Week. In new york today, the governor compared the pandemic to september 11, calling it evil and stressing that people should continue to stay at home, even though there are signs that the curve may be flattening. Thats because fewer people are being admitted to the hospital now, but more people are still dying each day. Nationwide, there are now 425,000 confirmed cases, though there are still concerns that without widelyavailable testing, those numbers may not represent the total amount of infections. And as we come on the air tonight, a plan to add another 250 billion to that fund to loan money to Small Businesses has stalled in congress, even as the number of americans who have thats twice the population of new york city. Our team is covering every angle of this ask well get to the financial fallout in just a moment, but mola lenghi leads us off tonight in the epicenter of the crisis, new york city. Mola. Reporter well, norah, Health Officials canceled plans today to open up another Field Hospital in new york city. Similar to this one here in central park. Why . Hospitalizations have flattened for five days in a row. So while there are encouraging signs, today was still a sobering day here in new york city. Today, another deadly record high, reminding some of the last time so many new yorkers were lost. It was a silent explosion that just ripples through society with the sae vl at we saw on 9 11. Reporter the number of patients hospitalized in new york grew by its smallest number in weeks. Everybody is assuming, well, once we get through this, year done. I wouldnt be so quick to assume that. Reporter over last few days, at dwnste in brooklyn, admissions have declined slightly, but the fight continues. Theyre going down the tubes, i mean rapidly going down the tubes. Reporter julie eason heads a team of respiratory therapist who manages patients on ventilators minute by minute. Theyre so tired from breathing they cant do it anymore. Reporter tired of breathing. Thats the point theyve gotten to. Their muscles are exhausted and they literally are so tired they cant breathe. Reporter today is the predicted peak for singleday deaths in detroit. Jennifer ralko, a stressed and overworked nurse in a hospital there, saw three bodies taken to the morgue during a recent 20hour shift. It definitely struck me that im taking this many patients to the morgue. You know, thats a thats a bad day. Unfortunately, there are days that that has become normal during this coronavirus time. Reporter hospitals in new orleans have geared up for a surge of covid19 patients. A lot of those patients that we admit to our hospitals, ultimately become even sicker and require intubation and ventulatory support. Thats new toep rhers at mount sinai hospital have traced cases to european and u. S. Sources, rather than introductions from china, where the virus originated. Dr. Anthony fauci is looking for light on the horizon. It is very likely that we will progress towards the steps towards normalization as we get to the end of this 30 days, but hopefully, and hopefully, by the time we get to the summer, we will have taken many steps in that direction. Reporter a season of change without so many loved ones, including 27yearold leilani jordan. She was a Grocery Store clerk in maryland who kept work despite the risks, to help her elderly customers. Her mother wath hospal inlast mm. And she was in isolation, and she called me. She says, mommy, i can barely breathe. Reporter well, the peak in u. S. Deaths is expected to hit this sunday, easter sunday. And Governor Cuomo here warns that even as we see a flattening and an eventual fall in cases, as well as deaths, that we need to anticipate a pcond and third wave in this virus. Norah. Odonnell mola, thank you so much. The other big story tonight is the economy. As a historic number of americans file unemployment claims. The 6. 6 million new claims bring the total from just the last three weeks to almost double the number of jobs lost in the entire great recession. We have two reports tonight, ine pple efctch e economy. But first, Mark Strassmann is in atlanta. And, mark, this is a desperate situation for so many. Coronavid unemoyment. Ana, georgias jobless numbers jumped the most three times more unemployment claims than last week. Combined michigan, new york, and texas bled more than 1 million jobs. And california alone lost 925,000 more jobs, including walter almendarez. I dont have the money for the rent. Reporter in van nuys, the laid off Hotel Bellman waited outside a food bank in a line of 2,000 cars. I dont have a job. I have a threemonthold daughter. We dont have health insurance. We dont have nothing. Reporter 16. 