 Welcome to Tuesday's Overnight Health Care. There are now more than one million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and the growth in new cases does not appear to be slowing. But more states are moving ahead with plans to reopen. Alabama became the latest on Tuesday, despite the fact that the number of cases there is still rising. President Trump also said the worst of the virus is "behind us." We'll start with the numbers: US surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases One million people infected. It's a sobering milestone, and experts say it represents only the beginning of a months-long battle to end the pandemic. The United States has now registered about a third of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the globe, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. More than 57,000 people have died in the United States, about a quarter of the known COVID-19 deaths around the globe. Not bending the curve: While other countries have successfully reduced the pace of virus transmission, the U.S. is essentially stuck: In the last week, the country has reported between 24,000 and 41,000 new cases a day, and between 1,200 and 2,600 deaths per day, according to The Covid Tracking Project, a group of researchers who keep tallies of case counts around the country. More than cities: In addition, there are growing signs that the virus is shifting into new, more rural territory. States like Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia all recorded substantial growth in the number of new cases they had confirmed in the last few days. Read more here But President Trump is once again making the case for the country's economy to reopen Trump says 'worst days' of coronavirus 'are behind us' Trump on Tuesday suggested "the worst days" of the coronavirus pandemic are over as he welcomed a group of small-business owners to the White House who have benefited from an emergency loan program he signed into law last month. Trump used his speech to express optimism about the country’s path to economic recovery amid the pandemic, which has forced businesses to close and caused millions of layoffs across the country due to stay-at-home orders issued by states. “As our nation battles against this terrible scourge, we continue to pray for the victims as well as those Americans who are grieving their lost ones and their loved ones,” Trump said at the outset of his remarks in the East Room. “We suffer with one heart, but we will prevail. We are coming back, and we’re coming back strong.” Read more here Pence flouts Mayo Clinic policy by not wearing face covering Vice President Pence on Tuesday visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he stuck out for his decision not to wear a face covering, flouting the medical facility's policy in the process. Pence toured the famed Rochester facility to learn about how physicians are supporting research and treatment surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Footage of Pence standing alongside clinic staff and a patient donating blood quickly made the rounds on social media as the vice president was the lone person in the frame not sporting a mask. The Mayo Clinic issued guidance on April 13 requiring all patients and visitors to wear a face covering or mask in accordance with updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). The clinic said it would provide masks for those who did not bring their own. The Mayo Clinic tweeted, then deleted, a message that it informed Pence of its masking policy prior to his arrival in Rochester. The defense: Pence said he is tested for coronavirus regularly, and noted the CDC guidance on masks is intended to prevent those who have the virus from spreading it. “And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you," he added. Caveat: Health officials have noted the false sense of security about a negative test. A person could become infected between tests, and the tests might not be completely accurate. The optics: Pence and other top administration officials have seldom been seen wearing face coverings in public settings. Trump has repeatedly declined to wear a mask, even after announcing the CDC's updated guidelines. He also also repeatedly downplayed the severity of the virus, and critics say his view on masks is likely tied into that. Read more here Trump to sign order compelling meat plants to stay open during pandemic President Trump plans to sign an executive order Tuesday that would use the Defense Production Act to compel meat processing plants to stay open by designating them as critical infrastructure, according to a senior administration official. The White House plans to work with the Labor Department to “provide safety standards and guidance for workers to make sure they are kept safe and not put in harm’s way as they serve the public,” the official said. The White House decided to issue the order, the details of which were first reported by Bloomberg News, following estimates that meat production capacity nationwide could be reduced by as much as 80 percent. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier Tuesday that he planned to sign an executive order to address “liability problems” related to the food supply chain and specifically mentioned Tyson Foods. The order will apply to all meat processing plants in the U.S. Read more here Model predicts higher death toll in US amid states reopening The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) model this week increased its projected U.S. coronavirus death toll as a number of states move to reopen businesses. The projected number of deaths rose from 67,641 a week ago to 74,073, IHME said in a statement on Monday. The new figure is still lower than a projection last month of 90,000 deaths in the U.S. related to coronavirus. The new IHME estimate now ranges from 56,563 to 130,666 deaths in the U.S. The institute said that the increase is due to “many states experiencing flatter and thus longer epidemic peaks.” It also said that coronavirus deaths across the country are not falling “very quickly” after their estimated peak. Read more here. House reverses plan, will not return to Washington next week The Senate will be the only game in town next week: House leaders on Tuesday reversed course on plans to bring the chamber back into session next week amid fears about whether it is safe to return to the Capitol during the coronavirus pandemic. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced the change in plans after initially saying the day before that the House would return the following Monday, citing discussions with the Capitol physician, who warned that the Washington region has not yet flattened its number of coronavirus cases. Washington, D.C., remains under a stay-at-home order through at least May 15, along with many other states from which lawmakers would be traveling. Also problematic: House members had mask issues. Most members of both parties wore masks, but some GOP lawmakers opted to forgo the advice of House officials. No plans: The House still has no plan on how to conduct remote voting. Republicans have been pushing for in-person votes despite the pandemic, while House Democratic leaders have warmed to the idea of allowing proxy voting. Read more here Related: Schumer calls for hearings on Trump's 'abject failure at implementing' coronavirus relief Democrats debate how and when to get House back in action FDA: Don't drink hand sanitizers This should be obvious, but it is the world we live in today: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked hand sanitizer manufacturers to take extra steps to ensure their products aren’t consumed internally. “It is important that hand sanitizer be manufactured in a way that makes them unpalatable to people, especially young children, and that they are appropriately labeled to discourage accidental or intentional ingestion,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement Monday. The agency suggested adding denatured alcohol to hand sanitizers. This would produce a bitter taste, making the substance less appealing for consumption. The advisory comes after President Trump has faced days of backlash for discussing the possibility of using ultraviolet light or injecting disinfectants as possible treatments or cures for the coronavirus at a White House briefing Thursday. Trump later walked back the comments, claiming his suggestions were sarcastic. Why it matters: State and local health departments are seeing increased emergency calls regarding possible poisonings after disinfectant ingestion. Read more here Related: Two men in Georgia drank disinfectants in efforts to prevent COVID-19, officials say Elsewhere in The Hill:
Alabama to partially reopen despite increasing coronavirus cases Officials say at least 40 people who voted or worked in Wisconsin elections have coronavirus New Orleans sees zero coronavirus deaths for first time in 37 days What we’re reading Nursing ranks are filled with Filipino Americans. The pandemic is taking an outsized toll on them (Stat News) Widely used surgical masks are putting health care workers at serious risk (Kaiser Health News) Why the three main types of coronavirus tests can't be easily mass produced (CNN.com) Doubts about testing remain in spite of Trump’s assurances (Associated Press) State by state As businesses prepare to reopen, workers weigh COVID-19 risk against the need for a paycheck (Texas Tribune) What New York's coronavirus pandemic reopening may look like (CNN.com) California may start next school year sooner if coronavirus is under control (San Francisco Chronicle) Illinois sees single-day high in COVID-19 deaths, passes 2,000 total deaths (Health News Illinois) San Francisco enlists a key Latino neighborhood in coronavirus testing (NPR) Op-eds in The Hill Don't expect a quick return to elective surgeries delayed by the virus As slaughterhouse workers get sick, where are the food regulators? | 
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