93-3-WMR Audio on Demand presents the Preston and Steve Show podcast.

And now, Preston and Steve's news update with Kathy Romano.

Today is Thursday, April 9th.

Good morning, Kathy.

Good morning in the news this morning.

During Wednesday's night's Coronavirus Task Force briefing, Vice President Mike Pence said the White House is monitoring the coronavirus in Philadelphia.

An area of particular concern we were briefed on this morning is the city of Philadelphia,

Pence said, during the briefing. The vice president says that he spoke with Governor Tom Wolfe

about continuing to support the city. I spoke today to Governor Tom Wolfe, and as we begin to

see early trend lines in Philadelphia, I assured him that we were going to continue to flow resources

and support to that community, said Pence. But our message to the people of Philadelphia is now

more than ever practicing the social distancing so that Philadelphia, and to some extent,

even Pittsburgh, do not have to endure what other communities before them have had to endure.

The vice president's comments were echoed this morning by Dr. Deborah Birx, who is leading the White House response to COVID-19.

On Good Morning America, Wednesday, Burke stated a similar concern about Philadelphia.

She said there is a growing optimism that the virus is loosening its grip on the hardest hit area.

She said that New York City, for example, may be hitting its plateau as the number of hospitalizations drop.

But that comes as experts narrow their focus on what could be emerging hotspots in Philadelphia is among them.

We are concerned about the metro area of Washington and Baltimore.

We are concerned right now about Philadelphia,

Berks said. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 4,77 confirmed cases in Philadelphia,

a total of 78 people have died. Now, in contrast to Berks and Pence statements, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said during a news conference on Wednesday that things

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