US death toll hits 40,000, New York set for aggressive antibody testing, financial help for small businesses immidiately

   

   The coronavirus death toll in the U.S. hit a new plateau, New York state will begin the nation's most aggressive antibody testing campaign this week and some states are beginning to loosen restrictions as the nationwide effort to restore the economy began to take shape Sunday.

Negotiators were also close to a deal that could provide $300 billion in additional funding to struggling small businesses.

   Overwhelmingly, restrictions remained in force. In Oklahoma City, a virtual ceremony was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing that killed 168 people.

“What breaks our hearts the most is ... we know we can’t assemble the large crowds that normally come to this remembrance ceremony," organizers said in a statement. The tribute included 168 seconds of silence, and the names of 168 people killed in the bombing will be read aloud.

COVID-19 claimed the lives of almost 1,900 Americans Saturday, and the toll death in the U.S. surpassed 41,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University's data dashboard.

Governors slam Trump's call to 'liberate' states

Democratic and Republican governors pushed back Sunday on President Donald Trump's tweets to "liberate" some states where people protested social distancing measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

"I don't know any other way to characterize it," Gov. Jay Inslee, D-Wash. said on ABC News, expressing disbelief at seeing the "president of the United States basically encourage insubordination" against laws that are "designed to protect people's health." 

"It is dangerous because it can inspire people to ignore things that actually can save their lives," Inslee said.