Michigan governor orders flags lowered to half-staff for coronavirus victims
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a speech on April 9, in Lansing, Michigan. Pool via AP
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered US and Michigan flags lowered to half-staff throughout the state indefinitely beginning today to honor and mourn those who have lost their lives due to the virus.
She also announced that the special primary to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Isaac Robinson who died in late March due to the complications related to the virus will be held August 4. The general election will be on November 3.
The news comes after Whitmer announced the extension of her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order to the end of April.
The new order also encourages people to limit the number of household members running errands to the maximum extent possible and clarifies that travel for vacations or for any other purpose is prohibited.
By the numbers: Michigan has an additional 1,279 cases bringing the state total to 22,783, according to the states data. The state saw an additional 205 deaths bringing the death toll to 1,281.
6:14 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Coronavirus model projects some states have passed their peaks, others are weeks away
From CNN Health’s Arman Azad
Medical personnel move a deceased patient to a refrigerated truck serving as a make shift morgue at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City on April 9. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
The most recent version of an influential coronavirus model – which is often cited by the White House – projects that some states, such as New York and New Jersey, have passed their peaks in terms of daily deaths.
New York’s peak number of deaths, for example, is listed as April 9 on the model. New Jersey’s peak is listed as April 8.
Other large states are now approaching their peaks, according to the model, which was developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
California is expected to hit peak daily deaths within a week, on April 15. The state is expected to see 66 deaths that day.
Pennsylvania is expected to follow a similar trajectory, hitting peak deaths on April 17, when 63 people are projected to die.
For other large states – such as Florida and Texas – the worst is expected to come later. Florida’s peak is expected to come on April 27; roughly 112 people are projected to die that day.
Texas is predicted to hit its peak on April 28, when 66 lives are expected to be lost.
Some context: While it’s unclear when exactly the state expects to return to normal, lifting social distancing measures too soon – before the peak, for example – could reignite transmission of the virus and cost lives.
The current version of the model says it expects social distancing until the end of May, and assumes that states will enact other measures – such as mass screening and contact tracing – that will prevent any resurgence of the virus.
The institute previously told CNN that the projections assumed social distancing until August, as the model’s FAQ had stated in now-deleted language.
But on Thursday, the institute’s director, Chris Murray, said that was not actually the case – despite what a professor behind the model and an institute spokesperson had both said earlier.
6:02 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Philadelphia reports its highest number of new coronavirus deaths
From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Michael Conte
Philadelphia is continuing to see a slowing number of coronavirus cases in the city, the city’s health commissioner Thomas Farley said in a call on Friday.
Farley warned that the virus could pick up speed again.
Hospitals are seeing a steady increase in cases as well.
There are currently 5,521 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Philadelphia and 110 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.
Farley said that the hospitals are able to handle the cases so far.
Despite the better news on case rate, Farley reiterated the need to be very careful and continue to social distance.
5:54 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Kentucky to record license plates of those attending services this weekend and require them to quarantine for 14 days
From CNN's Rebekah Riess
The state of Kentucky is taking new action to discourage individuals from participating in mass gatherings, such as church services, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday.
The state will be recording the license plates of those who show up to any mass gatherings and provide that information to the local health departments, who will in turn order those individuals to be quarantined for 14 days, according to Beshear.
Beshear said the state is down to less than seven churches state-wide that are still “thinking about” having an in-person service this weekend.
“Folks, we shouldn’t have to do this,” Beshear said. “I think it’s not a test of faith whether you’re going to an in-person service, it’s a test of faith that you’re willing to sacrifice to protect your fellow man, your fellow woman, your fellow Kentuckian, and your fellow American.”
5:47 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Los Angeles County implements new measures on face coverings for essential businesses
From CNN's Sarah Moon
Cashiers wear face masks at a convenience store in Los Angeles, California on April 4. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Essential businesses open in Los Angeles County during the pandemic must provide all employees with a cloth face covering to wear during work.
