The Lead With Jake Tapper

Cases spike in prisons, food plants & nursing homes; As more states reopen, avg. plane now carrying 23 passengers, up from 17 last week & 10 in early April; U.S. cases surpass 1.2 million, death toll tops 72,000; Trump claims virus will pass with or without a vaccine; Trump changes his mind on keeping coronavirus task force, now says it will continue "indefinitely"; Medical workers fighting COVID-19 face a mental health crisis; Insomnia, anxiety, lingering fear: what it's like to be a frontline worker via Knit

Trump says Dr. Fauci can testify before Republican-led Senate panel, but not Dem-led House because it's a "set up"; Ousted vaccine director files whistleblower complaint alleging coronavirus warnings were ignored; WaPo: Kushner shadow task force hampered by inexperienced volunteers; Florida preparing for pandemic to collide with hurricane season; Cuomo: The faster we reopen, the more lives will be lost; 15 kids hospitalized in NY with condition possibly tied to Covid-19; Wendy's: Beef shortage affecting hamburger availability; Texas Gov allows hair & nail salons, barber shops to reopen Friday; 108 potential Covid-19 vaccines in the works worldwide; Pfizer, Biontech test experimental vaccine in first U.S. patients; DNI nominee says he has not seen intel showing virus originated in lab after Pompeo claimed to have "enormous evidence"; Fauci says virus "evolved in nature," Pompeo claims "enormous evidence" it originated in lab; Ugly, sometimes criminal acts o

NYT: New internal Trump admin. document projects up to 200,000 cases and 3,000 deaths a day in June; Cuomo: virus decline not as fast as we'd hoped for; CA Gov Newsom: retail shops can begin to reopen on Friday; At least 42 states will be partially reopened by Sunday; Gilead CEO: Remdesivir could be ready this week; Remdesivir showing some promise as possible treatment; Trump: we think vaccine could be ready by end of the year; 300+ nursing homes & assisted living facilities in FL had staff or residents test positive for covid-19; Trump admin blames China; Pompeo claims China hid info about severity of virus & stockpiled supplies; Chinese state media calls Secretary of State Pompeo "evil" after Pompeo says virus originated in Chinese lab; How Greece managed to keep coronavirus deaths below 150; No doctors, nurses infected with coronavirus at hospital in capital city Athens, Greece; SBA: $175 billion in small business loans gone after first week of program relaunch; Report: most mi

Gilead gets FDA approval for remdesivir to treat Covid-19; Top disease expert says 60-70% of U.S. will be infected and virus could be around for at least two years; Remdesivir authorized for emergency use by FDA; In first briefing, new WH Press Secy vows to "never lie"; WH: Trump deciding how to handle China's "slow-walking" of virus; Trump says he's seen proof virus started in a Chinese lab, contradicting his own intelligence officials; Soon: Trump leaves White House for weekend at Camp David; U.S. makes big bet on vaccine company with unproven technology; U.S. paid $483 million to firm to make a coronavirus vaccine that has yet to bring a single product to market; Fauci: Shooting for a vaccine in January, but "can't guarantee"; Tyson, Smithfield to reopen two pork plants with limited production after Trump declares meat supply "critical"; Some stores limit meat purchases amid breaks in supply chain; Interpol warns of drug dealers disguising as food deli

Dr. Fauci on "significant" new findings: Remdesivir has a "clear cut" effect in diminshing coronavirus recovery time; NYT: FDA expected to issue emergency authorization for Remdesivir; VP Pence does not wear mask despite WH guidance; Meat plant workers to Trump: Employees aren't going to show up; Trump order forces meat processing plants to stay open; New models find crowding, population density may affect death rate; Pfizer testing expirimental vaccine, could "supply millions" by end of year; U.S. economy shrinks for first time in six years as nation grinds to halt; U.S. economy suffers 4.8% drop in GDP, worst Q1 since 2008; SBA: only lenders with $1b in assets can submit loans tonight; Federal Reserve keep rates near zero as U.S. takes massive financial hit; Black business owners weigh reopening as coronavirus threatens communities; Black-owned businesses weigh company needs vs. COVID-19 risks; Source: Trump erupted at campaign manager over sliding poll numbers as he fumes

