Coronavirus pandemic in the US

By Melissa Macaya, Fernando Alfonso III and Zamira Rahim, CNN

Updated 2326 GMT (0726 HKT) May 22, 2020
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1:02 p.m. ET, May 22, 2020

Nevada unemployment rate jumps to more than 28%

From CNN's Hollie Silverman 

People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits on March 17 at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas.
People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits on March 17 at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas. John Locher/AP

The unemployment rate in Nevada has risen to 28.2%, Gov. Steve Sisolak said in a series of tweets Friday.

The state lost 244,800 jobs over the last month, according to data released by the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation.

"Nevada is facing record high unemployment and the sheer numbers are difficult to comprehend," Sisolak tweeted.

The total number of initial weekly claims has fallen for the first time since the pandemic began, the data shows. But the claims have continued to grow to 369,041, the governor tweeted.

12:56 p.m. ET, May 22, 2020

Minnesota State Fair canceled for first time in over 70 years

From CNN's Konstantin Toropin,

Thousands packed the fairgrounds as the 12-day Minnesota State Fair gets underway on Aug. 22, 2019, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
Thousands packed the fairgrounds as the 12-day Minnesota State Fair gets underway on Aug. 22, 2019, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Jim Mone/AP

The Minnesota State Fair announced today they are canceling this year's event for reasons that stem from the Covid-19 pandemic, a statement on the fair's website says.

"This isn’t a difficult decision. It’s the only decision," Minnesota State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer said in the statement. "It’s the right thing to do."

The fair, which now attracts more than 2 million guests annually, was last canceled in 1946 due to a polio epidemic and only six times total since its founding in 1859, its website says.

"By taking the tough road today, we guarantee that the fair’s future remains hopeful and bright," Hammer said. "We want to see you all for many years to come, when we can celebrate in true State Fair style."

Organizers of the event say they considered a variety of less serious options including postponement, extra safety measures, and extending the timeline of the fair to space out crowds.

However, the organizers felt that many of the possible restrictions would not be feasible.

"We keep coming back to the idea that the Great Minnesota Get-Together should be a celebration where we all can gather together to enjoy each other," the website reads. 

"To undertake these types of restrictions runs counter to who we are," it adds.

Ultimately, however, the board of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society made the decision to cancel the fair, the fair's website explains.

"The best thing we can all do right now is to help the world recover and heal," Hammer said. 

"In the meantime, your team of State Fair pros is working hard to come back bigger, better, stronger and smarter in ‘21," he added.

12:43 p.m. ET, May 22, 2020

New Jersey estimates $10 billion revenue loss, state treasurer says

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher-Muoio speaks during a press conference in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 21.
New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher-Muoio speaks during a press conference in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 21. Pool/News 12 NJ

New Jersey is estimated to have a revenue loss of $10 billion, the state's treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said during a news conference Friday.

“While there are many moving parts, what is clear is that a decline of this magnitude would be worse than the Great Recession," she said, and called on the federal government to provide the state with more funding.

Gov. Phil Murphy plans to spend several hours today speaking with federal politicians to encourage more state funding and asked Washington to "step up" and help, he said.  

The numbers: The state is expecting a 33% decline in sales tax revenue, according to Maher Muoio. In comparison, the worst level of sale tax revenue during the Great Recession was 18.4%, she noted.

According to Maher Muoio, the state has placed $1 billion in reserve, has approximately $500 million for spending on hold, and plans to de-appropriate $1.32 billion. 

 A budget plan will be released at a news conference later today with further details. 

12:36 p.m. ET, May 22, 2020

California's unemployment rate climbs to 15.5% due to the pandemic

From CNN's Stella Chan

A woman walks past closed shopfronts in what would be a normally busy fashion district in Los Angeles on May 4.
A woman walks past closed shopfronts in what would be a normally busy fashion district in Los Angeles on May 4. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

California's unemployment rate rose to a record 15.5% in April, which is a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD).

This marks a new high for the state, surpassing the state’s 2010 recession mark of 12.3%. 

The unemployment rate in March in California was 5%.

In April, employers lost 2,344,700 non-farm jobs, which represented a 10% spike, according to the EDD. California reported the largest job declines in the country, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The unprecedented job losses are like nothing before seen in California history in a current data series that dates back to 1976, and are a direct result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the EDD said.

