Our medical expert weighs in. A force for good. How a 6yearold has inspired a Movement Thanks to the savings in her piggy bank. And from the beatles to the boss to bon jovi and tony bennett, how the biggest names in music are trying to cheer us up during the coronavirus lockdown. Good thursday morning, everyone. We do begin with breaking news. Authorities declaring a disaster after severe storms overnight. Dramatic video from oklahoma shows one of several reported tornadoes. The storms also causing major destruction in texas. Across both states at least five people have been killed and dozens injured. Oh, my god. Right above j i. Reporter this morning a massive tornado caught on camera roaring through southern oklahoma slamming into a sheet metal business. The twister sending shrapnel hundreds of feet into the air. Golly. Its huge. Reporter witnesses say several vehicles were thrown into trees and this semi truck blown over. But look at that. That thing is getting larger and larger and larger. That thing is violent. That is a violent tornado. Reporter overnight officials in oklahoma confirming at least two people were killed from the storms. Here comes the rain. Reporter farther south in tornado touching down in polk county injuring at least ten people. Local authorities declaring a disaster reporting significant damage to homes and public infrastructure. Pictures of the damage showing homes destroyed and trees splintered. Jessica willey of our houston station was there. You see huge trees were uprooted. You can see power lines are down. Reporter new drone video showing one neighborhood devastated. Despite the destruction, natures beauty also on display. This rainbow clearly visible with the passing storm in the backdrop. At least one death is also reported in louisiana, and a tornado has been confirmed on the ground southeast of jackson, mississippi. Well have a closer look at the forecast in just a few moments. But we do now turn to coronavirus emergency and several developments overnight. President trump says he disagrees with georgia reopening some businesses tomorrow. Scientists warn the state could still be days away from the peak of the crisis. Meanwhile, weve learned about a potential game changer in treating severely ill patients. The red cross will soon begin offering antibody tests for people who think theyve had the virus and want to donate plasma. The pace of testing has been a major frustration but some good news from los angeles. The mayor says beginning today, testing will be available to all essential workers in the city. Many states are desperate for federal aid to overcome the financial toll of this crisis but Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell says not so fast. He says states looking for a bailout from congress may need to use the Bankruptcy Code instead. We begin our coverage with the debate over reopening stores. Abcs Megan Tevrizian has the latest. Reporter this morning, tensions mounting over when to lift the coronavirus lockdowns. In georgia, the governor has called to reopen gyms, Bowling Alleys and barber shops tomorrow is facing pushback from city leaders across the state. There is nothing essential about going to a Bowling Alley in the middle of a pandemic. Reporter and now even President Trump and dr. Anthony fauci are voicing their opposition to the governors plan. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but i disagree with him on what hes doing. There are certain checkpoints before you can even think about going into a phase one. Reporter a source familiar with the phone call between President Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says the conversation was amicable but the president asked the governor if he could limit the businesses reopening until may 1st. Overnight kemp defending his plan on twitter saying he appreciates the president s leadership but adding, our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state Public Health officials. We will continue with this approach to protect the lives and livelihoods of all georgians. Models show virus deaths in georgia arent expected to peak until this sunday. This map from the university of washington shows when each state should begin lifting restrictions. The green states suggesting sometime in may. But the data shows georgia should not lift restrictions until june 8th or later. Small Business Owners now facing tough choices as they wait for the federal government to roll out the second loan relief program, and that may still not be enough. Former starbucks Ceo Howard Schultz predicts businesses will likely need 1 trillion in relief. I estimate, and this could be conservative, that at least 30 of americas Small Businesses and independent restaurants will permanently close as a result of not having an economic bridge to a vaccine. That is the issue. Reporter john douglas, the owner of this barber shop in atlanta, says despite the urgent need to get back to business, opening tomorrow is too risky. I was excited, but then i had to just sit back, calm down, relax and just realize that its probably not the right time. Reporter in las vegas, the mayor is more optimistic pushing to reopen casinos but without a specific plan. Why as mayor of a city that you are responsible for the peoples safety are you calling for something that you have no plan for how it would be done safely . I am not a private owner. Thats the competition in this country. For a restaurant to be open or a small boutique to be open, they better figure it out. Thats their job. Thats not the mayors job. So let me ask