Coronavirus pandemic in the US

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced today he has extended the state’s safer-at-home order one more week in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Outdoor places of entertainment, such as playgrounds, racetracks, and water parks, will reopen, with strict health guidelines and rules, on May 25 at 8 a.m.

Mississippi State Department of Health is now reporting 12,624 positive cases of coronavirus and 596 deaths.

Fred Payne, the commissioner for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said that Indiana’s unemployment rate for April was 16.9%, while the unemployment rate in the United States stands at 14.7%.

This is the highest rate that Indiana has seen since 1982, Payne said, noting that leisure and hospitality and manufacturing industries have shown the largest swing, with a combined loss of about 194,000 jobs.

In March, Indiana’s unemployment rate was 3.2%, Payne said.

US markets headed into the holiday weekend with a mixed finish on Friday following a strong week of gains.

Here's how the day ended:

For the week, all three major indexes rallied more than 3%. It was the Dow’s best week since early April. 

The New York Stock Exchange is closed on Monday for Memorial Day, and it’s scheduled to reopen its iconic trading floor to some floor brokers on Tuesday. The so-called Big Board has been limited to all electronic trading since March 23.

It’s Friday afternoon in the East Coast. If you're just joining us, here’s what you’ve missed:

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reminded Virginians of a number of safety issues as the state heads into Memorial Day weekend, including possible flooding and avoiding large gatherings. 

The governor pointed out that there has been some heavy rainfall across much of the state, especially in the southwest, meaning rivers are up and flooding is possible. Northam warned Virginians to be aware of river restrictions and their local weather forecast.

Some context: The governor said 116 people, four dogs and two birds were rescued yesterday from flooding that was occurring in the area 

Northam also pointed out that Virginians need to remain conscientious of social distancing guidelines.

"We still need everyone to be smart and safe this weekend. Don't gather in large groups, don't crowd parks or natural areas. Remember to maintain your social distancing, and please wear a face covering when you're out in public," he said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it would not follow President Trump’s call to open houses of worship around the country this weekend.

CAIR said that American Muslim scholars and community leaders have already determined that public religious activities will be restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that is unlikely to change despite Trump’s announcement Friday afternoon.

“Nothing the President says now is likely to alter that decision, particularly given his previous Islamophobic policies and rhetoric,” CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper told CNN in an email. 

The Fiqh Council of North America has called on mosques and Islamic centers to “strictly follow the health and state official guidelines for social gatherings and distancing,” and to hold Eid prayers at home and to “listen to virtual Eid reflections from their local masjids (mosque),” according to Hooper. 

Muslims around the United States will celebrate Eid al-Fitr this weekend beginning Saturday night.

Religious institutions should provide soap and hand sanitizer and encourage the use of cloth masks and clean their facilities daily if they want to open while coronavirus is still spreading, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in newly released guidance Friday.

Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions should also promote social distancing and consider limiting the sharing of objects such as books and hymnals, the CDC said.

President Trump had said he would push the CDC to issue new guidance.

"I said, 'You better put it out,'" Trump told a round table in Michigan Thursday.

At a White House press briefing earlier today, Trump said he wanted Americans to go back to church and urged governors to lift restrictions.

Following President Trump’s declaration that places of worship are essential and should be reopened immediately, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is "days away" from releasing guidelines to safely reopen.

The governor said he expects those guidelines to be released Monday.

Under Newsom's current plan, churches would be allowed to reopen in Stage 3. The state is currently in the early portion of its Stage 2 road map to reopen. Newsom has been under increasing pressure by the state's faith-based institutions to reopen.

More than 1,200 pastors in California this week signed a petition that says they will resume in-person services beginning on May 31. 

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced on Friday it will allow “voluntary in-person athletics activities” to resume on all 14-member campuses, at the discretion of each university, starting June 8.

The SEC will allow student-athletes in the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball to return to campus beginning June 8 under the guidance of each university and individual state and local health officials.

Under strict supervision, teams will be allow to participate in voluntary activities as they prepare to adapt to full training activity needed for the fall sport season.

Organized practices and other required physical activities remain prohibited by the NCAA in all sports until July 31.