Updated May. 3, 2020 12:02 PM
The coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a halt in the early part of 2020. After emerging in China's Hubei province in late 2019, the number of cases skyrocketed and infected more than 3 million worldwide over a four-month span with the epicenter shifting from Asia to Europe and, as of late March, the United States.
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak a pandemic on March 11. The virus, called SARS-CoV-2, causes a disease known as COVID-19, and as the number of cases escalated, government officials took drastic measures to slow the spread, ordering various forms of travel restrictions including total lockdowns in some places.
As residents stayed shuttered indoors, major metropolitan areas from Los Angeles to New York City to Paris and Rome have transformed into ghost towns. Infectious disease experts have stressed there is much to be learned about the virus, including whether there will be a seasonal correlation to a rise or decline in confirmed infections or how weather and UV radiation can impact the spread.
Here are the latest updates, listed in eastern time, and the most important things you need to know about coronavirus.
May 3, 11:55 a.m.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that police will issue citations and possibly arrest residents who fail to follow stay-at-home orders. "We will shut you down, we will cite you, and if we need to, we will arrest you and we will take you to jail," she said Saturday during a press conference. As of Saturday afternoon, Illinois had the fourth most coronavirus cases in the U.S. with more than 56,000 and the sixth most deaths with nearly 2,500, according to 1010 WCSI. "If you host a party, promote a party, or go to a party, we are not playing games. We mean business, and we will shut this down one way or another," she said, NBC Chicago reported.
May 3, 10:50 a.m.
A Florida man was enjoying the quarantine period while trespassing on Walt Disney World’s abandoned Discovery Island, or as he put it, a “tropical paradise.” A search was sparked for the man when security saw him camping. Deputies searched for McGuire on foot, by helicopter, and by boat using a loudspeaker before making contact with him, according to The Associated Press. The man, Richard McGuire, told authorities he didn’t hear them because he was sleeping inside one of the buildings on the island. McGuire told deputies he was not aware that the property was off-limits and that he planned to stay for about a week, according to an arrest report. McGuire was arrested and charged with trespassing and was also ordered not to return to any additional Walt Disney World properties, according to The Associated Press.
May 3, 9:35 a.m.
While the U.S. has seen mass layoffs across the hospitality industry, there has been a surge in jobs for pharmacies, online retailers, teleworking communications and shipping companies since people are staying home. Major corporations like CVS, Amazon and Walmart have all announced new positions amid the outbreak as their industries need more employees than before. Hilton is working to find temporary jobs for tens of thousands of displaced hotel team members through its newly created workforce resource center website, ABC News confirmed. They have partnered with companies including Albertsons, Amazon, CVS, Lidl, Sunrise Senior Living and Walgreens.
May 3, 8:45 a.m.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed an executive order extending the state of emergency to July 6 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The original declaration was signed roughly two months ago on March 8. The state, which ranks 40 on the state coronavirus list, has had 2,635 cases and 109 deaths.
May 3, 7:30 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
- Total confirmed cases: 3,446,291
- Total deaths: 244,084
- Total recovered: 1,099,866
May 2, 7:42 p.m.
After many employees were threatened with physical violence by people who refused to cover their faces, Stillwater, Oklahoma, has amended its emergency proclamation that required people wear face coverings in stores and restaurants. The proclamation only lasted less than a day before Mayor Will Joyce made the decision to amend it. Restaurants and stores are now asked that they encourage, but do not require, that patrons wear face coverings inside their businesses.
“In that effort to insure the safety of others, we now have to weigh the safety of store owners and employees to threats of violence,” Joyce said, according to a press release. “We cannot, in clear conscience, put our local business community in harm’s way, nor can the police be everywhere.”
May 2, 6:30 p.m.
The New York Police Department has sent out officers across the city on Saturday to ensure residents are maintaining proper social distancing measures, despite the surge of warmer weather that drew people outside. The high in New York city was 72 degrees Fahrenheit, with an even higher AccuWeather RealFeel® temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Officers also handed out masks to New Yorkers who didn’t have one while they took in the fresh air.
Good morning from Union Square!
Today, you'll see officers throughout the five boroughs making sure New Yorkers are practicing social distancing.
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May 2, 5:20 p.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic could carry on for two years, according to a new report. In the report published by a range of experts in disease and public health, the virus will not be able to be contained until two thirds of the global population has immunity and it may be harder to contain than influenza, due to the ability to spread it without symptoms. They predict the virus will persist in waves, Bloomberg reported.
“Risk communication messaging from government officials should incorporate the concept that this pandemic will not be over soon, and that people need to be prepared for possible periodic resurgences of disease over the next two years," the report said.
May 2, 4:29 p.m.
A state-wide survey in New York showed that 12.3% of all residents in the state have tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday. The sample size for the survey was 15,000 people. New York City had a higher amount than the rest of the state, with 19.9% of residents testing positive for the antibodies, with the majority coming from the Bronx. On Friday, Cuomo announced that all schools k-12 and colleges in the state will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
May 2, 3:25 p.m.
The US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds flew over Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Atlanta on Saturday to honor healthcare workers and first responders working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is an extraordinary and unprecedented time but we will get through this. We are all in this together," Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, the Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader for the flyover, said, according to CNN. Photos on the National Mall during the fly over showed crowds of people gathering to watch.
People view the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as they fly over the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, May 2, 2020. The flyover was in salute to first responders in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
May 2, 2:30 p.m.
COVID-19 may last on clothes for up to 24 hours. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine approximated that the virus can live on cardboard surfaces for 24 hours, which Forbes reported could mean the virus can live on clothes for just as long, because of the absorbency of both materials and their similar abilities to trap moisture. Considering buttons and zippers being made of a different material than fabric, the virus could last up to two to three days, the length of time estimated the virus lasts on plastic and stainless steel. They report that it is best to change clothes after you suspect they have become contaminated, and take measures to ensure they do not contaminate anything else.
May 2, 1 p.m.
Virtual healthcare visits have become the new norm amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and projections suggest 1 billion medical consultations will occur virtually by the end of the year. Teleheath has previously held vital roles in natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria, AccuWeather’s Monica Danielle reported. Telehelath could further provide a way for people to access medical care during severe weather, heavy snow or icy roads that would otherwise prohibit them from seeing a doctor. The use of telehealth during this pandemic could “forever change the way consumers seek and receive health care ... This moment will have a lasting effect on the adoption of virtual care and accelerate the shift from in-person care to virtual first engagement for multiple conditions and use cases,”Arielle Trzcinski, a senior analyst at Forrester, told ComputerWorld.
May 2, 12:20 p.m.
102-year-old Italian woman survives Spanish Flu, cancer, and now coronavirus.Angelina Sciales, 102, was born during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and has survived miscarriages, cancer, sepsis and two pandemics in her lifetime. “She is not human. She has super human DNA,” Sciales daughter said, according to Fox 8. Sciales lives in a nursing home in Westchester. “I don’t know what her secret is, but I know she is a free and independent woman,” her nephew told CNN. “She loves life, dancing and music.”
May 2, 11:35 a.m.
