and local officials are taking drastic new measures to keep cases down erin mclaughlin reports. >> reportertonight for the first time in u.s. history a major disaster declared for all 50 states, this as concern grows over emerging hot spots. >> covid-19 is becoming like a sniper in the viral war, silently taking out health care workers. >> reporter: covid infections on the rise in states like north carolina, and pennsylvania saturday announcing more than 1,600 new cases and at least 70 new deaths as cases rise in philadelphia, a shocking encounter caught on video. even though there's no law mandating passengers must wear masks police drag a man off a bus for not having one. following the incident local transport authority says it will no longer enforce the policy encouraging riders to wear masks. this as states double down on social distancing. >> now is no time to relax the social distancing. >> reporter: some introducing new and tougher restrictions friday evening los angeles extended its stay at home order until may 15th, the longest of any city also closing all parks and masks mandatory

we have a lot to cover tonight, with our correspondents, and begin with erin mclaughlin in los angeles.>> reporter: tonight across the country, more protests cant [ chanting ] >> reporter: calls to end economic lockdowns. >> freedom is what we want it's what we demand. >> reporter: protests fueled by the president himself. calling for states such as michigan hard hit by covid-19, to be liberated. some labeling the president's response dangerous. and clashing with his own guidelines >> under those guidelines, you need to see a decline in the infections and fatalities that simply has not happened yet. >> reporter: this as some governors say, before they can begin to re-open, more testing capacity is needed, calling on the federal government to help. >> we are fighting a biological war we have been asked, by the way, as governors to fight that war without the supplies we need. >> every governor ina s been pushing and fighting and clawing to get more tests >> reporter: sunday morning, president trump telling governors to step up vice president pence saying there is a sufficient testing >>

at risk as infection rates rise so too does the need for ventilators and masks already in >> erin mclaughlin in los angeles,esent trump had a stark warning that the next two weeks will be the worst yet. he also pushed back on those claims from governors that they're not getting enough supply kelly o'donnell is at the white house tonight. kelly? >> reporter: good evening, jose. tonight amid dire predictions about the expected loss of life over the next week or two, the president used his on camera briefing late today to reason the kind of urgency to open the country and rurp to work that he exhibited before he decided to extend the social distancing guidelines through the end of this month he said difficult decisions will have to be made. and while the states in those hottest spots scramble for supplies and lifesaving equipment, the president stressed the federal government is helping with major resources, but he also criticized governors for what he says were inflated requests for equipment beyond the state's actual needs. >> everybody has proper intentions, but they want to make sure they'r

erin mclaughlin, nbc news, los angeles. >>> when we come back, high-tech house calls.look at which kind of medical problems can be treated without ever leaving home. >>> and this moment that unites us, a entire neighborhood honoring a nurse in maryland as she leaves for a long shift at the hospital >> hey, maura, we love you! >>> we're back now with the future of medicine with so many routine medical and dental visits off limits for right now doctors are finding new ways to treat their patients dr. john torres tells us what you need to do from afar, and when you need to be seen in person >> reporter: with drs. across the country now in the battle of covid-19, fear of catching coronavirus is keeping other patients away. now more than ever, they're turning to healthcare consultations of a different type >> mr. mcgee, how are you doing? >> reporter: it's called telemedicine, virtual visits on computers, even smartphones. it's not new, but the advancement and availability of technology pushed it into overdrive >>e' wve had over 5,000 visits over the past month. >> reporter

here's erin mclaughlin >> reporter: flying this a time of covid-19. empty planes, falling prices and an industry in crisis. the flight attendants it its on, vulnerable and feeling forgotten. >> we are risking our lives too. >> reporter: united americans joined jetblue to require flight attendants wear masks. no such requirements for passengers and other employees >> i do hope it gets to the point if you're not willing to wear a mask, you're not willing to travel. >> reporter: on my way to seattle for an assignment, i boarded the flight and expected, the situation is pretty empty. and on the return a stark contrast more passengers, many without masks and no guidance on how to safely social distance across the country, similar stories. the association of flight attendants is is pushing for all leisure travel to end until the virus is contained they are also demanding legislation mandating masks for crew, employees and passengers >> just asking flight attendants to wear a mask is not enough but the bottom line is it reduces your risk of getting b inbfect

jose >> erin mclaughlin in los angeles, thank you >>> the economic ripple effects of coronavirus haven hitting millions of americans. now struggling to simply put food on the family table. morgan chesky tonight with the challenges of feeding america. >> reporter: tonight in the growing fate facing millions of americans. lines stretching from coast to coast from families trying to find their next meal >> thank you have a good day. >> reporter: in fort worth texas, elizabeth lewis hernandez went through this line for the first time the fresh food a blessing for her family after being laid off as a waitress. if you didn't have a place like this, what would you do >> i don't know. i've never been in a type of this situation like this i've always been able to support myself, support my family it's a lot different right now. >> reporter: those helping are feeling the difference, too. at food banks staff boxes up about a million meals a week the big question, how to keep up with demand. >> we have no idea when the supply will run out. so we're 4 weeks into this and we're 60% above our normal

joining me is nbc news correspondent erin mclaughlin live in seattle. in, i know you've gotten a first look at how this would incrementally go. in some cases, look, seattle and san francisco and l.a. have had a different experience than portland. there's still some differences in how the three states may treat their situations. >> yeah, that's rirkts chuck. but at the same time, they all seem to be in agreement that their economies are not ready to reopen at this point. i was just speaking to seattle's mayor jenny durkin, and she was telling me that seattle needs to remain closed for now. yes, they've seen progress here in washington. they've seen a flattening of the curve. they may even be on the down side of the curve but they're still seeing community transmission. there are still small outbreaks. in one hospital here in seattle just this week, 14 medical workers diagnosed with covid-19. some of them asymptomatic. durkin says reopening now would risk devastation. take a listen. >> we've got to continue this activity and this behavior because, if we do

joining us now is nbc news corinth erin mclaughlin from studio city, california. so, erin, what is the governor's plan and when does he expect it to begin? >> reporter: the plan is currently under way. he plans to reopen the state in four phases. currently the states at phase one which is to build up contact tracing, build up testing and get those transmission rates down. then within weeks, the state he said would be ready for phase two. earlier on "today," nbc savannah guthrie asked him about that. take a listen. >> you've said it's weeks, not months, before some return, some reopening. what do you mean by that. >> in a few weeks we believe we can modify our stay-at-home order and expand the notion of what is available in manufacturing and low jigistics retail stores. when do we get the kids back in school safely and start the next school year earlier in the state of california. >> reporter: he also said that he expects other businesses such as restaurants, hair salons to be able to reopen in months, but no concrete time line as yet. >> erin mclaughlin, thank you.

nbc news correspondent erin mclaughlin standing by. erin, a couple of points, number one, at this time when the president appears to be fixing for a fight with the nation's governors, we were reminded, just listening to the california governor, what an important role they're now playing in the life of their states. washington state is no different, and on top of that, washington state as our first national hot spot, now has lessons to teach the rest of us, sadly. >> reporter: that's right, brian. in washington state, of course, part of the pact, that west coast pact with oregon and california. i was speaking earlier with the seattle mayor, and she was echoing much of what we just heard there from california governor gavin newsom, that the economy here is not ready to reopen, given the situation. yes, washington, as the state has been seen as a success story. social distancing has worked here. they've been able to flatten the curve. they've even said that they believe that that curve is on the decline. but still, derkin telling me it's n

hans nichols is at the white house and erin mclaughlin and ron allen. news reporting the white house is looking at may 1st as a possible day to reopen parts of the economy. walk us through what we're learning. >> reporter: i'd swap out possible with planned. that's the target date that some in the administration want to hit. they're expecting that may 1st is going to be the day they open up the economy. the question is, on what scale? will it be regional? will it be granular? will it be some sort of rolling situation like you've heard from dr. fauci? the president according to some sources wants to have a big opening. but all the other officials that we're talking to want to have this be rolled out more slowly. you heard from dr. reddfield earlier today, he's laying down an important marker. he's saying it's going to be difficult to open up the economy unless you have a test, a blood test, on a widespread level to know just who has been affected and who hasn't. so there's some public markers that they're putting outside. there's a debate inside the admi

