Americans eligible for the coronavirus economic stimulus package have started seeing payments arrive in their accounts. The one-time payment from the U.S. Treasury looks to help ease the pressure from the huge economic downturn as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Stuart Sopp, chief executive officer of mobile banking startup Current, told The Wall Street Journal that “a bunch of the first wave” of payments from the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act have started to appear in their customer’s accounts.
Sopp said Current’s data indicates that around 40 percent of the deposits so far were for $1,200, although some are as high as $4,700 depending on household specifics and other factors.
Those eligible for the payments received a minimum of $1,200 if they earn less than $75,000. Married couples filing jointly who earn up to $150,000 can receive a joint payment of $2,400, with additional payments of up to $500 available to those who live with children under the age of 18.
On Friday, Current said they had received the first government stimulus payments and will be passing them over to their customers immediately.
“We will continue to credit all accounts with stimulus transactions immediately as soon as we receive them over the coming weeks and months, so please continue to check your account balance in the app and know if you have not yet been credited, it is because we have not yet received your payment from the federal government,” the company said in a statement.
People have also been revealed that they have received their payment from the government on social media.
I just got my stimulus payment unexpectedly.
It’s real y’all. I know it won’t be enough for some folks but we’re all in this together now.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) previously said payments will arrive by the start of next week for those who had filed their tax reports for 2018 and 2019 and authorized direct debit. Others, including those who have not filed their returns or receive Social Security, may have to wait weeks or even months for their payment.
The IRS has launched an online tool to assist those who do not normally have to file tax returns in order to help them register details to receive the payments.
The feature is available on the IRS website under “Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here.”
“People who don’t have a return filing obligation can use this tool to give us basic information so they can receive their Economic Impact Payments as soon as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.
“The IRS and Free File Alliance have been working around the clock to deliver this new tool to help people.”
New York City public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year due to the spread of the coronavirus, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Saturday.
“There’s nothing easy about this decision,” the mayor said during a press briefing. The decision confirms that 1.1 million students in the largest school system in the country will go without routine schooling for more than three months this year.
About 1,800 schools in the city’s five boroughs initially shut down and shifted to remote education on March 16, creating a slew of massive challenges for teachers, parents and students.
School closings have been a serious problem for students who don’t have access to internet or computers at home. Roughly three-quarters of the city’s public school system is comprised of low-income children who receive free or discounted meals at school. The city has struggled to lend out equipment to students and has left some school buildings open for parents to pick up food.
The mayor faced intense pressure from teachers and parents calling for the suspension of classes, and was initially reluctant before suspending schools until late April. He said on Saturday that closing schools for the rest of the year is “painful” but “the right thing to do.”
“It clearly will help us save lives because it will help us guarantee that the strategies that have been working, the shelter-in-place, the social distancing, all the focused strategies that are finally beginning to bear fruit, they need the time to continue to be effective,” de Blasio said on Saturday.
“The worst mistake we could make is to take our foot off the gas and end up in a situation where this disease had a resurgence and threatened us even more,” de Blasio said. “We’re not gonna allow the coronavirus to start to attack us even more and to make sure it doesn’t, we have to be cautious.”
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“All people are talking about right now is hospital beds, ventilators, testing, testing, testing. Yes, those are important, but they are all reactive. You are dealing with the symptoms and not the virus itself,” said Tolbert Nyenswah, who led one of the most successful contact tracing efforts in Africa during the Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016. “You will never beat a virus like this one unless you get ahead of it. America must not just flatten the curve but get ahead of the curve.”
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned Friday that any state residents attending a mass gathering — including church services — will be forced to self-quarantine for 14 days in a preemptive bid to slow the coronavirus outbreak in his state over Easter weekend.
“I think we’re down to seven churches statewide that are thinking about having an in-person service,” Beshear told reporters. The governor has warned that churches should switch to virtual or drive-in services to accommodate worshippers while protecting public health.
“I hear people say, ‘It’s my choice,'” Beshear said. “Well, it’s not the person next to you’s choice … This is the only way that we can ensure that your decision doesn’t kill somebody else, that your decision doesn’t spread the coronavirus in your county and in your community.”
Under the new rules, people seen taking part in in-person events will have their license plate numbers recorded by authorities, who will provide the information to local health departments, Beshear said. Health officials will contact each participant and require them to go into quarantine for 14 days.
The governor also warned that those attending drive-in services must stay in their cars, park six feet away from their neighbor and not pass items between vehicles.
Beshear praised faith leaders for largely adhering to his admonitions against in-person worship services. The governor, a deacon at his church, frequently talks about his own faith while announcing another round of virus-related deaths or promoting social-distancing guidelines.
“I have never been as sure of anything in my faith as I am in this: We must protect each other,” he said earlier this week.
Beshear reported 242 more coronavirus cases statewide Friday, raising the total to nearly 1,700 since the outbreak began. Eleven more virus-related deaths brought Kentucky’s death toll to 90.
At least 464 Kentucky residents have recovered from the virus, the governor said, adding “there are going to be tougher days than today.”
At his briefing on Friday, Mr. Trump said he was not aware of the government’s own latest forecasts, but aides said he had interpreted the decreasing death projection to mean that his health advisers may have been overly pessimistic.
The president cited the 60,000 estimated death toll as evidence of progress. “I think we’ll be substantially under that number,” he said of the earlier 100,000 forecast. “Hard to believe that if you have 60,000, you can never be happy, but that’s a lot fewer than we were originally told.”
