Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest on COVID-19. Also on the show, we talk to listeners about how they celebrated Easter; review the latest political headlines with our weekly roundtable; and more.
LA County Posts Largest Single Day COVID-19 Death Toll Over Easter Weekend As Stay At Home Orders Extend To Mid-May
Californians who celebrate Easter did so via video conference (or in some cases drive-up services) this weekend as social distancing guidelines continue to prevent large gatherings, even for religious observances.
On Sunday, L.A. County reported 323 new cases of COVID-19 and 31 new deaths, marking another rise in the mortality rate, which is now just over 3%, and the biggest one day total since the start of the outbreak. There have been at least 9,192 total confirmed cases here. Local authorities on Friday expanded stay home orders until May 15, saying they believe physical distancing has been working. And on Saturday, the United States passed Italy for the most confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the world. The U.S. is among a number of countries experiencing large-scale epidemics. Italy, Spain, Germany, and now France are all reporting more confirmed cases than China, where the outbreak began late last year, but whose reported numbers have since greatly slowed. In New York, the death toll from coronavirus topped 10,000, with hospitals still seeing 2,000 new patients a day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. The state tallied 671 new deaths on Sunday. It was the first time in a week daily toll dipped below 700. Still, the governor noted people are still dying at a “horrific level of pain and grief and sorrow.”
Meanwhile, The Supreme Court said Monday it will hold arguments by teleconference in May in key cases, including President Donald Trump's bid to shield his tax and other financial records. The court will make live audio of the arguments available for the first time. It had previously postponed courtroom arguments for March and April because of the coronavirus.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll update the latest spread numbers locally, statewide and nationally from over Easter weekend, talk with our expert epidemiologist about what the U.S. might learn from the good and bad of China’s response to the outbreak and as always take your COVID-19 question at 866-893-5722.
Visit LAist for updated spread numbers, an interactive map, helpful links and more to keep you informed during the pandemic.
With files from LAist and the Associated Press
Guest:
Zuo-Feng Zhang, M.D., associate dean for research and professor of epidemiology at UCLA; he has also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization for national noncommunicable disease prevention and controls in China
AirTalk Bonus: Grover And Oscar The Grouch Want You To Stay At Home
On AirTalk today, two of Sesame Street’s favorite characters want to remind everyone the importance of keeping physical distancing.
Just like you and me, our friends on Sesame Street are also stuck inside. But they still made the time to record this PSA for KPCC. We're premiering an exclusive PSA sung by Oscar the Grouch and Grover. They want to make sure you're staying safe, keeping your distance and washing your hands; reminding us that we're all in this together.
Eggs Hunts At Home, Congregations Over Zoom: How Did You Celebrate Easter?
Though most Churches were closed and gatherings forbidden this weekend, many still found ways to celebrate Easter, whether through virtual services like Zoom or just within their smaller circles.
If you celebrated Easter, we want to hear from you. How did your Church approach celebrating Easter in the time of COVID-19? If you’re a pastor, how did you deal with limitations? What was your experience like? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Update On LAUSD School Closures. Where Do We Go From Here?
Today on AirTalk, we receive an update from Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner about school closures.
Virtual instruction and online schooling continues for the rest of the academic year and the summer sessions. Graduations will be held online as well.
Are you an LAUSD student or parent? We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts about what this could mean for you? And how have you been dealing with the situation up to this point? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Social Distancing Etiquette: Mask Shaming, Fact-Checking And Talking To Strangers
Traditional social etiquette has drastically changed since the coronavirus. Grocery stores, busses and other public places where crowds of people usually squeeze close together are now requiring people to spread out and allow for distance between others. Masks and face covers are becoming more prominent. Not everyone is one the same page though, and it’s not easy to know how to communicate with others, especially strangers.
As a recent L.A. Times piece states, this is all new territory. Plus there’s tons of misinformation out there. You may want to criticize someone for their behavior, but experts say it’s important to be cognizant of how you’re expressing yourself to others. Everyone is on edge, and ultimately we’re all in the same boat. We want to know how you’re handling social etiquette amid the coronavirus pandemic. Have you had experiences where you’ve had to tell a stranger to give you some space? Have you been shamed for not wearing a mask? How have you navigated these new conversations and situations? We want to hear from you today during the program. Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Week In Politics: When Will The Economy Restart, Stimulus Bills And Sanders Endorses Biden
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. Here are the headlines that we’re following this week:
The President says he wants the economy to re-start at the end of the month. Is that feasible?
He’s put the responsibility of much of COVID response to governors
A group of governors and medical experts are developing their own national blueprint
Trump retweeted a call to #FireFauci, after the infectious disease expert said in an interview that faster COVID-19 response from the government would have saved lives
Pelosi pushing for phase four stimulus bill
A conservative and a democratic senator both urging plans for federal government to cover workers salaries - will the GOP go for such a plan?
Are Trump’s daily COVID-19 briefings helping or hurting him?
Trump told reporters that wearing a face mask wasn’t for him
According recent poll from CNN, 55 percent of surveyed Americans think the federal government is doing a “poor” job dealing with the spread of COVID-19
Trump has nixed two inspector generals. How is Congress approaching his shirking of oversight?
With Sanders
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders endorses former Democratic rival Joe Biden for president.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 13, 2020
Follow our complete #Election2020 coverage. https://t.co/1gsY8tdEw1Biden, what's next?
Last week, Biden proposed policies on medicare and student debt. Will he be able to capture Sanders supporters?
Difficult choices facing SCOTUS amid the pandemic - will they leave cases in limbo?
Wisconsin’s election last Tuesday - what lessons are there for November?
President Trump claimed that an all vote-by-mail system would favor Democrats. Is there any evidence for that
Guests:
Amanda L. Hollis-Brusky, associate professor of politics at Pomona College; American politics editor at the Monkeycage, a political science blog at the Washington Post; she is the author “Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution” (2015, Oxford University Press); she tweets
Rob Stutzman, Republican political consultant and president of Stutzman Public Affairs; former deputy chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; he tweets