National stockpile deploys its last round of shipments
From CNN’s Kristen Holmes
The Strategic National Stockpile is deploying the last round of shipments in its inventory, depleting the bulk of its protective gear, a source familiar told CNN.
The official said the stockpile was never meant to serve as the only source of protective gear for the entire coronavirus response and the states would need to get more supply from the private market.
The official stressed that the stockpile, which is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, will never be completely depleted as they always retain a small percentage for the most critical needs.
Some context: Since the start of the pandemic, officials have been sounding the alarm that there was never going to be enough gear for a 50-state response.
On Tuesday, President Trump said the government would hold onto 10,000 ventilators to ensure they had the ability to deploy quickly if they need the units in the future.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the agency’s planning for the Covid-19 pandemic response “acknowledged that the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) alone could not fulfill all requirements at the State and tribal level. Therefore, as the vice president stated last night, the federal government will exhaust all means to identify and attain medical and other supplies needed to combat the virus.”
A Department of Homeland Security official told CNN the stockpile is “near depletion because the numbers are low.”
“When you see demand is outpacing supply, then we go to the people [states] who are asking for equipment and ask if they are exhausting all of their sources,” the official said. “We are having to balance places that don’t have any [PPE], versus someone on the verge, but not there yet.”
Connecticut governor says newborn died of coronavirus
CNN
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said the state reached a “tragic milestone” with the death of an infant with coronavirus.
“A 6-week-old newborn from the Hartford area was brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived,” Lamont tweeted. “Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was Covid-19 positive. This is absolutely heartbreaking. We believe this is one of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to Covid-19.”
Read Lamont’s tweets:
Governor Ned Lamont
@GovNedLamont
· 2h
It is with heartbreaking sadness today that we can confirm the first pediatric fatality in Connecticut linked to #COVID19. A 6-week-old newborn from the Hartford area was brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived. (1/3)
Governor Ned Lamont
@GovNedLamont
Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was COVID-19 positive. This is absolutely heartbreaking. We believe this is one of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to COVID-19. (2/3)
Florida religious services exempt from stay-at-home executive order
From CNN’s Stephanie Gallman
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship are “essential business” and therefore exempt from this stay-at-home executive order announced this afternoon.
The stay-at-home order issued by DeSantis goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday.
According to 2019 Census data, the population of the state has over 21 million people.
Florida has 6,946 confirmed coronavirus cases and 86 deaths, according to CNN’s tally.
Some context: Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne said he wouldn’t close the doors of his Tampa, Florida, megachurch until the End Times begin. The police weren’t willing to wait that long.
On Monday, Florida sheriff’s deputies arrested the evangelical pastor, who has continued to host large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Howard-Browne has been charged with two counts: unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Both are second-degree misdemeanors, Chronister said at a press conference Monday.
[ Ridiculous ]
Gun retailers deemed “essential service” by federal government
From CNN’s Kelly Mena
As states around the country issue “stay-at-home” orders amid the coronavirus pandemic, firearm and ammunition retailers have been designated an “essential service,” according to updated guidance from the federal government.
Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, identified “firearm and ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges” as critical infrastructure in the updated “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” advisory, which was issued over the weekend.
The list is intended to be advisory and not to be considered “the exclusive list of critical infrastructure sectors, workers, and functions that should continue during the Covid-19 response across all jurisdictions.”
“Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion,” the advisory states.
Some context: The Covid-19 health crisis has prompted at least 30 states and the District of Columbia to issue stay-at-home orders that force the closure of “non-essential services.”
Firearm retailers haven’t been specifically mentioned in some states’ lists of essential businesses, so they’re assumed to be non-essential.
Georgia governor announces state-wide shelter-in-place to go into effect Friday
From CNN’s Lindsay Benson
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp held a press conference Wednesday afternoon and announced that a state-wide shelter-in-place will go into effect on Friday.
“Tomorrow, I will sign a state-wide shelter-in-place order, which will go into effect on Friday, and run through April 13, 2020. This date is in line with our public health emergency order,” Kemp said.
Kemp also added that public schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.
“I will sign an executive order today closing K through 12 public schools for the rest of the school year,” Kemp said.
He added that “online learning will continue.”
California reports 1,200 more coronavirus cases
From CNN’s Cheri Mossburg
More than 8,000 people in California have coronavirus, and 171 people have died as a result of the virus, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a virtual press conference.
Today’s count adds 1,223 more Covid-19 patients to California’s tally – an increase of more than 17% from yesterday — for a total of 8,155 cases in the state.
The governor is keenly focused on how many coronavirus patients are hospitalized, especially in intensive care units.
There are 774 patients in ICU beds. That number has quadrupled in the past six days. Hospitalizations from the virus have tripled in that same time frame and currently stands at 1,855 people.
Los Angeles County has 513 new cases and 11 deaths, state Health Director Barbara Ferrer announced today. In a matter of 48-hours, more than 1,000 more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in L.A. County.
[ 6 items, none about New York. 
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