Residents in Spain emerge to exercise for the first time after seven weeks in coronavirus lockdown. The lockdown was eased for children a week ago, yet the amount of outdoor exercise time remains limited for all. There are now permitted times for exercise for different age groups. Adults are allowed to exercise between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. as well as 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The time period for children is midday until 7 p.m. Spain has been on lockdown since March 14, meaning people have only been allowed to leave the house to buy food or medicine, to go to work if working from home was not possible, or to briefly walk the dog.
May 2, 10:20 a.m.
Cell phone data shows the share of Americans staying close to home has steadily shrunk. As the weather gets warmer and the duration of the stay-at-home orders drag on, fewer people are remaining at home according to data aggregated from anonymous cell phone location information from 15 million people provided by a New York City data analysis firm. The data reports that New Jersey and Pennsylvania have some of the largest amounts of people obeying stay-at-home orders. The percentage traveling between one and 10 miles per week grew from 29% to 31%, according to Inquirer.
May 2, 9:15 a.m.
As the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on restaurants and potato prices plunge, farmers in Idaho have had to dump extreme surpluses of the crop. When Idaho resident Molly Page caught sight of the mountains of potatoes left to rot, she leapt into action. Page gathered a crew of volunteers and worked with local leaders and farmers to “rescue” the spuds, then redistribute them to the community for those who needed the food. “It was heartbreaking to see, you know just seeing this huge pile of potatoes that, you know, they didn’t have a market for. So that compelled me and a group of people here to act,” Page told AccuWeather in a Skype interview. On their rescue mission, they filled seven pickup trucks, two SUVs and a dump truck. They have scheduled another rescue effort for this weekend.
May 2, 8 a.m.
Wild animals have been spotted in uncommon places over the past week as fewer people are traveling due to COVID-19. On Wednesday, a heard of deer was seen trotting down an empty road just outside of Pittsburgh. The next day, a lone seal was found lounging on a beach in Hoboken, New Jersey, with the New York City skyline visible in the distance. On the opposite side of the globe, kangaroos have occasionally been spotted hopping around empty city streets of Australia, something that was rarely seen before lockdown began.
May 2, 7 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
- Total confirmed cases: 3,359,055
- Total deaths: 238,999
- Total recovered: 1,059,275
May 1, 10 p.m.
In the era of going on air from home for weather forecasts, some guests are inevitable. During a segment on air, one forecaster from Fox13 had his golden retriever join him. The dog happily shared the spotlight before roaming around and going up to the camera for his close up. Channel 14 News weather forecaster Jeff Lyons had his cat Betty join him during his weathercasts. “When the weather is threatening, you have to be serious, but for the rest of the time, it’s important to be happy,” Lyons told The Washington Post. “My sense is that people want a diversion right now during this horrible pandemic. They’re looking for something that’s kind of fun. So at least for now, doing the forecast with Betty fits right in.” Watch the Fox13 weathercast below -- and enjoy!
May 1, 9:35 p.m.
Officials still disagree over whether a person can be infected with COVID-19 twice. After 277 patients in South Korea were believed to have been infected a second time, researchers from the South Korean center for disease control and prevention (CDC) have said it is impossible to get the virus more than once. The researchers determined after analyzing the genetic makeup of the virus that there is no way for it to change in a way significant enough for the virus to become unrecognizable to the immune system, Sky News reported. However, the World Health Organization said there is “no evidence” that says a person cannot be infected a second time, and if people assume they are immune after their first infection they could risk a further spread of the virus. "People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice," WHO said.
May 1, 8:45 p.m.
Queen collaborated with Adam Lambert to re-record the band's classic song “We Are the Champions” -- but with a twist. In what is being called “lockdown version” of the song, the lyrics and title have been changed to “You Are the Champions.” The artists recorded the song while in lockdown on their phones, and all proceeds of the song will go toward the World Health Organization, the United Nations Foundation and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Listen to part of it below.
'You Are The Champions' Queen + Adam Lambert's New Lockdown Version, Recorded on Mobile Phones!Buy/stream
QAL.lnk.to/YouAreTheChamp…@DrBrianMay @OfficialRMT + @AdamLambert
version of Queen’s classic anthem with all proceeds going towards #Covid19Fund @WHO @unfoundation
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May 1, 7:35 p.m.
Dermatologists are seeing an increase in chilblains, a frostbite-like inflammation on the toes, and the reason for the surge could be COVID-19. Dr. Lindy Fox, a dermatologist in San Francisco, told the New York Times she typically sees three to four patients a year with chilblains, but has seen dozens of cases in recent weeks.
“My inbox and my telemedicine clinic are full of just toes. It’s all about toes. I have never seen so many toes,” said Dr. Esther Freeman, Director of Global Health Dermatology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The lesions are often shown in younger people who have contracted the virus, and according to some experts, could show a healthy immune system response to it. “The most important message to the public is not to panic -- most of the patients we are seeing with these lesions are doing extremely well,” Freeman said. Chilblains are not on the official list of symptoms created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but dermatologists are now pushing for it to be added, and want it to be enough grounds for a patient to be tested for the virus.
May 1, 6:41 p.m.
On Thursday, Army officials defended the decision to call 1,000 cadets back to the Military Academy at West Point for graduation, despite the coronavirus risk, The Associated Press reported. “We can’t telecommute to combat,” the chief of staff of the Army Gen. James McConville had told Pentagon reporters. According to army officials, students must return for final medical checks, equipment and training despite the threat of the virus. President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a graduation address for the cadets, which is scheduled for June 13.
May 1, 5:50 p.m.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved an emergency use authorization of the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat severe cases of COVID-19, President Donald Trump announced on Friday. Statements made by Dr. Anthony Fauci a few days prior supported the decision to approve the drug, saying it had a “clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery,” The Washington Post reported.
May 1, 5:15 p.m.
New York City is opening more than seven miles of streets on Monday amid warm weather for pedestrians and bicyclists, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday. The streets, which are either in or around parks in all five boroughs, will ease crowding and help with social distancing efforts as people return outside, the mayor said. According to 1010 Wins, the locations of the streets are:
- Manhattan: Fort Tryon Park, Carl Schurz Park and Lt. William Tighe Triangle
- Brooklyn: Callahan-Kelly Park, Williamsburg Oval and Prospect Park
- Queens: Flushing Meadows, Forest Hill Park and Court Square
- The Bronx: Grant Park and Highbridge Park
- Staten Island: Silver Lake Park and Stapleton Waterfront Park
May 1, 4:15 p.m.
COVID-19 is now deadlier than any flu season since 1967, Reuters reported. The only flu seasons that were deadlier than the current COVID-19 outbreak were in 1967 where 100,000 Americans died, in 1957 where 116,000 people were killed and in 1918 where 675,000 Americans died of the Spanish flu, AccuWeather’s John Roach reported. “This pathogen has all the signs of being ‘the big one.' When current estimates for COVID-19 are compared to the 1918 pandemic, they are eerily similar. The outcomes will likely be different given modern medicine; however, the impact on society and its functioning is likely to be significant,” Dr. Bryan Lewis, a professor at the Biocomplexity Institute at the University of Virginia, told AccuWeather in early March. There are now over 64,000 fatalities in the U.S. due to COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
A medic moves a gurney at Queens Hospital Center, Monday, April 20, 2020, in the Jamaica neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
May 1, 2:24 p.m.
