7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Possible Case at Wyatt Detention — Thursday, April 9, 2020

Fauci Over Trump

76% of voters are satisfied with the quality of information they’ve heard about coronavirus from Dr. Anthony Fauci vs. 45% for President Trump, according to a new survey.

4 in 5 voters said they’ve watched at least some of Trump’s daily briefings.

49% of voters who watched briefings said they were “somewhat more informed’” about coronavirus after tuning in.

Source: Morning Consult

Numbers

1,450 Cases in Rhode Island

16,790 Cases in Massachusetts

35 Deaths in RI

433 Deaths in Massachusetts

435,128 Cases in the United States

14,795 Deaths in the United States

1,520,233 Global Cases

88,572 Global Deaths

339,193 Global Recoveries

Record Number of Deaths in NY and NJ on Wednesday

Officials in New York and New Jersey report Wednesday was the deadliest day in the coronavirus crisis so far. 

The New York Times reports:

Deaths from the coronavirus spiked to new highs in both New York and New Jersey for a second straight day on Wednesday, underscoring the outbreak’s continued grip on the region even as other figures showed that its impact was beginning to slow.

Another 779 people in New York State died of the virus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reported, compared with 731 the day before. In New Jersey, 275 people died, Gov. Philip D. Murphy said, up from 232 on Tuesday. Connecticut, which reported 49 new deaths on Wednesday after reporting 71 the day before, was the one state in the region not to report a new one-day high.

More people in New York and New Jersey have died — a total of 7,772 — than in the rest of the United States combined.

Lawsuit Filed Against Bank of America for Directing Stimulus Monies to Large Clients

Business Insider is reporting that "Law firm Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC has filed an amended complaint against Bank of America (BofA), alleging that the bank showed preferential treatment under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to applicants that are already BofA lending clients, PYMNTS reports."

GoLocal was also contacted by a Rhode Island small business that asserted the same charge.

"It also alleged that the bank denied or limited access for depository clients and other small firms. BofA's policy was initially to only extend PPP loans to existing lending clients, but it changed the policy on April 4 to let depository-only customers apply as well. Still, the lawsuit states the policy remains unfair, as it stipulates that applicants aren't allowed to have a credit card or loan with another bank," writes Business Insider.

Not Paying Rent

It is not just individuals and families who are not paying their rent. GoLocal reports that 31% of residential renters did not pay their rent on time in April.

Now, some of the biggest commercial and office tenants are cutting refusing to make payments.

"WeWork has stopped paying rent at some U.S. locations, in the latest sign that the co-working company is aggressively trying to cut costs as the economic downturn eats into its revenue.

People briefed on the matter said WeWork has yet to mail in its April rent check at numerous properties while it tries to renegotiate leases," writes the Wall Street Journal.

The Future of Shared Office Space in Question

Not only is the future of WeWork in question -- the question is will start-ups and entrepreneurs return to shared office space like the CIC space in the Wexford complex -- a space Rhode Island has spent more than $40 million to subsidize. 

"As working from home and social distancing have become the new normal in a matter of weeks, the previously de rigueur idea of 'shared office space' is, for many, looking increasingly unappetising," writes Sifted, the European tech publication.

"People are already (again) calling the death of WeWork, the most notorious of coworking spaces. The US company’s bonds are being priced at 55 cents on the dollar, meaning investors are expecting to get back just over half of the money lent to the company (i.e. a big default)."

GoLocal LIVE Schedule Thursday, April 9

12:00 Noon Dr. Michael Fine, former RI Director of Health

1:00 PM Governor Gina Raimondo