  >>> BREAKING NEWS 
  TONIGHT, THE GRIM 
  MILESTONE THE U.S.
  OVERTAKING CHINA FOR
  THE MOST CORONAVIRUS
  CASES IN THE WORLD
  THE DEATH TOLL IN THE 
  U.S. NOW TOPPING
  1,000.
  NEW YORK CITY AT THE
  EPICENTER.
  TONIGHT, SHOCKING 
  VIDEO INSIDE THE
  HOSPITALS PUSHED TO 
  THE BRINK.
  ONE HOSPITAL REPORTING
  13 DEATHS IN JUST 24
  HOURS.
  A DOCTOR CALLING IT AN
  APOCALYPSE. 
  >> ALL THE PATIENTS 
  YOU SEE ALL HAVE
  COVID.
  >> YOU WILL HEAR OF 
  THE HARROWING STORIES 
  ON THE FRONT LINES
  >>> THE NEXT MAJOR HOT
  SPOTS, NEW CONCERNS 
  ACROSS THE SOUTH
  LOUISIANA FACING THE
  FASTEST GROWTH IN NEW 
  CASES IN THE WORLD
  DO SOME STATES NEED TO
  TAKE STRONGER ACTION
  TO SLOW THE SPREAD
  HEALTH OFFICIALS
  SOUNDING THE ALARM
  >>> THE NEW 
  UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS
  JUST OUT SHATTERING 
  RECORDS.
  MILLIONS MORE OUT OF
  WORK
  THE HOUSE SET TO VOTE 
  ON THAT $2 TRILLION 
  RESCUE PACKAGE PASSED 
  BY THE SENATE WHEN
  YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND 
  YOUR BUSINESS COULD 
  SEE MONEY AND RELIEF
  >>> THE SURGE IN
  CORONAVIRUS AMONG 
  FIRST RESPONDERS
  OVER 300 CASES IN THE 
  NYPD ALONE
  THE RISKS THEY'RE 
  TAKING TO PUT OUR 
  HEALTH AND SAFETY 
  ABOVE THEIR OWN.
  >>> AND THE GROWING 
  MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT
  ON CHILDREN.
  TONIGHT, THEY'RE
  SHARING THEIR 
  STRUGGLES.
  A STORY EVERY FAMILY
  WILL WANT TO HEAR.
  >> Announcer: THIS IS 
  "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS"
  WITH LESTER HOLT
  >>> GOOD EVENING, 
  EVERYONE
  WE'VE NOW LOST OVER 
  1,000 PEOPLE TO 
  CORONAVIRUS IN THIS 
  COUNTRY.
  SO MANY TEARS HAVE
  BEEN SHED AND EXPERTS 
  TELL US THERE WILL BE 
  MANY MORE TEARS TO
  FOLLOW
  WHILE WE KNOW MOST
  INFECTED PEOPLE WILL
  RECOVER FROM THIS.
  THE TOLL THIS PANDEMIC
  HAS WROUGHT IS BEYOND 
  STUNNING
  THE WORST-CASE
  SCENARIOS WE'VE TALKED
  ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO 
  HAVE COME TO PASS.
  EMERGENCY ROOMS HERE
  IN NEW YORK, THE
  NATION'S CORONAVIRUS
  EPICENTER OVERRUN.
  SOME FACING SOME OF 
  THEIR DARKEST HOURS.
  OUR TEAM IS COVERING
  IT ALL
  WE START WITH GABE
  GUTIERREZ.
  >> Reporter: TONIGHT, 
  A CHILLING GLIMPSE
  INSIDE THE U.S. 
  EPICENTER OF COVID-19.
  >> ALL THE PATIENTS IN
  THIS ROOM, ALL THE
  FEET THAT YOU SEE,
  THEY ALL HAVE COVID.
  >> Reporter: SPEAKING 
  TO THE "NEW YORK
  TIMES" DR. COLLEEN
  SMITH CALLS ELMHURST
  HOSPITAL IN QUEENS, 
  NEW YORK APOCALYPTIC
  IT SAW 13 DEATHS IN 24
  HOURS.
  >> WE HAD TO GET A
  REFRIGERATED TRUCK TO 
  STORE THE BODIES OF 
  PATIENTS WHO ARE
  DYING.
  >> Reporter: SHE SAYS 
  THE NEED FOR
  VENTILATORS HERE IS 
  DIRE. 
