FROM THE GOVERNMENT -- AS FEARS
GROW THAT THE U.S. MAY ALREADY
BE IN THE MIDST OF A RECESSION.
AND AS THE WORST PANDEMIC IN
LIVING MEMORY BEARS DOWN ON US
ALL, HOW PEOPLE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE WEATHERING THE
CRISIS.
>> THIS HAS BEEN HORRIFIC.
I HAD TO LAY OFF MY STAFF OF 50
ON MARCH 16, AND IT WAS JUST
DEVASTATING.
JUDY: ALL THAT AND MORE ON
TONIGHT'S "PBS NEWSHOUR."
♪
♪
>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY --
>> ON UN-AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
JOURNEY ALONG THE COLOMBIA AND
THE -- AND SNAKE RIVERS, THE
ROUTE TRACED BY LEWIS AND CLARK
MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO.
AMERICAN CRUISE LINES' FLEET OF
PADDLE WHEELERS AND MODERN
RIVERBOATS TRAVELS THROUGH
AMERICAN LANDSCAPES TO HISTORIC
LANDMARKS WHERE YOU CAN
EXPERIENCE LOCAL CUSTOMS AND
CUISINE.
AMERICAN CRUISE LINES -- PROUD
SPONSOR OF "PBS NEWSHOUR."
♪
♪
>> BNSF RAILWAY.
CONSUMER CELLULAR.
CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW
YORK, SUPPORTING INNOVATIONS IN
DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE
ADVANCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
PEACE AND SECURITY, AT
CARNEGIE.ORG.
AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF
THESE INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS --
♪
♪
THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, AND BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
JUDY: CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS
HAVE PASSED THE HALF-MILLION
MARK WORLDWIDE TONIGHT, WITH
23,000 DEATHS, AND THE UNITED
STATES NOW HAS MORE THAN 82,000
CASES -- MORE THAN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY -- INCLUDING 1,100
DEATHS.
MEANWHILE, A HUGE ECONOMIC
RESCUE BILL IS NEARING FINAL
APPROVAL IN CONGRESS, AMID A
TIDAL WAVE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS FROM PEOPLE THROWN OUT OF
WORK.
AMNA NAWAZ BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.
AMNA: IN ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR
MEASURES OF THE PANDEMIC'S
ECONOMIC IMPACT, A STAGGERING
FIGURE -- 3.3 MILLION AMERICANS
FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE.
THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE,
JEROME POWELL, OFFERED THIS
ASSESSMENT ON "THE TODAY SHOW."
MR. POWELL: WE MAY WELL BE IN A
RECESSION, BUT, AGAIN, I WOULD
POINT TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THIS AND A NORMAL RECESSION.
THIS ISN'T -- THERE'S NOTHING
FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH OUR
ECONOMY.
QUITE THE CONTRARY.
THE ECONOMY PERFORMED VERY WELL
RIGHT THROUGH FEBRUARY.
AMNA: THE INCREASE IN JOBLESS
CLAIMS IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST
EVER IN A SINGLE WEEK, AS MORE
AND MORE BUSINESSES ARE FORCED
TO CLOSE, OR SHED JOBS.
STEPHANIE MYERS WAS RECENTLY
LAID OFF FROM TWO RESTAURANT
SERVER JOBS NEAR CHARLOTTE,
NORTH CAROLINA.
STEPHANIE: I'VE BEEN PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT HOLDING IT TOGETHER, AND I
FINALLY JUST BROKE DOWN AND
CRIED, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT'S IN THAT BANK
ACCOUNT, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO
START PAYING BILLS.
>> ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE
96.
THE NAMES ARE ZERO.
-- NAYS ARE ZERO.
AMNA: SOME HELP FOR THOSE BILL
PAYMENTS IS ON THE WAY.
THE SENATE LAST NIGHT
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A MASSIVE
$2.2 TRILLION DOLLAR RESCUE
PACKAGE.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SET A HOUSE
VOTE FOR FRIDAY.
SPKR. PELOSI: WE WILL HAVE A
VICTORY TOMORROW FOR AMERICA'S
WORKERS.
AMNA: THE BILL THEN GOES TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO BE SIGNED
INTO LAW.
MOST AMERICANS CAN EXPECT TO
RECEIVE PAYMENTS OF AROUND A
THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE WITHIN
THREE WEEKS.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO TREASURY
SECRETARY STEVE MNUCHIN,
SPEAKING WITH CNBC THIS MORNING.
SEC. MNUCHIN: WE'RE DETERMINED
TO GET MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKET
IMMEDIATELY.
AMNA: THE PANDEMIC'S ECONOMIC
AND HEALTH HITS GO HAND IN HAND.
ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY THIS
WEEK, IN HARD-HIT NEW YORK CITY,
NEARLY A THIRD OF RESIDENTS LOST
A JOB IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD OVER
THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
AMONG LATINOS, A DEVASTATING
40%. 
NEW YORK STATE ACCOUNTS FOR MORE
THAN HALF OF ALL U.S. CASES. 
INFECTIONS HERE, AS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, ARE ON THE RISE, AND
SYSTEMS ARE STRAINING TO COPE.
THIS IS HOW ONE INTENSIVE CARE
DOCTOR IN NEW YORK DESCRIBED THE
SCENE AT HIS HOSPITAL.
DR. KASSPIDIS: HELL, BIBLICAL.
I KID YOU NOT.
PEOPLE COME IN.
THEY GET INTUBATED.
THEY DIE.
THE CYCLE REPEATS.
AMNA: FARTHER SOUTH, LOUISIANA
NOW HAS THE THIRD-HIGHEST NUMBER
OF CONFIRMED CASES PER CAPITA IN
THE U.S. 
THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS DEPLOYED
IN NEW ORLEANS TO HELP RUN
MOBILE TESTING SITES.
LOCAL OFFICIALS FEAR THE CITY
WILL BE INUNDATED WITH
INFECTIONS BY THE END OF NEXT
WEEK.  
MICHIGAN HAS ALSO SEEN A
DRAMATIC SPIKE IN CASES IN
RECENT DAYS, ESPECIALLY AS IT'S
RAMPED UP ITS TESTING.
MR. WALLIS: I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND FRANKLY, OUR U.S. HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
AND SO, REALLY, THEY'RE DEALING
WITH SOMETHING THAT -- THIS IS A
FIRST-EVER KIND OF EVENT FOR
U.S. HEALTH CARE.
AMNA: AND IN ANOTHER FIRST, TO
AVOID OUTBREAKS IN PRISONS,
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR
TOLD THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
PRISONS TO USE MORE HOME
CONFINEMENT WHERE POSSIBLE. 
IN OTHER CLOSE QUARTERS, 5,000
SERVICEMEMBERS ON A U.S.
AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE PACIFIC
ARE BEING DIVERTED TO GUAM,
AFTER DOZENS TESTED POSITIVE FOR
THE VIRUS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY SENT A
LETTER TO STATE GOVERNORS,
ALERTING THEM TO NEW WHITE HOUSE
GUIDELINES SOON, CLASSIFYING
COUNTIES BY RISK -- HIGH,
MEDIUM, OR LOW -- AS TESTING
CAPABILITIES EXPAND.
AT A PRESS BRIEFING LATE TODAY,
THE PRESIDENT DEFENDED THE
NATIONAL RESPONSE SO FAR.
PRES. TRUMP: WE'RE SENDING MORE
EVERY DAY, AND WE'VE GOT
TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF EQUIPMENT
COMING IN.
A LOT OF GREAT COMPANIES ARE
MAKING EQUIPMENT RIGHT NOW.
THE VENTILATORS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY
TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO MAKE,
BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPANIES
MAKING THEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO
BE IN GREAT SHAPE.
AMNA: AT A VIRTUAL MEETING
TODAY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
OFFICIALS WARNED LEADERS FROM
THE G-20 NATIONS THAT THE VIRUS
SPREAD IS NOW EXPONENTIAL. 
WORLDWIDE, NEARLY 3 BILLION
PEOPLE -- MORE THAN A THIRD OF
THE EARTH'S POPULATION -- ARE
NOW UNDER SEVERE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS.
IN HARD-HIT SPAIN, AS THE DEATH
TOLL IS STILL SOARING, MADRID
HOSPITALS ARE STRETCHED PAST
CAPACITY, RELYING ON A DAILY
CONVOY TO CARRY AWAY THE DEAD TO
A MAKESHIFT MORGUE IN AN ICE
RINK.
ITALY MAINTAINS THE MOST
INFECTIONS IN EUROPE, AND THOUGH
THEY LEVELED OFF EARLIER THIS
WEEK, THE NUMBERS ARE RISING
AGAIN IN THE WORST-HIT REGION OF
LOMBARDY.
IN CHINA, MEANWHILE, A NEW BAN,
TEMPORARILY BARRING FOREIGNERS
FROM ENTERING, TO PREVENT
INBOUND INFECTIONS AND WARD OFF
A POTENTIAL SECOND WAVE OF THE
VIRUS.
FOR THE "PBS NEWSHOUR," I'M AMNA
NAWAZ.
JUDY: HOPES FOR THAT HUGE AID
PLAN IN CONGRESS HELPED PUSH
WALL STREET TO RALLY FOR A THIRD
DAY, DESPITE SURGING
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE
GAINED 1,350 POINTS, 6%, TO
CLOSE ABOVE 22,550.
THE NASDAQ ROSE 413 POINTS, AND
THE S&P 500 ADDED 154.
NOW TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW
THE NATION'S WORKFORCE WILL BE
IMPACTED BY CONGRESS'S $2
TRILLION CORONAVIRUS AID
PACKAGE, I'M JOINED BY OUR OWN
LISA DESJARDINS. 
LET'S TAKE IT ONE BY ONE.
FIRST, WITH PEOPLE WHO ALREADY
LOST JOBS OR ARE ABOUT TO LOSE
THEM, WHAT DOES THIS PACKAGE
MEAN FOR THEM?
HOW QUICKLY CAN THEY GET IT?
LISA: TALKING TO SOURCES TODAY
-- UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, THIS
BILL INCREASES UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS BY $600 PER WEEK FOR
EVERYONE WHO IS ABLE TO RECEIVE
THEM.
IT COULD BE A VERY WIDE GROUP.
IT WOULD ADD 13 WEEKS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT OVER WHAT YOUR
STATE ALLOWS NOW.
THAT IS THE KEY ISSUE.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE THESE
INCREASED BENEFITS TO GET THE
PEOPLE?
IT DEPENDS COMPLETELY ON THE
STATE.
THE SYSTEM IS HOW LONG IT TAKES
EACH STATE TO STAND UP THE
ADMINISTRATING OF THIS MONEY,
WHICH COULD BE SIGNIFICANT.
JUDY: SO LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT
THIS MEANS FOR JOBS.
PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR BANK
ACCOUNTS -- THIS DIRECT MONEY,
IT GOES TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
LISA: THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS AND I GOT A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT IT TODAY.
TALKING ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL
CHECKS -- THEY GO TO A VERY WIDE
GROUP, ESSENTIALLY EVERYONE WHO
HAS A TAX I.D. NUMBER.
THAT DOES INCLUDE PEOPLE ON
SOCIAL SECURITY.
THERE IS A LIMIT.
IT GOES TO INDIVIDUALS MAKING
UNDER $75,000, MARRIED COUPLES
MAKING UNDER 250 THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
IF YOU ARE SINGLE AND HAVE A
CHILD, YOUR LIMIT IS $100,000.
WHEN COULD THESE CHECKS BE IN
OUR MAILBOXES OR BANK ACCOUNTS?
IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU USED DIRECT
DEPOSIT WITH YOUR TAXES.
IN THAT CASE, IT COULD BE THREE
TO FOUR WEEKS.
IF YOU DO NOT USE DIRECT
DEPOSIT, IT COULD BE LONGER.
ONE OTHER NOTE ABOUT THESE
CHECKS -- THEY ARE NOT TAXABLE.
JUDY: APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE
AUDIO DIFFICULTIES WE ARE
HAVING.
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU ARE WORKING
WITH THE COMPUTER.
STALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT IS
GOING TO COMPANIES.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THIS GOING TO
BIG COMPANIES, WHAT ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESSES?
WHAT ARE THEY GETTING, AND HOW
IS THAT GOING TO WORK?
LISA: THAT IS A HUGE PART OF
THIS BILL.
THIS IS PAYMENTS THEY ARE GOING
TO TRY TO KEEP WORKERS ON THE
PAYROLL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT MONEY IS
MEANT TO TAKE CARE OF EIGHT
WEEKS OF PAYROLL AND RENT, AND
THAT MONEY WILL ALSO BE APPLIED
RETROACTIVELY TO PAY BACK AS FAR
AS FEBRUARY AND THROUGH JUNE 30.
IT INITIALLY WILL BE A LOAN, BUT
IT WILL BECOME A GRANT IF IT IS
USED ONLY FOR WORKERS.
IT IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF
MONEY.
JUDY: LISA, HOW FAST CAN THE
SMALL BUSINESSES GET THIS MONEY?
LISA: THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
I ONLY HAD ONE SOURCE WHO WAS
ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER ON
THAT, BECAUSE THIS DEPENDS ON
BANKS BEING ABLE TO GET THIS
MONEY OUT.
THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE AS FAST
AS POSSIBLE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THIS LOAN
WILL GO -- THEY ARE HOPING FOR
APRIL 1, BUT MUCH TO BE
DETERMINED ON THAT.
JUDY: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
MONEY THAT IS GOING TO GO TO THE
BIG COMPANIES?
LISA: THIS ONE COULD GO OUT MORE
QUICKLY.
THAT IS THE 550 BILLION DOLLARS
IN LOANS TO LARGE COMPANIES.
THIS IS BECAUSE SECRETARY
MNUCHIN, THAT MONEY IS LEVERAGED
OUT OF A VERY LARGE POOL OF CASH
THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAS.
IT COULD HAPPEN QUICKLY.
MNUCHIN MUST NOTIFY THE PUBLIC
OF EVERY TRANSACTION WITHIN 72
HOURS.
ONCE LARGE LOANS GO OUT TO BIG
CORPORATIONS, WE WILL HEAR ABOUT
IT.
JUDY: REMARKABLE REPORTING ON
THIS NEARLY 900 PAGE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, WHICH STILL HAS TO
GO TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
LISA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
♪
♪
JUDY: AN EVENING BRIEFING BY THE
CORONAVIRUS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
WRAPPED UP MOMENTS AGO.
A REPORTER JOINS US NOW FOR THE
LATEST.
WE KNOW AMONG OTHER THINGS THE
PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
COMPROMISE LEGISLATION THAT THE
SENATE PASSED LATE LAST NIGHT,
NOW HEADED TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT SAYING
ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO
HELP?
REPORTER: WELL, THE PRESIDENT IS
SAYING THAT THIS BILL IS GOING
TO HELP PEOPLE WHO BADLY NEED
THE HELP, AND HE ALSO SAYS THAT
HE IS EAGER TO SIGN IT.
HE IS URGING THE HOUSE TO PASS
IT.
HE COULD SIGN IT AS EARLY AS
THIS WEEK.
I WANT TO WALK THROUGH ONE BIG
THING THAT SHOWS A PUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ARE COMPROMISING.
THAT IS HOW PASSENGER AIRLINES
WERE DEALT WITH IN THIS BILL.
THE THING THAT IS GOING ON IS
THAT YOU ARE GETTING TO ANY $5
BILLION FOR WORKER SALARIES AND
BENEFITS.
THIS MONEY WOULD NOT NEED TO BE
REPAID DIRECTLY, BUT AIRLINES
MAY OFFER THE GOVERNMENT SOME
STOCK TO COMPENSATE TAXPAYERS.
THERE IS ANOTHER 25 BILLION
DOLLARS IN LOANS AND LOAN
GUARANTEES.
AIRLINES HAVE BEEN LOBBYING FOR
DIRECT GRANTS AND NOT JUST
LOANS.
THAT WAS THE COMPROMISE.
THERE IS ALSO $3 BILLION FOR
CONTRACT WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO
HELP WITH BAGGAGE AND TICKETING,
SO THERE IS NOT ONLY AIRLINE
EMPLOYEES, BUT CONTRACTORS ARE
GETTING THE HELP.
JUDY: SEPARATELY, AT THIS
BRIEFING, WE UNDERSTAND THE
PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT THOSE
HUGE NEW NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS, 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE
FILING FOR CLAIMS JUST IN THE
PAST WEEK.
WHAT ARE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS
SAYING ABOUT IT?
YAMICHE: THESE UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIM NUMBERS ARE STUNNING.
3.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE LAST
WEEK FILING UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.
