A surge in cases there, and tonight, we have now learned a 17yearold has died. The Texas Governor now ordering visitors from states including new york to quarantine or face criminal consequences. And reports tonight 37 people who attended a church event in arkansas are now sick. President trump speaking just moments ago, and the letter the president sent to the nations governors detailing the possibility of easing some restrictions. And when pressed, dr. Anthony fauci saying the virus will determine the timeline here. Tonight, the stories of the victims across this country. That one family in missouri, five members now sick, and new reporting tonight on the mother and father in the hospital. The urgent message from a Young Pregnant woman in the hospital, 26 weeks pregnant, fighting the virus. The staggering toll on American Families tonight. Workers across this country suddenly out of a job. Tonight, a record 3. 3 million americans filing for unemployment. When will those checks arrive with help for American Families and for how much . We have answers tonight. The developing headline involving the u. S. Military and the virus. At least 23 sailors on a u. S. Aircraft carrier testing positive. And now everyone on the carrier will be tested. And dr. Jen ashton tonight answering your questions. If you catch the virus, how long does it last . Why do some patients who seem to be Getting Better suddenly take a dramatic turn for the worse . And could the virus come back with another cycle . Jen on that tonight. Good evening and its great to have you with us here on this thursday night. And that sobering new headline just before we came on the air tonight. The u. S. Now has the most diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the world. Surpassing china and italy and, of course, we all know that many are still trying to get tested in this country. The president just a short time ago again talking about getting america back open. People back to work. Saying, i think its going to happen quickly. As tonight, we take you inside a hospital here in new york city, a staggering scene. A doctors plea for help. Tonight, the numbers here, in just one weeks time, weve gone from 1,100 reported cases to more than 80,000. And a grim new toll. More than 1,000 dead in the u. S. At least 28 states now under stay at home restrictions, as President Trump sends that letter to governors suggesting there could be some easing of restrictions at some point soon. And tonight, that scene inside just one hospital. Elmhurst hospital in queens, new york, where a doctor decided to record the images for herself to get them out to the american people. Tonight, new yorks mayor calling it the epicenter of the epicenter. 13 patients died at that hospital in 24 hours. The number of patients hospitalized across the state jumping 40 in a single day. In louisiana tonight, the spike in cases there, as well. A 17yearold has now died. The toll for doctors and nurses on t front lin. T mt. Hospital dying from the virus. And tonight, after that warning from new yorks governor, warning whats happening here will soon happen elsewhere, in neighboring new jersey, there are nearly 2,500 new reported cases since just yesterday. Again, dr. Jen ashton here answering your questions. And we begin tonight with that scene inside that new york city hospital. Whit johnson leads us off. Reporter tonight, an e. R. Doctor taking us inside whats been called ground zero of americas pandemic. All the patients in this room, all the feet that you see, they all have covid. And this is only one of the several rooms. Reporter dr. Colleen smith at elmhurst hospital in queens, new york, sharing her story with abc news and the new york times. The frustrating thing about all of this is it really just feels like its too little, too late. Like, we knew we knew it was coming. Reporter overnight, the number of deaths in new york jumping by more than 100 to at least 385. At the hospital where dr. Smith works, 13 people died in just 24 hours. Elmhurst hospital in queens is, right now, the epicenter within the epicenter. Today is kind of getting worse and worse. We had to get a refrigerated truck to store the bodies of patients who are dying. Reporter dr. Smith revealing the shortages theyre up against. Five. Five ventilators. Oh my god. Reporter a disappointing shipment of those lifesaving ventilators. State Health Officials report that patients who need help breathing, but dont have covid, usually spend three to four days on a ventilator. But covidpositive patients spend an average of 11 to 21 days. The concern is that all these ventilators that were told are coming but havent really started to materialize in large numbers, are they really coming . Will we really get them . Reporter new york now getting the green light to split ventilators if needed. We have approved the technology that allows one ventilator to serve two patients. Its not ideal, but we believe its workable. Reporter the number of patients hospitalized in new york state jumping by 40 in a single day. The line outside elmhurst hospital has been growing throughout the day. Dozens of people, many of them wearing masks, waiting to get inside. Health care workers on the front lines. Mt. Sinai hospital confirming one of its nurses passed away from covid19. Now so many more answering the call. In just the past 24 hours, at least 12,000 retired Health Care Workers offering to pitch in. New York