US-Canada border to remain closed until at least July 21, Trudeau says
From CNN’s Paula Newton in Ottawa
A view of the U.S.-Canada border crossing is seen on April 8 from Detroit. Elaine Cromie/Getty Images)=
Canada announced Tuesday that by mutual agreement, the US-Canada border will remain closed to all but essential travel until at least July 21.
“This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a news conference in Ottawa Tuesday.
Under the arrangement, essential workers — such as truck drivers, healthcare providers, and air crews — may still cross the border, but others are prohibited from discretionary travel, including most family visits.
12:00 p.m. ET, June 16, 2020
New York reports lowest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, governor says
While some other states have seen an upward trend in hospitalizations, New York state reported its lowest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations since the pandemic started in the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news conference today.
Total Covid-19 hospitalizations fell to 1,538 yesterday, the lowest since March 20, Cuomo tweeted.
He also said that the three-day rolling average of Covid-19 fatalities is also at a a new record low at 24. The state reported 25 deaths on June 15.
"The facts in New York are really, really good, and I am so proud of what the people in this state have done," Cuomo said.
Cuomo tweeted the figures:
12:01 p.m. ET, June 16, 2020
New York hospitals can now allow visitors, governor says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference in Albany, New York, on June 16. State of New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said hospitals across the state can now allow visitors as coronavirus numbers continue to improve.
"The numbers look very good," he said at a news conference. "We're going to allow hospitals to accept visitors at their discretion."
Cuomo said that if a hospital chooses to allow visitors, those guests must follow state guidelines, including wearing personal protective equipment and being subject to symptom checks. The visits may be time-limited.
Cuomo also added that group homes can allow visitors starting on Friday, if they follow similar guidelines.
11:51 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
US Open will be held in New York City without fans, governor says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that the US Open tennis tournament will be held in Queens from August 31 to September 13.
He said the event will be held without fans, but it will be televised.
11:37 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
Fauci doesn’t see global efforts to find vaccine as a “race of who gets there first”
From CNN Health’s Amanda Watts)
Dr. Anthony Fauci, left, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 29. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he hopes many countries around the world are successful in finding a coronavirus vaccine.
“This is not a race of who gets there first,” he said.
Speaking to NPR’s 1A program on Tuesday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said, “I would love there to be more than one, two or three vaccines, including China getting a vaccine, and we get a vaccine, and some of the European countries get a vaccine.”
Fauci said that for a vaccine to be successful, it has to be available globally.
“The more companies that have successful vaccines, the better off we are. I don't see this as a race in which there is one winner,” Fauci said.
The United States’ efforts are “moving very quickly,” he said. “And I might emphasize, not at the experience of safety, nor compromising any of the scientific integrity of the study.”
Fauci said there is no guarantee that a vaccine is going to be effective.
“Certainly we would not have a vaccine given to anyone if it's not safe, and if it's not effective,” he said.
But Fauci is hoping “to get to the point where you can make a determination if it's effective likely, by the end of this calendar year and the beginning of 2020. So, the vaccine does show itself to be safe and effective, we may get doses that are available for people by the very end of this year, and the beginning of the first few months of 2021.”
11:26 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
LPGA to resume season in July
From CNN's Wayne Sterling
The Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour announced Tuesday that the 2020 season will resume with back-to-back events in Ohio.
A new tournament, the LPGA Drive On Championship, will take place from July 31 until August 2 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. It will feature a field of 144 players competing for a $1 million purse and will take place without sponsors, pro-ams or spectators.
The next tournament will be the Marathon LPGA Classic, one of the longest running events on the LPGA Tour. It will be held at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, August 6 through August 9, with spectators.
11:26 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
Fauci says protesters should "wear a mask consistently"
From CNN Health’s Amanda Watts
Protesters kneel and hold up signs as they demonstrate the death of George Floyd by blocking traffic on I-395 in Washington on June 15. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Dr. Anthony Fauci said when it comes to protests during a pandemic, the best advice is “don’t gather in crowds,” but added, “If you are going to, please wear a mask consistently. Keep it on. Don't take it off.”
“That is really an important issue — namely the social injustices that we're seeing towards minorities, particularly African Americans, including the violence against them," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told NPR’s 1A program.
But he added that demonstrations themselves put protesters and others at risk.
“When you look at some of the visuals on the TV — of the demonstrations, when people get animated — they start shouting, they start chanting, they pull their mask off. Don’t do that," he said.
“Please wear a mask, but keep the mask on all the time,” he said.
11:17 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
NYC could enter phase 2 of reopening on June 22 if indicators and state deem it ready, mayor says
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
New York City will be ready for phase two of reopening on June 22 if the indicators and the discussions with the state indicate “we’re ready to go,” Mayor Bill De Blasio said in a news conference today.
Phase two is tentatively booked for June 22, though the mayor said earlier he believes it will take a bit longer than that.
Phase two allows for a wider range of businesses to continue to reopen under Covid-19 guidelines, including retail businesses and offices.
Malls, specifically any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease, must remain closed to the public
Large gathering and event venues, including but not limited to establishments that host concerts, conferences, or other in-person performances or presentations in front of an in-person audience, must also remain closed to the public.
When asked later in the news conference about the next reopening phase, the mayor said "we want to know what that has resulted in in terms of the spread of the disease, or maybe it hasn’t, we don’t know that answer yet cause not enough time has passed.”
“We need more information,” he said.
The decision to enter the next phase or wait more time will be made alongside the state on June 22.
The mayor said he likes to keep expectations low and points to the beginning of July.
11:01 a.m. ET, June 16, 2020
NYC mayor says he intends to get Covid-19 test
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a press conference in New York on June 16. NYC Media
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he intends to get a Covid-19 test “because I have asked all New Yorkers to get one.”
“I’ll follow my own guidance, and I’ll make sure to get one too," he said.
De Blasio, who took a sick day yesterday, said he feels fine today. He said he thinks he had a "24 hour kind of thing," which caused him to clear his schedule.
