Coronavirus live updates: Texas hospitalizations jump; NYC offices eye high-tech safety measures

FAN Editor

Hundreds of thousands of employees are expected to return to work in New York City on Monday as the city moves into its first phase of reopening after nearly three months of restrictions and closures. Shops can partially reopen for curbside pickup, though most of the resumed economic activity will be in construction and manufacturing. New York City was at one point the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. 

The U.S. continues to struggle to bring down the national rate of infection. The virus continues to infect about 20,000 new people in the U.S. every day and the epidemic is expanding in more than a dozen states, according to former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. 

This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks. 

  • Global cases: More than 7 million
  • Global deaths: At least 404,021
  • U.S. cases: More than 1.95 million
  • U.S. deaths: At least 110,734

The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Texas reports a record number of hospitalized patients after state reopened early

Anita Pedy (right), chief nursing officer for the COVID unit at Houston’s United Memorial Medical Center, wheels newly arrived COVID patient Angel Rodriguez, 40, from the emergency room to the COVID unit with Alan Araiza (left) the medical student volunteer running the unit.

Carolyn Cole | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

3:52 p.m. ET — There are currently 1,935 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across Texas, topping the previous hospitalization record of 1,888 patients on May 5, according to new data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The state was among the first to relax its statewide stay-at-home order, allowing it to expire April 30 and some businesses to resume operations May 1. 

Although hospitalizations are increasing, there are more than 1,600 open intensive-care beds and more than 5,800 ventilators available for critically ill patients, according to the state’s health department.

Some infectious disease experts say hospitalization numbers could be a better way to track a state’s reopening performance since it’s more difficult to skew than total confirmed cases, which fluctuates depending on how many tests are being run. The positivity rate for Covid-19 tests in Texas reached reached a low of 4.27% toward the end of May but has since jumped to 7.55%, according to state health officials. —Noah Higgins-Dunn

California releases guidance regarding reopening schools

3:36 p.m. ET — California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond released new guidance regarding schools reopening in the state.

Thurmond said education will be delivered in a “hybrid model” that will include both in-person and distance learning, and that discussions are beginning Monday with county education leaders on the ratio of expected in-class instruction to distance learning.

“What we expect from this point forward is an ongoing conversation with educational leaders, superintendents and teachers and principals and classified staff about how the guidance gets implemented,” Thurmond said at a press briefing. “We expect the guidance to be adjusted as we go.”

For in-person instruction, education officials expect schools to require masks and social distancing. Thurmond said the Department of Education hasn’t heard from any school claiming it can’t open in accordance with social distancing requirements. He also called for federal support in helping schools handle budget cuts and provide meals for students. —Hannah Miller

Serology tests reveal 60% of U.S. Navy carrier crew have coronavirus antibodies

U.S. Navy sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt prepare to board the ship as part of a crew swap of cleaning and watch standing teams at Naval Base Guam April 29, 2020.

US MARINES | via REUTERS

3:18 p.m. ET — Sixty percent of sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, a U.S. Navy investigation shows, according to Reuters. About 400 volunteers participated in the serology tests, which the officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, said was enough to provide statistically relevant data.

These results suggest a far higher infection rate than previously known but match earlier data showing that most sailors testing positive for the virus itself were asymptomatic. —Michelle Gao

U.S. economy officially hit recession levels in February

2:59 p.m. ET — The United States’ sharp economic downturn amid the coronavirus pandemic has officially been declared a recession by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The NBER, which is the official arbiter of recessions, determined that the U.S. entered a recession in February after seeing a peak in monthly economic activity, CNBC’s Jeff Cox reports. The recession ends the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, which the NBER said lasted 128 months, or almost 11 years. —Hannah Miller

Offices in NYC’s Hudson Yards to reopen with extensive health measures

2:55 p.m. ET — Offices in Hudson Yards, New York City’s largest new real estate development, are implementing extensive health precautions for returning workers. At 30 Hudson Yards, workers will be required to undergo temperature screenings, wear masks, stay at least three stair steps apart on escalators and limit the number of people in elevators, CNBC’s Diana Olick reports. Related, the building’s developer, is even asking tenants to stagger in-times for employees. —Hannah Miller

European nations see some relief 

A woman in a protective face mask walks through Brixton Market in South London, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Victoria Jones | PA Images via Getty Images

2:46 p.m. ET — European nations once among the hardest hit by the coronavirus are seeing some relief from the pandemic. 

The U.K. had its lowest daily rise in deaths since March, Reuters reported, citing numbers from Sunday afternoon. The number of deaths rose by 55 to 40,597, making it the second hardest hit country behind the U.S. in terms of death toll. 

France’s death toll rose by 54 to 29,209 on Monday, making it the fifth highest in the world, according to Reuters. Italy reported 65 deaths on Monday, 12 more than the day before, bringing the total to 33,964.

Scotland and Ireland both reported no new coronavirus deaths for the second day in a row. —Alex Harring

NFL outlines plan for reopening facilities

2:41 p.m. ET — The NFL sent a planning document to its 32 teams, providing procedures to fully reopen practice facilities, which have been closed since March because of Covid-19, the Associated Press reports.

The document laid out how to handle screening, testing, infection prevention and treatment for Covid-19 and included standards for proper facility access, cleaning, physical distancing, medical services, food preparation and team travel, according to the AP.

The plan was written by Commissioner Roger Goodell and approved by the NFL Player’s Association.

There is still no date for when most players will be able to return to team complexes, the AP reports. So far only players rehabilitating injuries have been allowed to enter the buildings and last week coaching staff could return depending on local reopening guidelines, according to the AP.

Training camps are scheduled to begin in late July with the first preseason game on Aug. 6, the news service reports. The regular NFL season is slated to begin Sept. 10. —Suzanne Blake

Asymptomatic patients not a driver of spread, WHO says

Visitors to Park Avenue in Winter Park, Fla., dine al fresco on the street as restaurants and shops opened in the popular dining district, with Phase One restrictions in place in response to the coronavirus crisis on Saturday, May 9, 2020.

Joe Burbank | Orlando Sentinel | Getty Images

2:20 p.m. ET — Coronavirus patients without symptoms are not driving the spread of the virus, World Health Organization officials said.

The finding could have key implications for the public policy response to the pandemic. Many so-called shutdown policies, such as business closures, school closures and stay-at-home orders, were informed by early evidence that the virus could spread before people develop symptoms.

While asymptomatic spread can occur, it is not the main way the virus is being transmitted, WHO officials say.

“From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual,” Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said at a news briefing from the United Nations agency’s Geneva headquarters. “It’s very rare.” —Will Feuer

New York’s ‘mojo’s back’ as coronavirus cases fall, but Cuomo urges people to remain vigilant

1:55 p.m. ET — Gov. Andrew Cuomo congratulated New York residents for overcoming the height of the coronavirus epidemic but urged people excited about the reopening of New York City to remain smart and vigilant.

“New Yorkers bent the curve by being smart. We’re celebrating. We’re back. We’re reopening. We’re excited. Our mojo’s back. Our energy’s back. Great. Stay smart,” Cuomo said during his daily news briefing.

The state plans to closely monitor New York City’s reopening by administering 35,000 tests per day, according to the governor.

He added that while New York is continuing its decline, other states that reopened earlier are beginning to see spikes in the number of positive cases.

“Look at facts around us, other states the spike is going up,” Cuomo said pointing to a graph of new reported cases in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona. —Jasmine Kim

World Health Organization warns most people still at risk of infection as mass gatherings resume worldwide

1:30 p.m. ET — WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference that the coronavirus pandemic is worsening across the globe as the number of new Covid-19 cases on Sunday reached an all-time high.

While some countries have reported signs of improvement, research shows that most people are still susceptible to contracting Covid-19, he said.

“In these countries, the biggest threat now is complacency,” Tedros said. “We continue to urge active surveillance to ensure the virus does not rebound, especially as mass gatherings of all kinds are starting to resume in some countries.”

Tedros said that almost 75% of the cases reported Sunday came from 10 countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia. —Noah Higgins-Dunn

Google Maps rolls out new coronavirus alerts for testing centers, border restrictions

12:05 p.m. ET — Google announced that Google Maps will soon provide Covid-19 alerts that you might need to know about when driving somewhere or riding on public transit. The new features are rolling out to Google Maps on iPhone and Android in the coming weeks.

If you’re planning to drive to a testing center, whether it’s a medical facility or a local retail partner offering tests, Google will remind you to “verify eligibility and facility guidelines to avoid being turned away or causing additional strain on the local healthcare system,” the company said.

Google Maps will also alert you if you’re crossing a border with restrictions, starting first with Canada and Mexico in the U.S. —Todd Haselton

Hot spots continue to grow across the nation

Shutdowns prevented nearly 5 million confirmed cases in the U.S., study shows

10:16 a.m. ET — Population-based interventions like stay-at-home orders and business closures prevented 4.8 million confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a new study. The study looked at more than 1,700 policy interventions rolled out in six countries that were among the first hit by Covid-19: the U.S., China, South Korea, Italy, France and Iran.

The researchers found that so-called lockdowns helped those countries avoid 62 million confirmed cases. “Our results suggest that ongoing anti-contagion policies have already substantially reduced the number of Covid-19 infections observed in the world today,” the researchers wrote.

There is still no drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Covid-19 or prevent infection of the coronavirus. In lieu of pharmaceutical preventatives or treatments, population-based, non-medical alternatives like stay-at-home orders have been key to the U.S. and global responses to the pandemic. —Will Feuer

Strong June jobs report would ‘absolutely affect’ a phase 4 coronavirus deal, Trump aide says

White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett. 

Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

10:03 a.m. ET — President Donald Trump’s senior advisor Kevin Hassett told CNBC the contents of another coronavirus relief bill depend on whether the U.S. economy sees another blowout jobs report next month.

Hassett, the former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that “the odds of there being a phase four deal are really close to 100%,” even after the jobs data far exceeded expectations last month.