University allowing some of its medical students to graduate early to join the fight. Officials warning, the wave hitting new york will soon crash over other states. In louisiana, a recent spike in cases. Up 28 , the fastest increase anywhere in the world. More than 2,300 people there now testing positive. At least 83 dead. Tonight, in texas, the governor ordering all travelers from new york, new jersey, connecticut and new orleans to selfquarantine for 14 days or face a fine or even jail time. In michigan, cases now soaring into the thousands. Doctors there are feeling it. The additional stress and the initial uncertainty. Reporter dr. Eric johnson making the painful decision to send his two children to live with relatives out of state. Hes in a detroit hospital, 50 to 60 hours per week, worried about infecting his own family. Im definitely seeing the worst cases. Reporter but even as the crisis expands, President Trump is looking to reopen the country soon. Today, sending the nations governors a letter, saying the administration is working on new guidelines categorizing counties as high risk, medium risk or low risk. People want to go back to work. Im hearing it loud and clear from everybody. I think its going to happen pretty quickly. Reporter but one pastor in arkansas with a warning. 37 people in his congregation outside little rock testing positive after attending a childrens event at the church. The pastor, mark palenske, is sick himself. On facebook, telling his members, i would love to have you take this medical threat more seriously. Showing just how quickly this can spread among groups. Whit johnson back with us live tonight. And whit, we all know that new yorks governor has been warning that whats happening in new york city will soon play out around this country. Tonight, some very alarming numbers. Reporter david, thats right. New jerseys governor reporting a jump of more than 2,400 new cases since yesterday, citing its a combination of ramped up testing, but also an increase in community spread. Resources are so stretched thin that at some of the states testing locations, they will soon only test symptomatic Health Care Workers and first responders. David . All right, whit johnson leading us off tonight. Whit, thank you. And of course, we stay on the human toll tonight. Patients across this country, including those five members of one Missouri Family. We have new reporting here on the mother and father both still in the hospital tonight. The names, the faces, the stories from all over this country from matt gutman. Reporter tonight, the virus invading america is taking down entire families. Including five of the seven people in this picture of the weinhaus family, who first started feeling symptoms nearly three weeks ago. My dad, whos on oxygen in the icu currently, and my mom was actually on a ventilator for eight days and now shes on oxygen in the icu, as well. Reporter days after his parents got symptomatic, jason, his brother and sisterinlaw also got sick. The Missouri Family is hopeful for their parents and grateful to their doctors and nurses. What theyre doing on a daily basis, sacrificing their health to save other peoples lives, is truly heroic. Reporter an act of selflessness and necessity also including in new orleans, a new hot spot, where Authorities Say a 17yearold has died, and where there are folks, like jonathan gibson, caring for his toddler, miles, while he carefully cleans the bedroom he shared with his wife, tiffany. Why is it that you call your bedroom with your wife chernobyl . And why do you wear gloves and a mask to go in . It definitely just feels like, you know, somewhere there was a huge schism that shook a lot of lives, you know, and so going in there, it still kind of feels like a war zone. Reporter 34yearold tiffany started feeling symptoms two weeks ago. After ten days and four trips to the e. R. , she was finally admitted with pneumonia, which means jonathan now doesnt have any backup. If you get sick, your son doesnt have anybody else to care for him right now. Yeah. My parents live in mississippi. Reporter alex giles believes he got sick in new orleans at mardi gras, but believes he brought the virus back to the family home in maryland, where his wife danielle has tried to nurse him without going near him. I just delivered alex his food. Say hi to alex. Reporter gingerly delivering food on that ironing board. She hasnt been any closer than 15 feet. The entire family under one roof but only communicating on facetime. I imagine that this is very trying, because youre not only trying to care for your husband who is sick, youre also trying to prevent your kids from getting sick and yourself. You know, how do i keep my kids safe . So, like a mama bear effect, making sure that everything is well. Reporter and tonight, were hearing from Karen Mannering in england. She is fighting for her life and the life of her unborn baby. Youre going to take this home and youre going to kill someone. Just stop going out. Reporter warning everyone to stay inside. We know its a real concern for pregnant women across this country, as well. And matt gutman back with us tonight. Matt, youve been reporting here on former president ial candidate amy klobuchar, who went public with the story of her own husband, who has the virus. He was on oxygen. She wasnt able to visit him in the hospital. And i think she pointed that out, because she knew that so many families are going through this same thing. And you have news from the senator tonight . Reporter in fact, good news, david. John bessler has been released from the hospital. Klobuchars team says hes resting comfortably at home. Now, its important to remind folks that the coronavirus is not a death sentence. 