Coronavirus pandemic in the US

North Carolina will hire 250 people to help with contact tracing in its fight against coronavirus, according to state Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen.

The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative program will hire people at the local level to help health departments in contact tracing, Cohen said at a news conference today.

The new hires will double the number of tracers in the state.

Cohen said special consideration will be given to the unemployed and those with community engagement experience.

Why contact tracing is important: Contact tracing has helped slow or stop previous epidemics, such as the SARS and Ebola outbreaks. This is because contact tracing allows public health officials to isolate those who came in contact with someone who tested positive, stopping the transmission to other people.

"In contact tracing, public health staff work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the timeframe while they may have been infectious," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Read more about how contact tracing works.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wants to make a decision about schools by end of week.

He said he wants the decision to be in coordination with New Jersey and Connecticut. Cuomo said he spoke with state representatives this morning on the issue.

Speaking on WAMC radio, Cuomo said there are two decisions hanging in the balance: whether schools will reopen before the end of the academic year and how to address summer school.

New York reported 3,951 additional coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the state total to at least 291,995, Cuomo said.

There were new cases in 43 counties, he added.

There are at least 980,008 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 55,637 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.

Johns Hopkins has reported 14,223 new cases and 756 reported deaths so far today.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with US Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, and other state officials sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and the coronavirus task force calling for immediate assistance for the state’s pork producers.

The officials are requesting the invocation of the Defense Security Act to keep pork producers “viable." The letter also asks for extra resources to be sent to assist in humane euthanasia for hogs, and for mental health assistance for pork producers. 

Iowa produces one-third of the nation’s pork supply and is home to one-fourth of the nation’s pork processing capacity. 

“Simply put, Iowa pork producers cannot operate if they can’t send their pigs to market,” the letter states. 

Laboratories in Illinois have processed 12,676 coronavirus tests within the past 24 hours, for a total of 227,628, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said today.

According to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the state is averaging over 10,000 tests per day. 

Ezike also announced 1,980 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois, including 50 additional deaths. This brings the total state count to 45,883 cases, including 1,983 deaths, according to Ezike.

US stocks closed higher on Monday, with the Dow recording its fourth straight day of gains. This hasn’t happened since early February.

Investors shrugged off another selloff in the oil market and focused on the busy earnings calendar ahead.

Here's where the markets closed: 

 Remember: As stocks settle after the trading day, levels might still change slightly.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced today that he will allow his stay-at-home order for Texas to expire on April 30. 

Abbott's new executive order, which supersedes local orders, allows businesses like retail stores, malls, restaurants and theaters to reopen May 1 but limits occupancy to 25%. The order will also allow libraries and museums to open.

The governor said he wants barbershops, salons, gyms and bars open "as soon as possible" and expects them to open no later than mid-May.

When talking about the reopening plans laid out for the state today, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said, "ultimately, the decision is my decision, and I take full responsibility for the decision.”

DeWine announced earlier today that Ohio will be reopening some health care services on May 1, saying all health procedures or operations that do not require an overnight stay in a hospital can move forward.

Manufacturing, distribution, and construction companies, as well as general offices will be allowed to open on May 4.

In a third step, consumer, retail and other services will be allowed to reopen on May 12, DeWine said.

 “With a decision like this, there is no easy decision – we have to balance. We will be criticized by those who think we shouldn't open up. We'll be criticized by those who think we didn't open up enough," he added.

When asked about other Republicans, who had called for him to open up everything immediately, DeWine said “these are a balance, and to throw the doors open on May 1 and say, get rid of the stay at home order, or get rid of the distancing, and get rid of everything, would be totally irresponsible.”

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said May 4 is "too early” to reopen after the Massachusetts governor promised "clarity" on reopening the state on that date.

Earlier today, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said that later this week he would “create clarity” on reopening the state on May 4.

Walsh said that the city is working with the state to determine which public health benchmarks need to be met to determine reopening. 

“We are building a framework for short-, medium- and long-term recovery," he said. 

“We cannot afford any mistakes and we can’t wait for the coronavirus to go away to take next steps," Walsh added.