Fauci says Covid-19 vaccine is possible by October but more likely for November – live

The Guardian’s Kari Paul reports:

Google will keep its employees home until at least next July, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, marking the largest tech firm to commit to such a timeline in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The chief executive officer of parent company Alphabet Inc, Sundar Pichai, made the decision himself last week after debate among an internal group of top executives that he chairs, according to the report, which cited unnamed insiders.

Google did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Google had earlier said it would begin reopening more offices globally as early as June this year, but most Google employees would probably work from home until the end of this year.

Most tech companies have had employees working remotely since the Covid-19 outbreak escalated in early March, and several have expressed plans to continue such policies indefinitely.

In May, Twitter announced it would let employees who wish to do so work from home “forever” and Facebook said it expects at least half of its employees to work remotely for the next five to 10 years.

These announcements come as Covid-19 makes open floor plans and shared spaces untenable for the foreseeable future, forcing companies across a variety of industries to reimagine what office work looks like.

Trump said he hasn’t recently seen national security adviser Robert O’Brien, who tested positive for coronavirus.

“I haven’t seen him lately,” Trump told reporters before leaving for North Carolina. “I heard he tested. Yeah, I have not seen him. I’m calling him later.”

The White House confirmed earlier today that O’Brien had tested positive for the virus, and senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow said O’Brien’s daughter also has the virus and likely transmitted it to him.

According to reports, O’Brien was in his office last Thursday before abruptly leaving the White House. He has since been isolating and working remotely from home.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell delivered remarks about John Lewis as part of a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda to honor the late congressman and civil rights icon.

McConnell recalled hearing Lewis speak at the 1963 March on Washington, saying lawmakers should “pray for fraction of John’s strength.”

Pelosi said it was fitting that Lewis should join the “pantheon of patriots” who have received the honor of lying in state in the Capitol rotunda. The speaker noted Lewis was “revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol.”

She then played a clip of Lewis delivering a well-known 2014 speech in which the congressman said, “You must find a way to get in trouble, good trouble.”

A military honor guard carried John Lewis’ casket into the Capitol rotunda, where members of Congress will hold a ceremony to honor their late colleague.

One member of the military honor guard was not able to participate after he collapsed from the heat while waiting to transport Lewis’ casket.

Trump said he would not be paying his respects to John Lewis, the civil rights icon who will be lying in state in the Capitol rotunda today.

Leaving the White House for a trip to North Carolina, the president told reporters he would not be visiting Lewis’ casket at the Capitol today or tomorrow.

Trump and Lewis had a tense relationship, to say the least. Lewis refused to attend the president’s 2017 inauguration because he questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s election victory.

Trump responded to that snub by describing Lewis’ Atlanta district as “crime infested,” sparking allegations of racism.

Vice President Mike Pence, who served in Congress alongside Lewis, is expected to pay his respects to the longtime lawmaker later today.

John Lewis’ casket has arrived at the Capitol, where the late congressman and civil rights icon will lie in state.

Lawmakers will hold a ceremony this afternoon to honor Lewis, and his casket will then be moved to the Capitol steps.

Lewis is the first African-American lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol rotunda, and he is only the second African-American citizen to do so, after Rosa Parks.

John Lewis’ casket has just made its way through Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, as the late congressman makes his final journey to the US Capitol.

Lewis made his final appearcance at BLM Plaza last month, shortly after DC mayor Muriel Bowser renamed the street in honor of the anti-racism movement.

Here’s where the day stands so far:

• National security adviser Robert O’Brien tested positive for coronavirus, making him the most senior administration official known to have contracted the virus. The White House said he has been isolating and working from home in recent days.
• Dr Anthony Fauci said a coronavirus vaccine could be developed by October but more likely by November. The infectious disease expert’s comments came as the National Institutes of Health and Moderna started a large Phase 3 trial for its vaccine candidate.
• John Lewis will soon lie in state in the Capitol rotunda. The civil rights icon’s casket is now making its way to the Capitol for a ceremony with lawmakers this afternoon. Lewis’ casket will then be moved to the Capitol steps to allow members of the public to pay their respects to the longtime congressman.

The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

The Miami Marlins’ home opener has been postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak in the clubhouse.

From the Associated Press:

The Marlins postponed their flight home on Sunday night after their series finale against the Phillies. ESPN reports that the Phillies have cancelled their game against the New York Yankees too, and that seven Marlins players and two of their coaches have tested positive for Covid-19.

Marlins pitcher Jose Urena was scratched from his scheduled start in Sunday’s game, and catcher Jorge Alfaro went on the injured list Friday. No reasons were given for the moves, but manager Don Mattingly said those who tested positive would be quarantined in Philadelphia.

The MLB is reportedly holding an emergency meeting to discuss the latest developments, which raise serious doubts about the ability to play baseball safely amid the pandemic.

The news comes just four days after the MLB started its shortened season without fans in attendance.

National security adviser Robert O’Brien likely contracted coronavirus from his college-aged daughter, senior White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said.

During a gaggle with reporters at the White House, Kudlow said O’Brien’s daughter also has the virus and likely passed it on to her father.

O’Brien’s positive test result comes as Trump pushes schools, including colleges and universities, to reopen this fall despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the classroom.

A number of public health experts have warned about the possible transmission of coronavirus between college students and their potentially more vulnerable family members.

White House reporters also noted Kudlow wore a mask during his press gaggle today, which he had not been doing in recent weeks.

When asked about the change, Kudlow said, “You know why? You were all wearing one. Look, I’ve been emphasizing masks for a good two weeks, three weeks.”

Kudlow added, “We’re not going to keep the economy open, we’re not going to get the V-shaped recovery, we’re not going to get kids back to school unless we follow simple guidelines: masking, distancing, testing.”