Nightly Rundown: Reopen rallies; ‘Testing, testing, testing’; U.S. deaths top 40,000; Small biz rescue round 2; Shake Shack gives back $10 million

The Nightly News - with Lester Holt - Nightly News: 4.20.20

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts | View in browser By Dan Donahue, NBC Nightly News Good Monday afternoon. Here's what's in our Nightly Rundown tonight. U.S. death toll tops 40,000 as battle over reopening rages Coronavirus deaths in the U.S. have now soared to more than 40,000 with over 750,000 cases, as protests over reopening the country grow. Here are the latest updates: Facebook has unveiled a county-by-county map showing how many people are reporting coronavirus symptoms. New York, the hardest-hit state, is showing more signs that it is past the apex. The state reported 478 deaths in the last 24 hours, the first time the daily death toll has dropped below 500 since April 2. Total hospitalizations also continue to fall in New York. At least 18,776 people have died in the state during the pandemic. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has canceled all public events through June — all concerts, festivals and parades, including the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Pride March and the Salute to Israel Parade. The U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada will remain closed to non-essential travel for 30 more days, the Department of Homeland Security announced today. The federal government will now require nursing homes to report coronavirus cases to residents and families. Nursing homes have been devastated by the pandemic, but until now, facilities in many states were not required to report their coronavirus numbers. De Blasio cancels NYC Pride March, non-essential June events: 'We will find the right way to do it' New protests erupt over stay-at-home orders Protesters gathered at Pennsylvania's state capitol building in Harrisburg today, calling for an end to the state's stay-at-home order. Crowds stood on the capitol steps waving flags and signs, while others stayed in their cars, driving around and honking their horns. Today's protests followed similar demonstrations over the weekend from coast to coast. Miguel Almaguer is reporting tonight on the frustration over stay-at-home orders boiling over. President Trump on Sunday voiced his support for the protesters, saying that “some governors have gone too far” with their lockdowns. Trump's encouragement of these demonstrations is "dangerous," said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, in an interview on Sunday. Inslee accused Trump of "hobbling our national efforts to protect people from this terrible virus." Some within the president's own party say his support for these demonstrations undermines the three-phase plan he announced last week to reopen the country. "The president's policy says you can't start to reopen under his plan until you have declining numbers for 14 days," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said to CNN. "So then to go encourage people to go protest the plan you just made recommendations on Thursday — it just doesn't make any sense," Hogan added. Some states have begun easing their restrictions. Texas is reopening state parks for day use beginning today. South Carolina is set to announce this afternoon the reopening of retail stores and public beaches this afternoon, according to reports. A number of Florida beaches were packed over the weekend after they were allowed to reopen on Friday. Before the nation can safely reopen, experts have said the amount of testing would have to double or triple from current levels. Video shows nurse facing down Colorado protester against stay-at-home order Trump: States "should be doing the Testing" Amid criticism that the federal government has not done enough to ramp up testing, President Trump doubled down today on his view that the responsibility lies with individual states. "Last month all you heard from the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats was, 'Ventilators, Ventilators, Ventilators,'" Trump tweeted. "Now they scream 'Testing, Testing, Testing,' again playing a very dangerous political game. States, not the Federal Government, should be doing the Testing - But we will work with the Governors and get it done," Trump added. The president's tweets today echoed comments he made during Sunday's White House coronavirus task force briefing. "The governors wanted to have total control over the opening of their states, but now they want to have us, the federal government, do the testing," Trump said. "You can't have it both ways. Testing is a local thing. And it's very important. It's great. But it's a local thing." Trump also said on Saturday that America's testing capacity is "fully sufficient to begin opening up the country totally." Governors on both sides of the aisle, however, say they are facing shortages of test kits, and have called on the federal government to lead a more coordinated testing strategy. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today "the president is right" that testing is up to the state, but that he would "like the federal government to help" on supply issues. Beginning today, Cuomo said the state is rolling out "the largest antibody testing ever done" to estimate how many New Yorkers have already had the coronavirus and may be immune. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, told CNN it's "delusional" for the administration to say that states have enough testing capacity. Northam's comments were echoed by Maryland's Republican Gov. Hogan. "It's not accurate to say there's plenty of testing out there and the governors should just get it done," Hogan told CNN. "That's just not being straightforward." Hogan announced today that Maryland had acquired 500,000 COVID-19 tests from South Korea after weeks of discussions. Vice President Mike Pence led a videoconference call with governors today at FEMA headquarters. "When it comes to testing, we're here to help," Pence told them, according to the Associated Press. Pence has said that 150,000 coronavirus tests are conducted every day in the U.S., and expects more than 5 million to be completed by the end of April. Vicky Nguyen is reporting on the battle over testing tonight. Congress, White House near deal to replenish small business rescue fund Congressional leaders and the White House are said to be close to an agreement that would add another $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program. The initial $350 billion in funding for the program ran out last Thursday, just two weeks after it was launched. The program provides forgivable loans to small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic, in order for them to continue paying employees. Yet there is controversy over how the money has been distributed, with chain restaurants like Ruth's Chris Steak House receiving $20 million, and Potbelly getting $10 million. Neither company has responded to requests for comment, CNBC reported. Facing the backlash, Shake Shack announced today it is returning the $10 million loan it had received "so that those restaurants who need it most can get it now." A lawsuit filed over the weekend accuses Wells Fargo of prioritizing applications for higher amounts, instead of a first-come, first serve basis, USA Today reported. Wells Fargo has not commented on the suit. The crisis is taking a toll on bigger businesses too. As malls remain closed around the country, department store chain Neiman Marcus is preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to reports. Jo Ling Kent is reporting on the economic fallout tonight. Lawmakers work on deal for more small business coronavirus relief funds Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. FOLLOW US Download the NBC News Mobile App This email was sent to: stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com. This is an automated email. Do not reply directly. 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 Privacy | Unsubcription | NBC Newsletters | Contact