US coronavirus death toll tops 100,000

corona victim
US coronavirus death toll surpasses 100,000
03:25 - Source: CNN

What you need to know

  • More than 100,000 people have died in the US since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (Read tributes from the victims’ families here.)
  • Antibody tests used to determine if people have been infected in the past with Covid-19 might be wrong up to half the time, the CDC said.
  • Top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says there’s “a good chance” the US could have a coronavirus vaccine by end of the year
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Our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in the US has ended for the day. Get the latest updates from around the globe here.

Infectious disease doctor says he's in "deep mourning" as US reaches a deadly milestone

Dr. William Schaffner

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the Infectious Diseases Division at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said he is in “deep mourning” as the US reached the deadly milestone of 100,000 Covid-19 deaths Wednesday.

Prevention comes in the form of remaining home as much as possible, he said. Wear a face masks. Obey the six-foot separation rule to avoid physical interaction with others. Good hand hygiene is important. Be careful about who is allowed to visit. People aged 65 and older should pay particular attention to the guidelines.

“I’m afraid those are the kind of interventions we’ll have to live with, as uncomfortable, as socially disturbing as they are, for some time,” Schaffner said.

Schaffner added that nursing homes have to do a better job with infection control. One third of US deaths are in nursing homes. Visitors should be restricted as much as possible. Staff should be masked. There should be temperatures and symptom checks before staff go in the building.

“I think it can be done,” Schaffner said. “It may not be able to be done perfectly, but we can do a better job than we’re currently doing.”  

If people don’t flout the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, society can work together and safely start to open up again so that people can reestablish relationships that “we treasure and we need,” Schaffner said.

Watch:

Amtrak to cut up to 20% of workforce

In a message to employees, Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn has announced the railroad will cut up to 20% of its workforce between now and October when its 2021 fiscal year begins.

Amtrak has seen a 95% reduction in ridership and revenue levels, Flynn said.

“This reduction is necessary to ensure we have a sustainable Amtrak that can continue to make critical investments in our core and long-term growth strategies, while also keeping safety as our top priority,” he added.

Autopsies show lungs of African-American Covid-19 victims clogged with blood clots

The autopsies of 10 African-American victims of coronavirus show their lungs were clogged with blood clots, researchers reported Wednesday.

All 10 patients had underlying conditions that have been shown to worsen infection, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. But genetic factors could also be at play, the team at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine said.

The findings, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, may help explain why blacks are suffering so much more from Covid-19 in the US and in some other countries such as Britain, the researchers said.

They also found blood markers called D-dimers, which are signs the body has been working to break down blood clots.

“I think obesity is important in our population,” Vander Heide told CNN. Fat tissue activates inflammatory chemicals – one of the mechanisms that underlies obesity’s link to a variety of disease. Covid-19 infection generates even more inflammation, which doctors believe is involved in the damage caused by Covid-19 and, perhaps, the generation of blood clots.

All over the US, doctors treating Covid-19 patients are reporting their bodies are riddled with blood clots. Some early studies have shown that treating patients with anticoagulants can help.

The 10 patients all came to the hospital after having three to seven days of mild cough and fever. All suddenly collapsed or had sudden trouble breathing.

Wyoming will allow large gatherings starting July 1

Gov. Mark Gordon

Wyoming will allow gatherings of up to 250 people starting on July 1 as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed in the state, Gov. Mark Gordon said Wednesday. 

At the same time, the state announced that upwards of a dozen rodeos and related events across the state will not take place this year.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, which organizers say is the world’s largest indoor rodeo, will also be canceled. It has taken place annually since 1897, but Chief Executive Officer Tom Hirsig said there is too much danger this year.

Gordon appeared to wipe back tears at a news conference today as he described growing up in a ranching family and around rodeos.

“This coronavirus thing sucks,” Gordon said in his prepared remarks. “There are just no two ways about it.”

Walt Disney World sets reopening date with protocols in place

After nearly four months of closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Walt Disney World in Florida has set a July 11 reopening date.

“We’re excited to have our major theme parks reopening here in the area,” said Orange County, Florida, Mayor Jerry Demings.

But much like most of the US, the theme park, dubbed “The Happiest Place On Earth,” will look vastly different.

“We have sat with the Disney executives and they walked us through really the different screenings and sanitation protocols that they have put in place,” Demings told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, adding that the focus is to “guarantee that the guests who patronize the facilities will be safe.”

As compared to other large American metropolitan regions, Demings said the Orlando area boasts a relatively low coronavirus positivity rate at 2.8%. “We have tested some 67,000 people in our community and 1,877 of them have tested positive,” he said.

The emphasis now is on keeping those numbers down.

For specifics, the Florida attractions will minimize person-to-person contact in hopes of avoiding any large Covid-19 outbreaks.

“I believe that with the touchless, the cashless types of systems that they will be putting in place, it should preclude the virus from being easily spread between human beings,” Demings added.

A gigantic global tourism attraction, Walt Disney World isn’t yet ready to open wide swaths of hotels. However restaurants will open at a reduced capacity, and visitors will be encouraged to follow protocols as set in place locally.