THE PRESIDENT SAID IT IS NO
ONE'S FAULT, BUT HE ALSO TALKED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS MEANS
AMERICANS NEED TO GET BACK TO
WORK.
HERE IS WHAT HE SAID MOMENTS AGO
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
PRES. TRUMP: I HEARD IT COULD BE
6 MILLION, COULD BE 7 MILLION.
IT IS 3.3 OR 3.2.
IT IS A LOT OF JOBS.
I THINK WE WILL COME BACK VERY
STRONG.
EVERY DAY WE STAY OUT, IT GETS
HARDER TO BRING IT BACK VERY
QUICKLY.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO STAY OUT.
YAMICHE: THE PRESIDENT STRESSING
AGAIN THAT HE REALLY WANTS TO
TRY TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
HE HAS SAID HE WANTS TO GET
PEOPLE BACK AS EARLY AS EASTER
SUNDAY, WHICH WOULD BE ONLY IN
ABOUT 17 DAYS.
THAT SAID, OFFICIALS SAY WE HAVE
NOT REACHED THE PEAK OF THE
OUTBREAK.
THE TIME THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO
BRING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK --
ANOTHER THING TREASURY SECRETARY
STEVEN MNUCHIN -- HE TALKED
ABOUT THESE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
AND SAID THESE ARE IRRELEVANT
NUMBERS, THE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T
FOCUS ON THEM.
HE SAID THINGS MIGHT GET WORSE
AND LIKELY WILL GET WORSE.
YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAY HE
WAS THINKING THERE MIGHT BE 6
MILLION, EVEN 7 MILLION
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.
WE MIGHT SEE MORE'S STAGGERING
-- MORE STAGGERING NUMBERS AS
THE WEEK GOES ON.
JUDY: FINALLY, WHAT ARE THEY
SAYING AT THIS POINT ABOUT
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HEAD ON,
AND WHAT IS NEEDED IN THIS
COUNTRY?
YAMICHE: THERE CONTINUES TO BE
THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE
AND STATE GOVERNMENTS AND
GOVERNORS.
THE PRESIDENT TODAY HELD A CALL
WITH GOVERNORS.
THERE WAS A BACK-AND-FORTH.
THE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS NOT
CONTENTIOUS, THE PRESIDENT ALSO
HAD A BACK AND FORTH WITH
WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR JAY
INSLEE.
ENSLEY SAID AFTER THE PRESIDENT
SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SHOULD BE A BACKUP, THE GOVERNOR
SAID WE DO NOT NEED A BACKUP.
WE NEED A TOM BRADY, REFERRING
TO THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TOM
BRADY, TALKING ABOUT THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO
MORE.
HERE A LOT OF GOVERNORS SAYING
WE WANT MORE.
THE PRESIDENT WROTE A LETTER TO
GOVERNORS TODAY, SAYING HE IS
THINKING ABOUT MAINTAINING,
INCREASING, OR REDUCING SOCIAL
DISTANCING EDGERS.
HE SAID IT WILL BE BASED ON DATA
AND SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT IS
THINKING ABOUT CATEGORIZING
COUNTIES AS HIGH RISK, MEDIUM
RISK, OR LOW RISK.
YOU EVEN HAVE SOME REPUBLICAN
GOVERNORS, INCLUDING LARRY HOGAN
IN MARYLAND, SAYING WE NEED HELP
WITH TESTING FACILITIES.
EVEN AS PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
RUNNING TO GOVERNORS, SAYING WE
NEED TO GET THE GOVERNMENT BACK
UP, YOU HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TELLING THE
PRESIDENT WE STILL NEED MORE
RESOURCES, AND WE STILL NEED TO
FIGURE OUT HOW BAD THIS IS GOING
TO GET.
JUDY: THERE IS STILL THIS
DISAGREEMENT AT SUCH A HIGH
LEVEL.
YAMICHE ALCINDE REPORTING FOR US
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THANK YOU, YAMICHE.
♪
♪
STEPHANIE: WE WILL RETURN TO
JUDY WOODRUFF AND THE FULL
PROGRAM AFTER THE LATEST
HEADLINES.
AN UPDATE TO OUR TOP STORY ON
THE PANDEMIC TONIGHT.
THE DEATH TOLL IN THE U.S. FROM
COVID-19 NOW STANDS AT MORE THAN
1200, WITH MORE THAN 83,000
CASES.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE WITH
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON
TONIGHT.
IN A TWITTER MESSAGE, MACRON
SAID COUNTRIES WERE WORKING ON A
NEW INITIATIVE TO COMBAT
COVID-19.
MONTANA'S GOVERNOR IS THE LATEST
TO ISSUE A STATEWIDE ORDER FOR
ALL NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES TO
CLOSE, AND FOR BUSINESSES TO
STAY-AT-HOME.
IN THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS, THE
U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCED INDICTMENTS OF
VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT, NICOLAS
MADURO, AND HIS TOP ALLIES, ON
CHARGES OF NARCO TERRORISM.
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR
SAID THEY CONSPIRED TO FLOOD THE
U.S. WITH COCAINE AND TO THEIR
OWN COUNTRY OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
A.G. BARR: MADURO AND THE OTHER
DEFENDANTS HAVE BETRAYED THE
VENEZUELAN PEOPLE AND CORRUPTED
VENEZUELA'S INSTITUTIONS.
WHILE THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE
SUFFER, THIS CABAL LINES THE
POCKETS WITH DRUG MONEY AND THE
PROCEEDS OF THEIR CORRUPTION.
THIS HAS TO COME TO AN END.
STEPHANIE: THE TRUMPET
MINISTRATION HAS BEEN TRYING TO
OUST MADURO SINCE HIS DISPUTED
REELECTION IN 2013.
ISRAEL'S YEAR-LONG POLITICAL
DEADLOCK MAY BE ENDING AFTER A
KEY VOTE IN PARLIAMENT TODAY.
LAWMAKERS ELECTED OPPOSITION
FIGURE BENNY GANTZ TO BE THE NEW
SPEAKER.
HE WON THE SUPPORT OF BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU'S FOLLOWERS, SIGNALING
A POSSIBLE DEAL FOR A UNITY
GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
OVERRIDES EVERYTHING ELSE.
MR. NETANYAHU: THESE ARE NOT
NORMAL DAYS, AND THE CALL FOR
SPECIAL DECISIONS.
THEREFORE, AS I HAVE SAID, I
INTEND TO EXAMINE AND ADVANCE IN
ANY POSSIBLE WAY THE CREATION OF
A NATIONAL EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT.
STEPHANIE: NETANYAHU IS UNDER
CRIMINAL INDICTMENT.
UP TO NOW, PENNY GANTZ HAD RULED
OUT SERVING WITH HIM IN ANY
COALITION.
IN IRAN, OFFICIALS AGAIN DENIED
ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ROBERT
LEVINSON, A FORMER FBI AGENT WHO
DISAPPEARED THEIR IN 2007.
THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE
LEFT THE COUNTRY YEARS AGO.
YESTERDAY, LEVINSON'S FAMILY
ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING U.S.
OFFICIALS CONCLUDED HE DIED IN
IRANIAN CUSTODY.
A U.S. NAVY VETERAN HELD IN IRAN
SAYS HE HAS COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
AND WANTS TO BE SENT HOME.
MICHAEL WHITE WAS RELEASED FROM
ON IRANIAN PRISON ON MEDICAL
FURLOUGH LAST WEEK, BUT WAS NOT
PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
HE HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 2018 ON
CHARGES OF INSULTING IRAN'S
SUPREME LEADER.
CHINESE OFFICIALS FIRED BACK AT
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE
POMPEO TODAY, OVER THE
CORONAVIRUS ENDEMIC.
HE HAD LOBBIED TO NAME COVID-19
AS THE WUHAN VIRUS.
>> WE URGE THIS U.S. POLITICIAN
NOT TO GO FURTHER ON THE WRONG
ROAD.
IT COULD ONLY FURTHER EXPOSE HIS
HYPOCRISY AND ILL INTENTIONS,
EACH WOULD AROUSE MORE
OPPOSITION AND INDIGNATION OF
THE CHINESE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD.
70: THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION OPPOSES GIVING THE
BAR IS A GEOGRAPHICAL NAME,
SINCE IT HAS SPREAD GLOBALLY.
OTHERS SAID IT PERFORMANCE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIANS.
AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST RICHARD
REEVES HAS DIED OF A HEART
ATTACK AT HIS HOME IN LOS
ANGELES.
HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS BOOKS ON
PRESIDENTS, FROM JOHN F. KENNEDY
TO BILL CLINTON.
HE ALSO HAD A LONG-RUNNING
SYNDICATED COLUMN AND APPEARED
ON PBS PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS.
RICHARD REEVES WAS 83 YEARS OLD.
STILL TO COME ON "THE NEWSHOUR"
A CRUSH OF PATIENTS CRASH
AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S FRONT LINE
DEFENSE.
THE PANDEMIC ACROSS THE BORDER.
LIFE IN LIMBO AS MIGRANTS WAIT
FOR ENTRY INTO THE U.S.
A SILENT TRAGEDY OF SOCIAL
DISTANCE -- EXAMINING THE RISING
RISK OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> THIS IS THE PBS NEWSHOUR.
IN THE WEST FROM THE WALTER
CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.
JUDY: THAT HUGE RISE IN
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WE LEARNED
ABOUT TODAY NEARLY 3.3 MILLION
, FILED OVER THE PAST WEEK --
DWARFS ALL HISTORICAL RECORDS IN
THE U.S.
MANY ECONOMISTS SAY THAT NUMBER
DOESN'T FULLY CAPTURE THE TRUE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED, OR ARE
OUT OF WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE
LOSING THEIR BUSINESS.
WE ASKED PEOPLE TODAY TO SHARE
SOME OF THEIR STORIES -- AND THE
REAL STRUGGLES THEY ARE FACING
RIGHT NOW.
HERE'S JUST A SAMPLING OF WHAT
WE HEARD.
BRITTANY: MY NAME IS BRITTANY
PICURI.
ALLYSON: MY NAME IS ALLYSON
JAFFE.
ABABUTI: MY NAME IS ABABUTI
OLOK.
LARRILOU: MY NAME IS LARRILOU
CARUMBA.
EDAN: MY NAME IS EDAN ALVA.
CANDACE: MY NAME IS CANDACE
ROGERS.
I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER.
I WAS LAID OFF JUST A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO.
I JUST EMBARKED ON BUYING MY
FIRST HOME, AND THAT HAPPENED
ALMOST A MONTH BEFORE THIS
HAPPENED.
SO I THINK BEING A FIRST TIME
HOMEBUYER AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE
UNEMPLOYMENT AT THIS MOMENT IS,
YOU KNOW, THE MOST SCARY FOR ME.
JAFFE: I'M A CO-OWNER HERE AT
THE D.C. IMPROV COMEDY CLUB.
THIS HAS BEEN HORRIFIC.
I HAD TO LAY OFF MY STAFF OF 50
ON MARCH 16, AND IT WAS JUST
DEVASTATING.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HARD WORKERS.
THEY'RE HOURLY WORKERS.
THEY KNOW THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND
WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE'RE
GOING TO BE CLOSED.
AND THAT'S THAT UNCERTAINTY HAS
BEEN THE WORST PART. 
OLOK: I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE
AIRPORT, LOGAN AIRPORT.
ORIGINALLY, I AM FROM ETHIOPIA.
I CAME IN 2011 AS A REFUGEE.
NOW I'M A U.S. CITIZEN.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE OR
ANYWHERE TO GO TO PAY MY RENT.
I HAVE TWO BOYS, WHICH IS MAKE
ME TO WORRY THE MOST.
MY MOM'S HERE.
MY WIFE GOT LAID OFF, TOO.
SO MY THINKING NOW IS NOT FOR
MYSELF, BUT FOR MY KIDS.
PICURI: I WAS A SERVER AT THE
LEGAL SEAFOODS IN THE KING OF
PRUSSIA MALL.
I HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL
NEEDS AND I HAVEN'T TAKEN MY
DAUGHTER OUTSIDE BECAUSE SHE'S
NON-VERBAL.
AND I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM TAKING
HER TO THE HOSPITAL.
IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WERE TO
HAPPEN.
EDAN: I AM A LYFT DRIVER.
WE'RE BEING PUT IN A
PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SITUATION
WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE
BETWEEN GOING OUT THERE
UNPROTECTED AND LOSING OUR
HOMES, LOSING IN OUR CAR LOANS
OR ALL THE THINGS THAT MIGHT
HAPPEN FINANCIALLY WHEN YOU
DON'T MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS.
LARRILOU: I'M A HOUSEKEEPER.
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I'M A SINGLE MOM AND I HAVE
THREE KIDS.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED AND SCARED
ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE
, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WILL
REALLY BE IN THE SHELTER IN
PLACE, BECAUSE TO CONTROL THIS
VIRUS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEING
-- EVERYBODY WANTS TO END THIS
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY -- I MEAN,
EVERYBODY'S BEING EXCITED ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING, BECAUSE WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
NEXT.
AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M
GONNA GO BACK TO WORK.
JUDY: SO HARD TO HEAR, AND THERE
WERE SO MANY MORE JUST LIKE
THAT.
LET'S TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT
FINANCIAL RESCUE PLAN -- WHAT IT
DOES, AND WHAT MIGHT BE LEFT TO
DO. 
WE TURN TO SOMEONE WITH DEEP
EXPERIENCE IN ECONOMIC POLICY.
HE IS LAWRENCE SUMMERS.
HE SERVED AS SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT
CLINTON, AND WAS DIRECTOR OF THE
NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL DURING
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
HE IS CURRENTLY A PROFESSOR OF
ECONOMICS AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
YESTERDAY, HE JOINED A
BIPARTISAN GROUP OF 34 FORMER
SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY,
FEDERAL RESERVE GOVERNORS, AND
ECONOMIC SCHOLARS WHO SIGNED A
STATEMENT MAKING THE CASE TO
OFFICIALS THAT THE BEST WAY TO
ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF
THE CORONAVIRUS, WAS TO FIRST
ATTEND TO THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
LARRY SUMMERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
IT IS SO HARD TO HEAR THESE
STORIES, AND I WANT TO ASK YOU
FIRST ABOUT THESE UNEMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS.
TODAY, 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE.
HOW MUCH WORSE COULD THIS GET?
MR. SUMMERS: JUDY, WE ARE AT WAR
WITH THIS VIRUS, AND YOU SHOWED
SOME OF THE CASUALTIES OF THAT
WAR, AND THAT IS NOT A WAR THAT
IS GOING TO END SOON.
THERE WILL BE MILLIONS MORE
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE FILING FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND WHO
WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.
FORTUNATELY, THAT $2.2 TRILLION
IS DIRECTED AT PROVIDING AS BIG
AND BROAD A SAFETY NET AS WE CAN
AT THIS POINT.
THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT
WILL DO A LOT OF GOOD.
I'M SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
THE END OF THE THINGS WE DO TO
KEEP OUR ECONOMY GOING, AND TO
MAINTAIN OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
WHAT'S CRUCIAL, IN A WAR LIKE
THIS -- AND THAT IS WHAT THE
LETTER I SIGNED REFERS TO -- IS
THAT WE DO IT WITH A STRATEGY TO
WIN AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT MEANS WE CANNOT ABANDON
THE WAR TO EARLY, BECAUSE IF WE
DO, WE WILL LOSE ANY GROUND WE
GAINED, AND WE WILL HAVE THAT
MUCH LONGER A STRUGGLE.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO SEE THROUGH THIS PERIOD UNTIL
THERE IS ENOUGH PROGRESS THAT
PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES TELL
US WE CAN LET UP ON THIS CURRENT
PERIOD OF PAINFUL SOCIAL
ISOLATION.
JUDY: WE UNDERSTAND A LETTER
DIRECTED AT LEAST IN PART TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT OPENING UP
BUSINESSES SOON, WITHIN WEEKS,
WHENEVER THE VIRUS STANDS, AT
THE SAME TIME TARGETING THE
VIRUS.
BUT LARRY SUMMERS, LET'S TALK
ABOUT WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING
THIS RELIEF IS GREAT AND THIS
$2.2 TRILLION BILL, BUT IT IS
ONLY GOING TO LAST -- WE HEARD
LISA DE CHARDIN -- LISA DE
CHARDIN -- DESJARDINS SAYING
EIGHT WEEKS.
IS IT MORE CASH DIRECTLY TO
INDIVIDUALS?
IS IT LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESS?
EXACTLY IS IT?
MR. SUMMERS: ALL THE ABOVE,
JUDY.
I THINK THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
RIGHT NOW WOULD BE TO ADD ENOUGH
MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, FOR MAYORS TO TAKE
CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE.