But his public health advisers took a more cautious approach. “As encouraging as they are, we have not reached the peak,” Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White House pandemic coordinator, said of the latest figures. She noted that without universal testing, experts were seeing only the most serious cases. “Is this the tip of the iceberg, or is this half the iceberg or three-quarters of the iceberg that we’ve seen to date?” she said.
Five administration officials said it was highly unlikely that Mr. Trump would extend the guidelines beyond April 30, adding that he would be more likely to find a way to announce some lifting of quarantine measures, even if it might not be a full flip-the-lightswitch reopening of the country.
Mr. Trump has been having conversations, both formally and informally, in recent weeks with business leaders like Michael Corbat, the chief executive of Citigroup, and Brian Moynihan, the chief executive of Bank of America, about how to support the economy and when it might be able to reopen.
Many of those discussions have been facilitated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has fielded calls from executives like Stephen A. Schwarzman, the chief executive of Blackstone, looking for a road map to when a semblance of normalcy could return, although some people close to the discussions said that Mr. Schwarzman and Steven Roth, a real estate investor close to Mr. Trump, have not been aggressive as others.
Other business executives have gone through Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser. Paul Tudor Jones made an impassioned push to reopen the economy on a conference call organized by Mr. Kushner several weeks ago, these people said, and the investor Nelson Peltz was said to be influential in Mr. Trump’s since-aborted plan to begin reopening by Easter.
Multiple state leaders said social distancing measures are having an effect. Hospitalizations in Connecticut are dropping. Arkansas also saw the lowest number of hospitalizations compared to its neighboring states. The number of affected people in Ohio is lower than previously projected. And in California, hospitals saw a nearly 2% drop in ICU patients.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director gave a mixed response on the agency’s guidelines on hydroxychloroquine, the antimalarial drug Trump has called a “game changer.” CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said, “we’re not recommending it, but we’re not, not recommending that.”
Antibody tests — which could verify whether a person already had the virus and could potentially be protected from getting re-infected — could be available within a week, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert.
WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans who expect to receive a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government could start to see the payouts arriving as early as next week.
But many Americans won’t get a check at all.
Not everyone qualifies for one of the payments, which will be distributed under a new federal law that aims to give Americans a quick cash infusion and help the economy recover from the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Many students aren’t eligible for a stimulus check. Neither are some elderly and disabled people. Immigrants who don’t have a Social Security number won’t get a check either. Some new parents and others may have to wait until next year to get part of their payouts.
“The intent (of the law) is to get the money out as fast as you can, but when you do that, you can’t possibly anticipate every possible situation,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute’s Tax Policy Center. “So there are going to people who fall through the cracks and are going to have to wait until next year to get their money.”
Here’s a look at who will be left out when the checks start arriving:
High-wage earners
If you earn more than $99,000 a year, sorry, you’re out of luck.
Under the new law, individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less are eligible for a one-time payment of up to $1,200 ($2,400 for joint tax returns) and $500 for each qualifying child. Those with little or no tax liability also will get $1,200 ($2,400 for joint returns).
But the payments start to phase out for Americans who earn more than $75,000, or $150,000 for a joint return. The payments phase out completely for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000, $136,500 for head of household filers with one child and $198,000 for joint filers with no children.
The payments will be sent via direct deposit to people who already have provided the Internal Revenue Service with their bank account information. Those who haven’t will receive a check in the mail.
Students age 17 or older don’t qualify for a stimulus check if their parents or guardians claim them as a dependent. Their parents won’t get the $500 per child payment either. That applies only to children ages 16 and younger.
The result is that many high school juniors and seniors won’t get a check and their parents won’t get the $500 additional stimulus credit.
“This is a group that is left out of receiving any benefit from the rebates,” said Garrett Watson, an economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.
Students who have a job, aren’t claimed as a dependent by their parents or guardians, and meet the income threshold and other eligibility requirements qualify for a check if they filed for taxes in 2018 or 2019, Watson said.
Most senior citizens will qualify for a check. The exception: Those claimed as dependents by their children or someone else.
Disabled adults are eligible for a stimulus check as long as no one else claims them as a dependent. If so, they don’t qualify. For example, if a disabled adult lives at home with his or her parents and the parents claim him or her as a dependent on their income taxes, the disabled adult won’t receive a check.
Immigrants qualify for a stimulus check if they meet the eligibility criteria and have a valid Social Security number.
In other words, immigrants with green cards or H-1B and H-2A work visas are eligible for a check. Non-resident aliens, temporary workers and immigrants in the country illegally are not.
Newborn babies
Parents of babies born in 2020 will have to wait until next year to receive their $500 payment for the child.
The child payment is based upon income taxes filed in either 2018 or 2019. Parents of children born this year will be eligible for the child payment when they file their taxes next year, as long as the meet the other eligibility requirements, Gleckman said.
Unemployed high wage earners
People who earned more than $99,000 last year but who are unemployed in 2020 won’t be eligible for a check this year.
“This IRS will use the 2019 tax return to calculate how much this individual will receive for a rebate now, so they would not be eligible for a rebate in the coming weeks,” Watson said.
However, people who fall into this category will be eligible for a rebate on their 2020 tax returns when they file next spring if they earn below the phaseout limits this year.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t a method to get a rebate ahead of that time for taxpayers who made high incomes in the year they last filed taxes for but are earning lower incomes now,” Watson said.
Low-income people who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years are eligible for a check, but millions of them won’t get one unless they take an extra step.
If you receive Social Security benefits, you’re all set. Social Security recipients will automatically get a stimulus check. The IRS will use Social Security data to determine how much you receive and where it will be sent.
