Coronavirus pandemic in the US

By Meg Wagner and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 8:33 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020
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5:11 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Virginia doesn't plan to reopen before May 8, governor says

From CNN’s Will Brown

Pool
Pool

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam does not anticipate reopening the state before May 8, he said in a news conference Friday.

Northam outlined his “Forward Virginia” plan and explained that phase one of reopening will require downward trends in new cases and hospitalizations for 14 days; increased testing and contact tracing and a sustainable supply of hospital beds and personal protective equipment.

Northam compared the recovery to the aftermath of September 11.

“Americans were fearful of getting on an airplane and flying, understandably so, and so a lot of modifications were made and in time people again became comfortable,” Northam said. “That’s what we’re doing with all of our efforts.”

Northam said Virginia’s goal is to eventually process 10,000 tests per day. The state processed 4,000 tests each of the last two days.

Northam also said that he is not considering reopening the state by region or county.

5:05 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Illinois records its highest increase in new coronavirus cases in 24 hours

From CNN's Chris Boyette 

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike Pool

Illinois has recorded 2,724 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest number of new cases in a single day, said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

This brings the total state count to 39,658 cases, Ezike said at a news conference Friday.

“Yesterday we also saw the greatest number of test results that were reported in a 24 hour period, with over 16,000 specimens. Obviously when you test more people, you are going to find more cases,” Ezike said.

There were 4,828 people hospitalized and 25% of those patients were in intensive care, according to Ezike

Ezike also announced 108 new Covid-19-related deaths, bringing the state total to 1,795.

4:58 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Grocery stores in Detroit have 2 weeks to get all employees tested for Covid-19, mayor says

From CNN’s Sharif Paget

State of Michigan
State of Michigan

 

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said on Friday he was “disturbed” to hear that grocery stores are not making a greater effort to get all employees tested for Covid-19.

Speaking at today’s news briefing, Duggan warned that he will “crackdown” on them if they fail to get all their workers tested by May 11.  

“We will take appropriate legal action to ensure that the residents of Detroit are safe,” he said, adding that two weeks is plenty of time for grocery stores to get everyone tested. 
4:54 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Missouri will begin loosening some restrictions on May 4, governor says

From CNN's Andy Rose

Missouri Governor's Office
Missouri Governor's Office

 

Missouri will begin loosening restrictions on businesses and some public gatherings beginning on May 4, Gov. Mike Parson said at a news conference Friday. 

“Since Missouri's first case nearly 50 days ago, we have accomplished a tremendous amount of work together,” the governor said.

He said the “reopening” will include restaurants, salons, gyms and houses of worship. Details outlining social distancing measures will be released next week, the governor said.

Parson said he is extending the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration through June 15.

“Extending the emergency declaration simply allows us to continue using our resources and deploying them across the state,” he said.

 

4:22 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Indiana state leaders tell residents not to ingest disinfectants

From CNN's Laura Dolan

Senator Mike Braun speaks to reporters in the Senate basement at the U.S. Capitol on January 30, in Washington, DC.
Senator Mike Braun speaks to reporters in the Senate basement at the U.S. Capitol on January 30, in Washington, DC. Zach Gibson/G

Indiana Department of Health Commissioner Kristina Box acknowledged that she has received questions about the wisdom of ingesting disinfectant and has told these people it is not something she recommends.

Sen. Mike Braun was more critical, saying, “sometimes when you’re not clear with how you say things, and especially when you’re at a high level where people watch, it’s best probably not to venture into areas that you may not know a lot about.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb followed Box, repeating the President’s explanation today that he was being sarcastic but also added the state will give sound medical counsel if anyone asks.

"Yeah and I would just add, apply those disinfectants to surfaces. They work. Not yourself," Holcomb said.

4:21 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

California unveils program to feed seniors and employ farmers and restaurant workers

From CNN's Cheri Mossburg

 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference in Rancho Cordova, CA on April 14.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference in Rancho Cordova, CA on April 14. Rich Pedroncelli/AP

California is unveiling a new program focused on caring for seniors while also getting farmers, restaurant workers and delivery people back to work. 

