Officials in Ireland have taken a unique approach to ensure citizens are complying with lockdown restrictions.Dr. Tony Holohan, chief medical officer for Ireland's Department of Health said earthquake-measuring technology from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies' National Seismic Network has shown an increase of car traffic noise and reverberation, The BBC reported, meaning there were more people out and about, either walking or driving. Holohan said the results were concerning, as restrictions are set to continue until May 5. However, Liz Canavan, a senior civil servant in the Department of the Taoiseach, said traffic was “in line with previous weeks.”
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization and other world leaders about the coronavirus outbreak during a video conference at the Elysee Palace Friday, April 24, 2020 in Paris. Emmanuel Macron urged leaders of the world's biggest economies to "show the world that it's possible to succeed when we are all together and unite our forces." (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)
Just five days after reopening to the public, beaches in Sydney, Australia, have closed again. Police and lifeguards moved people away from beaches across the area and fenced off access after news of a fifth death in a Sydney nursing home related to COVID-19. Just hours before the closure, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned that beaches would be closely monitored. Now, residents are being told to stay away from beaches and to go home.
April 24, 12:07 p.m.
Effective April 24, United Airlines will require all flight attendants to wear face coverings or masks while working. The airline said this will be in line with the CDC recommendation concerning face coverings when social distancing is not possible. United said there will be 20 masks on every domestic flight and 40 on every international flight, according to CNN. Flight attendants are able to wear their own face masks or the ones that will be provided by United. The decision came in line with their partnership in the Association of Flight Attendants.
April 24, 11:25 a.m.
The death toll in the U.S. due to the coronavirus has surpassed 50,000. This is the highest number of fatalities reported by any other country in the world, and isnearly double that of Italy, the country with the second-highest death toll, according to the latest analysis by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. also accounts for more than 30% of the 2.7 million COVID-19 cases globally.
The manufacturer, British company, Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB), said it has a responsibility to provide consumers with accurate and up-to-date information that health experts provide. "As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route). As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information," the statement read.
To help prevent this scenario from unfolding, the WHO is urging a quick distribution of supplies across the region before the worst of the coronavirus outbreak. “WHO urges countries to move fast and distribute malaria prevention and treatment tools at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa, and to do their utmost to safely maintain these essential malaria control services,” the WHO said in a statement. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 90% of the malaria-related deaths globally.
April 24, 9:24 a.m.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that he was extending the state's stay-at-home order through May 30, but with some modifications. Because the state is currently bending the curve of COVID-19 cases, the governor said starting May 1 hospitals can begin to perform non-life-threatening surgeries again and retail stores can offer pick-up and delivery options. Some Illinois state parks are also expected to reopen to allow for hiking, as well as fishing and boating. Nearly 37,000 cases have been reported in the state and over 1,600 residents have died.
"On an optimistic note, May will look somewhat different than March and April," Pritzker said on Twitter. "My intention as always is to put your health and safety first as we make some practical adjustments based on what we’ve learned the first five weeks of the stay-at-home order."
April 24, 8:14 a.m.
With demand for produce plummeting in the U.S., farmers are having to destroy crops. That's the case for Jack Vessey who operates Vessey Farm, one of the nation's largest lettuce producers, in California. The farm was started in the 1920s and has been run by three generations of the family, but this year is no longer harvesting any lettuce because demand has dried up. Vessey told Nick Cardona of Veuer News that not being able to harvest the food "and feed the nation is stressful and hurtful" not only to him, but also to the many people who work on the farm. He said more than $1 million worth of lettuce has already been lost and that he's had to lay off more than 150 employees.
April 24, 6:41 a.m.
As the United States approaches 50,000 fatalities on Friday morning, here are the latest updated totals from around the globe, according to Johns Hopkins University:
Total confirmed cases: 2,719,522
Total deaths: 191,228
Total recovered: 745,605
Raelene Critchlow, 86, receives a visit from her great-grandchild Camille Carter, 6, at Creekside Senior Living, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Bountiful, Utah. Window visits help seniors connect to families despite coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
April 23, 9:55 p.m.
The first human trials for a COVID-19 vaccine have begun in Europe.The vaccine was developed in three months by a team from Oxford University in England, and two volunteers out of a total of 800 have already received the vaccine, the BBC reported. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford's Jenner Institute who led the pre-clinical research, told the BBC she has a “high degree of confidence” in the vaccine. "Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population,” she said.
April 23, 8:53 p.m.
As the coronavirus continues to spread, meat aisles at many supermarkets are sparse, which is causing some concern.To solve this issue, fishermen in Florida want to help people by providing fresh fish during the pandemic. “You’re gonna be safer in my opinion on my boat with two or three other people, that you are walking down the isle of the supermarket,” Captain Les Baron, owner of fishing charter Brown Dog Adventures, told AccuWeather reporter Jonathan Petramala. However, as Petramala reports, some fishing captains say new rules are providing confusion on if they can provide charter fishing trips to clients.
April 23, 7:50 p.m.
New findings show hot, humid weather may slow the spread of COVID-19,Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology for the Department of Homeland Security Bill Bryan said on Thursday during the daily White House press briefing. Bryan said COVID-19 survives best when indoors and in dry conditions, and does not survive well in saliva or respiratory fluids. The virus dies the quickest when exposed to sunlight. “The virus is dying at a much more rapid pace, just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity,” he said.
While these findings may look optimistic for warmer climates, Bryan further warned that regardless of weather, people should continue to follow social distancing guidelines. “It would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer will just totally kill the virus… that's not the case,” he said. However, he did suggest that as weather warms up across the U.S., any gathering that take place would be safer outdoors rather than inside. Studies have gone back and forth on whether or not the summer weather will impact the spread of the virus, and a recent study has suggested that the temperatures needed to kill the virus are far too high for the virus to be killed by natural weather conditions, AccuWeather's Mark Puleo reported.
April 23, 7:04 p.m.
Amid shelter-in-place orders, sales of new home in the U.S. dropped 15.4% in March after an early drop of 4.6% during February, The Associated Press reported. Sales fell the most in the Northeast, plunging 41.5%, and 38.5% in the West. Sales declined by 8.1% in the Midwest and .8% in the South. Senior economist at Nationwide, Ben Ayers, told the AP that sales activities in the coming months will also take a hit from shutdowns and layoffs, but that there should be a rebound once the impacts of the virus ease up.