As the calendar turned to May, some restaurants across Arizona opened their doors in defiance of the statewide stay-at-home orders. This included the Horseshoe Cafe in Wickenburg, Arizona, with people filing into the restaurant to sit down for breakfast. A few hours after opening, two police officers showed up telling the owner, Deb Thompson, that the diners had to leave, but Thompson refused, according to The Arizona Republic. Arizona’s stay-at-home orders were issued on March 30 and were originally set to be lifted by May 1, but Gov. Doug Ducey has since extended the order to May 15. These orders do allow restaurants to stay open, but only for delivery or carry-out orders. Arizona has accounted for 7,962 of the 1.1 million COVID-19 cases across the county, and 330 of the 64,715 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
A customer eats inside the Horseshoe Cafe Friday, May 1, 2020, in Wickenburg, Ariz. A few small businesses reopened in defiance of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's decision to extend a statewide stay-at-home order for another two weeks in. The Gov. extended the stay at home order in an effort to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Matt York)
May 1, 1:35 p.m.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) are hosting a national camp-in this weekend for kids that are unable to go on campouts during the coronavirus pandemic. “Whether in your backyard or in your living room, join families across the country live on Facebook for a day of fun virtual adventures,” the BSA said. “This National Camp-In is free and open to all families – including families whose children are not currently in Scouting.” The events take place on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. CDT, and include a 5K, a Q&A session with NASA Astronaut Doug Wheelock and a virtual campfire.
May 1, 1:07 p.m.
April finishes as best month in over 30 year for U.S. stock market. As the coronavirus spread around the globe at the start of 2020, global stock markets took a hit with U.S. markets falling precipitously in February and March. The S&P 500 shed 12.5% in March alone, its worst month since the 2008 financial crisis. However, the index made a comeback in April. According to CNBC, the S&P 500 was up 12.7% in April, its biggest monthly gain since 1987. However, there is still ground to make up to return to the all-time high levels achieved earlier this year.
May 1, 12:16 p.m.
Texas records deadliest day as stay-at-home order is lifted. Businesses are beginning to reopen in the Lone Star State after Gov. Greg Abbott allowed the stay-at-home order to expire on Thursday. “Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and DSHS released minimum standard health protocols for businesses and individuals,” the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said. This reopening comes just one day after the state recorded 50 fatalities related the the coronavirus. This was the highest single-day death toll from the virus in the state, The Dallas Morning News reported.
The eased restrictions paired with a spell of warm weather may entice people to head outside, but residents should still practice social distancing and limit unnecessary travel, officials cautioned. “It’s beautiful weather, and we’ve been cooped up for over a month, but the underlying advice based on science from the health experts has not changed,” All County Judge Clay Jenkins said.
The eased restrictions paired with a spell of warm weather may entice people to head outside, but residents should still practice social distancing and limit unnecessary travel, officials cautioned. “It’s beautiful weather, and we’ve been cooped up for over a month, but the underlying advice based on science from the health experts has not changed,” All County Judge Clay Jenkins said.
May 1, 11:37 a.m.
The coronavirus has thinned out crowds gathering at May Day marches and protest around the globe. Hundreds of people came together in Athens, Greece, outfitted with flags, gloves and masks while standing feet apart from each other to adhere to social distancing guidelines. In the U.S., some essential employees at stores across the country have staged strikes to demand better protection and more benefits, NPR said. "For these reasons, we are engaging in a mass sickout and exercising our right to refuse unsafe work conditions," Whole Foods workers said in a statement.
Protesters from the communist party-affiliated PAME union wearing masks to protect against coronavirus, march during a May Day rally outside the Greek Parliament, in Athens, on Friday, May 1, 2020. Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Athens and the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki to mark May Day, despite appeals from the government for May Day marches and commemorations to be postponed until next Saturday, when some lockdown measures will have been lifted. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
May 1, 11:04 a.m.
France is set to lift the nationwide lockdown on May 11, but the move will not mean that life can go back to the way that it was before the pandemic right away. “May 11 will not be the passage to normal life,” President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. “There will be several phases and May 11 will be one of them.” French health authorities have created a map to help communicate what areas will be able to lift restrictions sooner than others based on how the coronavirus has affected different areas of the country. There have been nearly 130,000 cases of COVID-19 in France, with over 49,000 recoveries and more than 24,000 deaths.
May 1, 10:16 a.m.
Drugmaker accelerating production of remdesivir after studies show promise in treating COVID-19 patients. With hope mounting about the experimental drug that was developed to treat Ebola patients, Gilead Sciences says it's working to increase production of remdesivir over the short and long terms. According to Reuters, the pharmaceutical company plans to have enough of the drug manufactured to treat 140,000 patients by the end of May. By December, Gilead expects to have more than 1 million treatment programs ready and has "plans to be able to produce several million treatment courses in 2021," the company told Reuters. Multiple reports have indicated that the FDA is set to issue an emergency approval of remdesivir given the new data on its efficacy. How does remdesivir work on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19? The AFP graphic below shows how the drug attacks the virus.
May 1, 9:06 a.m.
Capt. Tom Moore, a British Army veteran who fought in World War II, celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday in a selfless way. In an effort to raise money for England's National Health Service, Moore did a daily lap around his garden 100 times. His goal was to raise 1,000 pounds (about $1,250) for hospitals fighting COVID-19. However, as of his birthday, he has raised 31 million pounds (over $38 million). “It’s unbelievable that people would be so kind to give that sort of money to the National Health Service,” Moore said. To honor the veteran, two fighter aircrafts flew through the sky on his milestone day.
May 1, 8:25 a.m.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to extend the country's state of emergency order through at least the end of May, The Japan Times reported. The Times reported that even though the number of new patients is on the decline in the country, a government panel recommended keeping restrictive measures in place that coincide with the state of emergency. “I think it’d be difficult to go back to everyday life on May 7,” Abe said. “We must be ready for a protracted battle.”
Earlier this week, Abe discussed the rescheduled Summer Olympics which have been postponed to 2021. The prime minister said that even a year from now, unless the pandemic is contained, the Olympics won't be able to take place. “We’ve been saying the Olympic and Paralympic Games must be held in a complete form, in that athletes and spectators can all participate safely. It would be impossible to hold the Games in such a complete form unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained,” Abe said, according to Reuters.
May 1, 7:08 a.m.
For the first time in the organization’s history, the Little League International (LLI) has canceled its World Series and Region Tournaments, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement released on Thursday by the LLI, they also mentioned that the 2020 MLB Little League Classic was also postponed to 2021. Stephen D. Kenner, Little League President and CEO, expressed how hard this decision was for them to make. “This is a heartbreaking decision for everyone at Little League International,” Kenner said in the statement. “But more so for those millions of Little Leaguers who have dreamt of one day playing in one of our seven World Series events.” The 75th annual LLB World Series, which would have been celebrated next year, will now take place in 2022.
May 1, 7:03 a.m.
