June 8 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Steve George and Emma Reynolds, CNN

Updated 2:51 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
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11:53 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

Here's how US demonstrators can stay safe during protests, according to WHO director-general

From CNN Health's Jacqueline Howard

Protesters take a knee and raise their fists in a moment of silence for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality in Boston on June 7.
Protesters take a knee and raise their fists in a moment of silence for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality in Boston on June 7. Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images

The World Health Organization supports the current movement against racial injustice and encourages all protesters to wear masks during demonstrations, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a media briefing in Geneva on Monday.

"WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds," Tedros said on Monday.

"We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely," Tedros said.

Tedros' shared safety and precaution guidelines for protestors:

  • As much as possible, keep at least one meter from others
  • Clean your hands
  • Cover your cough
  • Wear a mask if you attend a protest.
  • We remind all people to stay home if you are sick and contact a health care provider.

Tedros added that countries where protests have been held should strengthen testing efforts and the tracking of potential Covid-19 cases.

"We also encourage countries to strengthen the fundamental public health measures that remain the basis of the response: Find, isolate, test and care for every case, and trace and quarantine every contact," Tedros said. "Contact tracing remains an essential element of the response."

11:53 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

New York governor rides subway as NYC begins to reopen

Prior to his daily news conference, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo rode New York City's subway to mark the city's reopening today under phase one.

Dani Lever, the governor’s communications director, tweeted a photo of the governor riding the city's subway.

Once the epicenter of the pandemic as the largest and densest city in the US, New York City is now allowing nonessential workers in construction and manufacturing to go back to work and retail stores to set up curbside or in-store pickup.

Read the tweet:

11:56 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

New York governor marks 100 days since state's first known coronavirus case

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today marks 100 days since the first known coronavirus case in the state.

"I am just so proud with how New Yorkers have responded," he said today at a news conference. "New Yorkers heard the messages, New Yorkers did what they had to do"

Cuomo said that at the start of the pandemic in the state, experts said how the virus progressed would largely depend on what residents did to stop the spread. He applauded New Yorkers' efforts to flatten the curve.

"When things are tough, New Yorkers are tougher," Cuomo said.

WATCH GOV. CUOMO:

11:36 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

Florida reports more than 1,000 Covid-19 cases for five consecutive days, but the percentage positive is dropping

From CNN’s Rosa Flores and Sara Weisfeldt 

Coronavirus tests are administered at the West Perrine Health Center on May 28 in Miami.
Coronavirus tests are administered at the West Perrine Health Center on May 28 in Miami. Lynne Sladky/AP

In the past week, the number of daily Covid-19 cases in Florida has been greater than 1,200 for 5 of the past 6 days, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health (FLDOH). 

An analysis of the data shows, however, that the percentage of positive cases has been dropping in the last week and an increasing number of test results have been posted. 

Here's what the data showed:

  • A week ago today, more than 11,300 Covid-19 test results were posted by the FLDOH with 617 positive cases. That places the percentage of positive cases for that day at 5.4%.
  • Last Tuesday, more than 28,600 results were posted with 1,317 positives. The percentage positive is 4.6%.
  • Last Wednesday, more than 38,200 results were posted with 1,419 positives. The percentage positive is 3.7%
  • Last Thursday, more than 32,400 results were posted with 1,305 positives. The percentage positive is 4%.
  • This past Friday, more than 41,000 results were posted with 1,270 positives. The percentage positive is 3%.
  • This past Saturday, more than 57,000 Covid-19 test results were posted by the FLDOH with 1,180 positive cases. That places the percentage of positive cases for that day at 2%.

For further context, from Thursday to Saturday, the latest three days of data available, more than 130,000 test results were posted by the FLDOH and 3,755 returned positive.

 

11:28 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

Medical experts worry Trump could release a coronavirus vaccine too quickly to boost his campaign

From CNN Health's Jacqueline Howard

President Donald Trump participates in a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House June 5 in Washington.
President Donald Trump participates in a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House June 5 in Washington. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In a new op-ed published in The New York Times on Monday, University of Pennsylvania professors Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel and Dr. Paul Offit pose the concern that President Trump could push for the release of a Covid-19 vaccine prematurely in order to boost his campaign for the upcoming presidential election in November.

"Given how this president has behaved, this incredibly dangerous scenario is not far-fetched. In a desperate search for a political boost, he could release a coronavirus vaccine before it had been thoroughly tested and shown to be safe and effective," Emanuel and Offit wrote.

They went on to describe how there are 123 candidate Covid-19 vaccines in development around the world and 10 are currently in human trials.

In the United States, the federal government's "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine program aims to have a vaccine ready by the end of the year.

As the race for a vaccine continues, "the F.D.A. must require more than the production of antibodies to approve a vaccine, even for an emergency authorization, much less licensing. Only when the independent data safety and monitoring board composed of physicians, researchers and biostatisticians reviews the accumulated trial data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, should the F.D.A. be allowed to decide on approval," Emanuel and Offit wrote.

"Thousands of Americans have already died as Donald Trump has perpetually postponed effective public health interventions and made poor therapeutic recommendations," Emanuel and Offit wrote. "We must be on alert to prevent him from corrupting the rigorous assessment of safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines in order to pull an October vaccine surprise to try to win re-election," they continued.

11:25 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

Pentagon removes coronavirus-related travel restrictions on 5 countries and 39 US states

From CNN's Ryan Browne

An aerial view of the Pentagon building is shown on December 26, 2011, in Washington. 
An aerial view of the Pentagon building is shown on December 26, 2011, in Washington.  Staff/AFP/Getty Images

The Pentagon announced Monday that it had lifted travel restrictions on 44 destinations which had been placed to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 44 locations include 39 US states and five countries: Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. 

The Pentagon said in a statement that these locations “meet the conditions to lift travel restrictions, subject to the assessment of conditions at individual military installations within these areas.

These criteria include:

  1. Removal of shelter-in-place orders or other travel restrictions
  2. 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and Covid-19-like symptoms
  3. 14-day downward trajectory of new Covid-19 cases or positive test.

Some states that have not yet met the criteria for the lifting of travel restrictions include California, Florida and North Carolina.

Here is the full list of destinations where travel restrictions will be lifted, according to the Pentagon:

11:18 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

Guatemala's president will work remotely after 18 workers in his office test positive for coronavirus 

From CNN’s Ana Cucalón, Michelle Mendoza and Flora Charner

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei delivers a speech at the Congress of the Republic in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on March 18.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei delivers a speech at the Congress of the Republic in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on March 18. Johan Ordonez/AFP/Getty Images

At least 18 people who work in Guatemala’s Presidential House have tested positive for coronavirus, according to President Alejandro Giammattei who spoke in a televised address Sunday night.

Giammattei said both he and Vice President Guillermo Castillo have been tested for the virus, and both results came back negative.

Officials are still planning to limit access to the Presidential House for 72 hours, and all the workers at the Presidential House will be tested, he added.

The president also said he and his vice president will be working remotely.

Guatemala has at least 7,055 confirmed coronavirus cases and 252 deaths, according to John Hopkins University tally.

10:44 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

No “significant spikes” in Covid-19-like illnesses reported at NYC emergency rooms during protests, official says

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

A sign at a Manhattan hospital treating coronavirus patients directs visitors to the emergency room entrance on May 12 in New York.
A sign at a Manhattan hospital treating coronavirus patients directs visitors to the emergency room entrance on May 12 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

When asked about the impact of recent New York City protests on the pandemic, the city's health commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said that to date, there have not been any "significant spikes" in the number of people visiting emergency departments for Covid-19-like illnesses.

The city monitors data from each of the emergency departments and Barbot said “to date thankfully we have not seen any significant spikes in the number of people that are visiting the emergency departments for Covid-like illness but we are paying really close attention to that.”

Individuals participating in protests are encouraged to wear a mask and maintain a 6 foot distance.

Overall, the city is still in a “moderate transmission phase,” Barbot said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said “thank god” the protests were outdoor activities, “which does change the equation,” though he is still “very worried” there may still be an impact. 

After a 78-day lockdown, the city enters phase one of reopening today, with some nonessential workers allowed to go back to work and retail stores allowed to reopen for pickup.

 

10:30 a.m. ET, June 8, 2020

These 4 US states are outpacing New York in rates of new coronavirus cases per day

From CNN's Ethan Cohen and Liz Stark

Four states – California, Texas, Florida and Illinois – are all outpacing New York state in their averages of daily new coronavirus cases, according to a CNN analysis.

California, on average, saw the most new cases per day over the week ending June 7, averaging about 2,666 daily new cases, Johns Hopkins University data shows.

Texas averaged about 1,537 daily new cases, followed by Florida with about 1,111 daily new cases and Illinois with about 1,071 daily new cases.

New York rounds out the top five states with an average of about 1,047 new cases per day.

While the number of new cases in California, Texas and Florida have generally been increasing, both Illinois and New York have seen a decrease in new cases reported.