13 things to know for today about coronavirus

Welcome to The Hill’s daily rundown of coronavirus news.

More than 70,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19. President Trump is preparing to wind down the coronavirus task force, and states are reopening their economies despite not seeing declines in the numbers of coronavirus cases.

Here’s what you need to know today… 

In the White House

• The White House is preparing to wind down the coronavirus task force as states start to reopen, even as levels of new cases remain high throughout the United States. Brett Samuels and J. Edward Moreno report.
• The Trump administration’s former vaccine chief repeatedly warned top officials about a shortage of critical resources and supplies for fighting the coronavirus as early as January, but the administration took no action, according to a whistleblower complaint that Rick Bright filed on Tuesday. Nathaniel Weixel reports.
• President Trump said he will let Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious diseases expert, testify in the Senate next week but not the House because he believes it’s full of “Trump haters.” More on Trump’s remarks from Brett.

In Congress

• Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to have senators be tested for coronavirus before they return to their home states to avoid spreading the virus. Alexander Bolton reports.
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans are hitting the breaks on a fifth coronavirus relief bill even as House Democrats are preparing to vote on a yet-to-be unveiled bill as soon as next week. Jordain Carney has the full report.
• A forthcoming House GOP bill would bar workers who fall ill with coronavirus from suing their employers, so long as the company complies with state and federal law as it reopens for business amid loosening health restrictions. John Kruzel has more.

In the states

• As more states allow businesses to reopen, it is black workers who are at highest risk for COVID-19 infection and death, Jessie Hellmann reports.
• New York is reporting an additional 1,700 deaths at nursing homes that were previously undisclosed. Justine Coleman has the rest of the story.
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) says that the rising numbers in U.S. coronavirus death projections are part of the “cost of reopening quickly.” Nathaniel Weixel reports.
• Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced a five-tiered plan where individual regions of the state that successfully “meet certain thresholds over the next few weeks,” will be allowed to open state parks and nonessential businesses, with limited public gatherings of no more than 10 people. Read Zack Budryk’s report for more.

Other news

• The dire forecast of up to 3,000 deaths a day from Johns Hopkins University included in leaked government documents was not meant to be used for official forecasts. Brett Samuels has more.
• The latest flash point in the coronavirus debate is the models themselves, with particular scrutiny on a prominent model from the University of Washington. Reid Wilson reports.
• One in five Wendy’s locations is out of beef due to shortages spurred by the coronavirus, meaning roughly 1,000 of the stores are not selling hamburgers. Marty Johnson reports.