Los Angeles is now offering free testing to all residents. After reporting the city’s largest increase in a day of new cases, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Thursday any resident, even those who are asymptomatic, can now get tested for the virus for free. Previously, only essential workers and symptomatic people could be tested, the BBC reported.
May 1, 6:47 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
- Total confirmed cases: 3,269,667
- Total deaths: 233,688
- Total recovered: 1,022,331
April 30, 9:55 p.m.
The chances for someone to transmit COVID-19 through clothes is “very low,” former Baltimore health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen told CNN on Thursday. She said it is not necessary for someone to immediately change clothes after returning home from the grocery store, but people who risk exposure at work have a higher chance of bringing it into their home through their clothes. Wen said higher-risk workers should change their clothes when they get home and leave their shoes outside.
April 30, 8:58 p.m.
Fears of COVID-19 have heightened in Russia, where personal protective equipment is scarce in both rural and urban regions. Doctors and nurses in Reutov hospital near Moscow have been forced to reuse disposable equipment, and some nurses treating COVID-19 patients do not have masks. In remote parts of Russia, conditions appear to be not much better. At Chayanda oil field, 10,500 workers have been tested for the virus, and the amount of positive cases is “very significant,” although an actual number has not been released. According to CBC, 6 million people in the country could become unemployed due to the virus. The Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishutsin, is also now self-isolating, as he tested positive for the virus.
April 30, 8:10 p.m.
Hundreds of protestors in Michigan converged on the state’s Capitol building in Lansing on Thursday to denounce stay-at-home orders, with some openly carrying firearms as the state House voted on the fate of the state’s coronavirus declaration as well as authorization on a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s authority and actions implemented in response to the pandemic. The vote came out along party lines, refusing to renew the emergency declaration and authorizing the lawsuit, PBS reported. Michigan has been one of the hardest-hit states by the virus, according to numbers from Johns Hopkins University. Seventh in the nation in number of confirmed cases, Michigan has had 41,379 cases and 3,789 reported deaths related to the pandemic. The state has the third-highest death toll in the nation, behind only by New Jersey and New York.
April 30, 7:15 p.m.
While nurses and doctors work on the frontlines to help curb the pandemic, a growing number of U.S. nurses are out of work completely. Health care companies in the U.S. are struggling to generate revenue, as non-urgent medical procedures have been halted across the country. Now, hospitals are cutting costs by asking nurses to stay home without pay. "People would always say to me, being a nurse you'll never have to worry about having a job. And here I am, newly 40 years old and unemployed for the first time since I started working," Mariya Buxton, a pediatric nurse in Minnesota, told the BBC.
Registered nurse April Lewis wears her personal protective equipment as she waits for the first car at a newly opened United Memorial Medical Center COVID-19 drive-thru testing site Monday, April 27, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
April 30, 6:20 p.m.
A COVID-19 vaccine could come earlier than expected. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it would be “doable” to have a vaccine for the virus in January. Fauci further explained on TODAY that production of a vaccine will not wait for approval of its effectiveness, rather they will start production and then determine once it has been reviewed if they will halt or increase production. “We want to go quickly, but we want to make sure it's safe and it's effective. I think that is doable if things fall in the right place,” Fauci said.
April 30, 5:29 p.m.
German soccer team Borussia Mönchengladbach may still be able to play in front of fans if the team's season proceeds in May. Sort of. Fans of the team can now pay 19 euros -- about 20 bucks -- to have a cardboard cutout of themselves placed in the stands during games, Time reported. Other soccer leagues are also beginning to consider alternatives to empty stadiums, as well. The Premier League in England is toying with the possibility of using CGI fans to present the illusion of a packed stadium. “Even when the noise is there, one empty stand really impacts people’s enjoyment of the spectacle. When you add the two in – i.e. the ground is totally empty and totally silent, then it really is an odd experience,” a Sky Sports source told the i, a British newspaper.
April 30, 4:43 p.m.
New York City’s 24-hour subway service is coming to an end to allow for time to disinfect the cars, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday. The pause in services will occur between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., a time of the day when the number of passengers on the subway system is low. While the subway will be temporarily shut down every night, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will continue to provide buses and “dollar vans” at no cost to essential workers through the night, CNBC reported. “This is going to be one of the most aggressive, creative, challenging undertakings that the MTA has done,” Cuomo said. “It’s going to require the MTA, the state, the city, the NYPD to all work together. It’s not that easy to stop train service.” New York City has been a global hotspot for COVID-19 with over 160,000 confirmed cases in the city alone.
April 30, 4 p.m.
NASCAR will return to action on Sunday, May 17, the first race since March 8 before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus. The updated schedule announced by NASCAR on Thursday afternoon features seven races over an 11-day span and will be held with no fans in attendance. No races beyond May 27 have been announced, but NASCAR still intends to run all 36 races in the 2020 season.
“NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing, and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community. We thank local, state and federal officials and medical experts, as well as everyone in the industry, for the unprecedented support in our return to racing, and we look forward to joining our passionate fans in watching cars return to the track.”
“NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing, and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community. We thank local, state and federal officials and medical experts, as well as everyone in the industry, for the unprecedented support in our return to racing, and we look forward to joining our passionate fans in watching cars return to the track.”
Take a look at the full slate of races coming up at @TooToughToTame and @CLTMotorSpdwy: nas.cr/2SnRsoH
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April 30, 3:29 p.m.
Global COVID-19 recoveries pass 1 million. Out of more than 3.2 million confirmed cases globally, over 1 million people have reportedly recovered, making it a rare positive coronavirus milestone. Over 230,000 people have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.
April 30, 2:37 p.m.
New York City’s 24-hour subway service is coming to an end to allow for time to disinfect the cars, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday. The pause in services will occur between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., a time of the day when the number of passengers on the subway system is low. While the subway will be temporarily shut down every night, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will continue to provide buses and “dollar vans” at no cost to essential workers through the night, CNBC reported. “This is going to be one of the most aggressive, creative, challenging undertakings that the MTA has done,” Cuomo said. “It’s going to require the MTA, the state, the city, the NYPD to all work together. It’s not that easy to stop train service.” New York City has been a global hotspot for COVID-19 with over 160,000 confirmed cases in the city alone.
April 30, 2:06 p.m.
The UK is “past the peak” of the coronavirus outbreak, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In a press conference on Thursday, Johnson said that next week there will be a “comprehensive plan” unveiled detailing the guidelines that should be followed in the next couple of weeks as schools are reopened and work-life resumes. Johnson also announced that they have reasons to be hopeful for the long-term. “The UK is leading international efforts to find a vaccine,” Johnson said, according to the BBC. “Today, Oxford University announced a partnership with AstraZeneca to develop what they believe could soon be a means of inoculating ourselves against this disease.”
April 30, 1:56 p.m.
Macy's has announced plans to reopen 68 stores starting on Monday in states that have begun to loosen lockdown restrictions such as Georgia and South Carolina, according to CNBC. The retailer, which like many others has taken a financial beating amid the pandemic, said it expects to have most of its 775 stores open within the next six weeks. When doors do reopen to customers, social distancing measures will be enforced, temperature checks will be conducted for workers and the stores will operate on reduced hours.
April 30, 12:38 p.m.