A repeat performance in June would “absolutely affect the things that we pursue” in additional legislation, he said.

“One of the things that we’ve been saying and that the president’s insisted on is that we watch the economy recover, we see if it surprises us on the upside and if the programs that we have out there work or need to be fixed,” Hassett told CNBC.

Hassett told CNBC. Hassett said the White House is making plans for whether the economy outperforms or underwhelms in June. —Kevin Breuninger

Dow jumps more than 200 points as reopening optimism continues to boost stocks

9:40 a.m. ET — Stocks opened higher, thanks in part to optimism over the economy reopening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 222 points higher, or 0.8%. The S&P 500 climbed 0.4% while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.1%. Read stock market activity updates from CNBC’s Fred Imbert. —Melodie Warner 

Dunkin’ to hire 25,000 as restaurant industry begins recovery

A Dunkin’ worker hands a coffee out of a drive-thru window wearing gloves and a mask as the Coronavirus continues to spread on March 17, 2020 in Norwell, Massachusetts.

MediaNews Group | Boston Herald | Getty Images

9:24 a.m. ET — As millions of restaurant workers remain unemployed, Dunkin’ is planning to hire 25,000 workers this summer.

And it’s not the only fast-food chain looking for workers as temperatures heat up and the U.S. economy looks to recover from the pandemic. Yum Brands‘ Taco Bell is looking to hire 30,000 workers.

Dunkin’s hiring announcement comes as the U.S. unemployment rate hit 13.3% in May. —Amelia Lucas

Britain gave Palantir access to sensitive medical records of Covid-19 patients

Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal Inc.

VCG | Getty Images

9:06 a.m. ET — Peter Thiel’s Palantir Technologies was given access to millions of British citizens’ patient records as part of a new Covid-19 project.

The records include personal contact details, gender, race, occupation, physical and mental health conditions, past criminal offenses, as well as religious and political affiliation.

The government asked the firm to help build a data platform that shows the spread of the coronavirus across the U.K. Alphabet‘s Google, Microsoft, and Amazon were also involved in the project. —Sam Shead 

Daily report of new cases by region

New York City eases restrictions 100 days after its first case

People wearing masks walk past an recently reopened bar in the East Village amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 14, 2020 in New York City.

Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty Images

7:42 a.m. ET — New York City will move into phase one of the state’s reopening plan, allowing nonessential retailers to partially reopen and much of the construction and manufacturing industries to resume.

Up to 400,000 New Yorkers are expected to return to work, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said.

The city’s steps toward reopening mark a turning point in the country’s fight against the coronavirus, which ravaged New York City and the surrounding region but has since spread to other states across the country.

The virus has infected more than 203,819 people in New York City and killed at least 21,844 people, according to the city’s health department. That means the city accounts for about 20% of all Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. —Will Feuer

Moscow reportedly set to lift some restrictions

A man with an umbrella in Red Square against the background of St Basil’s Cathedral. From June 1 through 14, Moscow citizens are allowed to take walks and practise sports outside, including those older than 65 and suffering from chronic illnesses, according to schedules varying from house to house.

Sergei Savostyanov | TASS | Getty Images

7:19 a.m. ET — The Russian capital Moscow is ready to start lifting some lockdown measures on Tuesday, according to news agency Tass. 

The measures, including a self-isolation regime, scheduled walking times and a digital pass system, are among the restrictions being lifted, the news agency said, quoting city official Konstantin Remchukov.

Cafes with outdoor seating areas are set to reopen on June 16, the official said. Moscow has been the city hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak in Russia, where there are over 476,000 confirmed cases of the virus, and just under 6,000 reported deaths.

Russia’s coronavirus crisis center reported on Monday that 51 more people died in the capital, taking the city’s coronavirus death toll to 2,970. —Holly Ellyatt

Virus ‘eliminated’ in New Zealand

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern holds up informationon COVID-19 alert levels during a press conference at Parliament on March 21, 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Hagen Hopkins | Getty Images

7:07 a.m. ET — New Zealand has “eliminated” the coronavirus domestically and will lift nearly all restrictions except for border controls, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced.

The country of about 5 million wrestled the virus under control in roughly 75 days with strict lockdown measures that shuttered most businesses around the country and kept everyone but essential personnel largely at home.

The virus infected 1,504 people in New Zealand and killed at least 22, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 

“We are confident we have eliminated transmission of the virus in New Zealand for now, but elimination is not a point in time, it is a sustained effort,” Ardern said, according to Reuters. “Not only have we protected New Zealanders’ health, we now have a head start on our economic recovery.” —Will Feuer

Read CNBC’s previous coronavirus live coverage here: Global cases top 7 million; Italy sees economy contracting 8.3% in 2020

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

House Democrats unveil police reform bill

House Democrats unveiled legislation Monday morning to offer a blueprint for reforming policing policies in what is expected to be a massive bill focusing on holding law enforcement officers accountable for any misconduct and increasing transparency. The bill comes amid nationwide protests in response to the death of George Floyd.  […]