  >> I DON'T HAVE THE 
  SUPPORT THAT I NEED 
  AND EVEN JUST THE 
  MATERIALS THAT I NEED 
  PHYSICALLY TO TAKE
  CARE OF MY PATIENTS.
  >> Reporter: OUTSIDE
  THE PATIENTS BEGAN
  ARRIVING HERE EARLY 
  THIS MORNING
  POLICE URGING THEM TO 
  STAND SEVERAL FEET
  APART.
  WE HAD SEEN THIS IN 
  OTHER COUNTRIES, THIS 
  IS QUEENS, NEW YORK.
  ELMHURST STARTED
  TRANSFERRING
  NON-COVID-19 PATIENTS 
  TO OTHER HOSPITALS
  >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
  GOING TO HAPPEN.
  I DON'T KNOW
  >> Reporter: FROM A 
  DISTANCE, WE SPOKE
  WITH IGNACIO RAMIREZ
  HE STARTED FEELING
  SYMPTOMS AND WAITED IN
  LINE FOR FIVE HOURS TO
  GET TESTED
  >> I HAVE PREVIOUS
  TERRIBLE HEADACHE, I
  FEEL VERY WEAK
  IT'S HORRIBLE.
  >> Reporter: OUR
  STATION WNBC GOT RARE 
  ACCESS INSIDE ANOTHER 
  HOSPITAL IN THE BRONX.
  THE E.R. IS PACKED
  SOON THIS TRIAGE TENT 
  MAY BE NECESSARY. 
  >> YES, IT DOES AFFECT
  THE ELDERLY MUCH MORE,
  BUT WE ARE SEEING A 
  LOT OF YOUNGER
  PATIENTS. 
  >> Reporter: IN NEW 
  YORK STATE, THE NUMBER
  OF CORONAVIRUS CASES
  IS SKYROCKETING NOW 
  MORE THAN 37,000
  A TRIPLE-DIGIT SPIKE
  IN DEATHS IN JUST ONE 
  DAY.
  DR. CRAIG SPENCER IS
  AN E.R. DOCTOR IN 
  MANHATTAN WHO YEARS 
  AGO SURVIVED EBOLA AND
  NOW SAYS THE CRISIS IS
  WORSE THAN IT APPEARS.
  >> THE DISCONNECT 
  BETWEEN WHAT YOU MIGHT
  BE HEARING AT A PRESS 
  BRIEFING AND WHAT I'M 
  HEARING AT SIGN-OUTS
  EVERY SINGLE DAY IN 
  THE EMERGENCY 
  DEPARTMENT, THAT CHASM
  COULDN'T BE WIDER.
  >> Reporter: TWO WEEKS
  AGO A NURSE TESTED
  POSITIVE FOR THE
  VIRUS.
  HE DIED TUESDAY NIGHT.
  TODAY AUTHORITIES SAID
  WHILE THE STATE MAY 
  HAVE SPOT ISSUES WITH 
  DISTRIBUTION OF 
  PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 
  EQUIPMENT OR PPE, IT
  HAS ENOUGH FOR NOW. 
  >> WE HAVE ENOUGH PPE 
  IN STOCK FOR THE
  IMMEDIATE NEED
  NOT PAST THE IMMEDIATE
  NEED. 
  >> Reporter: GOVERNOR 
  ANDREW CUOMO SAYS LACK
  OF VENTILATORS IS 
  STILL AN URGENT 
  PROBLEM, SINCE THE
  AVERAGE COVID-19
  PATIENT ON A
  VENTILATOR STAYS THERE
  FOR 11 TO 21 DAYS.
  DOCTORS ARE RESORTING 
  TO SPLITTING THE
  DEVICES TO HELP TWO 
  PATIENTS AT A TIME
  AT ELMHURST, DR. SMITH
  HAS A WARNING.
  >> IF THIS GOES ON FOR
  A MONTH OR TWO OR 
  THREE OR FIVE LIKE IT 
  DID IN CHINA, AND 
  WE'RE ALREADY THIS
  STRAINED, WE DON'T
  HAVE WHAT WE NEED.
  >> Reporter: AND
  THAT'S THE WHY SHE'S
  SPEAKING OUT NOW. 
  >> I DON'T REALLY CARE
  IF I GET IN TROUBLE.
  PEOPLE ARE DYING. 
  >> Reporter: LATE 
  TODAY NEW YORK CITY'S 
  MAYOR SAID THAT 40
  MORE VENTILATORS AND
  DOZENS OF EXTRA 
  WORKERS HAVE BEEN SENT
  HERE TO ELMHURST
  THE STATE IS NOW
  SCOUTING NEW LOCATIONS
  FOR MORE OVERFLOW 
  HOSPITALS.