Dire new models show opening too early will kill thousands; Fauci: Coronavirus will come back, or never leave at all; Trump says he'll "have to check" if he was warned about virus in Jan, Feb briefings as Washington Post reported; WH testing plan puts most responsibility on states; Fauci: There has to be a " productive partnership" on testing among the Federal Government and the states; Fauci: Testing "isn't perfect yet, by any means" but we are "going strongly in the right direction"; Fauci: We now are seeing things that weren't noticed in the first big explosion of cases;  Smaller labs, hospitals report critical shortage of testing supplies, as Trump touts testing capabilities to reopen the country; Trump touts success of small business loan program as more technical problems plague second round; L.A. Lakers repay $4.6M loan intended for small businesses; E.R. doctor commits suicide after treating & contracting virus;  via Knit

NY Gov Cuomo: 337 died in last 24 hours; death rate is "on the decline"; Birx: U.S. needs testing "breakthrough" to screen large numbers; Texas gov will lift stay-at-home order after it expires April 30th; White House cancels today's briefing, instead will allow small group of reporters to cover economic remarks; As part of twitter rant, Trump retweets claims rivals are inflating mortality rate to hurt him politically; Trump denies he is planning to fire is HHS secretary Alex Azar; Soon: Trump speaks in Rose Garden after meeting with CEOs; Study: 70% of hospitalized coronavirus patients in New York did not have a fever; Nearly 45,000 national guard personnel helping with coronavirus response in all 50 states; National guard not guaranteed medical coverage during pandemic; Three large meat plants latest to suspend operations; U.K. PM Boris Johnson returns to work, urges U.K. to "contain your impatience" for reopening via Knit

Trump falsely claims he didn't suggest looking into internal disinfectant as coronavirus treatment; Navy leaders recommend reinstating captain removed for sounding coronavirus alarm; FDA warns of serious side effects linked with hydroxychloroquine; Georgia Gov allows salons, tattoo parlors, bowling alleys to reopen today; Georgia, Oklahoma among states easing some restrictions today; Pence: coronavirus will be largely behind us by Memorial Day weekend, states will begin to reopen; North Carolina governor "concerned" about Georgia's reopening, says it could hurt his state; North Carolina gov. extends stay-at-home order until at least May 8; Congressional subcommittee report: FDA didn't do enough to protect Americans from unproven COVID-19 antibody tests; CO gov will let social distancing restrictions expire for state but Denver mayor extends order for his city;  via Knit

GA, TX, CO & OH look to reopen some businesses, as top health experts caution against states rushing to reopen; 4.4 million new unemployment claims filed last week; NY Gov: Prelim tests show 13.9% of New Yorkers have antibodies; New coronavirus model: Georgia won't be able to safely reopen until at least June 22; Govs Assoc releases 10-step roadmap to reopening for states; First known U.S. death was healthy 57-year-old CA woman; Top expert says 800,000 people could die in U.S.; Updated modeling projects several states including Florida should wait longer to safely reopen; Trump's coronavirus response follows a pattern of openly disagreeing with science; Vaccine expert's ouster reveals months of HHS turmoil; Staggering 26 million Americans file for unemployment over five-week span; McConnell suggests states go bankrupt vs. get federal funds; Wuhan, China businesses struggle despite city being reopened; Tyson closes largest pork plant after workers contract virus; Mayor says plant closed too

Autopsies show first U.S. coronavirus deaths were weeks earlier than previously known; In GA, TX & IA, local officials fight governors' attempts to reopen businesses; Key model shows 12 states should wait longer to reopen; Doctor says he was removed from federal post after questioning drug Trump praised; South Carolina opening beaches & some stores; schools to stay close for rest of school year; House to vote tomorrow on $484b bill to help small businesses, hospitals, testing; Source: small business loans could run out in 2-10 days; Harvard rejects allocated stimulus funds after education secretary called on wealthy colleges to turn down money; Some pollutant levels dropping during pandemic, concerns they will rise again via Knit

