NY primary off; hospitalizations end in Wuhan
New York has canceled its Democratic presidential primary for 2020 as the state’s Democratic election commissioners voted Monday to remove candidates who have publicly suspended their campaigns, including Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Democratic commissioner Doug Kellner said it was “a very difficult decision,” but holding the primary would have been “unnecessary and frivolous” in the age of the coronavirus outbreak. New York will still hold its congressional and state-level primaries on June 23, and voters have been encouraged to vote by absentee ballot.
Last patient leaves hospital in Wuhan
The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients in Wuhan, the central China city hardest hit by the epidemic, reached zero after the last patient was released, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. In Hubei province – Wuhan is the capital – the number of existing COVID-19 cases has dropped below 50 for the first time. No new confirmed cases of the disease have been reported for over 20 days in the province, Xinhua said.
Schumer: Take Trump’s name off checks
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is not pleased President Donald Trump’s name will appear on stimulus checks for millions of Americans – and he is planning to put forward legislation to stop it from happening again. The No Politics in Pandemic Recovery Act, or No PR Act, would prohibit the use of any taxpayer funds “for any publicity or promotional activity that includes the names, likeness, or signature” of Trump or Vice President Mike Pence.
The Treasury Department said there was “no delay whatsoever” in getting out the checks, which included up to $1,200 for most taxpayers. The statement came after The Washington Post cited IRS officials who believed adding the president’s name was sure to slow down the process.
Boris Johnson returns to work
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work Monday, appearing in public for the first time in three weeks since recovering from a bout of COVID-19 that landed him in intensive care for three days.
Standing outside his central London office and residence at No. 10 Downing Street, Britain’s leader apologized for being “away from my desk for much longer than I would’ve liked” and said the country was on the brink of victory in the first phase of its fight with the coronavirus even if it was too early to end Britain’s five-week national lockdown.
Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in a hospital after doctors diagnosed him on March 26.
Nations start loosening restrictions
In New Zealand, construction is among the enterprises allowed to reopen, and residents could buy takeout restaurant food Monday. Australia is set to resume non-urgent surgeries this week. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to announce a “de-escalation” of the country’s lockdown Tuesday, along with France and Greece.
In Italy, where nearly 27,000 people have died, Premier Giuseppe Conte detailed his plan for a gradual reopening. Factories and construction sites could reopen once they implement safety measures. Next week, parks can reopen and people can travel within their regions to visit family and attend funerals.