Missouri governor is considering statewide stay-at-home order
From CNN's Andy Rose
Gov. Mike Parson listens to a media question during a press conference in Jefferson City, Missouri on May 29, 2019. Jacob Moscovitch/Getty Images
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed off on a statewide stay-at-home order, but indicated in a Thursday press conference that this could change soon.
Parson noted Missouri's social distancing requirements are set to expire shortly.
“We said we would evaluate (the next step) at the end of that order. That time is coming," he added.
Parson said he plans to announce more information on Friday. He said officials are trying to determine whether “essential businesses” could be classified differently in urban and rural parts of Missouri if there were a statewide order.
The state’s most populous counties already have put their own stay-at-home orders into effect covering more than two million Missourians.
5:11 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Florida governor's stay-at-home order overrides tougher restrictions local communities enacted
From CNN's Rosa Flores, Sara Weisfeldt and Denise Royal
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends a news conference at a drive-through coronavirus testing site Miami Gardens, Florida on March 30. Wilfredo Lee/AP
After issuing a stay-at-home executive order on Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another executive order today that overrides any conflicting orders put in place by local governments.
"This order shall supersede any conflicting official action or order issued by local officials in response to COVID-19," the order states.
It's an about-face for the governor. Earlier in the Covid-19 crisis, when he was criticized for not closing the state’s beaches, the governor said the move was because he wanted cities and counties to make their own decisions.
Desantis said at a Thursday news briefing that he did not believe the government had the authority to close church.
"I think that in times like this, I think the service that they're performing is going to be very important for people, especially when you have difficult circumstances and so do it right. Make sure that you're following the mission. But I think, particularly coming up in the Easter season, I think people are going to want to have access to religious services, whether it's online, whether it's in a more socially distant type of service. But to have that available I think is very important," Desantis said.
Remember: Hillsborough County is one of the local governments affected by DeSantis' superseding order. The county enacted its own order limiting social gatherings to ten or fewer people. The county sheriff arrested popular pastor Rodney Howard-Browne for continuing to hold large church services in violation of the order.
But the state's new stay-at-home order includes "attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and house of worship" as essential activities.
The stay-at-home order starts Friday and will expire on April 30.
4:59 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Navy commander expected to be relieved of duty for leaking memo on Covid-19 outbreak on ship
From CNN's Ryan Browne
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is seen in Guam on April 1. CNN
The commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt who in a memo warned Navy leadership that more action was needed for the Covid-19 outbreak on the ship is expected to be relieved of duty for being suspected of leaking the memo, a defense official tells CNN
Capt. Brett Crozier wrote in the memo, "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors," Capt. Brett Crozier wrote in a memo to the Navy's Pacific Fleet, three US defense officials have confirmed to CNN.
The US Navy aircraft carrier where an outbreak of the coronavirus has spread to over 100 sailors in recent days.
"Decisive action is required. Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure," he wrote in the memo. "This is a necessary risk. It will enable the carrier and air wing to get back underway as quickly as possible while ensuring the health and safety of our Sailors. Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care."
The US Navy declined to comment.
Reuters was first to report this story.
Watch:
4:42 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
There are now at least 236,339 coronavirus cases in the US
There are at least 236,339 cases of coronavirus in the US and 5,648 people have died,
Medical professionals from Children's National Hospital administer a coronavirus test at a drive-thru testing site at Trinity University on April 2 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the United States.
So far, on Thursday, 19,617 new cases have been reported and 511 people have died, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins.
The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.
Wyoming is the only state not reporting a death from coronavirus.
4:40 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Ohio extends stay-at-home order until May 1
A woman jogs along the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland on March 26. Tony Dejak/AP
Gov. Mike DeWine announced today that Ohio's stay-at-home order will be extended until May 1.
All travelers entering the state are also required to quarantine for 14 days.
"We understand that this is tough - it is very difficult. But, I would not be making these decisions if it wasn't a mater of life and death," said DeWine in a press release. "We have to keep this monster down. It's not dead - it's very much alive."
4:29 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Indiana classrooms will use remote learning for rest of the year
All K-12 schools in Indiana “shall provide instruction via remote learning “ for remainder of the school year," according to an executive order signed by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb,
All school buildings shall remained closed. More in the order here
4:17 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Illinois governor says federal government’s early response to Covid-19 “will go down in history as a profound failure”
From CNN's Chris Boyette
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference on March 20 in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
At a media briefing Thursday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted the state response to Covid-19 and encouraged the people of Illinois to stay home to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Pritzker also lamented, what he called, a lack of early action from the federal government to address the pandemic.
“I'm honestly upset about the lack of early action on a national basis. This will go down in history as a profound failure of our national government,” Pritzker said. “I'm telling you this because I want you to know that in terms of state action, state orders, we've nearly exhausted every avenue available. Now the rest is up to you.”
4:12 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
US stocks closed higher today
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
US stocks closed higher and snapped a two-day losing streak on Thursday.
Investors shrugged off the largest number of initial jobless claims in history. Gains were driven by energy stocks, which rallied on soaring oil prices after President Trump called for production cuts.
Here's where the markets closed today:
The Dow closed up 2.2%, or 470 points.
The S&P 500 finished 2.3% higher.
The Nasdaq Composite ended up 1.7%.
Remember: As stocks settle after the trading day, levels might still change slightly.
4:10 p.m. ET, April 2, 2020
Lowe's is temporarily increasing wages for all of its workers
From CNN’s Alexis Benveniste
Mark J. Terrill/AP
Lowe’s is implementing a temporary $2 an hour pay increase for all of its workers.
The home improvement chain said in its announcement Thursday that the wage increase is for April only. It applies to all of the company's full-time, part-time and seasonal hourly workers who are employed at Lowe's stores, its contact centers and its fulfillment facilities in the US and Canada.
Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison said the move was a “way to thank our 300,000 associates for their heroic actions in serving the needs of our communities.”
Masks and gloves will be available to all associates. Lowe's also noted that it has halted sales of N95 masks which are instead "being donated to hospitals to protect frontline healthcare workers."
Also, Lowe's will now close all of its stores at 7 p.m. to allow time for cleaning and sanitizing.