The state of New York could have more cases of COVID-19 than what is officially reported. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state has a 13.9% infection rate for COVID-19, according to antibody studies that show if a person has either had or currently has the virus. The study used 3,000 samples across 19 counties, Cuomo said.In New York City, the infection rate is even higher at 21.2%. “It wouldn’t surprise me if, at this point in time, we have probably close to 1 million New Yorkers who have been exposed to COVID-19,” city Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said, according to The Associated Press.
People line up at Gotham Health East New York, a COVID-19 testing center Thursday, April 23, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
“We believe the post included inappropriate characterizations of the study. Importantly, because this study was terminated early due to low enrollment, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions,” Gilead told CNBC. “As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease.”
With thetourism sector in Australia experiencing a halt in operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, one tourism company is making use of its time to benefit the environment.Employees at Passions of Paradise, an Australian dive tour company, are giving back to the ocean by planting coral on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The company has also donated a catamaran and fuel as they volunteer for the Coral Nurture Program, an initiative started by the tourism and science sectors to protect the GBR. “We have been assisting Dr. David Suggett’s team from the University of Technology Sydney who is conducting reef resilience research at one of our 26 reef sites,” Scott Garden, CEO of Passions of Paradise, told Australian travel publisher Karryon.
"I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you one more time'—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I'll miss you dearly my brother," Warren said on Twitter.
April 23, 12:42 p.m.
New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot warned Thursday that the city is just at "the tip of the iceberg" with coronavirus cases. Barbot also mentioned how she wouldn't be surprised if "close to a million New Yorkers" have been exposed to COVID-19. New York City has seen a downward trend in number of hospital admissions, suspected cases, and ICU patients in public hospitals. Percentage of positive cases citywide also decreased from 33% to 32% on Monday, according to CNN. The city currently has nearly 150,000 confirmed cases and over 15,000 deaths from COVID-19.
April 23, 12:05 p.m.
During his Wednesday coronavirus briefing at the White House, President Trump said he disagreed with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to begin reopening the state. “I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing,”Trump said. “I think it’s too soon.” Kemp announced earlier this week that businesses such as gyms, nail salons, barber shops and bowling alleys would be able to open as soon as Friday, April 24. The response drew heavy criticism from public health officials who said it was too early to begin lifting restrictions. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told ABC News this week that even though Kemp's order supersedes her decision-making, she was still going to urge all residents to continue to stay at home.
April 23 11:39 a.m.
Investigators are now investigating possible cases of coronavirus in the San Francisco Bay Area that could go as far back as December after it was recently discovered that 57-year-old woman who died in early February was infected with the virus. Originally, it was thought that the virus first started spreading in the Bay Area on Feb. 26 but new tissue samples showed that community spread was as early as January in the Bay Area, according to The New York Times. The woman was reported to have flulike symptoms, but tested negative for the flu before she passed away on Feb. 6, the Times reported.
April 23, 10:53 a.m.
Eight big cats have now tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bronx Zoo. This comes only a few weeks after it was first reported that one of the tigers at the zoo had tested positive for the illness. Three African lions were among the eight that tested positive. One of the big cats that tested positive has shown no symptoms, which is similar to how some humans show no symptoms and act as carriers, according to ABC News. According to a statement from the zoo, the big cats caught the virus from "a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus." The zoo also mentioned that the resources used to test the animals did not take away from those being needed for human testing. While the disease can hop from human to animal, there have been no confirmed transmissions from animal to human.
April 23, 10:34 a.m.
Officials in the Japanese city of Sakura took a dramatic step this week to help enforce social distancing practices. According to a report from Reuters, officials in the city, located about 30 miles from Tokyo, removed over 100,000 tulips from a local park, and canceled an upcoming tulip festival. “Many visitors came on the weekend when the flowers were in full bloom. It became a mass gathering so we had no choice but to make the decision to cut the flowers,” Sakiho Kusano, a city tourism official, told Reuters. A nationwide state of emergency order is in effect for Japan and the country's total number of COVID-19 cases is closing in on 12,000. After some rain moves through on Friday, the weather in Sakura will be nice this weekend according to the AccuWeather forecast. Plenty of sunshine is expected and temps will climb to the mid-70s by Sunday, which is about 10 degrees above average for this time of year.
April 23, 10:02 a.m.
Wednesday was the deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic so far for California. According to a report from The San Francisco Chronicle, 118 people died Wednesday according to data provided the state's 58 counties. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has over 35,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,200 of those cases represent patients currently in intensive care. "California is flattening the curve--but only if we continue to take this seriously. Stay home. And practice physical distancing," Newsom wrote on Twitter.
A sign announces a coronavirus closure at a restaurant in Livermore Falls, Maine, Thursday, April 16, 2020. A massive explosion at a paper mill in the neighboring town of Jay, Maine on Wednesday threatens to add further unemployment to a region already hurt by coronavirus-related job losses. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
April 23, 8:33 a.m.
Tyson Foods announced Wednesday that it was suspending operations at two pork plants in Waterloo, Iowa, and Logansport, Indiana. The roughly 5,000 employees that work at the two plants are expected to undergo COVID-19 testing this week. The Waterloo facility is the company's largest pork plant, while the Logansport operation produces 3 million pounds of pork daily, the company said. Both the Waterloo and Logansport employees will continue to be compensated during the closures. Earlier this week, the company announced that it had resumed limited operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, after the facility was shuttered for two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns. Several other meat processing companies including JBS USA and Smithfield have had to close processing plants in the last week due to the pandemic.
“Closing facilities has serious implications to the national food supply for American families, local communities, growers and farmers,” said Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods. “When a facility closes, the availability of protein for consumers across the nation will only decrease. Consumers will see an impact at the grocery store as production slows. It also means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and contributes to the disruption of the nation’s pork supply.”
April 23, 7:41 a.m.
One entire California town located near Silicon Valley has been tested for coronavirus, according to a recent Reuters report. The rural town of Bolinas in Marin County, with a population of 1,640, raised funds to test the residents as part of a partnership with infectious disease researchers from the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Aenor Sawyer, an assistant researcher at UCSF and Bolinas resident, told Reuters that the town is "uniquely situated teach the medical community about how the disease spreads because it lies two miles from a highway with no through road." “So we’re fairly isolated, rural, and (with) stable ecosystems right now for the last several weeks. So it will be very interesting to see the footprint of the virus in this arena,” Sawyer said.
