-through test sites for coronavirus in an effort to catch up to a nationwide demand and deliver on the administration's promise for wider access to testing.

He met with company executives Friday to discuss expanding access to testing through drive-through testing.

"The goal is for individuals to drive up and be swabbed without having to leave your car," he said in a Rose Garden news conference.

By allowing people to remain in their car, health officials say it limits the chance for exposure. Trump said the administration is working with Google to create a web portal to direct people to those locations.

The administration has faced mounting pressure from lawmakers to increase testing access as the coronavirus pandemic continues to intensify, prompting travel restrictions, school closures, suspension of professional sports leagues and market turmoil. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, admitted to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday that limited access to testing was "a failing."

New Rochelle, a New York City suburb, became the first on the East Coast to open a drive-through testing facility Friday after it was designated a coronavirus containment zone following a recent outbreak.

– Courtney Subramanian

Trump announces emergency declaration

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday to free up billions of dollars to combat the coronavirus as he sought to persuade anxious Americans and battered financial markets that he was responding forcefully to the crisis.

"I am officially declaring a national emergency. Two very big words," Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden. As the outbreak has shuttered schools, sporting events and even Broadway, Trump has come under intense criticism for his handling of the pandemic, including an Oval Office address he delivered Wednesday that was marred by factual errors. Medical experts say there’s an acute shortage of coronavirus testing kits, the number of infections has soared and Wall Street suffered its worst day Thursday since the financial crash of 1987.

”The action I’m taking will open access up to $50 billion for states in our shared fight against his disease,” Trump said, adding that he was ordering every state to open emergency operation centers.

"This will pass," Trump said of the outbreak. "We’ll be even stronger for it We’ve learned a lot.”

The emergency declaration comes as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been negotiating with Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill on legislation to stem the economic fallout from the coronavirus. About an hour before the president delivered his remarks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House would move forward with a vote Friday on a sweeping package to confront the coronavirus.

The bill would include free testing for all Americans, including those uninsured, as well as two weeks of paid sick leave who have to skip work due to the virus. It would also include expanded food assistance, such as seniors’ meals, student lunches and food banks.

– John Fritze, Ledyard King and Nicholas Wu

Pelosi: House to vote on relief package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would move forward with a vote Friday on a sweeping package to confront the coronavirus.

The bill would include free virus testing for all Americans, including the uninsured, as well as two weeks of paid sick leave for those who have to skip work due to the virus. It would also included expanded federal food assistance, such as seniors’ meals, student lunches and food banks.

"The three most important parts of this bill are: testing, testing, testing,” she said in her televised remarks at the U.S. Capitol.

Pelosi has been in constant communication with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who is leading negotiations for the Trump administration.

Her remarks came amid reports that President Donald Trump is expected to declare a national emergency Friday over the coronavirus outbreak, a move that would enable federal officials to direct billions of dollars in federal disaster money to responders fighting the virus.

The pandemic has killed dozens in the U.S., canceled major sporting events, limited commercial travel, roiled stock markets and transformed everyday life around the globe.

– Ledyard King and Nicholas Wu

Trump to declare national emergency

President Donald Trump is expected to declare a national emergency Friday over the coronavirus outbreak, a move that would enable federal officials to direct billions of dollars in disaster money to responders fighting the virus, according to a senior administration official.

The declaration would be among a series of steps the administration is taking to try to boost the confidence of the American public and the financial markets in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who is scheduled to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. EDT, has been heavily criticized for the administration's response, including problems rolling out test kits for the virus and an Oval Office speech he delivered Wednesday that exacerbated huge losses on Wall Street. Investors were shaken by misstatements in the speech and what many saw as the lack of a broader strategy to address the crisis.

At the 3 p.m. news conference, Trump is also expected to weigh in on a relief package negotiated between Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would provide paid sick leave to workers, among other steps to blunt the impact on the economy of virus-related disruptions.

The national emergency is expected to be declared under the 1988 Stafford Act, which authorizes federal assistance to local governments, usually for natural disasters. The Stafford Act is one several laws in a president's extensive emergency powers toolkit. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency over the virus in late January. That step made it easier for states to redirect staff responding to the virus.

The nation's Disaster Relief Fund has a balance of about $42 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Debt relief, airline help under consideration, Mnuchin says

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said debt relief for student loans and help for the hard-hit airline industry are under consideration for the next coronavirus rescue package. Speaking to CNBC as a deal was imminent on a separate, near-term package that includes paid emergency leave, Mnuchin said President Donald Trump has no intention of closing financial markets.

Mnuchin also said:

Congress and the administration have "100 things on our list” for the next possible package, and added “The president wants a stimulus package."

Financial authorities are ready to provide liquidity to parts of the economy taking a hit from shutdowns.

A “big rebound” in economic activity could come by the end of the year, drawing a contrast with the Great Recession that began after the 2008 market meltdown.

"This is not like financial crisis where people don't know when this will end. ... By the end of the year, we're going to expect we're going to have a big rebound in economic activity," he said.

Asked about suspending student debt of three months, Mnuchin said: "That's on our list of 50 different items we're bringing to the president for a decision." He added: “We're like in the second inning of getting things done. We'll be passing more legislation."

He’s spoken to the airlines: "That is the next priority on my list," Mnuchin said while also mentioning hotels, the cruise industry and small businesses.

Tariff rollbacks are not under consideration by Trump.

Louisiana will delay presidential primary

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Friday he has requested to delay the state's presidential primary for two months due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

The presidential primary was slated for April 4, but will be moved to June 20.

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Ardoin, during a press conference, said there are provisions in place that allow for the delay of primaries and early voting in “declared states of emergency" as a way to "protect the integrity of the electoral process”

“Today I have certified that the state of emergency exists and requested that the government issue an executive order postponing the elections this spring,” he said.

According to the Monroe, La., News Star, Gov. John Bel Edwards will grant the delay.

Louisiana is the only state that has announced it will delay its primaries due to coronavirus.

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign released a statement in response to Louisiana’s primary delay, saying that “our elections can be conducted safely in consultation with public health officials.”

“Voting is at the very heart of who we are as a democracy,” Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. “If voters are feeling healthy, not exhibiting symptoms, and don’t believe they've been exposed to COVID-19, please vote on Tuesday.”

– Rebecca Morin

G-7 leaders will hold virtual summit to discuss coronavirus

President Donald Trump and six other world leaders will hold a virtual summit Monday to coordinate a global response to the coronavirus, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.

The videoconference of G-7 leaders will focus on research efforts to find a vaccine, as well as an economic response to the crisis, which has rocked global markets and sparked fears of a recession.

Following a call with Trump, “we agreed to organize an extraordinary Leaders Summit by video conference on Monday on Covid-19,” Macron announced on Twitter.

– Deirdre Shesgreen

Trump to hold press conference on coronavirus

President Donald Trump will speak on the coronavirus on Friday, he announced on Twitter.

Trump said he would hold a press conference at 3 p.m. EDT. It comes as the White House is negotiating with House Democrats on a bill intended to limit the economic impact of the virus, and as the administration is scrambling to increase the number of coronavirus tests available to the public.

Trump has significantly ramped up the number of times he has taken questions in a press conference setting since the coronavirus spread to the U.S. He has twice appeared in the briefing room to take questions on his administration’s response. He appeared in the briefing room again earlier this week but did not take questions.

The president otherwise has a relatively light public schedule, though the White House official schedule rarely reflects the totality of the president’s activities. Other than the press conference, Trump is expected to meet with “industry executives” on the virus at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

– John Fritze

Mnuchin: coronavirus response deal ‘very close’

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin sounded a positive note Friday morning, saying a deal on a coronavirus response package with Congress was imminent.

“We’re very close to getting this done,” he told CNBC.

Mnuchin has been the lead negotiator for the White House on the deal, speaking frequently with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., over the past 24 hours.

Pelosi said the deal, which is expected to provide free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave and increased unemployment coverage, is expected to come to the House floor for a vote Friday.

Despite Mnuchin’s optimism about a sweeping deal, he also echoed health officials’ warnings of a worsening situation.

“People should understand the numbers (of infections) are going to go up before they go down,” he said

Mnuchin said after this deal is reached, he expects the administration will come back to Congress in the coming weeks for a package of economic stimulus measures (Trump has been pushing for a payroll tax cut) which he predicted would lift the country.

“We will get through this and the economy will be stronger than ever when we get through this,” he said. “By the end of the year, we’re going to have a big rebound in economic activity.”

– Ledyard King

Trump knocks Fed, repeats call for payroll tax cuts

President Donald Trump lashed out at Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell to lower rates after repeating his call for Congress to include a payroll tax cut in a sweeping, multibillion-dollar package in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

"The Federal Reserve must FINALLY lower the Fed Rate to something comparable to their competitor Central Banks." Trump wrote Friday. "Jay Powell and group are putting us at a decided economic & physiological disadvantage. Should never have been this way. Also, STIMULATE!"

Trump also renewed calls for a payroll tax cut holiday on Friday as House Democrats and administration officials signaled they were close to reaching a deal.

"If you want to get money into the hands of people quickly & efficiently, let them have the full money that they earned, APPROVE A PAYROLL TAX CUT until the end of the year, December 31," Trump tweeted. "Then you are doing something that is really meaningful. Only that will make a big difference!"

Democrats dismissed the proposal of payroll tax cuts, which are taken from workers' paychecks to fund Social Security and Medicare. The president has particularly failed to shore up support among Senate Republicans.