The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds will once again fall into formation side-by-side to salute those on the front lines battling the coronavirus. Millions of people stepped outside on Tuesday to watch the jets fly over New York City and Philadelphia, and on Saturday, those around Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta will be able to see a similar sight. “We are honored to fly over these cities in a display of national unity and support for the men and women keeping our communities safe.” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Caldwell, Thunderbird commander and lead pilot. “These flyovers are a gesture of goodwill on behalf of the entire Department of Defense to the heroes of the COIVD-19 pandemic.”
Partly to mostly sunny conditions are expected on Saturday for Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Atlanta, leading to good viewing conditions for these flyovers.
April 30, 12:06 p.m.
The fate of the current NBA season has been up in the air ever since March 11 when play was suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus. Nearly two months later, some agents and team executives are calling the league to cancel the remainder of the season, CNBC reported. The league has made no indication yet of what lies ahead for the season, but no option has been ruled out. “It is the responsibility of the league office to explore all options for a return to play this season,” an NBA spokesperson told CNBC. “We owe that to our fans, teams, players, partners and all who love the game.” One of the options that the NBA is considering is finishing the season on the basketball courts in Disney World, keeping the players and staff on the property.
However, one thing is clear: Canceling the balance of the season would have major financial consequences for every aspect of the industry. Ultimately, the decision that the NBA makes could have a ripple effect across all professional sports, including the plan for the remainder of the NHL season and the start of the upcoming MLB and NFL seasons.
April 30, 11:01 a.m.
South Korea's Centers for Disease Control reported no new domestic cases for the first time since February as health officials also concluded that no transmission of the coronavirus occurred during the country's parliamentary election on April 15, Reuters reported. The country's health experts also made a new discovery with regard to the potential for patients to become reinfected. According to The Korea Herald, infectious disease experts said dead virus fragments were the likely cause of over 260 people that tested positive again after making a full recovery. Oh Myoung-don, a doctor at Seoul National University, said at a press conference that the polymerase chain reaction tests the doctors use can't distinguish whether a virus is alive or dead, thus resulting in some false positives. He also said the virus can take months to clear from recovered patients, according to the Herald. Testing has been ramping up across other parts of Asia, including in Malaysia and Singapore. In Malaysia, the government recently issued a restricted movement order to the public until April 28, to help curb the spread of the virus, according to The Associated Press.
A health worker collects a sample for coronavirus testing from a worker at a locked down wet market as one of its traders tested positive for COVID-19 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Tuesday, April 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
April 30, 10:45 a.m.
New Jersey residents will be able to take advantage of the nice weather this weekend as state parks and golf courses will be reopening on Saturday. Gov. Phil Murphy made the announcement on Wednesday; however, there will be some conditions to the reopening. Playgrounds and restrooms at the parks will remain closed, and attendance at both parks and golf courses will be limited to 50%, 6ABC reported. Social distancing guidelines will also remain in place. “I’m happy at one level that we’re able to take this step, but we will enforce this,” Murphy said.
This action by the governor is the first step toward returning to normalcy, but there is still a long road ahead. The number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise on a daily basis in New Jersey with no signs of slowing down. Over 116,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in over 6,700 fatalities.
This action by the governor is the first step toward returning to normalcy, but there is still a long road ahead. The number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise on a daily basis in New Jersey with no signs of slowing down. Over 116,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in over 6,700 fatalities.
Cases of COVID-19 have been on a steady uward trajectory through April 28 and have shown no signs of abating. (NJ Dept. of Health)
April 30, 9:52 a.m.
Another 3.8 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's weekly report, a decline of about 603,000 from the prior week when over 4.4 million claims were received. The pandemic's calamitous effects on the U.S. economy has now stretched over six weeks and brought the total jobless claims in that time to over 30 million. However, as CNBC points out, this is the lowest number of claims since March 21.
April 30, 9:23 a.m.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to close all beaches and parks in the state on Thursday, according to a memo obtained by Reuters. “After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom’s Shelter in Place Order, the governor will be announcing tomorrow that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st,” the memo reportedly reads. California is approaching 50,000 total cases and 2,000 deaths related to COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
April 30, 7:44 a.m.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday night that state beaches will be reopening on Friday. Abbott and the Texas General Land Office will be rescinding the local government's power to close the beaches as the areas will be reopened in a limited way. On Friday, Galveston is forecast to reach 81 F and remain dry with warm conditions through the weekend.
April 30, 6:13 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
- Total deaths: 227,958
- Total recovered: 983,547
April 29, 9:49 p.m.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen on May 6 in in 89 of the state's 95 counties. "We will have guidance for these businesses before the end of the week,” Lee said. The governor went on to say that he signed an executive order that was predominantly about reopening the economy. “The situation there is that we had to issue an updated order yesterday in order to allow retail to open today. But as we said in the order, there are some places that we anticipate opening before the end of May. The first example of this, as you may have heard, is close contact services like salons and barbershops," Lee said.
April 29, 8:32 p.m.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan warned the nation’s food supply chain could be impacted by COVID-19. Hogan said he talked with White House officials and the governors of Delaware, Virginia, and 15 other states that have meat processing plants. "This is a serious public health concern and a threat to Maryland’s agricultural industry and to the nation’s food supply chain," he said during his daily news conference. Hogan said he is receiving federal assistance and is grateful to the Trump administration, particularly Vice President Mike Pence and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their swift response.
April 29, 7:40 p.m.
Stocks closed higher on Wednesday amid optimism surrounding potential coronavirus treatment. An antiviral drug called remdesivir has shown encouraging results in testing as part of a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease study, Gilead Sciences announced. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve committed to using its “full range of tools” to support the U.S. economy throughout the pandemic.
Below is how the market closed today:
- The Dow finished 2.2%, or 532 points, higher.
- The S&P 500 closed up 2.7%.
- The Nasdaq Composite ended 3.6% higher.
April 29, 6:35 p.m.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced staff furloughs, salary reductions and cut his salary to zero, according to the memo in which Goodell discloses. CNN obtained the memo where Goodell discloses that the league is still preparing for a full 2020 season but acknowledges the “difficult decisions” that had to be made due to the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. "[I]t is clear that the economic effects will be deeper and longer lasting than anyone anticipated and that their duration remains uncertain. The downturn has affected all of us, as well as our fans, our business partners, and our clubs," Goodell said in the memo, according to CNN. The memo went on to say, pay reductions are aimed at the management level who make more than $100,000 and those employees “who are unable to substantially perform their duties from home and/or whose current workload has been significantly reduced” will be furloughed.
April 29, 5:15 p.m.
The Food and Drug Administration is set to approve emergency use for the antiviral drug, remdesivir. There has been 'encouraging' data from latest study on the drug being tested on COVID-19 patients. Gilead Sciences announced Wednesday the latest results from the third phase of a study which tested the effectiveness of the antiviral drug remdesivir in COVID-19 patients over the course of five and 10 days. "The study demonstrated that patients receiving a 10-day treatment course of remdesivir achieved similar improvement in clinical status compared with those taking a 5-day treatment course," according to a company press release. The company said full data from the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks. Wall Street reacted favorably to the news as major U.S. stock indexes rose considerably through early Wednesday.