you reporter in the meantime, the director of the cdc is clarifying what he said about a second wave of the virus possibly being worse later this year saying he was misquoted. The president downplaying the risk of a major resurgence during flu season, but then he was seemingly contradicted by dr. Fauci moments later. Hes talking about a worst Case Scenario where you have a big flu and you have some corona. If it does come back its not going to come back and ive spoken to ten different people, not going to be like it was. We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that. Reporter as for when to reopen, a pullout this morning finds 80 of americans think these strict shelter in place measures are worth it to protect against the virus and 80 of the people surveyed said they can handle staying at home for another month. Kenneth, mona. All right, megan, thank you. This morning, new accusations about chinas role in spreading disinformation about the virus here in the u. S. Intelligence Officials Say agents working for china helped spread rumors last month about a nationwide quarantine. The National Security council had to issue a rare statement saying the reports were false. Doctors in new york are trying to get the word out about a disturbing trend. Sudden strokes in young adults with covid19. The virus appears to cause blood clots, even for otherwise Healthy People in their 30s and 40s and most of them were quarantined at home with mild symptoms or none at all. Doctors say some people have delayed calling 911 but quick treatment is vital. It may be an anomaly, time will tell. We think its significant. Its a sevenfold increase in the rate, and it now circles our professional circles in the stroke community. There is a lot of talk about the increasing number of strokes occurring. Doctors say theyre now treating as many patients as they can with blood thinners even if there is no evidence of clotting. Hypertension is also proving to be a big factor with the virus. A new study found 57 of sick patients had already been struggling with high blood pressure. More than 50 Food Processing plants in the midwest have shut down because of the coronavirus. The list now includes one of the biggest pork plants in the country owned by tyson foods in iowa. Meanwhile, the demand at food bank is only growing. Pittsburghs airport was turned into a Food Distribution center yesterday. More than 800 cars lined up. Time now for a look at your thursday morning weather. The radar shows heavy storm activity in the southeast with tornadoes possible today in alabama, georgia and florida and stretching into the carolinas. Sunny and dry conditions expected in texas and oklahoma in the wake of the deadly tornadoes late yesterday. Looking at todays high temperatures, expect 80s in dallas and new orleans, readings in the 50s for the northeast but only 45 degrees in detroit. 60s from denver to portland, oregon and a toasty 98 in phoenix. Coming up, why President Trumps interest in buying greenland is back in the news. Also ahead, a big story developing overnight. The man in charge of developing a vaccine for the Coronavirus Claims hes been forced out of his job because he defended science. What his bosses are saying. And for the first time pet cats test positive for the coronavirus. Babies arent fully developed until at least 39 weeks. A healthy baby is worth the wait. Hi, america. Hey, there, america. Hi, america. Hi, america. During this crisis. Over 37 million people. Dont have access. To nutritious foods. But there is a way we can all help. With feeding america. Their network of 200 food banks are up and running. Distributing food to people and communities they serve. Across the country. Please visit feedingamerica. Org. To locate a food bank in your community. Together. Together. Together. Lets feed the love. Back now with the u. S. Expanding its diplomatic presence in greenland eight months after President Trump expressed interest in buying the island. The Trump Administration is expected to announce an economic aid package for greenland, which technically belongs to denmark. The aid package is aimed at countering russian and chinese influence in the arctic ocean but a Government Official in denmark says the u. S. Offer, quote, crosses the line when it comes to influence. We turn now to accusation by the man who was overseeing a possible vaccine for the coronavirus. He claims he lost his job for purely political reasons because he opposed using a drug touted by President Trump. Abcs alex presha has the new details this morning. Reporter this morning the doctor who led the key federal agency thats developing a vaccine to fight the coronavirus is suddenly out of his job. Dr. Rick bright says he was removed from his post this week because he claims he insisted on rigorous science based vetting of hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug thats been embraced by President Trump. I think it could be something really incredible. Were having some very good things happening with it. Reporter dr. Bright in a statement he released after being transferred to another agency declared, i am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science, not politics or cronyism, has to lead the way. Bright says he defied directives to push the malaria drug saying it was being promoted by the administration as a panacea but clearly lacks scientific merit. Hours later during the White House BriefingPresident Trump says he doesnt know dr. Bright. He has been pushed out of his job because he raised questions about hydroxychloroquine and some of