7. Missouri is suing China
- Missouri has filed a lawsuit against China seeking damages for “the enormous loss of life, human suffering, and economic turmoil” caused by the coronavirus that originated in China and was initially mishandled.
- Missouri is the first state to take this kind of action against China, but 22 Republican legislators have requested that President Donald Trump’s administration bring a lawsuit against China for how they mishandled the pandemic.
6. Let elective procedures restart?
- U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) gave his recommendation to Governor Kay Ivey about how the state should reopen the economy, and one thing he’s urged is to allow elective medical procedures to resume so practices can stay open.
- Aderholt said that “the current restrictions have drastically reduced their income” and they are also treating a low number of coronavirus patients. He added his district overall feels they can’t reopen everything immediately but also can’t stay closed indefinitely.
5. Even if Alabama reopens, schools won’t
- Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said that they have no plan to reopen schools this spring, but instead they’re focusing on summer and fall, even though there is discussion about the state trying to reopen at the beginning of May.
- Mackey said that one of the things they’re trying to prepare for is “learning loss” since students usually experience some learning loss over summer. But when they go back in the fall, they’ll have been out of the classroom since mid-March, even though students are going to school online for now.
4. Trump will suspend immigration for 60 days, kinda
- The details about President Donald Trump’s decision to ban some immigration into the country are becoming clear with the order lasting for at least 60 days. It affects only those attempting to move to the United States permanently and could be extended as Trump sees fit, sending the media and their Democrats into fits.
- Trump said, “By pausing immigration we’ll help put Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens, it would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced by new immigrant labor flown in from abroad.” Temporary workers will still be able to enter the country and work.
3. The Senate has passed another stimulus package
- “Phase 3.5” coronavirus stimulus package for $500 billion, which will help fund hospitals and provide more money for the Payment Protection Program has passed the U.S. Senate.
- Some Senators voiced displeasure with the way the legislation was approved through a “yay” or “nay” vote, with U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) saying, “We should not be passing legislation … without Congress actually being in session.” U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) added we need to stop “printing bailout cash” and the United States should handle “this disease without the draconian lockdown of the economy.”
2. Alabama is 20th in unemployment claims
- With more than 275,000 unemployment claims made in Alabama since the start of coronavirus related shutdowns, SmartAsset has ranked Alabama 20th in the nation for unemployment claims.
- From mid-March to mid-April, more than 22 million people filed for unemployment in the United States. According to the study done by SmartAsset, Alabama has 12.91% of its workforce unemployed.
1. Ivey won’t be ending the stay-at-home order early
- At a press conference, Governor Kay Ivey discusses reopening Alabama, and while she’s been urged by many to immediately start opening things up, she’s said that the stay-at-home order will stay in place until the end of the month.
- Ivey said that we “need to do a whole lot more testing to get up to speed.” Dr. Scott Harris said that “widespread” testing isn’t available for any state, but data on cases will be what helps create the timeline for opening the state.
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