16 things to know for today about coronavirus

Welcome to The Hill’s daily roundup of coronavirus news.

The number of U.S. cases surpassed 400,000 on Wednesday, with more than 14,000 deaths. 

But there is some good news in the grim numbers. The models that federal officials have been relying on are trending downward, and Anthony Fauci, the administration’s top infectious disease expert, said the death toll is looking like it will be less than the 100,000 to 200,000 projected earlier.

The reason: social distancing is working to stop the chain of infection. The numbers in New York tell a similar story. But the seeming success of such measures means that they need to continue, posing a new dilemma for the Trump administration.

Here’s what you need to know today:

Running the numbers 

• Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that it “looks like” U.S. death totals will end up being less than the original projections of 100,000 to 200,000, given that social distancing is working. Peter Sullivan reports.
• New York had its highest death count yet, at 779 in one day, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said there are hopeful signs that the curve of infections is flattening. Nathaniel Weixel reports.
• Maryland reported 1,158 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the state’s total during the pandemic to 5,529. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) warned that the Baltimore-Washington corridor has become an emerging hotspot. Rebecca Klar has the report 
• In the United States, coronavirus cases passed 400,000, with nearly 13,000 deaths. Tal Axelrod has more.
• The United Kingdom reported 938 deaths in a day, its highest one-day total yet, and has over 60,000 total cases. Read more here.

In the administration and Congress

• Customs and Border Protection will start seizing exports of protective equipment for health care workers, and FEMA will then determine what should happen to the equipment. Tal Axelrod reports.
• FEMA is being thrust into uncharted waters as an agency usually responding to hurricanes and wildfires takes on the pandemic. Brett Samuels reports.
• The head of the World Health Organization warned against “politicizing” the coronavirus response “unless you want to have more body bags,” a day after President Trump threatened to cut off their U.S. funding. Justin Wise reports.
• Trump has zeroed in on the World Health Organization (WHO) as a new target for blame. The attacks come as the president comes under criticism for his own response to the crisis, and they fit a pattern in which Trump has lashed out at other politicians and organizations. Get more from Morgan Chalfant and Brett Samuels 
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff told House lawmakers that the federal government’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) is depleted, and states will not be receiving any more shipments. Nathaniel Weixel has the full story here.
• HHS announced a $500 million contract with General Motors under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to deliver 30,000 ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile by August. Read Justine Coleman’s story.
• The agency announced a separate contract with medical device supplier Philips to manufacture 43,000 ventilators by the end of the year, with deliveries to begin in May. John Bowden has that story here.
• Senators from both parties are pushing for changes to a small business aid after a rocky rollout. More from Jordain Carney here.

In the states and abroad

• New Jersey is ordering residents to wear masks while in grocery stores, and is limiting essential retail stores to 50 percent of their usual capacity in an effort to prevent overcrowding. Justine Coleman reports.
• Washington state is returning a field hospital to FEMA so that it can be deployed to another state with more needs. Rebecca Klar reports.
• New York Gov. Cuomo said he would be directing flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Rebecca has more here.