tonight the striking new warning from dr. fauci telling senators that states opening too soon could trigger outbreaks they can't control leading to avoidable suffering and death that could also set the economy back and after the president declared the u.s. has prevailed on testing some republicans saying it's just the opposite also dr. fauci sounding the alarm about that mystery child disease believed linked to covid as the cdc prepares a major alert. it comes as parts of l.a. extends stay at home orders possibly until august, and cal state the nation's largest public university system already canceling in-person classes for the fall

also where in america cases are spiking. the biggest surge in grocery prices in nearly 50 years. how much more you're paying for everything from meat to eggs to cereal high anxiety mounting pressure on the tsa to make a big change at check points the growing outbreak in russia, one of putin's closest advisers infected. our exclusive even if a vaccine is successful how prepared is the u.s. to roll it out you might be surprised. and the new tropical threat we're tracking tonight >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt good evening, everyone there will be consequences more outbreaks, more deaths, a blunt warning from dr. anthony fauci against reopening the country too soon fauci and other top government health officials stepping out from under the shadow of the white house today and into a videoconference to break the bad news to a senate committee hearing that the covid outbreak is not under control, testing still

falls short and that grim days are still ahead. all as the death toll continued its steady and painful climb. we have it all covered starting with nbc's geoff bennett. >> reporter: tonight a dire warning from dr. anthony fauci. reopening the country too soon during the coronavirus crisis will cost lives. >> there is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you might not be able to control, which in effect hypwill set you back, not only leading some suffering and death that could be avoided but could even set you back on the road to economic recovery >> reporter: a reality check from the nation's top infectious disease expert which stands in stark contrast to president trump's push to reopen the country. tuesday's senate hearing unlike any before with the witnesses and many senator senators appearing remotely by videoconference. four of the nation's

top health officials responsible for the federal response, dr. fauci, cdc director robert redfield, fda commissioner stephen han, and admiral brett jarar offering their assistance dr. fauci assessing it's a bridge too far to expect a coronavirus treatment or vaccine by the fall school semester. they could not say when they will release information to states when to reopen public places like schools, churches and restaurants. >> when is it going to be released because states are reopening right now and we need this additional guidance to make those decisions. >> i do anticipate the broader guidance, though, to be posted on the cdc website soon >> soon isn't terribly helpful. >> reporter: and dr. fauci says the already stagger u.s. coronavirus death toll is likely higher than what's reported. >> the official statistic, dr. fauci, is at 80,000 americans have died from the

pandemic there are some epidemiologists who suggest the number may be 50% higher than that what do you think? >> i'm not sure, senator sanders, if it's going to be 50% higher, but most of us feel that the number of deaths are likely hilar than that number there may have been people who died at home who did have covid who were not counted as covid because they never really got to the hospital >> reporter: today's hearing grew tense at times with republican senator rand paul clashing with dr. fauci. >> we can listen to your advice but there are people on the other side saying there's not going to be a surge and we can safely open the economy. >> i've never made myself out to be the end-all and only voice in this. i'm a scientist, a physician and a public health official. i give advice according to the best scientific evidence. >> reporter: as democrats seized on shortcomings in the trump administration's response >> president trump must acknowledge that the federal response

has been insufficient and that more people are dying as a result. >> reporter: but there was one point of bipartisan agreement >> one thing that's abundantly clear, we need dramatically more testing. >> what our country has done so far in testing is impressive, but not nearly enough. >> i find our testing record nothing to celebrate whatsoever >> reporter: now, the white house has made progress in expanding the country's testing capeabouts in recent weeks though public health extrts warn that millions more tests per week are needed to safely reopen the country lester >> all right, jageoff bennett at the white house, thank you and one of the most striking moments today was during the exchange about kids and the risk of coronavirus. it comes as nbc news has learned the cdc is preparing to issue an alert to doctors nationwide about the signs and symptoms of that mystery illness believed linked to covid-19 with more here's

kristen dahlgren >> reporter: today in washington a tense exchange over kids and covid and what it means as schools consider reopening >> as much as i respect you, dr. fauci, i don't think you're the end-all i don't think you're the one person that gets to make a decision i think it's a huge mistake if we don't reopen the schools in the fall >> i think we're not careful if we're cavalier in but i think we're hopeful in knowing i don't know everything about this disease. >> reporter: pointing to the new inflammatory disease that appears to be impacting a small but growing number of children today the spokesperson for the cdc saying it's preparing a nationwide alert to help track pediatric multi mul multiinflammatory syndrome and the innuflation can attack organs like the heart or kidneys

new york now has 100 cases. >> it's probably in other states and probably hasn't been diagnosed yet in other states because, again, these children don't present the usual covid symptoms >> reporter: doctors say the syndrome appears to be a delayed inflammatory response to the virus. >> it's severe it's evolving very rapidly in these children so they can go from just having fever to suddenly deteriorating over a short period of time >> reporter: fortunately, there are treatments that seem to be working. >> my stomach hurt really bad >> reporter: today josey went home after days in the icu. >> the key is just to recognize the symptoms, get your child there so they can get the treatment. >> reporter: and new evidence today even kids without the inflammatory syndrome can get sicker with covid-19 than first thought. a new study from childrens national found of 177 kids who tested positive 1 in 4 required hospitalization.

