Coronavirus pandemic in the US

By Meg Wagner, Elise Hammond and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 8:35 p.m. ET, April 23, 2020

22 Posts

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11:44 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

NYC will throw a ticker tape parade for health care workers

From CNN's Elizabeth Joseph

Healthcare workers react to people applauding in front of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens to show gratitude to medical staff and essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, on Wednesday, April 15. Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

New York City will throw a ticker tape parade to honor health care workers and first responders once the city reopens, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

"When the day comes that we can restart the vibrant beautiful life of this city again, the first thing we will do is we will have a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes for our health care workers and our first responders. We will honor those who saved us."

The Canyon of Heroes is the name given to the parade route that follows Broadway between the Battery and City Hall in New York City.

"The first thing we will, before we think about anything else, is we will take the time only as New York City can do to throw the biggest, best parade to honor these heroes. Many, many great heroes have gone down that canyon to be appreciated and loved by millions of New Yorkers, but I think this will be the greatest of all the parades because this one will speak to the rebirth of New York City," de Blasio said.

11:12 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

Elective medical treatments can resume in some parts of New York, governor says

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said some elective medical treatments will be allowed to resume in some parts of the state.

"We're going to allow elective outpatient treatment, which means the number of beds will remain available," Cuomo said at a news briefing.

These procedures will only be allowed to resume in areas "without a Covid issue," Cuomo said, adding that New York City, Westchester County and other hard-hit areas will continue to cancel elective procedures.

Last month, Cuomo said canceling all non-elective surgeries across the state would free up 25-35% of hospital beds.

11:10 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

481 died from coronavirus in New York on Monday, Gov. Cuomo says

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said 481 people died from coronavirus on Monday in the state.

The number of deaths in hospitals was 452, while 29 passed away in nursing rooms.

The number remained flat from Sunday, which saw 478 deaths.

11:07 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

New York governor: The definition of "good" is now "not terrible"

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said total hospitalizations of coronavirus patients in the state are "basically flat."

However, about 1,300 new people were hospitalized yesterday, Cuomo said.

"Our definition of 'good' has changed here. 'Good' is now 'not terrible,'" he said.

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10:52 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

Florida governor asks reopening task force to focus on minimizing risk

From CNN's Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives updates about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a press conference on Friday, April 17, in Fort Lauderdale. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Florida governor’s task force team focused on reopening the state is discussing how to reopen the tourism industry this morning. Gov. Ron DeSantis called into the conference call to tell task force members to focus on minimizing risk.

“Think in practical terms,” DeSantis said. He asked them to think of ways to minimize the risk of virus transmission.

It’s less about what businesses are essential or non-essential, DeSantis said, it’s about how businesses can operate safely.

DeSantis claimed the state has flattened the curve of cases and last night only 713 people were in ICU.

10:42 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

NYC is creating its own reserve of equipment and supplies, mayor says

New York City is creating a strategic reserve of vital medical equipment and supplies, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning.

De Blasio said the creation of the reserve came after the federal government couldn't provide enough supplies.

“We have learned the hard way that we cannot depend on the federal government in the future. I hate saying that, but I think it’s quite evident. We certainly can’t depend on the global market. We can’t depend on our nation to produce products that’s tragically not being produced enough in this nation, as we’ve seen in our hour of need,” he said.

The mayor says he hopes that will change, “but until that day comes, NYC, we will protect ourselves.”

The New York City reserve will include face shields, surgical gowns, test kits and bridge ventilators, de Blasio said.

10:01 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

At least 31 NYPD members have died from coronavirus

From CNN's Elizabeth Joseph

A New York Police Department employee died from coronavirus complications overnight, Commissioner Dermot Shea told CNN’s Jim Sciutto this morning, marking the 31st reported coronavirus-related death within the NYPD.

Shea didn’t name or provide additional details about the employee.

About 13% of uniformed officers are out sick, which is “well over” regular sick out levels, Shea said, but noted today marks the 12th straight day of decreasing sick-out levels.

"We are still very, very concerned about our members that are in the hospital ... our thoughts and prayers are going out to them and to their families and really to the extended NYPD family as well," he said.

9:43 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

Atlanta mayor: "We are not out of the woods yet"

From CNN's Tina Burnside

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Andrew Harnik/AP

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN that she is exploring legal options for the city after Gov. Brian Kemp authorized the reopening of business across the state.

"I've searched my head and my heart on this, and I really am at a loss as to what the governor is basing this decision on, other than getting people back to work" Bottoms said.

Bottoms added that getting Americans back to work is "extremely important" but added there needs to be "strong and health communities" in order to have a strong economy.

She called Kemp's move "perplexing" and said she is urging "people to exercise common sense, listen to the science, and stay home."

Some background: Kemp announced yesterday that certain businesses can reopen this week in a move that breaks from the majority of state leaders and defies the warnings of many public health officials.

Kemp said specifically that fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, hair and nail salons, and massage therapy businesses can reopen as early Friday. Theaters and restaurants will be allowed to open on Monday, while bars and night clubs will remain closed for now.

Bottoms today also stated that the city is "not out of the woods yet" as numbers as of Monday evening show the death rate across the state up by 14%.

9:23 a.m. ET, April 21, 2020

Will students see any of the stimulus dollars going to colleges?

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Jean Chatsky, a finance journalist and CEO of HerMoney.com, is answering some of your most pressing questions about the coronavirus and their money.

One college student asked: "I've heard billions of dollars from the stimulus are going to colleges and universities. As a college student, will I see any of that money directly?"

Here's what she said:

“There was $12.5 billion in the CARES Act to go to 5,000 colleges and universities. And the universities have to disperse half of the money they received directly to the students in the form of emergency financial aid grants. Go to your college and university's website, see what they put up. Some of them are allowing students to apply for these grants, some are dispersing funds to students who receive Pell grants.”

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