THAT IS THE FIRST PRIORITY.
THE SECOND PRIORITY IS WE HAVE
GOT TO BE ON A WARTIME FOOTING,
WITH RESPECT TO GETTING TESTS,
WITH RESPECT TO GETTING
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, WITH
RESPECT TO GETTING VENTILATORS
TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO SPEND WHATEVER IT
TAKES.
WE NEED TO USE WHATEVER
AUTHORITIES THE GOVERNMENT HAS
TO DELIVER THE RESOURCES, SO
THAT WE CAN TARGET PEOPLE, GET
THE ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE WHO
NEED IT, BE SECURE IN THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE
IDENTIFYING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
VICTIMS, AND ALSO RECOGNIZING
THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM IT IS SAFE
TO GO OUT AND GO BACK TO WORK
AGAIN.
NO MISTAKE -- NO MATTER HOW MUCH
MONEY THE FEDERAL RESERVE
COMMITS, NO MATTER HOW BIG A
BUDGET DEFICIT WE RUN, WE CANNOT
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL WE
CONTAIN THE VIRUS.
AND THAT IS WHY A CAREFUL
STRATEGIC, DETERMINED STRATEGY
OF THE KIND THAT DR. FAUCI IS
PUSHING IS WHAT WE NEED.
BUT ABOVE ALL, IN A WAR -- AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE IN -- YOU
HAVE TO BE STEADFAST.
YOU HAVE TO BE MOVING FORWARD IN
A CONSISTENT DIRECTION.
AND WE HAVE TO NOT CHANGE COURSE
EVERY FEW DAYS.
THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT'S TALK
ABOUT EASTER, ABOUT 15 DAYS, IS
SO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND
DESTABILIZING.
JUDY: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE
SAYING NOT ENOUGH MONEY IS BEING
PUSHED IN THE DIRECTION RIGHT
NOW FOR TESTING, FOR RESEARCH --
NOT ENOUGH PRIORITY IN THAT
DIRECTION.
THAT I AM HEARING YOU SAY YES,
WE NEED A LOT MORE MONEY ON THE
MEDICAL SIDE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE SURE UP
INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WHEN YOU HEAR MOTHERS OF
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, A
MAN SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN
MEET MY RENT THIS MONTH," PEOPLE
ARE HURTING AND PANICKING IN
SOME INSTANCES RIGHT NOW.
MR. SUMMERS: THIS IS PROBABLY
THE MOST PROFOUND TEST OF
AMERICAN SOCIETY SINCE PEARL
HARBOR.
WHETHER WE CAN MANAGE THE
RESOURCES TO CONTAIN THE VIRUS,
AND AT THE SAME TIME PROTECT --
PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE MOST
VULNERABLE AMONG US AS A
SOCIETY.
IT IS A TEST OF OUR COMPETENCE.
IT IS A TEST OF OUR COMPASSION.
IT IS A TEST OF OUR WILL.
I THINK ULTIMATELY WE WILL MEET
IT, BUT CERTAINLY THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME FALSE STARTS.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME
ENCOURAGING SIGNS, THE SPEED
WITH WHICH CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO
PASS THIS MASSIVE LEGISLATION,
THE WAY THE FED HAS BEEN ABLE TO
STEP IN AND ADDRESS THE
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING
IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR EFFORT
AROUND ADDRESSING THE DISEASE
AND PROTECTING ITS VICTIMS.
THAT IS WHAT HISTORY IS GOING TO
JUDGE US ON.
JUDY: FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY
LARRY SUMMERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HOSPITALS IN MORE AND MORE
CITIES ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE
AND CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19
CASES.
NEW YORK STATE IS STILL AT THE
CENTER OF SOME OF THE WORST OF
IT.
HOSPITALIZATIONS SHOT UP 40% IN
ONE DAY, AND THERE WERE 100
DEATHS THEY ARE IN JUST ABOUT 24
HOURS.
WILLIAM BRANGHAM GETS A VIEW
FROM THE FRONT LINES OF WHAT'S
BEING DONE TO ADJUST TO A
WORSENING SITUATION.
WILLIAM: THAT'S RIGHT.
SOME HOSPITALS ARE ALREADY BEING
OVERRUN, AND MANY ARE TAKING
EXTRAORDINARY STEPS TO PREPARE
FOR THE WAVE OF PATIENTS TO
COME.
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK IS ONE
OF THOSE PLACES.
THEY BEEN ASKED BY GOVERNOR
ANDREW CUOMO TO DOUBLE THEIR BED
CAPACITY IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.
CAROL GOMEZ IS CEO OF THAT
HOSPITAL.
MS. GOMEZ, THINK -- COMES, --
MS. GOMES, HOW IS YOUR SYSTEM
DOING RIGHT NOW?
MS. GOMES: CLEARLY, WITH THIS
PANDEMIC UNDERWAY AND THE APEX
OF THE STORM APPROACHING US
QUICKLY, IN THE NEXT 14 TO 21
DAYS, THERE IS A CONCERTED
EFFORT TO ADDRESS SAFETY, AND A
CONCERTED EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR PATIENTS.
IT IS OF A VERY SERIOUS NATURE,
BUT WE ARE TACKLING THIS WITH
ALL OF OUR MIGHT.
WILLIAM: RIGHT NOW, CAN YOU GIVE
US A SENSE OF HOW MANY
CORONAVIRUS -- HOW MANY COVID-19
PATIENTS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE?
MS. GOMES: EACH DAY, OBVIOUSLY,
IT ESCALATES, AND THE NUMBERS
THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING
COULD POTENTIALLY BE DIFFERENT
THAN THE ONES WE HAVE CURRENTLY,
NOW OR IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES.
LAST WE HEARD, THERE WERE 70
PLUS CASES POSITIVE, AND WE HAVE
MANY PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION
WHO ARE PENDING LABORATORY
TESTS.
AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
ESCALATE EACH DAY, BUT HERE WE
ARE CONSTRUCTING TENTS IN A
PARKING LOT, A LARGE TENT.
WE ARE ABLE TO SEE HUNDREDS OF
PATIENTS COMING THROUGH,
PARTICULARLY FOR COVID TESTING.
LIAM: I KNOW YOU HAVE A
RELATIVELY LARGE HOSPITAL.
THE IDEA YOU ARE BUILDING A TENT
OUT IN THE PARKING LOT SEEMS TO
SIGNAL THE DEPTH OF HOW SERIOUS
THIS IS.
MS. GOMES: THIS IS EXTREMELY
SERIOUS.
THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK ASKED
EACH CEO OF EVERY HOSPITAL IN
NEW YORK STATE TO INCREASE ITS
SURGE CAPACITY BY AT LEAST 50%,
AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, A DAY OR
TWO LATER, THE QUESTED FOR ALL
OF US TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY
BY AN ADDITIONAL 100%.
SO WE HAVE 624 BEDS.
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO CREATE
ANOTHER SIX UNDER 24 -- ANOTHER
624 BEDS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT
OF SPACE, YOU HAVE TO BE
CREATIVE.
WILLIAM: I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH
DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AT SEVERAL
LOCATIONS THIS WEEK, AND I'VE
BEEN HEARING A REAL SENSE OF
ANXIETY AND CONCERN ABOUT THIS.
THE STORM THAT IN SOME PLACES IS
ALREADY THERE, IN CERTAIN
HOSPITALS, AND THE STORM THAT IS
COMING TO OTHERS -- I'M CURIOUS
HOW YOUR STAFF IS DOING.
HOW ARE PEOPLE HOLDING UP UNDER
ALL OF THIS?
MS. GOMES: I CAN'T BE MORE PROUD
OF OUR STONY BROOK MEDICINE
TEAM.
THEY COME IN EVERY DAY.
THEY ARE SERIOUS MINDED.
THEY ARE LASER FOCUSED.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A JOB TO DO.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO CARE FOR
THESE PATIENTS, WHO WILL BE
COMING IN BY THE DROVES.
AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND THE
SAFETY OF OUR TEAM.
YOU HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THIS
SURGE IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE, AND
FORM POSSIBLE -- STAFFING,
SUPPLIES, AND SPACE, SO EVERYONE
IS COMPLETELY LASER FOCUSED ON
THIS TASK.
WILLIAM: DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH
SUPPLIES RIGHT NOW?
BEEN READING ABOUT THE SHORTAGE
OF N95 MASKS, SHORTAGE OF
VENTILATORS, SHORTAGE OF
PROTECTIVE GOWNS.
DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ENOUGH
EQUIPMENT TO DO THE JOB SAFELY
THAT YOU NEED TO DO?
MS. GOMES: I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE
ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER
HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE ALL CLAMORING FOR
SUPPLIES -- N95'S, FACE SHIELDS,
THE LIKE.
HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE OF
PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS AND
SCIENTISTS WHO ARE ON CAMPUS AT
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY.
WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING ON
USING 3D PRINTERS TO CREATE FACE
SHIELDS, SO THIS IS REALLY AN
ENORMOUS EFFORT, AND EVERYONE IS
INVOLVED.
WE ALSO FOUND A LINK ON HOW TO
MAKE HAND SANITIZER, AND SENT IT
TO OUR CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT.
LOW AND BEHOLD, THEY STARTED
MAKING GALLONS OF HAND
SANITIZER.
SO YES, THE SUPPLIES ARE
LIMITED, BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY
NOT WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO
US.
WE ARE TAKING MATTERS INTO OUR
OWN HANDS AS BEST AS WE CAN, TO
CONTROL WHAT IS IN OUR CONTROL.
WILLIAM: I THINK ANYONE WOULD
LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND
SALUTE THE INGENUITY AND TAKING
THIS ON YOURSELF.
BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THIS IS A
SIGN OF SOMETHING VERY, VERY
SERIOUS, WHERE YOU GUYS ARE
HAVING TO MAKE SUPPLIES THAT
JUST A MONTH AGO MOST HOSPITALS
TOOK FOR GRANTED, AND TOOK AS
JUST REGULAR EQUIPMENT THAT WE
HAVE.
YOU NOW HAVE TO MAKE IT
YOURSELVES.
MS. GOMES: YES, YES, BUT WHEN
YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN THE
MATTER, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT WE ARE
DOING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF
OUR TEAM.
WILLIAM: WE KNOW THAT THE
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK HAS ASKED
EVERYONE WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN
WHAT ARE CALLED ESSENTIAL
SERVICES TO LARGELY
STAY-AT-HOME.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ABOUT HOW THE
NEW YORK, THE LONG ISLAND
COMMUNITY, IS HEATING THAT
REQUEST?
ARE PEOPLE FOLLOWING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS?
MS. GOMES: WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE
BEEN SPENDING MOST OF MY TIME IN
THE HOSPITAL, SO IT'S HARD TO BE
ABLE TO SAY FIRSTHAND.
I CERTAINLY DO HOPE PEOPLE ARE
HEEDING THOSE WARNINGS, AS IT
WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
FLATTEN THE CURVE AND
POTENTIALLY SLOW THAT SURGE OF
PATIENTS.
AND THAT'S OUR GOAL, IS TO
FLATTEN THAT CURVE AND PREPARE
FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE
BEST.
WILLIAM: ALL RIGHT.
CAROL GOMES, CEO OF STONY BROOK
UNIVERSITY OF HOSPITAL.
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF YOU OUT
THERE.
MS. GOMES: THANK YOU.
♪
♪
JUDY: NOW FOR A LOOK OUTSIDE THE
U.S.
LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP
ANNOUNCED STRICT NEW BORDER
CONTROLS, CITING CONCERNS OVER
THE CORONAVIRUS.
OFFICIALS WILL NOW TURN AWAY
MOST MIGRANTS ENTERING THE
COUNTRY FROM THE SOUTHERN
BORDER.
THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE FLEEING
VIOLENCE, EVEN IF THEY COME
LEGALLY AND SHOW NO SIGNS OF
BEING SICK.
JEAN GUERRERO OF MEMBER STATION
KPBS SPOKE TO FAMILY STUCK IN
LIMBO AT THE COUNTRY'S BUSIEST
LAND BORDER CROSSING, JUST SOUTH
OF SAN DIEGO, AND TIJUANA.
JEAN: THIS FAMILY WANTS TO ASK
FOR ASYLUM IN THE U.S.
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS ON AN ASYLUM
WAITLIST, IT WAS FINALLY THEIR
TURN TO ENTER AND START PLEADING
THEIR CASE.
BUT WHEN THEY CAME TO THE PORT
OF ENTRY, THEY LEARNED THE
BORDER HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN
BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
THEY ASKED US TO HIDE THEIR
IDENTITIES FOR SAFETY REASONS.
>> WE ARE ESCAPING A PLACE WHERE
YOU CAN'T REALLY LIVE.
THEY EXTORT YOU, AND IF YOU
DON'T PAY, THEY KILL YOU.
JEAN: ANA HAS PICTURES OF HER
HOUSE FROM WHEN SHE SAYS IT WAS
RIDDLED WITH BULLETS, AND MARKS
ON HER BODY FROM WHEN SHE WAS
BEATEN BY THE LOCAL GANG.
ANA: THE VIRUS WORRIES ME
BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH, BUT WHAT
WORRIES ME MUCH MORE IS WHAT
I'VE EXPERIENCED.
WE ARE TRULY IN DANGER IN
MEXICO.
JEAN: SHE HAS AUDIO OF WHEN SHE
SAYS THE GANG BROKE INTO HER
HOUSE AND THREATENED HER.
[SCREAMS AND WEEPING]
JEAN: THE FAMILY AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS WANT REFUGE, BUT
THEY'RE STUCK IN MEXICO.
IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN THE PORT WILL
REOPEN.
LINES AT THE ONCE-BUSTLING PORT
DWINDLED RUSTIC CLEAN AFTER THE
U.S. BANNED NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
AT THE BORDER LAST WEEK, IN
ADDITION TO THE BAN ON EVERYONE
WITHOUT U.S. DOCUMENTS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
NORMALLY CROSS DAILY TO WORK AND
SHOP.
PAOLA AVILA, OF THE SAN DIEGO
REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
SAYS THE IMPACT WILL BE SEVERE,
BUT THE HALT IS NECESSARY.
PAOLA: HIS MISSES ARE GOING TO
SUFFER FROM THAT HALT, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE.
JEAN: VULNERABLE FAMILIES
FLEEING DEATH THREATS COULD BE
MOST AFFECTED.
SOME JUMPED THE BORDER WALL OUT
OF DESPERATION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID NEW
RESTRICTIONS ARE MEANT TO
PREVENT AN OUTBREAK IN BORDER
STATIONS.
PRES. TRUMP: OUR NATION'S TOP
HEALTH CARE OFFICIALS ARE
EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF
MASS, UNCONTROLLED CROSS-BORDER
MOVEMENT.
JEAN: TIJUANA MIGRANT SHELTERS
ARE SCREAMING TO KEEP UP WITH
THE NEED FOR BEDS.
FATHER PAT MURPHY ROLLED OUT NEW
RULES TO TRY TO PREVENT AN
OUTBREAK.
FATHER MURPHY: ONE OF THE
DECISIONS WE MADE WAS TO PUT
LESS PEOPLE IN EACH ROOM, SO
THEY CAN BE A LITTLE SEPARATED.
JEAN: HANDS ARE SANITIZED EACH
TIME THEY ENTER, AND A DOCTOR
WILL SOON BE CHECKING
TEMPERATURES EVERY DAY.
SHELTER IS REDUCING INTAKE TO 80
PEOPLE, HALF ITS USUAL CAPACITY,
TO KEEP PEOPLE SPREAD OUT.
MURPHY IS WORRIED HE AND OTHERS
COULD GET THE VIRUS.
FATHER MURPHY: I'M 68.
I SHOULDN'T BE DOWN HERE.
I SHOULD BE IN MY ROOM.
BUT MY HEART DOESN'T LET ME DO
THAT.
JEAN: ASYLUM-SEEKERS HAVE A
PLACE TO EAT AND FEEL SAFE UNTIL
IT'S THEIR TURN TO ENTER THE
U.S., BUT THE SHELTER DOESN'T
HAVE ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
MANY SLEEP ON THE STREET, WHERE
THEY ARE EXPOSED TO CARTEL
VIOLENCE.
OTHERS STAY IN CRAMPED TENTS,
WHERE IT'S HARD TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES FROM GETTING SICK.
OR IF HE SAYS THE TRUMPET
MINISTRATION IS USING THE
CORONAVIRUS TO PUSH A POLITICAL
AGENDA, AND HEARD SOME OF THE
WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
FATHER MURPHY: HE'S TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION TO
TAKE AWAY THE FEW RIGHTS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE LEFT TO ASK FOR
POLITICAL ASYLUM.
HE HAS NO IDEA, THE SUFFERING.