These businesses must also share a plan in a visible place that explains how the business is implementing the physical distancing order and cleaning requirements in the workplace, L.A. County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer announced in a press conference today.
This order goes into effect Wednesday at midnight, Ferrer said.
Residents are still allowed to engage in outdoor activities and leave the home for essential activities while practicing physical distancing and wearing a cloth face covering, she said.
“So from here on in, when you go into a business or a site that provides essential services, you need to put on your cloth face covering so that you provide some protection to all of those who are inside a place of business or providing you with a service,” she explained.
Ferrer also warned residents that May 15, the date the county’s stay at home order was extended to, is not a “magic date” and that she does not know what will happen on May 16.
“I do not anticipate that we lift all of our restrictions on May 15,” Ferrer said. “I do know that every day we get closer and closer to a place in a space where we're able to start relaxing some of the restrictions."
5:18 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
National Institutes of Health is recruiting 10,000 antibody test volunteers
From CNN's Jen Christensen
The National Institutes of Health is looking for up to 10,000 volunteers to be a part of a study to determine how many Americans have been infected with Covid-19 and not known it.
This “serosurvey” will give researchers critical information that will help them create better epidemiological models to understand how the disease spreads undetected. The work will also help researchers determine what communities have been most impacted by this particular coronavirus.
The NIH is asking for healthy volunteers from around the country who are 18 or older and have no confirmed history of infection. Volunteers will be enrolled over the phone and will attend a virtual clinical visit. They’ll complete questions about their health, provide basic demographic information and then, if they don’t live near the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, they’ll be sent a kit that will let them draw their blood at home and send the samples back to the NIH.
“This study will give us a clearer picture of the true magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States by telling us how many people in different communities have been infected without knowing it, because they had a very mild, undocumented illness or did not access testing while they were sick,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a statement. “These crucial data will help us measure the impact of our public health efforts now and guide our COVID-19 response moving forward."
5:19 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
USPS concerned about potential issues with absentee ballots in Wisconsin
Election workers organize absentee ballots at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center in Madison, Wisconsin on April 7. Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The United States Postal Service is aware of potential absentee ballot issues in Wisconsin and is conducting an investigation.
"Throughout every election cycle, the US Postal Service works with state and local election officials to ensure the timely delivery of Election Mail," the USPS statement read. "The United States Mail system serves as a secure, efficient, and effective means for citizens and campaigns to participate in the electoral process, and the Postal Service is committed to delivering Election Mail in a timely manner."
At this time, USPS does not have additional information to provide on this issue, according to the statement.
Some context: On Monday, Wisconsin's Supreme Court blocked Gov. Tony Evers' order to postpone Tuesday's election due to the pandemic, despite his arguments that in-person voting could endanger poll workers and voters.
CNN has reached out to the City of Milwaukee Election Commission for comment.
5:14 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
West Virginia gives counties $100,000 each to reward "true first responders"
From CNN's Rebekah Riess
West Virginia National Guard members distribute bags meals for students at Mountain View Elementary School in Union, West Virginia on March 30. Jenny Harnish/The Register-Herald via AP
West Virginia will issue a block grant to its counties for $100,000 each to reward “the people who are the true first responders, the people that are true soldiers right on the front line," Gov. Jim Justice announced Friday.
Justice urged counties to practice “real judgement” with the money, and not to use it to backfill budgets.
Justice also issued a block grant to West Virginia’s National Guard members for $500 per active member responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
5:07 p.m. ET, April 10, 2020
Illinois increases coronavirus testing for "most affected" communities
From CNN’s Omar Jimenez
The governor of Illinois says he is working to increase Covid-19 testing for some of Chicago’s most affected communities.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced in a Friday press conference that a partnership is being set up with Chicago’s Lurie Hospital and four federally qualified health centers on the city’s south and west sides.
The demographics data accumulating over the last few weeks shines a light on a “uniquely American problem…generations of healthcare disadvantages, amplified by this crisis,” said Pritzker.
Despite more than a thousand new cases being announced in Illinois Friday, Pritzker said, “It appears that we’re bending the curve.”