But for others who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years, it’s a different story.
Individuals aren’t required to file taxes if they make less than $12,000 a year. The tax-preparation company TurboTax estimates that 10 million Americans fall into that category, and they include some low-income individuals, Supplemental Security Income recipients and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.
Those individuals are eligible for a stimulus check, but without their income tax returns, it will be harder for the IRS to verify their income, calculate their payout and know where to send it.
The IRS has set up a web portal that will allow them to register for a stimulus. Those who don’t normally file a tax return can visit IRS.gov and look for “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here.” There, they can provide information including their Social Security number, name, address, and dependents. The IRS will use that information to confirm their eligibility and send them a stimulus payment.
The IRS also has partnered with TurboTax to simplify the process for individuals who haven’t filed in the past two years. TurboTax has set up a web page where they can answer a few questions and then choose to receive their payment via direct deposit or check. The service is free.
Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
Countries are reporting cases of new coronavirus reinfections. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes a recovered person will have immunity at least for a few months.
At least 1.6 million people in the world have been infected with the virus, including 10,450 people in South Korea. Of those patients, about 51 tested positive for the virus after having been classified as cured, raising concerns about the possibility of reinfection.
Officials are putting “more weight” in reactivation being the cause of the positive tests, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, director-general of the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But they’re conducting a comprehensive study, Jeong said on Monday, because there have been “many cases” of a patient testing negative one day and then positive another during the course of their treatment.
The possibility of reinfection hasn’t been studied to the extent that Fauci would have liked. But based on the history of similar diseases, Fauci told the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) it was reasonable to assume people would have at least some immunity.
Since the virus isn’t changing very much, he said a person who gets infected in February or March and recovers should be protected if there’s a second wave in September or October.
It’s a question that’s been on people’s minds and one that Fauci has already had to answer, but it appears his response has stayed basically the same. On March 26, he told The Daily Show host Trevor Noah that if the virus acts like others, those who recover will have immunity.
“So, it’s never 100 percent, but I’d be willing to bet anything that people who recover are really protected against reinfection,” Fauci said.
Mitigation measures that kept businesses closed and required people to work from home have taken a toll on America’s economy. It’s possible the outbreak could last for months and the country can’t operate at a healthy economic level for months on end if these measures are in place. But easing up restrictions too early could cause a resurgence in the virus, so knowing who has immunity is critical in shaping policy, according to Fauci.
“Those are the people you worry less about driving an outbreak than those who are in fact, antibody-negative and very likely have never been exposed,” he told JAMA. “So you really want to get a good feel from a countrywide where we are.”
Along with using a nasal swab to test people who may currently have the virus, blood samples are being tested to determine who has ever had the virus, known as the antibody test. Within a week or so a “large number” of tests would be available, Fauci told CNN.
The doctor added that it’s “very like” that a large number of people have been infected, were asymptomatic and didn’t even know they had the virus.
The coronavirus has now infected over 500,000 people in the U.S. on Friday night, constituting almost one-third of all cases across the globe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
As of 9:25 p.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. has recorded 500,399 cases of the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, of which 174,481 were in New York, the data showed.
The virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December, has since spread to more than 1.5 million people in almost every country around the world. On Friday, the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus worldwide surged past the 100,000 mark, doubling in nearly a week.
New York state is the epicenter of the outbreak in the country and has reported more cases than Italy, Spain, France and Germany. However, the state has shown some signs of improvement after reporting its first negative net change in intensive care admissions on Thursday for the first time since the coronavirus crisis began.
President Donald Trump has also said the number of projected deaths is now “substantially under” what health officials initially predicted.
“We’ll see what it ends up being, but it looks like we’re headed to a number substantially below the 100,000 that would be the low mark, and I hope that bears out,” Trump said.
Here’s a snapshot of the numbers of cases around the world.
Global cases: At least 1,696,139
Global deaths: At least 102,669
Most cases reported: United States (500,399), Spain (158,273), Italy (147,577), Germany (122,171), France (125,931)
WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans who expect to receive a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government could start to see the payouts arriving as early as next week.
But many Americans won’t get a check at all.
Not everyone qualifies for one of the payments, which will be distributed under a new federal law that aims to give Americans a quick cash infusion and help the economy recover from the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Many students aren’t eligible for a stimulus check. Neither are some elderly and disabled people. Immigrants who don’t have a Social Security number won’t get a check either. Some new parents and others may have to wait until next year to get part of their payouts.
“The intent (of the law) is to get the money out as fast as you can, but when you do that, you can’t possibly anticipate every possible situation,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute’s Tax Policy Center. “So there are going to people who fall through the cracks and are going to have to wait until next year to get their money.”
Here’s a look at who will be left out when the checks start arriving:
High-wage earners
If you earn more than $99,000 a year, sorry, you’re out of luck.
Under the new law, individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less are eligible for a one-time payment of up to $1,200 ($2,400 for joint tax returns) and $500 for each qualifying child. Those with little or no tax liability also will get $1,200 ($2,400 for joint returns).
But the payments start to phase out for Americans who earn more than $75,000, or $150,000 for a joint return. The payments phase out completely for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000, $136,500 for head of household filers with one child and $198,000 for joint filers with no children.
The payments will be sent via direct deposit to people who already have provided the Internal Revenue Service with their bank account information. Those who haven’t will receive a check in the mail.
Students age 17 or older don’t qualify for a stimulus check if their parents or guardians claim them as a dependent. Their parents won’t get the $500 per child payment either. That applies only to children ages 16 and younger.
