Texas is pausing further reopening as it responds to an increase in cases, the governor said.
There are fears of “apocalyptic” surges in major Texas cities if the trend continues: Houston could be the hardest-hit city in the US with numbers rivaling those in Brazil.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Latin America has tripled in the past month, surpassing 2 million infections, the Pan American Health Organization said.
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People should still be washing their hands and avoiding "high-touch surfaces," expert warns
CNN
Emergency physician Leana Wen joined CNN’s ongoing coronavirus town hall to answer questions from viewers on the disease, which has seen alarming spikes in the US this week.
What does the CDC’s new guidance mean?
Today, the CDC updated its list of people who are most at risk of severe complications from coronavirus.
The list includes people with severe kidney disease, lung disease, heart disease, and obesity. Obesity is a major one, since 40% of Americans fall under that category, said Wen.
Pregnant women are now also on the list, and should consider themselves “medically vulnerable,” she said.
Has the danger of infection via touching things declined?
The most likely way you might get infected is through person-to-person contact, like being next to someone who is sneezing or talking. But there is still a risk of getting Covid-19 from surfaces, especially surfaces that are touched frequently by many people, said Wen — meaning it’s still crucial to keep washing your hands and being careful what you touch.
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Some of the biggest risk factors in catching Covid-19 are time and place, professor says
From CNN's Andrea Kane
CNN contributor Erin Bromage
CNN
The most important factors that affect your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus are the amount of time spent with someone and whether that time is spent inside or out, CNN contributor Erin Bromage told Wolf Blitzer Thursday on The Situation Room.
Asked if a person should hold their breath when they’re walking by someone on the street who is not wearing a mask, Bromage, an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, answered no.
“I understand people think that that’s a risk, but it’s exposure to the virus, enough of the virus over enough of the time. When you’re walking past somebody, holding your breath is really not going to reduce the risk for you very much at all. Nor does that person present a huge risk to you in the first place,” he said.
As for the risk of catching the virus from a contaminated surface, it’s low but it’s “definitely a possibility.”
“Time, definitely, is an issue with this. So, the longer you spend talking to somebody, the longer that you share a space with them, the higher the risk that you will get enough virus to become infected,” he added.
Why wearing masks are important: “Masks stop emissions at the source. They stop them coming out of your mouth and moving into the air, into the environment. So, if we stop them where they start, they can never pose a risk to another person.” he said.
He added that “even a poor fitting mask will do something, a better fitting mask does a lot more.”
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The US is "not even close" to doing enough to fight the pandemic, Gates says
From CNN's Melissa Mahtani
CNN
Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a coronavirus town hall, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said the fact that people are still dying in the US today shows that the country is “not even close” to doing enough to fight the pandemic.
He also expressed disappointment with what he called a lack of US leadership to tackle this virus globally, which has led to developing countries — such as Brazil and India — bearing the brunt of this disease.
Gates said he remains hopeful that the US will “step up” and help get the tools, particularly the vaccine, out to everyone in the world.
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White House Coronavirus Task Force to hold first public meeting in almost two months
From CNN's Matt Hoye
Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the Senate Republicans' lunch in the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday, June 24, in Washington, DC.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/AP Images
The White House announced tonight that Vice President Mike Pence would lead a public coronavirus task force briefing Friday morning, the first public meeting in almost two months.
The announcement comes as many states are seeing a resurgence in cases of Covid 19, as others like Oklahoma and Texas are seeing fresh spikes.
The briefing will not take place at the White House, but according to the schedule released by the White House, will be at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Some background: President Trump has tried to declare that the pandemic “over,” despite the rising numbers and has instead focused his administration’s energy on reopening the economy.
He has also resumed campaign rallies, despite warnings by health experts on his own task force that the events could be super spreaders of the virus.
At his Tulsa, Oklahoma rally Saturday, eight members of his advance staff tested positive for the virus, and since then the Secret Service has announced that agents who attended the rally will be quarantining for the next two weeks. Campaign staffers who attended the rally are also quarantining.
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Bill Gates says he talks to Fauci on a regular basis
From CNN's Melissa Mahtani
CNN
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said he talks to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, regularly.
“I talk to him regularly, more often than he talks to some other people,” Gates told CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta during a coronavirus town hall.
“He’s fantastic,” Gates said of Fauci.
In terms of a timeline, Gates said he’s aligned with Fauci on his prediction that there will be a viable vaccine by the end of the year, or early 2021.
Gates explained that there are two characteristics being evaluated in developing a vaccine.Firstly, that the vaccine prevents you from getting sick and secondly, that it prevents you spreading it to others.
On the latter, he warned that “it’s not guaranteed that the vaccine will be a perfect transmission blocker.”
Despite that, Gates said recent evidence points to the antibody response being “very strong,” which suggests about a year of immunity to anyone who gets the disease.
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More than 25,000 people have died from coronavirus in Mexico
From CNN’s Matt Rivers and Taylor Barnes
Mexico’s health ministry reported at least 6,104 new cases of novel coronavirus on Thursday, the second-highest daily case rise reported in the country.
There has now been at least 202,951 cases in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
The health ministry also reported at least 736 new Covid-19 fatalities – bringing the country’s death toll to at least 25,060.
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New Mexico pauses reopening plans, governor says
From CNN’s Andy Rose
As confirmed coronavirus cases spike in the western United States, the governor of New Mexico says they are putting further economic reopening plans on hold.
While New Mexico’s case load has not gotten as dramatically high as its neighbors, Arizona and Texas, Grisham said there is still too much risk.
“We can manage being flat. Our goal should be to reduce cases,” the governor said.
Grisham said “the last thing anyone wants” is to have to roll back economic progress since businesses began to reopen.
“The virus has not gone anywhere. I think there’s a false sense of security now,” the governor said. “New Mexicans actually have gotten really lax, I think, about wearing masks and taking this seriously.”
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Gates: "Completely false" that more testing means more cases
Microsoft founder Bill Gates dismissed the White House’s claim that an increase in case numbers is a direct result of an increase in testing, calling it “completely false.”
Local officials, he said, have “gotten their act together on testing.”
Gates said testing capacity will continue to increase in the fall, and “that’s good news.”
“But that’s not the reason we’re seeing these case increases,” he said.
“If you take the New York or the New York area out, in fact we’re still very much in the thick of things.”
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Bill Gates says current coronavirus picture is "more bleak" than expected
From CNN's Melissa Mahtani
CNN
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Thursday that the current coronavirus picture, both globally and in the US, is “more bleak” than he would have expected.
Gates, speaking at CNN coronavirus town hall, attributed the rise in numbers to a lack of testing and contact tracing, as well as a lack of mask wearing.
“The range of behaviors in the US right now, some people being very conservative in what they do, and some people ignoring the epidemic, is huge,” Gates said.
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Charleston, South Carolina, approves ordinance requiring face coverings
From CNN's Jamiel Lynch
The Charleston City Council approved an ordinance to require face coverings to reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19, according to a statement.
The ordinance will take effect on July 1.
“The ordinance is a fine-only offense and will be enforced primarily via educational efforts by civilian officers with the city’s Livability Department. It will remain in effect for a period of 60 days, unless otherwise terminated,” the statement said.
60% of US states are reporting increases in new cases
At least 30 states across the US — 60% — are reporting an increase in new coronavirus cases in the past week, compared to the previous week.
Of those states, 13 are reporting a 50% or greater increase.
New cases are trending down in 11 states, while nine are seeing steady numbers.
Here’s a look at where things stand:
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There are still "many weeks ahead" in the coronavirus pandemic, L.A. public health official says
Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said people need to start working together to contain the spread of coronavirus as cases spike in California and several other states across the country.
“Obviously when your numbers start going in the wrong direction, it means that more people need to do the right thing. More people need to get back on track. They need to take the steps that protect each other,” she told CNN on Thursday.
Ferrer said that means people need to continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and avoid large crowds – as well as rely and follow information and guidance from public health officials and scientists.
Some context: California obliterated its previous single-day high with 7,149 cases reported on Tuesday, according to state Department of Public Health. The previous record, set the day before, was just more than 5,000. Hospitalization and intensive care rates due to the virus are also at an all-time high in the state.
“I think as we had anticipated with more people out, we would have seen the increase. I think the increase has happened much quicker than we thought it would,” Ferrer said.
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Alex Rodriguez: Hundreds of balls may be required for each MLB game under Covid-19 rules
From CNN's Josiah Ryan
Former New York Yankee and 14-time all-star Alex Rodriguez laid out the challenges Major League Baseball players will face this summer as they take on an abbreviated 60-game season under strict new rules designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Think about a world, you going into the office it’s like not being able to use your computer or even email someone,” he continued. “It’s going to be a very strange season.”
The new rules, laid out in a 113-page manual, ban spitting, arguing with umpires, fighting, public transportation to the stadium and communal food spreads among other comforts, according to the New York Times.
Players and coaches will undergo frequent coronavirus testing and pitchers must use a wet rag in their pocket to dampen the ball for grip instead of spit.
Speaking with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Rodriguez pointed out that this abbreviated season also might require vastly more baseballs for sanitary reasons than previous seasons.
“What’s interesting to note is a Major League Baseball game, you usually have nine to 11 dozens of baseballs. …We live in a world today that we could go through 30 or 40 dozens of baseballs because anytime a ball touches anyone, you throw it out of play,” he said.
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Coalition of airline unions ask Congress to extend payroll bailout through March 2021
From CNN's Greg Wallace
A coalition of airline worker unions asked Congress on Thursday to extend the industry payroll bailout through next March to stave off what they warned are inevitable mass layoffs.
Six unions whose members include flight attendants, pilots, and ground-based aviation workers pointed to signals from airline executives that job cuts are on the horizon when the federal money stops flowing on October 1.
Some background: The program required airlines to continue paying the employees and agree to other terms, including a minimum level of service for airports nationwide.
The letter was addressed to the leaders of both the House and Senate.
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Arizona governor says state's reopening plan is "on pause" due to coronavirus resurgence
From CNN’s Andy Rose
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the state’s reopening plans are now “on pause” as a result of a major spike in coronavirus cases.
The state Department of Health Services reported new cases topping 3,000 as of last week, a pace which the governor said could overwhelm hospital intensive care facilities “very soon.”
Ducey said the state will not be rolling back their business reopening plans, but will be requiring businesses to follow social distancing rules that remain in effect.
“If they choose not to, there will be accountability, and there will be enforcement,” he said.
Even with the new policy, Ducey said it’s too late to put an immediate dent in the coronavirus numbers.
“We expect that our numbers will be worse next week and the week following,” he said.
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UK study shows neurological complications in young patients with severe Covid-19
From CNN’s Marisa Peryer
More research shows that coronavirus can cause a range of neurological problems, from dementia to psychosis.
Some patients with severe cases of the disease have presented with several neurological conditions, according to a study of UK patients published in The Lancet Psychiatry Thursday.
These included newly diagnosed altered mental states in people under age 60, including a dementia-like cognitive syndrome, psychosis, inflammation and mood disorders like depression or anxiety.
And although strokes were markedly more common among patients above 60, they were also seen across all age groups included in the study.
How it works: Jennifer Loftis, a psychiatry professor at Oregon Health & Science who was not involved with the study, said inflammatory molecules, called cytokines, are found throughout the body, including the central nervous system. When these molecules proliferate, such as during a Covid-19 infection, elevations could also be in the brain —contributing to neuropsychiatric impairments like depression and impacting how cells talk to each other.
Still, the study published Thursday cannot discount the possibility that young patients had undiagnosed, pre-existing psychiatric conditions. As for younger Covid-19 patients in the study who have had a stroke, Michael said the possible causes include artery inflammation and changes in clotting proteins. This may also cause strokes for older patients, in addition to conventional risk factors for that population.
“We can’t tell the relative frequencies of these things, but it’s really what doctors are seeing and reporting,” Timothy Nicholson, one of the study’s co-authors and a clinical lecturer at King’s College in London, said in a statement.
“It’s really a sort of early-warning system of what we might expect,” he added.
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Brazil reports more than 39,000 new coronavirus cases
From CNN's Rodrigo Pedroso and Taylor Barnes
A coronavirus combat team disinfects the Morro Santa Marta favela, south of Rio de Janeiro on June 24.
Fabio Teixeira/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brazil’s health ministry reported 39,483 new cases of novel coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the nationwide total to at least 1,228,114.
The ministry also reported 1,141 new virus deaths, bringing the country’s death toll to at least 54,971.
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Study finds coronavirus in children is generally mild and unlikely to be fatal
From CNN’s Lauren Mascarenhas
For children and adolescents under 18, effects of coronavirus are generally mild, and fatalities are rare, European researchers reported Thursday.
Only four children died out of 582 in the study, which was conducted at the height of the pandemic in Europe, the researchers reported in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. Only 8% required intensive care.
The study affirms what doctors have been finding: children are far less likely than adults to suffer serious effects of coronavirus. But children were not completely spared. While only 4% of the children needed ventilators to help them breathe, some required ventilation for a month.
Children under the age of one month and those with preexisting health issues were more likely to require intensive care. Some of them had more than one infection and 24% of those with additional respiratory infections such as cold or flu viruses required intensive care. Only 7% of children without co-infections required intensive care.
“This could have important implications for the upcoming winter season, when cold and flu infections will be more common,” said Dr. Begoña Santiago-Garcia of University Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain, who worked on the study.
Because the participants included only patients who sought medical help and had been tested for coronavirus, researchers noted that the study skewed towards more severe cases than reflected in the general population.
“Overall, the vast majority of young people experience only mild disease,” said Dr. Marc Tebruegge of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London, who helped lead the study. “Nevertheless, a notable number of children do develop severe disease and require intensive care support, and this should be accounted for when planning and prioritizing healthcare resources as the pandemic progresses.”
The study noted that research on treatment for children, including antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs, is urgently needed.
The most common symptom reported was fever, while about 16% of participants had no symptoms at all.
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This Florida city issued an emergency order requiring facial coverings
From CNN's Mallory Simon
People walk along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk at sunrise on May 13, in Hollywood, Florida.
Lynne Sladky/AP
The city of Hollywood, Florida, issued an emergency order Thursday requiring public use of facial coverings due to Covid-19.
The order states “all persons beyond the legal boundary of their residential property are required to wear a facial covering consistent with current CDC guidelines that cover the nose and mouth, including individuals within the common areas of all buildings with multiple residences and at their place of employment unless exempted by Emergency Orders issued by the Governor of the State of Florida or Broward County.”
Children under the age of two, people engaging in outdoor exercise while maintaining six feet of distance from others, those with medical conditions that prevent facial coverings and people who are employed in a profession where a facial covering will interfere with their duties are exempt from the order.
The Hollywood Police Department will enforce the emergency measure and can issue warnings or citations, according to the order.
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Kentucky will resume visitation at long-term care facilities
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
Kentucky will allow visitation at assisted living and personal care homes starting Monday, Eric Friedlander, secretary for the state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, announced Thursday.
Activities with 10 or fewer people, communal dining, and off-site appointments will be allowed for these facilities, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Visitation will also be allowed July 15 in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“Kentuckians have patiently awaited since March 6 for the opportunity to see loved ones in long-term care facilities again — in person. We are pleased to say that plans are in place to ease back into certain activities,” Friedlander said.
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At-home testing could help with Covid-19 and future pandemics, report says
From CNN's Naomi Thomas
At-home testing could help with diagnosis and control of Covid-19 and help with preparedness for possible future pandemics, according to a new report published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on Thursday.
Home tests for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are a good model for home tests for influenza and, eventually, coronavirus, the report suggests.
Home tests could solve problems with access to testing, as well, the report says.
Plus, when people test at home, they don’t have to worry about catching or spreading the virus by going somewhere to get tested.
“Had at-home testing been widely available early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it would have allowed people to be tested while maintaining social distancing in the process, thus potentially contributing to reduced spread of the virus,” the report reads.
A successful program for developing and approving home tests could be expanded to cover other infections, too, and improve knowledge of the spread and extent of viruses and bacteria.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies should prioritize funding, development and review of these products, the Johns Hopkins team said.
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Health expert predicts Florida could face "catastrophic consequences" if it has to shut down again
From CNN’s Shelby Lin Erdman
Dr. Lilian Abbo
CNN
Florida is seeing a significant resurgence in coronavirus cases, with more than 5,000 cases identified for the second day in a row.
That could result in “catastrophic consequences” for the state if it has to shut down again, predicted Dr. Lilian Abbo, the chief of infection prevention at Jackson Health System in Miami.
In Miami-Dade County, health officials say 27% of people getting coronavirus tests are testing positive. “It’s a very concerning situation,” Abbo told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Abbo said there could be several factors behind the resurgence.
“We think that there are many reasons why it’s happening, but one of them is since we reopened the economy people have a false sense of security that the pandemic is under control, that perhaps this was made up by health care providers and the threat perhaps is not real. That, to us, is extremely concerning,” she said.
This has to stop, Abbo said.
“We cannot continue to see a continuous climb of cases because we don’t want to have to go back to shutting down the economy. This will have catastrophic consequences for Miami-Dade County and for the state and will definitely increase mortality,” she said.
Hospitals are beginning to fill up with coronavirus cases, Abbo said.
“When you start to see cases going up, that means that we’re going to start seeing hospitals running out of capacity to take care of patients that don’t have Covid, and we don’t want to go into that route. We want to be able to take care of everyone — those with Covid and those without.”
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GOP senators don't fault Trump for his refusal to push people to wear masks
From CNN's Manu Raju, Ali Zaslav and Lauren Fox
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said despite the uptick in cases in his home state of Florida, he does not think that there should be a statewide law mandating masks, questioning how that would be enforced.
Asked if President Trump, who doesn’t wear a mask, should push Americans to do so, Rubio said: “I don’t know if that would matter at the end of the day for some people … They just don’t like being told what to do … But we have to explain to people, it’s not about them. You’re doing it for somebody else.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, asked if Trump should encourage Americans to wear masks through his Twitter account, said: “Listen, I don’t think he’s going to change where he’s at on masks. But he might, I don’t know.”
Asked about Trump not pushing Americans to wear masks, Graham said, “He’s got his own view of whether or not he should wear a mask but my advice to people is if you’re around strangers, try to stay six feet away, wear a mask.”
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In New Hampshire, Covid-19 hospitalizations lowest since early April
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
New Hampshire reported that Covid-19 hospitalizations are the lowest they have been since early April.
New Hampshire Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette said there are 40 new cases of Covid-19 Thursday, for a total of 5,638 cases including 10 new deaths, eight of which are from long-term care facilities.
He said starting Monday, all hotels, inns and campgrounds in the state will be able to operate at 100% occupancy.
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Mexico's finance minister tests positive for coronavirus
From CNN's Karol Suarez
Mexico’s Finance Minister Arturo Herrera
Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg via Getty Images/FILE
Mexico’s Finance Minister Arturo Herrera tested positive for coronavirus, he confirmed Thursday.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador tweeted Monday a video where he was seen standing right next to Herrera while announcing changes in his cabinet. Neither of them were seen wearing a mask.
On June 19, Herrera posted a picture with Lopez Obrador from a trip they made the day before to Hidalgo in central Mexico to supervise a social program for schools.
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Peru reports more than 3,900 new Covid-19 cases
From CNN’s Claudia Rebaza in London
Peru reported 3,913 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to at least 268,602, according to data released by the country’s health ministry.
The increase in the number of cases is slightly higher than the previous seven days.
The death toll due to coronavirus in the country is 8,761 with 175 new deaths, a lower number in the last 24 hours.
Peru has the second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Latin America, following Brazil. The South American country was one of the first countries in the region to impose a state of emergency and lockdown in order to fight the pandemic.
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Oregon governor orders the release of 57 prisoners due to coronavirus risk
From CNN’s Andy Rose
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is ordering the release of 57 “medically vulnerable” prisoners due to the threat of coronavirus.
The governor had asked state corrections officials to draw up a list of prisoners whose health could be severely compromised if they developed Covid-19. To be considered for commutation, prisoners also must have served at least half of their sentences and not be considered a risk to the community.
A statement from the governor’s office said 61 prisoners met her criteria, but she rejected three for commutation because they were already going to be released within the next week. A fourth was turned down because the prisoner was not scheduled to be released until 2025.
The 57 prisoners whose sentences are commuted will still be under supervision, including regular check-ins with a parole officer.
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Chicago moves to reopen indoor dining at restaurants
From CNN's Raja Razek
Protective barriers stand between booths at ROOH Chicago restaurant in Chicago, on Sunday, June 21.
Olivia Obineme/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state is moving forward into phase four on Friday, which will allow indoor dining, museums, zoos and other businesses to resume.
“The doctors and public health experts have reviewed the data and the proposed conditions for greater public activity and work conditions and have approved them, including the following activities with Covid-related health safety guidelines,” he said.
“Hundreds of thousands more Illinoisans will be able to return to work,” he added.
Pritzker said the state had seen a dramatic decline in Covid-19 deaths. It also significantly reduced its Covid-19 positivity rate, hospitalization and bed use in intensive care units, he said.
Illinois has a total of 139,434 Covid-19 cases and at least 6,810 people have died from the virus.
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K-12 schools in Connecticut to plan for fall reopening for all students
From CNN's Elizabeth Hartfield
Miguel Cardona, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education
Pool
K-12 schools in Connecticut should plan to reopen for all students in the fall, state officials announced on Thursday
To do this, schools must work to maximize social distancing, including reconfiguring desks to maximize distance, frequent hand washing, and requiring face coverings for students and staff, Miguel Cardona, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education, said at a news conference.
The education department is emphasizing cohorting of students for K-8 and 9-12 grades wherever it’s feasible. The cohorting idea — students staying in their classroom unit as much as possible — was really important to the plan development, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said.
The plans — which are based on the current public health indicators and could shift if needed — were built on a statewide basis for consistency across the towns and school districts, and the goal was to keep things as close to normal as possible, the governor said.
Lamont described planning for reopening K-12 schools as “one of the most complicated pieces of the reopening.”
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California is not shutting down its border due to Covid-19 spike, governor says
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
California’s borders will remain open to visitors, even if Covid-19 cases are surging in other areas like Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
“At this moment, we are not shutting down our border,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
Quarantining visitors is not necessary at this time, Newsom said, but he was clear that people will be responsible for following the rules while they are in California, specifically the statewide mandate to wear a face covering in public.
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California will roll back reopening if hospitals become strained, governor says
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Pool
If Covid-19 patients begin to strain resources like hospitals and specifically beds in intensive care units, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to pull back on their reopening ability.
Specifically, the framework would be roughly 40% of hospitalizations and just over 30% of ICU capacity, Newsom said.
Newsom mentioned Imperial County as an example, which recently exceeded their hospital capacity and as such were required to put a pause on reopening.
There are 10 other counties in the state being closely monitored for potential constraints on their resources.
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Hospitalizations in California climb 32% in two weeks during surge of new coronavirus infections
From CNN's Jon Passantino
The number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus and being treated in intensive care units has climbed by a double-digit percentage to record highs over the last two weeks as the state sees a surge of new infections.
Hospitals in California have seen a 32% increase in patients with the coronavirus over the last 14-day period, Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a news conference Thursday, reaching an all-time high since the start of the pandemic.
As of Wednesday, the latest day for which data is available, 4,240 patients were hospitalized with the coronavirus in California, an increase of 145 patients since Tuesday, or 3.5%.
The number of Californians being treated in intensive care units has also reached a record high, with 1,306 patients on Wednesday — a 19% increase over the last 14 days. Across the state, 34% of California’s intensive care unit beds are occupied with Covid-19 patients.
The governor suggested the state could pause further reopening of its economy — and even “toggle back” — if health officials continue to see increases in infections and hospitalizations.
“To the extent we don’t see progress being made, and we’re not advancing the cause of public health and public safety, then we certainly reserve the right to put a pause in terms of advancing into the subsequent phase,” Newsom said. “And we have the capacity and ability to toggle back in terms of the stay-at-home order and the guidance that we put out.”