  LESTER
  >> THAT DOCTOR
  PAINTING A DISMAL 
  PICTURE.
  GABE, THANK YOU.
  >>> WHILE THE NEW YORK
  CITY AREA DEALS WITH
  AN EXPLOSION OF CASES,
  HEALTH AUTHORITIES SAY
  ONE OF THE NEXT MAJOR 
  FRONTS IS LIKELY TO BE
  THE SOUTH.
  NBC'S BLAYNE ALEXANDER
  REPORTS NOW FROM NEW
  ORLEANS.
  >> Reporter: TONIGHT
  THE TYPICALLY SOULFUL 
  STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS
  ARE SILENT
  BOURBON STREET A GHOST
  TOWN WITH BUSINESSES
  BOARDED UP AFTER THE
  GOVERNOR ORDERED
  RESIDENTS TO STAY AT
  HOME. 
  >> IT'S QUITE FRANKLY 
  THE CASE THAT THE LIFE
  YOU SAVE COULD BE YOUR
  OWN, AND ALL THAT YOU 
  HAVE TO DO TO SAVE
  LIVES IS STAY HOME. 
  >> Reporter: ACROSS 
  LOUISIANA, THE NUMBERS
  PAINT A STUNNING
  PICTURE.
  IN JUST THE LAST 24 
  HOURS, AN ALARMING 28%
  INCREASE IN THE NUMBER
  OF NEW CORONAVIRUS
  CASES NOW TOTALING
  MORE THAN 2,300 SINCE 
  THE OUTBREAK BEGAN AND
  83 DEATHS, INCLUDING A
  17-YEAR-OLD FROM NEW
  ORLEANS.
  THE CITY ACCOUNTING 
  FOR MORE THAN HALF OF 
  THE STATE'S 
  FATALITIES
  EXPERTS SAY A BIG 
  REASON, LAST MONTH'S
  MARDI GRAS. 
  >> PEOPLE WEREN'T ONLY
  CATCHING BEADS BUT
  THEY WERE CATCHING
  CORONAVIRUS, LIKELY 
  FROM EACH OTHER.
  >> Reporter: WITH 
  HOSPITAL SPACE RUNNING
  LOW, OFFICIALS ARE
  PLANNING TO USE A 
  CONVENTIONAL CENTER TO
  TREAT NON-CRITICAL
  PATIENTS, CONJURING UP
  JARRING IMAGES OF TH
  HURRICANE KATRINA 
  RESPONSE IN 2005
  THE MOVE JUST ONE OF
  MANY TAKEN BY 
  GOVERNORS ACROSS THE
  SOUTH.
  KERRY SANDERS IS IN 
  FLORIDA.
  >> Reporter: BY NEXT
  WEEK, FLORIDA'S 
  GOVERNOR SAYS THIS
  WAREHOUSE IN ORLANDO
  WILL HAVE MORE THAN A 
  MILLION N95 MASKS.
  THE SUPPLIES, SOME
  ARRIVING NOW, ARE 
  BEING STAGED HERE 
  BECAUSE HEALTH
  OFFICIALS PREDICT A 
  SIGNIFICANT RISE IN 
  THE NUMBER OF 
  CORONAVIRUS CASES IN
  THIS STATE, A STATE 
  WHERE ONE IN FIVE IS
  OVER THE AGE OF 65. 
  >> Reporter: IN TEXAS,
  THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A 
  MANDATORY 14-DAY
  QUARANTINE FOR ANYONE 
  TRAVELING FROM THE NEW
  YORK TRI-STATE AREA 
  MISSISSIPPI'S GOVERNOR
  LIMITING PUBLIC 
  GATHERINGS, BUT SAYS
  MOST BUSINESSES ARE 
  ESSENTIAL.
  FROM NEW ORLEANS
  MAYOR, COMFORT FOR HER
  CITY WITH TOUGH DAYS
  AHEAD.
  >> WE ARE VERY
  PERSONABLE PEOPLE, SO 
  WE'RE JUST HAVING TO
  DO THAT REMOTELY AND
  SHOWING OUR LOVE
  DIFFERENTLY.
  >> Reporter: BLAYNE 
  ALEXANDER, NBC NEWS,
  NEW ORLEANS.
  >>> AND TONIGHT AS THE
  TOLL RISES TO 
  STAGGERING LEVELS,
  REPORTS THE U.S.
