Coronavirus pandemic in the US

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said today the state has 2,633 new cases of Covid-19 for a total of 118,652.

The governor also reported 460 new deaths for a total of 7,228 deaths.

Murphy said he had a "productive and broad discussion" earlier today with President Trump regarding Covid-19. Murphy went on to thank the administration for all their help.

He said the state will receive 550,000 new Covid-19 tests and 750,000 swabs from the federal government. The Trump administration will also send PPE to 358 nursing homes in New Jersey, the governor said. 

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said she hopes the state will be able to open school in September 

Raimondo has asked the presidents of the state's 20 colleges to submit plans on how they can safely reopen in the fall. 

The presidents have been given five or more weeks to develop their plans.

Raimondo said that each of the colleges have been given guidelines on “what a safe plan has to look like; and then they are going to come back to us and we will work with them…to get that plan in shape over the summer so that in the fall, hopefully, they’ll be able to allow students to come back.”

More cleaning, more testing, mask wearing and probably not big lecture halls is what students could possibly expect, Raimondo said. 

Arkansas will lift restrictions on gyms, fitness centers, and indoor athletic facilities so they can resume operations beginning next Monday, May 4, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced on Thursday.

The governor outlined limitations and requirements for the facilities upon reopening including:

There are at least 3,255 cases of coronavirus in Arkansas. At least 61 people have died from the virus. 

A stay-at-home order in Louisiana has been extended until May 15, Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a news conference Thursday.

He said he signed the executive order earlier today.

Edwards, who met with President Trump this week, said the President was "extremely supportive" of the efforts made by the state to combat coronavirus.

The governor said they discussed his plan to move forward with reopening efforts using the guidelines provided by the White House.

Federal officials were paying close attention to the steep increase and cases in the state weeks ago and were worried the state might not be able to handle the situation, Edwards said. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he is signing a new executive order that extends the state's stay-at-home order but also loosens some restrictions on businesses.

Walz said that the order is extended until May 18. The governor also "strongly" encouraged Minnesotans to wear masks outside the home.

Starting on Monday, retail businesses may begin to offer curbside pickup, Walz announced. Businesses are required to develop and post a plan on safe operation, use contactless payments, and follow social distanciung and minimize contact with customers, Walz explained.

Walz said that this loosening will put 30,000 Minnesotans back to work.

Steve Grove, Commissioner for the Department of Employment and Economic Development, noted that salons and barbershops cannot provide services, but may conduct retail sales. 

"Under no circumstances can customers enter a business when they're there to pick something up," Grove added.

At least 388 poultry plant employees have tested positive for Covid-19, and one poultry plant employee has died, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

There are an estimated 16,500 poultry industry workers across Georgia. 

The Georgia Department of Public Health said that these are “reasonable” estimates based on hospital data and information from the poultry plants.  

“It is important to note that many of those who were infected have recovered and returned to work,” Nancy Nydam, director of communications with the Georgia Department of Public Health told CNN. 

New York City has had at least 12,571 confirmed coronavirus deaths and 5,295 probable coronavirus deaths, according to the city website.

The New York City Health Department defines probable deaths as people who did not have a positive Covid-19 laboratory test, but their death certificate lists as the cause of death “COVID-19” or an equivalent.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus deaths and probable coronavirus deaths in New York City is 17,866.

There have been 162,212 coronavirus cases in the city and approximately 41,648 people have been hospitalized, according to the city.

Representatives for the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) said they continue to see supply chain issues with testing supplies. 

“We do our best to plan to have enough supplies to test for the next two weeks,” Megan Crumpler, laboratory director in California’s Orange County Public Health Laboratory, said at a press briefing Thursday.

Scott Becker, the Chief Executive Officer at APHL said he has seen progress with regards to swabs, specifically. 

“My understanding is that FEMA is now delivering swabs to the state and the states are responsible for organizing; again according to whatever their plan is for testing to ensure that those swabs get where they need to go," he said.

Becker said going forward, the supply issue is “first and foremost our biggest concern.” 

“Whatever scheme is developed out of the White House Task Force has to absolutely ensure that Public Health Laboratories have the necessary support that they need. We've been working with them and with CDC, of course throughout this to share what are the instruments and what are the needs of the public health labs –– so supplies are first and foremost," Becker said.

NASCAR has announced that it will begin holding races in mid-May starting with events at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

Fans will not be allowed at the events.

Darlington will hold three separate events between May 17-20; two NASCAR Cup Series races and a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

NASCAR will then host four events in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 24-27.

NASCAR says it has implemented a comprehensive health and safety plan that includes mandated use of personal protective equipment throughout the events and health screenings for all individuals prior to entering the facility, while inside the facility and exiting the facility.