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Health expert on Texas' "dire" case spike: "I can't stress enough how concerned I am"
From CNN Health’s Shelby Lin Erdman
Dr. Peter Hotez
CNN
Coronavirus cases are surging in Texas and hospital admissions are significantly increasing.
“It’s pretty dire,” Dr. Peter Hotez, professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Hotez said that the state is not seeing increased deaths yet — but they will soon.
“Those deaths will start to mount up, I would say, in a couple of weeks,” he said.
Hotez said the projections for Covid-19 cases and deaths in Texas suggest as many as 4,000 cases a day by the Fourth of July weekend just over a week away.
“So, three or four times even this very high acceleration, a very high rate in Houston and similar things are happening now in Dallas, and all the metro areas, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio,” he said. “I can’t stress enough how concerned I am.”
He said the coronavirus infection pattern of racial disparity seems to be at play in the latest surge in Texas cases.
“We’ve seen in Houston and some of the other Texas cities a disproportionate impact on people living in low income neighborhoods where it’s harder to do the social distancing, where there’s higher rates of underlying diabetes and hypertension,” he said. “I’m especially worried at what’s happening to the African American, Hispanic, Latinx populations in Houston. We don’t have the data yet, but I’m guessing they are disproportionately being affected like we saw in New Orleans.”
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NFL commissioner expects fans at stadiums this fall in "safest possible environment"
From CNN's David Close
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is working to ensure the “safest possible environment” for players, staffers and fans when the season resumes.
Goodell said the league is planning to open training camps on time to “get ready for games at our stadiums and to engage our fans both in stadiums as well as through our media partners.” He added that the league has been discussing plans with the players union.
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CDC director calls social distancing "most powerful tool" to curb spread of Covid-19
From CNN's Maggie Fox
Dr. Robert Redfield
Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images/FILE
Social distancing is the best defense against spreading coronavirus, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
The virus does not travel well over distances of longer than six or seven feet, Redfield said.
He added that people can “maintain six feet distancing, if we can wear face coverings when we are in public, particularly when we can’t maintain the distancing … and maintain vigilance in our hand hygiene … these are going to be really, really important defense mechanisms.”
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California governor praises Disney's decision to delay Disneyland reopening
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg and Frank Pallotta
David McNew/AFP/Getty Images
California Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly complimented Disney for their decision to hold off on reopening Disneyland next month as planned.
While California has been providing guidelines on reopening various industries, the state has stopped short of giving an outline for reopening theme parks.
The resort, located in Anaheim, California, was set to welcome back guests on July 17 after being closed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Disney has not given a new reopening date for the Disneyland resort.
The company said that the State of California had indicated it would not issue theme park reopening guidelines “until sometime after July 4,” according to a statement: “Given the time required for us to bring thousands of cast members back to work and restart our business, we have no choice but to delay the reopening of our theme parks and resort hotels until we receive approval from government officials.”
Some context: Cases are spiking in California. The state reported 5,349 new confirmed cases today. While this number is down from the more than 7,000 cases reported Wednesday, it remains the second highest number of positive results collected in California in a single day.
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England health official: If we ignore social distancing rules, cases will rise
From CNN's Milena Veselinovic in London
England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty is warning that coronavirus cases will rise if people ignore social distancing rules.
Despite advice to stay away from the area, it was overrun with cars and sunbathers, leading to gridlock, illegal parking and anti-social behavior. By Thursday morning, more than 40 tons of waste had been removed from the coastline.
“COVID-19 has gone down due to the efforts of everyone but is still in general circulation,” Whitty wrote on Twitter.
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California reports more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
A traveler is checked with a handheld thermometer at Los Angeles International Airport on June 24.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Today’s daily coronavirus case count in California is down somewhat from Wednesday, with 5,349 new confirmed cases, according to data from California Department of Public Health.
While this number is down from the more than 7,000 cases reported Wednesday, it remains the second highest number of positive results collected in California in a single day.
The positivity rate continues to climb and is up to 5.6%, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a press conference. Just Monday, the positivity rate was 4.8%.
Also setting records in California is the number of people tested. Newsom said more than 101,000 were tested Wednesday alone, bringing the state’s total to roughly 3.7 million people tested since the beginning of the pandemic.
Hospitalizations and those in intensive care are also at an all-time high.
More than 195,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in California to date, and at least 5,733 have died from Covid-19.
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Younger people are driving an increase in Ohio's Covid-19 cases, governor says
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess.
The Ohio Channel
At least 892 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Ohio over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to at least 47,651, according to the state.
According to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, almost 60% of the new cases were between 20 and 49 years old.
The average age of people infected in Ohio in March was 51, the governor said. So far in June, that number has decreased to 42.
“We have increased testing, but we do not believe this increase in cases is completely due to testing,” DeWine said.
Hospitalizations are also up, DeWine said, with 55 new hospitalizations and 11 admissions into intensive care units over the last 24 hours.
The uptick in cases is being seen particularly in the region around Cincinnati.
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Apple is closing more reopened stores in Florida due to continued spread of coronavirus
From CNN's Kate Trafecante
Lynne Sladky/AP/FILE
Apple plans to close an additional 14 stores in Florida again after closing two last week due to an uptick in coronavirus cases in the state.
The following stores in Florida will be closing again on Friday: The Galleria, The Falls, Aventura, Lincoln Road, Dadeland, Brickell City Centre, Wellington Green, Boca Raton, The Gardens Mall, Millenia, Florida Mall, Altamonte, International Plaza and Brandon.
Some more context: Apple reopened dozens of its 271 United States stores last month after shutting them because of the coronavirus.
However, Apple decided to once again shutter 11 locations last week in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arizona due to a surge in cases in those states.
CNN Business’ Rishi Iyengar contributed to this report
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Massachusetts schools will reopen for as many students as possible this fall, governor says
From CNN's Evan Simko-Bednarski
Massachusetts will aim to reopen K-12 schools for as many students as possible in the fall, Gov. Charlie Baker said in a news conference.
The announcement came as the state released guidelines meant to limit transmission of Covid-19 in school settings for the fall.
“Getting our children back to school in the fall is critical,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said. “These rules take every precaution possible and are grounded in the best possible medical advice.”
What the school guidelines say: The guidelines focus on hand washing, hygiene, and widespread use of masks or face coverings. They also call for a room, separate from a school nurses office, in which possibly symptomatic students can be isolated before being brought home.
Dr. Sandra Nelson, an infectious disease expert on the faculty at Harvard University and one of doctors consulted on the opening plan, said the guidance was the result of new information about the disease.
“We have learned an unprecedented amount in a short time,” she said.
Baker also announced a fund of $200 million dollars to help school districts with the costs related to reopening and implementing the new recommendations.
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Mitch McConnell on mask wearing: "I think that's what people ought to do"
From CNN's Ali Zaslav
Alex Wong/Getty Images/FILE
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was noncommittal Thursday on whether mask-wearing should be mandatory in public as coronavirus cases surge in several states.
But McConnell did say that senators are wearing masks.
“I think that’s what people ought to do. And that’s what we’re doing in the Senate and what I’m counseling other people to do,” he said.
In the US, coronavirus has killed at least 121,979 people and infected nearly 2.4 million, according to Johns Hopkins.
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FIFA announces plan to financially support member federations impacted by Covid-19
From CNN's Jabari Jackson
In a statement released on Thursday, FIFA Council unanimously announced the “FIFA Covid-19 Relief Plan” which was created to support members who were financially affected the most during the coronavirus pandemic.
The three-stage plan will make up to $1.5 billion available through grants and loans with a “minimum of 50% of released funds to be allocated to women’s football.”
All 211 member associations will have access to a $1 million in grants while also having the option to apply for “interest-free” loans that amount up to 35% of their “audited” annual revenue.
Both grants and loans can be used to address wider football issues including “clubs, players, leagues, or others that have been affected,” according to FIFA’s statement.
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Mississippi reports its highest single-day increase in cases
From CNN's Hollie Silverman and Jamiel Lynch
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 1,092 new coronavirus cases Thursday.
This is the highest single-day increase since case tracking began, the Health Department’s Office of Communications confirmed to CNN.
Five new deaths were also reported Thursday.
At least 536 people are currently hospitalized and 50 new cases have been identified in long-term care facilities. There are 86 active outbreaks in long-term care facilities, according to the report.
There have been a total of 24,516 coronavirus cases and a total of 1,016 deaths reported in the state.
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Brazil's Sao Paulo state now has more Covid-19 cases than all of Italy
From CNN's Rodrigo Pedroso
COVID-19 patients lie on beds in a field hospital built inside a gym in Santo Andre, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 9.
Andre Penner/AP
Brazil’s Sao Paulo state has reached a total of 248,587 cases of Covid-19, surpassing that of Italy, which has a total of 239,706 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) data.
As of Thursday, the state recorded 9,765 new cases, according to the state health secretary.
Sao Paulo also recorded 407 additional deaths due to coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 13,759.
More than half of beds in intensive care units in the state are occupied, with the ICU bed occupancy rate at 65.5% and at 67.9% in the metropolitan region.
This is the state’s second highest increase in daily cases — the highest being on June 19 with 19,030 new cases.
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More than 259,000 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Chile
From Cristopher Ulloa, Florencia Trucco and Claudia Rebaza
Chile reported 4,648 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total to at least 259,064, according to data released by the country’s health minister.
At least 4,903 people have died from coronavirus in the country.
Although the number of new cases is slightly higher than the previous 48 hours, Health Minister Enrique Paris said for a second day that there is some improvement in the evolution of the pandemic.
“There is slight improvement. There is 14% less cases at a national level and the number of positive (polymerise chain reaction) tests have also decreased. I see people reacting and there is less mobility in some areas,” Paris said.
The minister also acknowledged that the areas of Antofagasta, O’Higgins and Biobío continue to show high levels of transmission.
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Top US Army General warns troops virus is still a threat
From CNN's Barbara Starr and Michael Conte
General James McConville
Blake Nissen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images/FILE
Amid a significant uptick in Covid-19 cases in several states, the Army’s top general says his commanders must still take the virus “seriously.”
General James McConville, Army chief of staff, says he put out a memo Wednesday to his commanders expressing concern.
“We’ve been pretty successful in doing some very difficult things because we’ve kind of held to the standards of wearing the mask, doing the testing, doing the screening, and very disciplined about it. But there’s many parts of the country as we see where they’re not—you go outside the gates and people think there’s no longer a threat,” McConville told reporters.
McConville is the second member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a week to warn troops to stay vigilant against the virus.
Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein told troops at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state June 18 that “More than anything, we have to understand that we are living with the virus in our midst and that virus is cyclical.”
“We know enough about it to know what works: social distancing, wearing a mask and identifying early if you’re feeling any symptoms. If we can keep disciplined and diligent on the procedures we have put in place, we will continue to operate and survive. We can’t let our guard down,” he said.
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UK records 165 coronavirus cases at meat factory
From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London
The Kober meat processing facilities seen on June 19, in Cleckheaton, England.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
The UK registered 165 coronavirus cases at a meat factory in Cleckheaton, England, said Kirklees Council in a statement Thursday.
The site of the Kober factory, which supplies meat to the British supermarket chain ASDA, reopened this week after closing on June 15 to conduct coronavirus testing.
“The whole workforce has been offered testing and 165 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19,” the council statement said. “The testing is likely to have identified people who had mild illness, or even some not showing symptoms who may have otherwise gone undetected and could have infected others.”
The individuals were advised to self-isolate for seven days and “anyone identified as a close contact of a positive case is being advised to self-isolate for 14 days.”
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, director of public health at Kirklees Council, said they are “satisfied with health and safety measures on site which include separation of colleagues on different shifts and as an additional precaution, checking the temperature of colleagues before they enter the site.”
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At least 122,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US
There are at least 2,395,759 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 122,177 people have died from the virus in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally of cases.
So far on Thursday, Johns Hopkins reported 14,221 new cases and 198 deaths.
The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
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Spain reports at least 40 Covid-19 outbreaks
From CNN's Laura Pérez Maestro in Madrid
Dr. Fernando Simon, the Director of the Spanish Centre for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), speaks at a press conference in Madrid on June 25.
Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Spain is dealing with at least 40 Covid-19 outbreaks, Dr. Fernando Simon, director of health emergencies, said at a news conference on Thursday.
Simon explained that the largest outbreak was in the region of Aragon, where four counties returned to phase two of the de-escalation process. “We have 250 cases there, 95% of them are asymptomatic,” he said.
He explained that the outbreak in Aragon was linked to “temporary workers employed as fruit pickers.” Other outbreaks were linked to slaughterhouses and immigrants reception centers, Simon said. “We could say they are controlled, we are most worried about the outbreaks in Malaga, Aragon and Cantabria,” he said.
Simon said that despite these outbreaks Spaniards should be calm, “we are able to identify, define and treat them, we have a clear control of a good part of the infections that occur in Spain.”
Spain recorded 157 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 247,486 since the pandemic began. The Spanish Health Ministry’s data also showed three deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 28,330.
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Coronavirus pandemic has moved into younger populations in US, CDC says
From CNN's Maggie Fox, Christina Maxouris and Eric Levenson
Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, addresses the media at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on February 13.
John Amis/AP
The coronavirus pandemic has moved into younger populations across much of the US, a change that could mean less serious illness and lower rates of death, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Younger people may not be taking the risk of pandemic spread as seriously as they should, CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler added.
“We may need to get out the message that young people are not somehow naturally immune to this virus, although they may be at lower risk of severe infection,” he said.
The risk of serious complications and death rises with age, the CDC says, although there’s no clear age cutoff for higher or lower risk. People with diabetes, kidney disease, moderate to severe asthma, and obesity are also at higher risk.
In response to a question from CNN, Butler acknowledged that the US has a high proportion of younger people with obesity. “We have to recognize reality. Our nation isn’t as healthy as some other nations, particularly if you look at obesity and some other medical conditions,” he said.
It will be important to get the message out, Butler said. “Everyone needs to understand that there is still some risk of severe illness, including among younger people,” he said.
Butler said the CDC was exploring the use of social media tools such as TikTok to reach a younger audience.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told Axios that the recent high number of cases in young people is “not surprising.”
“They get infected first, then they come home, and then they infect the older people. The older people get the complications, and then they go to the hospitals,” Fauci said. “The death rate always lags several weeks behind the infection rate.”
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Louisiana reports more than 900 new coronavirus cases
From CNN's Kay Jones
The Louisiana Department of Health announced 938 new coronavirus cases and 12 new deaths today.
There are now a total of 53,415 cases statewide and 3,051 deaths.
The positivity rate for new tests is 7.74% and hospitalization are up from 631 to 653 since Wednesday.
93% of new cases are due to community spread, according to the Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office.
Orleans Parish has 28 new cases and zero new deaths. At least 2.47% of new tests in the parish were positive.
Jefferson Parish has 71 new cases and one new death. 6.01% of tests were positive, down from 10.47% on Wednesday.
Note: These numbers were released by the state’s public health agency, and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project
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10 times more people likely infected with Covid-19 in the US, CDC head says
From CNN Health’s Maggie Fox
Healthcare workers from University of South Florida (USF) Health administer coronavirus testing at the Lee Davis Community Resource Center in Tampa, Florida on June 25.
Octavio Jones/Getty Images
The US has probably only counted about 10% of people infected with coronavirus, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday.
The CDC has been looking at antibody tests done across the country to see how many people had past infections that were not diagnosed at the time, and sees many more cases than have been officially reported.
With more than 2 million official diagnoses, that would mean more than 20 million Americans have been infected.
These numbers are in part because testing was at first limited to people who were very ill and showing up in hospitals or in nursing homes. Now, as more people are getting tested, it’s clear that a large percentage of people did not have any symptoms, or mild symptoms, Redfield said.
“The estimates that we have right now … is that’s about 10 times more people have antibody,” Redfield said.
Redfield estimates that between 5% and 8% of Americans have been infected with coronavirus but said that will vary from region to region. New York, which had an intense epidemic, will have a higher percentage of people with past infections than some states in the West, for instance, he said.
But that means 90% or more of Americans have not been infected and are fully susceptible to the virus, he said.
WATCH:
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Covid-19 cases in Latin America have tripled in the last month. Here's the latest on the figures.
From CNN's Health Gisela Crespo
Covid-19 cases in Latin America have now tripled since the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced the region had become the new epicenter of the pandemic, the organization’s director said yesterday.
Cases of Covid-19 in Latin America tripled from almost 690,000 on May 23 to more than 2 million as of yesterday, according to PAHO’s director Dr. Carissa Etienne.
There is now widespread transmission in most of Central America, while the Caribbean has hotspots on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as in northern South America, PAHO has found.
Brazil has surpassed 1 million Covid-19 cases, joining the United States as the only other country in the world with cases in the seven digits, PAHO said.
Watch CNN’s correspondents in Mexico City and Sao Paulo report on the latest figures:
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California governor declares budget emergency due to Covid-19
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaks during a news conference in Sacramento, California on April 14.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Bloomberg/Getty Images
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a budget emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement from his office.
The state’s budget has gone from a $21 billion surplus to a $54.3 billion deficit in a matter of months. It was decimated by the economic demands of the pandemic.
The governor’s proclamation clears the way for the state legislature to use a $16 billion rainy fund to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Expenditures include personal protective equipment, medical equipment, and services to protect vulnerable populations.
California has been in a state of emergency since March 4 when the pandemic began to take hold in the state.
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Gyms will remain closed in Michigan following federal judge ruling
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
A closed LA Fitness gym is shown in Plymouth, Michigan.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
An appeals court has granted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency stay to keep gyms in the state closed, court documents show.
On June 19, a federal judge ruled that indoor gym facilities could reopen in the state after a lawsuit was filed by the League of Independent Fitness Facilities and Trainers (LIFFT). Whitmer appealed that ruling, court records show.
“Today three Republican-appointed judges got it right: in the fight against a global pandemic, courts must give governors broad latitude to make quick, difficult decisions. The governor will continue to take the actions necessary to save lives,” a statement from the governor’s office said.
Whitmer said she hopes to reopen gyms and other businesses during phase five by July 4, “if current trends continue,” according her statement extending the state of emergency.
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Iraq reports another new record in daily Covid-19 cases, health ministry says
From CNN’s Hamdi Alkhshali and Aqeel Najim
Workers set up a field hospital to treat patients with Covid-19 in Baghdad, Iraq on June 20.
Hadi Mizban/AP
Iraq on Thursday registered 2,437 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily tally recorded in the country since the pandemic began, according to the country’s health ministry.
Iraq now has a total of 39,193 cases of coronavirus.
The health ministry also reported 107 new Covid-19-related fatalities, which is also the highest daily tally recorded in the country since the pandemic began, bringing the total to 1,437 deaths across the country.
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Portugal to bring back coronavirus lockdown to several areas of Lisbon, prime minister says
From CNN's Vasco Cotovio in London
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa delivers remarks at Palacio Nacional de Ajuda Lisbon, Portugal on June 15.
Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images
Portugal will bring back coronavirus stay at home orders for several areas of Lisbon, said Prime Minister António Costa on Thursday.
The reinstated lockdown will apply to 19 boroughs in the Lisbon Metro Area, not including the capital city’s downtown area, as local authorities fight a surge in Covid-19 infections in the city’s outskirts.
Costa also announced that the rest of the country would continue to ease anti-coronavirus restrictions, transitioning from a “state of calamity” to a “state of alert,” on July 1.
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Multiple Trump campaign staffers are quarantining after Tulsa rally
From CNN's Kaitlan Collins
President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20.
Go Nakamura/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Several of President Trump’s campaign staffers are quarantining this week after attending his rally in Tulsa last weekend and interacting with several colleagues who later tested positive for coronavirus, CNN has learned.
After eight staffers tested positive, several of the campaign’s top officials decided to quarantine for the week instead of going into the office, two sources familiar told CNN. Staff had only recently returned to the office after months of working from home because of coronavirus restrictions.
The fallout from Trump’s push to hold a rally with thousands of attendees has continued in the days since he returned from Tulsa. CNN reported last night that multiple Secret Service officers were also instructed to self-quarantine after two of their colleagues who were on site for the rally tested positive.
Several of the campaign’s surrogates who traveled to Tulsa have also undergone coronavirus testing out of an abundance of caution, two sources said. Many of the surrogates — including lawmakers, former lawmakers and campaign advisers — traveled on a chartered plane together without wearing masks. Trump’s campaign had urged many of them to come so Trump could have a show of force for his return to the campaign trail.
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DC mayor urges residents to celebrate July 4th at home
From CNN’s Nicky Robertson
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 16.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging residents to celebrate Fourth of July at home this year.
In a news conference Thursday morning, Bowser said that DC will still be in a public health crisis during the holiday, and that “our strong recommendation is that DC residents celebrate the Fourth of July at home or near their home in small gatherings.”
“We have not eradicated the virus, we are still reporting new cases each day,” Bowser warned.
Although there has been a plateau in coronavirus cases, the government is “still not satisfied” with the number of cases, the mayor said.
Bowser noted that the National Park service will still conduct the fireworks display at the National Mall, and that the District will continue to support the Park Service as they do yearly, but she added, “We hope that the crowds that come in non-pandemic years won’t materialize this year.”
More measures — including road closures — for the firework display on the Mall will be announced next week.
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Texas governor pauses additional reopening phases as cases increase
From CNN's Kay Jones and Konstantin Toropin
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that he will pause any further phases to reopen the state as Texas responds to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
All businesses that were permitted to reopen under the previous phases can continue to operate at the level designated by the phase while still adhering to the minimum standard health protocols as stated by the Texas Department of State Health Services, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
Here’s what the governor said about the decision:
Where the state stands on reopening: Earlier this month, Abbott announced that the state was moving into its Phase III — meaning that “all businesses in Texas will be able to operate at up to 50% capacity, with very limited exceptions.”
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Covid-19 is surging across much of the US. This is what the data shows.
At least 29 states are seeing new coronavirus cases increase compared with the prior week. The nation’s three most populous states — Texas, Florida and California —have set records for new Covid-19 cases.
CNN’s John King reports that when it comes to the trajectory of the virus, other countries, including European Union nations, have had more success than the US in bringing the case numbers down. Meanwhile, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan, have flattened the curve.
Watch a break down of the latest US Covid-19 figures:
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Florida reports more than 5,000 new Covid-19 cases
From CNN's Tina Burnside
A University of South Florida (USF) Health administrator talks to a driver before they receive a coronavirus test in Tampa, Florida, on June 25.
Octavio Jones/Getty Images
The Florida Department of Health is reporting at least 5,004 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 114,018, according to data released on Thursday.
Medical experts and elected officials have attributed Florida’s rising numbers to a combination of more testing and more social contact as businesses reopen and, in recent weeks, to people’s participation in large protests, although that has not been clearly established.
Watch CNN’s Rosa Flores report on the ground from Florida:
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Coronavirus antibody tests work best 2 to 5 weeks after symptoms, study suggests
From CNN Health's Jacqueline Howard
Timing is key when it comes to getting accurate results from Covid-19 antibody tests that are used to determine if someone has been infected with the novel coronavirus, according to a new Cochrane Review paper.
Antibody tests are better at detecting Covid-19 in people two or more weeks after their symptoms started, but there is not yet enough evidence to determine how well they work more than five weeks after, or among people who had milder disease or no symptoms at all, suggests the review, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on Thursday.
“This is largely driven by when the samples are taken from the patients,” Deeks said. “This isn’t a new science, but it’s something which has not been well thought through in a lot of the studies we were reviewing.”
A Cochrane Review is a systemic analysis of published studies on a given topic, and often physicians, nurses, patients, researchers or funders turn to Cochrane evidence to help with decision-making or better understanding a medical issue.
The new review on the accuracy of antibody tests, spanning more than 300 pages, was authored by Cochrane researchers from institutions across Europe and led by experts from the University of Birmingham.
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Kentucky Derby will be held in September with spectators, racetrack announces
From CNN's Jabari Jackson, Jabari
A view of the twin spires and empty grandstand at Churchill Downs is seen on May 2, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Churchill Downs Racetrack announced in a statement on Thursday that spectators will be allowed at the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville on September 5 amid Covid-19 concerns.
The statement said:
Thursday’s release did not indicate how many fans will be allowed at the track. Churchill Downs says they will disclose more details in the coming days.
The statement noted that the venue revised the “Fan Code of Conduct” to help address Covid-19 health concerns.
Churchill Downs will “consistently and frequently” encourage guests to wear a mask at all times “unless seated in their reserved seat.” Other guidelines for guest include washing their hands and social distancing when possible.
Other changes revealed in the statement include: General admission tickets will be limited and only allow access to the infield area. The barn area will be “restricted to essential personnel” during morning workouts and on race days.
The 146th Kentucky Derby was originally scheduled for May 2 but was postponed until September 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Here are the latest coronavirus numbers in New York City
From CNN's Julian Cummings
The number of people admitted to the hospitals in New York City in the past 24 hours was 60, remaining below the 200-person threshold, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
There were 329 people receiving care in the ICU below the 375 person threshold.
The positivity rate of those testing positive for Covid-19 in New York city remained at 2% below the 15% threshold, the Mayor announced.
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Texas governor issues order suspending elective surgeries in 4 counties to expand hospital capacity
From CNN's Ashley Killough & Brad Parks
An executive order was issued today by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott meant to ensure hospital bed availability for Covid-19 patients in parts of Texas.
The order suspends all elective surgeries in hospitals in 4 counties that are home to the cities of San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Austin.
Under the order, any procedure that is not immediately and medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient will be postponed.
Additionally, the Governor can add or subtract more counties from the list to address surges in hospitalizations.
Texas is among at least 13 states that are reporting a 50% increase or higher increase in cases. There are fears of “apocalyptic” surges in major Texas cities if spikes in cases continue.
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Here's how the US's coronavirus response fell short, according to congressional watchdog report
From CNN's Lauren Fox and Gregory Wallace
A new Government Accountability Office report out Thursday highlights how unprepared the US government was to tackle coronavirus and deal with the corresponding economic crisis that required Congress to get trillions in federal stimulus dollars out the door.
The report — which is just the latest look at the US government’s response to the coronavirus — lays out how the US fell short on everything from testing to ensuring hospitals and states had adequate supplies.
It also looks closely at how agencies struggled to ensure billions in stimulus dollars got to American struggling with an economic crisis.
Here are some key findings of the report:
On the nation’s stockpile: The report laid out that the Strategic National Stockpile was not equipped to handle the demand generated by states and localities in need of personal protective equipment, ventilators and other critical medical supplies.
According to officials from the Offices of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response who were interviewed by GAO “the Strategic National Stockpile did not have the capacity to provide states with supplies at the scale necessary to respond to a nationwide event such as the Covid-19 pandemic.”
On testing: The report also criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on testing for compiling “incomplete and inconsistent” testing data that has hurt the government’s response — specifically, the report said, poor data “has made it more difficult to track and know the infection rate, mitigate the effect of infections, and inform decisions on reopening communities.” It said Department of Health and Human Services has directed improvements to reporting of tests to make the data more reliable, but notes those requirements do not take effect until August 1.
On the disbursement of stimulus payments: The report also laid out that an influx of trillions in stimulus spending strained agencies like state unemployment offices and the Small Business Administration, which had never doled out the volume of funding they were required to under the pandemic.
The report said that when it came to handling an influx of unemployment claims and ensuring that an additional $600 payment was paid out, many states lacked the adequate infrastructure or staff to respond to the escalating number of claims.
On the handling of small business loans: GAO also blasted the Small Business Administration for not providing them with detailed data on who received the loans, information GAO argued was essential to providing oversight.
“Congress has charged SBA with implementing the PPP and other provisions crucial to the nation’s economic recovery. However, SBA to date has failed to provide information critical to our review, including a detailed description of data on loans made,” GAO wrote.
On the preparedness of transportation agencies: of It also calls for Congress to require federal officials develop a preparedness plan for the aviation system. GAO has previously recommended the Transportation Department and other agencies do so, but it reports the agencies are at loggerheads over who is responsible.
GAO said the plan should “ensure safeguards are in place to limit the spread of communicable disease threats from abroad while at the same time minimizing any unnecessary interference with travel and trade.”
New York City is on track to enter phase 3 of reopening on July 6, mayor says
From CNN's Julian Cummings
People dine at tables placed outside of a Manhattan restaurant in New York, on June 24.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
New York City is on track to enter into phase 3 of reopening on July 6, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Phase 3 of reopening will allow sports and recreation to resume, including NYC basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball, dog runs, handball, and bocce, de Blasio said.
The city will have more guidance tomorrow on what businesses can reopen during phase 3, the mayor said.
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Coronavirus cases are increasing in 29 states
At least 29 states are seeing new coronavirus cases increase compared with the prior week. That includes the nation’s three most populous states: California, Texas and Florida.
Among those states, at least 13 are reporting a 50% increase or higher. Another 16 are reporting an increase of between 10% and 50% compared to the previous week.
There is only one state in the US right now that is reporting at least 50% decrease in new coronavirus cases: Connecticut.
Here’s the full breakdown of where cases are trending across US states:
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We must normalize masks and social distancing before a possible second wave, expert says
From CNN's Gisela Crespo
Pedestrians wearing face masks carry shopping bags in New York City on June 24.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
Now is the time to normalize the use of masks and practice social distancing to get us prepared for a possible second wave of Covid-19, said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University and a longtime adviser to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Schaffner added that all sectors of society should model this behavior: politicians, religious leaders and businesses.
“You have to make wearing masks a social norm. Every business has to have a sign outside their door that says, ‘If you wish to patronize us, please come in with a mask. If you haven’t got one, we’ll give you one.’ And then everybody who works in the business has to wear it. Religious leaders have to preach that to all faiths, all the time. We need chambers of commerce coming out; local political leaders; all harmonizing with that message to normalize that behavior in our society. And on occasion, you may indeed have to mandate it,” Schaffner said.
Watch:
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Pandemic is causing "unprecedented decline in global activity," according to the IMF
From CNN's Julia Horowitz
The International Monetary Fund has slashed its global economic forecasts for 2020, saying the coronavirus pandemic is causing a much steeper recession and a slower recovery than initially expected.
The organization said Wednesday that it thinks global GDP will contract by 4.9% this year, downgrading its estimate from April, when output was forecast to shrink by 3%.
That was already due to be the deepest slump since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The pandemic is causing an “unprecedented decline in global activity,” according to the IMF. It said the global labor market has taken a “catastrophic” hit,movement outside the home remains depressed, companies have cut back on investment and consumer spending has dropped significantly.
Here is the IMF’s world economic forecast by country for June:
Some key forecasts:
China, which got a head start on the recovery, is expected to log growth of 1%, in part due to policy support from the government. India’s economy, meanwhile, is forecast to shrink 4.5% following a longer lockdown and slower-than-expected recovery.
The US economy is expected to shrink by 8%, while output across the 19 countries that use the euro could decline by 10.2%.
Countries in Latin America that are still struggling to contain the virus will also be hard hit. Brazil’s economy is expected to contract by 9.1%, while output in Mexico could decline by 10.5%.
But the IMF warned of a “higher-than-usual degree of uncertainty” around itsforecast, which it said was based on a number of assumptions, including stable financial conditions.
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"There will be some shutdowns in individual places," but not nationwide, White House adviser says
From CNN's Jason Hoffman
White House Economic adviser Larry Kudlow, when asked about the increase in coronavirus cases across the country and its economic impact, said Thursday that “there will be some shutdowns in individual places or certain stores,” but that he believes the country as a whole will not shutdown again.
He said that while the US has seen an increase in cases nationally of “just a little bit,” multiple states have seen a decrease in cases.
However, data shows, coronavirus cases continue to surge in the U.S. as some states are reporting record numbers, including the country’s three most populous states.
Kudlow was also pleased the new jobless claims were down for the 12th straight week, and said he still believes the economy will have a strong V shaped recovery.
Conditions in the US labor market are undoubtedly improving, but as CNN’s business team noted this morning the road to recovery is long and littered with obstacles.
Last week’s new jobless claims brought the total claims filed since the mid-March to 47.3 million.
Kudlow said he believes the unemployment rate could fall below 10% by year end.
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Stocks open lower
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
US stocks kicked off in the red on Thursday, adding onto losses from the prior session.
Wednesday had been the worst day for stocks in nearly two weeks following worries of rising Covid-19 infections, quarantine requirements for intra-US travel and proposed tariffs on European imports.
Data from the Labor Department showed Friday that more people than expected – 1.5 million – filed for first-time jobless benefits last week. The weekly claims have declined for three months now but are still higher than they have ever been before the pandemic.
People walk by Macy's Herald Square in New York on June 23.
Noam Galai/Getty Images
Macy’s announced a restructuring plan Thursday that will eliminate 3,900 corporate and management jobs as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt sales.
The department store chain says it expects the layoffs will save the company about $630 million per year. The company is trying to cut costs as “the business recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Macy’s will also reduce staffing across its stores, supply chain and customer support network. In February, Macy’s said it was cutting 2,000 jobs and planned to close 125 underperforming stores over the next 3 years.
Macy’s reports its first quarter earnings on July 1.
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Travel by car will be favored alternative for Americans to travel this summer, forecast shows
From CNN's Pete Muntean
People drive on Highway 101 in San Francisco on May 12.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A new forecast from the American Automobile Association says Americans will take 700 million trips this summer, but that number is down nearly 15%, the first decline in more than a decade as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
AAA booking trends show Americans are making travel plans, though cautiously and more spur of the moment, the forecast says.
With air and rail travel off much more significantly, travel by car is the favored alternative, accounting for 97% of the favored mode of transportation, the forecast shows.
AAA expects more long weekend trips than extended vacations.
Car trips will also see the smallest decrease in travel volume of just 3% year-over-year. Without the pandemic, AAA would have been predicting more than 850 million trips, up from last year.
Gas prices are also expected to be about 15% lower than last year — $2.25/gallon.
Here is a breakdown of the forecast by type of travel:
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New York reports lowest hospitalization rate since pandemic started, Cuomo says
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said the state has now reached the lowest hospitalization rate since the pandemic started.
Cuomo said he would announce the state’s full coronavirus numbers later today, but told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota that there were 996 hospitalizations and 17 deaths across the state as of today.
“The people who played politics now are causing this nation great havoc. You’re seeing it all across the country. You’re seeing the deaths numbers going up. We’ll lose tens of thousands more Americans. It’s a real American tragedy that we’re living through right now,” he said.
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Another 1.5 million Americans filed initial jobless claims last week as pandemic continues to hit economy
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
First-time claims for unemployment benefits have fallen in every report for the past 12 weeks. Still, the American jobs crisis is far from over: Another 1.5 million Americans filed initial jobless claims last week.
That’s emblematic of how contradictory the current pandemic recession is. Conditions in the US labor market are undoubtedly improving, but the road to recovery is long and littered with obstacles.
Last week’s new jobless claims brought the total claims filed since the mid-March to 47.3 million.
And that massive number doesn’t include claims filed under the pandemic program that Congress created to provide benefits to more workers who typically aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits, including the self-employed.
At least 728,000 people claimed first-time pandemic unemployment assistance, the Department of Labor said Thursday.
Continued regular jobless claims, which count people who have filed for unemployment benefits for at least two weeks in a row, stood at 19.5 million.
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Coronavirus cases are rising in the 3 most populous US states
From CNN's Faith Karimi and Douglas Wood
Florida, Texas and California account for 27.4% of the 328 million people living in the US, according to the latest US Census Bureau estimates.
And while some politicians say the higher number of infections is due to increased testing, that is not the case, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota.
As new cases and hospitalizations skyrocket, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged people to stay home.
Officials encouraged mask wearing and social distancing in places like bars that are often overcrowded. Further state actions could be announced if the virus continues to spread at this rate, Abbott said.
In the nation’s most populous state, Gov. Gavin Newsom pleaded with Californians to think of others by wearing masks, keeping a safe distance and washing their hands regularly.
