NYC Sees Third Day For Record Deaths

New York had a record number of deaths from the coronavirus for a third straight day, with Governor Andrew Cuomo reporting Thursday that 799 people died on Wednesday. The state, which is the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., has now had 7,067 deaths. But Cuomo said that the shutdowns and social distancing were "flattening the curve," saying there were just 200 new hospitalizations on Wednesday, a third of what it was a day earlier and the lowest daily number since the crisis began.

However, he warned about relaxing the shutdowns, saying it risked cases rising again. The nation's COVID-19 death toll is now more than 16,000, and more than 430,000 people have tested positive, and worldwide, the number of dead is more than 95,000 and confirmed infections reached about 1.6 million.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases and a key member of the White House's coronavirus task force, also said on NBC's Today show yesterday that social distancing is working. He said the nation's death toll now, quote, "looks more like 60,000 than the 100,000 to 200,000" that U.S. officials had previously estimated. That reflects a projection from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which estimates deaths through early August. Fauci also said that antibody tests have been developed and will be available in "days to weeks," which can show if someone was infected, even if they'd been asymptomatic. He said people who've been infected will likely have immunity, at least for some time, but added that more testing is needed to ensure that's true.

In other developments:

• Johnson Out of Intensive Care: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved out of intensive care Thursday. His office said he remained hospitalized, and, quote, "will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery." Johnson was in intensive care for three days after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.
• Utah Requires Visitors to Share Travel Plans: Utah Governor Gary Herbert issued an executive order Thursday requiring adults entering the state to disclose their travel plans. It applies no matter how they enter the state. The governor's office said visitors will get instructions on how to register their travel plans via an automatic text when they arrive in the state.

➤AMERICANS FLYING IN LOWEST NUMBERS SINCE DAWN OF JET AGE: So few Americans are flying amid the coronavirus pandemic that their numbers are the lowest since the dawn of the jet age more than 60 years ago. The Transportation Security Administration screened just 94,931 people on Wednesday (April 8th) down 96 percent from a year ago and the second straight day under 100,000. By comparison, there were 2.3 million screened on March 1st. The last time there was an average of fewer than 100,000 airline passengers a day in the U.S. was in 1954. At that time the first commercial jetliner, was just a few years old. Airlines have drastically cut their number of flights, but most seats are still empty.

➤POLL...72 PERCENT WON'T ATTEND SPORTING EVENTS WITHOUT CORONAVIRUS VACCINE: The sports world may be eager to start up again, but fans are a lot more reluctant to show up for games. A new poll out yesterday from Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business found that 72 percent of those surveyed said they'd wouldn't go to sporting events if they resumed without there being a coronavirus vaccine, something experts have said is at least 12 to 18 months away. Among those who identified as sports fans, 61 percent said they'd wouldn't go to a game without a vaccine. However, 76 percent said they'd watch broadcasts of games without fans in attendance, and with the same amount of interest they had before.

WSJ Graphic

➤6.6 MILLION FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, 16.8 MILLION OVER THREE WEEKS: Data released by the federal government Thursday showed that 6.6 million people applied for unemployment benefits last week, for a total of a staggering 16.8 million people over three weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic. That 16.8 million amounts to about 10 percent of U.S. workers, and the numbers are expected to go still higher. In its latest unprecedented move to try to support the stunned economy, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced it will provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to households, local governments and businesses. Meanwhile, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned the global economy is headed for the worst recession since the Great Depression.

➤DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO APPROVE TRUMP'S SMALL BIZ BOOST REQUEST WITHOUT CHANGES: Congressional Democrats yesterday blocked President Trump's request to add $250 billion more to a program to help small businesses struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic, refusing to approve it without modifications that they want. But Republicans refused to accept those demands, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell trying to limit it to just Trump's request. Trying to reach bipartisan agreement is complicated by lawmakers being away from Washington amid the pandemic, meaning more difficult-to-reach unanimous agreement is needed. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the Senate vote a "stunt," blasting the administration for trying to push through the $250 billion request with 48 hours notice and little data behind it. Democrats want $150 billion for state and local governments, $100 billion for hospitals and community health centers, and more money for food stamp programs. They also want half of the additional $250 billion directed to farmers, women, veterans and minority-owned companies.