The number of novel coronavirus cases in Florida surged past 40,000 on Saturday, state health figures show.
Why it matters: Case numbers in Florida have jumped since Monday, when the state eased restrictions introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19. There have been 802 new cases and 46 more deaths in Florida since Friday.
By the numbers: COVID-19 has killed more than 78,000 Americans and infected over 1.3 million in three months since the country’s first known death.
- Over 212,000 people in the U.S. have recovered from the virus and more than 8.7 million tests have been conducted as of Saturday.
Catch up quick: Tesla filed a federal lawsuit Saturday in a bid to restart operations in its factory in Fremont, California a step that came on the same day CEO Elon Musk threatened to move the company’s headquarters out of the state.
- Three top health officials are now self-isolating. CDC director Robert Redfield and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn are in self-quarantine and Anthony Fauci said he’s begun a “modified quarantine” after making the “low-risk” contact, per CNN and the New York Times.
- More children, some of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, are going into severe inflammatory shock. Doctors in New York, the U.K., California and Delaware are trying to find out more.
- President Trump said Friday while talking to House Republicans that he’s “in no rush” to negotiate another stimulus package.
- The U.S. economy shed a record 20.5 million jobs in April as the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7%.
- States are projecting major deficits in their budgets as a result of the economic damage caused by the coronavirus.
- More than a third of the nation still has growing numbers of cases, including Texas and Virginia, where governors are moving to re-open.
- A complete breakdown in communication and coordination within the Trump administration has undermined the distribution of a promising treatment, remdesivir.
- What to make of the Trump administration’s Wuhan lab theory.
- Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller and Trump’s valet tested positive for the coronavirus this week.
- Americansare split along partisan lines as to whether the death count is accurate, a new Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index poll shows.
Lockdown measures: Evidence is mounting that America is steamrolling toward a nightmarish failure to control the virus, despite nearly two months of extreme social distancing. Dozens of states have outlined plans to ease restrictions, but the pandemic’s impact will outlast stay-at-home orders.
- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued an executive order Tuesday to ease some stay-at-home restrictions, allowing restaurants to operate through delivery and shops to limit customer capacity to less than 50%. The changes go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced most counties would reopen this week.
- Ohio Gov. Mark DeWine explained his decision to rescind an order requiring people to wear face masks in retail stores, saying it “became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far.”
- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state’s “phase one” reopening could begin May 15.
- California moves ahead with plans to reopen retail businesses, like clothing and bookstores, for curbside service on Friday. Some beaches are also reopening soon with proper public health precautions.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d allow the state’s stay-at-home order to lapse this week, at which point Texas will begin “phase one” of its reopening plan.
- West Virginia and Ohio’s governors each released plans to gradually reopen their state economies throughout May.
Go deeper…In photos: Life in the era of coronavirus across the U.S.
Editor’s note: The graphic includes “probable deaths” that New York City began reporting on April 14. This article has been updated with new details throughout. Check back for the latest.