  HAS SURPASSED CHINA 
  WITH OVER 80,000 SINCE
  THE START OF THE
  OUTBREAK, MORE
  AMERICANS ARE FALLING 
  ILL EVERY DAY AND 
  COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING
  NEW, BUT THE NUMBERS
  ARE GETTING WORSE, AS 
  EXPECTED
  HERE IS MIGUEL
  ALMAGUER. 
  >> Reporter: TONIGHT
  ACROSS OUR NATION IN
  BIG CITIES AND RURAL
  COMMUNITIES, A NEW
  REALITY IS HITTING
  HOME FOR AMERICANS
  THE U.S. DEATH TOLL 
  HAS NOW REACHED A GRIM
  MILESTONE AS THE
  NUMBER OF INFECTED
  SOARED
  SOARS TO EXTRAORDINARY
  LEVELS BUT EACH NUMBER
  IS A STORY, A FAMILY
  TORN APART
  IN ST. LOUIS, THE 
  HEART OF THE COUNTRY
  31-YEAR-OLD JASMINE 
  DICKSON DIED MONDAY 
  AND BURIED TUESDAY, 
  FAMILY MEMBERS HAD TO 
  WATCH HER FUNERAL FROM
  A CAR.
  >> NEVER IN A MILLION 
  YEARS DID MY FAMILY 
  THINK THAT WE WOULD 
  ONE DAY, YOU KNOW,
  EXPERIENCE OUR LOVED
  ONE, OUR JAZZ TO BE 
  THE FIRST OFFICIAL
  VICTIM IN THE CITY OF 
  ST. LOUIS.
  >> Reporter: WHILE
  MOST AMERICANS WITH 
  CORONAVIRUS WILL
  SURVIVE, THE YOUNGER
  DYING AT SURPRISING 
  RATES AND THE ELDERLY 
  ARE MOST IN DANGER
  IN NEW JERSEY, A
  SENIOR CENTER WAS 
  EVACUATED AFTER NEARLY
  EVERY RESIDENT AND
  STAFF MEMBER TESTED 
  POSITIVE OR SHOWED
  SYMPTOMS OF HAVING THE
  VIRUS.
  IN NEIGHBORING LONG 
  ISLAND -
  >> GOD BLESS ALL OF 
  YOU AND GOD BLESS 
  AMERICA.
  >> Reporter: GEORGE'S 
  FAMILY COULD NOT VISIT
  THE WORLD WAR II
  VETERAN WHILE HE WAS
  QUARANTINED.
  THE 93-YEAR-OLD DIED
  LAST WEEK ALONE IN
  ISOLATION.
  >> IT'S BEEN VERY 
  DIFFICULT TIME FOR ALL
  OF US.
  WE'RE JUST TRYING TO
  HOLD IT TOGETHER
  NONE OF US HAVE EVEN
  BEEN ABLE TO SEE EACH 
  OTHER.
  >> Reporter: WHILE NEW
  PRESSURES OF
  PROTECTION ARE BEING
  TAKEN IN SO MANY
  COMMUNITIES LIKE
  GROCERY STORES
  INSTALLING COUGH
  GUARDS, SOON THE U.S. 
  "NS MERCY" WILL DOCK
  IN LOS ANGELES, 
  WHERE THE MAYOR SAYS
  STAPLES CENTER, THE 
  CONVENTION CENTER AND 
  HOTELS COULD SOON BE
  USED TO QUARANTINE THE
  SICK
  >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR,
  THE WORST DAYS ARE
  STILL AHEAD OF US.
  WHAT WE SEE IN NEW
  YORK CITY, IT'S COMING
  HERE
  >> Reporter: IN 
  CHICAGO, WHERE THEY 
  ARE DISINFECTING
  PUBLIC SPACES, RETIRED
  NURSE PATRICIA SPENT
  HER LIFE CARING FOR 
  OTHERS
  SHE IS NOW THE FIRST
  ILLINOIS RESIDENT TO
  DIE FROM THE VIRUS BUT
  NOW HER SISTER WANDA
  HAS ALSO PASSED AWAY
  FROM COVID-19.
  >> IT IS KILLING
  PEOPLE, AND IT DOES 
  NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR 
  AGE.
  IT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT
  YOUR HEALTH.
  >> Reporter: THE VIRUS
  HAS OFTEN BEEN CALLED 
  THE INVISIBLE ENEMY 
  BUT TONIGHT, THESE ARE
  THE FACES AND THE 
  STORIES OF THOSE WHO
  HAVE LOST THE FIGHT.
  HERE IN LOS ANGELES WE
  HAVE JUST LEARNED THE 
  NUMBER OF FATALITIES
  IN THOSE INFECTED HAS 
  SPIKED AGAIN
  LESTER
  >> MIGUEL, THANKS FOR 
  PUTTING FACES TO THE
  NUMBERS.
  >>> BEYOND THIS 
  UNPRECEDENTED HEALTH
  CRISIS, THERE IS A
  HUGE ECONOMIC TOLL ON 
  AMERICAN FAMILIES WITH
  A RECORD 3.2 MILLION
  PEOPLE FILING FOR 
  UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 
  AND HOPING THAT HELP
  IS ON THE WAY.
  HERE IS TOM COSTELLO. 
  >> Reporter: FROM 
  EMPTY HIGHWAYS TO 
  CLOSED SHOPS AND
  PARKED PLANES,
  STUNNING EVIDENCE OF
  AN ECONOMY THAT 
  SUDDENLY HIT A BRICK
  WALL
  GOING FROM 50-YEAR LOW
  UNEMPLOYMENT TO A 
  NOW RECORD 3.2 MILLION
  AMERICANS SEEKING 
  UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 
  LIKE CHICAGO BARTENDER
  MIKE VANDERBILT.
  >> THIS WAS KIND OF A 
  GUT PUNCH THAT, YOU 
  KNOW, THINGS ARE BAD, 
  BUT I STILL CAN'T -- I
  CAN'T BE AT WORK. 
  >> Reporter: FASHION
  STORE MANAGER 
  CASSANDRA DEANER AND
  HER EMPLOYEES OUT OF
  WORK. 
  >> I GOT A CALL ONE 
  WEDNESDAY AND SAID
  THAT I HAD BEEN LAID
  OFF AND WE WERE 
  CLOSING MOST OF OUR 
  LOCATIONS.
  >> Reporter: TONIGHT, 
  THE HOUSE IS
  CONSIDERING A MASSIVE 
  $2 TRILLION RESCUE
  PACKAGE ALREADY PASSED
  IN THE SENATE.
  THE PLAN WOULD PROVIDE
  AN ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS
  OF UNEMPLOYMENT 
  BENEFITS PLUS AN EXTRA
  $600 PER WEEK FOR FOUR
  MONTHS
  IT WOULD SEND LOANS TO
  SMALL BUSINESSES THAT 
  RETAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES
  AND $1,200 TO MOST
  ADULTS PLUS $500 PER
  CHILD.
  THE TREASURY SECRETARY
  SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD 
  SEE THAT MONEY DIRECT 
  DEPOSITED VERY
  QUICKLY.
  >> IT WILL BE WITHIN
  THREE WEEKS.
  WE ARE DETERMINED TO
  GET MONEY IN PEOPLE'S 
  POCKET IMMEDIATELY. 
  >> WALL STREET RALLIED
  FOR A THIRD DAY ON THE
  RESCUE PACKAGE NEWS,
  THE DOW UP 1,300
  POINTS, MORE THAN 6%
  SPEAKING TO NBC 
  SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, THE 
  FED CHAIRMAN WARNED 
  THE ECONOMY MAY 
  ALREADY BE IN A 
  RECESSION BUT IT WAS
  STRONG BEFORE THE 
  VIRUS HIT AND SHOULD
  BE ABLE TO RECOVER. 
  >> IN PRINCIPLE, IF WE
  GET THE VIRUS SPREAD
  UNDER CONTROL FAIRLY
  QUICKLY THEN ECONOMIC 
  ACTIVITY CAN RESUME 
  AND WE WANT TO MAKE 
  THAT REBOUND AS 
  VIGOROUS AS POSSIBLE. 
  >> Reporter:
  THE WEBSITE 
  CAREERONESTEP.ORG CAN 
  WALK YOU THROUGH THE
  STEPS TO FILE 
  UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT SOME
  REPORT THAT STATE 
  SYSTEMS ARE 
  OVERWHELMED AND SLOW
  AMONG THOSE WHO WILL
  BE SEEKING HELP,
  ALISHA, A HAIR STYLIST
  IN KENTUCKY.
  >> WE DON'T HAVE NO 
  PAID DAYS.
  NO VACATION.
  IF YOU DON'T WORK, YOU
  DON'T EAT IS WHAT WE
  HAVE
  SO BEING ASSISTED BY
  THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS
  TIME OF NEED IS TRULY 
  SOMETHING AMAZING.