8 million jobs lost in three weeks. Thats roughly 11 of the u. S. Workforce, and greater than all the jobs added in the past six years. Maybe most importantly, we dont know which of these people will permanently be unemployed. Reporter todays numbers dont include lenee braxton, a lanta. Did it disappear like that . Instantly. Reporter georgia will begin processing unemployment claims of selfemployed people like her next week. Financially. Yes. Reporter are you stressed . Very stressed. And, quite honestly, mark, theres no amount of meditation that can take that away. Reporter back in van nuys, almendarez got 36 pounds of free food. That helps, but it wont pay the rent. Mark strassmann, cbs news, atlanta. Reporter im kris van clveronastjor airlines slashed flights, the regional carrier pilot Josh Hitchcock flew for abruptly shut down, their business and his job evaporated. You take off in one environment and when you land its just a completely different woats how fast it really felt like it was changing. Reporter and sent jobchilling ripples through the entire economy. No tourists flying into nawrlds airport forced mears transportation to park its fleet. It all just came to a screeching halt. Were certainly operating at a loss today. Reporter losing money even after furloughing 750, like bus driver chuck dolan. How am i going to pay this bill . When withry going to get back to work . Are we talking two weeks, 30 days, 45 days . Its just the uncertainty. Reporter disneyworld and area beaches are closed. So are restaurants and bars. Some who have shut down. Its really devastating, especially for a very small inn like mine. Reporter carol ballards aso used to clean the rooms there. Now this mother of three is lucky to do three houses a week. March 17 it was cancellation. Rbee everre. Deson in the u. Ss peni the diacpsotn isimat to about ou the economy, so the actual hit is likely to be closer to 900 billion and potentially millions of jobs lost. Norah. Odonnell all right, kris, thank you. President trump is preparing to reopen the economy next month, forming a new task force to work out the details. But Health Experts and some governors warn that moving too fast could risk another wave of infections. Weijia jiang is at the white house tonight with all those details. Weijiantheconnfft he can forego or exend the southerly distancing guidelines set to expire at the end of this month. The president is clearly torn as he tries to save lives and livelihoods. With the economy in freefall, President Trump is under pressure to get the country back to business by may 1. It would be nice to be able to open with a big bang and open up our country. Reporter the president is forming a second Coronavirus Task force focused on reopening the economy, but the decision is not up to the administration. Governors will make the call, and some are already rejecting the time frame. Until we have a vane, which is months and months away, i i would not risk having large groups of people getting together anywhere. Reporter others have warned a hasty return could cost lives. I do worry that if we rush back to work, as some of the rhetoric has implied, you could have a second and third wvof thisdemic. Ordsa hhaakent ecmany canmagig masks, and widespread testing, which still isnt available, despite the president s assurances. We need a whole lot of testing. We need the federal government to step up. We need them to do it quickly. Reporter today, journalists here at the white house had to take that rammed test that returns results in 15 minutes. The first lady tweeted out this picture of herself wearing a mask urging others to do the same. And on capitol hill, lawmakers are still clashing over that extra 250 billion to help Small Businesses as democrats push to add protection for those owned by minorities. O g tients who matter most tollofheo him his parents. Jamie yuccas tonight with one familys struggles. You know, i have had a lot of crying spells. Reporter california physician greg mundis feels helpless. His father has been on a ventilator for three weeks at a missouri hospital. What does that tell you as a physician . Not much good, to be honest with you. Certainly the longer youre on a ventilator, the worse it is. Horrible, horrible. Weve been married almost 49 years. This is the longest we have ever gone without talking to each other. Reporter the cruel irony is that both of gregs parents, in their late 60s, got infected with coronavirus. His father was the picture of health. His mother, sandra, had underlying conditions and was treated right away with experimental drugs. My mom, who has diabetes and chronic lung disease, is not on a ventilator. Which doesnt make sense, right . That early management, probably saved her. Reporter gregs father could not get tested right away because of a shortage of test kits. By the time he was, it was too late. I literally feel like i failed my dad, you know. Im so helpless in this whole process. My son is an amazing person in many ways and he should never, ever feel guilty. Reporter one family, like so many others, clinging to hope. I do believe hes going to get through this. Reporter powerless to help. My dad is a pretty remarkable human being whose life deserves to be celebrated, whether he makes it through this or not. Reporter jamie yuccas, cbs news, los angeles. Odonnell so many families are going through. And there is encouraging news tonight about the health of Prime Minister boris johnson. He is out of intensive care, but still in the hospital, being treated for the coronavirus. 