TOP OF THE HOUR:
— Mnuchin says decision to reopen business will be health decision not economic
— Governor of Louisiana warns the coronavirus could soon overwhelm state’s health care system
— New Jersey Governor doesn’t mind President Donald Trump’s travel advisory
— Fauci warns U.S. will have “millions of cases” of COVID-19 and more than 100,000 deaths
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says a decision whether to reopen the nation back for business as early as Easter will be a health decision not an economic one.
Mnunchin acknowledges surging unemployment numbers and declining GDP as 1 in 3 Americans remain under government orders to stay at home to slow the coronavirus that has killed over 2,000 Americans. But he says President Donald Trump’s top objective is the health of the American public. Mnuchin tells “Fox News Sunday” and CBS’ “Face the Nation” that his own top focus is getting stimulus money from the just-passed $2.2 trillion aid package from Congress immediately into the hands of workers and businesses.
He said American workers will get direct deposits of money in three weeks, while a federal program aimed at helping half the workforce by encouraging small business to take out loans to hire back their workers for eight weeks will be up and running by Friday. He said the stimulus package should help keep the economy and workers afloat for 10 weeks, and if more time is needed to stem the coronavirus, the administration will assess what else is needed at that time. -Full Report
Dr. Deborah Birx issues coronavirus warning: 'We don't think any city will be spared'
Illinois reports first infant death of COVID-19