GA, SC, TN, CO scaling back restrictions even though they don't meet White House guidance on reopening; Some Georgia mayors outraged over Gov's decision to reopen; New study: outbreak may be 55-times larger in L.A. county; Dr. Sanjay Gupta gets his own antibody test; Trump falsely claims testing criticism is only from Dems; Trump tries to shore up his base amid criticism over his handling of coronavirus pandemic; Trump finishes meeting with NY Gov. Cuomo at White House; As oil markets crash, Trump pledges to save oil industry jobs; Businesses concerned about lawsuit as Trump pushes to reopen U.S. economy; CA schools move to online learning, students struggle to log on; Los Angeles schools spend additional $2M to close digital divide; U.S. Official: North Korean leader in grave danger after surgery; Chile to issue digital immunity cards to people who have fully recovered from coronavirus; Data shows death tolls in England & Wales 41% higher than reported by govt; British doctor warns of "ver

Crowds of protesters demand faster reopening, even as officials warn it could cause a resurgence; Need for testing grows as U.S. death toll doubles in a week; Gov. Cuomo proposes hazard pay for frontline workers; S. Carolina to allow retail stores & some beaches to open; NY Gov: test results on hydroxychloroquine to be delivered to FDA and CDC today; Doctors find virus can impact the heart & brain in some patients; Trump: U.S. investigators must still get access to China; Polls: most Americans fear states may lift coronavirus restrictions too soon; PEW research poll: 66% worry U.S. will lift coronavirus restrictions too soon. GOP, Dem governors as Trump admin for more federal help; McConnell: senate to take up negotiations again tomorrow on emergency loans for small businesses; Ruth's Chris, Shake Shack, Potbelly among restaurant chains that got emergency loans for small businesses; Shake Shack returns $10M emergency loan to government; GOP Sen. Rick Scott: Congress must clarify rules on small

Pres Trump says governors need to do more on testing; attacks Obama & Biden in twitter tirade; NY Gov asks Trump Admin to help with testing: "This is Mayhem"; Cuomo says Trump should stop watching TV and do his job after Trump attacks Cuomo on Twitter for complaining; Trump lashes out at states in battle over reopening country; Trump seemingly encourages protests against three Democratic governors over coronavirus restrictions; Govs in Florida, Vermont, Michigan look to ease restrictions after Trump unveils new guidelines; Dem Senators "lose it" on Pence during coronavirus call on testing; New model advises VT, WV, HI, MT may be able to relax some social distancing as early as May 4; Model advises IA, ND, SD, NE, UT, OK, AR may need to keep social distancing til June or July; Contact tracing part of WH reopening strategy; Health expert: Contact tracing critical for safe reopening, warns of resurgence in U.S. without it; WA Gov. Inslee: Trump's "liberate" tweets "un

Source: Trump tells governors "you will call the shots" when it comes to reopening states; Source: Trump tells governors May 1 goal was a "negotiation" with doctors Birx, Fauci; Sources: On call with Senators, Trump pushes back on demand for more testing before states reopen; NY, LA, DC extend stay-at-home orders until at least May 15; At least 70 types of antibody tests being sold without FDA approval; U.S. explores possibility virus spread from Chinese lab, not a market; China denies suppressing info about coronavirus despite widespread criticism for lack of transparency; 5.2M people filed for first-time unemployment benefits in one week, 22M filed in one month; Stimulus package offers tax break to America's wealthy; Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner traveled from DC to NJ despite federal guidelines to avoid travel; Singapore reports largest daily increase in cases, most from cluster of foreign-born workers in dorms; Pollution down 50% in some European cities; U.K. extends stay-at-ho

Study: people might be most infectious before showing symptoms; N.I.H. hopes to have vaccine for frontline workers by fall & rollout to public by spring of 2021; California reveals grim blueprint for life after reopening; Trump: some states may be ready to reopen before May 1st; IRS: last-minute order to add Trump's name to paper stimulus checks will not delay delivery; Source: small business loan program likely to run out of money today; Pelosi: Trump's coronavirus misteps "caused unecessary death"; Retail sales in March fell 8.7%, deepest drop on record; Strip clubs, lobbyist sue to get small business loans; Los Angeles Mayor says city may not allow concerts, sporting events until 2021; What will the new normal look like when states reopen?; Ohio Gov: life will not be normal "until we get a vaccine"; Experts warn 400,000 people in Japan could die if virus not contained; Inside the place with the highest per capita death rate, and it's not NY; via Knit