your directives on that. Was he pushed out that have job . I never heard of him. If a guy says he was pushed out of a job, maybe he was, maybe he wasnt. I dont know who is. Reporter the Veterans Administration tried the drug on covid19 patients who had underlying conditions and researchers found it could lead to a higher death rate. But in a new statement overnight, responding to dr. Brights claims, the department of health and Human Services says it was brights decision to acquire the drug, writing, as it relates to chloroquine, it was dr. Bright who requested an emergency use authorization. We havent heard the end of this story. There is at least one democratic senator now calling for an investigation into dr. Brights removal, kenneth and mona. Alex presha, thank you. Two cats in new york are now the first pets in the u. S. To be diagnosed with coronavirus. Doctors say both likely got the virus from their owners. The cats showed symptoms similar to those experienced by humans. The cat presented with symptoms of upper respiratory infection, so sneezing, coughing, watery nose, nasal discharge and eye discharge and lethargy. The cats that i have been dealing with is completely back to normal health and was just sick with some mild symptoms for a few days. And seven larger cats including lions and tigers have tested positive at the bronx zoo. Coming up, a new concern when it comes to restaurants reopening. Could the airconditioning spread coronavirus . Also ahead, the debate over whether schools really need to stay closed through the summer. vo thank you to all the front line heroes for leading this fight. For early mornings, late nights, double shifts, and overnights, for calloused hands and skin scrubbed raw. And for being brave enough to go to work today. Thank you, from all of us cheering you on. [overlapping applause and cheers] back now with a major headline from california. Were learning more about two deaths from the coronavirus as early as february 6th. Thats weeks before the previously known first death in the u. S. Earlier i asked dr. Alok patel about the significance of these cases. Everything we know right now about the person who passed away in the beginning of february there wasnt a clear travel history to any coronavirus hot spot. Now, she did work in a company where some people were traveling around, but its more likely that she spread it within the community. So is this saying something about how california has been impacted by the Coronavirus Crisis and also about herd immunity . The reason i dont think its likely is as far as every estimate we know, we need about 60 of people to be immune to coronavirus to build up herd immunity. Now, recent estimates from antibody surveillance studies are showing us that in a perfect scenario in these studies, that maybe 4 of people in southern california, Northern California could have been exposed to coronavirus. 4 is way far out from 60 . More states are canceling school for the rest of the academic year. Health officials have said theres potential for this virus to really come roaring back this fall. So what should parents consider when it comes to sending their children back to school . Should there be a staggered approach letting certain age groups back first . In order to move to the next phase when we Start Talking about reopening schools, preschools, day cares, universities, et cetera, we not only want to make sure were seeing that kind of decrease for at least 14 days, weve got to make sure we have the testing and make sure we have a good amount of contact tracing. Once we have that in place, i would expect schools to take some type of different approach to maintain physical distancing, social hygiene and to keep everyone protected. Now that might mean that preschools create a staggered schedule where different groups are coming at different times. It might mean classrooms will be set up differently. Dr. Patel, a new study in china found several people were infected in a restaurant apparently by the airconditioning system. We know this could have an impact when and how they reopen and how customers feel and how comfortable they are dining in. What scientists are suspecting before the droplet spread we know that happens and the fact it cant hang out in the air, add in the fact youre in an enclosed space, you have recirculating ventilated air and then you have a mechanism to move that air around, and that is a setup to get people sick. You know, when were eating food youre not wearing a mask. Youre also talking. There are shared surfaces, all these things we have to take into account. I think this model is important when people Start Talking about reopening restaurants, bars, you know, any type of business where you have multiple people. We might have to see some changes. T months ahead. Again our thanks to dr. Patel. Coming up, the big news from the beatles, plus a 6yearold inspires america with her piggy bank. Thats next. Thousands of women with metastatic Breast Cancer, which is Breast Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, are living in the moment and taking ibrance. Ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor is for postmenopausal women or for men with hr her2 metastatic Breast Cancer, as the first hormonal based therapy. Ibrance plus letrozole significantly delayed disease progression versus letrozole, and shrank tumors in over half of patients. Patients taking ibrance can develop low white blood cell counts, which may cause serious infections that can lead to death. 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