  >> Reporter: FOR THE
  FIRST TIME, 
  FREELANCERS LIKE
  ALISHA CAN FILE FOR 
  UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 
  AND SO CAN THE
  SELF-EMPLOYED AND 
  MEMBERS OF THE GIG
  ECONOMY LIKE UBER OR
  LYFT DRIVER.
  AS THIS CORONAVIRUS 
  RECESSION APPEARS TO
  BE TAKING EVERYBODY.
  LESTER
  >> ALL RIGHT
  TOM, THANK YOU
  >>> WE'LL BE BACK IN
  60 SECONDS WITH A 
  GROWING TOLL ON FIRST 
  RESPONDERS AND THE
  EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON 
  KIDS
  WHAT EVERY FAMILY 
  SHOULD HEAR.
   >>> THE
   >>> THE CORONAVIRUS 
   PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING 
   A GROWING NUMBER OF 
   THE NATION'S POLICE 
   OFFICERS AND 
   FIREFIGHTERS.
   STEPHANIE GOSK ON THE 
   RISKS THEY'RE TAKING 
   TO KEEP US SAFE. 
   >> Reporter: NEXT TO 
   NURSES AND DOCTORS, 
   THERE ARE A FEW 
   WORKERS MORE ESSENTIAL
   THAN FIRST RESPONDERS 
   AND THEIR JOBS ARE NOW
   EVEN MORE DANGEROUS.
   IN NEW YORK CITY 
   ALONE, THERE ARE MORE 
   THAN 300 MEMBERS OF 
   THE POLICE FORCE WITH 
   COVID-19.
   HUNDREDS MORE ARE 
   WAITING ON TESTS AND 
   THOUSANDS HAVE CALLED 
   IN SICK. 
   >> IT'S NEXT MAN AND 
   NEXT WOMAN UP IN TERMS
   OF REPLACING PEOPLE 
   THAT HAVE REPORTED 
   SICK. 
   >> Reporter: THE CITY 
   IS ASSEMBLING AN 
   ADDITIONAL 600 
   OFFICERS TO HELP WITH 
   DEMAND INCLUDING 
   OVERFLOWING HOSPITALS 
   TO COVER AND A SURGE 
   OF 911 CALLS. 
   >> WE ARE BACK 
   PATROLLING WHERE WE 
   NEED TO.
   WE'RE TAKING ON A 
   VARIETY OF ASSIGNMENTS
   BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, 
   WE'LL GET THROUGH 
   THIS. 
   >> Reporter: IN 
   CINCINNATI THE POLICE 
   CHIEF ANNOUNCED HIS 
   OFFICERS WOULD STOP 
   RESPONDING  TO SOME 
   CALLS INCLUDING 
   BREAK-INS AND PROPERTY
   DAMAGE WHILE IN 
   DETROIT WHERE 25 
   MEMBERS OF THE 
   DEPARTMENT HAVE 
   CORONAVIRUS, A BELOVED
   POLICE CAPTAIN DIED 
   FROM THE ILLNESS THIS 
   WEEK. 
   >> WE ARE FAMILY, AND 
   WHEN WE LOSE A MEMBER 
   OF OUR FAMILY, WE ALL 
   FEEL IT. 
   >> Reporter: EMTs ARE 
   RIGHT THERE ON THE 
   FRONT LINES, AS WELL.
   IN BOSTON THE EMS 
   UNION HEAD SAYS THEY 
   ARE, WHEN POSSIBLE, 
   SENDING JUST ONE 
   PARAMEDIC INSIDE THE 
   HOME DURING A CALL 
   WHILE THE OTHER WAITS.
   THE AMBULANCES ARE 
   BEING SCRUBBED DOWN 
   EVERY TWO HOURS.
   IN NEW YORK, THE FDNY 
   WITH 170 CONFIRMED 
   CASES WITHIN THEIR 
   RANKS ARE ASKING THE 
   PUBLIC TO ONLY DIAL 
   911 FOR THE MOST 
   SERIOUS EMERGENCIES.
   UNNECESSARY CALLS PUT 
   PARAMEDICS AT RISK BUT
   EVEN WITH NEW CONCERNS
   ABOUT THEIR SAFETY, 
   UNWAVERING DEDICATION.
   >> WE'RE FIRST 
   RESPONDERS.
   WE CAN'T SHUT DOWN.
   WE CAN'T CLOSE OUR 
   DOORS.