55yearold johnson is said to be in good spirits. Health officials believe covid19 originated in animals sold in a socalled wet market in china. In fact, researchers tell us of emerging Infectious Diseases in humans are transmitted from animals. Dr. Anthony fauci is leading worldwide calls to shut down markets like the one in china to prevent the next epidemic. So we decided to take a closer look tonight, and heres ramy inocencio. Reporter these images provided by wuhan resident show the infamous market before it was shut down stacks of caged animals from t muntjacs, to sak ad ev coti. This is the market now abandoned, as it was in january, when cbs news was first on the ground in wuhan to report on the outbreak. The World Health Organization says an animal is probably the source of this new virus. Thats because a coronavirus found in bats shares 96 of its genetic scwaens with covid19. Scientists believe bats spread it to other animals in the market which spread it to humans. But similar markets around the world remain open, and thats a grave concern. I want the wild animal markets closed. Reporter Infectious Disease expert ian lipkin if you take wild animals and put them into a market with domestic animals, where theres an opportunity for some virus to jump species, you are creating a super highway for viruses to go from the wild into people. Reporter china has pledged to clamp down on wet markets before with little results. But other countries have not. We have a world where were trying to feed almost eight billion people, and so the markets of asia have become an important way to feed that part of worlds population. We do need to change that. Reporter ramy inocencio, cbs news, tokyo. Odonnell and there is still much more news ahead on tonights cbs evening news. A pageant queen joins the frontline battle against the coronavirus. And later, how the biggest challenge of our lifetimes has brought out the best in so many. D that, for some, gettto buy and sell a carwait. Y is also the safer way. 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Sprinting past every leak in our softest, smoothest fabric. People at higher risk, must take extra precautions. Shpend. Stident, protected, here you are at higher risk if you are over 65, or if you have any serious underlying medical conditions, like heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, or if your immune system is compromised for any reason. If youre at higher risk, wash your hands frequently with soap and water for twenty seconds. Avoid touching your face. Disinfect frequently touched objects. And wash up after being in public spaces. And when it comes to social situations. Less is better. Stay six feet or two arm lengths away from other people. Better still, stay home if you can. If youre sick, please stay home and away from others. And if you think youve been exposed to the virus, call your Health Care Provider before going to their office. In challenging times, the choices you make are critical. Please visit coronavirus. Gov for more information. Odonnell ier sash and tiara for medical scrubs. 24yearold Bhasha Mukherjee is returning to her job as a Junior Doctor and respiratory specialist. She was traveling in india when she decided to join her colleagues on the front lines back home. For years, customers at tybee island, georgias sand bar marked their visit by leaving money on the walls. Now with the bar closed, owner Jennifer Knox worried about her employees. So knox took the bills down and paid it forward to her people. The wall hall came to 3,714. It turns out the bar is a gold mine and a liveline for its workers. Coming up next, the images we cannot forget as americans come cannot forget as americans come together in this time of cri v we just went stumbling past . Here we are dancing in the rumbling dark so come a little closer give me something to grasp give me your beautiful, crumbling heart were working every dread day that is given us feeling like the person people meet really isnt us like were going to buckle underneath the trouble like any minute now the struggles going to finish us and then we smile at all our friends hen im weak andat sr face is sch to beun i love peoples faces. There will be parties and family gatherings. There will be