Coronavirus live updates: Court ruling jeopardizes Michigan restrictions; Trump tests positive for COVID-19, arrives at hospital

Joshua Bote, Jessica Flores, Grace Hauck and Joel Shannon, USA TODAY
·16 min read

President Donald Trump arrived at the hospital Friday after he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19, following the announcement that his top adviser, Hope Hicks, tested positive.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen tested negative for the virus Friday morning, as did Ivanka Trump, senior adviser Jared Kushner and Barron Trump. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife Jill tested negative, hours later.

But eight other people have also tested positive for COVID-19, including Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, three White House reporters, one White House staffer and the Rev. John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame University who was at the White House Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Supreme Court put months of restrictions in jeopardy by throwing out a law used repeatedly by Gov. Gretcher Whitmer. For nearly seven months, Whitmer, a Democrat, has imposed varying degrees of restrictions on Michigan’s economy, K-12 school system, health care and even visits to state parks, drawing the ire of local and national conservative figures.

Some significant developments:

  • Pfizer's CEO cried out against "political pressure" in the development of their COVID-19 vaccine, invoking Trump's repeated assertions that a vaccine would be approved prior to Election Day.

  • The president received a single 8 gram dose of Regeneron's polyclonal antibody cocktail as a precautionary measure, according to a memo from White House physician Dr. Sean Conley.

  • Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told "Good Morning America" that during debate preparation for President Trump, none of the people present wore masks.

  • About 20,000 Amazon workers tested positive for COVID-19, the company announced.

  • House Democrats passed a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus relief bill that is unlikely to pass the Senate.

  • The state of Tennessee mistakenly began auctioning off "surplus" coronavirus testing materials.

  • U.S. employers added a disappointing 661,000 jobs last month in the final jobs report before the Nov. 3 election.

  • At least one Tennessee Titans player returned a positive COVID-19 test Friday, bringing the team's total positive tests to 13.

📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 7.3 million cases and 208,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. New case records were set in Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Alaska, North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota. Globally, there have been more than 34.4 million cases and 1 million deaths.

📰 What we're reading: Remote school isn't just a mental drain on parents; it's a financial one, too. For some, it's costing almost $800 on average to have their children learn remotely. Here's what you can do.

🗺️ Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state.

This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.

Court ruling jeopardizes Michigan restrictions

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not have the authority under state law to issue any additional emergency declarations pertaining to the pandemic after April 30. That throws the authority of a wide range of ongoing and controversial orders into question.

The governor relied on her interpretation of the law to broadly mandate business closures, mask requirements, sports restrictions and more. While many of those restrictions have been lifted, many more remain. Several parties, including Republican leaders of the majority-GOP state Legislature, argued the governor overstepped her powers after the legislature refused to extend a state of emergency.

In response to the ruling, Whitmer said her emergency declaration and related orders still can remain in place for 21 days, and then many of them will continue “under alternative sources" of law.

The fight over Whitmer's authority to issue orders, including those requiring Michiganders to wear masks and stay at home as much as possible at the height of the outbreak in spring, led to protests in Lansing.

— Dave Boucher and Todd Spangler

Trump speaks to nation in video as he heads to hospital

In an 18-second video posted to Twitter Friday evening, Trump addressed the nation and said he was "doing very well."

"I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support. I'm going to Walter Reed Hospital. I think I'm doing very well, but we're going to make sure that things work out. The first lady is doing very well," he said. "I appreciate it. I will never forget it. Thank you."

Trump boarded Marine One, the presidential helicopter, en route to Walter Reed, which is about 9 miles away from the White House. Wearing a mask, he gave reporters the thumbs up as he walked across the lawn but did not stop to take questions.

Trump goes to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Trump, 74, was going to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in what aides said was a precautionary move. Officials said they expected him to be there for a few days.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president "remains in good spirits, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day."

"Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the President will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days. President Trump appreciates the outpouring of support for both he and the First Lady," she added.

– Courtney Subramanian and David Jackson

Trump receives antibody cocktail

The president received a single 8-gram dose of Regeneron's polyclonal antibody cocktail as a precautionary measure, according to a memo from White House physician Dr. Sean Conley. The antibody cocktail is being studied in four late-stage clinical trials and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority, the company said on its page.

The president also has been taking zinc, vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and a daily aspirin, Conley said.

"As of this afternoon, the President remains fatigued but in good spirits," Conley said, according to the memo.