“Throughout our community, we have tried to ensure that we have masks and the availability of hand sanitizers,” he said. “So if you visit here, you will see the majority of the people who will be using the personal protective equipment… by and large, because of peer pressure. We’re getting the cooperation to wear the mask and do all those things we need to keep everybody safe.”

Washington state to allow limited worship services

Gov. Jay Inslee

Washington state will allow worship services again but under tight restrictions. 

Gov. Jay Inslee said outdoor services will be limited to 100 people, not including staff members. 

“It has been very heartening to see religious congregations find ways to remain emotionally connected,” he said Wednesday at a news conference.

Additionally, counties that have been allowed to move into the state’s phase two plan will be able to have indoor services of no more than 50 people – or 25% of capacity in larger congregations.

Inslee said anyone singing in a worship service will be expected to wear a face covering.

“The louder we project our voices, the longer this virus travels,” he said.

"Silent" Covid-19 infection rate may be much higher than scientists thought, study finds

More than eight of 10 cruise ship passengers who tested positive for Covid-19 had no symptoms, according to a new study performed by researchers who happened to be aboard a cruise ship in the midst of the pandemic.

The cruise was supposed to follow the route of the famous Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, but instead scientists were able to watch its trapped passengers and crew to learn how the novel coronavirus behaves. Their research was published Wednesday in the journal Thorax.

The ship left Argentina in mid-March after the World Health Organization had declared Covid-19 a pandemic. The crew took every precaution to try and keep the novel coronavirus off the ship. Passengers who had been in countries with high infection rates weren’t allowed on board. Everyone’s temperature was checked before they boarded the ship. Hand sanitizer was plentiful. Once on board the ship, no one had contact with anyone outside of the cruise.

Yet on the eighth day of the cruise, someone developed a fever.

The crew immediately put the ship on lockdown. Passengers were confined to cabins. Daily cabin cleaning service stopped. Crew members wore personal protective equipment when they interacted with sick passengers. Still, eight passengers and crew required medical evacuation for respiratory failure.

On day 20 of the cruise, all the remaining people on board were swab tested. More than half tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Of those who tested positive, only 19% had symptoms and 81% had no symptoms at all. In 10 cases, two passengers who shared cabins didn’t have the same test result.

“It is difficult to find a reliable estimate of the number of COVID positive patients who have no symptoms,” wrote study co-author Alan Smyth. Smyth is also the joint editor in chief of the journal Thorax. Smyth and his co-authors conclude that the WHO’s estimate that 1% of the Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic falls far short, at least from what they experienced on the ship.

Two Illinois churches ask Supreme Court to halt restriction on in-person services

Two churches in Illinois are asking the Supreme Court to halt a Chicago-area restriction on in-person church services before Sunday.

The Supreme Court is already considering a similar request from a church in California. The petitions reflect the latest debate in the coronavirus culture wars and come after President Trump called on governors last week to reopen religious institutions for services. 

The churches, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church and Logos Baptist Ministries, are represented by Liberty Counsel. 

Their lawyers say the 10-person limit on religious worship services amounts to discriminatory treatment against houses of worship because businesses, such as big box retail stores, liquor stores, restaurants and office buildings don’t have similar restrictions. 

The churches are asking the court to lift the restrictions before this Sunday, the Christian holy day of Pentecost.

In court papers lawyers for the churches say they have undertaken “extraordinary efforts” to protect the well-being of their congregants and that they “do not seek to undermine Illinois’ unquestionable interest in protecting its citizenry” but that the orders issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are “arbitrary and discriminatory.”

The Chicago Department of Health sent a letter on May 22 ordering the church leaders to comply with Pritzker’s orders. 

The Supreme Court has not yet formally accepted the petition.

Biden offers empathy to those who have lost someone to Covid-19

Joe Biden tweeted a video as the nation hits 100,000 lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic and offered empathy to anyone who may have lost a loved one. 

Biden cited the Columbia study that claims 36,000 less people would have died if the administration had acted one week sooner, and he offered the wisdom he’s often shared on the trail to those who have lost someone: that one day the memory of their loved one will bring a smile to their face instead of a tear to their eye. 

“God bless each and every one of you and the blessed memory of the one you lost,” he said. “This nation grieves with you. Take some solace from the fact we all grieve with you.” 

More than 100,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US

More than 100,047 people have died in the US from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally. There are at least 1,694,599 cases of coronavirus in the country.

The first known US coronavirus-related fatality was February 6, 111 days ago.

For historical context in the US:

  • 100 deaths on March 17
  • 1,000 deaths on March 26
  • 10,000 deaths on April 6
  • 25,000 deaths on April 14
  • 50,000 deaths on April 24
  • 75,000 deaths on May 7

Watch:

Here are the latest updates from Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the state has reached a total of 400 Covid-19 deaths, 399 of which are lab confirmed and one probable case.

He said the state reported 127 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total of cases to 9,077.

“Our numbers today continue to suggest that we are no longer in a plateau, but on a decline,” he said.