He first pitched the idea to Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill Monday and again proposed it during an Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday

– Courtney Subramanian

House may vote on coronavirus response Friday

The House appears close to approving a massive federal response to confront the intensifying coronavirus pandemic that has killed dozens across the U.S., roiled financial markets and disrupted the lives of millions of Americans.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late Thursday said congressional leaders and the White House were close to finalizing a deal on a sweeping, multibillion-dollar package that would guarantee free testing for all Americans – including the uninsured – and expand worker protections such as sick leave and unemployment insurance.

Final details of the sweeping package could be unveiled by late Friday morning, with a vote by the full House possibly later in the day, Pelosi said.

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“Time is of the essence, and this bill must be passed and sent to the Senate,” she said in a statement issued late Thursday. “The House will then get to work on a third emergency response package that will take further effective action that protects the health, economic security and well-being of the American people.”

According to a press release from Pelosi, the measure would:

Mandate free testing “for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured."

Set aside up to 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave for workers affected by the coronavirus contamination.

Expand unemployment benefits to workers sent home due to the crisis.

Ensure availability of food assistance such as SNAP, student meals, seniors’ nutrition and food banks. Democrats were able to place a temporary hold on work requirements under SNAP during the public health crisis.

Provide federal Medicaid funds to help states defray costs associated with the crisis.

Even if it passes Friday and gets taken up by the Senate early next week, enacting all the measures will take time.

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The tremendous shortage of fully complete test kits, for example, means access remains a major hurdle even if the cost of the procedure is covered by private insurers or the government.

Still, the deal would represent a major breakthrough and a shot of confidence intended to calm rattled markets and anxious Americans.

Pelosi, who had several conversations throughout Thursday with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, told reporters outside her office Thursday night that both sides have “resolved most of our differences” and the remaining issues can be settled in future bills.

Pelosi said she was particularly stunned by the sudden cratering of the financial markets, which have nosedived in recent weeks and deepened worries about a possible recession due to the rapidly spreading virus.

The Standard & Poor's 500 entered a bear market for the first time since the financial crisis, and the Dow endured its biggest one-day percentage drop since the 1987 crash.

“That was very shocking,” Pelosi said of the markets. “I'm not going to go into that because what we're trying to do is be a positive."

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The aggressive approach comes a day after Trump announced a suspension of all air travel from the European Union to the U.S. for 30 days, starting midnight Friday.

The bill is being considered a week after Congress passed an $8.3 billion package that includes more than $3 billion for research and the development of vaccines and $2.2 billion that will help in prevention, preparedness and response. It also allocates $1 billion for state and local response, about half of which would go to specific cities. Each state would receive no less than $4 million.

Trump signed the bill last Friday.

Ted Cruz extends his self-quarantine

Phoning into "CBS This Morning" from a self-imposed quarantine, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he would extend his self-quarantine after learning he came into contact with another individual who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Cruz, who self-quarantined earlier this month after interacting with a person at the Conservative Political Action Conference who later tested positive, told CBS he would self-quarantine until March 17. The Texas Republican said he had "no symptoms" but had interacted with a "second individual who has tested positive – a Spanish government official who came to my office in D.C."

"On March 3 I had a meeting in the conference room with him for about 20 minutes," Cruz said, noting he had not been tested for the virus because he had no symptoms.

Cruz and two other Republican lawmakers quarantined themselves after coming into contact with an infected individual at CPAC in National Harbor, Maryland. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz, Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., have also self-quarantined.

– Nicholas Wu

Trump attacks CDC amid coronavirus

Facing pressure for his own administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump is increasingly slamming the efforts under his predecessor to prepare for an outbreak – often with dubious claims.

Trump started his latest attack on President Barack Obama with a tweet late Thursday that repeated a narrative that has increasingly cropped among his supporters: That Obama “took 6 months” to declare a national emergency to respond to the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak.

The claim overlooks the fact that Obama, just like Trump, declared a public health emergency early in the swine flu outbreak. That designation from Obama came in April 2009, before the H1N1 virus was declared a pandemic and at a time when there were only 20 cases in the U.S.

For the coronavirus, the Trump administration declared a public health emergency in January.

A public health emergency is different – and less significant – than a national emergency. Obama declared a national emergency about six months into the swine flu outbreak. Trump has yet to declare a national emergency for coronavirus.

Trump continued the attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a tweet early Friday morning.

“For decades the @CDCgov looked at, and studied, its testing system, but did nothing about it,” Trump claimed. “President Obama made changes that only complicated things further.”

The Trump administration has been under enormous pressure, including from governors and members of his own party, to speed up the distribution of coronavirus tests. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledged Thursday that the testing system is “failing.”

But it’s not accurate that an Obama-era rule limited third-party laboratories from developing and running tests for the coronavirus during an emergency, according to an Associated Press fact check this month.

The Trump administration reversed a policy that its own Food and Drug Administration put in place, the Associated Press said. That new regulation allows labs to develop coronavirus tests before the agency reviews them. Previously, the FDA only authorized tests made by the CDC.

Draft FDA guidance considered during the Obama administration called for tighter regulation of laboratory tests but that guidance, which did not pertain to public health emergencies, never went into effect, the Associated Press said.

– John Fritze and Christal Hayes

Wisconsin Senate votes to end statewide face mask mandate

MADISON - The state Senate on Tuesday voted to end the statewide mandate to wear face masks — one of the most effective protections against the virus for the vast majority of Wisconsin residents who are not yet vaccinated.

The move could put Wisconsin in a minority of states without such a statewide requirement and has drawn opposition from organizations representing hospital leaders, churches, doctors, emergency medical workers, pharmacists, small-business owners and concert venues.

"Other than vaccines, mask-wearing is one of the few tools we have in our arsenal to help prevent spreading COVID-19 even further than it already has," Wisconsin Medical Society CEO Bud Chumbley said in a statement this week urging lawmakers to vote against the proposal.

The resolution sponsored by 29 Republican lawmakers would end the requirement to wear masks in public, indoor settings on the grounds that Gov. Tony Evers is issuing emergency orders, which include the mask requirement, unconstitutionally.

"It is not OK or normal or inevitable or necessary to indefinitely suspend the lawmaking process," Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, said Tuesday. "There is no such thing as a perpetual emergency."

It passed the Senate 18-13, with Republican Sens. Rob Cowles of Allouez and Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield joining Democrats in opposing the measure. The state Assembly plans to take up the measure Thursday.

If the resolution is passed by the Assembly, it would be the first measure related to the pandemic that the state Legislature has passed since April.

"This is a basic test of what government is supposed to do," Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said about enacting requirements to prevent deaths.

"Are we going to start saying that seatbelts, taking off your seat belt, is a sign of independence? And therefore flying through a windshield when you get in an accident is the utmost way to exercise your liberty?" he said.

Republicans who control the Legislature never agreed to extend the emergency declaration, which automatically expired after 60 days under state law, so Evers issued subsequent ones.

Evers has argued he can issue multiple emergency declarations because the threat of the pandemic changes over time, much as a river may flood multiple times in one season. Republicans argue he cannot do so legally because it's the same health threat.

State law allows the Legislature to end a governor's health emergency with a majority vote. The governor can't veto the measure.

Kooyenga, who represents Brookfield and Wauwatosa, said he agrees Evers has acted illegally but opposed the resolution because it could keep schools closed longer.

"I have to balance out some priorities here and right now my priority is to open our schools," he said.

The two houses went most of a year without taking action to respond to the effects of the pandemic on the state and so far this year have disagreed on what to include in a bill aimed at providing new relief.

The state Senate struck a deal with Evers and passed a compromise piece of legislation. But the Assembly criticized Republican senators for negotiating with Evers and removing provisions they want, like bans on employers from requiring vaccinations and closing churches to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

The Assembly on Tuesday passed a third version of the bill that includes the measures that were previously removed by the Senate, but it's unclear if the Senate, or Evers, are on board.

A spokeswoman for Evers did not respond to questions about whether the governor would veto the new version of the bill or whether he will issue a new health emergency declaration if the current one is ended by the state Legislature.

Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, recently filmed an ad with Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan encouraging people to wear masks, but he said Tuesday he did not think ending the mask requirement would undercut the message of that spot. He said people would continue to wear masks by choice and argued Evers had overstepped his authority.

“I don’t think the Constitution envisioned a single person being able to make rules forever by himself,” he said. “I’m going to say people should still wear a mask, especially if you’re in a group of people that you don’t know.”

Vos spoke to a reporter after meeting privately for a couple of hours with dozens of Republican lawmakers. Most of them were wearing masks as the meeting broke up, but Vos and several others were not. Vos put on a mask just before he talked to a reporter.

“I don’t think it’s the job for the governor, or the government in general, to mandate this forever,” Vos said.

The potential move would eliminate the only statewide effort to control the spread of the virus, which has killed nearly 5,700 Wisconsinites since March.

'I think it's the wrong message'

Cowles, the Republican from Allouez who voted against the measure, said he feared more people would stop wearing masks because of the lawmakers’ action, leading to more illnesses.

“I think it’s the wrong message,” he said after the vote. “I’m coming from the science point of view and from the health care point of view and I can’t imagine making it worse for the people who have worked their butts off to try to make this better in the health care community.”

If lawmakers revoke the statewide mask requirement, local officials can maintain their own. That would create a patchwork of policies, with some parts of the states enforcing mask requirements and others forgoing them.

Forty-one states have a statewide face mask mandate in place, and 49 states have an emergency order in place, according to the National Academy of State Health Policy.

The resolution was authored and co-sponsored by some GOP lawmakers who have repeatedly downplayed the threat of COVID-19 or misled constituents about the effectiveness of face masks. Since the Legislature resumed activity in January, some of the sponsors of the bill have participated in hearings and floor sessions maskless.

Track COVID-19 in Wisconsin:See the latest numbers and trends

The Republican legislative caucuses also experienced COVID-19 outbreaks among their members and staff in recent months but did not disclose the infections publicly or to others who work in the state Capitol. The director of the Legislature's human resources office said the office manages "internal contact tracing" and notifies people who have potentially been exposed.

GOP Sen. Kathy Bernier of Lake Hallie said she believed wearing masks is a good idea but that Evers was extending the mask mandate to make Republicans look bad.

“It’s a gotcha thing,” she said. “The governor wants to put it out as a mandate in order to get the reaction out of the Republican Legislature to be anti-maskers. In fact, it’s not about the mask mandate, it’s about his authority to pass a mask mandate and to re-create an emergency … when in fact he knows he can’t do that.”

Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, told reporters during a virtual news conference ahead of the Senate vote that the move would lead to more infections and deaths.

“Apparently the only thing that Republican legislators in both houses can agree upon is that they want the death rates to climb in this pandemic. They want to prolong the economic devastation. Those are the two guaranteed outcomes of trying to undermine mask wearing,” she said.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in November showed in counties that had face mask mandates, new COVID-19 cases decreased by 6% between one week in July and one week in August. In counties without mandates, new cases increased by 100%.

Groups register opposition to lifting mandate

Twenty-four organizations registered against the resolution including the powerful Wisconsin Hospital Association and Wisconsin Medical Society, a children's hospital, organizations representing doctors, assisted living facilities, health care departments, people with disabilities and a state organization of churches.

No groups have registered in favor of the proposal.

The lawmakers, many of whom are members of the Legislature's health committees, are seeking to end the only mitigation measure in place to control the spread of COVID-19 at a time when some GOP lawmakers are also arguing the governor isn't doing enough to protect Wisconsinites from the virus.

Before the Nov. 3 election, Republican leaders of the Legislature fended off calls from some of their members to end the mandate in order to keep more vulnerable lawmakers from being on record opposing the requirement that is supported by a majority of Wisconsinites, according to 2020 polling.

Resolution author Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, who has been calling for months to take a floor vote to end the governor's emergency declarations, said Evers "has repeatedly abused the powers granted to him" in state law by issuing repeated emergency declarations since the virus began spreading in Wisconsin in March.

The resolution is co-sponsored by several members of the Legislature's health committees, including Senate Health Committee Chairman Patrick Testin. Assembly health committee members Chuck Wichgers, Ken Skowronski, Gae Magnafici, Barb Dittrich, Clint Moses and Rachael Cabral-Guevara also co-sponsored the resolution.

The resolution argues Evers overstepped his authority by issuing a new public health emergency this week because the state Legislature never voted to extend the original health emergency he declared in March when the coronavirus pandemic spread to Wisconsin.

A St. Croix County judge upheld Evers' ability to issue consecutive orders, saying the governor has broad discretion during health emergencies. A case at the state Supreme Court makes a similar argument to the lawmakers' resolution.

The suit alleges Evers no longer has the power to issue emergency orders because the initial emergency declaration he made in response to the pandemic has expired.

Stalled COVID-19 relief bill

Legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic remains stalled because Assembly Republicans and Senate Republicans can’t agree on what to do. Assembly Republicans on Tuesday made changes to the bill that has been bouncing between the two houses, but Senate leaders have not agreed to accept them.

“I feel very good about where we have been. I don’t know where they are,” Vos said of his counterparts in the Senate.

The bill would put $100 million toward fighting the pandemic and shield businesses, schools and local governments from COVID-related lawsuits.

The amendments the Assembly passed would ban employers from requiring their workers to get vaccinated; bar health officials from closing churches and other places of worship because of COVID-19; and give lawmakers a say in how federal coronavirus aid is spent. Now, Evers can spend that federal money without consulting the Legislature.

Evers supported the version of the bill the Senate recently passed, but changing it raises the possibility of a veto.

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.

White House says Biden won't veto bill to end COVID-19 emergency

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden will not try to stop Congress from ending the treatment of COVID-19 as an emergency weeks earlier than he'd planned.

Despite his opposition to the faster time frame, Biden won't veto a bill the Senate passed Wednesday ending the national emergency declaration first issued by former President Donald Trump in March of 2020.

The administration has been winding down authorities over the last few months after announcing in January that emergency powers would end May 11, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.

The congressional action won't "impact our efforts to do so in an orderly way," she added.

"We are in a different place and time than we were in January," she said.

The emergency declaration freed up disaster money to fight the spread of the virus and reduced health regulations that could slow action. For example, hospitals were allowed to screen patients for COVID-19 off campus.

A separate public health emergency declared in late January 2020 is also set to end in May. Actions tied to the public health emergency are more expansive and include Title 42, a Trump-era pandemic policy that allows the federal government to rapidly expel migrants.

When House Republicans introduced legislation in January to immediately end both emergencies, Biden stopped short of issuing a veto threat. But the administration said an abrupt end to the emergencies would "create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system."

Some of those concerns were tied to the public health emergency termination which passed the House in January but has not been considered in the Senate.

The resolution ending the national emergency passed the Democrat-controlled Senate 68-23 Wednesday after it passed the GOP-led House by a vote of 229-197 in February.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, who championed the effort in the Senate, said Biden no longer needs powers to act quickly in a pandemic.

"It’s time for Biden to do what he should have done months ago and end the COVID national emergency," he tweeted.

The COVID emergency is ending:What it means for tests, vaccines, treatment

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Opinion:COVID-19 public health emergency may end, but need remains for lifesaving treatments

Coronavirus: Trump, Congress split on details of economic package

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would use emergency authority to defer payments on federal loans to small businesses and to defer taxes for businesses hurt by coronavirus.

Trump also said in a prime-time address that he would ask Congress to approve an immediate payroll tax holiday, although he didn't say for how long. “Hopefully, they will consider this very strongly,” he said.

And he will ask lawmakers for $50 billion for for the Small Business Administration loan program. He said deferring taxes for certain businesses would provide the economy with $200 billion.

“This is not a financial crisis," Trump said.

But lawmakers have opposed suspending the payroll tax because it would starve Social Security of funding and wouldn’t help hourly workers who lose work from reduced demand. Even without losing revenue this year, Social Security is scheduled to deplete its balance by 2034.

"I would prefer they exercise other options before going down that path," Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, has said.

"It's a non-starter," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Trump's proposal came as congressional Democrats proposed free testing for the virus and enhanced paid sick leave, unemployment insurance and food assistance.

"The best way to deal with the economic problems is focusing on the people who have suffered from the virus, not some scattershot approach that the ideologues in the White House may want," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Trump appeared to agree with lawmakers on the need to help the ill with health care costs and with sick leave, but he didn't spell out details. The president said after meeting with health-insurance executives that they would waive copayments for coronavirus treatments and "prevent surprise medical billing."

Trump said he would be taking emergency action soon to provide financial relief for paid sick leave, and would ask . Senate Democrats proposed emergency legislation Wednesday for 14 days of paid sick leave, but action on the bill was blocked.

"If you are sick or not feeling well, stay home," Trump said. "To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief. This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus."

The administration has also studied aid to the airline and cruise ship industries as travelers cancel trips amid what the World Health Organization is now calling a pandemic.

The number of U.S. cases surpassed 1,000, with 31 deaths, federal health officials said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told a congressional committee the virus has spread to at least 38 states.

Legislative proposals are the first step in negotiating an economic stimulus package. Reaching a deal could take weeks. While Democrats focused on individuals losing wages or benefits, Trump sought to tackle the effects on smaller businesses and larger industries, as more people quarantine themselves to avoid getting sick.

"We are working on details right now,” said Larry Kudlow, a senior economic adviser to Trump. “We’re checking with the leaders of both parties of both houses to see what is doable.”

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, said he would hold a hearing Thursday about expanding the loan program as Trump proposed.

“I look forward to working with President Trump on bipartisan legislation that will give the SBA additional resources and authority to infuse billions of dollars into our nation’s small businesses to help Americans deal with the coronavirus,” Rubio said.

'Working on detail':'Trump delays release of economic package for businesses, workers hurt by coronavirus

House Democrats are planning to introduce a package Wednesday to address the economic impact on individuals due to the coronavirus. The bill is set to include issues like paid sick leave, bolstering unemployment insurance and free testing for the virus.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who is leading the negotiations for the White House, spoke "briefly by phone" Wednesday about proposals for the next coronavirus legislative response, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill tweeted.

Hoyer told reporters that lawmakers were expected to vote Thursday on legislation addressing “the economic consequences to individuals to assure that they do not fall through the cracks.”

In the Senate, Democrats are preparing to send a letter urging the Trump administration to formally declare coronavirus a national emergency, to help state and local governments fight the virus. The goal is to allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use more than $40 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund to assist state and local governments to fight the virus named COVID-19.

Senate Democrats proposed emergency unemployment insurance to replace lost wages from a quarantine or the need to stay home with children whose schools close. They also proposed requiring employers to allow workers to accumulate seven days of paid sick leave, allowing them to stay home to prevent the spread of disease, and also 14 days of paid sick leave at the beginning of any public health emergency.

Trump floats payroll tax cut: Administration working on economic package as coronavirus spreads

US coronavirus outbreak:Tracking the outbreak

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the labor committee, proposed that the Senate immediately consider legislation for paid sick leave. But she was blocked by a Republican objection.

Murray said employees such as restaurant workers, truck drivers and service industry workers shouldn’t face the choice of working while sick or losing their pay.

“This is not a choice we should be asking anyone to make in the United States of American in the 21st Century, but 32 million people in our country today – or about one out of every four private sector workers – are faced with this impossible choice every time they get sick,” Murray said.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, objected to fast-tracking the legislation. He acknowledged workers are struggling but said businesses are also struggling and that an expensive federal mandate wouldn’t help them.

“The idea of paid sick leave is a good idea,” Alexander said. “But if Washington, D.C., thinks it’s a good idea, Washington, D.C., should pay for it.”

Democrats also sought to ensure food for low-income children who might miss breakfasts or lunches at schools that are closed during the crisis. Lawmakers proposed several enhancements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to provide additional aid during health emergencies, boosting SNAP benefits and allowing students to take meals home from closed schools or have them delivered.

"We believe the help should be aimed at people, not at corporations. We believe the help should be targeted at the people who have suffered from this coronavirus problem – directly or indirectly," Schumer said. "We don’t think they should just throw money out of an airplane and hope some of it lands on the people who are affected."

Contributing: Courtney Subramanian

Coronavirus updates: US surpasses China in deaths ...

China is no longer the global leader in cases of the virus that originated on its soil. The United States, with about one-fourth the number of people of the world's most populous country, overtook China and Italy in confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday.

That dubious distinction took place as jobless claims smashed a record and U.S. deaths neared 1,300 as the coronavirus tightened its grip on America. Still, the prospect of a stimulus package soon becoming reality helped propel a third consecutive stock market rally.

Despite the continued increase in cases of COVID-19, President Donald Trump repeated his recent message that the country needs to get back to work.

“The mortality rate is way, way down,” Trump said. “The people that actually die, that percentage is much lower than I expected.”

The Labor Department, in announcing the unemployment claims numbers for last week, said what Americans already knew — that layoffs hit the hospitality and food service industries particularly hard. Other industries that struggled included health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment and recreation, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing industries, Labor said.

Congress was trying to supply a ray of hope. The House is scheduled to take up a Senate-passed, $2 trillion emergency aid proposal Friday. Swift passage was expected — after an initial hangup, the package flew through the Senate on Wednesday night by a vote of 96-0. Trump has expressed a willingness to sign the measure.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. had surpassed 85,000 by early Friday, leading to 1,296 deaths. The global death toll was more than 24,000, with confirmed cases over 532,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard.

Daily coronavirus updates: Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox

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US becomes world leader in COVID-19 cases, surpassing China and Italy

The U.S. surged past China and Italy to become the planet's most infected nation Thursday, a stark milestone in the coronavirus era — and a reminder of its deadly, culture-changing effects on American life.

Part of the reason for the nation's top ranking is cause and effect: The U.S. has drastically ramped up its testing protocols to identify infected people and those who may be carriers of the virus. As testing has increased, so has the number of confirmed cases.

But the new numbers also reflect a slow roll-out of the measures to combat the virus, especially an initial lack of testing capabilities that left officials unable to identify how quickly the disease was spreading and where to focus resources.

– Mike James

American Airlines flight attendant, 65, dies of coronavirus

Paul Frishkorn, a Philadelphia-based American Airlines flight attendant and union representative, has died from coronavirus, the flight attendants union confirmed Thursday.

"It is with deep sadness we report that one of our own … has passed away from Covid-19," Lori Bassani, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents 27,000 flight attendants at American Airlines, said in a statement.

Frishkorn, 65, was described as a tireless advocate for the flight attendant corps who was spending time in the Philadelphia crew room "answering questions and assisting our members through this difficult time" before he fell ill, according to the statement.

Speaking by phone to USA TODAY, Bassani said that Frishkorn's death has increased the already deep concern for flight attendants working amid the highly contagious virus.

"When this hits one of your own, it sheds a whole new light on the coronavirus," said Bassani. "This does spread more fear among our ranks. This is a killer virus, unlike any we have experienced."

– Bryan Alexander

Death rate in New Orleans soars; city could become next epicenter

The number of known coronavirus cases in Louisiana jumped to 2,305 on Thursday, an increase of 510 cases from Wednesday, and a total of 83 deaths, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Nearly half of Louisiana's cases -- 997 -- came from New Orleans.

Throngs of revelers may have brought the coronavirus to New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations.

But the city’s poverty rate, lack of healthcare and affordable housing, coupled with high rates of residents with preexisting medical conditions, may be driving its explosive growth and could make it the next U.S. epicenter of the outbreak.

The city reported Thursday that a 17-year-old teen died after contracting the virus, bringing the city's coronavirus death tally to 46 — more than half of the state's total death count.

New Orleans Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold said hospital capacity in the New Orleans region is dwindling and the city will need additional hospital beds within weeks.

– Rick Jervis, Maria Clark and Lorenzo Reyes

3 migrant children in US custody test positive for coronavirus in New York

Three unaccompanied minor children in U.S. custody in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

The children, whose ages and nationalities weren't released, are in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The office is responsible for housing migrant minors.

The agency said it is doing an evaluation of the children and will not release them from New York care provider facilities. It has stopped placements of unaccompanied minor children in the states of California, New York, and Washington, which have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus. With more than 30,000 cases in New York, the state has become the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States.

– Monsy Alvarado, NorthJersey.com

Stimulus package checks up to $1,200 for most Americans expected soon

The House is expected to vote Friday on the stimulus package and passage would send the legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature. Once signed, it is expected money will be distributed in the next three weeks.

Highlights of the bill include direct payments of up to $1,200 for most individuals and $2,400 for most married couples filing jointly, with an extra $500 for each child.

Here's how you can calculate the amount of stimulus money your household can expect.

Unemployment insurance benefits would be expanded, increasing the maximum benefit by $600 a week for up to four months. Benefits would be available to workers who are part-time, self-employed or part of the gig economy. People who are still unemployed after state benefits end could get an additional 13 weeks of help. Food assistance programs would get a boost, and homeowners with federally backed mortgages would be protected from foreclosures for as long as 180 days. Students with federal loans could suspend payments until October.

– Maureen Groppe and Ledyard King

US stocks surge for third day in a row despite 'horrible' unemployment news

U.S. stocks notched their first three-day rally in six weeks on hopes that Congress will quickly approve a coronavirus rescue package for the economy while the outbreak in China is showing signs that it has been largely contained.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1,351.62 points, or 6.4%, to close at 22,552.17. The blue-chip average has advanced more than 20% over the past three days, its biggest three-day gain since 1931. The Standard & Poor’s 500 added 6.2% to finish at 2,630.07.

The gains came despite the daunting number of claims following a wave of layoffs from the coronavirus pandemic.

"Record unemployment data is horrible news, but we knew it was going to be terrible," said Joe Conroy, founder of Maryland-based Harford Retirement Planners. "Most people agree that we’re in a recession. What's helped prop up the market are signs that China is starting to contain the virus."

– Jessica Menton

Record 3.3 million Americans apply for unemployment benefits amid coronavirus

The number of Americans filing initial applications for unemployment benefits jumped nearly twelvefold to a record 3.3 million last week, the Labor Department said, offering the most vivid evidence yet of the coronavirus’s widespread damage to the economy. The total was well above the 1.5 million claims economists had forecast, according to the median estimate of those surveyed by Bloomberg.

The pandemic has set off the most abrupt near-shutdown of the economy in history. Many restaurants, shops, movie theaters, sports arenas and other gathering spots were compelled to close their doors or scale back service – and lay off staff.

– Paul Davidson

Dr. Anthony Fauci goes live on Instagram with NBA star Steph Curry

In what is arguably the most important play of his 11-year pro basketball career, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors hosted Dr. Anthony Fauci on a Thursday Instagram Live video.

Nearly 50,000 viewers tuned in — including former President Barack Obama, pop star Justin Bieber, rapper Common and former teammates Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa. More will likely watch the archived version. Either way, they will have witnessed something that does not usually match what they see on social media.

For nearly 28 minutes, Curry asked Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, questions about COVID-19, testing and social distancing. Fauci gave precise answers to all of them.

Fauci explained the difference between the flu and the coronavirus, which he considered "much more serious." Although young people are not as vulnerable to COVID-19, Fauci argued they should still follow social distancing rules because of the rare chance they could become ill and the likely chance they could pass the virus to someone older. Fauci predicted that large events, including the NBA season, will not take place until "the country as a whole is turning that corner."

Fauci has been a popular TV guest this week, and is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah late Thursday night. Earlier Thursday, he spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper during the network's coronavirus town hall, explaining that Trump's desire to open the country by Easter was an "aspiration projection." Fauci added that Trump is listening to medical experts, including Fauci, and understands they have to evaluate the virus's impact "in real time."

– Mark Medina

Death toll rises in New York

One hundred people in New York state died Wednesday from the coronavirus, the state's single deadliest day since the virus at the center of a global pandemic first hit, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. The surge of deaths pushed New York's total count to 385 since the beginning of March, when the state found its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

New York remains the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak with 37,258 confirmed cases – almost half of the national total as of Thursday afternoon. Cuomo said the outbreak's peak in the state is still at least two weeks away, and the state was battling to make room in hospitals and obtain ventilators.

"I don’t want to sugarcoat the situation," Cuomo said. "The situation is not easy. But easy times don’t forge character. It’s the tough times that forge character.”

– Joseph Spector

Is Florida the next New York?

Florida has come under fire after its beaches remained jammed with spring breakers last week, and Gov. Ron DeSantis has ignored calls to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order.

That may contribute to the state becoming the next hot spot for COVID-19, a chilling possibility considering the elderly are the most likely to die from the disease and Florida is home to nearly four million people 65 and over, the second-highest number in the U.S. behind California.