At least they had good weather on their wedding day. The coronavirus pandemic has pretty much ruined wedding plans for couples all across the country in recent weeks, but in Anaheim, California, couples went ahead with their nuptials -- even if the venue was a random parking lot and officiant who was marrying them was standing in a booth and behind a glass shield. Officiants communicated with couples tying the knot using a walkie-talkie. But again -- focus on the positive -- the weather was terrific, sunny and comfortable with highs in the mid-70s. And these newlyweds tied the knot just in the nick of time, because a heatwave is moving into Southern California tomorrow. Watch below.
Killing germs, providing immunity and health promotion are more relevant to some consumers now than claims around naturalness, sustainability, quality and brand; however, killing germs with the added benefit of doing so naturally has the strongest relevance in Germany, China and Italy, according to research by Nielsen.
Top 5 product benefits that consumers are willing to spend more for, according to Nielsen research:
Protects family against germs and bacteria
Kills germs and bacteria in an effective way
Kills germs and bacteria in a natural way
Keeps my immune system strong
Keeps my family safe from diseases
April 22, 3:20 p.m.
Two pet cats in New York state tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first cases of the virus in household pets in the U.S., The Associated Press reported, citing federal officials. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the two pets had contracted the virus from people in their households or neighborhoods. “We don’t want people to panic. We don’t want to be afraid of pets,” CDC official Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh told the AP. The CDC is recommending people keep their pets indoors to prevent them from interacting with people or other animals.
The mayor said he's working with Macy's, which sponsors the fireworks show, to make sure the city can find a way to celebrate America's birthday, even if it's in a different manner than previous years. "No matter what the coronavirus throws at us, we're gonna find a way to honor America on that beautiful day," he said.
April 22, 1:20 p.m.
"It's a little windy out here, Andrea."High winds in Washington, D.C., wreaked havoc on MSNBC correspondent Kristen Welker's live report from the nation's capital on Wednesday afternoon. Welker was reporting on Attorney General William Barr warning states not to go too far with stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic when a gust of wind unexpectedly blew over two parts of a lighting rig. Welker deftly sidestepped the falling lighting gear and continued with her report. Thankfully, she was unharmed, and told anchor Andrea Mitchell, "They fell in front of me, so we're OK." D.C. weather today is sunny with highs in the mid-50s -- and gusts of wind, as the video showed. Watch it below.
April 22, 12:38 p.m.
Sweden is one of the few countries around the world that hasn't issued mandatory lockdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the country's chief epidemiologist says "herd immunity" can be reached in a couple weeks and that the country's strategy appears to be working. “In major parts of Sweden, around Stockholm, we have reached a plateau (in new cases) and we’re already seeing the effect of herd immunity and in a few weeks’ time we’ll see even more of the effects of that. And in the rest of the country, the situation is stable,” Dr. Anders Tegnell told CNBC on Tuesday.
People visit the Raslambshovsparken Park in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday April 18, 2020. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT via AP)
April 22, 11:42 a.m.
The first COVID-19-related fatalities in the U.S. happened earlier than thought, according to The Washington Post. California health officials said Tuesday that tissue samples from autopsies of two people who died in Santa Clara County in Northern California on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17 respectively tested positive for the virus. The nation's first coronavirus fatality was initially reported to have occurred on Feb. 29 in Washington state. “The fact that there were deaths related to covid back in early February is very significant, because it means the virus was around for a lot longer than was initially realized,” Jeff Smith, a physician and the county executive in Santa Clara, told the Post.
April 22, 11:14 a.m.
Beer lovers and breweries continue to be hit hard by the pandemic in Germany.On Tuesday German officials announced that Oktoberfest, called "the biggest and most beautiful beer festival in the world" by Bavaria's minister, has been canceled. Earlier this week, Euronews reported that Werneck Brewery, which has operated for over 400 years and survived multiple world wars, would close its doors in September and that at least 15 workers would lose their jobs.
"My family and I will miss it so much," Werneck Brewery manager Christine Lang said, according to Euronews. "The brewery has always been present, it was part of every dinner table conversation all our lives. We will be missing part of our identity, and in a way, the whole region will too."
Severe weather is forecast to strike the southern Plains today, and some storms have already begun to fire across the region. Dallas is one of the cities at risk for the dangerous weather, and city officials announced Wednesday morning that the Ellis Davis Field House community based COVID-19 testing site would be closed due to the weather. "Dallas' American Airlines Center test site will remain open and will conduct testing until 5 p.m.," city officials said. The current AccuWeather forecast in Dallas as of 9:15 a.m. local time shows temperatures in the upper 60s with a light rain falling. The weather through the remainder of the week in the city looks to be considerably nicer than Wednesday with highs in mid-70s to low 80s and mostly sunny conditions expected.
April 22, 9:45 a.m.
CDC director gives dire warning about future of the pandemic. In an interview with The Washington Post, CDC Director Robert Redfield warned a second wave of the coronavirus next winter could be more problematic as it coincides with the entirety of the traditional flu season.
"There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Redfield told the Post. “And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.” “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time,” he said, adding that both outbreaks could put "unimaginable strain" on the country's health-care system.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
April 22, 8:34 a.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a "hunger pandemic," according to a new report from the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP). The report says that the lives and livelihoods of 265 million people will be at risk of suffering from acute hunger by the end of 2020. Currently about 135 million in 55 countries are said to be at risk. Areas WFP officials are particularly concerned about include Africa and the Middle East where poverty is already rampant and national health systems are "overstretched." The virus' toll on the global supply chain could also bring "devastating" consequences, the WFP said.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
Total confirmed cases: 2,578,930
Total deaths: 178,096
Total recoveries: 692,333
The United States eclipsed 800,000 cases on Tuesday, doubling its total in the past two weeks. As of Wednesday morning, the country has seen over 45,000 deaths and over 75,000 recovered cases.
Reporting by Lauren Fox, John Murphy, Brian Lada, Mark Puleo, Maria Antonieta Valery Gil, Kevin Byrne, Chaffin Mitchell, Adriana Navarro, Dexter Henry, Bill Wadell, Jonathan Petramala, and Monica Danielle
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News / Health
Previous coronavirus briefings April 22-24
Published Apr 27, 2020 12:03 PM EDT
Current daily briefings on the coronavirus can be found here. Scroll below to read precious reports, listed in eastern time.
April 24, 9:44 p.m.
The U.S. has surpassed 50,000 confirmed fatalities due to COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University, reaching a total of 51,017. The U.S. has 890,520 confirmed cases of the virus so far, more than any other nation.
April 24, 8:49 p.m.
Could this be a sign of what's to come for professional sports? The Cape Cod Baseball League has unanimously voted to cancel the 2020 season. "Following CDC guidelines and medical recommendations, the league determined it would be impossible to guarantee the safety of players, coaches, umpires, host families, volunteers and fans during this unprecedented health crisis," the league announced on Friday. The amateur baseball league is comprised of 10 teams in eastern Massachusetts and dates back to 1885.
April 24, 7:50 p.m.
An asteroid is set to fly past the Earth next week, and it looks like the space rock came prepared. Recent observations show the shape of asteroid 1998 OR2, and it appears as through it is wearing a face mask. The asteroid will be following social distancing guidelines, and then some, as it will be 16 times farther away than the moon during its closest approach to the Earth.
April 24, 6:45 p.m.
After a retired marine recovered from the coronavirus, he thanked health care workers that treated him at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you have done ... for all the strength and emotional support you are giving, for sacrificing your time and life to be on the frontline for us ... to save us," Alex Melo, 44, told the hospital workers in the heartfelt thank you. Melo, a 20-year veteran, spent 13 days in the hospital, five of which were in the intensive care unit.
April 24, 5:35 p.m.
Officials in Ireland have taken a unique approach to ensure citizens are complying with lockdown restrictions. Dr. Tony Holohan, chief medical officer for Ireland's Department of Health said earthquake-measuring technology from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies' National Seismic Network has shown an increase of car traffic noise and reverberation, The BBC reported, meaning there were more people out and about, either walking or driving. Holohan said the results were concerning, as restrictions are set to continue until May 5. However, Liz Canavan, a senior civil servant in the Department of the Taoiseach, said traffic was “in line with previous weeks.”
April 24, 4:38 p.m.
The new coronavirus has changed the face of many industries, especially air travel. In an effort to help the industry adapt during a time of social distancing, the Italian aircraft seat manufacturer Aviointeriors revealed a seat design that features a backward middle seat surrounded by plastic shields, ABC7 reported. The seat design was dubbed “Janus” after the two-faced Roman god.
April 24, 3:42 p.m.
The U.S. was absent from a meeting where other world leaders pledged on Friday to accelerate and share work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 as a part of a World Health Organization initiative. The aim of the initiative, Reuters reported, is to hasten the development of safe and effective drugs, tests and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and ensure equal access to them for the rich and poor. “We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the virtual meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization and other world leaders about the coronavirus outbreak during a video conference at the Elysee Palace Friday, April 24, 2020 in Paris. Emmanuel Macron urged leaders of the world's biggest economies to "show the world that it's possible to succeed when we are all together and unite our forces." (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)
April 24, 2:49 p.m.
Over a dozen sailors on the USS Kidd have tested positive for COVID-19. The U.S. Navy ship is currently stationed in the Pacific Ocean on a counter-narcotics mission, but the destroyer is already making plans to return to port due to the spread of the virus, according to Reuters. This comes just weeks after there was a COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, leaving over 800 sailors infected and one dead.
April 24, 1:18 p.m.
A weather hero famous for helping those in Houston during the height of Hurricane Harvey is stepping up to the plate to combat the coronavirus in his community. Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngavle, also known as “Mattress Mack,” teamed up with a group of volunteers to hand out 15,000 masks to those in need in the Houston area. So many people lined up in their vehicles to get a mask that it caused a traffic jam on Interstate 45. "I think it's important that it's priority that we all stay safe, and I'm on the economic board to get Texans back to work. So, we got to stay safe, number one. We gotta get back to work. Number two, we're trying to do both of those things," Mack told ABC13.
April 24, 12:51 p.m.
Just five days after reopening to the public, beaches in Sydney, Australia, have closed again. Police and lifeguards moved people away from beaches across the area and fenced off access after news of a fifth death in a Sydney nursing home related to COVID-19. Just hours before the closure, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller warned that beaches would be closely monitored. Now, residents are being told to stay away from beaches and to go home.
April 24, 12:07 p.m.
Effective April 24, United Airlines will require all flight attendants to wear face coverings or masks while working. The airline said this will be in line with the CDC recommendation concerning face coverings when social distancing is not possible. United said there will be 20 masks on every domestic flight and 40 on every international flight, according to CNN. Flight attendants are able to wear their own face masks or the ones that will be provided by United. The decision came in line with their partnership in the Association of Flight Attendants.
April 24, 11:25 a.m.
The death toll in the U.S. due to the coronavirus has surpassed 50,000. This is the highest number of fatalities reported by any other country in the world, and is nearly double that of Italy, the country with the second-highest death toll, according to the latest analysis by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. also accounts for more than 30% of the 2.7 million COVID-19 cases globally.
April 24, 11:09 a.m.
The makers of the cleaning product Lysol issued a statement urging against the improper use of disinfectants.This came after President Donald Trump discussed possible medical benefits of disinfectants without any supporting evidence during Thursday's White House Coronavirus briefing, the New York Times reported.
The manufacturer, British company, Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB), said it has a responsibility to provide consumers with accurate and up-to-date information that health experts provide. "As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route). As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information," the statement read.
Emergency management officials in Washington state immediately responded to the president's claims and urged the public to utilize resources provided by the state if people have questions about COVID-19. “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote on Twitter. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.”
April 24, 10:27 a.m.
Summerlike heat is expected to build over Southern California in the coming days, but residents will not be able to enjoy the warmth the same ways they did before the coronavirus pandemic. This heat may tempt people to head outside and hit the beaches, but communities along the coast are urging residents to stay home. “All beaches, parks, trails and parking areas in Malibu remain closed,” the City of Malibu said.
To make sure people are aware of these closures, Malibu will use cell phone towers to send an alert to residents and visitors in the area to reinforce the stay-at-home order. “The City urges Malibu residents to help protect our seniors and vulnerable people by staying safe at home to slow the spread of coronavirus, and enjoy the outdoors locally in your backyard, walking or cycling in your neighborhood.” People that violate these closures may be cited or fined. Malibu is forecast to be warm and sunny into next week with no rain in the short-term forecast.
April 24, 10:16 a.m.
Malaria deaths in Africa could skyrocket as COVID-19 spreads across the continent. A new modeling analysis estimates that in a worst-case scenario, malaria-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could reach 769,000 this year. This is double the number of deaths reported in 2018. As COVID-19 spreads across the region, it will become more difficult to distribute supplies treatments for malaria to areas that need it most.
To help prevent this scenario from unfolding, the WHO is urging a quick distribution of supplies across the region before the worst of the coronavirus outbreak. “WHO urges countries to move fast and distribute malaria prevention and treatment tools at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa, and to do their utmost to safely maintain these essential malaria control services,” the WHO said in a statement. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 90% of the malaria-related deaths globally.
April 24, 9:24 a.m.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that he was extending the state's stay-at-home order through May 30, but with some modifications. Because the state is currently bending the curve of COVID-19 cases, the governor said starting May 1 hospitals can begin to perform non-life-threatening surgeries again and retail stores can offer pick-up and delivery options. Some Illinois state parks are also expected to reopen to allow for hiking, as well as fishing and boating. Nearly 37,000 cases have been reported in the state and over 1,600 residents have died.
"On an optimistic note, May will look somewhat different than March and April," Pritzker said on Twitter. "My intention as always is to put your health and safety first as we make some practical adjustments based on what we’ve learned the first five weeks of the stay-at-home order."
April 24, 8:14 a.m.
With demand for produce plummeting in the U.S., farmers are having to destroy crops. That's the case for Jack Vessey who operates Vessey Farm, one of the nation's largest lettuce producers, in California. The farm was started in the 1920s and has been run by three generations of the family, but this year is no longer harvesting any lettuce because demand has dried up. Vessey told Nick Cardona of Veuer News that not being able to harvest the food "and feed the nation is stressful and hurtful" not only to him, but also to the many people who work on the farm. He said more than $1 million worth of lettuce has already been lost and that he's had to lay off more than 150 employees.
April 24, 6:41 a.m.
As the United States approaches 50,000 fatalities on Friday morning, here are the latest updated totals from around the globe, according to Johns Hopkins University:
Total confirmed cases: 2,719,522
Total deaths: 191,228
Total recovered: 745,605
Raelene Critchlow, 86, receives a visit from her great-grandchild Camille Carter, 6, at Creekside Senior Living, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Bountiful, Utah. Window visits help seniors connect to families despite coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
April 23, 9:55 p.m.
The first human trials for a COVID-19 vaccine have begun in Europe.The vaccine was developed in three months by a team from Oxford University in England, and two volunteers out of a total of 800 have already received the vaccine, the BBC reported. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford's Jenner Institute who led the pre-clinical research, told the BBC she has a “high degree of confidence” in the vaccine. "Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population,” she said.
April 23, 8:53 p.m.
As the coronavirus continues to spread, meat aisles at many supermarkets are sparse, which is causing some concern. To solve this issue, fishermen in Florida want to help people by providing fresh fish during the pandemic. “You’re gonna be safer in my opinion on my boat with two or three other people, that you are walking down the isle of the supermarket,” Captain Les Baron, owner of fishing charter Brown Dog Adventures, told AccuWeather reporter Jonathan Petramala. However, as Petramala reports, some fishing captains say new rules are providing confusion on if they can provide charter fishing trips to clients.
April 23, 7:50 p.m.
New findings show hot, humid weather may slow the spread of COVID-19, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology for the Department of Homeland Security Bill Bryan said on Thursday during the daily White House press briefing. Bryan said COVID-19 survives best when indoors and in dry conditions, and does not survive well in saliva or respiratory fluids. The virus dies the quickest when exposed to sunlight. “The virus is dying at a much more rapid pace, just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity,” he said.
While these findings may look optimistic for warmer climates, Bryan further warned that regardless of weather, people should continue to follow social distancing guidelines. “It would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer will just totally kill the virus… that's not the case,” he said. However, he did suggest that as weather warms up across the U.S., any gathering that take place would be safer outdoors rather than inside. Studies have gone back and forth on whether or not the summer weather will impact the spread of the virus, and a recent study has suggested that the temperatures needed to kill the virus are far too high for the virus to be killed by natural weather conditions, AccuWeather's Mark Puleo reported.
April 23, 7:04 p.m.
Amid shelter-in-place orders, sales of new home in the U.S. dropped 15.4% in March after an early drop of 4.6% during February, The Associated Press reported. Sales fell the most in the Northeast, plunging 41.5%, and 38.5% in the West. Sales declined by 8.1% in the Midwest and .8% in the South. Senior economist at Nationwide, Ben Ayers, told the AP that sales activities in the coming months will also take a hit from shutdowns and layoffs, but that there should be a rebound once the impacts of the virus ease up.
April 23, 5:42 p.m.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced on Thursday that the state will extend remote learning throughout the rest of the school year. On the same day, Walz announced the reopening of certain non-essential industrial, manufacturing and office workplace settings on April 27, ultimately allowing 80,000-100,000 employees to return to work in the state. Before reopening, businesses must participate in employee health screenings, create a COVID-19 preparedness plan and work from home when possible.
April 23, 4:55 p.m.
The state of New York could have more cases of COVID-19 than what is officially reported. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state has a 13.9% infection rate for COVID-19, according to antibody studies that show if a person has either had or currently has the virus. The study used 3,000 samples across 19 counties, Cuomo said. In New York City, the infection rate is even higher at 21.2%. “It wouldn’t surprise me if, at this point in time, we have probably close to 1 million New Yorkers who have been exposed to COVID-19,” city Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said, according to The Associated Press.
People line up at Gotham Health East New York, a COVID-19 testing center Thursday, April 23, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
April 23, 3:47 p.m.
