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Welcome to The Hills Morning Report. Its Tuesday. We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the daily co-creators, so find us @asimendinger and @alweaver22 on Twitter and recommend the Morning Report to your friends. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 9,648*. Tuesday 10,993.

* The United States surpassed 10,000 confirmed fatalities by midday Monday.

In New York, Italy and South Korea on Monday, the shared temptation was to herald any signs that fatalities and the pace of new coronavirus cases were ebbing.

Tremendous progress has been made, President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenators demand more details from Trump on intel watchdog firing Overnight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal Trump says he'll look into small business loan program restricting casinos MORE said during a Monday briefing in which he displayed his impatience with questions that focused on states challenges in locating sufficient medical equipment and supplies.

The progress has been made before the surge comes, because the next week, week and a half is going to be a big surge, the professionals tell us, the president said, while presenting all 50 governors as very happy, every one of them during a teleconference with Vice President Pence on Monday.

Were increasingly hopeful that the aggressive mitigation strategy we put into place will ultimately allow our hospital system to successfully manage the major influx of cases we have right now, he added, reading from notes.

The president, who has repeatedly said he wants governors to decide on stay-at-home orders for their states, said a national order is not called for. If I thought it was necessary, Id do it in a heartbeat, he said.

Federal travel restrictions around urban areas experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases are unnecessary, Trump added, because U.S. airlines are cutting domestic routes on their own and flying planes that are nearly empty.

The Hill: Trump and his administration confront the most difficult week yet of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Associated Press: Modeling coronavirus: Uncertainty is the only certainty.

In Great Britain, Japan and Lebanon, on the other hand, the situation on Monday appeared more dire, and in Spain, infections continued to rise today along with the death toll. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, now in critical care, is the first known head of government to be sickened and hospitalized with the highly contagious respiratory virus. In Japan, cases of COVID-19 surged anew. Lebanon, describing a situation of extreme danger, took steps to extend the countrys lockdown order to the end of April.

Eager for any shred of relief in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared on Monday more than 1,500 points on the idea that coronavirus cases may be slowing in some U.S. hot spots (The Hill). Stocks surged 7 percent, building on a global rally fueled by tentative signs that the rate of increase in deaths may be slowing (CNBC).

New York Gov. Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoOvernight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal 16 things to know for today about coronavirus Mnuchin, Schumer in talks to strike short-term relief deal MORE (D), during a briefing on Monday, said his state may have flattened the curve of the coronavirus outbreak but cautioned that it is too soon to be certain. Deaths related to COVID-19 have stayed flat for two days in New York, he said, while new hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions are down. "Those are all good signs and again would suggest a possible flattening of the curve, he added (The Hill).

At the same time that Trump warned of another tough two or three weeks with coronavirus cases and fatalities, the White House and congressional leaders are anticipating millions more Americans will lose their jobs this month.

Theyre coming closer to a meeting of the minds that the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act enacted late last month will not be enough. The conversation is moving toward at least another $1 trillion in federal help to prop up the economy (The Washington Post).

Trump said hed be open to a second round of federal assistance to furloughed workers if the payments were directly dispersed to beneficiaries rather than funneled through state unemployment insurance systems, a mechanism he said Democratic lawmakers preferred.

Asked about reported glitches, Trump made light of any fumbles. All we can do is get this massive amount of money to the states, he said. Its getting out.

Inside the executive branch, small businesses are howling that the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration (SBA) are not able to process the tsunami of applications for much-needed bridge loans available under the new law. The E-Tran system used by the SBA crashed and was down for hours on Monday before it was revived, Bloomberg News reported. Some banks are still unable to access SBA application systems, and industry leaders say questions about loan benefits remain unanswered (The Hill).

The president said more than 3,000 lenders had made loans as of Monday, adding that if the government exhausts funds appropriated for the lending programs to small businesses, well ask Congress to refill it immediately.