parades and sporting events and concerts. To help our communities when they come back together, respond to the 2020 census now. Spenspd day minutes online todav to make americas tomorrow brighter. Its time to shape our future. Whatever your dog serestbrings home to you,. It shouldnt be fleas and ticks. Seresto gives your dog 8 continuous months an eatollar. Seresto, seresto, seresto. [female vo] restaurants are facing a crisis. And theyre counting on your takeout grubhub. Together we can help save the restaurants we love. Odonnell we are living through truly extraordinary times. Officials warn this week inanotr remind us we are all in this together. These are the images we will never forget our heroes in hospitals. Guys applause . Odonnell . Used to saving lives, not risking their own. But each night, that sound as the city stops at 7 00 p. M. To let doctors and nurses hear our graduate gratitude. How is it in this errav physical distancing that we now feel more socially connected than ever before through prayer and with music . Imagine all the people odonnell businesses may be closed, but our hearts have opened to the simple, beautiful gifts of life. Hey, grandma odonnell to the realization that the easiest giftale our kindness. We are embracing our common humanity, but in these United States of america, lending a hand in time of need is how we show patriotism. We rally to fill the food lines and help thed. We watch with awe our military men and women build hospitals in days and send comfort and mercy weeks ahead of schedule. We thank all our essential workers, like those in Grocery Stores and restaurants. Because while we are united in a sense of grief of what we have lost, we are also united in what we have found a shared sense of hope that we will emerge from this together. And the world will liv odonnell well be right back. I see an unbelievable opportunity. I see bestinclass platforms and education. I see awardwinning service, and a trade desk full of experts, available to answer your toughest questions. With zero commissions on online trades. I like what youre seeing. Its beautiful, isnt it . Yeah. Td ameritrade now offers zero commissions on online trades. And i dont count the wrinkles. But what i do count on is boost high protein. And now, introducing new boost women. With key nutrients to help support thyroid, bone, hair and skin health. All with great taste. New, boost women. Designed just for you. New, boost women. [coughs] kim is now demonstrating her congestion. Save it, slimeball. Ive upgraded to mucinex. We still have 12 hours to australia. Mucinex lasts 12 hours, so im good. Now move mucinex has a patented tablet that lasts 3x longer, for 12 hours. Odonnell on tomorrows cbs evening news, steve hartmans on the road, this time with the story of a Newspaper Carrier making special deliveries to his customers stuck at home. And remember, if you cant watch us live, dont forget to set your dvr, so you can watch us later. Announcer this im jeff begays. This morning were focusing on the staggering new jobs numbers. The Labor Department reports another 6. 5 million americans have filed for Unemployment Benefits in the last week. That makes more than 16 million in just three weeks, 10 of the entire u. S. Labor force. And millions more have been unable to even apply for benefits because of swamped unemployment offices, clogged phone lines and crashing computer systems. Ott h lookt th mataki when i look around at my dining room, 109 people, we normally so normally see a lot of life. Right now i see despair. The restaurant is not only jampacked, and this is what we have right now, its an empty space. Reporter three weeks ago you were lucky to get one of these tables at melbas inarlem. Startedbas 1years ago with money i saved up under my mattress. Reporter literally under the mattress . Literally under the mattress. I grew up watching my mother doing that and i emulated it. Reporter saving, sacrifice, and carolina cooking made melba wilson a hit. Now shes laid off 24 employees. Melbas is restricted to takeout and delivery like new york citys other 27,000 restaurants. Overall, one of th city largest employers. Well, if youre looking at the Bigger Picture across new york, youre looking at restaurants. Youre looking at night life. And youre looking at almost a half a Million People that dont have jobs, that cannot feed their families, that cannot pay their bills, that dont know where their next meals are coming from. Thats despair. Thats devastation. Reporter how much devastation is estimated by economists as an eventual Unemployment Rate between 10 and 30 . We found the numbers would be higher if state unemployment offices were not overwhelmed. All specialists are busy with other customers. You must call back this week. Ive done that 50 times every day for two weeks. Reporter two w a