A clinical trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir found “inconclusive” results in COVID-19 patients, Gilead Sciences said, though it might be promising for patients with the disease treated early on. A draft of the study was accidentally published by the World Health Organization, which then quickly removed the document, mentioned that the drug showed significant side effects, however, and patients were taken off of the drug, CNBC reported.
“We believe the post included inappropriate characterizations of the study. Importantly, because this study was terminated early due to low enrollment, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions,” Gilead told CNBC. “As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease.”
April 23, 2:51 p.m.
National parks and other public lands in the U.S. will begin to reopen following weeks of being closed due to social distancing measures. President Trump made the announcement at an Earth Day event hosted at the White House. “We will begin to open our national parks and public lands for the American people to enjoy,” Trump said. Although no specific details were given, representatives for the White House released a statement saying that “more details will be provided in the coming days.” The reopening of national parks may take a toll on animals, which have been spotted returning to natural habitats now that parks are less crowded. In Yosemite National Park, a coyote was recently photographed relaxing in an empty parking lot.
April 23, 2:15 p.m.
With the tourism sector in Australia experiencing a halt in operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, one tourism company is making use of its time to benefit the environment. Employees at Passions of Paradise, an Australian dive tour company, are giving back to the ocean by planting coral on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The company has also donated a catamaran and fuel as they volunteer for the Coral Nurture Program, an initiative started by the tourism and science sectors to protect the GBR. “We have been assisting Dr. David Suggett’s team from the University of Technology Sydney who is conducting reef resilience research at one of our 26 reef sites,” Scott Garden, CEO of Passions of Paradise, told Australian travel publisher Karryon.
April 23, 1:22 p.m.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on Twitter that her oldest brother, Donald Reed Herring, died due to coronavirus on Tuesday evening. The Boston Globe said Herring, 86, died in Norman, Oklahoma, about three weeks after testing positive. Warren reflected on her brother's military service, saying he joined the Air Force at 19 and then spent five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam.
"I’m grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but it’s hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you one more time'—and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I'll miss you dearly my brother," Warren said on Twitter.
April 23, 12:42 p.m.
New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot warned Thursday that the city is just at "the tip of the iceberg" with coronavirus cases. Barbot also mentioned how she wouldn't be surprised if "close to a million New Yorkers" have been exposed to COVID-19. New York City has seen a downward trend in number of hospital admissions, suspected cases, and ICU patients in public hospitals. Percentage of positive cases citywide also decreased from 33% to 32% on Monday, according to CNN. The city currently has nearly 150,000 confirmed cases and over 15,000 deaths from COVID-19.
April 23, 12:05 p.m.
During his Wednesday coronavirus briefing at the White House, President Trump said he disagreed with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to begin reopening the state. “I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing,”Trump said. “I think it’s too soon.” Kemp announced earlier this week that businesses such as gyms, nail salons, barber shops and bowling alleys would be able to open as soon as Friday, April 24. The response drew heavy criticism from public health officials who said it was too early to begin lifting restrictions. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told ABC News this week that even though Kemp's order supersedes her decision-making, she was still going to urge all residents to continue to stay at home.
April 23 11:39 a.m.
Investigators are now investigating possible cases of coronavirus in the San Francisco Bay Area that could go as far back as December after it was recently discovered that 57-year-old woman who died in early February was infected with the virus. Originally, it was thought that the virus first started spreading in the Bay Area on Feb. 26 but new tissue samples showed that community spread was as early as January in the Bay Area, according to The New York Times. The woman was reported to have flulike symptoms, but tested negative for the flu before she passed away on Feb. 6, the Times reported.
April 23, 10:53 a.m.
Eight big cats have now tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bronx Zoo. This comes only a few weeks after it was first reported that one of the tigers at the zoo had tested positive for the illness. Three African lions were among the eight that tested positive. One of the big cats that tested positive has shown no symptoms, which is similar to how some humans show no symptoms and act as carriers, according to ABC News. According to a statement from the zoo, the big cats caught the virus from "a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus." The zoo also mentioned that the resources used to test the animals did not take away from those being needed for human testing. While the disease can hop from human to animal, there have been no confirmed transmissions from animal to human.
April 23, 10:34 a.m.
Officials in the Japanese city of Sakura took a dramatic step this week to help enforce social distancing practices. According to a report from Reuters, officials in the city, located about 30 miles from Tokyo, removed over 100,000 tulips from a local park, and canceled an upcoming tulip festival. “Many visitors came on the weekend when the flowers were in full bloom. It became a mass gathering so we had no choice but to make the decision to cut the flowers,” Sakiho Kusano, a city tourism official, told Reuters. A nationwide state of emergency order is in effect for Japan and the country's total number of COVID-19 cases is closing in on 12,000. After some rain moves through on Friday, the weather in Sakura will be nice this weekend according to the AccuWeather forecast. Plenty of sunshine is expected and temps will climb to the mid-70s by Sunday, which is about 10 degrees above average for this time of year.
April 23, 10:02 a.m.
Wednesday was the deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic so far for California. According to a report from The San Francisco Chronicle, 118 people died Wednesday according to data provided the state's 58 counties. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has over 35,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,200 of those cases represent patients currently in intensive care. "California is flattening the curve--but only if we continue to take this seriously. Stay home. And practice physical distancing," Newsom wrote on Twitter.
April 23, 9:07 a.m.
In its weekly report released Thursday morning, the U.S. Department of Labor said over 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, a number that was about 810,000 fewer than the week prior. Since the U.S. economy ground to a halt in mid-March, over 26 million have filled for unemployment benefits. According to CNBC, the U.S. has now lost all the jobs it's added since the Great Recession.
A sign announces a coronavirus closure at a restaurant in Livermore Falls, Maine, Thursday, April 16, 2020. A massive explosion at a paper mill in the neighboring town of Jay, Maine on Wednesday threatens to add further unemployment to a region already hurt by coronavirus-related job losses. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
April 23, 8:33 a.m.
Tyson Foods announced Wednesday that it was suspending operations at two pork plants in Waterloo, Iowa, and Logansport, Indiana. The roughly 5,000 employees that work at the two plants are expected to undergo COVID-19 testing this week. The Waterloo facility is the company's largest pork plant, while the Logansport operation produces 3 million pounds of pork daily, the company said. Both the Waterloo and Logansport employees will continue to be compensated during the closures. Earlier this week, the company announced that it had resumed limited operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, after the facility was shuttered for two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns. Several other meat processing companies including JBS USA and Smithfield have had to close processing plants in the last week due to the pandemic.
