US coronavirus death toll tops 100,000

By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Fernando Alfonso III and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 9:04 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020
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12:41 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

Pennsylvania reports 113 new coronavirus-related deaths

From CNN's Elizabeth Joseph

As of noon Tuesday, Pennsylvania reported an additional 780 positive Covid-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 69,417, a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health said.

The statement, released just before noon Wednesday, also noted an increase of 113 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,265.

“As Pennsylvania continues to move forward in the process to reopen, we need to remember that the threat from Covid-19 has not gone away,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.
12:40 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

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

From CNN's Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt 

South Beach is seen closed on May 19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
South Beach is seen closed on May 19 in Miami Beach, Florida. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced that beaches and hotels will reopen on June 1.

He said lounging on the sand, walking, swimming and jogging will be allowed with restrictions.

Here are some of the rules for beachgoers:

  • Maintain six feet of social distancing.
  • Umbrellas or chairs will be allowed. The umbrellas and chairs must be cleaned between every use if they are rented.
  • Facial coverings are not required on the beach, but a mask must be worn when social distancing is not possible. 
  • Facial coverings are required at restrooms or concession stands.
  • Facial coverings are not required while jogging; but you must have a mask accessible if social distancing is not possible.
  • No more than 10 people allowed to gather in a group.

Additional enforcement personnel will be on hand to ensure the rules are followed, according to Gimenez. 

Hotels will expand their services to nonessential travelers on June 1. Hotels will be allowed to reopen, but the common areas will only be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. 

12:31 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

83 inmates test positive for Covid-19 in West Virginia prison  

From CNN’s Nakia McNabb

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in January
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in January Chris Jackson/AP

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced today that the Huttonsville Correctional Center now has 83 inmates who have tested positive for coronavirus. 

“You know we have tested all the staff and all the inmates and we have no additional positives that have been tested on our staff,” Justice said.

“We didn't have a single test in all of our correctional facilities that tested positive, up until just all of a sudden, just a few days ago,” he added.

Justice went on to say the prisoners "deserve to be protected just as much as I deserve or all the rest of us deserves."

By the numbers: The governor said today that a 75-year-old man from Preston County has died, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 1,867 with 74 deaths.

West Virginia will move forward with another round of reopenings on May 30, the governor said.

12:14 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

US coronavirus death toll surpasses 99,000

From CNN's Amanda Watts

The Statue of Liberty is seen behind refrigeration trucks that function as temporary morgues at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal during the coronavirus pandemic on May 25 in New York City.
The Statue of Liberty is seen behind refrigeration trucks that function as temporary morgues at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal during the coronavirus pandemic on May 25 in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty Images

There are at least 1,684,173 cases of coronavirus in the US and at least 99,123 people have died in the country from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.

On Tuesday, Johns Hopkins reported 3,260 new cases and 210 deaths. 

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

12:15 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

Task force votes to approve SeaWorld and Disney reopening plans

From CNN’s Natasha Chen

The entrance to Disney World is deserted on the first day of closures on March 16.
The entrance to Disney World is deserted on the first day of closures on March 16. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Florida Economic Recovery Task Force in Orange County has approved both SeaWorld and Disney World's reopening proposals.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will now likely approve the plans and submit a letter of endorsement to the state of Florida the end of the day.

The details: Walt Disney World has proposed to reopen its Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks on July 11, and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15, in a presentation made by the company on Wednesday.

SeaWorld has proposed to reopen its Orlando parks for employees on June 10 and to the public on June 11.

Out of safety, both companies are also requiring patrons to wear face masks, among other guidelines.

12:48 p.m. ET, May 27, 2020

Here's what is reopening in Washington, DC on Friday as city moves to phase one

From CNN's Nicky Robertson

A aerial view of Capitol Hill is seen on May 25 in Washington.
A aerial view of Capitol Hill is seen on May 25 in Washington. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Washington, DC will move into phase one of reopening this Friday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced at a press conference this morning.

Bowser will sign an order today which will lift the stay-at-home order.

This comes as the District has had a 14 day decline in cases of community spread of coronavirus per the DC Department of Health’s calculations, one of the key metrics the District had for reopening.

“I want to clarify this, Covid-19 is still in our community, in our region, in our nation,” Bowser said. 

The mayor warned that moving into phase one means more people can get exposed as more individuals are out in the community.

