April 17, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

President Trump has shared a plan states can use to decide when to lift restrictions on movement and economic activity. But some governors say testing for COVID-19 isn’t near the levels necessary to enable them to reopen. Meanwhile, global health experts expressed doubts about whether the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in a person’s blood means they are immune to reinfection. John Yang reports.

Vice President Mike Pence was chosen by President Trump to lead his Coronavirus Task Force. This week, the administration offered governors a plan for how to begin lifting restrictions implemented due to the pandemic. Judy Woodruff talks to Pence about persistently inadequate COVID-19 testing and his message to front-line health care workers forced to share and reuse their protective gear.

In our news wrap Friday, smoke from wildfires outside Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv has elevated its air pollution levels to the highest in the world. The fires erupted earlier this month, burning close to the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant. Also, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen will be released early from federal prison as part of an effort to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among inmates.

As states mull when to lift pandemic restrictions and reopen, the question of testing for COVID-19 remains a critical one. In much of the country, testing capabilities have not kept up with demand, and health experts and epidemiologists say broader testing is a prerequisite for easing limits on Americans' activities. William Brangham joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the key shortages at play.

A woman has come forward alleging that former Vice President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993, when she was an employee in his Senate office. Biden, poised to become the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, has faced criticism in the past over unwanted touching of women. Amna Nawaz talks to The New York Times’ Lisa Lerer for details of the story and what it means for Biden’s candidacy.

Tens of thousands of Americans have already lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. They include teachers, health care workers, musicians, public servants and many more who have left a permanent mark on their communities. The death toll from the disease is too high for us to recognize every one of them, but we’ll continue to share their stories as we grieve their absence.

In the midst of overwhelming sadness and suffering, we wanted to end the week on a high note. It’s brought to us from the Tony Award-winning cast of “Ain’t Too Proud,” the Broadway show about The Temptations. They recently got online to connect and delivered this performance, part of our ongoing arts and culture series, Canvas.

After federal aid for small businesses, called the Paycheck Protection Program, ran out of its allotted $350 billion, there were questions about if and when lawmakers could land on a deal to provide additional funding. As of late Friday, Republicans and Democrats seem to be making progress toward an agreement -- but they aren’t there yet. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including the Trump administration’s guidance to states about when to reopen amid the pandemic, the ongoing struggle to conduct more COVID-19 tests, Trump’s criticism of Democratic governors and what Sen. Bernie Sanders’ endorsement means for former Vice President Joe Biden.