White House nixed plan to mail 650 million face masks through USPS in April, report says
The United States Postal Service had planned to distribute 650 million face coverings for the Trump administration in April to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to newly obtained internal documents reviewed by CNN.
But those plans were scrapped by the White House because it didn’t want to spark “concern or panic” among Americans, senior administration officials told The Washington Post.
“There was concern from some in the White House Domestic Policy Council and the office of the vice president that households receiving masks might create concern or panic,” one administration official told the Post.
The documents obtained by the transparency group American Oversight show the Postal Service was doing this in partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Department of Health and Human Services and “a consortium of textile manufacturers.” Read the full story here:
Here’s an update on all developments. Scroll or swipe further for in-depth coverage.
- Fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions in England appear to be on the cards soon as the British government targeted more areas Friday in an attempt to suppress a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections.
- Israel went back into a full lockdown on Friday to try to contain a coronavirus outbreak that has steadily worsened for months as its government has been plagued by indecision and infighting.
- India’s coronavirus cases jumped by another 96,424 in the past 24 hours, showing little sign of leveling.
- The House voted Thursday to condemn racism against Asian Americans tied to the coronavirus outbreak, approving a Democratic resolution on a mostly party-line vote.
- The Trump administration is claiming “resounding vindication” from an independent commission’s report on the coronavirus crisis in nursing homes, but some panel members say that’s a misinterpretation of their conclusion that much remains to be done to safeguard vulnerable residents.
- In a video released Thursday by the group Republican Voters Against Trump, a former Pence adviser says working for Trump was “terrifying” and says he was more concerned about his reelection chances than about protecting the nation from the virus.
- Van Morrison, whose decades as a musician produced classic hits such as “Brown Eyed Girl.” “Gloria” and “Moondance,” revealed Friday that he is releasing three protest songs that call for the restrictions on routine activities to be lifted.
For more summaries and full reports, please select from the articles below. Scroll further for the latest virus numbers.
—
