Author: Staff

For the first time this month, New York’s daily death toll from COVID-19 has dropped below 400. Speaking at his briefing Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that 367 New Yorkers died from the respiratory illness the day before, which is less than half of where it was at the height of the outbreak. New hospitalizations also dropped to about 1,000 on Saturday.

Cuomo described the latest numbers as “only not terrible news compared to where we were.” He referred to Saturday’s death toll from the disease as “horrific,” adding, “there is no relative context to death. Death is death. 367 people passed. 367 families.”  Cuomo largely attributed the decline to the efforts of New Yorkers adhering to social distancing.

Cuomo also detailed a rough plan to reopen the state’s economy, including a multiphase approach with certain sectors opening sooner than others. In determining how this plan would roll out, Cuomo suggesting states document a decline of cases for 14 days before reopening. Ultimately, Cuomo said, the infection rate would have to remain low for the rollout to function.

NY state’s COVID-19 death toll below 400 for first time this month, Cuomo says

Via feeds.foxnews.com

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said the state’s number of daily COVID-19 deaths has…

04/26/2020 2:57 PM

 

Editorial credit: Hans Pennink / Shutterstock.com

A Louisiana pastor has broken house arrest by hosting a large gathering of congregants for a Sunday service, in defiance of orders to stay at home to limit the impact of the coronavirus.  Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge was seen on a live stream Sunday walking among more than 100 congregants. Nearly all parishioners were not wearing face masks, and social distancing was not being practiced. Spell had been placed on house arrest Saturday morning after refusing to tell a judge if he’d continue to hold Sunday services. 

Spell appeared before a state district judge Friday but refused to clarify whether he would continue to hold in-person religious services over the weekend in defiance of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ stay-at-home order.  After Judge Fred Crifasi of the 19th Judicial District Court asked a second time, Spell remained silent, something the judge interpreted to mean the pastor would once again fail to adhere to social-distancing measures. Spell was released from Parish Prison Tuesday on a $5,000 bond

Most churches have transitioned to virtual religious services amid the coronavirus pandemic; however Spell continued to hold in-person services with hundreds of followers despite a stay-at-home order issued by the governor. Spell has repeatedly claimed the stay-at-home order violates his congregants’ First Amendment rights.

Louisiana pastor, while on house arrest, again defies coronavirus order with church service

Via www.nbcnews.com

Life Tabernacle Church pastor Tony Spell admitted to violating Louisiana’s mandate to avoid…

04/26/2020 1:12 PM