right now on "america this morning," the new research on coronavirus prompting new questions from president trump. >> i said supposing you brought the light inside the body. >> from uv light to the president's question about injecting disinfectants, our medical experts weigh in, plus, new details about how soon a vaccine could be available. back in business. >> my book is already full. >> the new move today to re-open stores in several states, but this morning, not everyone is on board. looking for help. 26 million americans losing their jobs in recent weeks and now the staggering number of people who file for unemployment benefits that still haven't received any payments. remarkable recovery. how one man beat the coronavirus odds after more than three weeks

on a ventilator. doctor's best friend. the robotic dog helping health care workers on the front lines. and a creative update to a classic board game keeping one family on the move during the lockdown. good friday morning, everyone. president trump is praising new research on the coronavirus saying it offers new hope as we approach a grim new milestone. >> today the u.s. death toll from the virus will reach 50,000 people. it was back on april 6th when we first hit 10,000 deaths, and as you can see, the number has been rising by 10,000 every week. just yesterday california reported its deadliest day so far. >> here in new york this is one of the youngest faces of the victims. the 5-month-old daughter of a new york city firefighter has passed away. she had a pre-existing heart condition. at the white house briefing, president trump said the u.s. is doing a, quote, great job on testing. he disagreed with dr. anthony

fauci's statement that the testing is not where it needs to be. >> the president also suggested using light and disinfectants as a treatment, and that's where we begin our coverage this morning. this morning, president trump sparking concern in the medical community asking about the possibility of injecting coronavirus patients with disinfectant. >> and then i see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning. >> reporter: the president's question last night was immediately challenged by doctors. >> while this virus is certainly sensitive to many different disinfectants like isopropyl alcohol and bleach, we certainly -- there is no protocols where we would consider injecting any of those substances into us, and the risks would almost certainly outweigh the benefits. >> reporter: trump also

suggested the idea of treating patients with uv light. >> so supposing we hit the body with a tremendous -- whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and then i said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. >> reporter: those comments quickly drawing skepticism from medical professionals. >> if the president thinks that tanning beds are going to cure the coronavirus, he's mistaken. >> reporter: the president is growing more confident that summer heat will weaken the coronavirus. >> the findings confirm that the virus survives better in cold or in drier environments. >> reporter: according to homeland security department scientists, the virus struggles in warm and humid weather on nonporous surfaces and in the air. >> but now you inject the sun, the half life goes from six hours to two minutes. that's how much of an impact uv rays has on the virus. >> reporter: but scientists also point to the coronavirus spreading in warmer climates like in singapore where the number of cases recently doubled. back in the u.s. vice president mike pence is making this

optimistic prediction as 23 states show a decline in cases. >> if we continue these mitigation efforts in the days ahead, as states implement their policies including phased re-opening that will preserve those gains, we do believe by early summer we could be in a much better place as a nation. with much of this coronavirus epidemic behind us. >> reporter: many experts say the only way life can return to normal is with the coronavirus vaccine. at oxford university the first human trials are now under way. researchers believe they'll be able to determine the vaccine's effectiveness possibly by september. >> well, personally i have a high degree of confidence about this vaccine because it's technology that i've used before. >> reporter: and now word the virus may have spread more widely in new york than first thought. a preliminary study tested thousands of people at grocery stores for coronavirus antibodies. the finding, one in seven people in the state may have already had the virus. in new york city, it's even

higher, one in five. >> i think it confirms the point that it spread faster, and it got here earlier than we originally believed.hoyose travel bans in retrospect made a difference? >> well, in retrospect, closing the door on china, yeah, that makes sense, but it had already left china. closing the door on china, the virus was already out. you know, it's closing the barn door when the horse is gone. >> reporter: regarding the antibody study in new york, it's important to note that only people outside grocery stores were tested, not a random sample of the population. and another major meet packing has shut down because of a coronavirus outbreak. more than 90 employees at the tyson plant in washington state have tested positive. tyson says the plant produces enough beef in one day to feed 4 million people. beef and pork production have reportedly dropped by at least 20% due to plant closures across the country.

