Coronavirus pandemic in the US

By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Meg Wagner and Zamira Rahim, CNN

Updated 10:26 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020
46 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
12:45 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Connecticut parks will be open for Memorial Day, but these are the rules

From CNN's Shawn Nottingham

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont encouraged people to visit his state’s parks over the Memorial Day weekend but wants people to do so safely.  

Katie Dykes, with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said that if people choose to go to beaches, they should maintain a 15-foot diameter around their beach blankets.

Public restrooms and concessions will remain closed in Connecticut state parks, but portable toilets will be available in some state parks. There will not be lifeguards at the state’s shoreline parks, according to Dykes. 

In some instances parks will cap parking at 25% capacity in an effort to control crowds according to Commissioner Dykes. Parks will be closed when they reach capacity. Anyone who parks outside a closed park and attempts to walk in can be fined. 

12:33 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Vaccine doctor says seniors must be included in studies 

From CNN's Amanda Watts

Dr. Mark Mulligan speaks via video conference to before the Senate Aging Committee on May 21.
Dr. Mark Mulligan speaks via video conference to before the Senate Aging Committee on May 21. Pool

Seniors must be included in therapeutic and vaccine studies, because they have a weaker immune system and respond differently to medicines, Dr. Mark Mulligan, director of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the Langone Vaccine Center, told senators today.

Speaking before Senate Aging Committee hearing on “Caring for Seniors Amid the Covid-19 Crisis,” Mulligan said the participation of older adults in studies is already common practice in things like the flu vaccine. 

“Having a stronger vaccine, one with an adjuvant, one with a higher dose may be necessary for Covid-19 and seniors as well,” Mulligan

Adjuvants are ingredients added to vaccines to help them work better, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   

“We also want to be sure that treatments are tolerated well and are safe in seniors; their system is different. So we need to be sure to include seniors in our treatments, as well as our vaccine studies,” Mulligan said.  
12:28 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

This North Carolina university will provide private rooms to all students this fall

From CNN's Elizabeth Stuart

Pat Barker Hall at Campbell University
Pat Barker Hall at Campbell University courtesy Campbell University

Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, will provide private room accommodations to all residential students for the 2020-21 academic year.

The school, which has nearly 6,500 undergrad and graduate students, said it will waive its usual $800 private room fee, according to a statement.

Vice President for Student Life Dennis Bazemore said the health and safety of students is the university's top priority.

"We believe providing private rooms for all residential students is one of the major steps to achieve that goal," Bazemore said in the statement.

The statement said the decision was made after a review of the university's housing facilities as a way to spread students out. The university said it will continue to follow US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting, and that eligible students still have the choice to request living off-campus.

12:26 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Iowa testing program expands to all people who feel they should be tested, governor says

From CNN's Hollie Silverman 

Medical workers test a local resident at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Waterloo, Iowa on May 1.
Medical workers test a local resident at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Waterloo, Iowa on May 1. Charlie Neibergall/AP

The Test Iowa program will expand to include all people who feel they should be tested, Gov. Kim Reynolds said during a Thursday press conference.

The change should take effect by the end of the day, according to Reynolds.

Reynolds said the goal is to continue to test as many Iowans as possible so that people will feel more confident and comfortable returning to work. 

Some background: Testing was previously prioritized for those experiencing symptoms, those who had interacted with another person who had already tested positive, or anyone that had visited a place where the virus is more widespread, according to the Test Iowa website.

12:18 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Outdoor restaurant service could open in Washington, DC, next week if cases don't spike

From CNN's Nicky Robertson

Signs are posted indicating where to stand to stay 6 feet apart to maintain social distancing on the sidewalk outside of Founding Farmers restaurant in Washington on April 15.
Signs are posted indicating where to stand to stay 6 feet apart to maintain social distancing on the sidewalk outside of Founding Farmers restaurant in Washington on April 15. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced today that the District can begin stage one of its reopening on Friday, May 29 if there are no spikes in the number of community spread coronavirus cases.

Stage one includes outdoor restaurant service and curbside pick-up for non-essential retail. Beauty salons and barbershops will be allowed to operate by appointment only and up to 10 people will be permitted to gather for worship.

The ReOpen DC Advisory Group presented a full outline of their recommendations for reopening during a news briefing on Thursday. The recommendations detail a four-phase process.

DC businesses will be provided with a checklist from the ReOpen DC Advisory group tomorrow.

The District's stay-at-home order is currently in place until June 8, but the mayor is expected to provide an update next Tuesday, May 26.

12:12 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Colorado will test asymptomatic nursing home employees and residents

From CNN's Gregory Lemos  

The Colorado State Emergency Operations Center announced scientists from Colorado State University will conduct eight weeks of Covid-19 tests on workers and residents in up to 30 skilled nursing facilities. 

"This will help prevent outbreaks, monitor the risk of exposure for residents, and help recovered workers return to work," the CSEOC said in a statement Thursday.  

CSU will be given $4.2 million as part of this partnership between the university and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  

"A majority of the funding will go to the testing of asymptomatic workers, with their consent, using nasopharyngeal swabs," the statement said.  

Some context: In Colorado, more than 50% of coronavirus-related deaths have been among older adults and people with disabilities who live in places like nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to the statement.

12:04 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Ohio cancels state fair scheduled for the end of July

From CNN's Elise Hammond

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine eat a cream puff at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio, in 2019.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine eat a cream puff at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio, in 2019. Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch via AP

Ohio's State Fair, schedule to take place July 29 through August 9, has been cancelled because of public health concerns, as well as "the financial feasibility of hosting a socially distant fair."

“After careful thought and deliberation, we have decided to cancel the Ohio State Fair. Knowing how easily the virus spreads in large groups, we believe it is the safest path forward for the health and safety of all Ohioans,” Andy Doehrel, chair of the Ohio Expositions Commission said in the statement on Thursday.

“The financial ramifications of hosting a reduced-capacity Fair would be too great, and we need to protect the great Ohio State Fair for future generations," the statement continued.

Last year, 934,925 people attended the Ohio State Fair during its 12-day run, according to the statement. These attendees came from each of Ohio’s 88 counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Mexico.

Read the tweet:

12:09 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Mnuchin: "Strong likelihood" another stimulus bill will be needed

From CNN’s Katie Lobosco

Evan Vucci/AP
Evan Vucci/AP

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday there is a “strong likelihood” that another stimulus bill will be needed to keep the economy afloat. 

He added, however, that for now, Congress needs to take a step back and allow the $3 trillion in aid already appropriated to get pumped into the economy. 

His remarks, which were made at a virtual summit sponsored by The Hill, come as Republicans are pumping the breaks on approving more coronavirus stimulus spending. 

Last week, House Democrats pushed forward a sweeping $3 trillion package. 

Mnuchin also said at the event Thursday that he is tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis because he is in daily contact with the President and vice president. Mnuchin said he has tested negative. 

12:08 p.m. ET, May 21, 2020

Here’s how New York will contact people who may have been exposed to Covid-19

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Pool via NY1
Pool via NY1

New York is now starting contact tracing operations. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will call people who came in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

When tracers call, the caller ID will show up as "NYS contact tracing."

“Tracers will contact [the person who tested positive] and ask who they may have exposed,” Cuomo said. “And you could get a phone call following up on this tracing information, saying you were with John Smith last night. John Smith is now positive, you may want to be tested.”

“You should answer that call. It's not a hoax, it's not a scam, it's not a fraud,” Cuomo said.

“It's for your health, it's for your family's health.”

You can read more about the program here.

Watch here: