Coronavirus pandemic in the US

The Colorado Department of Public Health announced Thursday it is now requiring all workers in critical businesses and critical government functions to wear "non-medical masks and gloves while at work to protect the health and welfare of the public," according to a statement Thursday. 

The order, which will remain in place until May 17, defines critical businesses as banks, child care facilities, pharmacies, and grocery stores.  

The statement also asks all Coloradans to wear a mask anytime they go outside, including their own backyards.  

The governors of Maryland and Virginia and the mayor of Washington, DC are urging President Trump to allow federal employees to continue working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser sent a letter to the Trump administration, saying more than one-fifth of the nation's federal workforce live in these areas, according to a statement from the leaders.

The letter said deciding which essential employees must still report to work in-person "is a hard balancing act between ensuring the continuation of critical government functions and ensuring the safety and well-being of employees."

The letter continued: "We encourage the Administration to help ensure the safety of the federal workforce and our residents as we work together to fight this pandemic. Failure to do so could lead to a rise in cases and delay our ability to re-open the region."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over remarks he made about providing funding to states in the coronavirus pandemic.

McConnell said in a radio interview that he'd "be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route" instead of getting federal funds.

Some background: The House of Representatives will vote today on a roughly $480 billion coronavirus relief package to deliver aid to small businesses and hospitals and expand Covid-19 testing, but it does not include funds for state and local governments.

"Not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short-sighted. ... How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis? Yes, airlines are important, yes, small business is important, so are police and fire and health care workers, who are the frontline workers," Cuomo said in his daily briefing.

Cuomo also said McConnell's rhetoric further divided the nation with his "blue-state bailout" term.

"If there's ever a time for humanity and decency, now is the time. And if there was ever a time to stop your obsessive political bias and anger, which is what it's morphed into ... now is the time. And you want to politically divide this nation now with all that's going on? How irresponsible and how reckless."

Cuomo later called McConnell a "grim reaper."

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the creation of the 'Reopen DC Advisory Group' this morning.

The group, consisting of government and community leaders, will form recommendations for reopening the District of Columbia.

It will have 12 committees focusing on different areas, and will be led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School. Recommendations from the group are expected in May.

Bowser emphasized that the advisory group will tackle what she called "longstanding...racial inequities" in the district when planning for reopening.

She said that this is a “once in a generation opportunity to reopen our city in a way that builds a more equitable DC.”

The current stay-at-home order in Washington is in place until May 15. Bowser reiterated that before phase one of the reopening can begin, a downward trend of positive coronavirus cases must occur over two weeks. 

Additionally, hospitals must have the capacity to treat everyone and there needs to be a widespread contact tracing capacity.

By the numbers: As of Thursday morning, there have been 155 new positive coronavirus cases in Washington, DC, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,361. There were 12 additional deaths, bringing the total to 139.

There are 114 new coronavirus cases linked to the JBS Beef plant in Cactus, Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said Thursday in a statement.  

DSHS said JBS Beef contacted them last week to make sure they were taking appropriate steps to keep their employees safe, the statement said.

JBS brought a photo of the plant to a meeting, which DSHS reviewed and then made recommendations. DSHS was also given a tour of the plant  "and noted that they were following all of the best practices for an essential business to remain in operation." 

DSHS is currently involved in an "epidemiological investigation" to determine who the infected employees have been in contact with.  

With the 146th Kentucky Derby now scheduled to run on Sept. 5, the home of the famed Triple Crown race will now host a virtual "Run for the Roses" on the original date of the race.

The virtual race, set for May 2, will pit all 13 of the Triple Crown winners against each other utilizing “data algorithms including historical handicapping” to determine a winner.

Organizers look to raise $2 million for coronavirus emergency relief funds.

Kevin Flanery, the President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in a statement, "For many fans around the country, the first Saturday in May has become a part of their family’s yearly traditions."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is going to do more coronavirus testing in African-American and Latino communities.

He said that while New York did not have same health disparities that other states saw, he still thinks it's important to address the issue.

Cuomo also said another reason he thinks these minorities have a higher percentage of coronavirus cases is because many of them are essential workers.

"While many other people had the opportunity to lock down at home, as terrible as that was, the essential workers have to get up every morning and go out and drive the bus and drive the train and deliver the food and do all those essential services that allowed people to stay-at-home," Cuomo said.

"Also you have more people in the New York City area. More people getting on subways, getting on buses. More people dealing with that density," he added.

Watch:

The approximate 15,500 coronavirus deaths across the state of New York is not an accurate reflection of the overall death toll, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

The state’s death toll only accounts for lives lost in hospitals and nursing homes, and doesn’t account for lives lost at home.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reiterated that nursing homes are a top priority for the state to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The state will perform an investigation into nursing homes to make sure they are following additional rules during the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

Cuomo said nursing home visitors and workers...

Cuomo said if nursing homes do not follow the rules, they will be subject to a fine or may lose their license.

Watch: