June 14 coronavirus news

By Julia Hollingsworth, Jenni Marsh, Peter Wilkinson and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 0417 GMT (1217 HKT) June 15, 2020
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12:58 p.m. ET, June 14, 2020

New York has received 25,000 complaints of noncompliance with reopening rules, governor says

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

Patrons dine outside on June 7 in New York.
Patrons dine outside on June 7 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said they have received reports from across the state that there are large gatherings, social distancing is being violated, and people aren’t wearing masks. He said the state has received 25,000 complaints of businesses that are in violation of the reopening plan. 

Manhattan and the Hamptons are “the leading areas in the state with violations," the governor said.

“We have never received more complaints in a shorter period of time," he added.

He continued: “What’s alarming about the 25,000 is the volume but it also shows how smart people and how offended people are that they are complaining."

He said this is particularly true at bars and restaurants. “This is a question of violating the law.” 

Cuomo ran through the consequences to explain the gravity of the situation. A bar or restaurant can lose their liquor license for violating the rules, “that is a big deal,” he adds “we’re not kidding around.”

Inspectors and task force members are enforcing this, Cuomo said, adding he called a couple of bars and restaurants himself after he saw images from within.

“You’re playing with your license,” he said he told them.

An individual cannot violate the open container law as well, he added. “You cant stand on the sidewalk drinking a beer, you’re violating the open container law,”

He also advised local governments that failure to govern will result in closures. 

Earlier he said “It is our behavior, nothing more nothing less,” that determines the future of reopening. “When all the numbers are good, those numbers can change in a week.”

12:20 p.m. ET, June 14, 2020

New York reports 23 coronavirus deaths, governor says

From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state reported 23 more deaths from Covid-19, the “lowest number ever.”

He explained that when the number gets this low it’s basically a question of how people are recording the cause of death across the nation because there may be situations where a person dies from multiple causes — Covid, cancer or heart disease, etc."

“We breathe a deep sigh of relief today,” Cuomo said, adding that the death count, among all the numbers, is the “one number we can’t fix.”

“On the numbers we are making really great progress” he added. 

He called today, "another great day in terms of achievement by New Yorkers.”

Hospitalizations are at its lowest point since the “horrific” journey began, he said. 

He added that Staten Island had an uptick in percentage of positive cases which he said could be an “aberration” but adds, “we’re watching it.”

12:07 p.m. ET, June 14, 2020

US Surgeon General: Face coverings bring more freedom, not less

From CNN's Roxanne Garcia

The US Surgeon General on Sunday pushed back on the idea that face coverings infringe on freedoms – and said they’re important to slow the spread of coronavirus and reopen the economy. 

“Some feel face coverings infringe on their freedom of choice — but if more wear them, we’ll have MORE freedom to go out,” Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said in a tweet today.

He said face coverings lead to less asymptomatic spread of the virus, which leads to more places opening sooner. 

“Exercise and promote your freedom by choosing to wear a face covering!” Adams said in the tweet, which also included a photo of him in a mask. 

What this is about: Public health officials have emphasized the importance of face coverings amid the country’s reopening, given that people without symptoms could unknowingly transmit Covid-19. The coverings are primarily to prevent people with the virus from infecting others.

Earlier guidance from US officials didn’t recommend widespread masking, but in April, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended face coverings for the general public in places where social distancing is difficult to maintain, like grocery stores. 

At the time, CDC cited growing evidence that people could spread coronavirus without feeling sick. 

Read Surgeon General Adams' tweet:

11:52 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

UK reports lowest daily coronavirus death toll since March

From CNN's Zahid Mahmood in London

The UK reported 36 deaths due to Covid-19, the lowest daily coronavirus death toll since March, according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Sunday.

 

10:25 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

GOP official says there is no plan for social distancing at Trump rally

From CNN's Kristen Holmes

Trump campaign and Tulsa GOP officials say more than 300,000 people have expressed interest in attending President Trump’s rally in Tulsa. Since the rally site, the Bank of Oklahoma Center, only holds around 20,000 people, there are currently discussions about whether they will add a second event, the campaign and one official said. 

As for the potential of massive crowds gathering in a city that is in the middle of a coronavirus spike, there are currently no plans to practice social distancing at the rally according to one GOP official. 

The campaign has not responded to numerous requests for comment regarding what precautions it will take at the rally because of Covid-19.