80 of the people who contract it only have mild symptoms and even if you are hospitalized, like bessler, you can recover. David . But weve got to give those hospitals a fighting chance by continuing this social distancing. Matt gutman, thank you for that report again tonight. And the staggering toll, of course, on American Families, even if its not your health, its your job. Millions of workers sudden li without a job in this country, and this number today, and it was historic. Nearly 3. 3 million americans applying for Unemployment Benefits in just one week. So, when is the help coming . Heres Jonathan Karl with answers tonight. Reporter the coronavirus pandemic is taking a staggering toll on american jobs. Nearly 3. 3 million filing unemployment claims in one week. When i heard the number, i mean, it heard it could be 6 million, could be 7 million. Its 3. 3, or 3. 2. But its a lot of jobs. But i think well come back very strong, the sooner we get back to work. Reporter the pain is widespread. As revealed in our new poll, 1 in 3 americans say they or an immediate Family Member have been laid off or lost their job as a result of the pandemic. And more. Half of all surveyed report a cut in pay or work hours. This morning, the treasury secretary said the Staggering Number of new jobless claims will be a temporary phenomenon. To be honest with you, i just think these numbers right now are not relevant and, you know, whether theyre bigger or smaller in the shortterm. Reporter barbara bridges was laid off from her job as a Sales Manager at a hotel in san antonio. Her biggest challenge now . How shes going to cover her 3,000 a month medical expenses. Theres thousands of us in the same situation and were just trying to stay as positive as possible, but its definitely scary. Reporter the 2 trillion recovery package is now headed for a final vote tomorrow, paving the way for payments to American Families. That includes 1,200 payments, plus 500 per child, to individuals earning less than 75,000 a year. Those earning up to 99,000 a year will get a smaller check. And the checks would begin going out at the end of the first week of april. For millions of americans, that help cant come fast enough. Devonne moysee, a single mother of five in north carolina, was about to take a new job when the crisis hit. She has no savings. Without any way to have an income or to make money, were just sitting here pretty much devastated and hoping that the situation, this nightmare, will end. And we will continue with these stories every night here. Jon, we know the u. S. Has now surpassed china and italy, the number of diagnosed cases. We reported that at the top tonight. And the president late today talking about getting people back to work, parts of this country back open . Reporter hes clearly eager to see these restrictions lifted. And today, he was talking again about the idea of seeing the restrictions lifted in parts of the country that have not been hit hard or not as hard as new york or california or Washington State by coronavirus, but of course, david, its hard to know where this virus is going to appear next. No question some difficult days ahead. Jon, thank you. There is a developing headline involving the u. S. Military tonight. At least 23 sailors now testing positive on the Aircraft Carrier the uss theodore roosevelt. Now all 5,000 sailors will be tested. And heres martha raddatz. Reporter tonight, one of americas mightiest warships is docked in guam, with the coronavirus now spreading throughout the carrier. At least 23 of the sailors aboard the roosevelt have tested positive for the virus, transported to a Navy Facility on land where they are quarantined. The 5,000 sailors who remain on the roosevelt will not be allowed to leave the pier, as the navy tries to stop the spread. We are in the process now of testing 100 of the crew of that ship. Reporter but containing it will be a massive challenge. Ive been on those Aircraft Carriers. Like a cruise ship, these are floating cities without the luxuries. The hallways are extremely tight and sleeping berths can house up to 100 sailors. The danger here is that the whole crew becomes infected and the ship is not able to carry out its duties. So, a large part of the u. S. Military might in the pacific could be tied up pierside for weeks. Reporter the navy insists no matter what happens, they can carry out their mission, but the roosevelt was one of only two u. S. Carriers underway in the entire world. They dont know where the infection started. There are flights onto those carriers all the time with passengers and supplies. The carrier had also made a port call about three weeks ago in vietnam. David . All right, martha, thank you. Of course, were thinking about all of those sailors tonight. Thanks, martha. And when we come back, dr. Jen ashton standing by with your questions. If you catch the virus, how long does it last and why do some patients seem to be Getting Better and then suddenly take a dramatic turn for the worse . And could the virus, could there be a second cycle of this in the u. S. . 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