Hospitals and doctors around the state say they still don't have nearly enough testing kits and can't get the ones they have analyzed fast enough, echoing complaints from state health officials across the country. Health officials have completed 27,000 tests so far in Florida, while New York is doing more than 18,000 tests a day.

– Alan Gomez

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: 40,000 coronavirus hospitalizations expected

Mayor Lori Lightfoot implored Chicago residents to “stay home, save lives” in an address to the city, warning there could be tens of thousands of hospitalizations in the coming weeks.

"We could be expecting upwards of 40,000 hospitalizations in the coming weeks,'' Lightfoot said. "Not 40,000 cases, but 40,000 people who require acute care in a hospital setting. That number will break our healthcare system.”

Crowds of hundreds of people have been seen congregating along the city’s lakefront in recent days, which a fiery Lightfoot called a “blatant violation” of Illinois’s stay-at-home order. She warned future violators would be arrested and Thursday closed the city’s lakefront trail, 606 trail and Riverwalk, along with adjacent parks and beaches.

President Donald Trump on Thursday approved a major disaster declaration for Illinois, freeing federal funding.

– Grace Hauck

Tesla to make ventilators; hockey helmet firm to make face masks

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company's solar-panel factory in Buffalo, New York, hopes to begin ventilator production "as soon as humanly possible." Musk tweeted that "we will do anything in our power to help the citizens of New York." New York actually invested $750 million to help build the plant. Cuomo said the state, which has about 12,000 ventilators, may need as many as 40,000 in the next few weeks as the coronavirus outbreak races toward its peak in the state.

And Bauer, a hockey equipment manufacturing company, said it has shifted its focus to make products like masks and shields for medical professionals.

– Joseph Spector and Chris Bumbaca

2-month-old Tennessean tests positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms

A 2-month-old who has tested positive for COVID-19 in Nashville could be the youngest pandemic patient in the nation, officials say. City health officials said metro Nashville had 36 new cases in 24 hours. Alex Jahangir, the city's coronavirus task force chair, said the infant has mild symptoms and is home "doing well."

Children appear to be at lower risk for the harshest effects of COVID-19 than adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but they are not immune to the disease.

– Yihyun Jeong

More coronavirus news, tips and information from USA TODAY:

Contributing: The Associated Press

Coronavirus in Wisconsin: Legislature stalls move to postpone election

MADISON - Get ready for the pandemic election.

Republicans stalled Gov. Tony Evers' move to push back Tuesday's election, quickly adjourning a special legislative session to deal with voting issues because of the coronavirus pandemic.

During Saturday's proceedings, the state Assembly and state Senate each gaveled in and out within seconds and recessed until Monday.

Live Updates:The latest on coronavirus in Wisconsin

Daily Digest: What you need to know about coronavirus in Wisconsin

The move came as pressure mounted on the Democratic governor to act on his own by using emergency powers to block the election. A source close to Evers said the governor was reluctant to do that over concerns that a postponement would quickly be blocked by conservatives who control the state Supreme Court.

With only a few lawmakers present, the Legislature did not take up Evers' effort to extend the election date to May 19 and convert entirely to mail-in voting.

As the Legislature made its move, the virus remained unabated.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wisconsin has more than doubled this week, climbing to over 2,000 on Saturday. Milwaukee County accounts for around half the cases.

The state Department of Health Services reported 196 new cases Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to at least 2,112. At least 56 people have died from COVID-19, the department reported.

More than 23,859 tests for COVID-19 have come back negative, according to the state. Of those who tested positive, more than a quarter, or 588 people, have been hospitalized.

President Donald Trump issued a federal disaster declaration for Wisconsin.

According to Evers' office, the declaration "provides access to public assistance programs for all 72 Wisconsin counties and the state’s federally recognized tribes."

17 seconds in Assembly; less in Senate

The political action in Madison was brief.

In the Assembly, the session lasted for 17 seconds. In the Senate, it was even shorter.

Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Tyler August of Lake Geneva — the only Republican to show up in either house Saturday — refused to talk to reporters after gaveling the session to a close.

"No, not today. Gotta go," August told reporters as he hurried out of the Assembly chamber.

In the Senate, no Republicans made an appearance. Instead they had their appointed chief clerk, Jeff Renk, bring the Senate into session and immediately end it. Two Democrats — Jon Erpenbach of West Point and Tim Carpenter of Milwaukee, both wearing rubber gloves — watched from the Senate floor.

Erpenbach said the Republican majority should go along with Evers and push back the election over health concerns. People will get ill if they don’t, he said.

"The math will tell you people will get sick. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a polling place or you’re in a convenience store or you’re doing pickup. It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s around. I know they’ll practice social distancing and do what they possibly can to keep people safe but I don’t know how somebody won’t get sick.”

Erpenbach said he saw a glimmer of a chance that Republicans would eventually act because they did not completely shut down the special session, as they did last year when they dispensed with a special session on firearm background checks within seconds.

A growing chorus of Democrats and mayors are urging Evers to halt the election on his own using broader authority he has during emergencies. But the Evers source said he was unlikely to do that because it would be sure to face an immediate court challenge.

An adverse ruling by the state Supreme Court would limit his ability to act in the coming weeks, when the coronavirus crisis is expected to worsen in Wisconsin. Evers wants to make sure he has as much authority as possible to fight the pandemic and doesn't want to see it curbed early on over an election fight he believes he would lose, the source said.

In a statement, Evers accused legislative Republicans of "playing politics with public safety and ignoring the urgency of this public health crisis." He urged them to "do their jobs and take a vote on this common sense proposal to extend the election date so everyone can vote safely from home."

Republicans have said they believe clerks will be able to take enough steps to keep voters safe. They are stressing the importance of preserving a core democratic institution: the right to vote.

They also have accused the governor of trying to make changes at the last minute after he repeatedly said he wanted to keep in-person voting on schedule.

On Saturday, the Republican National Committee and state Republican Party asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a judge’s ruling that will allow absentee ballots to be counted in the days after Tuesday’s election.

U.S. District Court Judge William Conley determined Thursday that absentee ballots should be counted if they are received by clerks by April 13 because tens of thousands of voters likely won’t get their absentee ballots until after Tuesday. Voters who requested ballots by the legal deadline deserve to have their votes counted, he ruled.

Conley also extended online voter registration and allowed an extra day to request absentee ballots in a slew of legal challenges brought by the Democratic National Committee, Souls to the Polls and others. (In addition, Conley loosened the witness requirement for absentee ballots, but that part of his ruling was overturned by an appeals court on Friday.)

The Republican filing raises the possibility that voting rules will again change before Tuesday. But there’s no guarantee the Supreme Court will take any action by then.

Dean Knudsen, a former Republican lawmaker and chairman of the state Elections Commission, said in a series of tweets that the election involves races for thousands of offices and that it is "critically important in our democracy that citizens choose their representatives especially during a crisis."

He noted that elections have taken place during wars and the 1918 influenza pandemic, and that voters have responded impressively during the present health crisis by asking for a record 1.2 million absentee ballots.

"Everything is in place for our elections to go forward," he tweeted. "Don't let fear and panic derail our democracy. Instead let's pull together to help ensure we minimize health risks in polling places while protecting the integrity of our elections."

Friday was the last day to request absentee ballots.

Vos dismisses Milwaukee concerns

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in a tweet earlier Saturday that the city of Milwaukee wasn't doing enough ahead of the election.

He tweeted: "Milwaukee could easily use city staff to open polling places like many other municipalities are doing in addition to their poll workers. Gov. Evers has also offered the National Guard. It appears they want problems instead of an actual solution. "

Vos' tweet ignited a furious response from the city's top election official, Neil Albrecht, who said public health "will be compromised by the Legislature's reckless intent to move forward with this election."

Albrecht also invited Vos to work in one of the city's hot spots as a poll worker on election day. Vos plans to work the polls in Burlington.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also leveled criticism at Vos.

"He wants to blame Milwaukee for a worldwide pandemic," Barrett said of Vos. "I don't think anybody, anybody is buying that for a second. If he knew how much work our Election Commission, how much work our Health Department, how much work others who are working for this city, this county, have done to try to control the spread of this pandemic and then to suggest we are trying to do something to create a problem?

"Mr. Speaker, it's a worldwide pandemic, the problem is here. We're not creating anything. We are responding to a worldwide pandemic."

Public health professionals also called for a postponement of Tuesday's election, citing safety concerns.

The Wisconsin Public Health Association and Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards called on Evers and the Legislature "to delay the election and implement an alternative method for voting."

James Conway, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Global Health Institute, said moving ahead with the election will put people at unnecessary risk.

"It just seems really irresponsible to make this one giant exception," Conway said in an interview. "I was a little naive a week or so ago in thinking, 'Oh, they've got to realize they've got to delay.' ... And then time has crept on and I'm like, really? I am very concerned."

Early in-person voting continued to be brisk in Milwaukee.

Police officers in neon vests, gloves and masks helped direct traffic for people who were doing curbside early voting at the Zeidler Municipal Building.

Poll workers, also wearing neon vests, gloves and masks, helped run ballots out to and from cars that waited in a lengthy line. Voters turned their hazard lights on to indicate to poll workers that they could retrieve ballots.

Separate from all the breaking news, many people on Saturday just tried to enjoy a day outside during what is in effect a lockdown. Even though Milwaukee County authorities closed the beaches there were a few people walking on the Bradford Beach sand. Others were sitting on the rocks looking out at Lake Michigan. Along the lakefront pedestrian walkways, many people ran, walked their dogs or pushed strollers.

Ricardo Torres and Molly Beck of the Journal Sentinel and Natalie Brophy of USA TODAY-Wisconsin network contributed to this report.