now to the battle over re-opening the economy. several states including georgia are taking a major step this morning, but not everyone is on board. here's abc's megan tevrizian. >> reporter: this morning gyms, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys in georgia opening their doors for the first time in weeks. >> we're shutting down in between the other lanes so at the closest anybody will actually be to your group is 11 feet. >> reporter: the state's governor easing coronavirus restrictions beginning today giving businesses the green light to re-open. >> we don't even let people inside the building anymore. >> reporter: but the reaction from small business owners is mixed. >> we're putting, you know, people over profit at the end of the day. >> reporter: some saying they aren't taking any chances. >> i just would never feel comfortable if anything ever happened to any of my clients because they came in my salon. >> reporter: while others say they are eager to safely get back to business. >> we are not using our snack bar. we're not using our lounge. we're not using the arcade. >> i wasn't happy with brian kemps.

spas, beauty parlors, tattoo parlors, no. >> reporter: even president trump, who is encouraging states to ease restrictions, is calling out georgia's governor for opening up too much too soon. >> i said, you do what you think is best, but if you ask me am i happy about it, i'm not happy about it. >> reporter: safety recommendations during the pandemic are constantly changing. just yesterday one study said states like texas and south carolina could begin to re-open by june 1st, but 24 hours later, distancing measures should stay in place for at least another 6 1/2 weeks. >> my book is already full. >> reporter: and georgia is not alone in its quest to re-open. salons in oklahoma already have full schedules beginning today while tennessee promises to lift restrictions by thursday. >> everybody needs to go back to work. everybody wants to go back to work. >> reporter: and in texas, restrictions may still be in place, but some businesses say they can't stay closed another

day. >> we have to open. we have to survive, and that's what we're doing. >> reporter: the naacp is calling on georgia branches to defy the governor and maintain the shelter in place orders. the overall covid-19 death rate in georgia is 4%, but for black covid-19 patients, it's more than 9%. kenneth, mona. >> megan, thank you. an er nurse in boston is finally home after a grueling battle with coronavirus. co-workers cheered as debby buonopane left the hospital after nine long days. she received a police escort home, and her neighbors gave her a well-deserved hero's welcome. >> i'm used to caring for people. and which was on the other side, i can't breathe and i'm dependent on a nurse and a doctor and medication to help me breathe and it was really hard. >> buonopane says she can't wait to go back to work to care for other patients with the same compassion her colleagues showed

her. and a special homecoming in new jersey. michael goldsmith's neighbors welcomed him home. the 34-year-old father and husband spent 22 days on a ventilator battling the coronavirus. at one point he had a 105-degree fever. his 9-year-old son joey shared news about the tooth that he lost, and his 6-year-old daughter sophia wrote a thank you note to the doctors. time now for a look at your weather for this friday morning. multiple tornadoes have touched down in southern georgia, and at least one hit last night near tallahassee, florida. damage is extensive but so far no deaths or injuries reported. cleanup is under way in southeastern texas where a tornado damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. seven people died in wednesday's twisters. more damaging winds, hail and possible tornadoes are expected today from florida to the carolinas. and people from d.c. to boston can expect rain this morning as

we start the beginning of the ramadan for muslims across the country. coming up, the big changes that could be coming to the post office. but first the staggering number of americans who have applied for unemployment benefits and still haven't received their first payment. and later, the robotic dog that's helping to fight ♪ every day it's getting closer ♪ ♪ going faster than a roller coaster ♪

♪ a love like yours will surely come my way ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey ♪ every day it's getting closer ♪ ♪ going faster than a roller coaster ♪ ♪ a love like yours will surely come my way ♪ ♪ hey, hey, hey babies aren't fully developed until at least 39 weeks, which means babies born even a few weeks early can have breathing, feeding, and learning problems. if your pregnancy is healthy, wait for labor to begin on its own. a healthy baby is worth the wait. -hi, america. -hey, there, america. -hi, america. -hi, america. during this crisis... over 37 million people... don't have access... to nutritious foods.

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unemployment skyrockets, there are growing concerns about the number of americans applying for unemployment benefits who still haven't received a single penny. here's abc's alex presha. >> reporter: this morning, tempers flaring across the country. >> i call again. i call again, and it's frustrating because i can't get answers. >> reporter: the number of unemployed americans jumping by another 4.4 million in the last week as states struggle to keep up with claims. >> i've applied for unemployment but it's taking a while so just need the help. >> reporter: since march more than 26 million people have applied for benefits, but many states have processed only a fraction of their applications. >> the days keep going by, and i have responsibilities to take care of. >> reporter: in florida more than 90% of people seeking aid are still waiting for their first payment from the state. >> we don't want to hear any re. we don't want to hear it. >> reporter: angry and out of work, applicants are calling hundreds of times each day desperate for some kind of financial help.

>> we have no more patience. we have nothing more to give. we want our money now. >> the house will be in order. >> reporter: this comes as business owners await new aid from washington. >> it really kind of changed my life drastically because one minute you have something and the next minute you don't. >> reporter: house speaker nancy pelosi wearing a homemade mask in the capitol wiped down her podium before addressing a nearly empty house chamber before praising the approval of the fourth funding bill for small businesses. >> we have to be as bipartisan as we can possibly be. >> reporter: but the relief bill not without controversy. >> this is it, madam speaker. enough. no more half-ass legislating. no more picking winners and losers. >> reporter: the treasury is now banning publicly traded companies from applying for the loans after some big named chains received tens of millions of dollars from the first relief package. they're now giving back the money. >> we're the ones that keep this economy going, and we're the little companies that need help, not the big boys. >> reporter: meanwhile, many

state governments are running up massive debts. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell has suggested that states in need of a bailout should consider filing for bankruptcy. minority leader chuck schumer responded saying that would put the jobs of police, firefighters and teachers at risk. kenneth and mona. >> alex reporting from washington there, thank you. the trump administration may soon force some changes to be made at the u.s. postal service as part of an emergency coronavirus loan. "the washington post" reports the changes could include increasing what the post office charges for package delivery and allowing the white house to have more influence over hiring senior officials. president trump has been highly critical of the postal service saying it's being exploited by companies like amazon and fedex. breaking overnight, jcpenney has reportedly entered advanced bankruptcy talks. the company has been losing money for years and suffered another setback because of the coronavirus shutdown. and coming up, the robotic dog helping to protect nurses in the hospital. also ahead, a plan to use drones to check people's

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back now with the iowa family making the best of all their time together. they used chalk to create a neighborhood monopoly game. it took them about four hours to get all of this done. the game even included giant dice and, of course, free parking. >> okay. a new plan to use drones to fight the coronavirus will not be taking flight. we told you earlier this week that police in westport connecticut were planning to test so-called pandemic drones to monitor people's temperatures and detect coughs and sneezes in public. but after an outpouring of criticism including concerns about privacy, the police department has now scrapped the idea. a four-legged robot is helping to protect health care workers on the front lines in boston. the latest addition to the emergency department at brigham and women's hospital is a dog-like robot from boston dynamics. its name iot a health care worker controls spot from outside a patient's

room. an ipad attached to spot allows doctors to access the patient's symptoms reducing the amount of person-to-person contact. and, get this, a thermal camera could also check patients' vital signs. >> it would understand if i have a fever, if my heart rate is too high or my oxygen level is, everything done without having exposure of a provider to somebody who is potentially ill. >> people looking at this, they feel excited. they don't feel scared. >> reporter: boston dynamics also hopes to use spot to disinfect hospitals. because of the coronavirus shutdowns most college students are finishing up the school year from home attending classes online. that includes william taylor who is now attending class at the virginia military institute from a tent on his parent's farm. his parents don't have wi-fi, so he had to set up camp where he could get a signal. come on, mom and dad. give us wi-fi. >> he even got a heater in there. >> uh-huh. do what you got to do.

well, coming up, tom brady gets lost. plus, a very unusual nfl draft. we'll be right back.

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we are back now with the most unusual nfl draft ever. team executives selected their new players from their home offices. >> and the commissioner announced them from his basement. will ganss has the highlights. >> i join you from my home for the first virtual nfl draft. >> reporter: the 2020 nfl draft unlike the major productions of years past. >> the arizona cardinals select kyler murray, quarterback, oklahoma. >> reporter: this year nfl commish roger goodell swapping the big show for his basement. >> draft day 2020, much different than we ever imagined, but it's going to be fun. >> reporter: goodell telling us why the show had to go on.

