Tom Howell Jr.

Donald Trump to invoke Defense Production Act to ramp up supplies

President Trump said he is invoking the Defense Production Act in the fight against a coronavirus that's impacted all 50 states and put the White House on a "wartime" footing.

March 18, 2020

Donald Trump: U.S.-Canada border closed to nonessential traffic

President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced plans to close the border between the two countries to "non-essential" traffic as the world gets a handle on the coronavirus pandemic.

March 18, 2020

Deborah Birx, U.S. coronavirus coordinator, moves to minimize health care burden

Deborah Birx, an HIV/AIDS expert tapped to organize President Trump's coronavirus team, said ventilators and a hospital's time and attention will be at a premium, so all need to do their part.

March 17, 2020

Secretary of State Pompeo: China took an ‘awful long time’ to sound coronavirus alarm

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a Chinese disinformation campaign around the coronavirus is part of an attempt to shift responsibility for dragging their feet in responding to the outbreak months ago.

March 17, 2020

Donald Trump predicts victory, implores Americans to stay put for two weeks

Americans who can postpone medical services should do so because hospitals will need the beds and patients shouldn't be distracting doctors amid the pandemic, the U.S. coronavirus coordinator said Tuesday.

March 17, 2020

Trump keeps up spat with Cuomo over federal, state roles in outbreak

President Trump kept up his spat with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday by saying states need to be treated differently amid the coronavirus pandemic due to varying rates of transmission.

March 17, 2020

Donald Trump rolls out tougher guidelines to combat coronavirus

President Trump implored Americans Monday to avoid groups of 10 or more and enjoy takeout instead of stepping foot in restaurants, bars and food courts for the next 15 days, as the U.S. tries to avoid the fate of China or Italy in the fight against the coronavirus.

March 16, 2020

NIH launches clinical trial of coronavirus vaccine in Seattle

A person in Seattle received a trial vaccine for the coronavirus as part of a clinical trial Monday, as scientists race to thwart the pathogen that's wreaking human and economic havoc.

March 16, 2020

WHO: Fighting the coronavirus must be ‘everybody’s business’

The World Health Organization said Monday lockdowns and other efforts to thwart the coronavirus won't work unless the public buys in and makes it "everybody's business."

March 16, 2020

First Lady Melania Trump scraps Easter Egg Roll, citing coronavirus

Add the White House Easter Egg Roll to the list of things canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. First Lady Melania Trump said Monday she decided to scrap the April 13 event on the South Lawn out of an "abundance of caution."

March 16, 2020

CDC: Coronavirus spread mandates canceling events of 50 people

The U.S. faced mounting pressure Sunday to mimic Europe and stop crowded bars and public spaces as Americans from coast to coast become sick with worry and the new coronavirus that is taxing the nation's hospitals, economy and political leaders at an unprecedented scale.

March 15, 2020

Trump tells people to ‘relax,’ stop hoarding groceries

President Trump said people need to "relax" and not hoard groceries amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying store executives have assured him that supply chains are intact.

March 15, 2020

AOC to New Yorkers: Stop jamming into the bars

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged young New Yorkers on Saturday to stop crowding into bars and restaurants amid the coronavirus outbreak because they might be spreading the pathogen even if they feel OK.

March 14, 2020

Trump declares national emergency to deal with coronavirus

President Trump declared a national emergency Friday to deal with the new coronavirus that's swept the globe and hit the U.S., freeing up federal disaster funds for states and municipalities.

March 13, 2020

HHS spends more on coronavirus testing, appoints a coordinator

The administration said Friday it will expand testing for the new coronavirus by providing over $1 million to companies whose kits can detect the disease in an hour, as President Trump shifted blame for diagnostic fumbles onto his predecessor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention itself.

March 13, 2020

‘Social distancing’ urged as coronavirus spreads without treatment or vaccine

Drugmakers are racing to land a vaccine or treatment for the new coronavirus, but the science takes time, meaning Americans are left with an onslaught of canceled parades, suspended sports leagues and school closures while they wait for next season's cures.

March 12, 2020

Anthony Fauci says U.S. is behind other nations in testing, dubs it a ‘failing’

The U.S. official in charge of infectious diseases told Congress the country is behind other nations in testing for coronavirus, dubbing it a "failing."

March 12, 2020

Donald Trump in coronavirus address halts Europe travel, outlines ‘unprecedented’ actions

President Trump late Wednesday said he will ban travel from Europe for 30 days as the World Health Organization declared a pandemic and U.S. health officials forecast a surge in cases, citing hot spots on both coasts and cases hitching a ride across the Atlantic after months of relative calm.

March 11, 2020

White House outlines ways for Washington, California to reduce COVID-19

The White House on Wednesday said Washington state and California should take more drastic steps to thwart the spread of the coronavirus for 30 days, from expanding sick leave for workers to moving church services to video and playing pro and college games behind closed doors.

March 11, 2020

World Health Organization declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic

The World Health Organization said Wednesday it now considers the spread of coronavirus to be a global pandemic, raising the stakes around the mysterious pathogen that's spread to over 100 countries.

March 11, 2020