Coronavirus pandemic update, USA

This 28 March 2020 video from the USA says about itself:

A California teen who was showing symptoms of COVID-19 died after being denied care because he didn’t have health insurance — here’s what we know.

In US news and current events today, a teen with COVID-19 symptoms died after being denied care because he didn’t have health insurance, Lancaster, California, Mayor R. Rex Parris announced. The name of the clinic that refused to treat the teen hasn’t been released. The teen boy and his father both tested positive for COVID-19. His initial cause of death was septic shock tied to COVID-19 complications. The CDC is re-examining the case to be sure of his cause of death. Roughly 27.5 million Americans don’t have health insurance.

TRUMP QUESTIONS USE OF PPE SUPPLIES Trump has repeatedly questioned the distribution of medical supplies, even suggesting without evidence that some hospitals may be misusing protective equipment and masks as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge. “How do you go from using 10,000 to 20,000 [masks] to 300,000?” Trump asked during a press briefing on Sunday. “Where are they going — are they going out the back door?” The comments came as more than 139,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19. [HuffPost]

ILLINOIS TAKING CHARGE OF COVID-19 TESTING Frustrated Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced his state is taking charge of coronavirus tests in the wake of the Trump administration’s “profound failing” to deliver promised supplies. As of Sunday evening, the state had 4,600 cases of COVID-19 and 65 deaths, including what’s believed to be the world’s first loss of an infant to the pandemic. [HuffPost]

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY GETS HOLY HELL AS STUDENTS FALL SICK Jerry Falwell Jr., a Trump-supporting coronavirus conspiracy theorist, last week partially reopened his Liberty University ― an evangelical Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia ― despite the spread of COVID-19. Now, nearly a dozen students reportedly have symptoms that could suggest infection ― and Falwell is facing the wrath of both parents and critics. One parent slammed the decision to reopen as “crazy, irresponsible and seems like a money grab.” [HuffPost]

U.S. MILITARY HASN’T FACED THREAT LIKE THIS FOR A CENTURY U.S. troops and their families stationed across the country are growing anxious and angry over what they say is their commanders’ lackadaisical response to the coronavirus pandemic. Commanders are still requiring their subordinates to stand in close proximity, and to do training that involves activities like “body drags” and “fireman carries”, which require grabbing and touching other perspiring Marines. [HuffPost]

TINY EAST COAST ISLAND BEGS OUTSIDERS TO STAY AWAY About 10 miles off the coast of mainland Rhode Island lies the tiny porkchop-shaped jewel of Block Island. The island’s only township, New Shoreham, relies almost entirely on summer tourism to fuel its economy. But this year, as the novel coronavirus spreads across the United States, many of the town’s roughly 1,000 year-rounders are pleading with outsiders to stay away until the dust settles. [HuffPost]

Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications at age 61.

USA: Coronavirus-related deaths on the rise among the Jewish poor: here.