Congress is now feeling pressured to move quickly on the next phase of relief. Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerHouse Republicans, key administration officials push for additional funding for coronavirus small business loans Rep. Massie threatens to block next relief bill, calls for remote voting Democratic senators call for funding for local media in coronavirus stimulus MORE (D-N.Y.) bashed by Trump on Monday as a lightweight and partisan politician hes known for most of my adult life told reporters that lawmakers will have to return to Washington "relatively soon" to move on new legislation.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrip that led to acting Navy secretary's resignation cost 3K: reports Overnight Health Care: Trump steps up attack on WHO | Fauci says deaths could be lower than first projected | House panel warns federal stockpile of medical supplies depleted | Mnuchin, Schumer in talks over relief deal House Republicans, key administration officials push for additional funding for coronavirus small business loans MORE (D-Calif.) said in a letter that her colleagues should move this month. Aides said federal bureaucratic delays processing the newest benefits Trump signed into law are adding to the sense of urgency (The Hill).

The Associated Press: In what proximity are you to confirmed cases of COVID-19? Drill down to the county level, and you can see the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the 50 states.

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LEADING THE DAY

POLITICS: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Gov. Tony Evers (D) cannot order the states primary election today postponed, as he attempted to do earlier Monday by executive order.

The ruling by the state Supreme Court reinstated Tuesdays contest and came roughly five hours after Evers tried to call it off and close the polls due to the spread of the virus. The courts decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by GOP lawmakers and could result in chaos on Tuesday as clerks and election volunteers prepare for in-person voting (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

Compounding the issues for Evers, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a group of GOP lawmakers and blocked the state from accepting absentee ballots after todays election. The governor had pushed for absentee ballots to be counted until April 13 (The Hill).

Everss executive order, which would have pushed in-person voting until June 9, came after weeks of questions concerning whether the contest would go forward. In recent days, he said that his hands were tied and that the GOP-held legislature would have to play ball on the issue. A district judge also declined to postpone the election, arguing that it wasnt the courts responsibility.

Earlier Monday, Evers indicated that his executive order was the last gasp opportunity to postpone the election.

Theres not a Plan B. Theres not a Plan C, Evers said earlier Monday (The Associated Press).

The ruling means that voters in the state who have not cast absentee ballots will be forced to decide between health risks posed by the spread of COVID-19 and their participation in the democratic process as states across the nation have postponed their elections until June. Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenThe Hill's Campaign Report: Sanders exits, clearing Biden's path to nomination Former Clinton staffers invited to celebrate Sanders dropping out: report Sanders exit leaves deep disappointment on left MORE is the heavy favorite to win todays Democratic primary, which has turned into a relative blip on the radar screen due to the virus.

Niall Stanage: The Memo: Political trench warfare colors views on coronavirus.

Elsewhere on the political scene, Trump and Biden spoke by phone for 15 minutes on Monday about the coronavirus emergency, following the presidents tweet earlier in the day asking, What ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me? (The Hill).

We had a good talk, Trump said, noting that he and Biden had a really wonderful warm conversation and agreed not to detail the private back-and-forth publicly. Biden offered suggestions, and Trump said he responded by describing what the administration is doing.

The conversation was a very friendly conversation, he repeated (The Hill).

The Hill: Biden hosts Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), a potential VP pick, on podcast.

The Hill: Trump, Biden set for tight battle in Florida.

The Washington Post: Rep. John LewisJohn LewisThe Hill's Campaign Report: Wisconsin votes despite coronavirus pandemic The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump: Tough times but progress being made John Lewis endorses Biden for president MORE (D-Ga.) endorses Joe Bidens presidential bid.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

CORONAVIRUS & INTERNATIONAL: Prime Minister Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit a day after being admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in London after 10 days of symptoms due to coronavirus. He remains on oxygen this morning but is not on a ventilator.

According to Downing Street, the prime minister, 55, was shifted to the ICU as his condition "worsened.

"The prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus, Downing Street said. Over the course of [Monday] afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital.

The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication, the statement added (BBC).

Trump praised Johnson as such an incredible guy and said that, intensive care is big stuff, really big stuff scary stuff.

He said representatives of four U.S. companies with potentially useful therapies for COVID-19 are making drugs available at the London hospital, should Johnson and his physicians elect to try them.

Read more:

The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump: Tough times but progress being made | TheHill - The Hill