The result is that many high school juniors and seniors won’t get a check and their parents won’t get the $500 additional stimulus credit.
“This is a group that is left out of receiving any benefit from the rebates,” said Garrett Watson, an economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.
Students who have a job, aren’t claimed as a dependent by their parents or guardians, and meet the income threshold and other eligibility requirements qualify for a check if they filed for taxes in 2018 or 2019, Watson said.
Most senior citizens will qualify for a check. The exception: Those claimed as dependents by their children or someone else.
Disabled adults are eligible for a stimulus check as long as no one else claims them as a dependent. If so, they don’t qualify. For example, if a disabled adult lives at home with his or her parents and the parents claim him or her as a dependent on their income taxes, the disabled adult won’t receive a check.
Immigrants qualify for a stimulus check if they meet the eligibility criteria and have a valid Social Security number.
In other words, immigrants with green cards or H-1B and H-2A work visas are eligible for a check. Non-resident aliens, temporary workers and immigrants in the country illegally are not.
Newborn babies
Parents of babies born in 2020 will have to wait until next year to receive their $500 payment for the child.
The child payment is based upon income taxes filed in either 2018 or 2019. Parents of children born this year will be eligible for the child payment when they file their taxes next year, as long as the meet the other eligibility requirements, Gleckman said.
Unemployed high wage earners
People who earned more than $99,000 last year but who are unemployed in 2020 won’t be eligible for a check this year.
“This IRS will use the 2019 tax return to calculate how much this individual will receive for a rebate now, so they would not be eligible for a rebate in the coming weeks,” Watson said.
However, people who fall into this category will be eligible for a rebate on their 2020 tax returns when they file next spring if they earn below the phaseout limits this year.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t a method to get a rebate ahead of that time for taxpayers who made high incomes in the year they last filed taxes for but are earning lower incomes now,” Watson said.
Low-income people who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years are eligible for a check, but millions of them won’t get one unless they take an extra step.
If you receive Social Security benefits, you’re all set. Social Security recipients will automatically get a stimulus check. The IRS will use Social Security data to determine how much you receive and where it will be sent.
But for others who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years, it’s a different story.
Individuals aren’t required to file taxes if they make less than $12,000 a year. The tax-preparation company TurboTax estimates that 10 million Americans fall into that category, and they include some low-income individuals, Supplemental Security Income recipients and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.
Those individuals are eligible for a stimulus check, but without their income tax returns, it will be harder for the IRS to verify their income, calculate their payout and know where to send it.
The IRS has set up a web portal that will allow them to register for a stimulus. Those who don’t normally file a tax return can visit IRS.gov and look for “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here.” There, they can provide information including their Social Security number, name, address, and dependents. The IRS will use that information to confirm their eligibility and send them a stimulus payment.
The IRS also has partnered with TurboTax to simplify the process for individuals who haven’t filed in the past two years. TurboTax has set up a web page where they can answer a few questions and then choose to receive their payment via direct deposit or check. The service is free.
Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
Dr. Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General, responds to questions at the White House coronavirus task force briefing.
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PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor was ridiculed after a bizarre exchange with Surgeon General Jerome Adams over his appeal to minority groups to stay healthy during the coronavirus outbreak.
Recent reports have shown that the virus has disproportionately impacted the black and Latino communities, particularly in urban areas. While Adams acknowledged at Friday’s coronavirus press briefing that the didn’t have the answer to that, he did list physical traits that are prevalent among minority groups that could have a role with the outbreak as well as “multi-generational housing” that can accelerate the spread of the disease.
“I want to close by saying while your state and local health departments and those of us in public service are working day and night to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect you regardless of your color, your creed, or your geography, I need you to know that you’re not helpless and that it’s even more important in communities of color, we adhere to the task force guidelines to slow the spread,” Adams said. “Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. And call your friends and family. Check on your mother, she wants to hear from you right now.”
“And speaking of mothers, we need you to do this if not for yourself than for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy. Do it for your Big Mama. Do it for your Pop-Pop. We need you to understand, especially in communities of colors, we need you to step up and help stop the spread so that we can protect those who are most vulnerable.”
Shortly after, Alcindor confronted Adams over his remarks, which she claimed had already “offended” individuals online.
“You said that African Americans and Latinos should avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. You also said do it for your abuela, do it for Big Mama and Pop-Pop. There are some people online who are already offended by that language and the idea that you’re saying that behaviors might be leading to these high death rates,” Alcindor told Adams. “Do you, I guess, have a response to people who might be offended by the language that you used?”
Adams responded by telling Alcindor that he had spoken with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and stressed that they need “targeted outreach to the African American community” and that he was using language that he uses in his “own family.”
“I have a Puerto Rican brother-in-law. I call my Grand Daddy ‘Grand Daddy.’ I have relatives who call their grandparents ‘Big Mama.’ So that was not meant to be offensive, that is the language that we use and that I use and we need to continue to target our outreach to those communities,” Adams explained. “It is critically important that they understand that it’s not just about them and I was very clear about that. It’s not just about what you do, but you also are not helpless.”
He continued, “We need everyone — black, brown, white, whatever color you are — to follow the president’s guidelines, the coronavirus guidelines and do their part because when I talked to the NAACP three weeks ago, it’s important to note that one of the things that they asked me was will you help dispel the myths in this community that people actually can’t get coronavirus if they’re black. That was a myth that was out there that’s actually very important for us to squash here.”
Alcindor then asked the doctor, “So do you recommend that all Americans avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drug use?”
