Friday, April 24, 2020

The Rundown: Tests Suggest 21% In NY Have Had Coronavirus

NY Times 4/24/20
Antibody testing on blood samples from 3,000 people in New York suggests that the coronavirus is much more widespread in the state than the confirmed positives indicate. Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday (April 23rd) that nearly 14 percent of the people tested have antibodies indicating they'd had the virus, and in New York City, which is the epicenter of the U.S. pandemic, 21 percent had antibodies. The sample was small and Cuomo cautioned the data was preliminary, and it's also not yet known how much protection antibodies provide. But the governor said having antibody test information could help in making decisions about reopening the state. Those results came as it was disclosed that 438 people died in New York Wednesday, bringing its total to more than 15,700. Johns Hopkins University's count of the national death toll as of late last night was just under 50,000, at 49,954.

President Trump suggested during his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday that you could bring light "inside the body" or use an "injection" of disinfectant into people to help fight the virus. After government scientist Bill Bryan spoke about research his team has done that shows the virus, quote, "dies quickest in sunlight," Trump said, "So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous -- whether it's ultraviolet or just a very powerful light . . . supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or some other way . . . " Trump then continued, "I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?"

Several governors who are facing big budget shortfalls because of the coronavirus pandemic fired back Thursday at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnnell's suggestion from the day before that they should declare bankruptcy instead of getting federal assistance, which McConnell's office described as "blue state bailouts," meaning for Democratic states. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state has been hardest hit by the pandemic, accused McConnell of "obsessive political bias and anger," and called his comments "vicious," "ugly" and "irresponsible and reckless," saying, "You will see a collapse of this national economy" if states like New York, Michigan, Illinois and California declare bankruptcy. Republican Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland also criticized McConnell's suggestion, saying during a Politico interview, "That’s complete nonsense. These are well-run states. There are just as many Republicans as Democrats that strongly support this."


➤ANOTHER 4.4 MILLION APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT; HOUSE PASSES LATEST CORONAVIRUS AID PACKAGE: Government data out Thursday (April 23rd) showed that another 4.4 million Americans applied for unemployment last week, bringing the total to 26 million over the past five weeks, increasing towards unemployment levels last seen during the Great Depression. One in six workers have now lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the House passed a nearly $500 million spending package yesterday, the latest aid legislation to provide assistance in response to the economic fallout from the pandemic. It went to President Trump for his signature after having previously been passed by the Senate. The measure provides more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides grants and loans to small businesses to help them keep workers on the payroll. It also provides money for hospitals struggling with their coronavirus caseloads, as well as funding for more testing for the virus.

➤BENGALS TAKE BURROW WITH NUMBER ONE PICK IN VIRTUAL NFL DRAFT: The NFL draft was held virtually last night (April 23rd) for the first time ever because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the top selection was no surprise, as the Cincinnati Bengals took Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one overall pick. Commissioner Roger Goodell, team personnel and the players selected were all participating online from their homes, and it went pretty smoothly, with no apparent glitches. The Washington Redskins chose Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the second pick. Rounding out the top five:
3rd -- Detroit Lions took Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah.
4th -- New York Giants chose Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
5th -- Miami Dolphins took Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Vin Scully
➤VIN SCULLY HOSPITALIZED AFTER FALL: Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has been hospitalized after falling at home. The Dodgers said Thursday (April 23rd) that the 92-year-old fell on Tuesday and was taken to the hospital for observation, but is resting comfortably and is expected to be released soon.


Scully said in a quote posted by the team on Twitter: "I won’t be doing anymore head-first sliding. I never liked it." Scully retired following the 2016 season, after calling Dodgers games for 67 years, beginning when the team was still in Brooklyn. 



➤TOM BRADY MISTAKENLY WALKED INTO WRONG HOUSE IN TAMPA: Tom Brady has had a couple of hiccups adjusting to his new life in Tampa, with news yesterday that he mistakenly walked into the wrong house earlier this month, after it was reported earlier this week that he was kicked out of a public park after being told he couldn't work out there because of coronavirus stay-at-home orders. According to TMZ, the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was going to the home of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich's on April 7th when he instead walked into the home next door without knocking, surprising the home owner before he realized he was in the wrong house.
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