June 28 coronavirus news

By Julia Hollingsworth, Jenni Marsh, Tara John, Fernando Alfonso III and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 12:02 a.m. ET, June 29, 2020
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2:08 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

Louisiana reports 1,467 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Louisiana state officials reported 1,467 new Covid-19 cases over the weekend, according to Louisiana Department of Health. 

“Of new positive cases reported today, 43% are people 29 and younger; a third are people 18-29,” said Christina Stephens, spokesperson for Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, in a tweet. 

Louisiana health officials also reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths for Saturday and Sunday, bringing the state total to 3,086.

To note: The figures released by the Louisiana's public health agency may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

Read the tweet:

1:38 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

There have been at least 125,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US

From CNN’s Melissa Alonso

There are at least 2,530,587 cases of Covid-19 in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.

Approximately 125,630 people have died from coronavirus nationwide. 

On Sunday, Johns Hopkins reported 9,732 new cases and 91 reported deaths in the US. The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

1:23 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

South Florida mayors grapple with residents not following Covid-19 rules 

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

People stand in line at a restaurant on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 26.
People stand in line at a restaurant on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 26. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Miami Beach's mayor has called for a special commission meeting on Monday to discuss mask usage compliance as Covid-19 cases continue to surge in Florida, according to a tweet from Mayor Dan Gelber.  

"We were 1 of the first in the U.S. to require masks indoors & in many places outdoors. But it is clear that there has not been terrific compliance with this rule and other measures," Gelber said in a tweet. 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has ordered all of the beaches in Miami-Dade County to close for the July 4 weekend but residents in South Florida continue to congregate despite pleas from officials to social distance.  

In Pinecrest, an affluent Miami-Dade suburb, the "largest problem is private house parties,"  Mayor Joseph Corradino said in a letter to the community this week.  

House parties have become prevalent in recent weeks and "are the most dangerous things that impact our community," Corradino said.  

"The law does not enable us to enforce the rules we use on public spaces on private property. So, our current option is to appeal to the common sense and decency of our citizens. This danger comes directly from within," the letter said. 

Miami Beach code enforcement continues to enforce social distancing mandates from Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach spokesperson Melissa Berthier told CNN.

But, whether Miami Beach's commission will discuss mandating face masks and imposing fines for violators like neighboring city of Miami, "it's one theory," Berthier said. 

12:52 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

HHS secretary says a rise in deaths and hospitalizations is an appropriate concern

From CNN's Wes Bruer

HHS Secretary Alex Azar speaks on June 26.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar speaks on June 26. Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Sunday that a rise in deaths and hospitalizations due to Covid-19 in the coming weeks are “appropriate to be concerned about.” 

Azar told CNN that while fatalities and hospitalizations are at “two month lows,” there is an increase in hospitalizations across the Southern states.

When asked if he was aware that an increase in hospitalization and fatality rates would lag behind an increase in positive cases, Azar said “those are certainly risks” and said that is why he is encouraging those who have “not exercised appropriate social distancing” in the last couple of weeks should wear face coverings and get tested. 

12:21 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

Face coverings are required starting tomorrow in Tupelo, Mississippi

From CNN’s James Froio

The city of Tupelo, Mississippi, will require face coverings at all indoor public spaces and businesses starting at 6 a.m. Monday, they city said in an executive order posted on Facebook. 

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton said his job as mayor is "to keep our community safe, not make easy or politically popular decisions," he wrote on Facebook.

“As we have said from the beginning, we will follow the advice of our health care professionals and we will continue to do so,” Shelton said on Facebook.

Shelton said the city is "committed to listening to our local doctors and health care professionals regarding Covid-19 and we are doing all that we can to keep our community safe," he told CNN over email.

"It is very unfortunate that in today’s political climate and due to the words and actions of some of our political leaders that many Americans simply refuse to believe the urgency and severity of the Covid-19 crisis," Shelton added. "Stable and rational leadership is desperately needed on the national level and in many states across our nation. We should all listen to our health care professionals regarding health care matters."

12:08 p.m. ET, June 28, 2020

Chuck Schumer wants the Trump administration to extend the public health emergency declaration

From CNN's Sheena Jones

Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference on June 9.
Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference on June 9. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Trump administration to extend the public health emergency declaration.

The Covid-19 related declaration is set to expire July 25, Schumer said.  

"We are here because the clock is ticking," Schumer, the senior senator from New York, said.

If the declaration expires, New York could lose more than $1 billion, according to Schumer.

New York would lose assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Schumer said. 

"You may refuse to wear a mask, that's bad, but you can't cover your eyes and ears to what is happening. We have an emergency. we need you to renew it now,” Schumer said. 

11:56 a.m. ET, June 28, 2020

Former FDA commissioner says US will likely see a rise in daily coronavirus-related deaths

From CNN's Wes Bruer

Dr. Scott Gottlieb in 2017
Dr. Scott Gottlieb in 2017 Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said on CBS that the US is “likely to see total daily deaths start to go back up again.” 

Gottlieb cited “major epidemics underway” in the South and Southeast and said we will see continued growth in Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks, even if we “take aggressive actions right now.”

While he noted many of the new cases may be clustered in younger populations, Gottlieb said “this spread is likely to seep into more vulnerable communities.” 

Gottlieb said we have a hard six months ahead but “if a large percentage of the population, not everyone, but a large percentage of the population wore masks on a regular basis, reasonable quality masks, that alone could reverse the epidemic.”

10:58 a.m. ET, June 28, 2020

Florida reports 8,530 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN’s Melissa Alonso

Florida health officials have reported 8,530 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH). 

On Saturday, the state saw its highest single day for cases since the start of the pandemic with 9,585.

Florida now has 141,075 Covid-19 cases and 3,518 virus-related deaths, according to DOH's daily report.

10:41 a.m. ET, June 28, 2020

The virus "still has the upper hand," former CDC director says

From CNN's Wes Bruer

Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Tom Frieden at a hearing on May 6.
Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Tom Frieden at a hearing on May 6. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Former US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden said on Fox News that although the US is doing more testing and hospitals are better prepared, “this virus still has the upper hand.”  

The increase in cases in Southern states is the result of reopening too fast and it “is going to continue to get worse for weeks,” Frieden said.

Frieden said the deaths will lag cases of infections by about a month. And while the increase in cases appears to be in younger populations, Frieden said “what starts in young adults doesn’t stay in young adults.”

Frieden estimated that in the next month, the US will see at least 15,000 more deaths from Covid-19. He also said cases will continue to rise.

“As a doctor, a scientist, an epidemiologist, I can tell you with 100% certainty that in most states where you're seeing an increase, it is a real increase. It is not more tests, it is more spread of the virus," Frieden said. "And the one number to look at that's very important is the percent of tests that’s positive. The number of cases, that can vary some because we are only diagnosing 10, 20% of all cases. So the numbers you're seeing are just a reflection, a tip of the iceberg of even more spread.”