Coronavirus pandemic in the US

By Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Angela Dewan, CNN

Updated 9:05 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020
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5:22 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Latinos are testing positive for Covid-19 at a higher rate than any other demographic in Illinois

From CNN's Chris Boyette

Norwegian Hospital nurses perform coronavirus tests on site in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on Tuesday, April 28.
Norwegian Hospital nurses perform coronavirus tests on site in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on Tuesday, April 28. Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune/TNS/Getty Images

Self-identified Hispanics are testing positive at a higher rate than any other demographic in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference Wednesday.

“Although nearly half of those who have been tested did not fill out their demographic information, of those who did 7.6% self-identified as Hispanic. Of these more than 26,000 individuals, nearly 16,000 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. That's a positivity rate of 60%,” Pritzker said. “That's nearly three times our state average.”

He added: “Decades of institutional inequities and obstacles for members of our Latinx communities are now amplified in this pandemic. And while we can't fix generations of history in the span of a few months, we must advance equity in our public health response today, everywhere and anywhere we can.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot previously said Wednesday that Latino residents make up the largest percentage of Covid-19 cases in the city. They represent 37% of Covid-19 cases in the city and 25% of deaths.

5:17 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Workers union says 27 meatpacking workers have died from Covid-19

From CNN’s Dianne Gallagher and Pamela Kirkland

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union on Wednesday said at least 27 meatpacking workers have died because Covid-19.

The UFCW also said that according to internal estimates, nearly 8,000 of their meat packing members have been “directly impacted” by Covid-19, including “those who have been hospitalized, tested positive, are awaiting test results, are showing symptoms, or have been exposed.”

5:21 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

South Dakota governor expects "a big increase in positive cases" after testing at pork processing plant

From CNN’s Julie Gallagher

The exterior of the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls on April 15.
The exterior of the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls on April 15. Dan Brouillette/Bloomberg/Getty Images

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said she expects a "big increase in positive" coronavirus cases after employees at a Smithfield Foods processing plant in Sioux Falls were tested for Covid-19.

Noem said approximately 1,100 tests were given on the second day of the event, bringing the total number of tests to approximately 2,600.

“I want to remind everybody that given this testing that we’re seeing, we expect that this will drive our case numbers up. So I want to prepare everybody that as we do more and more testing in a community where there is already community spread, we do expect to see a big increase in positive cases," she said.

5:16 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Houston approves $15 million rental relief program 

From CNN's Raja Razek

High-rise buildings are seen from Buffalo Bayou Park near downtown Houston, Texas.
High-rise buildings are seen from Buffalo Bayou Park near downtown Houston, Texas. Sharon Steinmann/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has announced that the City Council has approved a $15 million rent relief fund for the Texas city.

"The program provides much-needed assistance for our residents. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected constituents economically, forcing many to make tough choices," the statement from the mayor's office said. 

The money for the program will come from the federal CARES Act, according to the statement. Landlords would need to agree to certain terms if they choose to participate in the program, and renters must meet certain requirements.

"The program is expected to help at 6,818 households," the statement said. 

5:12 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

White House: The US relationship with China is one of "disappointment and frustration"

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a White House Press Briefing on Wednesday, May 6.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a White House Press Briefing on Wednesday, May 6. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany discussed the strained relationship between the US and China this afternoon during a news briefing.

"Right now, it's a relationship of disappointment and frustration because the President has said how frustrated he is that some of the decisions of China put American lives at risk," McEnany said.

In recent weeks, President Trump, along with several administration officials including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, have spoken to dozens of foreign allies about ways to collectively address what the White House says was China's intentional effort to conceal the severity of the outbreak, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

Some more context: A nationalist tabloid controlled by the Chinese Communist Party has dismissed claims by the Trump administration that the novel coronavirus originated from a laboratory, as the war of words over the pandemic escalates between Washington and Beijing.

Pompeo said Sunday in an interview with ABC that there was "enormous evidence" Covid-19 originated in a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak was first detected last December. He did not provide details to support the claim.