Here are some of the city's reopening guidelines:

Nonessential retail businesses can operate with:

  • Curbside or front door pickup by customers for items ordered online or over the phone
  • Delivery of items ordered online or over the phone
  • No customers allowed inside

Barbershops and hair salons may operate as follows:

  • Services may be provided by appointment only
  • Stations must be at least six feet apart
  • No waiting inside the shop 

Restaurants:

  • In addition to takeout, delivery, and grab and go, restaurants that already have outdoor seating can begin using that space.
  • All outdoor dining customers must be seated, and patrons must place orders and be served while sitting at tables.
  • All tables must be at least six feet apart.
  • No more than six people seated at a table. 

The public health emergency will still be in effect and gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited. 

You can read the full phase one reopening guidelines here.

Latest numbers: As of today, there are 8,406 cases of coronavirus in the District and 445 have died.

11:30 a.m. ET, May 27, 2020

Boeing says more than 12,000 employees included in first round of layoffs

From CNN's Greg Wallace

The factory where Boeing manufactures is 737 MAX airplane is shown on April 29 in Renton, Washington.
The factory where Boeing manufactures is 737 MAX airplane is shown on April 29 in Renton, Washington. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Boeing says its first round of layoffs, including voluntary departures, will involve approximately 12,290 employees — 6,770 will be involuntarily laid off. 

The company said 5,520 employees accepted a voluntary layoff package.  

Boeing announced plans in April to reduce its workforce by 10%, which is about 16,000 employees. 

A Boeing spokesman said additional rounds of layoffs are ahead “over the next few months.” 

 “I wish there were some other way,” Boeing president and CEO Dave Calhoun wrote in a message to employees on Wednesday.  

He said the company “will have to adjust our business plans constantly until the global pandemic stops whipsawing our markets in ways that are still hard to predict.” 

11:29 a.m. ET, May 27, 2020

New York City mayor says enforcement of rules during reopening will be "problem-solving focused"

From CNN’s Mark Morales

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will enforce the rules of phase one when businesses start to reopen with a "light touch" that is "problem-solving focused."

“We see a problem we want the business to address it — we don’t want to penalize, we want to fix problems," the mayor said.

The city is communicating with a lot of businesses as it approaches phase one sometime during the first two weeks of June.  

“We’re not there till we’re there,” de Blasio said, but as businesses come online, there will be heavy communications, inspections "as per usual” and making sure rules are being followed. 

Some context: De Blasio noted that during the Memorial Day weekend, there were few issues between parks, bars and restaurants, adding “we just didn’t have a lot of problems.” 

“Were not trying to be heavy handed, wer'e just trying to be present, and that has been working," he said.

The mayor did not provide the number of businesses that may not be returning as a result of economic loss due to the pandemic, however, he said anecdotally, much of what he has heard in conversations with businesses is that they want to come back and stronger.

11:20 a.m. ET, May 27, 2020

Disney World in Orlando proposes to begin reopening its parks on July 11

From CNN’s Natasha Chen

Walt Disney World sits closed on March 16 in Orlando.
Walt Disney World sits closed on March 16 in Orlando. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)

Walt Disney World has proposed to reopen its Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks on July 11, and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15, in a presentation made by the company on Wednesday.

Here are more details on the reopening plan:

  • There will be a new theme park reservation system, requiring guests to reserve their attendance in advance, Jim McPhee, senior vice president of operations at Walt Disney World, said.
  • McPhee also said there will be soft openings prior to July 11 to employees and affinity groups.
  • Employees and guests will be required to wear face coverings and go through temperature screenings before entering the parks.
  • There will be reduced capacity in the parks, and on various modes of Disney transportation.
  • Parades and fireworks, and other events that create crowds, will be temporarily suspended.
  • Disney will limit the contact guests and employees will have in the parks, leveraging existing Magic Bands and other cashless methods for transactions.

Field inspections by Orange County staff happened on May 26.

Staff inspected employee health screening and best practices, guest arrival and ticketing, restaurant operations, queue management, signage and communications and sanitation protocols. 

What comes next: After the economic recovery task force votes today whether to approve the plan, the Orange County mayor will make his decision likely in 12 to 24 hours.

If Mayor Jerry Demings approves, he will then give his support with a recommendation to the state of Florida for ultimate approval.