11 things to know for today about coronavirus

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

The death toll from the novel coronavirus has surpassed 80,000 people in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the White House has instituted a mask policy for all employees to prevent the virus from racing through those working in the building. Two staff members have tested positive, including Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, but President Trump said Monday he didn’t see any sort of systemic breakdowns.

Trump also said during a Rose Garden press conference Monday his administration had “prevailed” on testing.

Earlier in the day he tweeted support for protests against Pennsylvania’s governor and the state’s stay-at-home order.

In the White House 

• White House officials working in the West Wing are being asked to wear masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to a memo distributed to staffers on Monday. Read more from Brett Samuels.
• The White House is encouraging — but not requiring — states to test all nursing home staff and residents for the novel coronavirus. Nursing homes have been devastated by the virus, and many were unable or unwilling to conduct tests. Morgan Chalfant has the story.   
• President Trump is backing Pennsylvanians opposed to that state’s coronavirus restrictions. “The great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails,” Trump tweeted. Brett Samuels reports. 

In Congress 

• House Democrats are charging ahead this week with the next round of emergency coronavirus relief, even as the White House and Senate Republicans say it’s too soon for another bill. Mike Lillis and Scott Wong have the details on what House Democrats are expected to include in their bill. 
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he’s in “constant communication” with the White House about additional coronavirus relief but “I don’t think we have felt the urgency of acting immediately.” Congress has appropriated $3 trillion in coronavirus response funding already. Jordain Carney has the story here. 
• Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) will self-quarantine after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus. Irony? He’s virtually chairing a Senate health committee hearing this week titled: “COVID-19: Safely getting back to work and back to school.” Jordain has more here. 

State news  

• New York City saw 24,000 more deaths than were expected between March and early May, due to the coronavirus and its effects on the health care system, according to a report issued Monday by the city’s health department. Read more here from Jessie Hellmann. 
• As deaths, cases and hospitalizations continue to fall, some areas of New York state will be allowed to reopen Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Monday. That doesn’t include New York City. Jessie has the story here. 
• Coronavirus is spreading in states even as they prepare to reopen. A new analysis shows two-thirds of Americans live in counties with a high prevalence of spread. Reid Wilson reports.
• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) warned Monday that counties that disobey state directives and allow businesses to reopen could lose access to federal stimulus funding. Read more here from John Bowden.
• The governors of Illinois and Iowa will self-quarantine after having contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases.