April 25 coronavirus news

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says that the state is currently experiencing a “surge” of Covid-19 cases, but medical facilities are prepared.

Yesterday, Baker said 55% of the total 18,200 hospital beds in the state were available. 

Baker was asked about plans to reopen the state when his executive order expires on May 4. He said that the May 4 date was based on the assumption that Massachusetts would have its surge in early April – which did not happen. 

“Any decisions we make with respect to reopening are going to require two things. Number one, the same thing that’s required almost everywhere else which is some drop in in hospitalization rates and some evidence that we are in fact over the hump with respect to the surge," he said

"The second is putting the rules for engagement or reopening in place, which we'll have a lot more to say about next week,” Baker added. 

Turkey’s daily coronavirus cases dipped below 3,000 for the first time since April 3.

There were 2,861 positive cases over the last 24 hours, according to the latest health ministry figures. 

The ministry reported 106 deaths as a result of the virus. Additionally, 1,782 patients remain in the ICU, including 900 of who are intubated, according to the latest figures.

Turkey has 107,773 coronavirus cases.

A meat-processing company is being forced to close its doors over coronavirus concerns.

The Kane County Health Department issued an order for Smithfield Foods in St. Charles, Illinois, to temporarily close so the company can work with the health department to implement mitigation efforts against Covid-19, according to a press release.

The Health Department will provide social distancing education and employee safety training relating to personal protective equipment, the press release said.

CNN has reached out to Smithfield Foods for comment.

This is one of several meat-processing plant closures in the last few weeks due to coronavirus outbreaks.

The Canadian government says that despite some success in flattening the curve, and a slower growth rate in new coronavirus cases nearly everywhere in the country, the economy can’t reopen until supplies of personal protective equipment are in place for businesses. 

Some Canadian jurisdictions are set to open in the coming weeks but a competitive market for personal protection equipment, described by some government ministers as the "wild west," may slow the return of some economic sectors.

Trudeau also stressed that Canada is not relying on the concept of Covid-19 immunity to reopen the economy.

“It is very clear that the science is not decided on whether or not having had Covid once, prevents you from getting it again,” he said.

Despite that, Canada is creating an immunity task force staffed with leading doctors and scientists to further explore both anti-body testing and the viability of a vaccine.

As of today, Canada had reported at least 44,137 cases of Covid-19 and 2,392 related deaths.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted the latest coronavirus case and death counts Saturday along with a message to nail salon customers.

The mayor has continued to urge people to stay home in the last few days in media interviews and on Twitter despite Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to reopen certain businesses starting Friday.

Read the tweet:

Ecuador announced that it will go into a “social distancing phase” starting on May 4.

In a televised statement Friday, President Lenin Moreno said that to face the crisis “successfully” the country “needs a balance between sanitary measures and an ordered economic reactivation.”

“The indicators on the progress of the pandemic give us encouragement,” Moreno said.

Moreno said if cases increase again, and there is a risk of overwhelming the hospitals, he will reverse his decision.

“Be careful, let's not get confused, the emergency is not over, we are only in a different phase,” he said. “Our monitoring and alert systems will guide us.”

This new phase will not apply to people over 60, people with disabilities, people with chronic diseases and people with diseases that are highly vulnerable against the coronavirus.

Nationwide lockdown, which goes into effect every day at 2 p.m. until 5 a.m. will continue. The government indicated that scheduling to fit industry needs will be revised and expected to be announced in the coming days.

Bars, nightclubs, gyms, theaters, schools and universities will also remain closed.

As of Friday, the government has reported 576 deaths due to Covid-19 and over 1,000 “possible deaths” due to the virus.  

At least 200,697 people have died from Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally of deaths across the world.

As of 1:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, the university is reporting more than 2,865,938 confirmed cases globally.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reported an additional 3,457 coronavirus cases, bringing the statewide total to 105,523.

The governor also reported an additional 249 deaths bringing the total to 5,863.

Murphy said a lot of the folks who tested positive have now “battled and won” against the virus.

“We need to see more progress and more slowing before we can begin implementing any effort to get ourselves on the road to the new normal that awaits our state on the other side of this pandemic," he added. “Those curves are all going largely in the right direction."

CNN partnered with Sesame Street for a special town hall about coronavirus to give kids the opportunity to learn more about the pandemic and ask questions.

"The ABC's of Covid 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents" aired on Saturday morning and tackled issues including education, anxiety, screen time and play dates.

The 90-minute program featured experts and Sesame Street characters -- including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita and Grover. Together, they answered questions submitted by families.

The event was moderated by CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill, and, of course, Big Bird.

See the best moments here.