Conley said the first lady was experiencing only a "mild cough and headache." He added that other members of the president's family are well and tested negative for COVID-19.

– Courtney Subramanian and David Jackson

Pfizer CEO calls out 'political pressure' for early vaccine

Pfizer’s chief executive called against “political pressure” in a letter published Friday.

Albert Bourla, the pharmaceutical company’s chairman and CEO expressed concern against the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine being spoken about in “political terms rather than scientific facts” at Tuesday’s presidential debate, invoking the friction-filled debate between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden.

Bourla said that the company is approaching its goal of having vaccine data prior to the election “despite not having any political considerations.”

"In this hyper-partisan year, there are some who would like us to move more quickly and others who argue for delay," Bourla wrote. "Neither of those options are acceptable to me."

Notre Dame president — who was at Barrett nomination — tests positive

University of Notre Dame President the Rev. John Jenkins, who was at the announcement of Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, also tested positive, the university reported.

The diagnosis comes after he was criticized for not wearing a mask, not social distancing and shaking hands at the announcement.

He will be quarantining and working from home, according to the announcement.

– Elinor Aspegren

Biden tests negative for COVID-19

Former Vice President Joe Biden has tested negative for coronavirus, according to his personal doctor, as the Democratic nominee sought to continue campaigning during the month before the Nov. 3 election.

Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the primary care physician, said Biden and his wife Jill were each tested and "COVID-19 was not detected."

"Thank you to everyone for your messages of concern," Biden said in a tweet. "I hope this serves as a reminder: wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands."

– Bart Jansen

HHS Sec. Azar: Trump is 'a different situation than the rest of us'

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Friday during a House subcommittee hearing that President Donald Trump and his family are in a “different situation” in regard to mask-wearing and other coronavirus safety measures.

“The first family and the protective aspect around the president is a different situation than the rest of us because of the protocols around the first family,” Azar said, responding to a question from Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-NY, about the Trump family not wearing masks during the presidential debate Tuesday.

The secretary’s testimony before Congress, the first since February when the U.S. had fewer than 20 cases, comes after the President announced in a tweet early Friday he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19.

– Adrianna Rodriguez

What will COVID look like for Trump?

White House officials told USA TODAY Trump is "feeling mild symptoms," but would not elaborate further.

Trump was presumably exposed by his aide, Hope Hicks. It was announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was symptomatic on Thursday. She appears to have been diagnosed on Wednesday evening when she flew with the President to Minnesota.

In addition, the President rarely wears a mask in public appearances. "That may put him at higher risk of being exposed to a higher viral inoculum," said Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at the University of California.

Additionally, because of his age and weight, Trump is in two very high-risk groups for developing severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization and death.

– Elizabeth Weise

Questions about Trump and COVID-19, answered: When did he test positive? Does he have symptoms?

661,000 jobs added last month, unemployment fell to 7.9%

U.S. employers added a disappointing 661,000 jobs in September as Sunbelt states resumed business reopenings that were disrupted by COVID-19 spikes over the summer. The unemployment rate fell to 7.9% from 8.4% in August, the Labor Department said Friday. But that's because the labor force — which includes people working and looking for jobs — shrank by about 700,000.

The jobs report is the last before a Nov. 3 presidential election that could serve as a referendum on President Trump’s handling of the pandemic and its economic fallout. Overall, the economy is still recouping jobs in outsize fashion after shedding a record 22.1 million in early spring but the recovery is slowing.

– Paul Davidson

Vice President Pence, wife Karen test negative for COVID-19

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning, his office announced hours after the president tested positive.

Pence, 61, is head of the administration's coronavirus task force.

"As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day," spokesman Devin O'Malley tweeted. "This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery."

Katie Miller, Pence’s communications director, had COVID-19 in May.

– Maureen Groppe

Report: At least 11 Secret Service workers had COVID in August

At least 11 Secret Service personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in August, spurring an outbreak in the Secret Service's Maryland training facilities.

Even though the Secret Service’s training facilities had effectively shut down earlier this year in response to the pandemic, a report by the New York Times found that workers may have contracted the virus during trainings and from a party at a nearby hotel.

"Any U.S. Secret Service employee who may have tested positive would have been immediately isolated and returned home and out of the working environment," a spokeswoman told the Times.

There is no evidence that the President’s security detail was infected.

Texas Gov. orders shutdown of multiple ballot drop-off sites

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered many Texas counties to close multiple locations where voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots. Counties will be limited to one drop-off site where poll watchers — designated by political parties and candidates — must be allowed to observe ballot deliveries by voters. The order takes effect Friday.