JEAN: THE ACTING SECRETARY OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY, CHAD WOLF, SAYS THE
DECISION TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY IS
BASED ON INPUT FROM TOP HEALTH
LEADERS AT THE CENTER FOR
DISEASE CONTROL.
MR. WOLF: THE INTRODUCTION AND
SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE
DEPARTMENTS BORDER PATROL
STATIONS AND DETENTION
FACILITIES SINCE A SERIOUS
DANGER TO MIGRANTS, FRONTLINE
AGENTS, AND OFFICERS, AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
JEAN: WHILE THE U.S. HAS MORE
THAN 75,000 CONFIRMED
CORONAVIRUS CASES, EXIT COME HAS
ABOUT 500.
-- MEXICO HAS ABOUT 500.
THIS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER HELPED
SET UP CHECKPOINTS AND TIJUANA
TO GIVE FREE CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOM
SCREENINGS.
RICARDO VEGA, PRESIDENT OF THE
BAJA HEALTH CLUSTER, SAYS THEY
WANT TO PREVENT THE SPREAD IN
MEXICO, INCLUDING AMONG
MIGRANTS, WHERE THE RISK IS HIGH
DUE TO CROWDED CONDITIONS.
RICARDO: THEY ARE CONFINED IN
PLACES WHERE WE KNOW THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH TOILETS OR ENOUGH
FLUSHING WATER, OR SEPARATE
SPACES.
JEAN: AT ONE SHELTER, A
GUATEMALAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS WITH
THREE CHILDREN FACED AN
UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
>> I NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE MY
COUNTRY.
I NEVER WANTED TO EXPOSE MY KIDS
TO SO MUCH DANGER.
JEAN: BUT SHE SAYS SHE HAD NO
CHOICE.
THE PEOPLE THREATENING TO KILL
HER FAMILY IN GUATEMALA WERE
SCARIER THAN THE CORONAVIRUS.
FOR THE "PBS NEWSHOUR," I'M JEAN
GUERRERO IN TIJUANA.
♪
♪
JUDY: WITH SO MANY AMERICANS NOW
STAYING HOME, THE PANDEMIC
CONTINUES TO HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT
ON NEARLY ALL ASPECTS OF OUR
LIVES.
BUT ONE AREA GETTING LESS
ATTENTION IS HOW THAT ISOLATION
CAN EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
JOHN YANG HAS A CLOSER LOOK.
JOHN: IN PAST TIMES OF STRESS
LIKE 9/11, THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
OF 2008, AND HURRICANE KATRINA,
EXPERTS SAY THE INTENSITY AND
FREQUENCY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE HAS
GONE UP.
KATIE RAY JONES IS THE CEO OF
THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOTLINE.
SHE JOINS US BY SKYPE FROM
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, WHAT
CONCERNS YOU MOST?
WHAT ARE YOU MOST WORRIED ABOUT?
KATIE: WHAT WE ARE MOST WORRIED
ABOUT, THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOTLINE, IS KNOWING
THAT MANY VICTIMS, SURVIVORS,
ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN
ISOLATION WITH THEIR ABUSIVE
PARTNER, AND THEIR ABILITY TO
SEEK HELP OR GUIDANCE IS
SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED, KNOWING
THAT OFTENTIMES ABUSIVE PARTNERS
ARE OBSERVING PHONE CALLS OR
WATCHING WHAT MATERIAL SOMEONE
MIGHT BE LOOKING AT ON THEIR
DEVICE.
SO WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED RIGHT
NOW, KNOWING THAT HISTORY HAS
SHOWN US WITH AN INCREASED
SEVERITY OF ABUSE AND INCREASED
FREQUENCY OF ABUSE THAT MANY
SURVIVORS ARE CURRENTLY IN DIRE
SITUATIONS.
JOHN: TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS
SOCIAL DISTANCING TO TRY TO STOP
THE VIRUS SPREADING CONTRIBUTING
OR AIDING AND ABETTING PEOPLE
WHO COMMIT THIS VIOLENCE AND
ABUSE?
KATIE: IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT OFTENTIMES
ABUSIVE PARTNERS WILL LEVERAGE
SOMETHING HAPPENING IN SOCIETY
AS A FURTHER MEANS TO ISOLATE,
CREATE FEAR, INTIMIDATE, OR
COERCE A VICTIM.
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO HEAR
STORIES FROM SURVIVORS WHO ARE
REACHING OUT TO THE HOTLINE, WHO
ARE INDICATING THAT THEIR
ABUSIVE PARTNER HAS INDICATED
THAT THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK, THEY
CAN'T SEE FAMILY, THEY CAN'T SEE
FRIENDS, AS A MEANS TO WHAT THEY
FEEL IS FURTHER ISOLATE THEM,
AND LEVERAGING COVID-19 AS A
MEANS TO DO THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD DISTRESSING
STORIES WHERE ONE WOMAN SHARED
THAT HER COMMUNITY WHERE SHE'S
CURRENTLY RESIDING DOES NOT HAVE
SHELTER-IN-PLACE PROTOCOLS.
HER EMPLOYER WAS INDICATING IT
WAS SAFE FOR HER TO GO TO WORK.
HER ABUSIVE PARTNER ESSENTIALLY
SAID, "YOU ARE NOT GOING." WHEN
SHE STATED SHE WAS, HE TOOK THE
FIREARM OUT IN THEIR HOME AND
BEGAN TO LOAD THE FIREARM.
SHE SAID THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
HE HAD EVER DONE, THAT THEY HAVE
AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, BUT HAD
NEVER BROUGHT A FIREARM OUT
BEFORE, AND THIS WAS CAUSING HER
GREAT CONCERN.
WE KNOW THAT AT TIMES WHEN THERE
IS FEAR, THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CONTROL ISSUES, POWER
ISSUES, THEY MAY EXASPERATE
THOSE DYNAMICS AND THEIR ABUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP.
JOHN: HOW IS THIS COMP LOCATING
YOUR WORK?
FOR INSTANCE, ARE SHELTERS
OPERATING?
ARE THEY WORRIED ABOUT SOCIAL
DISTANCING IN THAT SENSE?
KATIE: YES, SO WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN OUR ABILITY TO EVEN CONNECT
SOME SURVIVORS TO SHELTERS, OR
EXIT STRATEGIES, BE GREATLY
IMPACTED.
WE KNOW SHELTERS ARE GOING TO
GREAT LENGTHS TO DEEPLY SANITIZE
SHELTERS, KEEP EXISTING
RESIDENTS SAFE.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT ONE'S
ABILITY TO DO INTAKES TO TAKE IN
NEW CLIENTS MAY BE LIMITED.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM SURVIVORS WHO
WERE REALLY HOLDING OUT FOR
THEIR CUSTODY HEARING OR DIVORCE
HEARING, OR PROTECTIVE ORDER
HEARING -- THAT THOSE ARE BEING
IMPACTED.
SO A LOT OF THE DYNAMICS IN
TERMS OF SYSTEMS THAT SURVIVORS
RELY ON, AND WE WOULD SAY MANY
OF THE TOOLS WE ARE KEEPING IN A
SURVIVOR TOOLBOX, FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE DISAPPEARING RAPIDLY.
SO THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING, ON
TOP OF WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING
IN THEIR HOME ALREADY.
JOHN: YOU MENTIONED THIS BEFORE,
BUT I WANT YOU TO EXPAND ON IT
-- THE IDEA THAT WHEN YOU ARE
ISOLATED WITH SOMEONE WHO MAY BE
ABUSING YOU, YOU CAN'T
NECESSARILY CALL THE HOTLINE AND
SEEK HELP.
KATIE: YEAH, I THINK THAT IS ONE
OF THE MOST DISTRESSING THINGS
ABOUT THIS.
WE KNOW, AND WE HEAR FROM
SURVIVORS PRE-COVID-19, THAT
THEIR BEHAVIORS WERE BEING
MONITORED, DOWN TO SPYWARE BEING
INSTALLED ON THEIR COMPUTERS,
WATCHING WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT
IN TERMS OF MATERIAL ONLINE.
SO WHEN YOU ARE IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO SOMEONE, HAVING THE
ABILITY TO MAKE A PHONE CALL,
AND SHARING THE VERY INTIMATE
DETAILS OF AN ABUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP, MAY BE
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED, WHICH IS
WHY WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE
FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS TO
CONTACT THE HOTLINE AND GET
INFORMATION ABOUT RESOURCES,
SAFETY, PLANNING STRATEGIES THAT
MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE
-- BECAUSE YOU MAY BE THEIR ONLY
LIFELINE RIGHT NOW TO
INFORMATION AND HELP, AND EVEN
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
JOHN: WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING,
COULD IT BE THAT PEOPLE DON'T
KNOW THAT IT'S GOING ON?