nearly 40% of those had no underlying conditions overall children are a fraction of those most seriously impacted by covid-19 but tonight growing evidence against the assumption they are completely safe. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york >> as much of the country starts to reopen the infection rate is surging in some places. according to a white house task force report unreleased but obtained by nbc news and there's also news tonight about a major university system already canceling in-person classes for the fall miguel almaguer has late details >> reporter: tonight in some of the very regions reopening across our nation a troubling spike in covid cases according to new undisclosed numbers obtained by nbc news the data compiled by the white house pandemic task force shows the top ten areas recording surges of at least 72% over the previous week. atop the list central city, kentucky, where a prison has helped

fuel a 650% increase in infections. other hot spots include nashville, tennessee, amarilla, texas and des moines iowa where there was never statewide stay at home orders >> we have this huge spike in cases and i think it's a result of not practicing that stay in place order. >> reporter: with the national infection rate yet to subside a separate list of locations to watch includes cities like charlotte, omaha, minneapolis, columbus, phoenix and kansas city while cases in california are stable tonight cal state, the nation's largest four-year public university says campuses will remain closed through fall semester here in los angeles the stay at home orders could easily extend three more months into august it comes as governors elsewhere are easing their orders while several states including michigan, louisiana, and arkansas are seeing a decrease in new cases

today top doctors warned of opening communities too fast >> the reservation book is full almost for today and tomorrow >> reporter: but after this restaurant in colorado ignored local mandates its operating license was suspended. in california elon musk defying regulations too, jump starting production at tesla arguing the company is in an essential business as health officials order the company to stop manufacturing, one employee tells nbc news he's not comfortable being back on the job >> i don't see a scenario where i'm not risking my health by going back to tesla. >> reporter: as more businesses revolt and open their doors tempers continue to flare. in southern california two men were arrested after beating security guards who escorted them out of a target when refusing to wear a face mask. tonight the fight over reopening getting uglier than ever miguel almaguer, nbc

news, los angeles. now to the troubling news tonight for families trying to put food on the table while consumer prices overall have been going down during all this there's been a spike in food prices the highest spike in decades. our sam brock tonight and where you'll see the biggest changes. >> reporter: at grocery stores it's not just the plexiglass and social distancing that are different. price tags are changi changing, too. spiking higher than they've been in almost 50 years >> the eggs first maybe they used to be $1.49 for the medium ones and now it's $2.79 even $7 for the jumbo. >> reporter: grocery sales skyrocketing 83% in the middle of march when many stay at home orders went into effect have you noticed a small change or a big change >> no, it's a big change when i used to buy today i'm paying 107 >> reporter: prices are up for items like eggs, bread, chicken

and milk the average price of a dozen eggs jumped 16%, more than $3 in some places poultry, fish, meat and eggs were up more than 4%. cereal and bakery products saw the largest monthly increase ever, about 3% even though people are eating the same amount most are doing it from the safety of home, which is why a lot of produce and dairy are getting wasted suppliers are unable to repackage the food that would have gone to restaurants and redirect it to supermarkets for example, a crate of 360 eggs for a restaurant looks very different than the same 360 eggs packaged the way a supermarket would need to sell them >> half the food supply in this country normally goes to commercial use, that's restaurants. well, that demand has dried up while consumer demand has skyrocketed. and while the supply chain is shifting oo meet us, we're paying the price. >> reporter: coronavirus outbreaks at meat and poultry plants are also driving up prices. with new social distancing guidelines and workers calling out, production has plummeted. there are also fewer sales and promotions

at stores themselves a run up on food prices with no clear end in sight sam brock, nbc news, miami. in 60 seconds why flying might never be the same pressure on the tsa tonight to make a big change at their check points also our exclusive new reporting inside the race for a vaccine, the news that might surprise you

we're back with a major headline out of russia tonight a close aide to president vladimir putin among those now battling the disease retcher richard engel with late details >> reporter: he's russian president vladimir putin's right-hand man spokesman dmitry peskov has worked for putin for near 2 yes. today 's announced he has covid along with his wife. putin just announced a partial reopening in russia his government has been hit hard. three ministers

including the prime minister testing positive criticvise questioned russiana's death toll of around 2,000. russia reports nearly the same number of cases as the u.k., which has a death toll of 32,000. just today five more covid patients died in russia when a ventilator caught fire in an icu. covid and historically low oil prices have hurt putin's approval ratings. according to a recent pole he's at his lowest level in years. >> richard engel tonight, thank you now to the high anxiety in the airline industry and the devastating prediction today from the ceo of boeing here's tomter: calling the threat to the airline industry grave the prediction from boeing's ceo to savannah guthrie on "today" sent shock waves through wall street and airline offices. >> you think there might be a major u.s. carrier that just has to go out of business? >> well, i don't want to get too predictive