“As we work to preserve Texans’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state," he said.

Democrats blasted Thursday’s change as a thinly veiled effort to suppress votes in a tight election. “Republicans are on the verge of losing, so Gov. Abbott is trying to adjust the rules last minute,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.

– Chuck Lindell and Nicole Cobler, Austin American-Statesman

Trump, Melania test positive for coronavirus

President Donald Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus, a stunning development that came hours after he confirmed one of his longest-serving aides with whom he had recently traveled, Hope Hicks, also received a positive test result.

The revelation has implications for the president's health, the administration's response to the pandemic and also the Nov. 3 election, during which Trump has leaned on states to reopen and has claimed that the nation is "turning the corner" on the virus.

The president has often claimed the U.S. has the pandemic "under control," but his own positive test result – assuming it is accurate – is certain to raise questions about the reopening of schools and businesses when the virus could not be contained within the White House, arguably the most secure facility in the world.

– John Fritze

  • President Trump joins a small group of presidents, prime ministers and supreme leaders who have been tested or may be at risk for infection.

  • Stocks dropped sharply Friday, likely due to concern surrounding the news. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 400 points; the S&P 500 sank 1.4%.

  • The news was met with sympathy — and a hint of schadenfreude — from international leaders.

By the numbers: Six states set records on new cases in a week

A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Thursday shows six states set records for new cases in a week while four states had a record number of deaths in a week. New case records were set in Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Alaska, North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota. The United States has reported 7,277,759 cases and 207,789 deaths.

– Mike Stucka

Amazon: Nearly 20,000 workers have tested positive for COVID-19

Amazon said Thursday nearly 20,000 of its workers have tested positive or presumed to test positive for COVID-19. But the online retailer, revealing the data for the first time, said that the infection rate of its employees was well below that seen in the general U.S. population.

Amazon said in a corporate blog that it examined data from March 1 to Sept. 19 on 1.37 million workers at Amazon and Whole Foods Market across the U.S. It said it compared the COVID-19 case rates to the general population, as reported by Johns Hopkins University for the same period.

Based on that analysis, if the rate among Amazon and Whole Foods employees were the same as that for the general population, it estimated it would have seen 33,952 cases among its workforce. That is 42% higher that Amazon’s actual rate.

House passes COVID-19 stimulus bill as negotiations stall out

The House of Representatives voted to pass a revised COVID-19 relief bill Thursday evening as negotiations remained stalled with the White House and a deal between Democrats and Republicans on urgently needed aid remained out of reach.

The proposal, a pared-down version of the Heroes Act passed by House Democrats in May, passed on a 214-207 vote. All Republicans voted against it, along with 18 Democrats. The Republican-controlled Senate likely will not act on the bill.

House Democrats unveiled their $2.2 trillion proposal on Monday, though House Republicans panned the bill as a “socialist wish list,” and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters it would be “outlandish” to think Senate Republicans would support a relief bill over $2 trillion.

– Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes

Tennessee mistakenly put coronavirus testing supplies up for auction

The state of Tennessee this week began auctioning off "surplus" coronavirus testing materials, listing 13 pallets of test swabs and other supplies on GovDeals.com, a government liquidation website.

But soon after being asked about the auction by The Tennessean on Thursday, state officials said the supplies were put up for sale in error and promptly removed the auction listing. The auction had received one bid for $150.

Dean Flener, spokesman for the state's COVID-19 Unified Command Team, said the auction was the "the result of an internal processing mistake."

"The State of Tennessee’s warehouse has separate sections for storage and for surplus material to be sold," Flener said in an email. "During an internal movement of items, these pallets were identified as surplus when they should have remained in storage."

– Brett Kelman and Natalie Allison, Nashville Tennessean

Is 'SNL' following New York's COVID-19 rules?

"Saturday Night Live" is famously broadcast each week from New York, home to some of the country's most restrictive COVID-19 precautions meant to discourage crowds and limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

So how exactly will the venerable show be allowed to have a live audience when "SNL" returns home to Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center this Saturday?

By making the audience members part of the cast or crew, according to current state rules. Barring a change in policy prior to the "SNL" Oct. 3 season premiere, an audience of cast, crew and employees is the only way the state would allow the longstanding sketch comedy institution to have a live audience at all.

– Jon Campbell, New York State Team

COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID news: Michigan Supreme Court ruling; Trump, Melania positive

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