Dr. Fauci: U.S. is "not there yet" in regard to reopening; NY Gov Cuomo says he'd ignore Trump's order to reopen economy if it endangered public health; Cuomo: Pres Trump "spoiling for a fight" over authority;States in Northeast, West Coast coordinating reopening of the economy separate from WH; Massive job losses continue despite flattening of curve; Harvard Scientists: U.S. may need social distancing until 2022; Creator of influential model says U.S. can potentially stop transmission this summer; FDA approves use of new saliva test for coronavirus; Trump taunts govs who challenged his "total authority" claim;Philadelphia confirms 7,130 coronavirus cases, 206 deaths;Philadelphia Mayor sends letter to Congress asking for more aid; Small business owner: "Crickets" since applying for stimulus loan; SBA: $240B in small business loans approved, $350B available; IRS deposits first wave of stimulus checks;Airlines balk at paying back some federal bailout money; Scho

Gov Cuomo: "the worst is over" in NY if we continue to be smart; Northeast Govs working on coordinated plan to reopen economy; Massive pork plant closes after hundreds of workers get sick; Trump pushing to reopen parts of the country in May; WH: Trump has no intention of firing Dr. Fauci despite sharing tweet calling for his removal; Trump: it's my decision, not governors', when to reopen states; Partisan fighting threatens emergency small business funds; Pay pal approved to make emergency small business loans; Sanders endorses Biden, says "we need you in the white house"; Staffing issues for hospitals as doctors and nurses get sick; NJ gov: our coronavirus peak could be weeks away; NJ: state with second highest number of virus cases in U.S. Photos show bodies in vacant Detroit hospital room; Doctors, healthcare professionals comfort families during pandemic; How to help loved ones grieve during coronavirus; Boris Johnson released from hospital, U.K. death toll surpasses 10,

Dr. Birx: encouraging signs but we haven't reached the peak; Dr. Fauci: Antibody tests coming "in a week or so"; Antibody testing could show exposure & recovery rate; Key to knowing who is able to return to work & when; Trump pushing to re-open U.S. as early as May, despite health officials' warnings; Today now unexpected to be peak of daily deaths; Kansas Gov sues GOP lawmakers to stop gatherings of over 10 people, including church, ahead of Easter; Source: Wall St. friends urge Trump to re-open country soon; JP Morgan predicts April April unemployment to hit 20%, U.S. economy to shrink ny 40%; Trump calls on other nations to cut oil production; via Knit

This Sunday predicted to be the peak of daily deaths in U.S.; Death toll from virus surges above 15,000; Rate of new cases in U.S. falling as deaths continue to rise; Dr. Fauci: Normal summer "can be in the cards"; New guidelines for DC grocery stores: shoppers to wear masks; Federal government blocked private labs from using coronavirus tests in late January; Sources: Trump to announce second coronavirus task force solely focused on reopening economy; Treasury Secy: U.S. businesses could reopen in May; White House says it will test press attending today's briefing for coronavirus; 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment in one week; 16.8 million Americans file for unemployment in three weeks; Fed Reserve rolls out $2.3T in programs to rescue U.S. economy; Senate Dems block GOP attempts to add $250B to small business stimulus program; Doctors and nurses surrounded by sick & dying patients; President of Ecuador investigating mishandling of bodies; British PM out of intensive care; Doctor

Dr. Fauci: this is a "bad week for deaths"; Dr. Birx: Philly & DC could be new hot spots; closely watching outbreak in Houston; WaPo: SBA official accuses big banks of taking "free money" in 2008, turning back on small businesses now; Banks report $98b in loans committed to small businesses so far, $349b available; WH task force: there's over a million test kits sitting idle; CDC removes guidance from website on controversial chloroquine drug; Trump: I want to open the economy with a "big bang"; CNN poll: 55% of Americans think Trump could do more to fight coronavirus outbreak; Report: U.S. intel warned of coronavirus spread in Nov; Trump lashes out at W.H.O. & governors over outbreak; Politico: Kushner's team considering nationwide coronavirus surveillance system; Snowden to the Intercept: coronavirus surrveillance would mean giving up "our rights, our ideals"; Spain conducting clinical trial to prevent spread of coronavirusl France sees deadliest day