   WE HAVE GOT TO BE A 
   24/7 OPERATION. 
   >> Reporter: THE 
   COUNTRY RELYING ON 
   FIRST RESPONDERS NOW 
   MORE THAN EVER.
   STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC 
   NEWS, NEW YORK.
   >>> AROUND THE WORLD, 
   CASES HAVE NOW 
   SURPASSED HALF A 
   MILLION, THAT'S SINCE 
   THE BEGINNING OF THIS 
   OUTBREAK.
   IN ITALY THE DEATH 
   TOLL SURGING TO OVER 
   8,000.
   WE GET MORE ON THAT 
   FROM RICHARD ENGEL. 
   >> Reporter: IT SEEMS 
   THE WHOLE WORLD IS 
   AFRAID OF GETTING 
   SICK.
   AND FOR MANY IN ITALY,
   IT'S MORE THAN JUST 
   FEAR.
   NEARLY 700 MORE DEATHS
   TODAY, THE TOTAL 
   NUMBER OF INFECTED IS 
   ABOUT AS HIGH AS CHINA
   REPORTED AT IT'S PEAK.
   I SPOKE TO THE HEAD OF
   AN ICU WHO SAID WITH 
   20% OF HIS DOCTORS OUT
   SICK AND NOW CASES THE
   ONLY WAY TO STAY 
   AFLOAT IS TO ABANDONED
   EXISTING PROTOCOLS.
   WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU 
   GIVE TO AMERICAN 
   DOCTORS?
   >> YOU CANNOT FACE AN 
   UNCONVENTIONAL 
   SCENARIO WITH ROUTINE 
   TOOLS.
   YOU HAVE TO REIMAGINE 
   AND RESHAPE THE 
   HOSPITAL, THE DAILY 
   PRACTICE AND THE 
   PROTOCOLS AND TO BE 
   VERY FLEXIBLE AND TO 
   HAVE A STRATEGY. 
   >> Reporter: SPAIN 
   ISN'T FAR BEHIND ITALY
   AND THE U.S. IS 
   CATCHING UP.
   RICHARD ENGEL, NBC 
   NEWS, LONDON.
   >>> ALL RIGHT.
   WELL, TRUST ME, ON 
   BOTH SIDES OF THIS 
   CAMERA, THIS CAN BE 
   OVERWHELMING.
   WE ARE CONTINUING TO 
   COVER HOW THIS CRISIS 
   IS AFFECTING THE 
   MENTAL HEALTH OF 
   AMERICANS.
   TONIGHT, A CLOSER LOOK
   AT HOW IT'S IMPACTING 
   CHILDREN.
   KATE SNOW SPOKE WITH 
   SIXTH GRADERS HOW THEY
   ARE COPING. 
   >> Reporter: SIXTH 
   GRADERS GO TO SCHOOL 
   TOGETHER IN NEW YORK 
   CITY.
   HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS 
   MISS YOUR FRIENDS?
   WE MET UP ON ZOOM, 
   BRADY BUNCH STYLE WITH
   CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST 
   ALI MATU LISTENING IN 
   FROM CALIFORNIA.
   WHAT WORD WOULD YOU 
   USE TO DESCRIBE HOW 
   YOU'VE BEEN FEELING?
   >> ISOLATION OR LIKE 
   RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE
   YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT
   OF THINGS ARE UP TO 
   YOU NOW.
   I WOULD SAY LONELY IS 
   KEY. 
   >> A LITTLE CONFUSED 
   LATELY. 
   >> Reporter: HOW HARD 
   IS IT TO NOT KNOW WHEN
   THIS WILL END?
   >> KIND OF DIFFICULT 
   NOT KNOWING WHAT THE 
   FUTURE IS GOING TO BE.
   YOU CAN'T REALLY PLAN 
   FOR ANYTHING AND YOU 
   CAN'T REALLY ASK 
   ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE 
   NOBODY HAS THE ANSWER.
   >> Reporter: FOR A 
   GENERATION RAISED WITH
   SCREEN TIME, THEY MISS
   FACE-TO-FACE 
   INTERACTION.
   FOR MADI, IT'S DANCE.
   FOR BOBBY, VOLLEYBALL.
   >> SO MANY THINGS I'VE
   BEEN LOOKING FORWARD 
   TO ALL YEAR THAT 
   AREN'T GOING TO HAPPEN
   ANYMORE.
   SMALL PETTY THINGS BUT
   THEY ARE KIND OF 
   SIGNIFICANT TO ME.
