At least 42 workers at this US construction site have tested positive for coronavirus
This June 13, 2014, file photo shows construction on a new nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle power plant in Waynesboro, Georgia. John Bazemore/AP
At least 42 workers have tested positive for coronavirus at a construction site in Waynesboro, Georgia, a spokesman for Georgia Power told CNN.
The company is awaiting test results for 57 workers.
The site is constructing the Plant Vogtle Units 3&4, which will be the first new nuclear units built in the United States in the past three decades, according to Georgia Power’s website.
The Vogtle site will produce enough electricity to power 1 million Georgia homes and businesses once completed.
Georgia has reported at least 14,987 coronavirus cases, including 552 death, according to Johns Hopkins University.
12:38 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
India has confirmed more than 12,000 total cases
From CNN's Vedika Sud in New Delhi
A total of 12,380 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in India, including 414 deaths, as of Thursday morning, local time.
The total includes 1,489 people who have been discharged or recovered.
In the past 24 hours, 941 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported. Another 37 deaths were also reported.
As of Wednesday night, a total of 274,599 samples have been tested.
12:33 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
Some labs say testing capacity is not an issue as others report shortages
From CNN’s Curt Devine
Some commercial lab companies say they’ve seen some recent decline in demand for coronavirus tests.
A spokesperson for Quest Diagnostics said demand declined in recent days following weeks of increases, allowing the company to wipe out the remnants of its coronavirus test backlog. The company’s average turnaround time is now less than two days.
When a LabCorp spokesperson was asked if the company has recently performed fewer coronavirus tests, he replied: “It is not atypical for us to receive fewer samples over the weekend. In addition, the Passover and Easter holidays made for a slower than usual week.”
He added that LabCorp’s turnaround time is now also on average one to two days.
A spokesperson for Eurofins USA said the company’s labs have excess testing capacity, in part because many hospitals that had the greatest demand for coronavirus testing recently took their testing in-house. The spokesperson said another contributing factor is that a few Eurofins labs have been denied entry into some insurance-plan networks.
12:29 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
Alaska residents will be allowed to go to non-urgent doctor's appointments from Monday
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Wednesday that residents will be allowed to have non-urgent doctor’s appointments again beginning on April 20 as the state makes its first step toward rolling back coronavirus restrictions.
Procedures that will be allowed include regular checkups, chiropractic procedures and physical therapy.
Patients will have to be prescreened before going to the practitioner’s office to make sure they are not experiencing Covid-19 symptoms. The order also says that most elective medical procedures will be allowed under the same provisions starting two weeks later, on May 4.
Alaska has reported at least 293 confirmed coronavirus cases, and nine deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
12:25 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
Minnesota governor says state should increase testing before it considers reopening
From CNN’s Renee Baharaeen
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz provides an update on the state's next steps to respond to the coronavirus during a news conference on Wednesday, April 8 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, Pool
Minnesota should increase testing for Covid-19 before it considers reopening and allowing everyone to return to work, Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“I want to have the testing be at a pace that over the next 12 months to 18 months or whatever it takes to get a vaccine, we’re able to stay on top of this. "Basically, this is a wildfire that's going to have some hot embers burning and when those start to flare up again, we’re going to have the fire department there to put them out immediately. And that’s what testing does.”
Walz lamented the lack of testing on a national scale, but said he thought Minnesota had an opportunity for more antibody testing. There should be no rush to send everyone back to work, he said.
Minnesota has reported at least 1,809 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 87 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
12:22 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
France's President says US and China back a world truce -- and he thinks Putin will "definitely agree
From CNN's Pierre Bairin and Emma Reynolds
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech outside the Emile Muller Hospital in Mulhouse in eastern France, on March 25. Mathieu Cugnot/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron said he has backing for a world truce during the coronavirus pandemic and is hopeful he can secure Russian President Vladimir Putin's support.
Speaking on French radio, Macron said he had secured the agreement of several of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to back a call by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire.
In a wide-ranging interview with RFI on Tuesday evening, Macron said that China, the US and the UK were on board and he was optimistic about Russia.
"President Xi Jinping confirmed his agreement to me," said Macron. "President Trump confirmed his agreement to me. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed his agreement to me. I think President Putin will definitely agree too."
Macron did not provide more details about his conversations with those world leaders.
What other world leaders are saying: CNN has contacted the Chinese mission to the UN and the US State Department for comment.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday: "Most likely, work is underway -- at the expert level, our diplomats are working on this before we can join it. As soon as this work is completed and (passes) approval with other partners, relevant statements will be made."
The UK signed up to the plan two weeks ago in response to the call from Guterres.
"The UK supports the UN secretary-general's call for a global ceasefire; the UN's ability to deliver humanitarian aid is a priority," a spokesman for the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office told CNN.
Los Angeles can expect to see sporting events without audiences, mayor says
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that it will be difficult to see large gatherings or sporting events until next year.
During a news conference Wednesday, Garcetti was asked if it would be possible to see athletes play without an audience.
“I think that's probably something that we will see before we see stadiums full," he replied.
He said it’s going to be difficult to imagine going back to large gatherings this year -- and we don’t know when those things will return.
We do know that the more we do now, the sooner it’ll come, he added, as he urged residents to continue practicing physical distancing.
“Right now, there are no small gatherings and getting back to medium and large gatherings will take time,” he said.
12:11 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
First known active NFL player tests positive for Covid-19
Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) is seen during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday, December 2, 2018. Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brian Allen, a center for the Los Angeles Rams, has tested positive for the coronavirus, a Rams spokesman told CNN on Wednesday.
Allen is the first known active United States National Football League (NFL) player to test positive for Covid-19.
This news was first reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
12:03 a.m. ET, April 16, 2020
More than 638,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in the US
At least 638,111 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the United States, including at least 30,844 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.
On Wednesday, Johns Hopkins recorded 28,871 new cases and 4,811 reported deaths in the US.
The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as all repatriated cases.
Johns Hopkins University tells CNN they are working on the “probable deaths” presently. The 4,811 deaths noted above are likely to include the probable deaths and therefore the number is likely inflated.
Check out CNN’s map which uses JHU data and refreshes every 15 mins.
