New York extends COVID shutdown till May 15 after 10 states form pact to 'reopen states'

As New York reported a lesser number of deaths - 606 on Thursday, New York goverr Andrew Cuomo extended lockdown till May 15. He added that state will decide when to reopen in a phased manner based on how rate of infection has been controlled, testing, surge, etc. This development comes a day after East Coast state goverrs from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts formed a regional working group to work out a reopening plan. A similar group was formed by West Coast states like California, Washington, and Oregon.

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New York extends shutdown till May 15

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Trump: 'Decision of President to open up US'

Earlier on Monday, President Trump took to Twitter to assert that 'it was President's decision to open up states, t state goverrs'. He added that his administration was working closely with Goverrs and will anunce a decision soon. Trump has t anunced a nationwide shutdown to deal with Coronavirus and has already temporarily halted US' funding of World Health Organization (WHO) as it  "failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable".

Trump and NY Guv Cuomo lock horns over 'opening up US' as New York sees 671 COVID deaths

Cuomo: 'Plan to reopen must be based on data, t politics'

On or hand, New York Goverr Andrew Cuomo said that decision must be based on 'data and experts, t opinion and politics', at his daily press briefing. New York has seen 2,18,707 cases and 16,251 deaths till date. Cuomo has maintained that state has started finally 'flattening curve' - adding that worst of coronavirus pandemic 'is over'.

ICMR confirms '5 lakh anti-body test kits received', explains India's COVID testing ratio

Trump and Coronavirus

Trump who had earlier downplayed Coronavirus's effects - terming it a 'Chinese virus', has w called it 'worst thing to hit US'. USA which has overtaken China in number of positive cases has emerged as epicenter of pandemic with 6,53,751 cases and 33,434 deaths. While initially, Trump claimed to have country 'up and running by Easter', he extended its social distancing restrictions till April 30. White House, which has forecasted over 1,00,000- 2,40,00 deaths in US, stopped federal funding to states for testing but reversed it after facing a severe backlash.