DAILY PRESS BRIEFINGS

April 16,2020

President Trump announced new federal guidelines on Thursday for the easing of social distancing orders put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, leaving their implementation and timing up to state governors. At first glance, the three-phase guidelines seem unlikely to alter the “new-normal” routine for many Americans.

At a White House briefing of the coronavirus task force, Trump said government experts believe that the peak of new COVID-19 cases “has been flattened.” As a result, Trump said his new guidelines “will allow governors to take a phased and deliberate approach to reopening their individual states.”

The deference to state governors comes days after Trump boasted that his “authority is total” on the question of reopening the country. But the president also made clear that he wanted a quick return to normal life.

“A national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term solution,” “To preserve the health of our citizens, we must also preserve the health and functioning of our economy. Over the long haul, you can't do one without the other."

El Paso to start using rapid virus test machine that gives results in minutes

El Paso's fire chief said the city has received an Abbott ID rapid testing machine for coronavirus. Fire Chief Mario D'Agostino said the machine can produce positive results in 15 minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. Though the machine is in El Paso, it will take time before the city is able to us it.

April 15,2020

Ten U.S. states developing 'reopening' plans account for 38% of U.S. economy

The ten U.S. states coordinating plans separately from the White House to reopen businesses shut by the coronavirus are responsible for an outsized proportion of the U.S. economy.

On Monday, three states on the U.S. West Coast, led by California Governor Gavin Newsom, and seven on the East Coast, led by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, said they will develop coordinated regional plans.

With the exception of Massachusetts, all are led by Democratic governors.

Collectively the ten states generated 38.3% of the total U.S. economic output in the fourth quarter of 2019, highlighting how much of the U.S. economy depends on its most populous states.

April 14,2020

April 09,2020

April 08,2020

April 07, 2020

April 06, 2020

Those filing for unemployment benefits in Texas should call the Texas Workforce Commission during an assigned time based on their area code. The measure is effective immediately.

Area codes beginning with 9 should call Monday,
Wednesday or Friday between 8:00 a.m. and noon.
Area codes beginning with 3, 4, 5, or 6 should call Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Area codes beginning with 7 or 8 should call Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday between 8:00 a.m. and noon.
Area codes beginning with 2 should call Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Testing for COVID-19 antibodies could be a ‘game-changer’ for the economy but it’s still too early to tell: Some government officials and researchers are pinning their hopes for an economic recovery on the creation and widespread utilization of antibody tests that can identify who has immunity to COVID-19. People who contract the novel coronavirus report varying degrees of illness; some are asymptomatic, others are sick but able to recover at home on their own, and about one-fifth are severely ill enough to be hospitalized. For the individuals who are asymptomatic or those who do recover, a serological test that can identify COVID-19 antibodies could allow them to return to work.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said he sees a "light at the end of this tunnel" in an interview Tuesday. Adams said the next 30 days are critical to slow the spread of the virus in the U.S. and urged the public to practice social distancing. Pointing to so-called hot spot states - like California, Washington, New Jersey and the current coronavirus epicenter New York - that had showed promising signs in recent days, with the number of new reported coronavirus cases continue to "level off and come down."

"I want the American people to know, there is a light at the end of this tunnel and we feel confident that if we keep doing the right thing for the rest of this month that we can start to slowly reopen in some places,"

The FDA established the Coronavirus Treatment Accelerator Program, which is expediting the development of new anti- antiviral and other therapies, and began doing so on an accelerated time frame.

FDA also gave emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine, it's being distributed through the Strategic National Stockpile. Important to note it is not been authorized as a vaccine option only has a treatment possibility, as not enough data provided to date.

Small Business Administration launched the Paycheck Protection Program to help employees keep paying their workers.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Congress has passed a major pieces of legislation to provide relief to families and the U.S. economy known as the Cares ACT to provide financial relief to Americans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.