“These data are encouraging as they indicate that patients who received a shorter, 5-day course of remdesivir experienced similar clinical improvement as patients who received a 10-day treatment course,” said Dr. Aruna Subramanian, a clinical professor of medicine and infectious disease doctor at Stanford University's School of Medicine, and one of the lead investigators of the study. “While additional data are still needed, these results help to bring a clearer understanding of how treatment with remdesivir may be optimized, if proven safe and effective.”
"The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery. This is really quite important," Dr. Fauci said
Dr. Fauci: "The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery. This is really quite important." hill.cm/GZXVHBM
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April 29, 4:40 p.m.
The Newport Beach City Council in Orange County, California, voted 5-2 to reject a proposed ordinance to close the city's beaches for the next three weekends. Gov. Gavin Newsom warned of tighter restrictions due to the large crowds. Orange County Parks Director Stacy Blackwood told Fox 11 the turnout was "pretty typical of what we see in summer weekends." Blackwood estimated the turnout to be about 6,000 people during peak hours across the major beaches as Southern California's temperatures climbed into the nineties. Beaches in Los Angeles are closed while Orange County and Ventura County have kept theirs open. Some San Diego beaches have opened for activities like walking and surfing. "It's important to take care of our mental health as well. We want our neighbors to get exercise. This plays a big role in mental health, which is why we encourage our residents to safely spend time outside. Their local beaches are an ideal place to do so,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel told Fox 11. This weekend's temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 70s.
Swimmers and surfers wade in the water Sunday, April 26, 2020, in Newport Beach, Calif. A lingering heat wave lured people to California beaches, rivers and trails again Sunday, prompting warnings from officials that defiance of stay-at-home orders could reverse progress and bring the coronavirus surging back. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
April 29, 3:35 p.m.
101-year-old Rose Leigh-Manuell beat the odds and has recovered after being diagnosed with COVID-19. This wasn’t Leigh-Manuell’s first brush with a deadly disease. The now great-great-grandmother survived a case of the Spanish flu shortly after she was born in 1918, according to CBS New York.
Her secret? “She loves any junk food. But her Oreo cookies, primarily vanilla or golden Oreos, are her favorite,” her son told CBS New York. Leigh-Manuell was treated at a medical facility in Sayville, New York and credits the staff working for her recovery. “The doctors and nurses, everybody taking wonderful care of me,” she said. Leigh-Manuell is one of several people that have lived longer than a century that has survived both the Spanish flu and the coronavirus, including 106-year-old Connie Titchen.
Her secret? “She loves any junk food. But her Oreo cookies, primarily vanilla or golden Oreos, are her favorite,” her son told CBS New York. Leigh-Manuell was treated at a medical facility in Sayville, New York and credits the staff working for her recovery. “The doctors and nurses, everybody taking wonderful care of me,” she said. Leigh-Manuell is one of several people that have lived longer than a century that has survived both the Spanish flu and the coronavirus, including 106-year-old Connie Titchen.
April 29, 2:29 p.m.
Golf courses reopened on Wednesday in Miami-Dade County, but golfers in South Florida that made their return to courses in the area may have noticed a striking difference, according to Brian Entin, a reporter for WSVN. Pink foam jutted out of the hole and surrounded the base of the flag stick. The unusual pink site amid a lush green course is a necessity in order for golfers to avoid touching the same surface repeatedly, Entin reported. While there could be a thunderstorm around on Thursday, the AccuWeather five-day forecast for Miami shows favorable weather conditions for golfers looking to play later this week.
Golf courses reopen today with restrictions in Miami-Dade County -- and you may notice something strange. One of the new rules is the holes must be filled with foam. So your ball cannot technically go into the hole. This is to avoid touch surfaces.
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April 29, 1:58 p.m.
Three coronavirus testing facilities were forced to close in Louisiana on Wednesday in response to severe weather, WBRZ reported. The testing facilities, located in Baton Rouge, are in the area directly hit by this week's storms and are less than 50 miles away from Hammond, where a tornado was reported yesterday. The sites are expected to reopen later this week as warmer and drier weather returns to region.
April 29, 1:06 p.m.
Gas costing over $2 per gallon is becoming a rarity in the U.S. A recent analysis by the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows that only 12 states currently carry an average price of $2 per gallon or more. The cheapest prices across the country can be found across the Great Lakes and Central states. The organization forecasts that the national average will continue to plummet as Americans remain off the roads amid the COVID-19 pandemic, although there could be "minimal fluctuation" in some states that begin to reopen in the coming weeks. “AAA forecasts that the national average will continue to decrease into next month, possibly dropping as low as $1.65,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “We haven’t seen gas prices that cheap since January 2009.”
April 29, 12:11 p.m.
The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds from the U.S. Air Force paid tribute to health care workers battling the pandemic on Tuesday by making flyovers of New York City and Philadelphia. The weather was perfect for the flight and the iconic fighter jets brought out big crowds of people, who blew off social distancing measures to catch a glimpse of the spectacle in the skies. The videos of the flyover taken from the ground were dramatic. Even more breathtaking -- what it looked like from the cockpit of one of the Blue Angel jets. Check out the video below.
April 29, 11:47 a.m.
Spain's government has unveiled plans for how the country will begin to end its lockdown, the BBC reported. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country will institute a four-phase plan, with each phase expected to last two weeks. Small businesses and hotels are expected to reopen starting May 11. The government said restaurants can open in mid-May but can't be more than 30% full.
The country, which has the world's third-highest death toll and trails only the U.S. in total number of confirmed cases, had already begun easing some restrictions when it allowed construction work to resume earlier this month. "By the end of June, we as a country will have entered into the new normality if the epidemic remains under control," Sanchez said.
April 29, 11:22 a.m.
A pair of universities are set to return to in-person instruction this fall. The University of Georgia and University of Missouri both announced in the past week that students, faculty and staff can expect classes to resume in person within a 'new normal,' as Missouri interim Chancellor Mun Choi wrote in an email to students. Earlier this week, Harvard University announced that the fall semester was set to resume, but university provost Alan Garber said the school is preparing "for a scenario in which much or all learning will be conducted remotely."
April 29, 10:56 a.m.
With household pets now testing positive for COVID-19, the CDC said social distancing should apply to pets as well as humans. In a statement, CDC officials said, "Public health officials are still learning about SARS-CoV-2, but there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus" in the U.S., and added more studies are pending. In the meantime, the CDC recommends the following to prevent pets from catching COVID-19.
- Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household
- Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people
- Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals
- Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.
- If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would around other people
- When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick
- Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding
- If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them
April 29, 10:20 a.m.
The United States' gross domestic product dropped by 4.8% during the first quarter of 2020, according to data provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The numbers provide new insight into the financial wreckage caused to the country's economy by the coronavirus pandemic. "The decline in first quarter GDP was, in part, due to the response to the spread of COVID-19, as governments issued "stay-at-home" orders in March," the BEA said. "This led to rapid changes in demand, as businesses and schools switched to remote work or canceled operations, and consumers canceled, restricted, or redirected their spending." CNBC reports that this is the first negative GDP reading since the first quarter of 2014 and the lowest level since a drop of 8.4% in the fourth quarter of 2008, when the financial crisis was occurring.
