12:19 p.m.: US intel believes China hid the severity of the epidemic while stockpiling supplies
U.S. intelligence officials believe that the Chinese government misled the rest of the world about the contagiousness of COVID-19, all the while taking dramatic action to collect the medical supplies needed for its own battle against the virus, according to an analysis obtained by ABC News.
The report from the Department of Homeland Security claims that "the Chinese government intentionally concealed the severity of COVID-19 from the international community in early January while it stockpiled medical supplies by both increasing imports and decreasing exports."
"China likely cut its exports of medical supplies before its January WHO notification that COVID-19 is a contagion," according to the report, which was shared with law enforcement and government agencies on Friday.
The analysis looked at official and media reporting of imports and exports, and it examined alternative theories that might explain the dramatic January shift in trade patterns connected with critical health care equipment. However, none of those alternatives seemed plausible to U.S. intelligence experts, who wrote in the report: "The Chinese government attempted to hide its actions by denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying the provision of its trade data."
Global trade data from February showed "a significant decline" in worldwide imports from China, according to the report. For example, imports of surgical gowns declined by 71%, surgical face masks by 48%, medical ventilators by 45%, and intubation kits by 56%.
The February figures likely reflected a January reduction in exports from China because cargo typically takes at least 30 days to ship, according to the report.
The Department of Homeland Security said in the report it has "moderate confidence" in its overall assessment, according to the analysis of the trade data. The document also notes that "in its communications, China intentionally concealed its trade activity by publicly denying it has ever imposed an export ban on masks and other medical supplies."
Analysts reported U.S. intel does not have enough global trade information to find early evidence of contagion, but, did say that with China producing about 80% of the world's supply of maks a "stockpiling of face masks indicates a significant health concern."
11:59 a.m.: Fewer New Yorkers testing positive for antibodies
The rate of New Yorkers who tested positive for antibodies, meaning they had COVID-19 at some point, has decreased, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a briefing.
The percentage of residents who had antibodies was 12.3% as of May 1, down from 13.9% on April 22 and 14.9% on April 27, Cuomo said.
Around 15,000 people were tested in the survey, according to the governor, who touted it as the largest antibody survey in the country.
While he admitted that it was not a major decrease, it was "better than seeing it go up."
More men than women tested positive for antibodies, the results showed, and New York City continued to have the highest reported positive tests at 19.9%. In the city, the Bronx and Brooklyn had the two highest positive antibody results.
Cuomo said health experts still are trying to determine where new cases are coming from and have asked hospitals to record from neighborhoods new patients arrive. He's also asked hospitals to help identify how many new cases are front-line workers or people with whom they live.
Ahead of the subway's scheduled closure from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., starting May 6, officials discussed the logistics of the plan.
Sarah Feinberg, interim president of the New York City Transit, said that around 10,000 to 11,000 thousand people ride the subway from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. She said transit officials know which subway stations those people use and they're going to ramp up bus services so fewer commuters see disruptions.
10:53 a.m.: Tremendous' testing capacity for returning senators, Trump tweets
President Donald Trump said there is a "tremendous" testing capacity for senators returning to Washington, D.C., next week. His comments came after it was reported that Capitol physician Brian Monahan said earlier in the week that his office could not screen all 100 senators.
"There is tremendous CoronaVirus testing capacity in Washington for the Senators returning to Capitol Hill on Monday," Trump tweeted.
He also said that was "likewise" for the House, which he said should return but is not because of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The president said the five-minute Abbott test would be used. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced late Friday night on Twitter that the administration was sending Abbott tests to Congress.
"Good news: as the Senate reconvenes to do important work for the American people during this public health crisis, we have now received an initial request and are sending 3 Abbott point of care testing machines and 1,000 tests for their use," Azar tweeted.
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