Legislature taking extraordinary coronavirus precautions Tuesday

LANSING – The Michigan Legislature is planning extraordinary measures — including taking lawmakers' temperatures before they enter the chambers — to limit the risk of anyone contracting coronavirus when lawmakers convene Tuesday, officials said Thursday.

Senators will be evaluated and screened when they enter the Capitol to make sure they don’t have a fever, said Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake.

The same will happen with members of the public who want to view from the public gallery, said McCann, who added that the public is not encouraged to attend but would be allowed to do so, according to state law.

The public can watch livestreams of the House and Senate sessions on their respective websites.

The Legislature has canceled recent sessions because of the coronavirus pandemic, but plans to meet Tuesday to vote on extending Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's emergency declaration, which is set to expire Tuesday, and possibly her disaster declaration, which was issued Wednesday. Whitmer has asked for a 70-day extension of each declaration, but many Republican lawmakers say 70 days would be too long.

A few senators at a time will be allowed in to the chamber for attendance roll call, she said. Once that roll call is taken and there is a quorum of at least 20 members present, a simple voice vote on the resolution to extend the emergency declaration will be taken.

“There will be very few people on the floor for the actual vote," McCann said. “This is not the traditional session by any means,” she said. “And we’re still in a troubleshooting phase on how this will happen, so there may be tweaks.”

Gideon D'Assandro, a spokesman for House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, said the House also has a plan to extend the emergency declaration and minimize exposure, but “some of the details are still being worked out.”

Whitmer, at a Thursday news conference, urged state lawmakers not to come to the Capitol on Tuesday, saying it is too dangerous to convene a session during the coronavirus pandemic.

Whitmer noted that one member of the Legislature, Democratic state Rep. Isaac Robinson of Detroit, has already died of apparent complications from COVID-19.

But she later clarified her remarks through a spokeswoman, saying lawmakers should convene briefly and in a safe manner to extend her emergency and disaster orders, and then return to their districts.

"They should come in, extend (the orders) 70 days, and return to their communities like the rest of us are doing to keep the public safe," spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said.

More:Michigan estimates that drop in tax revenues could be up to $3B for fiscal year

More:Michigan ends in-person school year for K-12 students due to coronavirus

Because she made a new disaster declaration on Wednesday, Whitmer can continue to exercise emergency powers for another 28 days from Wednesday without the need for the Legislature to convene and vote on a resolution to extend the emergency or the disaster.

She also has powers under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act to continue to act unilaterally, even without an extension from lawmakers.

So her request to the Legislature to extend her emergency and disaster orders by 70 days does not require immediate action.

Brown said Whitmer "is highly concerned about the Republican leaders' proposals that would needlessly have the Legislature convene every few weeks to renew the emergency declaration."

A 70-day extension "is consistent with past emergency declarations and will make sure we have the tools we need to protect public health and save lives," Brown said.

The Senate leadership is still in negotiations on how long the extension will last, she said. Shirkey is looking more at what’s happening on the national level, which is currently to end the emergency by the end of April, she said.

"We should extend the emergency long enough to do what is needed to keep people safe, but adapt to circumstances that are changing pretty rapidly.”

Several Republican state lawmakers said Whitmer's proposed 70-day extension is far too long.

State Rep. Jason Sheppard, R-Temperance, said the situation with the virus "is ever-changing, and 10 weeks is far too long to go without legislative review."

"It would be much more responsible to re-examine the need for an emergency declaration every two weeks, so we can make decisions based on up-to-date information," Sheppard said in a news release.

State Rep. James Lower, R-Cedar Springs, said on Twitter that Whitmer’s request to stay away from Lansing will not happen.

“We have these checks & balances for a reason. We'll be in on 4-7,” he tweeted.

House Minority Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said she is "deeply concerned" by GOP statements that they do not intend to approve a full 70-day extension.

As Chatfield said earlier, the governor is in the best position, with the advice of health professionals, to know the best action to take, Greig said.

"The Legislature should stand beside her with bipartisan support for the requested 70-day extension.”

Following the death of Robinson, no other legislator or staffer has tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday, said D'Assandro and McCann.

It's not clear whether the Legislature could legally hold a remote session — through videoconference, for example — as long as it provided for public access.

What is clear is that such a thing has never happened before.

Michigan's constitution says the Legislature "shall meet at the seat of government," which is Lansing. But the constitution also says the Legislature can meet at "some other place" if Lansing becomes dangerous, for any reason.

The Lansing newsletter Gongwer reported this week that some experts interpret that to mean that a video meeting could pass legal muster, but that the logistical and technological problems associated with making such a meeting happen on relatively short notice could still pose a major challenge.

State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, said he just emerged from a self-imposed, 14-day quarantine, because he is a seatmate to state Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who tested positive for coronavirus before Robinson's death, and he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for the Legislature to return to the Capitol next week.

“I’m not sure what the likelihood is at this point. Will they even have enough for a quorum because many people are scared?” he said.

“We have to take all the necessary precautions if we gather in such a large group. The last thing we want is to have members going back to their districts and creating new clusters all across the state.”

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

Kansas COVID-19 emergency declaration extended — evictions ...

A panel of top legislators voted Friday to extend the state's COVID-19 disaster declaration until June 15 in an effort to give the Kansas National Guard and other agencies time to wind down any ongoing emergency operations.

But as part of the deal, members nixed an executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly banning evictions and foreclosures, which has been in existence off and on since spring of last year.

Under legislation signed into law in March, Kelly no longer has a formal role in the decision over extending the order, with those powers instead resting in a committee made up predominantly of Republican legislators. That panel, the Legislative Coordinating Council, also can review and reject any of the governor's executive orders.

Members voted to approve the extension on a party-line-vote. It comes as a half-dozen states have or will soon end their emergency declarations, as COVID-19 cases slow nationally.

But while Kelly stressed the need for the broader emergency order to continue, her office slammed the decision to end the eviction and foreclosure moratorium.

"As we finally start to recover from this global pandemic, now is not the time to kick people out of their homes," Reeves Oyster, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement. "Governor Kelly will continue to focus on doing what’s right — and not what’s politically convenient."

More:Will Kansas have a vaccine lottery? Maybe, but don't expect a $1 million prize.

Still, Republican legislators indicated they too were growing weary of the need for any pandemic-related orders.

"When is it going to stop?" House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said. "When are these extensions going to stop. We always can find a reason for an extension."

That hasn't stopped the Kelly administration, however, from making a case to legislators for the declaration's renewal.

Adjutant General David Weishaar told legislators Wednesday that the declaration was still needed to support the state's emergency operations center, which received about two dozen requests in May from local governments for first-aid supplies, gowns and masks.

He added the order also gave the Kansas National Guard authorization to pitch in with vaccine clinics and transporting testing samples.

And Weishaar warned the order's demise could threaten federal disaster funding, although he noted guidance on this matter was hazy from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It doesn't appear that other states who have ended their orders have lost any disaster aid.

But legislators were skeptical Friday that the order was really needed to continue current operations, including vaccine rollout.

"I think most of the things that are being done now can be done without a declaration in place," said House Speaker Pro Tempore Blaine Finch, R-Ottawa.

Democrats on the committee argued it was foolhardy to pretend that ending the declaration would mean the risk of the virus for Kansans would disappear, pointing to the fact that fewer than half of the state's residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Yes, we need an exit strategy and I think we are on that path," said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa. "But to say we don't want this because we want it to be over? We will harm Kansans."

More:New COVID-19 tests in Kansas dip to lowest levels in months, data shows

Advocates worry about eviction ban uncertainty

The end of Kansans' ban on evictions and foreclosures troubled advocates, especially given uncertainty about a similar moratorium at the federal level.

Republicans have long been skeptical of the state's moratorium, arguing it prevents landlords from getting paid.

An evictions ban issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still in place, although it is hanging by a thread. It was struck down in a Washington, D.C., federal court but will remain in place pending appeal. It is set to expire on June 30.

Evictions have continued throughout the pandemic, sometimes in defiance of the ban.

And Dustin Hare, a Wyandotte County organizer, said the CDC ban was more effective than the state's moratorium.

"I don't think the state-level moratorium has really been effective," he said. "The federal one was a lot stronger than the state-level. A lot of people I know have been filling out the declaration form through the CDC since the beginning."

More:As Gov. Laura Kelly signs education deal, can fragile peace take hold on school funding?

But if the CDC order isn't renewed or remains mired in legal purgatory, Hare said things could get difficult for renters.

"If that goes away, I think we're going to be in for a world of hurt," Hare said.

Rental assistance programs do exist, both at a statewide level, as well as an aid fund targeted directly at Wichita residents. More money could be coming, with $50 billion approved in the American Rescue Plan to help renters.

But advocates have argued more needs to be done, particularly in modifying the program's structure. The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program, for instance, pays landlords instead of sending those funds directly to tenants, something Rent Zero Kansas has opposed.

The KERA program, operated by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, has paid out over $1 million in aid, although this has only gone to 167 of the 4,038 applications submitted.

More individuals to process those applications, Hare said, as well as an improved outreach strategy would help ensure resources reach renters.

But Vince Munoz, an organizer with the housing advocacy group Rent Zero Kansas, said the most effective measure was still some sort of moratorium.

"It isn't as effective as simply saying we aren't going to have evictions," Munoz said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declares emergency amid coronavirus ...

As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world, including in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency on Thursday while making plans to shore up the state's medical resources in anticipation of a wave of new patients.

The governor's action comes one day after the World Health Organization said COVID-19 had become a global pandemic, President Donald Trump ordered a ban on air travel from Europe, sports leagues suspended seasons and schools throughout Tennessee said they'd shutter campuses.

