Coronavirus pandemic in the US

Since the coronavirus outbreak, strict visitation rules imposed at nursing homes in Florida have left some seniors feeling isolated.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs announced today that it’s providing 375 therapeutic robotic pets to socially isolated seniors and adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, according to a news release issued by the agency.

“We know social isolation disproportionately affects older adults, and Covid-19 has required people with dementia and their caregivers to remain alone for extended periods of time,” the release said.

The pets help the seniors combat social isolation and depression by improving their overall mood and quality of life, the agency said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he spoke to President Trump about keeping open temporary medical facilities that the federal government built.

Cuomo said four temporary facilities, which were built by the Army Corps of Engineers to increase hospital capacity during the surge, would stay open through the fall. The governor said this decision was made in part out of caution in case there is a possible second wave.

Cuomo said the federal government did a "phenomenal job" getting the facilities built in New York.

"But I want to thank, again, the Army Corps of Engineers did a fantastic job. And President Trump got it done, and he got it done very quickly."

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Of the 7,500 people tested statewide for antibodies against coronavirus, 14.9% have tested positive, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at a press briefing on Monday.

Five days ago, 13.9% had tested positive. Statistically, the one point difference lies in the margin of error, Cuomo said.

"I would like to see the margin go the other way," Cuomo added.

Men are still more likely to have the virus than women by a couple of points. There has been an uptick of positive tests for antibodies among Asian-Americans and Latino residents. The number has gone down for black residents, Cuomo said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that some parts of the state may begin to "unpause" after May 15.

The state's stay-at-home order — known as "New York State on pause" — is set to expire on May 15, and Cuomo said he will extend those orders "in many parts of the state."

Cuomo said it's important to "be smart" about reopening, and he said it's important officials have a plan in place before they begin to unpause.

"'Know what you are doing before you do it,' those are words to live by," he said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at least 337 people died from coronavirus across the state yesterday.

He added that deaths are "on the decline" but "still tragically high"

On Saturday, 367 people died from coronavirus in New York, Cuomo said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the hospitalization rate is flat — but he'd prefer to see it decline.

"It's basically flat. Flat is not great," he said at a news conference.

President Trump, Vice President Pence and the senior staffers who regularly interact with them are still being tested weekly for coronavirus, two people familiar tell CNN. The White House is continuing to use the rapid Abbott Labs test. 

Guests are also still being tested, and temperature checks are still administered for everyone who enters the grounds. 

The New York Times reported last week that Trump and Pence are tested weekly. 

New York City is hiring 1,000 contact tracers to build a network that will trace the spread of coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in a press conference this morning.

“That’s what we’re going to build in the month of May: a contact-tracing network in this city like never been seen before on a vast scale. Every time somebody tests positive, immediately we can swing into action, figure out who were their close contacts, get those people tested too, isolate anyone who needs isolation," he said.  

Here's what the job entails: Contact tracers will do interviews to determine key contacts of New Yorkers who test positive for Covid-19, follow up with those contacts and arrange for their testing and potential isolation. 

“They’ll help make sure that the steps that are needed are glued together,” he said.

The city is looking for “talented, experienced, health workers” to “lend their talents to this fight” and work alongside current city healthcare personnel and others trained from a variety of city agencies.

“We are hiring immediately and we are hiring through the month of May,” de Blaiso said.

Michael Fowler, a coroner in Georgia, said he is frustrated to see some residents take the coronavirus pandemic lightly as they walk outdoors without masks and gather in groups.

“I know people are going to have homicides and suicides and stuff like that, but this virus is something we can prevent,” he says. “It’s frustrating sometimes.”

With Georgia allowing some businesses to reopen, including salons, gyms and restaurants, Fowler discouraged people from going out.

“I think you can go a little longer without getting your hair cut. I think your life is more important. You need to worry about your insides, not just your outsides at this present time," he said.

His neighbors have also been victims to the virus and it’s upsetting, he said, adding that he wishes the skeptics of coronavirus could see the situation in the hospitals and morgues.

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