Coronavirus USA summary: cases, deaths, stimulus checks and news
Coronavirus live: USA latest news 28 June 2020
US coronavirus latest: 15:15 PT/18:15 ET on Sunday 28 June (00:15 CEST on Monday 29 June)
According to the latest figures published by John Hopkins University, 10,070,339 cases have been detected worldwide, with 500,306 deaths and 5,096,083 people recovered.
In the USA, there have been 2,542,675 confirmed cases and 125,763 deaths with 685,164 people recovered from the virus.
Anti-mask protests
People in Austin, Texas take part in a protest against mandates to wear masks amid the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday.
(Photo: REUTERS/Sergio Flores)
Worldwide Covid-19 deaths pass 500,000 mark
The global death toll in the coronavirus pandemic has passed 500,000, according to figures compiles by Johns Hopkins University. As of 17:25 ET, there had been 500,108 fatalities from 10,063,319 cases worldwide, JHU said.
With 125,747 total deaths from 2,539,544 cases, the United States is by a distance the world’s worst-affected country.
Stimulus check: how do I know it is not a fraudulent call?
Avoiding fraudulent stimulus check calls
Scammers are taking advantage of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic to try and con people out of sensitive personal information.
Full details:
Second stimulus check update: is another payment on the way?
Second stimulus check update: is another payment on the way?
Amid the coronavirus crisis, Americans are waiting to find out whether there will be a second round of stimulus checks, officially known as Economic Impact Payments.
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The numbers simply can't keep rising without there being serious repercussions. “I don’t think this is a second surge . . . I think this is a continuation of the first wave and it was a failed effort to stop the first wave in the country,” said the US health secretary.
Several states continue to record daily highs after four days in a row where the US recorded over 40 thousand new cases.
The governor of New York continues to criticise Donald Trump and has recently says the president is in denial. There is nothing to suggest he's wrong.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan celebrates mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York on Sunday, as it reopens for services at 25% capacity.
(Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
CDC add three new Covid-19 symptoms to their list
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added three new symptoms of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to its existing list., HT reported. Congestion or runny nose, nausea and diarrhoea have been added to the US health protection agency’s list of 12 common symptoms.
Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, loss of smell or taste and sore throat are the symptoms that are already in CDC’s list.
“This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about Covid-19,” the agency said on its website.
Covid-19 infection control "almost medieval"
Contact-tracing apps have not managed to stem the transmission of Covid-19 during the pandemic, amid concerns about privacy. Professor Micheal Baker of Wellington University in New Zealand told The Economist, "You can use a bush fire metaphor if you like, basically they have just poured water on the whole thing so it couldn't be transmitted and then use contact tracing to deal with the hot embers that were left, then shut the borders, which is like a firebreak and will stop more fire coming in".
Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Nevada all hit new Covid-19 records
Four states set record single-day highs for positive Covid-19 infection cases on Saturday. Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Nevada all hit record figures with Nevada more than doubling their highest daily total.
Nevada had never reported more than 500 cases in a day but, on Saturday, the state reported almost 1100.
Georgia also reported a record high in cases at almost 2000. The seven-day average for cases has nearly tripled since late May. Hospitalizations have also gone right back up after falling from May into June.
Meanwhile, South Carolina went past its original record mark for most Covid-19 cases in a single day with nearly 1,599 positive tests on Saturday. Previously, the high was 1,293. Also, there were 15 new confirmed deaths and 2 probable deaths listed in the stated related to Covid-19.
The Florida Department of Health reported a total of 132,545 cases of Covid-19 with 9,636 new positive cases on Saturday. The total of tests yesterday was 76,129 with a 12.7% testing positive.
Drinking at bars banned in Florida
Florida has announced a ban on alcohol consumption at its bars after its daily confirmed coronavirus cases approaching 9,000. The Florida agency that governs bars announced the ban just moments after the state's Department of Health reported 8,942 new confirmed cases – topping the previous record of 5,500 set on Wednesday.
"Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide," the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation tweeted.
State officials have attributed much of the new outbreak to young adults flocking to bars after they reopened in most of the state about a month ago, with many of them ignoring social distancing restrictions aimed at lowering the virus's spread.
Global Covid-19 cases hit 10 million
According to John Hopkins University, confirmed cases of Covid-19 around the world reached a new milestone just after midday on Sunday (CEST), with figures hitting 10,001,527.
It seems likely that the number of global death toll will reach half a million at some point today, it currently stands at 499,124.
St. Louis mayor gives out names and addresses of protesters who want to defund police
During the question-and-answer portion of a Facebook Live appearance, Mayor Lyda Krewson was asked about a meeting she had with protesters at City Hall earlier that day.
Krewson then gathered a stack of papers she was given by those demonstrators and began reading their requests, which included their ideas for how the city should spend their budget. Among them was defunding the police department.
She followed up the proposals by then reading the person's name and address, which was bleeped out in the video available on Twitter.
In a statement released Friday, the St. Louis mayor apologized for reading out the contact information and said she did not mean "harm" on the demonstrators.
Almost 80% of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Europe were in people over 75
Almost 80% of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Europe were in people over 75, a staggering toll on the region’s oldest citizens that is shaping public-health policy as authorities look ahead to the fall and winter.
Dr. Hans Kluge, the regional director for WHO Europe, revealed that 95% of Covid-19 fatalities on the continent have been people older than 60. Additionally, more than 50% of all deaths in Europe were people aged 80 or older.
However, younger people are not immune. Ten to 15% of people under 50 with the coronavirus have developed moderate or severe infection.