The number of unemployed in California rose to almost 2.9 million in two months, breaking a record 2.2 million that took more than two years to reach during the recession.

The EDD reported that every one of the state’s 11 industry sectors lost jobs in April with leisure and hospitality posting the largest downturn.

12:29 p.m. ET, May 22, 2020

Baltimore mayor urges Trump to cancel Memorial Day visit

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump are planning to visit Baltimore’s Fort McHenry on Memorial Day, but Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young hopes the President reconsiders, saying it sends a “bad message.”

“I’m asking the President to rethink his trip. It sends a bad, bad message to the citizens of Baltimore because I’m asking them to stay home and only come out for essential reasons, and we have a President that's coming to a city that he just berated over a year ago. And I just want him to set the example for the rest of the country and not do this trip, because it's not essential,” Young told CNN’s John King.

The White House has responded to Young’s plea, saying: “The brave men and women who have preserved our freedoms for generations did not stay home and the President will not, either, as he honors their sacrifice by visiting such a historic landmark in our nation’s history.”  

Young said he is certain that the President could find another, safer way to honor the country’s fallen soldiers. 

“This has nothing to do with him personally. My city is seeing an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, and we don't want to spread it,” Young said. 

Young also said the White House did not give the city a heads up and now leaders are scrambling to prepare. 

Watch more:

11:53 a.m. ET, May 22, 2020

Miami-Dade County plans to reopen beaches and hotels June 1

From CNN’s Rosa Flores and Denise Royal

People walk along closed South Beach on May 19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
People walk along closed South Beach on May 19 in Miami Beach, Florida. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

Miami-Dade County is planning to reopen beaches and hotels to guests other than essential lodgers on June 1, according to a news release issued by Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s office.

“The city managers will be meeting with county staff and medical experts over the weekend to create the rules that would be necessary for the safe and secure reopening of beaches and the expansion of hotel accommodations,” the statement said.

Gimenez is planning to review the proposed plan on Tuesday.

11:38 a.m. ET, May 22, 2020

New Jersey governor allows outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

A woman rides a bike down the boardwalk on May 21 in Wildwood, New Jersey.
A woman rides a bike down the boardwalk on May 21 in Wildwood, New Jersey. Matt Slocum

New Jersey will increase the number of people permitted to gather outdoors from 10 to 25 people, Gov. Phil Murphy announced in a news conference Friday morning.

Recreational campgrounds will open immediately, he added.

While the number of people allowed to gather in groups will increase, individuals are still expected to adhere to social distancing.

Hospitalizations, intensive care unit cases and ventilator intubations continue to decrease across the state, Murphy said.

11:20 a.m. ET, May 22, 2020

New York City continues to meet key thresholds needed to reopen the city

From CNN's Sheena Jones

A registered nurse draws blood to test for COVID-19 antibodies at Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City on May 14.
A registered nurse draws blood to test for COVID-19 antibodies at Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City on May 14. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty IMages

New York City continues to meet two of the three thresholds it still needs to meet the state’s criteria to reopen the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

There are seven criteria needed in order to reopen. The city is already meeting four of those.

Officials would like to consistently stay under the threshold of 200 people being admitted into hospitals for Covid-19, de Blasio said.

The city is now at 76 people being admitted into the hospital for Covid-19.

New York City is also meeting the threshold for how many people are testing positive for Covid-19, de Blasio said.

Some more data: Officials would like to see that number below 15%. It is currently at 11%. That number is up slightly from the 9% announced on Thursday.

Intensive care unit admissions should remain under 375 people, de Blasio said. However, the city is at 451 people in ICUs in the public hospitals and not meeting that threshold.  

If residents continue to social distance and the numbers move in the right direction, the city expects to move to phase one of reopening in the first or second week of June, de Blasio said.  

11:21 a.m. ET, May 22, 2020

Florida governor lifts restrictions on youth activity, including summer camps

From CNN’s Kay Jones

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 21.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 21. WJXT

All restrictions on youth activities in Florida, including summer camps, are being lifted immediately, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis in a press conference today.

While kids are not immune to Covid-19, he said, the state has recorded zero fatalities for those under the age of 25.