“Closing facilities has serious implications to the national food supply for American families, local communities, growers and farmers,” said Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods. “When a facility closes, the availability of protein for consumers across the nation will only decrease. Consumers will see an impact at the grocery store as production slows. It also means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and contributes to the disruption of the nation’s pork supply.”
April 23, 7:41 a.m.
One entire California town located near Silicon Valley has been tested for coronavirus, according to a recent Reuters report. The rural town of Bolinas in Marin County, with a population of 1,640, raised funds to test the residents as part of a partnership with infectious disease researchers from the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Aenor Sawyer, an assistant researcher at UCSF and Bolinas resident, told Reuters that the town is "uniquely situated teach the medical community about how the disease spreads because it lies two miles from a highway with no through road." “So we’re fairly isolated, rural, and (with) stable ecosystems right now for the last several weeks. So it will be very interesting to see the footprint of the virus in this arena,” Sawyer said.
Beginning on April 25, UCSF will begin a similar testing endeavor in San Francisco's Mission District, which has more than 5,700 residents and a heavy latin population. "The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting the Latinx community in San Francisco, both in terms of infection rates and economic hardship, and we have been partnering very closely with the Latino Task Force for COVID-19 to support this community by working to disrupt transmission of the disease,” said Carina Marquez, an assistant professor of medicine at UCSF.
April 23, 6:33 a.m.
Here are the latest updated global totals, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
Total confirmed cases: 2,639,243
Total deaths: 183,820
Total recovered: 715,734
April 22, 10 p.m.
There's been no shortage of severe weather across the U.S. in recent weeks, and that has been a complicating factor for those trying to avoid those storms and also adhere to social distancing measures. Others impacted by the pandemic are those who run toward the storms instead of away from them. AccuWeather's Mark Puleo recently explored how the storm-chasing world has been upended by the outbreak, and the moral dilemma some of them say they're now facing.
April 22, 8:55 p.m.
Two South Dakota speedways are hosting auto races this weekend, which are expected to bring hundreds of people together, even with limited ticket sales. The race tracks decided to sell the tickets to give race fans a taste of “normalcy” after weeks of social distancing and canceled sporting events, according to The Associated Press. Gov. Kristi Noem said she won’t be taking any action to shut down the events planned for Saturday and Sunday nights even though it violates her guidance not to gather in groups of more than 10.
April 22, 7:45 p.m.
Britain is in their fifth week of lockdown, and it could be extended much longer. Last week, the government said the full restrictions would remain in place for at least another three weeks. U.K. Chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, said some forms of social distancing would be needed until an effective vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is available. “Until we have those - and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small, and I think we should be realistic about that - we’re going to have to rely on other social measures,” Whitty said.
April 22, 6:45 p.m.
At least they had good weather on their wedding day. The coronavirus pandemic has pretty much ruined wedding plans for couples all across the country in recent weeks, but in Anaheim, California, couples went ahead with their nuptials -- even if the venue was a random parking lot and officiant who was marrying them was standing in a booth and behind a glass shield. Officiants communicated with couples tying the knot using a walkie-talkie. But again -- focus on the positive -- the weather was terrific, sunny and comfortable with highs in the mid-70s. And these newlyweds tied the knot just in the nick of time, because a heatwave is moving into Southern California tomorrow. Watch below.
April 22, 5:40 p.m.
La Tomatina, the famous tomato food fight festival in Buñol, Spain, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish news site The Olive Press reported.“The Tomatina is suspended due to the situation that exists — the coronavirus pandemic — because we can’t ensure the safety that the Tomatina always boasted of as one of the safest parties in the world. We cannot lose that hallmark due to these circumstances,” Buñol’s councilor for tourism, María Vallés told The Olive Press. The festival began around 1945, though it was banned in the early '50s until a protest against the ban took to the streets in 1957. A burial parade was held in August, and musicians even played funeral tunes as the progression marched with a coffin filled with tomatoes, according to the travel agency AESU. The town stresses that the Tomatina is a festival to promote happiness and entertainment, the travel agency said.
April 22, 4:30 p.m.
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed how consumers shop. Online shopping has increased amid the virus outbreak. Online sales were 91% higher in the second week of March than the year prior, research from Nielsen says. Foot traffic at club and warehouse stores are significantly below averages.
Killing germs, providing immunity and health promotion are more relevant to some consumers now than claims around naturalness, sustainability, quality and brand; however, killing germs with the added benefit of doing so naturally has the strongest relevance in Germany, China and Italy, according to research by Nielsen.
Top 5 product benefits that consumers are willing to spend more for, according to Nielsen research:
Protects family against germs and bacteria
Kills germs and bacteria in an effective way
Kills germs and bacteria in a natural way
Keeps my immune system strong
Keeps my family safe from diseases
April 22, 3:20 p.m.
Two pet cats in New York state tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first cases of the virus in household pets in the U.S., The Associated Press reported, citing federal officials. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the two pets had contracted the virus from people in their households or neighborhoods. “We don’t want people to panic. We don’t want to be afraid of pets,” CDC official Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh told the AP. The CDC is recommending people keep their pets indoors to prevent them from interacting with people or other animals.
April 22, 2:25 p.m.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio lamented Wednesday that he's recently had to cancel a lot of popular events New Yorkers associate with warmer weather due to the coronavirus. However, the mayor said he's still working hard to salvage one summertime tradition: the annual Fourth of July fireworks show. "When you think of summer, when you think of everything we cherish about the summer, there's one day in particular that stands out because it means so much to all of us and that's the Fourth of July," de Blasio said.
The mayor said he's working with Macy's, which sponsors the fireworks show, to make sure the city can find a way to celebrate America's birthday, even if it's in a different manner than previous years. "No matter what the coronavirus throws at us, we're gonna find a way to honor America on that beautiful day," he said.
April 22, 1:20 p.m.
