Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker wears a mask during a press briefing on May 21. Justin L. Fowler/Pool/The State Journal-Register/AP
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pleaded with residents to wear masks during a press conference Sunday, calling it "common sense." His statement comes after announcing new rules on Friday designed to better enforce mask requirements and give local authority guidelines to enforce compliance.
“Imagine if someone could walk into a restaurant, light a cigarette, blow smoke in your face, and all the smoker had to say is 'well it’s my choice,’" Pritzker said.
Illinois reported 1,382 new cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths on Sunday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
In the past two days, the state has seen the numbers of new cases surpass 2,000, which was a record high since IDPH reported 2,508 new cases back on May 24.
6:01 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Texas reports 4,789 new coronavirus cases and 116 new deaths
From CNN's Slover Morrison
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported 4,789 new coronavirus cases and 116 new deaths Sunday
There are now a total of 486,362 coronavirus cases and 8,459 deaths in the state of Texas, according to the health website.
6:01 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Brazilian president attacks lockdowns and the media
From journalist Rodrigo Pedroso in Sao Paulo
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has used an online post to criticize coronavirus lockdown measures and news coverage of the pandemic, in his first comments almost a full day after Brazil surpassed 100,000 coronavirus deaths.
In a series of tweets Sunday, Bolsonaro pointed to a story published by the UK’s Daily Mail that criticizes lockdown measures to address the spread of coronavirus.
It concludes that lockdown killed two people for every three with Covid in the UK. In Brazil, even without official data, the numbers would not be very different," Bolsonaro tweeted.
The Daily Mail article suggests “it is thought that as many as 16,000 people died because they didn't get medical care between March 23 and May 1.” The story claims – without evidence – that those people didn't go to hospital during lockdown because they feared catching the virus.
Bolsonaro went on to criticize Brazil’s biggest TV station without specifically naming it, saying the TV station “only spreads panic in the population and the discord among the powers” and “disdained, debauched and discouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine."
Brazil surpassed 100,000 coronavirus deaths on Saturday and cases in the country are now more than 3 million, according to the latest numbers by the country's Health Ministry.
Bolsonaro's only mention of the 100,000 coronavirus deaths reached in his country on Saturday was to criticize the TV station's coverage of the topic.
“In a cowardly and disrespectful manner to the 100,000 dead Brazilians, this TV celebrated that date yesterday, as a true World Cup final, blaming the President of the Republic for all the deaths," he wrote.
He added that “misinformation kills even more than the virus itself. Time and science will show us that Covid's political use of this TV has brought us deaths that could have been avoided.”
4:57 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
2,127 new coronavirus cases, 8 new deaths reported in Tennessee on Sunday
From CNN's Slover Morrison
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 2,127 new coronavirus cases and eight new deaths Sunday.
5,304 people have been hospitalized with 42 additional hospitalizations reported Sunday.
4:59 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Nevada reports more than 11% positivity rate
From CNN's Slover Morrison
An 11.3% daily positivity rate was reported by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (NVDHHS) Sunday.
About 811 new coronavirus cases and eight new deaths were reported Sunday.
The cumulative positivity rate for the state is 10.4%, according to the NVDHHS website.
A total of 56,230 cases and 957 deaths have been reported statewide.
At least 796 patients with confirmed cases and 180 patients with suspected cases have been hospitalized, with 278 admitted to the ICU, the website said.
3:59 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
This is what Miami Beach looked like over the weekend
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
The scene of Miami Beach on Saturday, August 8, 2020.
A photo taken on Miami Beach Saturday afternoon shows beachgoers crowded on the sand and water. Jason Mac took the photo around 4 p.m. with his 600mm telephoto lens, which he says compresses the image and space between people.
Miami Beach is in Miami Dade County. The county has the most infections in Florida with 131,553 total Covid-19 cases as of Sunday.
4:04 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Nine Covid-19 cases reported at Georgia high school days after viral photo of crowded hallway
From CNN’s Chandler Thornton
Students at North Paulding High School walk through a crowded hallway. Courtesy Hannah Watters
At this time, we know there were six students and three staff members who were in school for at least some time last week who have since reported to us that they have tested positive,” the letter from Principal Gabe Carmona read.
CNN obtained the letter from Michelle Salas, a parent of a North Paulding High School student.
The student, Hannah Watters, was later suspended for posting the photos but on Friday, the high school said in a statement that it had "rescinded" the suspension.
3:11 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Michigan governor says Trump's executive actions do "nothing to protect the millions of unemployed Americans"
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said President Trump’s recent executive action does “nothing to protect the millions of unemployed Americans who need to put food on the table for themselves and their families.”
“He cut federal funding for unemployed workers and is requiring states that are facing severe holes in our budgets to provide 25% of the funding. His refusal to provide full federal funding to states across the country to help us combat this virus will hurt the brave men and women on the front lines of this crisis, like our first responders, health care workers, child care workers, and more” Whitmer said in a statement today.
Trump is more focused on winning the November election than fighting Covid-19, the governor said in her statement.
Read a breakdown of what's in Trump's executive actions here.
3:07 p.m. ET, August 9, 2020
Georgia reports more than 3,100 new coronavirus cases and 13 additional deaths
From CNN's Natasha Chen
Georgia's health department reported 3,177 new coronavirus cases and 13 new deaths Sunday.
There were also 72 hospitalizations reported by the department.
There are now a total of 216,596 coronavirus cases and 4,199 deaths in Georgia.
