July 6 coronavirus news

Members of the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association are urging the public to continue to wear face masks, maintain physical distance and wash their hands to combat Covid-19, in an open letter published Monday.

These are measures the groups have been promoting since the beginning of the pandemic, and that after months of implementing these practices, rates of infection and death did begin to decline. However, since states began reopening, some of these steps – which they say are critical to progress being made – “were too quickly abandoned.”

As cases begin to dramatically increase again, hospitals are at or close to intensive care unit capacity, and personal protective equipment and testing supplies are running low, the groups say that many of the hard-won gains against Covid-19 are being erased. 

They stress that reopening must not be confused with returning to normalcy.

“Doing so will escalate this crisis and result in more suffering and death,” the letter said.

The National Hockey League has revealed that the league has administered close to 3,000 Covid-19 tests ahead of the NHL’s planned restart to the current season.

In a statement released Monday, the NHL states that the league has conducted more than 1,400 Covid-19 tests in the past week with 23 of 396 players testing positive for coronavirus. 

The league says an additional 12 players were found to have tested positive for Covid-19 outside of the current optional phase two activities.

The NHL has yet to announce a start date for the season restart – a 24-team competition to crown the 2020 Stanley Cup champion.

Read the NHL's statement on the coronavirus tests:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called out July Fourth gatherings in New York City, on Fire Island and upstate where people were not socially distanced and did not wear masks. 

“I don’t know how else to say it," he added. "Actions have consequences.”

Local governments need to enforce the law, he said.

Cuomo said he understands it’s not “politically pleasant” to enforce social distancing and mask laws – “but it is the law.”

WATCH:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo brought up reopening the state's schools in the fall during today's news conference. He called that decision "uncertain" and a "fluid situation."

On reopening schools in the fall, Gov. Cuomo said no decision has been made yet, but noted, "We obviously very much would like to." 

He continued: "Nobody even knows the effect that this is going to have on students, socialization of young students, et cetera. We want kids back in school for a number of reasons but we're not going to say that children should go back to school until we know it's safe, right?" 

Cuomo said that he has asked all school districts in the state to "come up with a reopening plan." The governor cautioned, however, that just because schools have a plan, that does not mean that they will reopen. Cuomo said there are 700 school districts in the state.

WATCH:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said cases of coronavirus across the state have declined since reopening began in May.

"Every expert warned us on the reopening that you could see the numbers start to go up," Cuomo said noting that that scenario hasn't happened.

He continued:

New York City will enter phase three reopening today, but unlike other areas, phase three in the city will not include indoor dining. Personal car services and some recreational activities are allowed to reopen.

WATCH:

Seven players from the Women's National Basketball Association have tested positive for coronavirus, the league announced Monday. The WNBA tested 137 players between June 28 and July 5. 

Today, 11 of the 12 teams are set to arrive in Bradenton, Florida, the home of the 2020 season, which will be highlighted by a 22-game regular season followed by a traditional post-season.

The Indiana Fever will not arrive for at least five days "in an abundance of caution due to the CDC’s close contact self-quarantine requirements." 

The team announced Monday that two players have recently tested positive for the virus.

Read the WNBA's statement:

Harvard University is planning to bring up to 40% of undergraduates back to campus for the fall semester, including all first-year students, the school announced today.

In addition to first year students, Harvard will allow students who need to be on campus “to progress academically” to return as well.

All course instruction however, will be delivered online, including students who are living on campus. 

Those returning to campus will be required to be tested when they arrive and then regularly throughout the semester, among other safety protocols including social distancing and dedicated quarantine space in dorms.

If the school maintains their 40% capacity for the spring semester, first-years would return home and the priority is to allow the senior class to return to campus.

The school anticipates making a final decision about that matter in December.

Restaurants, gyms and other businesses will have to close this week in Florida's Miami-Dade County as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the state, Mayor Carlos Giménez announced today.

"I am continuing to roll back business openings as we continue to see a spike in the percent of positive COVID-19 tests and an uptick in hospitalizations," he said in a statement on the county website.

Starting Wednesday, these businesses must close, according to the mayor:

Giménez said outdoor activities — including condominium and hotel pools — can stay open strict social distancing and masks rules. Summer camps and child care centers can also stay open with certain capacity limits.

Office buildings, retail stores and salons are also allowed to stay open.

Beaches will reopen tomorrow, "but, if we see crowding and people not following the public health rules, I will be forced to close the beaches again," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that the coronavirus pandemic is “clearly not over” and urged Americans to wear masks and social distance.

McConnell said wearing face masks is also key, calling it “the single most important thing.”

"Not complicated,” he added of masks. "Totally available now, and everyone should be doing that."

McConnell also said the Senate will take a look at new coronavirus legislation in a couple of weeks.

If there is another bill, he said, it's vital for it to include liability protections for businesses to avoid a “second epidemic of lawsuits in the wake of the pandemic that we’re already struggling with."

“We cannot get back to normal if we have an epidemic of lawsuits,” he said. He also indicated a potential next package would focus on getting kids back to school and opening childcare.