(Image/Bureau of Economic Analysis)
A sign is posted on a closed store, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in North Miami, Fla.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
April 29, 9:53 a.m.
More coronavirus cases in Wisconsin are being tied to the state's decision to go forward with in-person voting for its primary on April 7. The Associated Press reports that over 50 people who voted in person or worked at polling stations have now tested positive for COVID-19. The majority of the cases were reported in Milwaukee County. The Wisconsin primary is the only one to have taken place with in-person voting in the U.S. during the time period when widespread stay-at-home orders were mandated. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the state has one of the fewest case totals in the country with nearly 6,300. Earlier this week, New York became the first state to cancel its primary after it had already been rescheduled for June 23.
April 29, 9:19 a.m.
Although the four major sports leagues in the U.S. continue to develop contingency plans for an eventual return to action, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House coronavirus task force, told The New York Times that widespread testing with quick results would be needed for leagues to resume play. “Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Fauci told the Times. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then unfortunately you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season." Fauci said earlier this month in an interview with Snapchat that he thought the baseball season could resume if games were played without fans and players were able to be kept isolated.
April 29, 8:02 a.m.
NASCAR may return to action before Memorial Day. On Tuesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that NASCAR has the green light to run the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 as planned, but with no fans in attendance, The Associated Press reported. This is the longest race of the entire season and is traditionally held over the extended Memorial Day weekend. However, there is the chance that drivers may start their engines before the Coca-Cola 600. On Monday, NASCAR gave teams a revised schedule that lists a race on May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. NASCAR has yet to release an official statement about when the next race will be held, but the organization is planning to run all 36 races on this year’s schedule.
April 29, 6:43 a.m.
Here are the latest coronavirus totals from around the world, compiled by researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
- Total confirmed cases: 3,127,519
- Total deaths: 217,569
- Total recoveries: 935,646
April 28, 9:45 p.m.
In northern Italy, one of the areas that the novel coronavirus hit the hardest, doctors have reported a large number of children under the age of 9 who have contracted what seems to be Kawasaki disease, which is more common in parts of Asia, Reuters reported. Similar outbreaks have been noted in Britain, worrying health officials. The American Academy of Pediatrics has not yet seen something similar in the U.S. Kawasaki disease is associated with fever, skin rashes, the swelling of glands and, in the more severe cases, inflammation of arteries of the heart. The cause of the disease is unknown, and it often afflicts children under the age of 5. The disease was anecdotally linked to another coronavirus 16 years ago, though no proof had surfaced. Another strain of coronavirus, NL63, was found in a baby showing symptoms of the Kawasaki disease in 2004. Professor of virology at the University of Reading Ian Jones told Reuters that the NL63 virus uses the same receptor as the new coronavirus to infect humans, but it was too early to draw conclusions.
April 28, 8:28 p.m.
The Hubei province health commission announced there were no more hospitalized patients after the last 12 had been discharged, The Associated Press reported. Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province, had been the first epicenter of the novel coronavirus. The province had seen 4,512 confirmed deaths to the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. “It is a historic day,” the AP reported a newspaper owned by the Wuhan government said. Although there are no longer any suspected cases in the city’s hospitals, over 1,000 people still remain under medical observation after having close contact with infected people, according to the provincial health commission.
April 28, 7:07 p.m.
Few areas of life have seen more disruption over the past month than dairy farmers. While production from all businesses and factories has hiccuped across the world in the face of coronavirus, the waste of quality milk has threatened to cripple many dairy farms. As the production rate of a dairy cow can’t be healthily cut off or slowed down, farmers have been forced to dump more milk than in any other year, AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell reported.
In any other year, the mild weather and green grass of recent weeks would have made for a great dairy season in areas like Waco, Texas. Instead, those friendly conditions feel extra cruel this year. “Our average price will be down this year somewhere around 40 percent,” one farmer told Wadell.
April 28, 6:15 p.m.
Ice jam sends floodwaters into homes in Canadian town, forcing thousands out of quarantine. Approximately 15,000 residents have been quarantined in their homes due to COVID-19 are now being told to leave after an ice jam caused rivers to burst their banks, sending floodwaters into Fort McMurray, Alberta. Officials warned of the possibility of flooding during the spring melt for weeks, reported the Calgary Sun. The evacuation order advised residents to check in at the evacuee registration centre and “continue practicing physical distancing while evacuating.”
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Councillor Keith McGrath said the ice jam has caused the Athabasca River to flood past levels last seen in the 1970s, which is damaging homes and businesses that were rebuilt after a horrific wildfire in 2016. “That odd feeling I felt four years ago when we had to evacuate because of the wildfire is that same old feeling again,” Rodi Sartagoda, who was leaving her home with her husband and son, told the Calgary Sun. “This time, there’s that extra worry because we have the pandemic and now we have to go out from our homes.”
April 28, 5:20 p.m.
The USNS Comfort hospital ship is set to depart from New York City on Thursday after arriving a month prior on March 30, according to a press release form the U.S. Military. The ship will return to Virginia, until it is assigned "future tasking for Covid-19 operations in support of FEMA," the release said. ''The President sent up a Navy ship the 'Comfort' which was a hospital ship. Which by the way was very good to have in case we had overflow. But I said we don’t really need the Comfort anymore. It did give us comfort, but we don't need it anymore. So if they need to deploy that somewhere else they should take it," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a coronavirus press briefing, according to ABC News.
April 28, 4:35 p.m.
Kim Jong Un isn't dead, he's just hiding from the coronavirus, according to a government official in South Korea. The reclusive North Korean leader's health and whereabouts have been a matter of intense scrutiny over the last two weeks, after he conspicuously skipped a public celebration of his late grandfather's birthday. Some sources reported Kim was on his death bed following an operation after satellite images showed his personal train had stopped in Wonsam, a resort town where he owns a compound. South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who deals directly with North Korea, suggested Kim is alive and well and likely skipped the birthday celebration to avoid catching the coronavirus, Reuters reported. A source connected to the U.S. intelligence apparatus also told Reuters intel officials believe Kim is hiding out to avoid contracting COVID-19.
April 28, 3:40 p.m.
Hundreds of New Yorkers blew off social-distancing guidelines on Tuesday, as they gathered in waterfront parks to watch the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds that soared over New York City. The act was a tribute to the frontline medical workers who have worked hard to help control the spread of COVID-19 in the country. However, people didn’t seem concerned about the severity of the pandemic as they gathered in large crowds without taking the necessary safety precautions mandated by Gov. Cuomo, which include wearing a face mask when outside. “I’m not worried about it,” said Arthur Moss, 41, who watched the show at Gantry Plaza Park in Long Island City. “If you’re outside you don’t need to wear a mask.”
People watch as a formation of the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flight teams pass in front of the New York City skyline as seen from in Weehawken, N.J., Tuesday, April 28, 2020. The flyover was in salute to first responders in the fight against the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
April 28, 2:50 p.m.