“Absolutely,” Adams responded. “It’s especially important for people who are at risk with comorbidities. But yes, all Americans. So thank you and I will clarify that. All Americans need to avoid these substances at all times.”
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The PBS journalist was widely mocked over her exchange with the surgeon general.
“Now, the surgeon general is being accused of using insensitive language in real time at the coronavirus briefing,” National Review editor Rich Lowry reacted.
“@Yamiche Alcindor lecturing the Surgeon General of the United States as a member of the P.C. Police is pretty pathetic. And never forget — she works for PBS, so she’s doing this on OUR behalf as taxpayers,” NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck tweeted.
“Context: As a Latino that’s not obtuse and understands what the Surgeon General is trying to say, ie: giving tips to save lives, I did not find this offensive,” Townhall.com senior writer Julio Rosas said.
“This is the dumbest question I’ve ever heard,” political strategist Caleb Hull declared.
Some even accused her of trying to stir backlash against the task force official in a tweet she made during the briefing.
“This is pure art. In her first tweet as soon as he said it, she insisted ‘some will find this language offensive’ and by the time she wrote her second tweet suddenly ‘many’ had already ‘found this language offensive.’ She discovered those many people awfully quickly,” writer A.G. Hamilton said.
“You posted your tweet just so you could get people pissed off so you could turn around and say that people online were ‘offended,'” The Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra similarly wrote.
On Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said coronavirus antibody tests were just days away from being put in use and a “rather large number of tests,” will be available within a week.
While appearing on CNN, Fauci was asked if the U.S. was really “just days away from,” from the tests being in use, to which he answered by saying, “yes.”
“Actually at the last task force meeting the individuals responsible for both developing, validating and getting the tests out, are saying, and I’m certain that’s gonna happen, that within a period of a week or so, we’re gonna have a rather large number of tests that are available,” Fauci added.
Fauci went on to explain the difference between an antibody test and a test to see who is infected with coronavirus, and how the two will be used “in parallel” with each other.
“We still rely appropriately and heavily on the test to show that someone is in fact infected,” Fauci said. “Whereas the antibody test says that you were infected and if you’re feeling well, you’re very likely recovered. When you’re trying to find out whether a person is infected that’s the test we always talk about,” Fauci said about the antibody tests.
According to Fauci, the antibody tests will help to show “how much that virus has penetrated the society,” as more times goes by and the U.S. gets to the point of “considering opening up the country.”
“Because it’s very likely that there are a large number of people out there that have been infected, have been asymptomatic and did not know they were infected,” Fauci said. “Because if their antibody test is positive, one can formulate kind of strategies about whether or not they would be at risk or vulnerable to getting re-infected. This would be important for healthcare workers, for first-line fighters.”
While the antibody tests will show who has been infected with this virus, Fauci said it is “possible” when asked if he could imagine a time where Americans are instructed to hold a certificate of immunity.
“It’s one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and not,” Fauci added.
Fauci’s remarks come just one day after he spoke about a reduced death toll projection in the U.S., stating that the final toll “looks more like 60,000 than the 100,000 to 200,000,” which was previously forecasted by the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Despite a reduced death toll estimate and the soon-to-be-available antibody tests, the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the U.S. According to a tracker provided by Johns Hopkins University, there are currently over 466,300 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 16,703 deaths in the U.S.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the Trump administration Friday to invoke the Defense Production Act to drastically ramp up production of testing that Cuomo says is integral to jumpstarting New York’s economy.
“We have 9 million people we want to get back to work,” Cuomo said during his daily briefing at the Capitol. “You’re going to need government intervention to make that happen. And the federal government is in the best position to do that.”
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The state Department of Health has begun making hundreds of antibody tests — which can be used to detect people who had been infected with the virus but recovered and built up immunity. It will be producing up to 2,000 per day in the next two weeks. By comparison, New York is testing more than 25,000 people a day now for the coronavirus.
But Cuomo said that’s “a drop in the bucket” relative to what would be needed to get millions of people back to work in any meaningful capacity, particularly if the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut are factored in.
“Even with our high capacity and high performance on testing, it’s still not enough,” Cuomo said. “It’s not enough if you want to reopen on a meaningful scale and reopen quickly. So the testing front is going to be a challenge for us.”
Cuomo has said that widespread testing is crucial for society to be able to return to a sense of normalcy while still minimizing the potential of a “second wave” of coronavirus cases. There have been more than 170,500 cases in New York, according to its most recent figures, far more than any other state in the country.
The Democratic governor said that the DPA should also be used to scale up availability of so-called rapid testing, which provides coronavirus results in a matter of minutes, rather than days using the current testing kits.
Cuomo said New York will be forming a partnership with its tri-state counterparts to help facilitate testing and bring the economically vital New York City metro area back online. The regional approach has been integral to Cuomo’s concept of how to get the state’s economy back up and running.
“If you are willing to step in and use the federal powers, New York state and New Jersey and Connecticut will partner with the federal government and let’s get the testing up to scale quickly, so we can start to build that bridge to reopening the economy,” he said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday he has spoken “conceptually” with Cuomo about the idea of a consortium, but had not specifically discussed New York’s antibody test with him.
“We have had directional discussions about needs to coordinate as we get back on our feet,” Murphy said during his press briefing on Friday. “Antibodies [testing is] part of that in the sense we need to make sure we have the right health care infrastructure at our disposal, not just in New Jersey but in our region.”
