New Jersey reported 442 new positive cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 268,107 cases, Gov. Phil Murphy said in his daily presser.
Hospitalizations were back down in the state after an increase was reported on Wednesday.
The daily positivity rate and the transmission rate remained steady in the state at 2.94% and 0.75% respectively.
The state reported 38 new deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of lives lost to 12,800. Nearly half of those deaths — 6,117 — have been in long term care facilities, the governor noted.
2:57 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
NFL on 2020 season returning: "We will be flexible and adaptable in this environment"
From CNN's Homero DeLaFuente and Jabari Jackson
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
The National Football League has issued a statement regarding Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments on Thursday saying, “football may not happen this year.”
Dr. Allen Sills, NFL chief medical officer, said in a statement that the organization will "make adjustments as necessary to meet the public health environment as we prepare to play the 2020 season."
"Dr. Fauci has identified the important health and safety issues we and the NFL Players Association, together with our joint medical advisors, are addressing to mitigate the health risk to players, coaches and other essential personnel," Sills said in the statement. "We are developing a comprehensive and rapid-result testing program and rigorous protocols that call for a shared responsibility from everyone inside our football ecosystem. This is based on the collective guidance of public health officials, including the White House task force, the CDC, infectious disease experts, and other sports leagues."
Sills continued: "Make no mistake, this is no easy task. We will make adjustments as necessary to meet the public health environment as we prepare to play the 2020 season as scheduled with increased protocols and safety measures for all players, personnel and attendees. We will be flexible and adaptable in this environment to adjust to the virus as needed."
Some background: Earlier this week, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "Unless players are essentially in a bubble — insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day — it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall. If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year."
In May, the NFL canceled all planned international games due to the pandemic, moving them instead to the US. The league had previously planned to play four games in London and one game in Mexico City.
Hear more:
1:23 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
Retail shopping malls may reopen in New Jersey on June 29
From CNN's Elizabeth Hartfield
A view of the empty parking lot at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, on March 18. Elsa/Staff/Getty Images
The indoor portions of retail shopping malls in New Jersey may reopen on June 29, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday in his daily news conference.
All mall customers will be required to wear face coverings at all times while inside, and stores will be limited to 50% capacity.
Theaters and arcades will remain closed, and restaurants may provide take out or outdoor dining.
“Certainly malls are part of New Jersey culture and lure. I think as much here if not more so than any American state,” Murphy said.
1:04 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
New York considering quarantine on people entering the state, governor says
From CNN's Melanie Schuman
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a daily news conference in New York, on June 18. NY1 is Pool
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering a possible quarantine on people entering New York state as the virus continues to spread.
Reminding reporters about other states, including Florida, which issued a mandatory quarantine on New Yorkers coming to their states approximately 100 days ago, Cuomo acknowledged that experts have advised him to issue a quarantine for people coming to the state and he is considering it now.
He called it a “full 180.”
“Fast forward 100 days. Now we’re afraid they’re bringing the virus to our state. That’s why I say, tale of two cities, two countries, who could’ve, how, how do you explain this. Who would believe this, who would believe this 180-turn around? But, I haven’t made a decision yet, but I have had experts advise me of that. It is a real concern, you’re right it could happen and it’s something I’m considering," Cuomo said.
12:53 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
Arizona reports another single-day high in new coronavirus cases
From CNN's Melissa Alonso and Sharif Paget
Arizona health officials have reported a new single-day high for coronavirus cases for the second time in this week, according to the state Department of Health Services.
Thursday's case count marks the state's highest total reported in a single day, behind Tuesday's 2,392, according to the health website.
12:42 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
Florida has fewer than 25% of ICU beds available
More than 75% of Florida's Adult Intensive Care Unit beds are occupied, according to state data provided by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
Today, the state reported having 22.86% availability of adult ICU beds available in hospitals across the state, the report stated. The data is current as of 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday.
General hospital beds are at nearly 75% capacity across the state, according to AHCA.
New York issues guidelines for possible school reopenings in the fall
From CNN's Melanie Schuman
A teacher collects personal belongings and supplies needed to continue remote teaching through the end of the school year at Yung Wing School P.S.124 in New York, on June 09. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
New York state is issuing guidelines Thursday to allow some residential and face-to-face programming for fall reopenings, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Colleges and universities planning for fall returns must develop plans and submit those to the state for approval.
Those colleges and universities must submit reopen plans, monitor plans, containment plans and shutdown plans.
Cuomo cautioned the state still needs more data, but it is starting to prepare plans for K-12 schools as well.
He did not provide specifics on K-12 schools.
1:04 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
New York governor signs executive orders to help enforce social distancing, regulations in reopening
From CNN's Melanie Schuman
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a daily news conference in New York, on June 18. NY1 is Pool
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is signing two executive orders to help enforce social distancing rules and regulations as the state, and New York City, continue to reopen. On Thursday, Cuomo cited the two biggest issues statewide: Compliance by people and enforcement by local government.
The first executive order will allow the State Liquor Authority (SLA) to immediately suspend alcohol licenses if bars or restaurants are violating the rules. For other businesses violating the rules, they could have an immediate shut down order.
The second executive order makes bars responsible for the area immediately in front of their premises including the sidewalk and SLA can enforce this.
“The state cannot do enforcement on these local issues all across the state. I would, we don’t have enough people. SLA doesn’t have enough investigators. We need the local governments to do their part,” Cuomo said Thursday.
The governor said he wants to help ensure there is not a slide back and people don’t get careless.
1:05 p.m. ET, June 18, 2020
New York governor says state had "lowest percent positive" coronavirus tests since pandemic started
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaking during his daily press conference on June 18, 2020. New York State
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that yesterday the state tested the most people in one day, yet and had the lowest percent positive test results "since we have started."
By the numbers: On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo said New York conducted 68,541 tests and only 618 came back positive — a .90% positivity rate across the state.