50 million Americans are at risk from severe thunderstorms, which are anticipated in the southern and central parts of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. "One area to watch for tornadoes into Tuesday evening will stretch from eastern Iowa and northeastern Missouri to northern and central Illinois," AccuWeather Reporter Blake Naftel said. Outdoor COVID-19 testing sites might be forced to close due to the risk of the volatile weather.
April 28, 2:15 p.m.
🚨The United States has moved past the 1 million confirmed cases mark, less than three months after the coronavirus first reached the country. The threshold was reached one day after the world eclipsed the 3 million case mark and a day after the U.S. recorded its fewest new cases in nearly a month.
The U.S. reached the seven digit mark before any other country reached 250,000. More cases have been confirmed in America than the next five most-devastated countries combined, all of which are located in Europe.
April 28, 2 p.m.
Protestors hit the streets of Raleigh, North Carolina, calling on the state's government to loosen restrictions on businesses, according to ABC11. As the protestors gathered outside the state's General Assembly, a counter-protest by healthcare workers was underway across the street, similar to what unfolded in Denver over a week ago. ABC11 reporter Gloria Rodriguez said the medical workers were standing socially distanced, wearing masks and not responding to hecklers. The weather in Raleigh on Tuesday is pleasant with temperatures in the mid-70s and plenty of sunshine.
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April 28, 12:56 p.m.
Chinese scientists say the novel coronavirus won’t be eradicated and will likely return seasonally like the flu.“This is very likely to be an epidemic that co-exists with humans for a long time, becomes seasonal and is sustained within human bodies,” Director of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Jin Qi told Bloomberg. The head of the infectious diseases department of Peking University First Hospital Wang Guiqiang told the news outlet that while the virus is heat sensitive, that’s when it’s exposed to 56 degrees Celsius, or about 156 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, “and the weather is never going to get that hot.” He added that, “globally, even during the summer, the chance of cases going down significantly is small.”
April 28, 11:57 a.m.
France has been under a nationwide lockdown since the middle of March, but on Tuesday, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe revealed the country's plan for lifting the lockdown starting May 11. However, it comes with a significant caveat. According to France 24, the prime minister said the lockdown will not be lifted "if the number of new cases is higher than 3,000 per day." Beginning May 11, the French government is looking to test 700,000 people per week.
The prime minister also said that all shops except bars, cafes, and restaurants will be able to open starting May 11, provided they comply with strict specifications. A decision will be made in late May if dining venues can open after June 2. Additionally, major sporting and cultural events, such as festivals, cannot take place until September at the earliest. France has over 23,000 deaths related to COVID-19 and over 166,000 total cases.
April 28, 11:32 a.m.
A dog in North Carolina is believed to be first known case of a canine contracting COVID-19. Three human members of family in Chapel Hill have tested positive for COVID-19, and so has the family's pug, Winston, who had been exhibiting mild symptoms, WRAL reported. Heather McLean, a pediatrician at Duke University where the test of Winston was conducted, said a change in Winston's behavior provided a clue that he might be suffering from the illness. "There was one day when he didn’t want to eat his breakfast, and if you know pugs you know they love to eat, so that seemed very unusual," she told WRAL. McLean said the family has three other pets, but only Winston tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, two household cats tested positive for COVID-19, becoming what health officials believe to be the first case of domesticated pets coming down with the illness.
April 28, 10:38 a.m.
A town in Connecticut decided against flying a pandemic drone after residents and the state ACLU raised privacy concerns, WVIT reported. According to Westport officials, the drone has the ability to detect a fever or cough from 190 feet away. Local police maintained the drone would have provided better health monitoring support and would not use facial-recognition technology or be able to take action if a person is found to have symptoms.
In a statement, the ACLU warned that towns should be wary of privacy-invading companies and such technologies, arguing that "remote fever detection via drone may or may not be accurate when reading a person's temperature." Draganfly, the company producing the device, shared a video last week touting the drone’s detection abilities.
A screenshot from Draganfly's promotional video of its pandemic drone's detection abilities. (Twitter/@DraganflyInc)
April 28, 9:55 a.m.
Could a widely-used over-the-counter drug be an effective treatment for COVID-19? Scientists in New York have been secretly conducting a clinical trial of famotidine, the active ingredient in the heartburn drug Pepcid, to test its efficacy as a treatment. Researchers have kept the trial under wraps out of fear that there would be a run on Pepcid if word got out that it might knock out COVID-19. The dosages being tested are way higher than what is taken to treat heartburn and is being administered through an IV. The theory from doctors thus far is that famotidine blocks the virus from spreading throughout the body.
According to Science Magazine, Michael Callahan, an infectious disease doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital, who had been working in Wuhan in January as the outbreak escalated, spearheaded the idea to look at famotidine. Doctors in Wuhan had noticed older people who were taking Pepcid, a cheaper alternative to the heartburn drug Prilosec, and who came down with COVID-19 weren't dying. He brought the learnings back to the U.S., and the study kicked off. One patient, identified only as Christine from New York, spoke to Good Morning America about being treated with famotidine. She said she experienced immediate improvement after being given a dosage. "My breathing -- the shortness of breath -- and the fever had gone away," she said.
April 28, 9:38 a.m.
Conspiracy theories about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continue to run rampant. One of the most prominent is that the virus was created in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, the original epicenter of the pandemic. But the head of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) recently told Reuters that such claims have no basis in fact. Yuan Zhiming, a professor at WIV and director of its National Biosafety Laboratory said claims about the lab have been "pulled out of thin air." “The WIV does not have the intention and the ability to design and construct a new coronavirus,” he told Reuters. “Moreover, there is no information within the SARS-CoV-2 genome indicating it was manmade.”
April 28, 8:53 a.m.
Harvard University announced the school will be open for the fall 2020 semester, but whether classes will be held on campus or virtually is still up in the air. “We cannot be certain that it will be safe to resume all usual activities” by autumn, university provost Alan Garber wrote in a note to the school Monday. “Consequently, we will need to prepare for a scenario in which much or all learning will be conducted remotely."
April 28, 7:54 a.m.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned residents that their behavior could extend the stay-at-home orders. Newsom said that while the state is weeks away from starting to gradually lift stay-at-home orders, crowded beaches could push back that goal, according to AFP. “We can't see images like we saw, particularly on Saturday, in Newport Beach and elsewhere," Newsom told reporters, referring to photos of people lining beaches in Southern California as the weather warmed up.
April 28, 6:43 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from researchers at Johns Hopkins University:
- Total confirmed cases: 3,052,245
- Total deaths: 211,350
- Total recovered: 896,669
With 988,469 confirmed cases, the United States is likely to surpass the 1 million case threshold sometime today, one day after the world surpassed the 3 million case mark.
Larry Love, right, the manager at Hair Doctors in Anchorage, Alaska, gives an airman a haircut on Monday, April 27, 2020. The first signs of activity returned to Alaska's largest city Monday as businesses like hair salons and restaurants slowly began reopening following closures because of the coronavirus. (AP PhotoMark Thiessen)
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Reporting by Lauren Fox, John Murphy, Brian Lada, Mark Puleo, Maria Antonieta Valery Gil, Kevin Byrne, Chaffin Mitchell, Adriana Navarro, John Roach, Dexter Henry, Bill Wadell, Jonathan Petramala, and Monica Danielle
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