The Trump administration has been hesitant to fully embrace the sweeping authority afforded under the Korean War-era law, though it has increased its use in recent weeks to spur private companies to produce more ventilators and other vital medical supplies. Cuomo had previously railed against President Donald Trump’s reluctance to use the DPA for ventilators.
In comments Friday afternoon, Trump said he’d spoken with Cuomo but didn’t say whether he’d ramp up production through the DPA.
“We had a good talk, when you look at those numbers, the numbers of death, people that have died, it’s so horrible,” the president said.
He added more than 2 million coronavirus tests have now been completed, and 100,000 are being conducted daily throughout the U.S.
“We’re also working to bring blood-based serology tests to the market as quickly as possible so that Americans can determine whether or not they have already had the virus and potentially have immunity,” the president said. “They have immunity if they’ve had the virus, many of them don’t even know they’ve had it. Sometimes it’s brutal.”
Public health experts say the presence of antibodies does not necessarily mean one is immune to the virus and that more study is needed in that area.
New York is still seeking an emergency use authorization from the FDA for its antibody test. Without one, the state has limited ability to build up the supply on its own.
To date, the FDA has only authorized one antibody test, manufactured by Cellex. “I want to say very clearly that no one should rely on any of the antibody tests on the market that have not gotten a formal [authorization] from the federal government — that means about 95 percent of them,” HHS testing czar Brett Giroir told reporters Thursday night.
FDA, the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute are working to evaluate other antibody tests offered under an FDA policy that have not been reviewed by the agency, according to Giroir. “Once those are done … you will see the federal government procuring a large number of those tests so we can have massive nationwide antibody testing, but we are not going to do that until we make sure we have validated tests,” he said.
Cuomo also said he is working with New York’s congressional delegation to push for the creation of a compensation for workers on the frontlines of responding to the crisis and their families that’s akin to the one established in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“Saying thanks is nice,” he said. “Actually providing assistance is even better.”
David Lim and Sam Sutton contributed to this report.
Response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force, Dr. Deborah Birx, speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on Friday.
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Response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force, Dr. Deborah Birx, speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on Friday.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Dr. Deborah Birx said despite signs of progress in New York and elsewhere, the United States hasn’t reached the peak of the pandemic yet.
Rigorous testing and contact tracing specifically are being called for, but Birx said the White House Task Force is being realistic about “how strategically that very valuable resource can be used” in the U.S.
Despite empty grocery store shelves, there’s an excess of food other places, like farms. NPR’s Dan Charles reports on the struggling supply chain.
WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans who expect to receive a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government could start to see the payouts arriving as early as next week.
But many Americans won’t get a check at all.
Not everyone qualifies for one of the payments, which will be distributed under a new federal law that aims to give Americans a quick cash infusion and help the economy recover from the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Many students aren’t eligible for a stimulus check. Neither are some elderly and disabled people. Immigrants who don’t have a Social Security number won’t get a check either. Some new parents and others may have to wait until next year to get part of their payouts.
“The intent (of the law) is to get the money out as fast as you can, but when you do that, you can’t possibly anticipate every possible situation,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute’s Tax Policy Center. “So there are going to people who fall through the cracks and are going to have to wait until next year to get their money.”
Here’s a look at who will be left out when the checks start arriving:
High-wage earners
If you earn more than $99,000 a year, sorry, you’re out of luck.
Under the new law, individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less are eligible for a one-time payment of up to $1,200 ($2,400 for joint tax returns) and $500 for each qualifying child. Those with little or no tax liability also will get $1,200 ($2,400 for joint returns).
But the payments start to phase out for Americans who earn more than $75,000, or $150,000 for a joint return. The payments phase out completely for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000, $136,500 for head of household filers with one child and $198,000 for joint filers with no children.
The payments will be sent via direct deposit to people who already have provided the Internal Revenue Service with their bank account information. Those who haven’t will receive a check in the mail.
Students age 17 or older don’t qualify for a stimulus check if their parents or guardians claim them as a dependent. Their parents won’t get the $500 per child payment either. That applies only to children ages 16 and younger.
The result is that many high school juniors and seniors won’t get a check and their parents won’t get the $500 additional stimulus credit.
“This is a group that is left out of receiving any benefit from the rebates,” said Garrett Watson, an economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.
Students who have a job, aren’t claimed as a dependent by their parents or guardians, and meet the income threshold and other eligibility requirements qualify for a check if they filed for taxes in 2018 or 2019, Watson said.
Most senior citizens will qualify for a check. The exception: Those claimed as dependents by their children or someone else.
Disabled adults are eligible for a stimulus check as long as no one else claims them as a dependent. If so, they don’t qualify. For example, if a disabled adult lives at home with his or her parents and the parents claim him or her as a dependent on their income taxes, the disabled adult won’t receive a check.
Immigrants qualify for a stimulus check if they meet the eligibility criteria and have a valid Social Security number.
In other words, immigrants with green cards or H-1B and H-2A work visas are eligible for a check. Non-resident aliens, temporary workers and immigrants in the country illegally are not.
Newborn babies
Parents of babies born in 2020 will have to wait until next year to receive their $500 payment for the child.
The child payment is based upon income taxes filed in either 2018 or 2019. Parents of children born this year will be eligible for the child payment when they file their taxes next year, as long as the meet the other eligibility requirements, Gleckman said.
Unemployed high wage earners
People who earned more than $99,000 last year but who are unemployed in 2020 won’t be eligible for a check this year.
“This IRS will use the 2019 tax return to calculate how much this individual will receive for a rebate now, so they would not be eligible for a rebate in the coming weeks,” Watson said.
However, people who fall into this category will be eligible for a rebate on their 2020 tax returns when they file next spring if they earn below the phaseout limits this year.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t a method to get a rebate ahead of that time for taxpayers who made high incomes in the year they last filed taxes for but are earning lower incomes now,” Watson said.
Low-income people who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years are eligible for a check, but millions of them won’t get one unless they take an extra step.
If you receive Social Security benefits, you’re all set. Social Security recipients will automatically get a stimulus check. The IRS will use Social Security data to determine how much you receive and where it will be sent.
But for others who haven’t filed taxes in the past two years, it’s a different story.
Individuals aren’t required to file taxes if they make less than $12,000 a year. The tax-preparation company TurboTax estimates that 10 million Americans fall into that category, and they include some low-income individuals, Supplemental Security Income recipients and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.
Those individuals are eligible for a stimulus check, but without their income tax returns, it will be harder for the IRS to verify their income, calculate their payout and know where to send it.
The IRS has set up a web portal that will allow them to register for a stimulus. Those who don’t normally file a tax return can visit IRS.gov and look for “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here.” There, they can provide information including their Social Security number, name, address, and dependents. The IRS will use that information to confirm their eligibility and send them a stimulus payment.
The IRS also has partnered with TurboTax to simplify the process for individuals who haven’t filed in the past two years. TurboTax has set up a web page where they can answer a few questions and then choose to receive their payment via direct deposit or check. The service is free.
Michael Collins covers the White House. Reach him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS.
Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, announced Friday afternoon that he planned to sign an executive order that would lift the coronavirus lockdown in a “safe” way, allowing businesses to reopen.
Though Gov. Abbott didn’t reveal details about the executive order, he said he’s looking into ways to reopen Texas businesses. He promised that details about the executive order will be available next week, but it is expected to provide businesses with a list of guidelines on how to safely reopen.
“We will focus on protecting lives while restoring livelihoods,” Abbott said. “We can and we must do this. We can do both, expand and restore the livelihoods that Texans want to have by helping them return to work. One thing about Texans, they enjoy working and they want to get back into the workforce. We have to come up with strategies on how we can do this safely.”
“We will operate strategically,” Abbott added. “If we do it too fast without appropriate strategies, it will lead to another potential closure.”
Newsweek reached out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for comment.
Abbott also promised testing for the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 would be part of the plan. On Wednesday, the governor announced that Walgreens locations would soon offer a test that can be administered via the drive-thru window, and will provide results within 15 minutes. Abbott estimates that each Walgreens store could test as many as 3,000 people a day. The tests are developed by Abbott Labs; despite the similar name, Gov. Abbott has no connection to the company.
Abbott also announced updated statistics for COVID-19’s effect on Texas. Approximately 116,000 Texans have been tested for coronavirus; of those, 11,449 tested positive. Texas has seen 221 COVID-19 related deaths, 1,532 hospitalizations and 1,336 recoveries from the disease. To be considered recovered, a previously-infected person must go 14 days without the virus in their system. Abbott also said that Texas had 7,834 ventilators available.
Currently, Texas is under a stay-at-home order closing non-essential businesses and dine-in restaurants which is due to last until April 30. Abbott did not reveal an updated timeline for reopening Texas. President Donald Trump came under fire last month for saying he hoped to reopen the United States by Easter, April 12. He later backtracked on these comments, and Trump now says he hopes the country can open by early May.
Though Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and member of Trump’s coronavirus task force, has argued in favor of a nationwide lockdown to stop COVID-19 from spreading, Trump has refused to do so.
“We can’t have the cure be worse than the problem,” Trump said on March 23. “We have to open our country because that causes problems that, in my opinion, could be far bigger problems.”
The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 across the United States.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
Do not reuse single-use masks.
Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of President Trump’s coronavirus task force, said Friday that certificates of immunity for Americans have been discussed during White House meetings, according to a report.
Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN that the idea that people carry such certificates to prove they have tested positive for antibodies might “have some merit under certain circumstances.”
“It’s one of those things that we talk about when we want to make sure that we know who the vulnerable people are and not,” Fauci said, adding that the antibody tests will be available soon.
The top infectious disease expert added that antibody tests will be important for medical workers on the front line of the pandemic.
“If their antibody test is positive, one can formulate strategies about whether or not they would be at risk or vulnerable to getting re-infected. This would be important for health care workers, for first-line fighters,” he said on the network.
“Within a period of a week or so, we’re going to have a rather large number of tests that are available,” Fauci added.
He said testing of people who currently have COVID-19 and antibody tests will be done concurrently.
Fauci also predicted there will be many deaths in the next week — but “deaths tend to lag behind what the driving elements of the outbreak are,” and there should be fewer hospitalizations and intubations.
Dr. Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General, responds to questions at the White House coronavirus task force briefing.
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PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor was ridiculed after a bizarre exchange with Surgeon General Jerome Adams over his appeal to minority groups to stay healthy during the coronavirus outbreak.
Recent reports have shown that the virus has disproportionately impacted the black and Latino communities, particularly in urban areas. While Adams acknowledged at Friday’s coronavirus press briefing that the didn’t have the answer to that, he did list physical traits that are prevalent among minority groups that could have a role with the outbreak as well as “multi-generational housing” that can accelerate the spread of the disease.
“I want to close by saying while your state and local health departments and those of us in public service are working day and night to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect you regardless of your color, your creed, or your geography, I need you to know that you’re not helpless and that it’s even more important in communities of color, we adhere to the task force guidelines to slow the spread,” Adams said. “Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. And call your friends and family. Check on your mother, she wants to hear from you right now.”