   LIKE AT OUR SCHOOL, 
   WHEN YOU'RE IN SIXTH 
   GRADE YOU GET A BIG 
   GRADUATION AND BIG 
   PLAY.
   YOU MIGHT NOT GET 
   EITHER OF THOSE. 
   >> Reporter: CHILD 
   PSYCHOLOGIST. 
   >> THE THING ABOUT 
   KIDS IS THE DEGREE OF 
   GRIEF THEY'RE 
   EXPERIENCING. 
   >> Reporter: HOW DOES 
   THIS IMPACT KIDS 
   DIFFERENTLY THAN IT 
   AFFECTS ADULTS?
   >> KIDS HAVEN'T DEALT 
   WITH THIS LEVEL OF 
   UNCERTAINTY.
   THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO
   MANAGE THIS LEVEL OF 
   STRESS.
   ADULTS HAVE HAD 
   DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES 
   IN THEIR LIVES THAT 
   THEY CAN LEARN FROM 
   BUT KIDS DON'T HAVE 
   THAT EXPERIENCE. 
   >> Reporter: HIS 
   ADVICE FOR PARENTS, 
   BUILD A ROUTINE AND 
   REALLY LISTEN, AND THE
   KIDS HAVE ADVICE, TOO.
   >> THIS IS NEW FOR 
   EVERYBODY AND THIS IS 
   NEW FOR THE CHILDREN, 
   THIS IS NEW FOR EVEN 
   >>> ALL RIGHT.
   BACK NOW WITH OUR DR. 
   JOHN TORRES.
   JOHN, DR. ANTHONY 
   FAUCI SAID THERE ARE 
   SIGNS SUGGESTING 
   CORONAVIRUS MAY BECOME
   A SEASONAL ILLNESS.
   WHAT DOES THAT MEAN 
   FOR US NOW?
   >> IT MEANS THE VIRUS 
   WILL CYCLE THROUGH AND
   HIT HARDEST AROUND THE
   SAME TIME EVERY YEAR 
   AND EARLY RESEARCH NOW
   SUGGESTS THE VIRUS 
   COULD DIE DOWN DURING 
   THE SUMMER WHEN THE 
   WEATHER IS HOT AND 
   DAYS ARE HUMID.
   THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE 
   MAY GET A BREATHER BUT
   THE BAD NEWS IS, THE 
   VIRUS WILL LIKELY COME
   BACK BUT BECAUSE WE'RE
   RAMPING UP THE 
   HOSPITAL SUPPLY SYSTEM
   AND RESEARCHING SOME 
   NEW TREATMENTS, IF THE
   VIRUS DOES C
   >>> ALL RIGHT.
   FINALLY TONIGHT, WHAT 
   A WELCOME HOME.
   HERE IS KEVIN TIBBLES.
   >> Reporter: IN THESE 
   GLOOMY DAYS, SOME 
   SUNSHINE.
   A VICTORY PARADE OF 
   SORTS.
   AS FAMILIES GATHER AS 
   A SAFE DISTANCE FROM 
   NEIGHBORS TO CHEER ON 
   THEIR FRIEND 
   15-YEAR-OLD COCOA 
   JOHNSON RETURNING HOME
   FROM HER FINAL ROUND 
   OF CHEMOTHERAPY. 
   >> I WAS REALLY 
   OVERWHELMED.
   I WAS JUST, LIKE, 
   SHOCKED.
   I WAS SO SURPRISED. 
   >> YOU'RE ALL FINISHED
   WITH YOUR CHEMO. 
   >> Reporter: THERE WAS
   A SERENADE FROM HER 
   NURSES.
   COCOA'S MOM APRIL WAS 
   OVERWHELMED. 
   >> I THINK PEOPLE ARE 
   SEEING THEY HAVE A 
   VILLAGE, TOO, AND 
   EVERYONE IS REALLY 
   COMING TOGETHER RIGHT 
   NOW. 
   >> Reporter: CLOSER TO
   HOME, SIGNS, CHEERS 
   AND TEARS. 
   >> THE LIGHT AT THE 
   END OF THE TUNNEL WILL
   BE THERE SOON, 
   HOPEFULLY. 
   >> Reporter: AN 
   INSPIRING HOMECOMING 
   FOR A YOUNG FIGHTER AT
   A TIME WHEN WE'RE ALL 
   IN A BATTLE.
   KEVIN TIBBLES, NBC 
   NEWS. 
   >> JUST WONDERFUL TO 
   SEE.
