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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has released new guidelines aimed at answering criticism that America’s coronavirus testing has been too slow, and President Donald Trump is trying to pivot toward a focus on “reopening” the nation. The new testing targets would ensure states had enough COVID-19 tests available to sample at least 2.6% of their populations each month — a figure already met by a majority of states. Areas that have been harder hit by the virus would be able to test at double that rate, or higher. Still, there are doubts from public health experts that the White House’s new testing targets are sufficient.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As Brazil's president firmly resists societal restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus, his country is edging toward becoming the next big hot spot. President Jair Bolsonaro insists COVID-19 is just “a little flu” and is opposed to restrictions adopted by most of the country's governors, who are urging people to stay home. Brazil is Latin America's biggest country, with 211 million people. Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and at least four other major cities have warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or too overwhelmed to take any more patients.
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is backing off a planned May 4 restart at its North American factories because it could conflict with stay-home orders in some states. The move likely means that factories of all three Detroit automakers will be idled for at least another two weeks as they negotiate reopening terms with the United Auto Workers union. Ford, General Motors and FCA factories have been idled for over a month due to fears of spreading the coronavirus. Detroit auto companies employ about 150,000 factory workers mainly in the industrial Midwest, but there are factories from New York to Tennessee and Texas.
UNDATED (AP) — Fear and frustration are raging as fast as the coronavirus in some juvenile detention centers, with riots and escapes reported in facilities in hard hit New York and Louisiana. Parents and youth advocates say some kids are being kept in isolation up to 23 hours a day. Family visits have been cut off, programs have been halted and school has sometimes been reduced to educational packets. As the number of COVID-19 cases grows, some facilities are also shuttling youths back and forth between centers, adding to tensions. Experts and child advocates say any youth who can be safely returned home should be released.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. humanitarian chief says $90 billion could provide income support, food and a health response to the coronavirus pandemic for 700 million of the world’s poorest people. Mark Lowcock said that price tag is just 1 percent of the $8 trillion stimulus package the 20 richest countries put in place to safeguard the global economy. He told a video briefing Monday that about 700 million people _ 10 percent of the world’s population _ are most vulnerable and concentrated in about 30 to 40 countries which will see a big drop in incomes as the virus spreads.
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