Median age of recent Florida coronavirus patients is 37
From CNN’s Tina Burnside
WSVN
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the median age range for coronavirus cases in the past few weeks is 37.
DeSantis said they expect the median age to continue to plunge as they continue to test: Most of the younger cases are not symptomatic, DeSantis said.
The governor gave a breakdown of median age in some of the states larger counties, based on the numbers released by the state health department on Friday.
Broward — 33
Duval — 30
Hillsborough — 31
Seminole — 26
Orange — 29
Dade — 41
Palm Beach — 40
1:55 p.m. ET, June 19, 2020
WHO says respect and understanding go a long way in fighting coronavirus
From CNN's Amanda Watts
World Health Organization
Respect, understanding and a lot of handwashing will go a long way to fighting the spread of coronavirus, the World Health Organization director-general said.
“We can actually keep away this virus by doing the basics,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Friday briefing.
Tedros said respect and understanding go a long way in fighting coronavirus.
“By understanding that this is everybody's business, and each and every individual should take care of herself and himself and his loved ones should care about the others to when we do that, we could really suppress this virus,” he said.
Tedros said the basics are a strong comprehensive public health system, testing and contact tracing and keeping physical distances, wearing masks and good hand hygiene.
12:18 p.m. ET, June 19, 2020
Trump says Fauci "has nothing to do with NFL Football" after expert warned sport may not happen this year
From CNN's Jason Hoffman
President Trump has tweeted that Dr. Anthony Fauci “has nothing to do with NFL Football” one day after Fauci told CNN he would be very surprised to see football played this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump said the NFL is “planning a very safe and controlled opening.”
"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,” Fauci said. “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."
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, responded Thursday in a statement, "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."
12:28 p.m. ET, June 19, 2020
Dallas county will mandate masks at businesses for employees and customers
From CNN's Ashley Killough
A pedestrian wearing a protective mask walks in downtown Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, May 27. Cooper Neill/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Dallas County will mandate that businesses require customers and employees to wear masks or face a fine of up to $500, starting Friday at 11:59 p.m. CT.
County commissioners court approved the decision Friday, a spokesperson for the Dallas County judge confirmed.
The fine would be imposed on businesses.
This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott supported a similar move by Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, earlier this week.
New York governor gives his final daily coronavirus briefing
State of New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered an address today, marking the 111th day of the coronavirus pandemic in New York.
Earlier this week, Cuomo announced today would be his final daily coronavirus briefing.
Cuomo thanked New Yorkers for following restrictions and social distancing measures, which helped flatten the curve of the spread. He said there has been a "180 degree turn" and the state showed what's possible when they work together.
"We will be better, and we will be stronger for what we have gone through," he said. "It shows us how capable we are when we are at our best"
The state has been gradually reopening, and New York City is expected to begin phase two — which allows restaurants to open for outdoor service and lets other businesses reopen — on Monday.
11:32 a.m. ET, June 19, 2020
The highest number of coronavirus cases were reported to WHO in a single day yesterday
From CNN Health’s Amanda Watts
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wears a mask after leaving a ceremony of the restarting of Geneva's landmark fountain, known as "Jet d'Eau" on Thursday, June 11, in Geneva. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
More than 150,000 new coronavirus cases were reported to WHO yesterday — "the most in a single day so far,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Friday briefing.
“Almost half of those cases were reported from the Americas, with large numbers also being reported from South Asia and the Middle East,” he added.
Tedros warned, “The world is in a new and dangerous phase. Many people are understandably fed up with being at home. Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and economies. But the virus is spreading fast, it is still deadly, and most people are still susceptible.”
WHO urges people to continue to maintain distance from others, stay home if you feel sick, wear a mask when appropriate, and washing your hands frequently.
11:14 a.m. ET, June 19, 2020
Florida reports nearly 4,000 new coronavirus cases, a record single-day increase
Guests get their temperature taken as they arrive at the Disney Springs shopping and dining district in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Wednesday, June 17. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
The Florida Department of Health is reporting an additional 3,822 cases of coronavirus on Friday, bringing the state total to at least 89,748 according to data released by the state.
Friday's numbers mark the highest number of reported cases in a single day the state has seen, according to to the Florida Department of Health.
The previous record was set just yesterday: Florida reported 3,207 additional coronavirus cases on Thursday.
On Thursday, the state of Florida had reported a total of 85,926 cases.
10:59 a.m. ET, June 19, 2020
DC will enter phase 2 of reopening on Monday
From CNN's Nicky Robertson
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a briefing on Wednesday, June 17. Pool
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced in a statement today that the nation's capital will is set to enter phase two of reopening on Monday.
In phase 2 of reopening:
Nonessential retail can open at 50% capacity,
Restaurants can have indoor dining at 50% capacity.
Houses of worship are encouraged to hold virtual services, but are permitted to have up to 100 people, or 50% capacity. DC recommends that churches do not have choirs or singing.
Personal services, including nail care, tattooing and waxing will be permitted with certain restrictions in place.
Gatherings of more than 50 people are still banned.
According to the mayor's news release, the District’s reported data for June 18 includes 49 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the District’s overall positive case total to at least 9,952.
The District reported three additional Covid-19 related deaths.
10:22 a.m. ET, June 19, 2020
Trump is holding a rally tomorrow in Tulsa. Here's why health experts are concerned.
From CNN's Kate Sullivan, Kristen Holmes and Ryan Nobles
Director of the Tulsa Health Department Dr. Bruce Dart speaks at a news presser. City of Tulsa/Facebook
Despite rising coronavirus cases in Oklahoma, President Trump is forging ahead to host a rally in Tulsa tomorrow that is expected to be attended by thousands.
Trump said in a Wall Street Journal interview that some people at the rally this Saturday may catch coronavirus, but added “it’s a very small percentage.”
Oklahoma is seeing a steady increase in its average of new confirmed cases per day. According to a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, Oklahoma averaged about 203 new cases per day over the week ending June 17, which is up approximately 110% from the previous seven-day period.
As of Thursday morning, Tulsa County currently has the most cases — 1,825 total — of any county in the state, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. New cases in Tulsa County have also been climbing, and the county is now seeing its highest seven-day average for new cases at 73.9, according to the Tulsa Health Department.
"Unfortunately, we continue to set new records in the number of cases reported in Tulsa County," Bruce Dart, the director of the Tulsa Health Department, said Wednesday at a news conference.
Dart noted Wednesday he recommended that the Trump rally be postponed "until it's safer, until the data tells us that it's not as large a concern," to have people in enclosed spaces.
The Tulsa rally is the President's first since coronavirus shut down the country and halted all in-person campaigning.
Local and campaign officials tell CNN that more than a million people have RSVP'd to the rally. A local official involved in planning said they expected 100,000 to show up at the Bank of Oklahoma Center on Saturday. The venue can hold just under 20,000.
Attendees will not be required to maintain social distance or wear masks, despite the Trump administration's top public health officials stressing the importance of both measures in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Two days before the rally is set to take place, a spokesperson for the BOK Center said it had asked the Trump campaign to provide a written plan for safety measures for the event.