"It's a little windy out here, Andrea."High winds in Washington, D.C., wreaked havoc on MSNBC correspondent Kristen Welker's live report from the nation's capital on Wednesday afternoon. Welker was reporting on Attorney General William Barr warning states not to go too far with stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic when a gust of wind unexpectedly blew over two parts of a lighting rig. Welker deftly sidestepped the falling lighting gear and continued with her report. Thankfully, she was unharmed, and told anchor Andrea Mitchell, "They fell in front of me, so we're OK." D.C. weather today is sunny with highs in the mid-50s -- and gusts of wind, as the video showed. Watch it below.
April 22, 12:38 p.m.
Sweden is one of the few countries around the world that hasn't issued mandatory lockdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the country's chief epidemiologist says "herd immunity" can be reached in a couple weeks and that the country's strategy appears to be working. “In major parts of Sweden, around Stockholm, we have reached a plateau (in new cases) and we’re already seeing the effect of herd immunity and in a few weeks’ time we’ll see even more of the effects of that. And in the rest of the country, the situation is stable,” Dr. Anders Tegnell told CNBC on Tuesday.
A report from ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday showed many people out and about in the capital city of Stockholm, including enjoying sunny weather at cafes and restaurants. It was sunny and pleasant in Stockholm today, with a high in the mid-60s. But the AccuWeather forecast shows temperatures will dip back to or below normal as the week wears on. Authorities are asking residents to take more "social responsibility" and telling people to avoid crowds and work from home if possible. Sweden has just over 16,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,900 fatalities related to the disease, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
People visit the Raslambshovsparken Park in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday April 18, 2020. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT via AP)
April 22, 11:42 a.m.
The first COVID-19-related fatalities in the U.S. happened earlier than thought, according to The Washington Post. California health officials said Tuesday that tissue samples from autopsies of two people who died in Santa Clara County in Northern California on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17 respectively tested positive for the virus. The nation's first coronavirus fatality was initially reported to have occurred on Feb. 29 in Washington state. “The fact that there were deaths related to covid back in early February is very significant, because it means the virus was around for a lot longer than was initially realized,” Jeff Smith, a physician and the county executive in Santa Clara, told the Post.
April 22, 11:14 a.m.
Beer lovers and breweries continue to be hit hard by the pandemic in Germany. On Tuesday German officials announced that Oktoberfest, called "the biggest and most beautiful beer festival in the world" by Bavaria's minister, has been canceled. Earlier this week, Euronews reported that Werneck Brewery, which has operated for over 400 years and survived multiple world wars, would close its doors in September and that at least 15 workers would lose their jobs.
"My family and I will miss it so much," Werneck Brewery manager Christine Lang said, according to Euronews. "The brewery has always been present, it was part of every dinner table conversation all our lives. We will be missing part of our identity, and in a way, the whole region will too."
April 22, 10:46 a.m.
New Jersey reported its deadliest day yet of the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy said 379 new fatalities were blamed on COVID-19, the single-highest one-day increase of the pandemic, bringing the total death toll to more than 4,700. In a Twitter thread, Murphy urged people not to be distracted by the numbers and focused on some of the recent lives lost to COVID-19, including Carole Wolf of Newark, a nurse’s aide, Darell Johnson of Morristown who worked in the guidance office of the high school there and part-time at Morristown Medical Center, and Darlene Mae Andes, a health educator and risk communicator for the Mercer County Division of Public Health.
April 22, 10:24 a.m.
Severe weather is forecast to strike the southern Plains today, and some storms have already begun to fire across the region. Dallas is one of the cities at risk for the dangerous weather, and city officials announced Wednesday morning that the Ellis Davis Field House community based COVID-19 testing site would be closed due to the weather. "Dallas' American Airlines Center test site will remain open and will conduct testing until 5 p.m.," city officials said. The current AccuWeather forecast in Dallas as of 9:15 a.m. local time shows temperatures in the upper 60s with a light rain falling. The weather through the remainder of the week in the city looks to be considerably nicer than Wednesday with highs in mid-70s to low 80s and mostly sunny conditions expected.
April 22, 9:45 a.m.
CDC director gives dire warning about future of the pandemic. In an interview with The Washington Post, CDC Director Robert Redfield warned a second wave of the coronavirus next winter could be more problematic as it coincides with the entirety of the traditional flu season.
"There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Redfield told the Post. “And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.” “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time,” he said, adding that both outbreaks could put "unimaginable strain" on the country's health-care system.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
April 22, 8:34 a.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a "hunger pandemic," according to a new report from the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP). The report says that the lives and livelihoods of 265 million people will be at risk of suffering from acute hunger by the end of 2020. Currently about 135 million in 55 countries are said to be at risk. Areas WFP officials are particularly concerned about include Africa and the Middle East where poverty is already rampant and national health systems are "overstretched." The virus' toll on the global supply chain could also bring "devastating" consequences, the WFP said.
WPF Executive Director David Beasley gave a stark warning saying that "in addition to the threat posed by COVID-19, the world faces “multiple famines of biblical proportions” that could result in 300,000 deaths per day." “If we don’t prepare and act now, to secure access, avoid funding shortfalls and disruptions to trade,” he said during an online briefing, the result could be a “humanitarian catastrophe … in a short few months.”
April 22, 7:21 a.m.
Back in December, photos of what are usually the majestic Victoria Falls shocked people around the world. The natural wonder had nearly run dry amid a long-term drought. But four months later, the falls have regained their glory and then some, AccuWeather's Lauren Fox reports. The falls are flowing at 54% above average now and living up to the appropriate nickname, "the smoke that thunders." But this year, with the falls providing a spectacle not seen in years, there will be almost no one there to witness it.
April 22, 6:44 a.m.
Here are the latest updated totals from around the world, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University:
Total confirmed cases: 2,578,930
Total deaths: 178,096
Total recoveries: 692,333
The United States eclipsed 800,000 cases on Tuesday, doubling its total in the past two weeks. As of Wednesday morning, the country has seen over 45,000 deaths and over 75,000 recovered cases.
Previous coverage:
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 18-21
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 12-15
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 12-14
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 8-11
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 5-7
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from April 1-4
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from March 29-31.
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak from March 26-28.
Click here for previous daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak.
Reporting by Lauren Fox, John Murphy, Brian Lada, Mark Puleo, Maria Antonieta Valery Gil, Kevin Byrne, Chaffin Mitchell, Adriana Navarro, Dexter Henry, Bill Wadell, Jonathan Petramala, and Monica Danielle
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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