let's go to erin mclaughlin in california. the governor still voicing major concerns about moving too fast. >> reporter: that's right, ayman. he said moving too quickly could reverse important, hard-earned progress. that said, california's state governor says that the state could be weeks away from easing some restrictions, mainly involving so-called low-risk businesses, things like manufacturing, retail could be allowed to go, parks could reopen. things like restaurants, clubs, things like beauty salons, that's months away. this morning in an interview with the "today" show, he said that he does feel pressure by other states lifting restrictions more aggressively. take a listen. >> there's no question it puts pressure. idaho i'd be lying to suggest otherwise. i don't dismisses any of those points of criticism, but one thing i will dismisses is the pressure as points of guidance. it will be data and health that guide our decision-making. >> reporter: now, he did say that schools such as the one behind me could reopen as early

let's turn now to seattle and nbc news correspondent erin mclaughlin. there's new evidence that the peak of the covid crisis in washington state was back in march, on march 28 to be exact. what does that mean for the re-opening of washington? >> reporter: that's good news for the state of washington. recent studies show that transmission rates here are down, way down, approaching critical thresholds and authorities are now looking at plans to re-open the economy while keeping everyone safe. five weeks ago covid-19 ravaged a washington nursing home. a grim warning the global pandemic had arrived in the united states. now, the situation's improving and washington is desperate to get back to business, but the disease is still here. >> it's a marathon. it's not a sprint. we are not really even halfway through even though we've hit the peak. >> reporter: seattle mayor jenny durkin wants the number of new cases near zero before beginning to open the economy. >> maybe things like the construction industry, certain parts of it people can get back to work becaus

let's go over to the west coast to erin mclaughlin in seattle.ashington joining oregon and california in a coordinated approach to reopening their economy. similar to what we heard from the connecticut governor out here on the east coast yesterday. you've been talking with the mayor of seattle. how does she want to see this play out for her city? >> reporter: ayman, the mayor says she wants to see a slow phased approach based on science. she also said that seattle is not ready to reopen. washington, yes, has flattened the curve, maybe even be on the downside of the curve, but they're still seeing community spread. just this week, the university of washington announcing 14 medical workers diagnosed with covid-19, some of them asymptomatic. she said reopening the economy now risks devastation. take a listen. >> we've got to continue this activity and this behavior. if we don't, then we'll see a spike and everybody knows, we've really depleted our health care workers and our equipment and all those safeguards that we had, we didn't have enough to be

never have before we have several reports tonight from across the country let's start with nbc's erin mclaughlin>> reporter: tonight a warning from the world health organization, covid-19, the deadly virus may be here to stay >> we think it's going to be a virus that stalks the human race for quite a long time to come. until we can all have a vaccine that will protect us. >> reporter: disheartening news but across the country, a brighter picture. the rate of hospitalizations is down and the pace the peak. >> reporter: proof people say social distancing is working in places like louisiana. once at risk of running out of hospital beds, now according to governor, the state is in a better place. >> we certainly are waiting for the next wave it seems our numbers are down. >> reporter: earlier today pennsylvania announced more than 1,000 new cases and more than 13 dead. among the hardest hit, the nation's nursing homes. in anderson, indiana, 24 died after the virus tore through the bethany point health campus, days after vietnam vet bill reed left the center, he was killed by covid-19 >> it's hard for

>> all right, from that let's cross over to seattle, washington, bring in erin, mclaughlin.hat a return to normal may look like if things get under way there. erin, good morning. give us the perspective of how things might be in a place that has at least believed to have turned the corner. >> reporter: good morning, eamon. there's some good news here in seattle. studies show that transmission rates are down. social distancing is working and now leaders are looking at ways to reopen the economy without losing lives. five weeks ago, covid-19 ravaged a washington nursing home. a grim warning the global pandemic had arrived in the united states. now the situation's improving, and washington is desperate to get back to business. but the disease is still here. >> it's a marathon. it's not a sprint. we are not really even half way through it, even though we hit the peak. >> reporter: seattle mayor jenny durkin wants the number of new cases near zero before beginning to open the economy. >> maybe the things like the construction industry, certain parts of it, people can come back to