>> we need something to look forward to and to bring us together with optimism and hope, and that's what the draft really is, hope. >> reporter: and so it did. >> the cincinnati bengals select joe burrow, quarterback, lsu. >> reporter: pick after pick celebrating from home with their families dressing down in sweats, t-shirts, some players getting really comfy. henry ruggs drafted by the raiders in a robe far from the high fashion looks we're used to until the fifth pick, tua tagovailoa. >> he's got a nice lining to the jacket right now. >> reporter: and some funny moments throughout the night. when he was shown at home in a mask, fans tweeting, giants gm dave gettleman confusing the coronavirus with the computer virus, and when jeff okudah was selected, his younger brother at at the front right getting up and walking out of the room. someone tweeting, jeff okudah's little brother was like, congrats, bro, jumping back on call of duty. in reality he was getting his brother a giants hat. and hugs like this one but it also took time to pay tribute to

those aren't relaxing at home watching this year's draft. ♪ home of the brave >> reporter: the nfl urging fans to donate to its pandemic relief fund, meanwhile, it was so fun seeing into so many players' living rooms. one posted about joe burrow, i hope he treats his parents to new curtains. >> whoa. i guess everybody is a decor critic now. >> leave that woman alone. well, we're going to go back to the 2000 nfl draft, pick number 199, tom brady. >> look at that sports knowledge. >> google. >> we know that brady recently moved to tampa, and he's apparently having a tough time getting around and accidentally walked into the wrong person's house the other day. he thought it was his coach's house, but it was the neighbor's house. the owner said he'll never forget brady's face when he realized he chose the wrong door. brady was also seen at a park closed because of the coronavirus. he posted a message saying trespassing in parks, breaking and entering, just making myself

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stuffy head, best sleep with a cold, medicine. now your health, your safety, this is abc7 news. making news at 4:27, happening right now, a major construction project is about to be under way in san francisco. caltrans is taking advantage of our stay-at-home orders. coronavirus testing is expanding in the bay area. volunteers are going door to door to let people know who qualifies. orders to stay at home face a big challenge this weekend because we are in for a couple summer-like days. while that is always a good thing, a lot of things we have to remember in this age of social distancing. good morning, everyone. friday, april 24th. i'm checking in with mike. how nice is it going to be, mike? >> oh, my goodness, kumasi. the temptation overwhelming for some and hopefully they don't get into too much trouble.

mid 70s in san francisco and 80s around the bay and even a 90 or two in our inland neighborhood. hope you're having a good friday morning, hi, everybody. live doppler 7. pretty quiet. little bit of fog trying to form along the peninsula coast and afternoon hours total sunshine and breezy along the coast keeping you right near 70 as we hit that 75 in san francisco and upper 70s in places like richmond, oakland and san mateo and the mid to 80s inland and look at that, 90 in fairfield today for our warm spot. cooler weather coming this weekend and a surge towards these temperatures next week. the latest accuweather seven-day forecast coming up. some of the nice weather that mike is talking about that we're expecting over the weekend, a lot of people want to be outside. governor newsom says we need to keep on social distancing and warning we are not in the clear just yet. julian glover is live with more

on this. >> if morning, kumasi. the bottom line is that the governor is saying we are not quite out yet. we're seeing a couple good indications here in the state of california, but he wants to make sure we're being smart as we get out and about and enjoy this beautiful weekend we have in store. on thursday he understands one of the nicest weekends we've seen across the state in california in quite some time perhaps even since last summer and people want to go on a run or hit up that beach or maybe head to the playground, that's fine. but the governor stresses we have to keep our distance from others so we don't see a spike in new coronavirus infections. >> anticipate there will be significant increase in volume. but i also think if there is and people aren't practicing physical distancing, i'll be announcing in a week or so these numbers going back up. i don't think anybody wants to hear that. >> we certainly don't. across the bay area, health and law enforcement officers, they

want you to keep it close to home. don't come to the beaches of pacifica if you don't live within five miles. hundreds of people were ordered off the beaches and some given verben warnings for violating shelter-in-place orders just last weekend. the number of people being hospitalized and those being treated in the intensive care units. both of those numbers beginning to see a decrease across the state of california. hopefully stay that way as we get out and about and enjoy what should definitely be a gorgeous weekend. we're live this morning, i'm julian glover. happening now, final preparations under way in san francisco a major construction project along highway 101 that has been rescheduled because of shelter-in-place. it crosses interstate 280 and since so many working from home, lighter traffic is allowing cal trans to speed up the rebuilding of the overpass. cal trans biggest project of the year was setor