10 things you need to know today: April 5, 2020

(Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

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1. Fatalities climb as U.S. braces for coronavirus peaks in some cities
2. Coronavirus cases, deaths begin to slow in European countries
3. CDC begins antibody testing
4. Report: Sanders aides encourage him to drop out
5. Trump says he's open to oil tariffs
6. Cruise ship carrying passengers infected with coronavirus docks in Miami
7. Trump tells league commissioners he's hopeful sports can return by late summer
8. Former Saints kicker dies of coronavirus
9. Louis C.K. releases first special since 2017
10. Bryant, Duncan, Garnett headline 2020 basketball Hall of Fame class

published 5 April 2020

1. Fatalities climb as U.S. braces for coronavirus peaks in some cities

The United States reported 1,344 deaths from the novel COVID-19 coronavirus Saturday, the country's highest number of fatalities in one day since the outbreak began. There are now more than 300,000 confirmed infections nationwide. In his daily White House briefing Saturday, President Trump warned the next couple of weeks would only get more difficult. "There will be a lot of death unfortunately," he said. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said the coming weeks were crucial in the fight against the pandemic, urging Americans to adhere to social distancing guidelines. She added that modeling shows metro areas like New York, Detroit, and New Orleans will likely reach the peak of their outbreaks in the next six or seven days.

Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, has begun to eye the next phase of its battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic, now that the number of daily new cases and deaths has begun to level off. The government will reportedly propose a five-point plan to slowly re-open the locked down country. Social distancing policies will likely remain in place as Italy aims to massively increase testing. Coronavirus-focused hospitals and an app to track cases and provide remote access to medical care have also been discussed. Spain, meanwhile, reported 674 deaths in the previous 24 hours Sunday, the third consecutive day in which the daily rate dropped, and the lowest number of daily fatalities in 10 days. Germany saw its third straight day in which the number of new infections declined, though the number of deaths increased.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Saturday it has begun conducting antibody tests to determine the true number of people infected with the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, including those who never developed symptoms. Unlike normal diagnostic tests, the antibody test can detect if a person has recovered from an earlier infection. If so, there's a chance they've built up some protection, which could help inform future responses to the virus, though it's not yet confirmed if antibodies ensure immunity. The CDC is planning three different studies related to the tests. One will look at blood samples from people who were never diagnosed with COVID-19 but live in hot spots. The agency will also conduct a national survey using samples from different parts of the country. The third study will consider special populations, like health care workers.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has reportedly been encouraged by a small group of his top aides and allies — including his campaign manager Faiz Shakir and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) — to consider dropping out of the Democratic presidential primary, as it looks more likely his competitor, former Vice President Joe Biden, will emerge as the nominee. Those who support suspending the campaign reportedly believe if he exits on good terms with Biden, he'll have more leverage agenda-wise over the long haul. Not everyone involved with the campaign agrees with the assessment, and Sanders has not made a final decision, but one source with knowledge of the situation told The Washington Post he's warming to the idea of bowing out.

President Trump on Saturday said he's open to slapping tariffs on oil imports to protect "thousands and tens of thousands of energy workers, and our companies that produce all these jobs." It was a change of tune for Trump, who suggested Friday he wouldn't target Russia and Saudi Arabia with tariffs after tensions escalated between the two over the collapse in oil prices brought on by the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. Russia has blamed Saudi Arabia for exacerbating the problem. Despite Trump's tariff threats, he said he still expects Moscow and Riyadh to come to an agreement and halt the declining prices, though others are growing more pessimistic after an OPEC meeting scheduled for Monday was pushed to Thursday to allow more time for negotiations. Oil prices are expected to "crater" next week because of the delay.

The Coral Princess cruise ship, which has been searching for a port for weeks, docked Saturday in Miami, Florida. Since the cruise began in Chile on March 5, two passengers have died and 12 others remain ill from the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. At least one person was reportedly rushed off the ship and taken to a hospital in an ambulance. More than 900 guests and 840 crew members have been determined healthy enough to fly home, and they will reportedly began disembarking Sunday, but the process is expected to take several days because flights out of Miami are limited.

President Trump held a conference call with many commissioners of the United States' major sports leagues Saturday to discuss their futures amid the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. He reportedly said he is hopeful the NFL will begin its season as planned in September. As for other sports, he said he hopes to have fans back in stadiums and arenas by late summer. "They've got to get back," Trump tweeted after the meeting. The leagues, though, will reportedly continue to rely on advice from medical experts and will adhere to restrictions put in place by local and state authorities, so a timeframe for returning to action remains unclear.

Former New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey died Saturday from complications due to the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, his family said. He was 73. Dempsey reportedly contracted the virus in March during an outbreak at the Lambeth House retirement home in New Orleans. At least 14 other patients have died from the disease there. Dempsey was best known for kicking a record-setting, game-winning 63-yard field goal for the Saints in a game against the Detroit Lions in 1970, beating the previous record by seven yards. The record remained in place until 2013, when the Denver Broncos' Matt Prater hit a 64-yarder. Dempsey is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Comedian Louis C.K. released a surprise new comedy special titled Sincerely Louis C.K. on Saturday. It's available for streaming on his official website for $7.99. The controversial comic acknowledged the timing of the release amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying it's available for those "who need to laugh" during the period of quarantine and social distancing. C.K. has largely remained out of the spotlight since 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct against him began to surface. He released a special that year in which he confessed to the accusations. The new special was directed by C.K. himself at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C., before the pandemic began.

NBA legends Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant were officially selected Saturday to be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They'll be inducted in March. Bryant will enter posthumously after he was killed in a helicopter crash in California in January along with his daughter and seven others. His wife, Vanessa Bryant, said the announcement was the "peak" of the Los Ageles Laker great's NBA career. The class also includes WNBA star Tamika Catchings, women's college coaches Kim Mulkey of Baylor University and Barbara Stevens of Bentley University, and former men's college coach Eddie Sutton. Former Houston Rockets head coach and player Rudy Tomjanovich rounds out the group.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.