March 30 coronavirus news

By Amy Woodyatt, Julia Hollingsworth, Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 11:41 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020
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6:27 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Trump and Fauci discuss likelihood of second outbreak in the fall

From CNN's Sarah Westwood

Alex Brandon/AP
Alex Brandon/AP

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters on Monday that it is likely there will be another coronavirus outbreak in the fall.

“In fact, I would anticipate that that would actually happen,” said Fauci, who is a key member of the White House's coronavirus task force.

President Trump said he hopes "it doesn't happen" when asked about a second outbreak.

Trump said the administration was prepared in the event the virus returns after a period of fading over the summer, after social distancing measures.

Fauci echoed that sentiment, saying if the virus returns “in the fall, it would be a totally different ball game.”

He said the differences would include greater testing ability at the beginning of the outbreak as well as better contact tracing when individuals fall ill.

Fauci said the administration’s abilities would be “orders of magnitude better.”

“We have a vaccine that’s on track” for development on an accelerated timeline, Fauci noted.  

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6:19 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Nationwide stay at home order is "pretty unlikely," Trump says

From CNN's Allie Malloy 

President Trump said that while the administration has talked about a potential nationwide stay-at-home order, it is “pretty unlikely at this time.”

Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden Monday that while the administration has “talked about” a nationwide order, similar to those of some states, but said it would be very “tough” to enforce and “not something we wanted to do.” 

“If we do that we will let you know, but it’s pretty unlikely at this time,” Trump said, adding he will keep allowing governors to make the calls for their own states.

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6:13 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Trump says he thinks every American who needs a ventilator will have access to one

From CNN's Maegan Vazquez

President Trump said Monday that he thinks every American who may need a ventilator in the next few weeks will have access to one.

“I do think so, yes,” Trump told a reporter in the White House Rose Garden. “I think we’re going to be in very good shape.”

On Friday, Trump wouldn’t explicitly guarantee that every American who would need a ventilator would have access to one, calling the reporter who asked the question a “wise guy.”

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6:22 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

More than 5,700 coronavirus cases have been reported in California

Sailors treat a patient on the USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, California, on March 29.
Sailors treat a patient on the USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, California, on March 29. US Navy/Getty Images

At least 135 people have died of coronavirus in California, according to the latest numbers released by the state's Department of Health.

There are at least 5,763 cases of coronavirus in California, and about half of those are people between the ages of 18 and 49.

More than 83,000 people have been tested for the virus, but so far, only about third of those have received results.

6:18 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Federal judge blocks Texas executive order mandating abortions be postponed during coronavirus crisis

From CNN's Ariane de Vogue

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks during a press briefing in Austin, Texas, on March 29.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks during a press briefing in Austin, Texas, on March 29. Tom Fox/Pool/Getty Images

A federal judge in Texas is blocking for now an executive order that mandates that abortion clinics postpone elective surgeries, including abortion, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The court found that the order — as interpreted by the state’s attorney general — violates the Constitution by “effectively banning all abortions before viability.”

The court’s order comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order last week mandating that licensed health care facilities including abortion providers postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary.

Clinics went to court seeking a temporary restraining order. 

6:01 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Texas inmates sue for sanitizer and soap to help stave off coronavirus spread

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

Texas prison inmates are suing for hand sanitizer, soap and paper towels, alleging that their prison unit hasn't taken enough precautions to stop the spread of novel coronavirus, according to a new federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit says both the Texas criminal justice system and the community around the Wallace Pack Unit in Grimes County have seen multiple reported cases of the novel coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that jails make cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer available. 

The lawsuit alleges that Texas state inmates can't get access to hand sanitizer because of state policy — even while some inmates have been forced to make it.

The lawsuit also claims the prison hasn't taken enough steps to stop the virus from spreading, such as by reducing inmate interactions.

So far, an inmate and two employees at other facilities in the Texas prison system have tested positive for coronavirus, the lawsuit said. 

A spokesperson for the Texas state prison system declined to comment on the lawsuit's allegations because the state is still reviewing it. He also said the health practices at Texas correctional facilities are evolving, but didn't give specifics.

"The health and wellbeing of TDCJ employees and contractors as well as the offenders in our custody is of utmost importance. TDCJ is working in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Texas State Health officials," Jeremy Desel said in an email Monday. "As guidance from the CDC and state health officials evolves so do our practices."

5:48 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Arizona governor issues stay-at-home order

From CNN's Andy Rose

Arizona’s Doug Ducey is the latest governor to order his citizens to stay at home unless they have to be out for essential business.

"Today, I'm announcing that the time for further action is now,” Ducey said at a news conference on Monday. The new order goes into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Ducey encouraged people to continue to engage in outdoor activities using social distancing. He also said it’s important that people stay in touch with one another. 

"This is going to be a tough month... or two," Ducey said.

The new order comes on the same day that state officials ordered all schools to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year.

5:59 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Workers test positive at two more Amazon locations

From CNN's Natasha Chen

Packages move along a conveyer belt inside Amazon's fulfillment center in Kent, Washington, in 2018.
Packages move along a conveyer belt inside Amazon's fulfillment center in Kent, Washington, in 2018. Grant Hindsley/AFP/Getty Images

In addition to the Amazon locations CNN has previously reported where workers have tested positive for Covid-19, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to CNN Monday that at least one worker tested positive in both Kent, Washington, and Eastvale, California.

The spokesperson also said that Amazon has made employees at the sites aware of the confirmed cases and asked anyone who was in close contact with the diagnosed individuals to stay home with pay for 14 days in self-quarantine.

“We’re continuing to monitor the situation in our facilities and corporate offices, and we are taking proactive measures to protect employees and associates who have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or becomes ill," according to an Amazon spokesperson. "Like most global companies, we’ve had employees affected by this, and we’re doing all that we can to protect our employees and take the proper precautions as stated in WHO guidelines. You can read more about all we’re doing to protect employees and partners here.”

Amazon has offered two additional weeks of paid leave for workers who test positive for Covid-19 and for those who come into contact with the individuals who tested positive. Workers are also allowed unlimited unpaid time off through the end of April.

5:43 p.m. ET, March 30, 2020

Trump shares details on machine that disinfects masks

From CNN's Daniella Diaz

Alex Brandon/AP
Alex Brandon/AP

President Trump said the Food and Drug Administration approved a machine that could disinfect N95 masks, so health care providers could reuse them.

"Each machine now can disinfect 120,000 masks per day," Trump said today. "Now, think of that. Each machine can disinfect 120,000 masks per day. It will be just like a new one. It can go up to about 20 times for each mask."

He continued: "So each mask can go through this process 20 times. And they have two in Ohio, one in New York, and one will soon be shipped to Seattle, Washington. And also to Washington, DC. So that's going to make a tremendous difference on the masks."

The FDA approved the use of the mask cleaning machine produced by Columbus based Battelle earlier Monday.

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