Lee's decision to declare a state of emergency comes two days after he said he such a move wasn't yet necessary until Tennessee had seen "clusters of affected patients."

"We believe there clearly will be more cases," Lee said Thursday on the need for the emergency declaration, minutes before a flood of sporting events were canceled.

"This emergency declaration is an important next step in our efforts to treat and mitigate the impact of this disease," the governor said.

While praising the governor for his declaration, Democrats criticized Lee, saying more needs to be done.

As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, state officials said Tennessee had 18 detected cases of COVID-19.

With the emergency declaration, Tennessee will join an ever-growing number of states to take similar action. As of Wednesday, at least 28 had declared states of emergency, according to the National Governors Association.

The declaration will also give Tennessee access to additional federal funding to combat the coronavirus. Before Thursday's announcement, Tennessee was set to receive $10 million from the federal government to help with the state's response.

First case declared a week ago

Since Tennessee's first case of the coronavirus was announced last week, Lee and others stressed the state was prepared and drastic measures like closing schools and businesses were not necessary.

"As confirmed cases surfaced in other parts of the world, we in Tennessee prepared early," Lee said March 5. He noted Tennessee was one of the first states to begin testing for COVID-19.

At the time, state officials said they had an adequate number of tests available. Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said at the time "the overall risk to the general public remains low."

As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 88 coronavirus tests at its state lab. Piercey said as of Thursday morning, the state had the capacity to test at least 500 people, in addition to resources available through private labs.

"We continue to remain confident in our ability and the measures that we're taking to prevent the spread of this infection," Lee said last week.

On Tuesday, the governor said he didn't see a reason for schools and workplaces, including state offices, to close.

"We don’t see a reason at this point (to close state offices) because the threat is significantly low to Tennesseans," he said.

But on Thursday, Lee said the emergency declaration was necessary in light of additional cases while giving the state access to more money.

Lee warned vulnerable populations to stay home and avoid large gatherings.

"We also know this is especially serious for our neighbors who are elderly," he said, imploring everyone in the state to take the issue seriously.

"While the risk to the general public remains low, the risk to vulnerable populations is very real," he said.

Although Lee didn't define that vulnerable population at the news conference, members of his administration pointed to the definition by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency's definition includes "older adults" and people with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. According to the CDC, vulnerable adults are those 60 or older or people who have those underlying medical conditions.

Lee encouraged Tennesseans to avoid non-essential visits to nursing homes and hospitals.

Piercey said the emergency declaration could help pay for additional costs to provide access to telemedicine.

The governor's latest move caps off a week that began with officials saying they would not release county-level data of infected patients. The decision was later reversed after criticism from across the state, including from local officials.

But as of Thursday, the Department of Health has refrained from giving additional information, including the age and sex of those infected.

Tennessee lawmakers continue work

The emergency declaration comes as Tennessee colleges and universities, as well as K-12 schools throughout the state, have closed, fans have been banned from sporting events, and festivals, concerts and conferences have been canceled. Minutes after Lee's Thursday announcement, the SEC basketball tournament in Nashville was canceled.

The NBA, NHL and Major League Soccer all suspended their seasons. Major League Baseball delayed the start of its season by two weeks.

Piercey said such actions are part of an effort to "flatten the curve" of cases of the coronavirus.

"That deals with slowing the number of cases in order to reduce the strain on our hospitals, health care resources and allow our communities more time to prepare," she said.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers across the country have taken action to reduce public gatherings and Congress has halted public access through April 1. But Tennessee legislators continued pressing ahead Thursday with their business.

House and Senate lawmakers pressed forward with their agendas, welcoming the Tennessee Titans and debating everything from honoring Trump to making the Bible the official book of Tennessee. The House did not ultimately vote on the Bible bill.

On Wednesday, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, called for legislative leadership to temporarily halt the session. The House and Senate speakers have shown no sign of a forthcoming change.

Lee said it was ultimately up to legislative leaders to decide how to proceed, noting his administration was ramping up efforts to introduce his final proposed budget for the year. Lawmakers are constitutionally required to pass a budget each year.

In a joint statement, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, encouraged those who planned to come to the Capitol and lawmakers' offices to stay away while vowing to press ahead with the session.

Hospitals ramp up efforts to prepare

Wendy Long, head of the Tennessee Hospital Association, said the state's hospitals are ramping up their efforts to prepare for an expected surge in patients who will come as a result of COVID-19.

"We are concerned, regarding the potential, for supply, equipment and manpower shortages down the road," said Long, who noted such issues would depend on demand. "We'll be monitoring all those issues very closely."

Long said the state is looking at options ranging from telemedicine to providing Tennesseans with longer lasting prescriptions to avoid having them visit medical facilities.

"Also looking at issues like canceling elective surgeries in order to free up beds and really upping our efforts to discharge patients," she said.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, remained confident Thursday the state's hospitals had an "enormous amount of capacity" and could treat anyone who needed it.

"It is going to continue to spread, we are ready for it, and we will make sure that anybody (who) needs treatment, gets that treatment," he said.

For all the latest efforts by the state, Democrats said more needs to be done.

"This is an emergency," said Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville. "Coronavirus represents a serious threat to Tennesseans, and it's time for the state government to act like it and to take decisive action."

Yarbro said Tennesseans need to hear about the plans every state agency and department has regarding the coronavirus.

"The effectiveness of the United States response to this disaster is ... going to be determined by how effective local and state governments are," he said, rejecting the notion that politics were at play while raising such questions himself. "It's not going to cut it to just follow the lead of the federal government."

Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest politics news, podcasts like Grand Divisions, plus newsletters, a personalized mobile experience and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's 261 daily sites.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.

What to know

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) for most people is low. The CDC recommends taking simple, everyday steps to avoid catching or spreading respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. These include covering your cough or sneeze and thoroughly washing or sanitizing your hands. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at CDC.gov/coronavirus or contact the Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus information line at 877-857-2945 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST daily.

As of 6 p.m. CST on Thursday, the total number of coronavirus cases are:

Tennessee: 18

Williamson County: 8

Davidson County: 6

Shelby County: 2

Knox County: 1

Sullivan County: 1

United States: 1,215

Worldwide: 125,288

Source: Tennessee Department of Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization

Coronavirus updates: $2T stimulus; Prince Charles; Floyd Cardoz ...

The Senate passed a $2 trillion stimulus deal, the mayor of New York said more than half his city could face coronavirus infection, and Britain revealed Wednesday that Prince Charles tested positive for the virus.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bipartisan deal "the largest rescue package in history." And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "This is a wartime level of investment into our nation."

Now the bill will head to the House for a vote before heading to President Donald Trump's desk. The agreement comes as confirmed cases in America, now over 69,000, have been climbing at an exponential rate. More are expected as the U.S. increases testing.

House Majority Leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., announced the House will vote on the $2 trillion bill Friday, and that they will convene at 9 a.m.

"We expect the bill to pass by voice vote," he said.

The U.S. death toll was at 1,050 early Thursday after eclipsing 600 on Tuesday. Globally, more than 21,200 people have been killed by the virus, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard.

Our live blog is being updated throughout the day. Refresh for the latest news. More headlines:

Senate passes historic emergency aid package to curb coronavirus impact

The Senate approved its largest emergency aid package in modern history that will offer $2 trillion to help Americans, hospitals and businesses weather the effects of the coronavirus. The vote late Wednesday night was 96-0.

Among the provisions offered in the measure are one-time $1,200 checks to individuals, $367 billion in loans and grants to small businesses, over $130 billion for hospitals and community health centers and financial help to airlines and other industries hit hard by the virus.

The massive package aims to offer a financial lifeline to Americans and businesses that are hurting while also offering reassurance to the markets, which have seen some of its worst days in decades due to the virus’ impacts on the economy.

The emergency aid package is the third Congress has taken up to offset the effects of the virus. Wednesday’s vote capped off days of tense, round-the-clock negotiations between the Trump administration and leaders of the House and Senate.

– Christal Hayes

NBA star Stephen Curry, Anthony Fauci to talk coronavirus on Instagram

NBA superstar Stephen Curry is joining the effort to confront the coronavirus by moderating an Instagram discussion with Anthony Fauci on Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been the leading voice for science and medicine in the Trump administration's response to the pandemic. He will answer fans' questions about the virus.

Curry missed most of the now-suspended NBA season with a fractured hand, but the two-time league MVP and three-time champion remains one of the league's most popular players.

WHO calls for six measures to halt worldwide spread of coronavirus

In a press briefing Wednesday evening, World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for countries to adopt six measures to aggressively attack the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The measures ask countries to expand, train and deploy healthcare workers; implement a system to find every suspected case “at the community level”; ramp up production and availability of testing; equip and adapt facilities to isolate and treat patients; develop plans and protocols to quarantine; and refocus the whole of government to suppress and control COVID-19.

“These measures are the best way to suppress and stop transmission, so that when restrictions are lifted, the virus doesn’t re-surge,” Tedros said. “The last thing any country needs is to open schools and businesses, only to be forced to close them again because of a resurgence.”

Tedros also welcomed the call made Monday by United Nations secretary general António Guterres for a global ceasefire so that governments can wholly focus on eradicating the virus.

– Lorenzo Reyes

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Half of New York City will be infected by coronavirus

More than half of New York City's population can expect to be infected by the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Most will suffer only a "mild experience," but many will become very sick, and "we are going to lose some people," he said.

April will be tough and May tougher before the virus crisis eases, he said. The city has seen 192 deaths so far, and there are more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

"The world we knew is gone," de Blasio said in a social media post. "And it's not coming back, not for the next few months. That's the blunt truth."