the surgeon general comparing the deaths to some of the worst attacks every on american soil erin mclaughlin has more >> reporter: officials are warning that the worst is just days away. across the country hospitals scramble for medical supplies and people to help from general, that dire warning >> the next week is going to be our pearl harbor moment. it's going to be our 9/11 moment it's going to be the hardest moment for many americans in their entire lives >> reporter: health officials telling everyone to avoid leaving the house at all costs if you absolutely have to go out, wear a mask and keeyo a mo >> reporter: this as the death toll tops 9,000. >> this is essentially what it feels like to be a wartime situation. >> reporter: a doctor on the front lines in michigan, health officials caution is just cay days away from reaching a deadly peak >> we are struggling to get it you were under control >> reporter: shortages exist including masks. the state of louisiana about to run out of hospital beds there's a huge need for doctors and nurses critical to the fight. >> every single mind and bo

the country are defying social distancing guidelines calling for an end to stay-at-home orders erin mclaughlin joins us. >> reporter: cori, it was a weekend of discontent. protests across the country, some say provoke the by president trump, this as governors are calling on the federal government to help with covid-19 testing across the country, more protests capping a weekend of discontent [ crowd chanting ] >> reporter: calls to end economic lockdown. >> freedom is what we want >> reporter: protests fueled by the president himself calls for states such as michigan, hard hit by covid-19, to be liberated. some labeling the president's response dangerous and clashing with his own guidelines. >> under those guidelines, you need to see a decline in the infections and fatalities. that simply has not happened yet. >> reporter: this as some state governors say before they can begin to re-open more testing capacity is needed calling on the federal government to help. >> we're fighting a biological war, we've been asked by the way as governors to fight that war without the supplies we need >> every go

now hitting that grim our team is spread out across the country ane begin with nbc news' erin mclaughlin >> reporter: tonight from the surgeon general, a dire warning. >> next week will be our pearl harbor, our 9/11 moment, it will be the hardest moment for many americans and their entire lives. >> reporter: health officials telling everyone to avoid leaving the house at all costs if you absolutely have to go out, wear a mask and keep your distance >> this is a moment to not be going to the grocery store, to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe. >> reporter: this as a national death toll tops 9,000. >> this is war this is essentially what it feels to be like a war time physician. >> reporter: from the doctor on the front lines in michigan. one of the hot spots health officials claim is days away from reaching a deadly peak. >> we are struggling to get it under control. >> reporter: shortages of supplies persist, including masks, ventilators the state of louisiana about to run out of hospital beds there is also a huge need for doctors and nu

it's part of a report from erin mclaughlin. >> reporter: a study from stanford university tested 3300 people in santa claire county, an early virus hot spot. up to 4% of county has covid-19 antibodies. proteins produced after infection from the virus. injecting a number of cases could be up to 85 times higher than the official count. >> joining me is a public health practice from johns hopkins. thank you forring with here. let's get to the results of the study. 48,000 and 81,000 people might have been affected with covid-19 in santa claire county alone, which is far higher than the official numbers. what are your thoughts on that? >> these studies are very important to understand how far the virus has reached within different communities. there's actually data in new york. but still 5% of the population is not that many. which is the reason why we still need social distancing restrictions because if you want to release them, the others would be at risk. >> what about the testing though? how widespread should that be before we begin to reopen the country? should we, can we test everyon

. >>> let's head across the country to erin mclaughlin in seattle where the good news is the worst appears to be over. erin, washington was once the epicenter of this virus. what are officials focused on now? >> well, they're focusing now, stephanie, on what happens next. how to potentially reopen the economy, but at this point, officials saying they're not there yet. as you say, washington once the epicenter of this crisis in this country. now seeing a flatter curve thanks to early social distancing. thanks to aggressive testing. but authorities recognize that's a stopgap, not a solution. take a listen to what one doctor on the front lines had to say. >> right now we don't have a bigger picture of how this pandemic is going to kind of trail off. and that's the part that worries me is what we do to make sure that things don't get worse. >> that's dr. alexander adame. i've been speaking to him throughout this crisis in the early days when he told me they were rationing ppe at this hospital. he saw a crush of patients. he's very concerned about the possibility of more outbreaks should those