He told residents to “love thy neighbors, like yourself, please” and urged younger people to be especially cautious.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has attributed the rise to more testing but others say community transmission is playing a key role as the state reopens. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he’ll ask the city commission to implement a civil fine of up to $250 for those not wearing a mask in public.
Miami implemented an order requiring masks or face coverings in public this week.
“Going out in public without a mask is like driving drunk,” said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at George Washington University. “If you don’t get hurt. You might kill somebody else.”
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Younger people with Covid-19 is a "smoldering fire" that will hit vulnerable populations, expert says
From CNN's Gisela Crespo
Younger people testing positive for Covid-19 at a higher rate is a “smoldering fire” that will hit vulnerable populations, said Erin Bromage, a CNN medical analyst and a biology professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Bromage said health experts didn’t focus on younger people at the beginning of the pandemic because the priority was the older population and those with underlying health conditions who required hospitalization.
“We’re now seeing what is really happening, which is those 18- to 44-year-olds are being affected at a really high rate. Their social networks, their employment, is allowing them to mix at a higher rate, and we’re seeing the infection rate – especially in Texas, Florida and Arizona – just skyrocketing in that demographic,” she said while speaking today on CNN’s “New Day,”
Bromage explained that while younger people with Covid-19 are not “as prone to severe disease as the elderly,” they will still put this population at risk.
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This Florida county is reporting a 27% Covid-19 positivity rate
From CNN's Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt
People visit Miami Beach, Florida, on June 22.
Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock
Miami-Dade County in Florida reported a 27% Covid-19 positivity rate on Wednesday, according to data released by the mayor’s office. The positivity rate is tracked daily by the county.
According to the Miami-Dade Mayor’s office, the goal is to not exceed 10% positivity rate. The county has exceeded the 10% mark for the past 10 days. The current 14-day average is 13.68%.
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How Houston could potentially see coronavirus numbers like Brazil
From CNN's Faith Karimi and Douglas Wood
A health care worker takes a patient's information at a Covid-19 testing site in Houston on June 24.
David J. Phillip/AP
There are fears of “apocalyptic” surges in major Texas cities if current the coronavirus trends continue — and Houston could become the hardest hit city in the US, an expert warned.
Models show that Houston could have a four-fold increase in the number of daily cases by July 4, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN.
If the current case trajectory continues, the Houston numbers rival those in Brazil.
Infection numbers are also rising in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Hotez added.
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NFL cancels Hall of Fame game due to pandemic
From CNN's Homero DeLaFuente
The National Football League’s 2020 Hall of Fame game scheduled for Aug. 6 has been canceled, and its Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony scheduled for Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to league sources, reports ESPN.
The Hall of Fame, which serves as the preseason-opener, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the first event to be canceled in NFL history.
It was reported last week that members of the Cowboys, including star running back Ezekiel Elliot, Buccaneers, 49ers and Texans organizations tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that two team members had tested positive but have since returned to the team.
CNN has reached out to the NFL.
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Europe records increase in Covid-19 weekly cases for first time in months, says WHO
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy
Coronavirus is resurgent across Europe after restrictions were eased in many countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
There was an increase in weekly cases, last week for the “first time in months,” WHO Europe chief Henri Kluge said at a press conference in Copenhagen.
Kluge said he had warned of the “risk of resurgence” as countries eased lockdown measures.
Thirty countries in Europe have recorded increases in cumulative cases in the past fortnight, he said.
Kluge added that accelerated transmission in 11 countries “has led to very significant resurgence that if left unchecked will push health systems to the brink once again in Europe.”
Kluge cited Poland, Germany and Spain as examples of countries which responded quickly to new outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools, coal mines and food production facilities.
“Rapid and targeted interventions,” by those countries helped to control the transmission, the WHO official said.
Kluge also emphasised the role that digital technology can play in the suppression of outbreaks.
“We need to get smarter in using the evidence and information we have from our Covid-19 surveillance systems,” he said.
Twenty-seven countries have released national solutions for digital contact tracing with solutions underway in places such as Portugal and Ireland.
Kluge also spoke of artificial intelligence projects being piloted including an Italian smartphone app which measures a person’s heart rate, oxygen saturation rate and respiration rate in real time.
According to Kluge these digital technologies help health systems to “cope with the delivery of essential health care,” but cautioned that “integrating digital health must be done carefully and wisely in partnership with the public and patients.”
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Chuck E. Cheese's parent company files for bankruptcy
From CNN's Jordan Valinsky and Chris Isidore
Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company, CEC Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy Thursday, blaming the financial strain caused by Covid-19 and the prolonged closures of its entertainment centers from stay-at-home orders issued across the United States.
CEC, which also owns Peter Piper Pizza, said it will use Chapter 11 protection to “achieve a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring that supports its re-opening and longer-term strategic plans.”
The company expects to operate normally, which includes the reopening of its Chuck E. Cheese locations. So far, nearly half of Chuck E. Cheese’s 555 locations have reopened, with plans to reopen more locations weekly. Unlike other bankrupt brands, it didn’t immediately announce store closures.
In a release, CEO David McKillips, said that the past few months have “been the most challenging event in our company’s history” and is “confident” about the future of the 40-year-old brand.
It's just past 1 p.m. in London and 8 a.m. in New York. Here's the latest on the pandemic
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 9.4 million people worldwide and caused the deaths of more than 480,000. Here’s what you need to know today:
“Apocalyptic” virus surges feared in US cities: The three most populous US states are setting records for new coronavirus cases daily. In Texas, if the current case trajectory continues, Houston could be the hardest-hit city in the US with numbers rivaling those in Brazil.
Former leaders issue warning on authoritarianism: An open letter signed by more than 500 former world leaders and Nobel Laureates claims that the pandemic has led to an alarming uptick in authoritarian behavior by governments across the globe.
Trump open to further stimulus payments: A second round of stimulus payments is on the negotiating table in Washington, but the White House is pushing for a more limited approach
Australian state requests troops to help with Covid-19 response: The state of Victoria asked for 200 military personnel to assist in a medical capacity.
Japan suspicious of Kim Jong Un’s health: Tokyo has “some suspicions” about the North Korean leader’s health, Japan’s Defense Minister said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Eiffel Tower reopens: Post-lockdown Paris is allowing people to climb the steps of the landmark. Its elevators however, will not be operational.
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Beijing dismisses fears over safety of imported meat and seafood after market outbreak
From CNN's Shawn Deng and Jadyn Sham
Police guard the entrance to the closed Xinfadi market in Beijing on June 13.
Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
Beijing health officials have ruled out imported meat, eggs, and seafood as the cause of the virus outbreak at a sprawling food market.
China’s capital reintroduced strict lockdown measures and rolled out mass testing after the outbreak emerged earlier this month at the Xinfadi market, which supplies most of Beijing’s fresh fruit and vegetables.
Director of the Infectious Disease Department at the First Hospital of Peking University, Wang Gui-Qiang tried to quell the fears of local residents by saying that “all meat, eggs, and seafood supplied in the regular supermarket are all safe to consume.”
Wang acknowledged that the topic was of “great concern” to local residents, many of whom are afraid they could be infected by consuming meat and seafood after market officials blamed the outbreak on imported seafood.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Beijing Municipal People’s Government said the coronavirus outbreak linked to the market has “basically been contained.”
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Study projects 388,300 people will die from Covid-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean by October
From CNN's Tim Lister, Mia Alberti and Claudia Rebaza
Gravediggers work to bury a person said to have died from Covid-19 at a cemetery in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 23.
Bruno Rocha/Fotoarena/Sipa/AP
Around 388,300 people will die from Covid-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean by October, according to a projection by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
According to the forecast, Brazil is set to be the most affected country, with an expected 166,000 deaths, followed by Mexico with 88,000 deaths. Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru follow this list of most affected countries.
The study expects Paraguay, Uruguay and Belize – countries with a current low number of cases– to have fewer than 1,000 deaths by October.
IHME’s study takes into account factors such as social distancing measures and the percentage of people wearing masks when leaving their homes – a factor that can reduce transmission by 50%.
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Lockdown policing study reveals disproportionate impact on minorities in Europe
From CNN's Nada Bashir
Police officers are seen following the evacuation of a camp for migrants in Aubervilliers, France, on March 24.
Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
Lockdown measures introduced by authorities across Europe to limit the spread of coronavirus have disproportionately impacted ethnic minority communities, a new study by Amnesty International has found.
According to a report released by the human rights organization Wednesday, minority communities across the continent have been “targeted with violence, discriminatory identity checks, forced quarantines and fines” by local authorities, in relation to new coronavirus-related legislation.
“This report highlights systemic human rights concerns regarding institutional racism, discrimination in law enforcement and lack of accountability regarding allegations of unlawful use of force by law enforcement officials,” Amnesty said.
The study, which covers 12 countries across Europe, documents several cases in which law enforcement officials reportedly “resorted to the unlawful use of force” to implement lockdown legislation, often occurring in the context of police identity checks.
According to Amnesty’s findings, members of the Roma community living in informal settlements, and refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants living in camps, have experienced a “disproportionate and discriminatory” implementation of lockdown measures.
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US states engaged in “gross negligence” in Covid-19 response in jails and prisons, new report finds
From CNN Health's Jen Christensen
US states have responded to the threat of Covid-19 in jails and prisons with “gross negligence,” according to the ACLU and the Prison Policy Initiative. The organizations published a report Thursday on conditions for prisoners.
As of June 22, more than 570 incarcerated people in the US and more than 50 corrections officers have died due to Covid-19, the report said. Jails and prisons have become hotspots for new cases.
Early in the pandemic, experts warned states that the prison system could become “petri dishes” for Covid-19. Good hand hygiene is difficult when sanitation in these jails and prisons is typically poor. Medical resources are scarce. Social distancing is not possible.
There was an extra level of concern that when prisoners were released they would spread Covid-19 infections to vulnerable communities. This is an especially large threat to poor communities and, due to racial disparities in arrests and sentencing, to communities of color, the report said.
Despite the warnings, the systems failed the incarcerated, the report concluded. The highest score any state received for managing Covid-19 cases was a D-. Only nine states achieved that grade: Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maine and Vermont.
The majority got a failing grade.
Some states did reduce their jail populations, but no state had “close to adequate” prison population reductions, even in areas where governors issued orders to lower those numbers quickly, the report added.
The states earned these poor marks for failing to test people, and for failing to provide personal protective equipment for staff and the incarcerated.
Just five states offered comprehensive testing in prisons: Michigan, Massachusetts, Tennessee, West Virginia and Vermont. New Mexico only tested staff. Alaska and North Dakota didn’t provide any personal protective equipment to the incarcerated, the report said.
States were also slow to release prisoners to reduce the jail or state prison populations – even medically vulnerable prisoners, in some cases.
In Arkansas, there was a 42% median jail population reduction, but in Texas it was only 2%, and in some states there was an increase in prisoners, the report found. Many states also failed to publish regularly updated data about cases in the prison system.
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Miami health system reports 108% increase in Covid-19 patients
From CNN's Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt
A nonprofit academic medical system in Miami, Florida has reported an 108% increase in Covid-19 patients in the past 16 days, according to data posted by the hospital system on Twitter.
Jackson Health System said it recorded 104 Covid-19 patients on June 8. On Wednesday, health workers reported 217.
Florida does not release the total number of daily Covid-19 patients in the state.
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Australian state reduces request for troops to enforce quarantine
From CNN's Angus Watson
The Australian state of Victoria has asked for hundreds of troops to be deployed to the area, to assist officials trying to curb a coronavirus spike in the region.
On Thursday Premier Daniel Andrews indicated that his government would request the presence of 1,000 Defence Force personnel to help enforce quarantine and conduct coronavirus tests.
But the state now appears to have scaled back that appeal.
Later on Thursday an Australian federal government source told CNN that the request has been reduced to around 200 troops, who will assist solely in a medical capacity.
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The Eiffel Tower is reopening today
From CNN's Vivian Song
Chez L'Ami Jean has reopened in Paris with new outdoor seatings on a sidewalk.
Vivian Song
A garden pail filled with disposable hand wipes and huge bottles of hand sanitizer can be found atop every table at Paris bistro Chez L’Ami Jean.