Responding to Pompeo's comments, China's state owned Global Times newspaper said in an editorial Monday that the former CIA director had "stunned the world with groundless accusations."

"Since Pompeo said his claims are supported by 'enormous evidence,' then he should present this so-called evidence to the world, and especially to the American public who he continually tries to fool," the editorial said.

"The truth is that Pompeo does not have any evidence, and during Sunday's interview, he was bluffing."

Watch here:

4:42 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Illinois has more than 68,000 coronavirus cases

From CNN's Chris Boyette

Village of Schaumburg staffer Erin Baxter prepares masks at Boomers Stadium parking lot in Schaumburg, Illinois, on Wednesday, May 6.
Village of Schaumburg staffer Erin Baxter prepares masks at Boomers Stadium parking lot in Schaumburg, Illinois, on Wednesday, May 6. Nam Y. Huh/AP

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced at a news conference Wednesday that the state has seen 2,270 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours and 136 additional deaths.

This brings the total state count to 68,232 cases and 2,974 deaths, Ezike said.

4:39 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Trump says he believes the numbers on US deaths from coronavirus

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal 

President Donald Trump listens to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during a meeting in the Oval Office on, Wednesday, May 6.
President Donald Trump listens to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during a meeting in the Oval Office on, Wednesday, May 6. Evan Vucci/AP

President Trump affirmed that he believes the number of reported US deaths from coronavirus is correct, but says he doesn’t believe the numbers being reported by “other countries."

During a meeting with the governor of Iowa, Trump was asked if he believes the reported death toll in the United States. 

“It is what it is,” Trump answered. “Do I believe them? Yeah.”

Trump went on to say that he doesn't believe the figures out of China and doesn't "believe them from other countries, where I see you know, a very tiny number of people died, but you’re watching the news and you see what’s going on." 

Trump conceded that “it’s a big number” being reported, “but it’s also a number… that’s at the very lower scale of any number that was predicted.” 

“Now it’s time to open up our country. We’ve got to open up our country,” Trump said.

4:35 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Fauci and Birx to remain on the task force

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal 

White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, right, speaks as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci listens during a meeting about the coronavirus in the Oval Office on Wednesday, April 29.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, right, speaks as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci listens during a meeting about the coronavirus in the Oval Office on Wednesday, April 29. Evan Vucci/AP

President Trump said Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx will remain in their current roles on the coronavirus task force, the same day he announced it would continue “indefinitely.”

The President was asked what Fauci’s role will be moving forward during a meeting with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“Same as it is,” the President answered. “He’s been doing a very good job, we’re very happy with Dr. Fauci, and he’ll be doing the same. And Deborah will be doing the same,” he added. 

“I know you’ll be staying,” he said to Birx, who was in the room. “I hope you’ll be staying. We’ll miss you otherwise. She’s done a fantastic job. Both, both. Same thing.”

Trump said that the White House would be “adding some names” to the group and “may take off a couple that frankly, their expertise no longer applies.” He didn’t want to say who was being considered for the task force, “because some people aren’t going to make it.” 

“People want to be on the task force. They want to be on everything. You know, I’ve never seen anything like this, anything having to do with this, they want to help,” he said. 

“That’s all I do, I get calls from people, the biggest people they want to be on,” Trump continued. “Enemies of mine. People that don’t like me want to be on the committees. I say, ‘that’s strange.’”

The President said that in this case, they’re looking at very “professional” names, not just people who want the status of being on the task force.

“We don’t need status,” he said, “we need results.”

4:31 p.m. ET, May 6, 2020

Interior Secretary wants people to socially distance despite photos of him doing the opposite

From CNN's Gregory Wallace

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt asked people to practice social distancing in a tweet today, while sharing photographs of himself neither social distancing nor wearing a mask. 

Asked about the photos, here's what the Interior Department said:

“Secretary Bernhardt is going to work alongside the Department’s employees and assist in their valiant efforts to make our public lands accessible to all people. Nothing beats the sun on your back and the wind in your face at a park. Yesterday, Secretary was outdoors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park conducting a site inspection as the park prepares to once again welcome the public in a couple of days.”