erin mclaughlin is joining us live from one 69 hospitals. >> reporter: officials point to the state of washington as an example of how to deal with the pandemic with aggressive testing and early action on the part of the leaders for social distancing measures. but i can tell you, speaking to doctors here in seattle, they are absolutely exhausted and bracing for what might happen next. take a listen. >> but right now, we don't have a clearer picture of how this pandemic is going to kind of trail off, and that is the part that worries me is what we do to make sure that things don't get worse. >> reporter: social distancing, ari, is not a solution, it's not a silver bullet solution to this but simply a stopgap. what happens next? when you consider the rates of cases is sort of flat lining here. they are still seeing cases, 180 new cases just yesterday which sends the signal that there is still community transmission here in washington and as long as that continues, the question being how do you reopen the economy? no easy answers at this point. ari? >> thank you, erin. >>> sailors assigne

. >> erin mclaughlin there in los angeles, thank you. let's turn now to paula madrid, a clinical psychologist, board certified expert in trauma and stress. she's going to be with us for the hour. paula, let's start where we just left off there. as you know, with virtually every school in this country closed right now, millions of parents are dealing with the stress of having to home school their children. what advice do you have for these parents dealing with this every day, paula? >> i think it's a very stressful time. the most important thing is to acknowledge that it is a time of change, that we're going to need to establish more routines than ever before, and that we will do our very best. we need to be kind with one another and realize we'll do the very best we can and we'll take it from there. >> so just acknowledging the stress is a good place to start. but what about after that? >> in terms of -- i think acknowledging the stress, of course, is the number one thing that we need to do. it's important, too, to begin to have conversa

. >>> for more on what the state governors are doing, let's go to erin mclaughlin in seattle. what is the plan? we're seeing a multistate governor coalition out there. >> that's right. the plan is to work together. the states of washington, oregon and california have announced a pact similar to a pact announced there in the northeastern part of the country. they are going to be looking at ways to reopen the economy, but all three of them so far agreeing now is not the time. yesterday i was talking to the mayor of seattle. she says that reopening the economy now risks making a devastating situation. take a listen. >> all those same modelers tell fuss we were to let up on restrictions now, we could see a spike that was higher than our last peak. and so just as people are feeling tired and they want relief, we can't let up. we have to keep going. we have to double down because the risk is as real today as it was five weeks ago. >> jenny durkin wants to go on a sector by sector basis. first, she wants to see the number of infections, the number of cases here in seattle go to zero

erin mclaughlin is in los angeles with more on that. good morning to you. >> good morning, kristen.ere in california and across the country, drivers are exploiting those open roads and going way too fast with speeds well into the triple digits. we went out with california's highway patrol. the fastest speed they clocked that day, 132 miles per hour. in california and beyond, roads once bumper to bumper now empty. cleared out by covid-19. more and more, drivers feeling the need for triple digit speed. tickets for 139 miles per hour, 165, 90 in a 40. i mean, that's insane. >> it is. truly is insane. >> this week, california highway patrol reporting a shocking 87% increase in citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour. >> people just fly by you. >> message to motorists. stop driving like a nascar racer. >> it's kind of a perfect storm. we've got the wide open pavement. we've got folks that are frustrated, they want to get out. they're tired of being cooped up. they may be more likely to take risks. >> in new york city, speeding tickets doubled. the driver of this $750,000 p

there's hope social distancing may be helping we begin our coverage with erin mclaughlin in los angeles. >> reporter: good morning, across the country, there's signs that social distancing is working but aed a mist the new hope concern this won't end any time soon. a warning from the world health organization covid-19, the deadly virus, may be here to stay. >> we think this is going to be a virus that stalks the human race for a long time to come until we can all have a vaccine that will protect us >> reporter: disheartening news, but across the country, a brighter puckture. the rate of hospitalizations is down and the pace of new cases has slowed >> the models show we're close to the peak. sfwlr proof social distancing is working. in places such as louisiana, once a at risk of running out of hospital beds, now the i states this a better place. >> we are waiting for the next wave to see if numbers are going town >> reporter: some areas still struggle pennsylvania announced more than 1,000 new cases. the nation's nursing homes among the hardest hit. 24 died of after the virus tore throug