At the entrance of luxury department store Galeries Lafayette, security guards who double as hygiene inspectors pump generous dollops of sanitizer into the palms of shoppers’ outstretched hands.
Along one of the busiest traffic arteries of the French capital, cars and scooters have been replaced by a steady convoy of cycling commuters some in suits, some in skirts – who pedal beside one another in an orderly, but hurried fashion.
And finally, on Thursday, the iron steps of the Eiffel Tower began to clang once again to the footfalls of visitors willing to climb up for a view over the city while the elevators remain out of action.
Welcome to post-lockdown Paris, where the new normal is characterized by face masks, floor markings, dividers, and hand sanitizer. And lots of it.
Japan has suspicions about Kim Jong Un's health, Defense Minister says
From CNN's Kaori Enjoji and Isaac Yee
Japan has “some suspicions” about Kim Jong Un’s health, the country’s Defense Minister said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Kono added that the “strange movements” were due to Kim “trying not to get infected,” by coronavirus, as the disease “is spreading around” North Korea.
The minister said Japan, the US, and others have been exchanging information on North Korea. When asked to elaborate on Kim’s health he added: “I’m not allowed to discuss intelligence issues.”
Kono also said that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has tabled the idea of acquiring weapons that would let the country strike at enemy missile bases to counter missile threats.
The Defense Minister said that Japan would still look at options to counter any North Korea’s ballistic missiles after Tokyo scrapped the US-built Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
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Coronavirus is being exploited to undermine democracies, former world leaders warn
The letter, organized by the Stockholm-based Institute for Democracy and published Thursday, highlights that in the wake of the crisis, both authoritarian and democratically-elected governments the world over have used emergency powers to arrest protestors and sidestep democratic norms.
Trump administration open to a second round of Covid-19 stimulus payments. Here's what that could look like
From CNN's Katie Lobosco
A second round of stimulus payments is on the negotiating table in Washington, but some of the 160 million Americans who got money the first time could be left out.
Instead, the Trump administration is pushing for a more limited approach. That’s more likely to garner Republican support in Congress, where lawmakers are expected to consider another economic spending bill in late July.
“There’s a lot of discussions going on. Probably, we would want to target those folks who lost their jobs and are most in need,” said White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow in an interview with Fox Business Tuesday.
His remarks followed comments from President Donald Trump earlier in the week that suggested Americans would be getting a second round of checks that would be “very generous.”
"Apocalyptic" coronavirus surges feared in major US cities as most populous states hit record numbers
From CNN's Faith Karimi and Douglas Wood
The three most populous US states are setting records for new coronavirus cases daily – and an expert fears major Texas cities could see “apocalyptic” numbers if the trend continues.
Coronavirus has killed at least 121,979 people and infected nearly 2.4 million across the country, according to Johns Hopkins.
Florida and Texas announced Wednesday that they had recorded more than 5,000 new Covid-19 cases the prior day, a new daily record. California reported more than 7,000 cases, obliterating a record hit a day earlier.
In Texas, if the current case trajectory continues, Houston could be the hardest-hit city in the US with numbers rivaling those in Brazil. Infection numbers are also rising in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine.
Seniors in affordable housing vulnerable to coronavirus
From Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News
Davetta Brooks, 75, who has heart failure, a fractured hip and macular degeneration, is afraid. Conditions in her low-income senior building on Chicago’s Near West Side are “deplorable,” she said.
Residents are not wearing masks or gloves to guard against the coronavirus, she said: “They’re touching everything on the elevator, in the laundry room. And anybody and everybody’s relatives and friends are coming in and out with no scrutiny.”
No one is checking on residents to see if they need help, Brooks said. And no one seems to know whether residents have tested positive for Covid-19 or died, though ambulances have screeched up to the entrance several times.
Nationwide, more than 1.6 million older adults live in low-income housing subsidized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development – most in apartment buildings with shared common spaces, elevators, staircases, mailrooms, hallways and laundry rooms where the coronavirus might lurk.
Most of these seniors have endured a life of disadvantage, have chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, and lack financial reserves to draw upon.
Yet in the midst of the pandemic, this population – the age group deemed most at risk of becoming critically ill and dying – has largely been overlooked.
"Maskne": Why your face is breaking out under your mask and how to stop it
From CNN's Sandee LaMotte
If you’re serious about protecting yourself – and others — from the very real dangers of Covid-19, you’re wearing a mask when you go out around others.
For many people that is leading to an embarrassing and unpleasant side effect: blemishes, pimples, zits – or what dermatologists call acne.
Breakouts that occur after wearing a mask have become so common that mask acne’s been dubbed “maskne” on social media.
Treatment is tricky, experts say. You can’t use powerful products like alpha-hydroxy acids, chemical peels or Retin A to blast the acne because they will further damage the fragile skin barrier, making it more sensitive to the mask’s irritating effects.
The dos:
Masks should be changed or washed and completely dried after every use.
Cotton masks allow the skin to breathe.
Put on a fresh mask after exercising.
Use gentle skin care products and cleanse your skin twice a day.
Wait 15 minutes after applying moisturizer or sunscreen before you put your mask on.
The don’ts:
Using a heavy cream or petroleum jelly where the mask rubs could interfere with the integrity of the mask and the seal.
It’s best not to take up a new skin care regimen.
Don’t leave the mask in a sunny spot or in your car.
Pride during a pandemic: Why visibility and connection still matter
From CNN's Talid Magdi and Leroy Ah-Ben
Pride flags decorate Christopher Park on June 22, in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Each year, in cities around the world, LGBTQ community members and their allies take to the streets to celebrate Pride – uniting around the movement’s message of self-acceptance and inclusion.
But this year, the coronavirus pandemic is keeping many celebrants around the world inside.
Since the first official marches, which took place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco in June 1970, Pride has become a global movement. Last year, at least 150 official Pride festivals and events took place around the world.
As many Pride celebrations go virtual this year because of Covid-19 social distancing guidelines, organizers and activists say the core mission remains the same – providing visibility and unity in safe and inclusive spaces.
“No matter what, there is a need to connect,” says Chris Frederick, former executive director of NYC Pride. “Whether it’s virtually or it’s in person, that’s what Pride is all about.”
On Saturday, over 300 million viewers are expected to tune in for a 24-hour live stream Global Pride celebration, event organizers say. It will feature musical and artistic performances, and speeches from activists and world leaders, including presumptive Democratic US presidential nominee Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The organizers claim it is the biggest of the many Pride events happening online this year.
Summer travel 2020? Not so much according to Automobile Association of America
From CNN's Brekke Fletcher
The coronavirus pandemic all but stopped leisure travel in the United States for much of the spring, and with summer upon us, many Americans are still unsure what a vacation is supposed to look like in 2020.
After canceling its annual Memorial Day travel forecast because of the pandemic, the Automobile Association of America (AAA) has instead come out with a 2020 summer travel forecast covering July 1 through September 30.
By the numbers: According to AAA, Americans will take over 700 million trips in July, August and September, which is 120 million fewer trips than in 2019.
In an alternate universe where the pandemic never hit, “AAA would be projecting 857 million trips in the third quarter, a 3.6% increase over last year. By this analysis, the pandemic wiped out nearly 150 million person-trips this summer.”
The overall 14.6% decline in travel is primarily because of reduced air travel, according to AAA: “The forecast air travel volume of 15.1 million will be 74% below last year’s levels.”
As to other modes of mass transportation, the AAA forecast projects bus, rail and cruise ship travel “will see a decrease similar to air travel, as the 9.3 million expected travel volume is 86% below the level seen in 2019.”
Trump is not just in denial but also indifferent to an unfolding American tragedy
Analysis from CNN's Stephen Collinson
US President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House on June 24, in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
It’s a “public health train wreck in slow motion,” in the words of one health expert, and the best US President Donald Trump cares to offer the thousands more Americans projected to shortly die of Covid-19 is the unsubstantiated prospect of a “beautiful surprise.”
The US just hit its third highest ever peak of new coronavirus cases, multiple states are registering their own daily records and three are now taking the extraordinary step of imposing quarantines for citizens from pandemic hotspots.
The world’s most powerful nation lacks a coherent national strategy to meet another cresting viral crisis, the capacity or even the willingness to take steps that might stop it.
It is also led by a man who is suggesting by his actions and attitudes that he doesn’t care that much about the unfolding tragedy.
Trump, who has previously predicted a “miracle” would occur or the virus would just disappear in the warmer weather, again declared falsely Wednesday that the danger had passed – even with the nation racing towards another deadly summit of infection.
Hawaii plans to begin easing travel quarantine on August 1
From CNN’s Andy Rose
A surfer rides a wave as the sun sets on the horizon on the north shore of Oahu in Hawaii on January 28.
Brian Bielmann/AFP/Getty Images
After three months of encouraging tourists to stay away from Hawaii, the US state will begin easing its mandatory quarantine on August 1.
Currently, anyone travelling into Hawaii from out of state must self-quarantine for 14 days. But the new program will allow visitors to avoid that quarantine as long as they test negative for coronavirus within 72 hours of their arrival.
It comes as Hawaii faces a legal challenge claiming the quarantine is unconstitutional because it targets out-of-state residents.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said it’s critical to his community’s economy to get tourism back on track. “We need to return to welcoming visitors to our shores,” said Caldwell.
State Health Director Bruce Anderson says the state is in good shape to prepare for reopening, as he believes most residents have been following social distancing recommendations.
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Newborn triplets diagnosed with Covid-19 in stable condition, say Mexican health officials
From CNN's Tatiana Arias, Flora Charner and Chandler Thornton
A set of premature triplets born in Mexico are “stable” and “evolving favorably” after testing positive for Covid-19, according to local health officials.
The triplets were born in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosí and tested for coronavirus on June 17 in compliance with the state’s health protocols on premature births, according to the state’s Health Secretary Monica Rangel. The test results came back positive three days later, heath authorities said.
The parents of the triplets both tested negative for coronavirus, according to Rangel. She said they have been able to see their newborn babies through video calls.
“What we need to look at is a situation where perhaps (the virus) is being transmitted through the placenta. That’s not something that we can be sure of. Those are theories that we have to look at. It’s a new virus. There still is not literature available internationally on this issue, but it will be worth reviewing,” Rangel said.
A man wearing a respirator and goggles sits in between commuters on a train in Tokyo on June 25.
Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Japan reported 89 coronavirus cases and five deaths on Wednesday, according to its health ministry.
The total number of people infected with Covid-19 in Japan stands at 18,822, with 712 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. At least 981 people have died from coronavirus, with 13 of those from the ship.
The ministry said 16,921 patients have either been discharged from hospitals or recovered by Tuesday.
The capital Tokyo reported 55 new cases on Wednesday, marking the highest rise since May 5.
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Lufthansa agrees $562 million cost-cutting deal with flight attendants
From CNN's Frederik Pleitgen in Berlin
A Lufthansa aircraft takes off from the Franz-Josef-Strauss airport in Munich, on June 18.
Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images
Germany’s flag carrier, Lufthansa, has reached a cost-cutting deal with the representatives of its flight attendants, both the airline and the flight attendants’ union said in news releases.
According to the airline, the package will entail cost cuts of about 500 million euros ($562 million).
The German flight attendants’ union (UFO) said the deal involves a guarantee that there will be no layoffs for four years.
Any reduction in cabin personnel will be reached via buyouts and early retirement plans, both news releases say.
The deal comes as the airline gets set for an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, which has been called to approve a 9 billion euros ($10 billion) bailout from the German government for the ailing carrier.
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Red Sox president says he hopes fans can watch games at Fenway Park this season
From CNN's Jilian Martin
Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy looks on during a news conference on January 15, in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy said he hopes that fans will at some point be able to watch games at Fenway Park this season.
“I would say it’s a possibility,” Kennedy said to reporters on Wednesday, according to MLB.com.
“If it were to become a reality, it would be because of the great work that the state of Massachusetts and the city of Boston have done.”
Kennedy said Boston’s leaders have been “under fire and under the gun day in and day out for four months.”
Kennedy said he doesn’t known when baseball fans might be allowed back in Fenway, which is home to the Red Sox, but says he hopes it’s “as soon as humanly possible.”
