President Trump returned to the White House yesterday evening from Walter Reed Medical Center, where he'd been treated since Friday for Covid-19. After his helicopter arrival, Trump climbed up the South Portico steps for a dramatically-staged moment on the terrace during which he saluted as the copter left, after having taken off his mask despite being infectious and having staffers near him. He then entered the White House, still unmasked. Trump's physician, Dr. Sean Conley, had said earlier in the day that while Trump was still not, quote, "out of the woods," it was safe for him to return to the White House. Conley again declined to reveal some medical information about Trump's illness, including what his lung scans showed and when his last negative coronavirus test was, citing HIPAA privacy protections.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
Trump released a video after his White House return in which he urged Americans not to be afraid of the coronavirus and not to let it, quote, "dominate you." After getting the kind of medical treatment and attention over the past days unavailable to any other American, Trump said in his message, "You’re going to beat it. We have the best medical equipment, we have the best medicines." The message alarmed infectious disease experts, who worried it could lead to the virus spreading even further and more people becoming ill and dying. It also angered some Covid-19 survivors and some loved ones of the more than 210,000 U.S. victims of the virus. Trump also declared that the actions that led to him catching the virus amounted to him showing leadership, saying, "I stood out front. I led. Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did."
White House Press Secretary McEnany Positive for Coronavirus: White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany disclosed yesterday that she'd tested positive for the coronavirus that morning, after having tested negative daily since last Thursday. McEnany, the latest member of the administration to test positive, said she had no symptoms, and was entering quarantine. Two of McEnany’s deputies also reportedly tested positive.
Biden Says Trump Responsible for His Illness: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said in an NBC News town hall in Miami last night that Trump bears responsibility for being infected with the coronavirus. He said: "[A]nybody who contracts the virus by essentially saying, 'masks don’t matter; social distancing doesn’t matter' — I think is responsible for what happens to them." Biden, who spoke before a socially-distanced, masked audience, also said he, quote, "wasn't surprised" when he learned Trump had contracted the virus, but that he was happy to hear his condition was improving.
Pence, Harris to Be Separated by Plexiglass Barrier, 12-Plus Feet at VP Debate: When Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris meet in the vice presidential debate Wednesday in Utah, they will be separated by a plexiglass barrier and by more than 12 feet to protect against transmission of the coronavirus. The Democratic campaign reportedly requested the Plexiglass barrier. Although Pence has been recently exposed to people who've tested positive for the virus in the White House cluster, he has until now tested negative. Pence is not quarantining.
➤WHITE HOUSE BLOCKS NEW FDA GUIDELINES FOR CORONAVIRUS VACCINES: The White House has blocked new guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration for potential coronavirus vaccines that would have almost certainly prevented any of them from getting approval before the election, The New York Times reported last night. The White House is objecting to the FDA's planned requirement that participants in the ongoing mass trials for vaccine candidates be followed for two months to make sure the vaccines are safe and effective in order to get emergency approval. AP cited a senior administration official as confirming the report, saying the White House believed there was, quote, "no clinical or medical reason" to add additional screening requirements. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn has said that scientists will decide whether any coronavirus vaccine candidates meet the safe and effective standard, not politicians.
🔥CALIFORNIA'S AUGUST COMPLEX WILDFIRE PASSES ONE MILLION ACRES: Another historic milestone was reached Monday in California's historic year for wildfires, with the August Complex wildfire passing one million acres burned. Governor Gavin Newsom said that the amount of land burned by the August Complex fire is larger than all of the recorded wildfires in California between 1932 and 1999, stating, "If that’s not proof point, testament, to climate change, then I don’t know what is." The August Complex fire began in mid-August as dozens of fires ignited by lightning in the Mendocino National Forest. Yesterday's mark came one day after California passed the milestone of four million acres burned by wildfires this year, more than twice the previous record.
🌀NEW HURRICANE THREAT FOR GULF COAST: There's another hurricane threat for the Gulf Coast, after Hurricane Delta formed in the Caribbean Sea Monday night, aiming first for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, but set to target the U.S. Gulf Coast by Friday. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Randy Adkins said that Gulf Coast residents from southeast Texas to Florida should be on alert and prepared for a possible landfall. Delta is first set to hit the Cayman Islands early today and approach Cuba in the afternoon, before heading into the Gulf on Wednesday. If Delta does make landfall in the U.S., is would be the 10th named storm to do so this season, a new record.
- Houston Astros 10, Oakland A's 5 -- Houston leads series 1 game to 0 (AL)
- New York Yankees 9, Tampa Bay Rays 3 -- New York leads series 1 game to 0 (AL)
PACKERS DEFEAT FALCONS 30-16: The Green Bay Packers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30-16 at home last night in Monday Night Football to remain unbeaten. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes, three of them to tight end Robert Tonyan, as he went 27 of 33 for 327 yards. Meanwhile, the Falcons fell to their first 0-4 start since 1999.∙ Week 1: 32/44, 364 Pass Yds, 4 TDs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2020
∙ Week 2: 18/30, 240 Pass Yds, 2 TDs
∙ Week 3: 21/32, 283 Pass Yds, 3 TDs
∙ Week 4: 27/33, 327 Pass Yds, 4 TDs
Aaron Rodgers still got it 💪 pic.twitter.com/9mHzE0QIIj
TEXANS FIRE HEAD COACH O'BRIEN AFTER 0-4 START: The Houston Texans fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien on Monday, one day after the team's 31-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings sent them to a 0-4 start to the season for the first time since 2008. O'Brien was in his seventh season as coach for Houston, and became general manager this past off-season.
NFL INSTITUTES NEW CORONAVIRUS REQUIREMENTS: The NFL put new coronavirus protocols in place Monday after an outbreak on the Tennessee Titans and other positive tests that forced multiple changes to the Week 4 schedule. Commissioner Roger Goodell told teams that discipline could now include loss of draft picks or even forfeit of a game if violations result in the spread of the virus, adjustments to the schedule or other league impact. The new requirements include a ban on gatherings outside the club facility and implementing a video monitoring system to ensure compliance with protocols.
10 RAIDERS FINED FOR VIOLATING CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOLS: Ten Las Vegas Raiders players have been fined by the NFL for attending tight end Darren Waller's charity event last week that violated coronavirus protocols, according to media reports yesterda. NFL Network first reported the fines, which were $30,000 for Waller and $15,000 for his teammates. The players were seen without face masks and mingling with guests, who were also not wearing masks. The event raised money for Waller’s foundation, which helps young people overcome drug and alcohol addiction.
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