The Analyzer News Roundup for May 1, 2020
President Trump contradicted the U.S. intel community on Thursday by claiming he has evidence that Covid-19 came from a virology lab in Wuhan. Trump has threatened China with new tariffs as a punishment for the coronavirus.
U.S. futures and U.K. stocks dropped and analysts blamed Trump’s actions. New threats and tariffs on China could affect the supply of medical equipment flowing into the U.S. from Chinese manufacturers.
In the meantime, protesters in Michigan and others in California protested social isolation rules. In Lansing, Michigan, armed protesters were allowed inside the state capitol building to stage a protest against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 28-day extension of a stay at home order.
“Black people get executed by police for just existing, while white people dressed like militia members carrying assault weapons are allowed to threaten State Legislators and staff,” said in a tweet Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
Two beach towns in Southern California filed an injunction against the governor’s order to close the shorelines. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a new closure of all beaches starting Friday. Orange County officials complained, saying they invested considerable effort and expense to facilitate social distancing policy on the beaches.
The officials blamed the governor’s decision on “misleading photographs” depicting large crowds along the shores and stated that the severity of the pandemic significantly differs across the state, CNN reported.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, a poor healthcare system, malnutrition and war are leading to a “health disaster” according to a report a watchdog group has filed to the U.S. Congress.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that the number of Covid-19 cases increased by 26,512 in the United States and 2,552 more people died, which brings the totals to 1,031,659 cases and 60,057 deaths. Researchers at University of Minnesota warned in their latest report on the future of Covid-19 that states, territories and tribal health authorities should plan for the worst-case scenario which involves a large second peak of cases in the fall, including no vaccine availability nor herd immunity.