China winning race for coronavirus vaccine
China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said on Sunday that early human test results for a coronavirus vaccine candidate suggested it could be safe and effective, the second vaccine candidate from the firm to show encouraging results in a clinical trial.
The experimental shot, developed by a Beijing-based unit of CNBG, has induced high-level antibodies in all the inoculated participants in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial involving 1,120 healthy people, according to preliminary data of the trial, CNBG said in a posting on the social media platform WeChat, without disclosing specific readings.
Chinese companies and researchers have been allowed to test eight vaccine candidates in humans at home and abroad, making China a major front-runner in the race to develop a shot against the virus that has killed nearly 500,000 people globally. CNBG, affiliated to the state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), said earlier this month that another vaccine candidate produced by its Wuhan-based unit also triggered high-level antibodies safely in clinical trial participants based on preliminary results.
A vaccine has to prove its effectiveness in 'Phase 3' human test where thousands of participants are recruited in order to be cleared for sale. CNBG said on Tuesday it will run a Phase 3 for its vaccine candidate in the United Arab Emirates, without specifying which shot will be tested.
Texas mayor orders curfew amid COVID-19 spread
A small city on the outskirts of Houston, Texas has instituted a curfew starting Saturday night due to surging cases of the novel coronavirus, the latest move by officials in some southern and western states to backtrack on their reopening plans.
Underscoring the worsening spread of the virus, Florida on Saturday morning reported 9,585 new infections in the last 24 hours, marking a record high for a second day, and 24 additional deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
The mayor of Galena Park, a community of 10,000 people east of Houston, said she was heeding a warning from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who on Friday raised the public threat level to its most severe, a sign people should shelter at home.
"It is crucial to continue to practice good hygiene, stay home as much as possible, avoid unnecessary trips, gatherings, and wear a face-covering at all times when you leave your home,"
Mayor Esmeralda Moya said in a statement. Galena Park's curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.
Global Citizen Covid-19 fundraising meeting raises $6.9 bln
A pledging summit on Saturday raised 6.15 billion euros ($6.9 billion) to tackle COVID-19. The event was part of a joint initiative by the European Commission and the advocacy group Global Citizen and included a star-studded globally televised and streamed concert.
Rolling Stones warn Trump not to use their songs
Iconic rockers, Rolling Stones have warned US President Donald Trump that he could face legal action if he continues using their songs at his campaign rallies.
Disneyland workers fear for their health
Workers at California's Disneyland Resort protested this Saturday from their cars, assuring that the company has not given them safety and health guarantees when they open their doors to the public again.
USA exceeds 2.5 million infections
According to the Reuters count, the United States has already surpassed 2.5 million infections and there are also more than 125,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
USA on high alert for coronavirus
This Saturday it was reported that five states in the USA reached their maximum daily number of coronavirus cases, for which reason, Mike Pence's vice president canceled his previously scheduled campaign events.
Miami fining people for not wearing a face mask as Covid-19 cases increase
No mask, fine
As in, pay up...
If Prometheus can wear one, so can you
The Greek god in the Rockefeller Center in New York.
Miami beaches closed due to coronavirus
Due to the increase in coronavirus infections in recent days, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez said he will close the beaches over the weekend of July 4.
“I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk”, he said.
Summer movie blockbusters delayed again as Disney pushes 'Mulan' to August
Walt Disney Co postponed the debut of live-action movie "Mulan" until Aug. 21, the company said in a statement on Friday, a blow to theater operators who want blockbuster movies to draw audiences from their homes in the middle of a pandemic.
"Mulan" was scheduled to debut in March but was postponed until July 24 when the coronavirus outbreak forced theaters around the world to close.
"While the pandemic has changed our release plans for 'Mulan' and we will continue to be flexible as conditions require, it has not changed our belief in the power of this film and its message of hope and perseverance," Alan Horn and Alan Bergman, co-chairmen of Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement.
Confidence low
This is the big problem with too-aggressive reopening... it doesn't actually help the economy.
2.5 million cases in the US
The United States has gone past the 2.5 million case mark, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. That's just over 0.75% of the population. The US has seen over 125,000 deaths from the disease.
Worldwide the global case tally is close to 10 million cases, while the death toll is fast approaching half a million.
The good news: over five million people have now recovered from Covid-19.
Global Goal concert
If you missed it, it's well worth catching the Global Goal concert aired earlier today.
Performances from Shakira, Coldplay, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Bieber and Quavo, Miley Cyrus, Chloe x Halle, J Balvin, Yemi Alade, Christine and the Queen... 'Helpless' from Hamilton was superb.
News headlines
- Texas reports 5,747 new cases today. Total cases: 143,371
- Washington State reopening put on hold as cases rise
- VP Pence suspends Florida and Arizona events as cases surge.
- California records increase of 5,972 cases in a single day.
- Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell has said people should wear masks until there is a vaccine
Latest stimulus check news
New daily highs for cases of Covid-19 in Florida, Arizona and Nevada
Florida reported 9,585 new infections in the last 24 hours this morning, while Arizona recorded 3,591. Meanwhile Nevada reported 1,099 new Covid-19 infections.
As noted almost everywhere, these significant rises in the number of cases has occurred mainly in southern and western states that reopened earlier and more aggressively than elsewhere.
Meanwhile New York and adjacent states who were by far the worst hit initially are seeing declining cases and are continuing with reopening.
Hello and welcome to our US-focused coverage of the coronavirus pandemic
The number of cases continues to rise in extremely worrying fashion in the United States, with the country recording its highest-ever one-day total on Friday, with 45,942 new infections. More than half of all states are seeing a rise in daily cases.
In total in the US there have been over a quarter of a million confirmed cases, with over 125,000 deaths from Covid-19.