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Hospitals in Ecuador are overwhelmed after sharp rise in Covid-19 patients
From CNN's Ana Maria Canizares in Quito
A medical workers holds test samples of suspected Covid-19 cases at the laboratory of the IESS Carlos Andrade Marin hospital in Quito, Ecuador on June 17.
Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
Ecuador’s vice president warned on Wednesday that public hospitals in the country’s capital, Quito, have reached capacity from the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at a news conference, Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner said that hospitals in Quito are feeling the strain after seeing an increase of Covid-19 patients.
Sonnenholzner said that Ecuador plans to increase availability of intensive care units and hospital beds to help mitigate the strain.
Sonnenholzner also said they have learned from the city of Guayaquil, where overwhelmed hospitals prevented many people impacted by the virus from receiving treatment in March and April.
The vice president said Ecuador’s changes will bring a higher possibility that a patient will get the medical care they need.
Quito is now second after Guayaquil with the most number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, according to the country’s health ministry. On June 3 the capital entered a “yellow light” phase, considered as mid-level risk, which allows some mobility restrictions to be lifted and the reopening of some businesses.
Ecuador has reported 51,643 coronavirus cases, and 4,274 deaths from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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Delhi surpasses Mumbai as India's worst-hit city as country reports largest single-day jump in cases
From CNN's Manveena Suri, Esha Mitra and Vedika Sud in New Delhi
Indian Hindu priests and devotees walk inside Hunuman Mandir, on June 8, in Delhi.
Yawar Nazir/Getty Images
Delhi on Wednesday surpassed Mumbai as the worst-hit Indian city by the coronavirus pandemic.
Delhi has so far reported a total of 70,390 coronavirus cases while Mumbai has seen 69,625 cases, according to health authorities.
The chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, said at a news briefing Monday that testing in the city had been ramped up to 18,000 tests per day.
Meanwhile, India reported 16,922 new coronavirus cases on Thursday – the highest single-day jump so far, bringing the total number of cases found in the country to 473,105, according to its health ministry. India also registered 418 virus-related deaths in the past day, raising the death toll to 14,894.
India has now recorded over 12,000 daily new cases for the eighth consecutive day.
More than 270,000 people have so far recovered from the virus, the ministry said.
Some experts say the recent surge in new cases in India, and Delhi in particular, is due to the unplanned easing of lockdown measures.
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Texas cities could see "apocalyptic" numbers of Covid-19 cases, expert warns
From CNN’s Jen Christensen
A healthcare professional takes a sample from a patient at a United Memorial Medical Center Covid-19 testing site on Wednesday, June 24, in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
The US city of Houston could be the worst-hit in the entire country if the current trajectory in Covid-19 cases continues as it has, a health expert has warned.
Dr. Peter Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, said that new infection rates are also accelerating in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, and that case numbers could rival those in Brazil.
Hotez, who is also a professor of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine is working on a potential Covid-19 vaccine.
He said the models are showing that Houston could have a four-fold increase in the number of daily cases by July 4.
Houston does have hospital bed capacity now, but Hotez said he is concerned about the future. “We have more room, but who wants to go there?”
Something is needed to stop community transmission, he said.
On Thursday, Texas announced 5,551 new Covid-19 cases – the state’s highest single-day rise. Florida and California also reported their biggest single-day increase in cases.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned residents on Tuesday that because the spread of the novel coronavirus is so rampant right now the safest place for citizens to be is at home. He did not issue an official order to stay home.
Reopening could have contributed: Hotez said the state was aggressive with social distancing at the start of the pandemic, which kept the number of cases down, but the state reopened at the end of April and right after Memorial day the number of cases started to rise. Hotez said the state did not put a “sufficient level” of public health infrastructure in place.
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US reports more than 34,500 new Covid-19 cases
From CNN's Joe Sutton
A medical personnel member takes samples on a man at a coronavirus testing site in Miami Beach, Florida on June 24.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
The United States reported 34,516 coronavirus cases and 751 deaths on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The national total now stands at 2,381,538 confirmed infections, including at least 121,979 deaths from the virus, per JHU.
The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
CNN’s interactive map is tracking the US cases:
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FDA Commissioner is "confident about our ability to find appropriate therapies" for Covid-19
From CNN Health’s Jen Christensen
Dr. Stephen Hahn testifies before a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill on June 23, in Washington, DC.
Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
US Food and Drug Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said he’s optimistic that scientists will develop an FDA approved treatment for Covid-19.
Hahn said that from the beginning the FDA has worked closely with the private sector to develop therapies and vaccines for Covid-19. “They have responded greatly to this pandemic,” Hahn said.
Hahn said there are more than 144 Covid-19 focused clinical trials underway in the US.
The FDA has been working closely with the NIH on ways they can speed up the discovery and approval process, Hahn said. The agencies developed a platform trial for Covid-19.
“That way you can study multiple different drugs, all at the same time and much more efficiently and quickly study those,” Hahn said. It’s an approach he hopes the agency will be able to take with other therapies and diseases.
Safety, accuracy and effectiveness are essential to drug approval, Hahn said, and especially where this fast-moving pandemic is concerned, so is urgency.
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Beijing official says virus outbreak "basically contained" as city continues to post new cases
From CNN's Shawn Deng in Beijing and Vanesse Chan in Hong Kong
An epidemic control worker wears a protective suit as they perform a nucleic acid swab test for Covid-19 on June 24, in Beijing.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
The coronavirus outbreak linked to a wholesale food market in the Chinese capital Beijing has “basically been contained,” an official said Wednesday.
His comments come as Beijing reported 13 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the country’s National Health Commission (NHC) said.
Nationwide, China reported 19 new Covid-19 cases, including the 13 from Beijing on Wednesday.
Fourteen cases – 13 in the capital and one in Hebei province – were locally transmitted, while the rest were imported, the NHC said.
China has confirmed a total of 83,449 coronavirus cases with 4,634 deaths, according to the NHC.
Of those cases, more than 78,400 patients have been discharged.
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"Going out in public without a mask is like driving drunk," US health expert warns
From CNN's Shelby Lin Erdman
A woman wearing a mask commutes on the subway in the Brooklyn borough on June 22, in New York City.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Health experts continue to express the importance of wearing masks as coronavirus cases surge in some parts of the United States.
Reiner continued, “That’s how I want people to think about not wearing a mask in public, just like driving drunk.”
The nation’s top disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, responded Wednesday to the recent politicization of mask wearing, saying, “It should not be a political issue. It is purely a public health issue. Forget the politics – look at the data.”
Yet mask wearing still faces resistance.
In Florida, where coronavirus cases spiked by 5,500 on Wednesday – eight times more than in New York state – Gov. Ron DeSantis said that any mandate ordering cloth face coverings in public would be too hard to enforce.
“The governor of Florida needs to make a clear, unequivocal statement that it’s dangerous to your community if you go out in public without a mask,” Reiner said.
He faulted the White House for not setting a national example.
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Cruise ship passengers file lawsuit over coronavirus exposure
From CNN’s Andy Rose
The Zaandam cruise ship prepares to come into Port Everglades on April 2, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Two passengers of the MS Zaandam cruise ship filed suit against Holland America and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, Wednesday.
Leonard Lindsay and Carl Zehner, who are married, accuse the company of mishandling the Covid-19 outbreak onboard. They say it led to Zehner contracting the disease and being on a ventilator for three weeks.
The attorneys are asking a federal judge to give the case class action status covering all of the passengers aboard the MS Zaandam. They claim Holland America did not follow through with promises to ensure the health of its passengers, who were allegedly not given a temperature screening at boarding.
“Additionally, Defendants did not implement social distancing among the passengers, or implement other reasonable precautions at this stage of the cruise,” the lawsuit states.
According to the suit, the ship was denied entry to a port in Argentina in March, but it was nearly a week before the crew began telling passengers to isolate in their staterooms. The plaintiffs claim the company was already aware that some of its crew members had become ill with coronavirus symptoms. It was not until April 3 that most passengers were allowed to disembark in Port Everglades, Florida.
CNN has reached out to Holland America for a response to the lawsuit.
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Australia's Qantas to cut at least 6,000 jobs due to coronavirus pandemic
From Angus Watson in Sydney
Qantas planes are parked on the tarmac at Sydney Airport on April 22, in Sydney, Australia.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Australian airline Qantas announced on Thursday that it’s cutting at least 6,000 jobs as part of a three-year plan to help it recover from the coronavirus crisis.
The airline will also continue to stand down 15,000 employees and ground up to 100 aircraft for up to 12 months, some for longer, including most of its international fleet, according to a statement from the company.
The plan aims to save the company 15 billion Australian dollars ($10.3 billion) in costs over three years, the statement said.
Announcing the plan, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the crisis had left them with no choice.
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Dozens of Secret Service agents will be quarantined after Trump's Tulsa rally
The official said the number of quarantined agents is on the “low” side of dozens. A Secret Service official said the quarantining will not impact the agency’s operations.
A US Secret Service source who worked advance for Saturday’s rally and is now quarantining told CNN that agents from Dallas and Houston worked the event as well, and they had been warned before the trip from those field offices that they would need to quarantine when they got home.
The step comes after two Secret Service agents who attended the rally tested positive for coronavirus, a person familiar with matter previously told CNN.
Brazil announces plan to expand coronavirus testing
From journalist Rodrigo Pedroso in Sao Paulo and CNN's Maggie Fox
Brazil announced plans to expand coronavirus testing in a televised briefing from the health ministry Wednesday.
The ministry estimates the delivery of 46.5 million tests to the public health system by the end of the year, Secretary of Health Surveillance Arnaldo Correia said in the briefing.
Of those tests, there will be 24.5 million PCR tests that look for direct evidence of the virus and 22 million serological tests, which measure antibodies to indicate a previous infection.
Brazil previously only allowed testing for those hospitalized, but the new recommendations will also allow for tests on people reporting mild Covid-19 symptoms, Correia added.
Correia also said the ministry was expecting the curve from newly reported cases to flatten last week, but the numbers showed an increase from the previous week.
In the past three days alone, the country reported 103,593 new cases. Total confirmed cases stand at 1,188,631, according to the health ministry Wednesday.
Disney did not give a new reopening date for the Disneyland resort.
The news of Disneyland’s delayed reopening comes as coronavirus cases are spiking across the country, especially in California.
California blew by its previous single-day high with more than 7,149 cases reported Wednesday, according to data from the state Department of Public Health.
Trump recently traveled to Arizona, one of the states designated by New Jersey as a hotspot requiring quarantine. The governors of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York announced Wednesday that they would require people who’d been to those states to quarantine for 14 days or face fines.
Deere, however, said the White House followed mitigation plans to prevent contagion during the visit to Arizona on Tuesday and that “anyone traveling in support of the President this weekend will be closely monitored for symptoms and tested for COVID and therefore pose little to no risk to the local populations.”
Mexico recorded more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, as the country nears 200,000 total confirmed infections.
The Mexican health ministry reported 5,437 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s total to 196,847.
The ministry also confirmed 947 new deaths from the virus Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 24,324.
CNN is tracking worldwide coronavirus cases here:
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Model projects nearly 180,000 US coronavirus deaths by October 1
From CNN’s Maggie Fox and Arman Azad
Nearly 180,000 Americans will die from coronavirus by October 1 unless just about everyone starts wearing masks, new projections show.
The latest coronavirus projection from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows 179,106 deaths by October 1 if nothing changes.
But that number would drop to 146,000 if 95% of Americans started wearing masks in public, the model forecasts.
The previous IHME forecast, published June 15, projected 201,129 deaths by October 1. “California and other states have seen over the past several weeks increasing case numbers, but deaths are not yet rising at the same rate, a trend which could change in the coming weeks,” IHME director Christopher Murray said in a statement Wednesday.
According to a June 12 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 74% of Americans nationwide said they wore masks often or always. That number approached 90% in New York and Los Angeles.
“States reporting the ages of confirmed cases suggest there are more cases being detected in younger people who are at substantially lower risk of death than older people,” Murray said. “It remains to be seen how this will unfold over the next few weeks, and if transmission continues to go up, we may see increasing infections in at-risk populations.”