PEOPLE, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS MAY
NOT KNOW, AND MAY NOT KNOW TO
CALL, TO REACH OUT FOR HELP?
KATIE: I THINK OFTEN DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS THE SECRET THAT
HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND
IS NOT OUR PROBLEM.
WE REALLY ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW WE
NEED EVERYBODY TO BE ACTIVATED,
TO BE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
AROUND THEM.
IF THEY ARE HEARING SOUNDS
COMING OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBOR'S
HOUSE, BE THOUGHTFUL OF WHAT
THAT MIGHT MEAN.
SOMETIMES, CALLING THE POLICE
MAY NOT BE AN OPTION.
THE HOTLINE IS HERE TO CONCERN
ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT
SOMEONE, IF THEY ARE NOT BEING
DIRECTLY IMPACTED, REALLY
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET
EDUCATED AND LEVERAGE THE
HOTLINE AS A RESOURCE TO
INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
SAFETY PLANNING.
YOU MAY BE SAFETY PLANNING WITH
YOUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT NOW.
JOHN: ARE THERE SIMILAR CONCERNS
ABOUT ABUSE AGAINST OR VIOLENCE
AGAINST CHILDREN, AS AGAINST
PEOPLE, PARTNERS IN INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIPS?
KATIE: YES, SO WHILE OUR MISSION
IS REALLY FOCUSED ON INTIMATE
PARTNER VIOLENCE, WE HAVE HAD
INDIVIDUALS REACH OUT,
INDICATING CONCERNS WITH ABUSE
HAPPENING AT HOME TOWARD
CHILDREN, AND WE ARE PROVIDING
SUPPORT AROUND THAT AREA AS
WELL.
THE OTHER PIECE WE KNOW IS THAT
CHILDREN ARE OFTEN LEVERAGED IN
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, SO KIDS
CAN BE OFTEN IN THE MIDST OF A
VIOLENT SITUATION, WHERE THINGS
MIGHT BE BEING THROWN, AND THE
KIDS ACCIDENTALLY GET IN THE
CROSSFIRE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE ARE WANTING TO SAFETY PLAN
AROUND KIDS IN THE HOME AS WELL,
AND WHAT THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING
LIKE -- REALLY TAKING THE WHOLE
FAMILY AS A UNIT, TO THINK
THROUGH WHAT SAFETY PLANNING IN
PLACE IS POSSIBLE, WHAT EXIT
STRATEGIES MAY BE AVAILABLE TO A
SURVIVOR, AS WELL AS SAFETY
PLANNING FOR KIDS.
JOHN: KATIE RAY JONES, CEO OF
THE NATIONAL DO MUST OF VIOLENCE
HOTLINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU OR
SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING
ABUSE, THESE CALL THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOTLINE AT 1-800
-799-SAFE.
THAT'S 1-800-799-7233.
♪
JUDY: MANY FAMILIES, WE ARE
LEARNING, ARE FINDING IT A
CHALLENGE IN DECIDING HOW MUCH
CORONAVIRUS NEWS IS TOO MUCH
WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR CHILDREN
AND TEENAGERS.
THE TELEVISIONS IN MANY
HOUSEHOLDS ON AROUND-THE-CLOCK,
IT'S TOUGH TO SHIELD KIDS FROM
THE CONSTANT STREAM OF
REPORTING.
AT THE SAME TIME, MANY TEENS MAY
NOT BE TAKING THE PANDEMIC AS
SERIOUSLY AS THEY SHOULD.
TONIGHT, AUTHOR KELLY CORRIGAN
SHARES HER HUMBLE OPINION ON HOW
TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE.
KELLY: IF YOU ARE THE PARENT OF
A TEENAGER, SHELTER-IN-PLACE IS
A STRANGE AND SERIOUS GIFT.
I KNOW, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE
IMAGES OF THE HARDHEADED SPRING
BREAKERS, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
IN FLORIDA, AND FRIENDS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY TELL ME THEY ARE
STILL GOING TOE TO THEIR KIDS
OVER EVERY CONCEIVABLE OUTING.
AT MY HOUSE, QUARANTINE BEGAN
WITH MY TEENAGER SUGGESTING A DA
RTY, A DAYTIME PARTY.
SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN.
THEY COULD SERVE CORONAS AND 
QUARANTINIS.
THERE WERE TEARS.
APPARENTLY WE WERE THE ONLY
PARENTS WHO WERE PSYCHO ABOUT
THIS NEW VIRUS.
ANYWAY, KIDS DON'T EVEN GET
SICK, SHE SAID, LYING ON
INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVEN
TO BE OUTDATED.
THEN CAME SHELTER-IN-PLACE, AND
OUR BAY AREA TOWN WAS
SEQUESTERED.
AT THAT POINT, OUR TEENAGER'S
PLEAS BECAME SMALLER.
CAN I GO TO DINNER FOR ONE HOUR
WITH ONE FRIEND?
CAN I WATCH TV ALL AFTERNOON?
CAN WE PLEASE NOT TALK ABOUT
CORONAVIRUS AFTER 5:00 P.M.?
THE THEME OF ALL THE REQUESTS
WAS THE SAME -- ESCAPE.
CAN WE, THEY SEEMED TO BE
ASKING, TURN OUR BACK ON THE
WORLD MAP BLOWING UP WITH
HOTSPOTS?
WE CAN.
WE CAN PLAY RUMMY 500 AND READ
BOOKS, AND REWATCH "THE OFFICE"
FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE CAN PAINT EACH OTHERS
TOENAILS AND MAKEUP DANCE
ROUTINES, AND LEARN TO DRAW.
AS FAR AS KIDS GO, EVEN KIDS OLD
ENOUGH TO DREAM UP QUARANTINIS,
MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDED THAT A
STEADY STREAM OF INFORMATION MAY
BE LESS OF A COMFORT, AND MORE
OF A HIGH-SPEED ON-RAMP TO
UNMANAGEABLE STRESS.
IT'S OUR JOB TO STAY UP-TO-DATE,
NOT THEIRS.
SO WHILE THEY DEAL ANOTHER HAND,
WE CHECK QUICKLY THE CDC
WEBSITE, OR READ THE NOTES FROM
THE LATEST PRESS CONFERENCE.
SOME FUTURE DAY, WE CAN TALK
LIKE THE ADULTS THEY NEARLY ARE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORLD
IN THE SPRING OF 2020.
WE CAN LOOK CAREFULLY AT HOW IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN HANDLED BETTER,
AND WHO THE HEROES OF THE MOMENT
WERE.
FOR NOW, IN OUR FAMILY BUNKER, I
SAY BRING ON THE DISTRACTIONS,
AND LET THE DAILY ESCAPE BEGIN.
JUDY: AUTHOR AND PARENT KELLY
CORRIGAN.
AND ON THE "NEWSHOUR" ONLINE,
RIGHT NOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PANDEMIC, THERE IS NEW LIFE
BEING BORN.
PHOTOJOURNALIST SEBASTIAN RICH
SHADOWED MIDWIVES ATTENDING A
HOMEBIRTH IN UTAH.
THEY SHARED THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
CRISIS AND HOW THEIR WORK
ENDURES.
THAT IS ON OUR WEBSITE,
PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.
THAT IS THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.
JONAS ONLINE AND WRITE HERE
TOMORROW EVENING.
OR ALL OF US AT THE "PBS
NEWSHOUR," STAY SAFE.
WE WILL SEE YOU SOON.
>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY --
♪
♪
AMERICAN CRUISE LINES.
BNSF RAILWAY.
CONSUMER CELLULAR.
THE FORD FOUNDATION, WORKING
WITH VISIONARIES ON THE
FRONTLINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE
WORLDWIDE.
>> AND BY THE ALFRED P SLOAN
FOUNDATION, SUPPORTING SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND
FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21ST
CENTURY.
>> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF THESE INSTITUTIONS --
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.]
>> AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR.
♪
♪
THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, AND BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
♪
♪
THIS IS "PBS NEWSHOUR WEST,"
FROM WETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON
AND THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL
OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE
UNIVERSITY.
♪
♪
♪