Protesters block US-Mexico border amid fears of spreading coronavirus

Protesters on the Mexican side of the border blocked the Mexico-bound lanes in the twin border cities of Ambos Nogales for several hours Wednesday to express their displeasure with the Mexican government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The protesters demanded greater controls and screenings on southbound traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border out of concern that travelers from the U.S. could import new cases of the coronavirus into Mexico.

Less than a dozen people wearing face masks and carrying signs used two of their vehicles for a blockade of the two southbound lanes at the DeConcini crossing, several hundred feet into the Mexican side of the border, video taken by Mexican media showed.

Some of the signs asked U.S. residents to "stay at home." Others called on Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to step up controls and restrictions along the U.S.-Mexico border to contain the spread of COVID-19.

– Rafael Carranza, Arizona Republic

Two Grand Princess cruise ship passengers die from coronavirus

Two passengers from the Grand Princess, the cruise ship that floated off the California coast for days before being allowed to dock in Oakland, have died from the effects of the coronavirus, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

A statement from HHS to USA TODAY said both passengers had been quarantined at Travis Air Force Base in California after leaving the ship, then were transferred to area medical facilities after developing COVID-19 symptoms. One person died Saturday and the other one Monday.

More than 3,500 people on board the Grand Princess for a San Francisco-to-Hawaii voyage were potentially exposed to the coronavirus, and 21 of them eventually tested positive while on board.

Morgan Hines and Andrea Mandell

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo touts benefits of social distancing

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said social distancing has helped slow the rate of hospitalizations in his state, but that they are still rising above expectations. He said the state will need 140,000 hospital beds, almost three times the existing capacity. He expects the state's curve to hit its apex in two or three weeks.

"We are still on the way up the mountain," he said.

Cuomo also said the state has sufficient masks and other protective equipment to last several days, but that the race to acquire respirators remained critical. He said they will be returned to states who donate them – and that his state will provide expertise on treatment as well.

"We are asking the country to help us," he said. "We will return the favor."

Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus, displays 'mild symptoms'

Britain's Prince Charles, heir to the throne, has tested positive for the coronavirus, his official royal residence said in a statement. The statement said Prince Charles, 71, has "been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health." His wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, does not have the virus, a test showed.

Prince Charles' coronavirus diagnosis:It's a huge deal for Brits, the monarchy. Here's why.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has canceled a number of diary events "as a sensible precaution" amid the outbreak, but as late as last week she was still holding "audiences" with members of the public. Britain's monarch is 93.

– Kim Hjelmgaard

Gov. Gavin Newsom: 1 million jobless claims in California this month

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than a million unemployment insurance claims have been filed in the state this month, a sign of the widespread shutdowns affecting residents because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He called the expected relief from the stimulus package "very helpful and very timely'' but said more such aid will be needed. Newsom also announced at a news conference that several banks have agreed to allow homeowners impacted by the crisis to defer mortgage payments.

The Labor Department will release national unemployment-claim numbers Thursday morning, and analysts are projecting anywhere from 1 million to 4 million claims.

Student loan collection program eased

Many student loan borrowers far behind on their payments will see the federal government easing collection efforts as part of its response to the financial uncertainty as the coronavirus spreads. The federal government will no longer withhold portions of borrowers’ tax returns and Social Security payments, the Education Department said. And borrowers whose paychecks were garnished will be entitled to their full wage. Private collectors working for the government have also been told to stop collection calls and letters.

– Chris Quintana

Texas gets major disaster declaration

Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Texas as the state grapples with a growing number of cases of the coronavirus. Gov. Greg Abbott said in a tweet the declaration will expand the state’s access to federal resources.

A major disaster declaration gives the state access to federal assistance programs for individual and public infrastructure, including funds for emergency and permanent work.

Texas has 1,130 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the 11th largest total in the nation.

– Nicole Cobler, Austin American-Statesman

Innovative chef Floyd Cardoz dead at 59 after bout with coronavirus

Revolutionary chef Floyd Cardoz, who wowed critics and diners alike with his bold cooking at Tabla and Bombay Bread Bar in Manhattan, has died from COVID-19. He was 59.

Cardoz, who co-owned The Bombay Canteen and O Pedro in Mumbai, won the third season of "Top Chef Masters." He had returned from India via Frankfurt on March 8 feeling feverish. He admitted himself to a New York hospital believing he had the flu, according to close friend Lou Palma.

On his Instagram account, Cardoz apologized for worrying anyone about his health. "I am so sorry for causing undue panic," he said.

Esther Davidowitz, Bergen Record

Tony Awards postponed by coronavirus

Nearly two weeks after Broadway went dark due to concerns over the coronavirus, this year's Tony Awards have been postponed. They had been scheduled for June 7 in New York City's Radio City Music Hall.

Officially, Broadway is shut down until April 12, but experts say it's unlikely curtains will rise that soon. The awards show won't be rescheduled until theater productions restart, organizers said.

– Ilana Keller, Asbury Park Press

Italy, Iran see spike in coronavirus deaths; Spain surpasses China

Italy saw a jump in its daily death toll following two straight days of declines, the nation's civil protection chief said Wednesday. Tuesday saw 743 deaths, up from 601 on Monday and 653 on Sunday. More than 6,800 have died since the outbreak swept into Italy last month. In Spain, where an ice rink has been converted into a morgue, 738 more deaths were reported for a total of 3,434 overall, surpassing China's total.

Iran reported 122 deaths, bringing the total there to more than 2,000. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned that U.S. sanctions are impeding Iran’s efforts to fight coronavirus – and are putting the entire world in danger. "In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us," Bachelet said.

First immigration detainee tests positive for coronavirus in New Jersey

A federal immigration detainee in New Jersey is the first to test positive for the coronavirus, spurring renewed warnings from advocates about the safety of those being held. People held in detention centers are "sitting ducks," said Andrea Flores, a deputy director of policy at the ACLU. Flores urged U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to set more detainees free.

The jail in Bergen County — the epicenter of the New Jersey outbreak —was put under lock down after the positive test. A spokesman for ICE, which pays Bergen and other county jails to house those accused of immigration violations, said the agency has been working with local officials to determine whether any detainees require additional testing.

– Monsy Alvarado and Steve Janoski, Bergen Record

US, Asian stocks leap after Dow Jones' historic surge

U.S. stocks raced higher again Wednesday, a day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average's biggest surge since 1933. Global markets also soared, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumping 5.3%, Hong Kong adding 3% and Sydney climbing 3.6%. Tokyo share prices were also boosted by the decision to postpone the 2020 Olympics to 2021 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

All that followed a stunning 11.4% surge Tuesday in the Dow. The S&P 500 index leaped 9.4% as a wave of buying around the world interrupted what has been a brutal month of nearly nonstop selling.

Mike Pompeo blasts China, calls COVID-19 ‘Wuhan virus’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly used the term “Wuhan virus” to refer to the coronavirus, despite warnings from health experts that the term risks stigmatizing Asian-Americans and concerns the label has incited racist attacks in the U.S.

In a 15-minute news conference, Pompeo never used the official medical term – COVID-19 – for the disease. Pompeo also lashed out at China again for its handling of the initial outbreak, which began in Wuhan.

“They were the first country to know about the risk to the world from this virus," Pompeo told a handful of reporters gathered for Wednesday’s briefing. "They repeatedly delayed sharing.”

– Deirdre Shesgreen

Hundreds of Waffle House restaurants go dark amid coronavirus outbreak

Waffle House, known for weathering many a natural disaster, said it's closing 418 of its restaurants. The chain posted a map on social media showing the closed restaurants, while another 1,574 across the southeastern U.S. remained open. The posts also featured the hashtag "#WaffleHouseIndexRed.

The initial Facebook post drew almost 1,000 comments, most of them reflecting alarm, such as "Oh geez, now we can worry" and "It's getting real sir."

The chain has its own "Waffle House Index" used during natural disasters to assess damage. If a store is closed, it's likely in an area with significant damage.

Fever charting shows social distancing is slowing the spread of coronavirus

Early evidence suggests closing bars, restaurants and other businesses to keep people apart in places including New York City, has slowed the incidence of fevers that are an early indicator of coronavirus, according to a new analysis of fevers and symptoms across the U.S.

Data from health technology company Kinsa, which did the analysis using its digital thermometers, show the number of people with flu-like illness – atypical fever and symptoms – began dropping almost immediately after mandatory social distancing measures were implemented in some areas. The company downloads fever readings from more than 1 million thermometers in use around the U.S.

"When you shut down schools and businesses, you are breaking the chain of infections," said Kinsa CEO Inder Singh. "The data are showing it is working."

– Jayne O'Donnell

More coronavirus news, tips and information from USA TODAY:

• Need a refund on those tickets to NBA, NHL or baseball games? Hold that thought.

• Coronavirus lockdowns: These states are ordering residents to stay home or shelter in place.

• There's a new symptom of coronavirus, doctors say:Sudden loss of smell or taste

If you get coronavirus, this is everything to know about the infection process.

• Stores are running low on diapers.Here's where you can still get them.

• Grocery stores like Walmart, Albertsons and Kroger are adding sneeze guards in stores.

• Fact check: COVID-19 crisis has not created decreased long-term human environmental impact

•Sen. Rand Paul explains why he did not self-quarantine.

• The US is confronting coronavirus without the CDC. It's 'like fighting with one hand tied behind your back,' ex-director says.

• Greta Thunberg thinks she had coronavirus.She urged the public to stay at home.

• You order, they deliver:Here's a list of food delivery services you can use now.

We want to help. Gannett launches website to help local small businesses.

Contributing: The Associated Press.