Vice President Mike Pence will be back to work at the White House on Monday after Trump administration officials denied a report Sunday that he was self-isolating.
Meanwhile, in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to release more details Monday about reopening, a day after revealing new rules for nursing homes, a hot spot for coronavirus deaths in the state.
There were nearly 80,000 deaths and had more than 1.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. early Monday, according to the John Hopkins University data dashboard. Worldwide, the virus has killed more than 282,000 people and surpassed 4.1 million infections.
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Here are some of the most significant developments from Sunday:
- Trump administration officials denied a report that Vice President Mike Pence is self-isolating and said he would be back at work in the White House on Monday.
- Predicting that the worst job losses would come in “May or June,” White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the unemployment rate could rise above 20%.
- The White House is taking extra precautions after aides to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for the coronavirus last week.
What we’re talking about today: Paradise lost? Hawaii is facing its highest unemployment rate ever with strict stay-at-home orders and a virtual shutdown of the state’s especially critical tourism industry.
Blue Angels, Thunderbirds plan more flyovers to honor frontline workers
As part of a tribute to frontline workers fighting the coronavirus, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds will fly over five cities this week.
The Blue Angels will visit the skies over Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis on Tuesday, and the Thunderbirds will fly over Austin and San Antonio on Wednesday.
The flyovers are part of a Pentagon plan to fly over nearly three dozen major American cities. Both groups have already conducted joint and separate flyovers in cities including Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Dallas.
States reopening: Alabama, Arizona, South Carolina to reopen restaurants
The start of the new week will bring significant steps toward normalcy across the U.S. Alabama, Arizona and South Carolina will permit dine-in service with occupancy restrictions at restaurants, New Hampshire will allow hair salons, barbershops, retail stores and drive-in movie theaters to open again for business, and Arkansas will allow dental offices to reopen.
Also, Minnesota will allow dentists, doctors and veterinarians to resume elective surgeries. Find out the latest news in your state.
National Park Service tests access in Utah, preps visitors for ‘new normal’
After closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Park Service is testing public access at several parks across the nation, including two in Utah, with limited offerings and services.
Visitor centers and campgrounds remain largely shuttered at Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, but visitors are welcome at some of the sites.
Acting Park Service Director David Vela said visitors should steel themselves for a “new normal” that will not likely square with their last trip.
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander to self-quarantine for 14 days
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander will self-quarantine for 14 days after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19. The 79-year-old Republican is doing well and has no symptoms of the respiratory illness, according to a Sunday night statement from his office. He also tested negative for COVID-19 last week.
Because of his age, Alexander is among older adults who are considered at high risk for the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 80,000 Americans and more than 280,000 worldwide.
Little information has been released about the staffer who tested positive, but the senator’s office said that person is recovering and doing well. Alexander will continue to oversee the Senate health committee hearing during his self-quarantine.
– Anna Celia Gallegos, The Tennessean
White House denies report that Vice President Mike Pence is self-isolating
Vice President Mike Pence is not self-isolating and will be back at work in the White House on Monday, a Pence spokesman said, denying a published report.
The story by Bloomberg came two days after his press secretary tested positive for the virus. Earlier in the week, a valet for President Donald Trump also tested positive. In addition, three members of the White House coronavirus task force entered quarantine after being close to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Both Trump and Pence have tested negative.
“Vice President Pence will continue to follow the advice of the White House Medical Unit and is not in quarantine,” spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement. “Additionally, Vice President Pence has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow.”
As part of new protocols announced Sunday, Trump and Pence will be tested daily for the virus, as will every staff member in close proximity to them. White House guests will be tested, work spaces will undergo regular deep cleaning and staff will follow social distancing guidelines, undergo daily temperature checks and have their symptom histories reviewed.
– Michael Collins
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New York sets new rules for nursing homes, a hot spot for coronavirus
As its rate of new infections and deaths from COVID-19 continues to slow, New York state is taking new measures to protect those most susceptible to the disease.
Nursing homes that can’t provide a prescribed level of care for patients for any reason will have to transfer them to another facility or contact the state department of health, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at his Sunday news briefing.
In addition, nursing homes that can’t treat coronavirus-positive residents will have to do the same. Cuomo also said nursing home staffs will be required to get tested for the virus twice a week, and hospitals won’t be allowed to discharge patients to those facilities unless they have tested negative for COVID-19.
“This virus uses nursing homes. They are ground zero,’’ Cuomo said. “They are the vulnerable population in the vulnerable location. It’s a congregation of vulnerable people.’’
More coronavirus news and information from USA TODAY
- ‘Walking on eggshells’: The tale of two Americas amid a disjointed reopening approach across the country.
- There’s a global, all-out race to create a vaccine. Here are the latest developments.
- ‘Our life is in danger’:The coronavirus pandemic has spiraled Hawaii’s economy, and there’s no end in sight.
- What are the social distancing rules in my state? Here’s how America is reopening amid coronavirus outbreak.
- Will wearing a face mask weaken your immune system? We checked the facts, and it’s not true.
LGBTQ community fears coronavirus will impact census outreach
For decades, LGBTQ people have battled for a seat at the census table.
Then in 2020, there came a beacon of hope when same-sex couples living together were included in the 10-year survey for the first time, even though sexual orientation and gender identity questions were absent. Advocates rallied the LGBTQ community, urging full participation.
Then in the midst of rollout this spring, a global health crisis erupted – upending lives and tangling census outreach efforts.
“Because of social distancing, people are not out there pushing the census,” said Glennda Testone, executive director of New York’s LGBT Community Center. “My fear is that the response numbers will go down.”
– Susan Miller
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Unemployment rate may pass 20%, White House adviser tells CBS
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett believes the unemployment rate could rise above 20% and the worst job losses would come in “May or June” because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
When asked Sunday what the “bottom” of the country’s unemployment pain would be, Hassett, who advises the Trump administration on economic policy and is the former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, told CBS’s “Face the Nation,” “to get unemployment rates like the ones that we’re about to see … which I think will climb up toward 20% by next month, you have to really go back to the Great Depression to see that.”
When asked about the “low point” in the unemployment rate, he said: “I’m looking for rates north of 20, sadly.”
The U.S. lost 20.5 million jobs in April, and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7%, both record-high numbers as the nation felt the economic effects of the coronavirus. Social distancing measures have forced the closures of businesses across the country, leading to employee layoffs and furloughs.
– Nicholas Wu
More COVID-19 headlines from USA TODAY
- Looking for toilet paper, disinfecting wipes or hand sanitizer? Try bartering on Facebook and Nextdoor.
- The stock market is better than the economy right now. But, why?
- Fact check: The annual death toll of coronavirus can’t yet be calculated, compared.
- Pandemic prep:Should rich hospitals pay more?
Contributing: The Associated Press
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