on that subject, but, yes most likely, you know, something will happy when september comes around >> reporter: dave calhoun did not say which airlines are most at rick, but with few exceptions every airline is flying less than 10% full. on september 30th the federal government's bail out money comes to an end. airlines are already warning as many as 100,000 employees could be laid off if passengers don't return in large numbers. >> you don't know who has what and how come things have been -- >> reporter: flying in a covid and post-covid world expect airline and airport face mask requirements, 6 feet of separation while lining up, airport heth screenings. a new scanner checks for elevated body temperatures at payne field in washington state. now 336 airports nationwide are calling on the tsa to check every passenger's temperature at security the tsa so far not embracing the idea

>> we have to make certain that those who choose to travel by air make it through the airport and feel as though they are as safe as they are if they were in their own home >> reporter: when will airline travel get back to normal boeing's ceo again with a sobering assessment >> it might take us 3, 5 years to get there >> reporter: meanwhile delta, united and american airlines requiring passengers to wear masks to board. they can be denied boarding if they don't. but once the plane leaves the gate flight attendants will ask not force passenger tuesday comply >> now to an nbc news exclusive. even if a vaccine is developed is the u.s. prepared to deliver the millions of doses that would be available? experts say no, but our gabe gutierrez talked to a ceo who says his company can solve a critical roadblock. >> reporter: with the global race to make a vaccine underway scientists are now sounding the alarm about how to mass-produce it. >> people are worried about do we have enough medical glass to be able to put all of these doses of the

vaccine into vials so they can be administered, and that's a serious issue to think about right now. >> reporter: late today the trump administration announced a new $138 million effort called project jump start to dramatically increase domestic production of syringes the dedepartments of defense and health and human serves will now partner with health startup apiject systems america. the company makes plastic prefilled syringes >> nobody has ever used an injectable prefilled syringe made of plastic in the tens of millions or even in the millions because nobody has ever figured out how to attach a needle to a plastic filled container with a drug. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview ceo jaywalker says the syringe will be made faster and will cost less than a dollar to produce, much cheaper than the cost of making glass vials to hold vaccines. >> not only does it take six months or more to make that's if you need millions. if you need tens of

millions or hundreds of millions they could take way longer to make so that's a big problem. >> reporter: and those glass vials are largely manufactured overseas there's also the stopper needed to close the vial experts warn our overreliance on an overseas supply chain is major national security issue health experts say a vaccine might need two doses to ensure immunity that might mean 650 million doses just the u.s. population alone. >> we've been leaning on the supply chain to ensure when a vaccine is ready to go we will have the necessary supplies to actually administer it. >> reporter: there's still no clear time line for a vaccine but experts say we must prepare for it now gabe gutierrez, nbc news, new york at the supreme court today a cliff-hanger case over president trump's financial records. our pete williams joins us now pete, did the justice offer any clues about their thinking >> reporter: i think so based on their questions and oral

argument by telephone conference call it did seem a majority of the court is prepared to rule that house democrats went too far in seeking years of financial records from president trump and his family members, but it might allow a nayoar demand for documents if it's tied to some pacific legislation the congress is considering. but the court also seemed inclined to say that a new york state grand jury can subpoena president trump's tax returns. none of the justice seemed to accept his argument a president is immune from all parts of the criminal justice process, so this appeared to be a mixed day from the president and we'll know when we get the rulings by july. >> pete williams, thanks very much up next as we continue here in the middle of the pandemic trouble could be brewing in the tropics. we're tracking what could be the first tropical threat of the season

we're back now with the harrowing scene today caught on camera in south florida as a small plane hit some power lines and crashed on a road one of two people onboard was killed, the other seriously injured. officials say the plane was having mechanical trouble and the pilot was trying to make it back to an airport. tonight we are tracking what could become the first tropical threat of the season forecasts show a tropical disturbance could form up the southeast coast of the u.s. by this weekend it's not expected to make a direct hit, but it could bring rip current and swells to the coast early next week up next tonight the return of a king, and wait until you hear where

finally tonight in our latest installment of "nightly news" kids edition we'll explain the science behind antibodies and how they protect us and potentially help others fight covid, too. and the king is back the shirley temple king that is he's helping other kids in need right now

plus he shows us how to make one at home. "nightly news" kids edition is streaming right now. and that does it for us this evening. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. >> kelly: hey, what's up, everyone? it's me again from montana. i hope your families are staying safe and healthy, it is still nurses week, while we should be recognizing them every day and every week, they need to be

honored now more than ever. here's a story of a nurse from south carolina who has taken a heart that music heals. >> hey, kelly, it is mary jay, i am so excited to be a part of the music heels campaign. ♪ i am a nurse here in greenwood, south carolina, where i work at a residential facility and we do hallway karaoke, like the kelly-aoke you do on your talk show. ♪ [singing "at last] speak of the residents are there to make sure that they are still happy and connected during this difficult time. ♪