Touted as the first of its kind in the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the program will focus on seniors who are particularly vulnerable and dealing with isolation. 

The program will allow for restaurants to reopen in order to prepare and deliver meals to seniors.

Elderly people meeting eligibility requirements, including financial means and vulnerability to coronavirus, will receive three meals a day, seven days a week. The meals will be made with an eye on locally-produced ingredients in an effort to put farmers back to work, and will follow nutritional guidelines, the governor said.

 “It’s not just about the meals. It’s about the human connection,” Newsom said. “It’s about someone just checking in as they’re delivering those meals and making sure people are okay.”
4:22 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Boston mayor: We're not at the coronavirus peak yet

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh listens to a question at a press conference on March 13, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh listens to a question at a press conference on March 13, in Boston, Massachusetts. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

As of yesterday, Boston coronavirus cases were up by at least 398, for a total of 6,958, Mayor Marty Walsh announced.

This is the city’s largest one-day increase so far in the pandemic, he said. The city had 11 new coronavirus deaths for a total of 232.

“These are certainly big increases, and we’re approaching the peak of the coronavirus but we’re not there yet,” Walsh said. 

He added: “We do know that the measures we are taking in Boston are working. These numbers would be much higher if we had not taken very strong steps and if the folks in the communities haven’t been social distancing, physical distancing, staying at home and doing everything that they have been for the last, say, six or eight weeks here."

4:15 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Maryland is not ready to reopen yet, governor says

From CNN's Deanna Hackney

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan talks to reporters during a news briefing about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic in front of the Maryland State House April 17, in Annapolis, Maryland.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan talks to reporters during a news briefing about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic in front of the Maryland State House April 17, in Annapolis, Maryland. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Because Maryland has yet to hit its Covid-19 peak and cases are still on the rise, the state is not ready to open back up for business, Gov. Larry Hogan said at a news conference this afternoon.

Hogan said that the federal guidelines issued by President Trump last week called for states to meet specific gating metrics before considering lifting restrictions, including a 14-day downward trend in key numbers.

“Here in Maryland we took some of the earliest and most aggressive actions in the nation to slow the spread of Covid-19, because of those efforts of everyone, we have far fewer cases, hospitalizations and deaths than all of the models were calling for," Hogan said.

Maryland has not seen a “spike” in Covid-19-related illnesses and it is not ready to open, Hogan said.

“We have been successful in flattening and lengthening the curve in our state, and we have not had the very high spikes that you have seen in other states. But that is also why we are several weeks behind those other states who spiked earlier, and the number of new cases of Covid-19 is still rising here in Maryland and throughout the Maryland, DC, and Virginia region, and by the federal standards instituted last week, and under the guidance given in the studies and reopening plans that we cited Maryland is not yet able to lift our restrictions," Hogan said.

4:15 p.m. ET, April 24, 2020

Tens of thousands of Miami-Dade residents carried Covid-19 and showed no symptoms

From CNN’s Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez speaks during a press conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 8, in Miami Beach, Florida.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez speaks during a press conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 8, in Miami Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A new study revealed that tens of thousands of Miami-Dade residents had Covid-19 and didn’t even know it, Miami Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced during a news conference Friday.

Gimenez said a random antibody testing study of some of the county’s 2.8 million residents was recently conducted. About 1,800 people participated.

The data showed 6% of the sample tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies, which would be about 165,000 residents, he said.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are 10,701 coronavirus cases in Miami-Dade. That means that the actual number of cases, according to the study, is 16.5 times the number reported by the state, Gimenez said.

Gimenez pointed out that this means a significant number of people were carrying coronavirus while being asymptomatic. He emphasized that social distancing restrictions are working.

“Identifying the number of asymptomatic individuals is critically important for public health,” Gimenez said. “Like I have said before those are the folks who can pass on the virus to the most vulnerable.” 

The data also shows that black Americans might be twice as likely to be infected with Covid-19 than other racial groups, he said.