The campaign and local organizers plan on the event being held in a packed arena. The GOP official told CNN that there were ongoing discussions among organizers and the campaign as to what precautions, if any, will be put place, including possible temperature scans for supporters before they’re allowed inside the arena. This official said a temperature check is consistent with what many businesses in the state are doing as they reopen. With the caveat that the plans are not finalized, the official told CNN that as of now masks would be optional, and noted that the President himself doesn’t like wearing a mask and it’s up to individuals to decide. 

Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday he was planning on attending the rally. When Jake asked Lankford if he was going to wear a mask, he responded that he had not decided yet. 

CNN's Ryan Nobles contributed to this report.

10:29 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

Spain to reopen borders with EU countries except Portugal on June 21

From CNN's Max Ramsay in London

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez speaks at parliament on June 3 in Madrid, Spain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez speaks at parliament on June 3 in Madrid, Spain. Alberto di Lolli/Pool/Getty Images

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced his country will reopen its borders to people from other European Union countries – with the exception of Portugal - on June 21. 

“From then the obligation for travelers who enter our country to quarantine will disappear,” Sánchez said at a press conference on Sunday in Madrid.

The delay for reopening borders with Portugal was at the request of the Portuguese government, according to Sánchez. 

He also said external borders would not reopen until after June 30, and a list of “safe countries” would be drawn up for which restrictions would be lifted from July 1.

Spain is currently in a state of Emergency, closed to tourists, and international arrivals have to undergo a 14-day quarantine. The lifting of restrictions for other EU members will coincide with the end of the State of Emergency in the country. 

Some other EU countries, including France, are due to lift border restrictions with countries in the European Union on Monday June 15.  

9:58 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

Trump adviser says rally attendees "probably" should wear masks

Larry Kudlow speaks with CNN's Jake Tapper on June 14.
Larry Kudlow speaks with CNN's Jake Tapper on June 14. CNN

Top Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow was asked by CNN's Jake Tapper this morning if people at President Trump's rally next week in Tulsa, Oklahoma, should wear masks.

"Well, okay. Probably so," Kudlow responded.

Kudlow added that the fatality rate for the coronavirus continues to be very low, calling that "the ultra key metric."

More context: President Trump is planning to hold a rally in Tulsa next Saturday, June 20. The site for the rally has cancelled or postponed all other events until at least the end of July "out of an abundance of caution," according to the arena's website.

9:09 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

Trump's Tulsa campaign rally site has canceled or postponed all other events until the end of July 

From CNN's Austen Bundy 

The venue President Trump is slated to hold his first rally at since states began reopening has canceled or postponed all other events until at least the end of July due to COVID-19 concerns according to its website.

The BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. has a web page listing the 17 events cancelled or postponed "out of an abundance of caution."

Some events originally scheduled for this summer have been rescheduled to more than a year later.

The Associated Press first reported on the BOK Center’s event scheduling moves.

7:58 a.m. ET, June 14, 2020

What you need to know about coronavirus today

From CNN's Ivana Kottasová

Ready or not, here comes a big week for reopening. France is lifting travel restrictions, New Jersey will allow outdoor dining, British shops plan on unlocking their doors and Greek museums will welcome visitors again. Here's what's on our radar:

  • US Vice President Mike Pence yesterday touted the country's "steady decline" in coronavirus hospitalizations and fatalities, despite data showing that several states have seen a rise in Covid-19 patients since the Memorial Day holiday.
  • Britain's Prince Harry said Private Joseph Hammond, the 95-year-old Ghanaian man who walked 14 miles to raise money for frontline health workers in Africa, "brought a huge smile" to his face.
  • US trade adviser Peter Navarro says the White House is targeting another stimulus package focused on manufacturing that will be "at least $2 trillion."
  • Summer travel is back. But rather than taking elaborate international vacations, people are renting home shares and taking RVs to explore the wide open road. 
  • C is for covering your face, A is for staying six feet apart, R for remembering to wash your hands, and E means it's everyone's job to help others. The latest CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall tackled issues including summer safety and play dates. 
  • Chile's health minister, Jaime Mañalich, has been sacked following a series of controversies and a spike in coronavirus cases. His departure comes a day after an investigative report revealed a discrepancy between Chile's official numbers and those reported by the health ministry to the World Health Organization.
  • Bruno Covas, the mayor of Brazil's largest city, São Paulo, tested positive for coronavirus yesterday. The state of São Paulo is the epicenter of Brazil's outbreak.

Read today's coronavirus newsletter here: