First up here on msnbc, the coronavirus taking a staggering toll. More than a quarter million infected here in the u. S. With new hot spots erupting across the country and on the front lines urgent pleas for help. We are afraid for our patients. We are afraid for our families. We are afraid for our lives. This is life or death. Every hospital in the state of new york and of course the United States should have the supplies they need. Also, covering your face with a nonmedical mask. New guidance from the government. Would it have helped three weeks ago . New unemployment crisis. Why new numbers dont tell the whole story. A very good morning, everyone. It is saturday, april 4th. Im alex witt. Thanks for joining us. Breaking news on coronavirus. This morning there are more than 276,000 confirmed cases here in the u. S. The death toll climbing now to 7,063. The u. S. Reported more than 30,000 new cases friday. Its the biggest single day increase this country has seen since the start of the
Go in and relook at the pressures in the building. Javits space is sectional, there are areas we can actually change the pressure in some. We just heard from new york governor andrew cuomo, who has now requested the change because he said there were not enough noncovid patients from the popup field hospitals. The governor announcing today new york has had more than 100,000 positive cases of covid19 and more than 2,900 deaths from the virus. The Governor Also Announced hes signing an executive order today allowing states to take ventilators and ppes from institutions around the state who do not need them immediately in order to get them to the front lines. Todays jobs report for march showing 700,000 jobs were lost last month when the virus was just beginning have spread, increasing the jobless rate to 4 had the 4 , numbers that will skyrocket a month from now reflecting the growing impact, of course. Nbcs ron allen is with us now outside sinai hospital. I know youre following the guide
Participating and mayor Pete Buttigieg is also joining in a march starting at any moment there in South Carolina. And then up next in the palmetto state the black Economic Alliance forum where the kinds hope to make their pitch to black voters. Lets check in with cnns senior washington correspondent jeff zeleny. This is extremely important. What messages do you think the candidates are focusing on delivering today . Reporter well good morning. No question South Carolina the first in the south primary at the end of next february is critical to all of these candidates, certainly to send them on their way when the primaries start happening across the country. But right now several of these candidates are introducing themselves to voters particularly but, beto orourke, cory booker, Elizabeth Warren, coming as well trying to make their case. They are making an economic argument as well. You said this morning that senator booker and beto orourke were joining striking workers, a mcdonts strik