States beg Trump for economic assistance

OFFICIALS in New York and New Jersey took aim at the federal government yesterday, pleading for help.

No state has suffered more from the coronavirus outbreak than New York, which has more than 14,000 reported deaths. More than 11,000 of those fatalities have occurred in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio said he had made another direct appeal to President Donald Trump.

‘‘I made clear to the president that his hometown needs him,’’ De Blasio said.

‘‘All New Yorkers, 8.6 million, are watching the White House right now to see if the president will lead.’’

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who reported 362 new deaths in his state, delivered a similar message, saying he and other governors in the northeast had requested as much as $US150 billion ($NZ251 billion) in aid.

National totals for Covid19 kept rising yesterday, with more than 670,000 confirmed cases and more than 34,000 deaths.

Financial concerns weighed heavily on state and local governments in the hours before Trump unveiled national guidelines on easing restrictions.

Trump laid out a threestage approach meant to revive the economy even as the country continues to fight the pandemic.

The recommendations call on states to show a ‘‘downward trajectory’’ of Covid19 cases or positive tests for the disease over 14 days before proceeding with the plan, which gradually loosens restrictions on businesses.

‘‘We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time,’’ Trump said.

With the onus on governors, the plan also gives Trump cover if not everything goes well.

The recommendations drew criticism from Ron Klain, who spearheaded the Obama administration’s response to Ebola and has advised former vicepresident Joe Biden.

‘‘This isn’t a plan. It’s barely a PowerPoint,’’ he tweeted. — Los Angeles Times/Reuters

❛ This isn’t a plan. It’s

barely a PowerPoint