4:53
- ABC News
- April 13, 2020
DOJ to probe restrictions on religious gatherings
The attorney general is looking into "multiple" instances, an official said.
4:53
Johnson's fiancee, Carrie Symonds, also thanked well-wishers on social media.
\"There were times last week that were very dark indeed,\" Symonds tweeted. \"My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones.\"
There were times last week that were very dark indeed. My heart goes out to all those in similar situations, worried sick about their loved ones.
— Carrie Symonds (@carriesymonds) April 12, 2020
Calling the coronavirus \"the plague,\" President Donald Trump wished Christians across the America a happy Easter in a 48-second video posted on Twitter and told them to stay separated and out of churches to help in the battle against the virus.
\"This Easter will be much different than others because in many cases we’ll be separated physically only from our churches,\" Trump said. \"We won’t be sitting there next to each other which we’d like to be and soon will be again, but right now we’re keeping separation, we’re getting rid of the plague.\"
He ended the message by telling Americans we're \"winning the war\" and we will soon be \"back together in churches right next to each other.\"
HAPPY EASTER! pic.twitter.com/UX5Bhm82H2
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2020
The message is a significant departure from Trump's prediction back on March 24 that parishioners would \"pack churches\" by Easter Sunday. Trump later said it was an aspiration, longing to see churches filled by Easter.
The United States is close to its peak of the novel coronavirus disease, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said on ABC's \"This Week.\"
\"The models do show that we are very close to the peak. So I think that information is accurate,\" Hahn said. \"This has been a really fast-moving outbreak, so we really have to take this day by day.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/stephen-hahn-gty-aa-200411_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
President Donald Trump has pushed to reopen the country as soon as possible -- at one point even suggesting Easter as a target -- but medical professionals have cautioned against reopening before even the start of May, cautioning that there could be a spike in infections if restrictions are lifted too soon.
While he said it's still too early to name a date, Hahn told \"This Week\" co-anchor Martha Raddatz, \"We see light at the end of the tunnel.\"
On Saturday, April 11, 6,743 uniformed members of the NYPD were on sick report which accounts for 18.6% of the department’s uniformed workforce. Currently, 2,318 uniformed members and 471 civilian members tested positive for the coronavirus.
This is a decrease of 1% from Friday evening when the NYPD said 7,096 uniformed members were out sick, which was 19.6% of the force.
Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.
The Kansas Supreme Court said late Saturday night that Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order that banned religious services of more than 10 people while the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing will remain in place.
The Democratic governor filed the lawsuit on Thursday after a Republican-dominated legislative panel overturned her order. Kelly sued and then immediately appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court to decide quickly with Easter Sunday services just hours away.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/coronavirus-1-ap-er-200412_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The court held unprecedented electronic oral arguments on Saturday morning, and after listening to arguments, it said the Legislative Coordinating Council lacked the authority to overturn the governor's executive order.
\"My top priority has always been the safety and well-being of all Kansans,\" Kelly said in a statement. \"I know this pandemic is extremely hard for everyone. Each unprecedented action I’ve been forced to make in recent weeks has been taken in close consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, the Attorney General, legislators and key stakeholders. That process will continue. Most other states, at the urging of the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have taken similar steps to protect Americans to slow the spread of COVID-19.\"
Puerto Rico’s governor has extended an island-wide curfew until May in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 on the island.
While wearing a face mask and gloves, Gov. Wanda Vazquez announced the lockdown continuation that started on March 15 would be extended until at least May 3.
The curfew orders people to stay home from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and remain there even outside those hours unless they have to buy food or medicine, go to the bank or have an emergency/health-related situation. Violators face a $5,000 fine or a six-month jail term, and police have cited and arrested hundreds. Nonessential business were closed in March.
According to Puerto Rico’s health secretary, the peak in cases for the island is not expected until early May. There have been about 7,700 people tested so far with more than 780 confirmed cases. Forty-two people have died on the island from COVID-19. There is a backlog of over 1,300 tests that are pending results.
ABC News' Meg Cunningham, Josh Hoyos, Matt Foster, Allison Pecorin, Arielle Mitropoulos, Aaron Katersky, Alexander Mallin and John Santucci contributed to this report.
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