April 7 coronavirus news

By Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes, Amy Woodyatt, Jessie Yeung, Helen Regan and Adam Renton, CNN

Updated 9:24 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020
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2:17 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

More than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in France

From CNN's Pierre Bairin and Benjamin Berteau in Paris

A nurse and a doctor tend to an intubated and sedated patient with COVID-19 at the intensive care unit of the Peupliers private hospital in Paris, on Tuesday, April 7.
A nurse and a doctor tend to an intubated and sedated patient with COVID-19 at the intensive care unit of the Peupliers private hospital in Paris, on Tuesday, April 7. Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

France’s total death toll due to coronavirus has surpassed 10,000 and it has recorded the largest daily increase in deaths — a total of 1,417 — according to France’s Health Ministry data published today.

The total number of dead now stands at 10,328, including 7,091 people in hospitals and 3,237 in nursing homes. 

Jerome Salomon, director of the public health authority, said that France has not reached the peak of the epidemic yet. 

“We are not yet at the peak of the epidemic because every night there are a little more patients in the hospital and every night there are a little more patients to be treated in intensive care. We have reached a level never before seen in France. We are still only in the ascending phase of the epidemic, even if it is slowing down a little.”
2:09 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

How to help local service workers during the pandemic

From CNN's Mayra Cuevas, Chris Dawson, Jennifer Grubb and AJ Willingham

The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship.

Here's how to help service workers in your community during the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Consider paying ahead for services: Some services, like home cleaning, can be purchased ahead of time and then scheduled later. If you know you’ll use it, go ahead and purchase it.
  • Send a little tip to your hair stylist or nail technician: If you know them, you probably have their Venmo or other payment information.
  • Over-tip delivery drivers or other service professionals still on the job: They are likely facing serious pressures and personal risk and could use your appreciation.
  • Pre-book your next service appointment: Eventually, you’re going to have to get your hair done or your pet groomed. Make an appointment now so the businesses know you’re still with them.

CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. You can read the full list here.

2:00 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

Trump's trade adviser warned the White House in January coronavirus could become "full-blown pandemic"

From CNN's Jeremy Diamond and Jim Acosta

 Peter Navarro, Director of the National Trade Council speaks during a press briefing at the White House on March 22.
Peter Navarro, Director of the National Trade Council speaks during a press briefing at the White House on March 22. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/FILE

President Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro fired off an internal flare at the White House in late January, warning in a memo that the coronavirus could become a "full-blown pandemic," risking trillions of dollars in economic losses and the health of millions, a source familiar with the memo confirmed to CNN.

In the first memo, Navarro pushed for a travel ban on China — something he and other officials had begun lobbying for weeks earlier — and "aggressive" containment efforts.

Less than a month later, as Trump continued to downplay the threat, Navarro warned that the risk of a pandemic was rising and urged the White House's coronavirus task force to secure billions in supplemental spending, according to two sources familiar with the second memo.

The sources confirmed the authenticity of both memos, which were first reported by the New York Times and Axios.

In the first memo, Navarro warned of a worst case scenario in which a half-million Americans could die. In the second, he warned the risk was growing to imperil the loss of 1.2 million lives.

Some context: The memos are the latest piece of evidence that undercuts Trump's insistence at the time that the administration had the situation under control and his more recent claims that the pandemic the US now faces was "unforeseen."

1:57 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's condition is stable, and he is still in intensive care, a Downing Street spokesperson said Tuesday.

“He is in good spirits,” the spokesman added.

Johnson was taken to hospital on Sunday night. At the time, Downing Street said the decision was a precaution because he continued to suffer from a cough and a fever ten days after testing positive for the coronavirus.

But his condition deteriorated yesterday, Downing Street said, and he was moved to the intensive care unit at St. Thomas' Hospital.

Johnson tested positive for Covid-19 nearly two weeks ago. 

1:28 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

There are now at least 378,289 coronavirus cases in the US

There are at least 378,289 cases of coronavirus in the US and more than 11,000 people have died, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

1:26 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

New Jersey experiences highest number of coronavirus deaths in one day, governor says

Pool
Pool

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that the state experienced its highest coronavirus related death toll in one day so far, saying in part, “New Jersey has seen 232 deaths to Covid-19 related complications bringing the number of total deaths statewide to 1,232.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Murphy said the state had 3,361 positive test results which brings the statewide total of positive coronavirus cases to 44,416.

1:36 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

Coronavirus hits black communities harder than others

From CNN's Elise Hammond

FDNY paramedics bring a patient to Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn on April 5, in New York.
FDNY paramedics bring a patient to Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn on April 5, in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

Numbers show a disproportionate number of black Americans are dying due to the coronavirus, doctors and officials say.

Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, a family physician and epidemiologist, said structural segregation and inequality in US society has positioned black Americans and other minorities to be more exposed to the virus, and have more severe cases because of other health issues.

"The residential segregation that turns it into employment segregation, educational segregation, environmental hazard segregation, all of those insults on our bodies have given us more of these so-called pre-existing conditions," Phyllis Jones said. "Once we are infected, we have more severe outcome from the disease."

She said this same segregation also means that black people work jobs that are seen as less valuable, and as a result, they are not as protected. Phyllis Jones pointed out another reason cases are resulting in death could be the limited access to health care."What's happening is black folks are getting infected more because they are exposed more and once infected they're dying more," she said.

Here's a look at some of the numbers: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a press briefing yesterday about 70% of coronavirus deaths in the state have been black residents who make up only about 32% of the overall population.

In Illinois, about 42% of deaths have been black patients, who make up only about 15% of the population there. In Michigan, black residents make up about 14% of the statewide population, and account for more than 40% of the deaths

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said yesterday that 72% of all Chicago deaths related to Covid-19 have been black Chicagoans.  

WATCH:

1:01 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

US Treasury Secretary is talking to Congress about more money for small businesses

From CNN's Manu Raju

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been in touch with the top four congressional leaders — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — about passing additional funding for the emergency small business loan program, a source with knowledge tells CNN. 

12:57 p.m. ET, April 7, 2020

New Jersey city councilman dies from coronavirus

From CNN’s Anna Sturla

 Michael Yun speaks during a news conference on December 3, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Michael Yun speaks during a news conference on December 3, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Julio Cortez/AP

Jersey City councilman Michael Yun has died from complications from coronavirus, according to his chief of staff Vernon Richardson.

Yun first elected to the City Council in 2013. He received more than 30 community service awards and citations over the past three decades, according to his bio on the City of Jersey City website.