Pence says opening US by Easter is “aspirational”
From CNN’s Betsy Klein
Vice President Mike Pence downplayed President Trump’s Easter timeline for having the country “opened up” in a CNBC interview today.
“The President expressed really an aspirational goal as we continue to follow the data,” he said.
“He would love to see it around Easter but whenever that day is that we can responsibly open up portions of the country," Pence added,
Some background: Earlier this week, President Trump said he wants the nation “opened up and just raring to go by Easter.” But few health experts — which is just more than two weeks away — will be sufficient in containing the spread of coronavirus.
More than 500 NYPD employees have tested positive for coronavirus
From CNN’s Pervaiz Shallwani
At least 512 New York Police Department employees have tested positive for coronavirus as of Friday morning, a senior NYPD official tells CNN, up 161 from an official update by the NYPD Thursday evening.
Of the 512, 442 are uniformed members of the forces, and 70 are civilian members, according to the source.
4,122 – about 11% of the NYPD work force – are out sick, the official tells CNN.
US epidemiologist: “I do not know what the national plan is” on coronavirus
From CNN’s Adrienne Vogt
An infectious disease epidemiologist says there is still confusion over a concerted national plan for responding to the coronavirus.
“We still don’t have a plan. I do not know what the national plan is for responding to this virus. Until we get that, it is a piecemeal situation,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
Since there are so many areas affected by the coronavirus all at once, Osterholm said “we’re in trouble” from a supply standpoint.
“We’re all going to need these ventilators all at the same time. We’re going to need the protective equipment for employees all at the same time, and we’re just not going to have it,” he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto.
Multiple sources told CNN that there is frustration among employees within the Federal Emergency Management Agency over being brought into the coronavirus response too late, as well as communication discrepancies between the agency and the White House.
TSA screened 8% of the passengers it usually does yesterday
From CNN’s Gregory Wallace
Airport security screeners are currently seeing only a sliver of the traffic they saw this time last year.
Yesterday, the Transportation Security Administration screened only 8% of the people that it did on the same day in 2019, according to newly-released numbers from the agency.
It counted 203,858 people passing through its checkpoints.
This marked the first day in the coronavirus outbreak that the agency has screened less than 10% of last year’s traffic.
The figures are one way to measure the dramatic drop in people traveling. When March began, the agency was screening slightly more people than it did on the same day last year.
Members of both parties are angry with this GOP lawmaker who could delay the stimulus bill vote
From CNN’s Haley Byrd, Manu Raju and Betsy Klein
Members of political parties are furious with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, for not being clear about whether he will object to the coronavirus stimulus bill passing on voice vote, with some former top aides also saying the Kentucky Republican is endangering the safety of his colleagues.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a House Democrat from California, said about Rep. Massie: “It’s not about him. I don’t want to make an insignificant person more significant.”
"Dear @RepThomasMassie: If you intend to delay passage of the #coronavirus relief bill tomorrow morning, please advise your 428 colleagues RIGHT NOW so we can book flights and expend ~$200,000 in taxpayer money to counter your principled but terribly misguided stunt. #thankyou,” Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, tweeted Thursday night.
Rep. Pete King, a New York Republican, tweeted on Friday morning: “Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed. Disgraceful. Irresponsible.”
And Brendan Buck, a former top aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan, said Friday that Massie is “legitimately threatening the health of his colleagues, many in their 60s or 70s even 80s, for a stunt on a bill he knows is going to pass.”
“I hope no one forgets what he’s done here,” Buck wrote.
Democratic congressman Thomas Suozzi of New York said his message to Massie is: “Cut it out.” He also said there’s “anxiety” about being here and his family isn’t happy that he’s here.
Now President Trump has weighed in on Massie. In a Tweet this morning, Trump called on Republicans to “throw Massie out” of the party.
Some context: The House is currently debating the $2 trillion stimulus bill for the next couple hours. Leadership is hoping to pass the measure by a voice-vote shortly thereafter. The fear right now is that Massie — who has not committed to voting yes — could prevent the House from approving the bill by voice vote, forcing them instead to cast a roll-call vote in person.
Massie is among about 50 members who are in the House chamber now, sitting quietly. He has not responded to multiple requests for comment from CNN.