“And speaking of mothers, we need you to do this if not for yourself than for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy. Do it for your Big Mama. Do it for your Pop-Pop. We need you to understand, especially in communities of colors, we need you to step up and help stop the spread so that we can protect those who are most vulnerable.”
Shortly after, Alcindor confronted Adams over his remarks, which she claimed had already “offended” individuals online.
“You said that African Americans and Latinos should avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. You also said do it for your abuela, do it for Big Mama and Pop-Pop. There are some people online who are already offended by that language and the idea that you’re saying that behaviors might be leading to these high death rates,” Alcindor told Adams. “Do you, I guess, have a response to people who might be offended by the language that you used?”
Adams responded by telling Alcindor that he had spoken with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and stressed that they need “targeted outreach to the African American community” and that he was using language that he uses in his “own family.”
“I have a Puerto Rican brother-in-law. I call my Grand Daddy ‘Grand Daddy.’ I have relatives who call their grandparents ‘Big Mama.’ So that was not meant to be offensive, that is the language that we use and that I use and we need to continue to target our outreach to those communities,” Adams explained. “It is critically important that they understand that it’s not just about them and I was very clear about that. It’s not just about what you do, but you also are not helpless.”
He continued, “We need everyone — black, brown, white, whatever color you are — to follow the president’s guidelines, the coronavirus guidelines and do their part because when I talked to the NAACP three weeks ago, it’s important to note that one of the things that they asked me was will you help dispel the myths in this community that people actually can’t get coronavirus if they’re black. That was a myth that was out there that’s actually very important for us to squash here.”
Alcindor then asked the doctor, “So do you recommend that all Americans avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drug use?”
“Absolutely,” Adams responded. “It’s especially important for people who are at risk with comorbidities. But yes, all Americans. So thank you and I will clarify that. All Americans need to avoid these substances at all times.”
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The PBS journalist was widely mocked over her exchange with the surgeon general.
“Now, the surgeon general is being accused of using insensitive language in real time at the coronavirus briefing,” National Review editor Rich Lowry reacted.
“@Yamiche Alcindor lecturing the Surgeon General of the United States as a member of the P.C. Police is pretty pathetic. And never forget — she works for PBS, so she’s doing this on OUR behalf as taxpayers,” NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck tweeted.
“Context: As a Latino that’s not obtuse and understands what the Surgeon General is trying to say, ie: giving tips to save lives, I did not find this offensive,” Townhall.com senior writer Julio Rosas said.
“This is the dumbest question I’ve ever heard,” political strategist Caleb Hull declared.
Some even accused her of trying to stir backlash against the task force official in a tweet she made during the briefing.
“This is pure art. In her first tweet as soon as he said it, she insisted ‘some will find this language offensive’ and by the time she wrote her second tweet suddenly ‘many’ had already ‘found this language offensive.’ She discovered those many people awfully quickly,” writer A.G. Hamilton said.
“You posted your tweet just so you could get people pissed off so you could turn around and say that people online were ‘offended,'” The Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra similarly wrote.
China has accused Taiwan of “venomously” attacking the World Health Organization (WHO), taking advantage of the current coronavirus crisis to seek independence, and conspiring with internet users to spread racist comments, after the WHO chief said a racist attack directed at him had come from the island.
Taiwan had responded angrily on Thursday to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ assertion this week, and demanded he apologise, saying the accusations were “slander” and “extremely irresponsible”.
Taiwan, which China claims for itself, is excluded from the WHO because of China’s objections to its membership.
The government has said this resulted in it being unable to get timely information, putting Taiwanese lives at risk. The WHO denies the allegation.
China says Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is seeking Taiwan’s formal independence, but President Tsai Ing-wen says the island is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.
In a statement late on Thursday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office took aim at the “DPP authorities”.
“The DPP authorities are unscrupulously using the virus to seek independence, venomously attacking the WHO and its responsible people, conniving with the green internet army to wantonly spread racist comments,” it said. “We strongly condemn this.”
Taiwan’s justice ministry said on Friday that Twitter posts purporting to be from Taiwanese people apologising to Tedros for racist slurs were actually posted by people in mainland China.
“There is a concern it is a deliberate operation by overseas forces,” the ministry’s investigation bureau said.
“Falsely claiming to be Taiwanese and openly admitting to racist attacks on WHO Director General Tedros and begging forgiveness seriously damages our country’s international reputation,” it said in a statement.
Taiwan has reported at least 380 cases of coronavirus to date, far lower than many of its neighbours thanks to early and effective prevention work. On Friday, it said a sixth patient died, an elderly person with underlying health conditions.
US criticises WHO
The WHO has also come under severe criticism from the United States. President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold US funding for the WHO, which is at the forefront of fighting the pandemic that has infected more than 1.6 million people worldwide.
The US Department of Statequestioned why the WHO did not pursue a lead offered by Taiwan in the early days of the pandemic; it also said the organisation was too late in sounding the alarm over COVID-19 and showed too much deference to China.
The US is “deeply disturbed that Taiwan’s information was withheld from the global health community, as reflected in the WHO’s January 14, 2020, statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission,” a State Department spokesperson said.
“The WHO once again chose politics over public health,” she said, criticising the UN agency for denying Taiwan even observer status since 2016.
Critics say Trump’s sudden threats against the WHO amount to a political ploy to find a foreign scapegoat as he comes under fire for not doing more to prepare for and control COVID-19, which has killed more than 16,600 people in the US.
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