By Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Rob Picheta and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN
From CNN's Sarah Moon
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN's Wolf Blitzer concerts and sporting events will not be allowed in the city until 2021.
“It wasn’t a secret plan that got leaked,” Garcetti said on "The Situation Room," referring to an internal letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Garcetti said unless there is a vaccine or a pharmaceutical intervention, there won't be mass gatherings like concerts and sporting events in Los Angeles until next year.
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From CNN's Chris Boyette
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called on Washington to pass a second relief package, specifically to help state government revenue shortfalls.
“This is a public health crisis, but it is accompanied by massive economic disruption that's unprecedented in modern history,” Pritzker said at a briefing on Wednesday
He said state budget experts estimate that there will be a $2.7. billion shortfall of revenues for this fiscal year, and a $4.6 billion shortfall for next fiscal year.
“I want to express my gratitude to our Illinois congressional delegation, our senators and congressmen of both parties for their support for the first CARES Act ... But I want to be clear, these dollars can be used to cover only new expenditures related to coronavirus," he said.
The bill provides funds to cover state government expenditures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Currently this funding cannot be used to make up for state government revenue shortfalls that have been a result of coronavirus. That leaves states to face this unprecedented financial hole on their own, if the Congress doesn't pass a ‘CARES Act 2,’ to support state governments," Pritzker said.
“The federal government acted swiftly to step in and support businesses and corporations so that they can come out on the other side of this and jumpstart the economy. But the same type of action is needed in support of state governments,” the governor said.
From CNN’s Paula Newton in Ottawa
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned again Wednesday that the national lockdown would continue for weeks to come even though the country has, so far, been spared the worst of Covid-19.
"If we reopen too soon, everything we're doing now might be for nothing,” Trudeau said during his daily press conference in Ottawa.
Canada reported 28,205 cases on Wednesday and 1,008 deaths. Nearly half of those deaths were related to outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Still, per capita, Canada has had fewer cases and deaths than the United States and most European countries.
But Trudeau says that doesn’t mean the country is reopening anytime soon, and certainly not by May 1.
"It would be terrible if we were to release restrictions too early and find out we're suddenly back in another big wave of Covid-19," he said, adding that any reopening would happen in phases.
CNN is collecting your questions for former Vice President Joe Biden who will participate in Thursday's global town hall on coronavirus.
Have a question about the coronavirus pandemic for Biden? Share it below. We may ask it during the town hall.
From CNN's Julia Jones
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont will issue new guidelines for wearing masks in public spaces which will "likely be reflected in an executive order within 48 hours," he said in a news briefing in Hartford on Wednesday.
Lamont said the decision came after consulting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"It's time for us to be also really strict about the need to wear a mask, even masks you make yourself, just a bandana, a scarf, or a surgical mask," he said.
From CNN's Jamiel Lynch
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has extended the city's stay-at-home order until May 16, her office announced Wednesday.
The mayor signed the proclamation Wednesday extending the order and prohibiting gatherings.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thinks any discussions on reopening the economy must be based on health care and science.
"The numbers are staggering but each individual story is heartbreaking to hear. So as we have discussions about how we open up our economy, this or that, we understand that this is an assault on the lives and the livelihoods of the American people, and that any decision to open up would be one that should be science-based and health-care-based," she told CNN.
Pelosi went on to say that's why testing is critical. She added that more than a month later, the US still doesn't have "the appropriate, adequate testing" to identify the challenge.
"So really we have been delinquent. We have to have a change in that," she said. "It's one thing to say well, it wasn't done right. But there's no excuse for us to not do it right as we go forward. It's so obvious. Almost sinful."
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From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
For the second day in a row, Los Angeles County is reporting more coronavirus-related deaths than ever before.
Health director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday 42 people died, and another 472 coronavirus case were confirmed in the county.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Wednesday that he has recommended that schools in the state remain closed the rest of the school year.
Dr. Penny Schwinn, the states Commissioner of Education, said at a news conference that schools will be open next school year and students will be going into new grades, but right now the focus is on the health and safety of students, teachers and the community.