Catch up: Here are the latest coronavirus updates from across the US

It’s almost 6 p.m. in New York. Here’s what you might have missed today:

  • A sudden jump in infections could lead to a “second peak”: A second peak wouldn’t unfold as neatly or gradually as a wave. A new peak would mean a sudden spike in cases, which could overburden health care systems again and possibly cause a greater number of deaths. The second peak could be worse than the first.
  • Top health expert implores Americans to wear masks in public: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said he believes that while wearing a mask is not “100% effective,” it is a valuable safeguard and shows “respect for another person.”
  • Another Ford plant temporarily shuts down after an employee tests positive for Covid-19: The shutdown in the Missouri plant lasted only an hour, and Ford completed its scheduled production for the day. But the closure is a sign of the difficulty of building cars while keeping workers safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Trump intent on July 4 celebration as Washington slowly reopens: Across the nation, governors have found themselves under pressure from President Trump to lift some restrictions and allow businesses to reopen. Projecting a return to normalcy after a devastating period of coronavirus outbreak, the President has said Americans should be able to live their lives like they did before. But Washington’s mayor reiterated Wednesday that a parade in the nation’s capital had been scrapped.

Maryland governor says restaurants can open for outdoor dining on Friday

 Gov. Larry Hogan

Restaurants in Maryland may reopen for outdoor dining at 5 p.m. ET Friday, Gov. Larry Hogan said.

Social organizations such as VFWs, youth sports leagues, day camps, outdoor pools and drive-in movie theaters can also reopen on Friday. 

Hogan said the reopenings are “the completion of stage one of the recovery plan,” after Maryland has seen a decreasing trend of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. 

For restaurants opening on Friday, proper precautions must be taken, he said. No more than six people may be seated at a table, with tables adequately spaced apart. Tables and chairs must be sanitized between parties and restaurants will have to check staffs’ temperatures daily.  

Hogan said he supports local leaders closing streets to expand the space that can be used for outdoor dining. He recommended using parking lots and other public spaces in order to allow for restaurants to safely maximize the number of guests that can be served. 

There will be capacity limitations, proper social-distancing practices enforced and sanitation procedures in place for youth sports, day camps and outdoor pools. 

Maryland governor says state now conducting 10,000 tests per day 

A Maryland National Guard member checks vehicles entering a drive-through coronavirus testing facility in a parking lot at Pimlico Race Course on Friday, May 15, in Baltimore.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said during a news conference Wednesday the state has reached its goal of conducting 10,000 Covid-19 tests per day.

Hogan added that 300,444 tests have been completed statewide to date.

He initially announced this goal during a news conference two weeks ago. 

California becomes 4th state with more than 100,000 coronavirus cases

 A worker performs drive-up COVID-19 testing at Mend Urgent Care testing site at the Westfield Fashion Square on May 13,  in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles.

California has 100,146 confirmed coronavirus cases, making it the fourth in the country to reach that threshold.

New York, New Jersey and Illinois hold the top three spots.

More than 3,800 people have died from Covid-19 in California, according to data from John Hopkins University.

Despite the significant number of total cases, California has recorded an average of only 10 Covid-related deaths per 100,000 residents, a fraction of those recorded by other states with a high case count.

California was the first to enact a statewide stay-at-home order on March 19.

Covid is hitting Native Americans harder, doctor says

Dr. Thomas Dean Sequist

Dr. Thomas Dean Sequist, a member of the Taos Pueblo tribe of New Mexico, told the House Ways and Means Committee that many issues are exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic among Native American families across the United States.  

During the Wednesday hearing on the Disproportionate Impact of Covid-19 on Communities of Color, Sequist, who is a chief patient experience and equity officer at Mass General Brigham Hospital in Boston, said he has seen a shortage of testing and supplies.  

Covid is impacting social issues as well, he said. “We already know that mental health actually impacts these communities to a much larger degree than other communities prior to Covid. We also know that these communities have a large history of historical trauma that the source of the trauma,” he said, adding, “We fully expect that there will be a wave of mental health need coming this summer, that’s going to follow this wave of infections.”

Sequist said families have been hit hard across many generations. “There are entire families that have either been infected with it, or have had multiple deaths in the family, all at once. And that is going to create a trauma that’s going to be long lasting and a need for mental health services,” he said.

“It’s going to far outstrip, what are already stressed mental health system is able to provide,” he added.

Pennsylvania governor defers to businesses on whether to allow customers in without a mask

As counties move toward the “green zone” of the governor’s reopening plan, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf deferred to businesses on whether they would allow customers in without a mask. 

During a question and answer session, he likened the mask guidelines as an addition to the “no shoes, no shirt, no service” standard, and stressed the importance of customers and employees feeling safe.

By the numbers: Pennsylvania estimated that about 62% of residents who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 have recovered from the disease, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday. 

Pennsylvania now has 13 confirmed cases of childhood illness linked to Covid-19, while 10 are currently under investigation, Levine said. She said the 13 patients range from 11 months to 18 years old. 

As of today, the state is performing contact tracing for 2,000 Pennsylvanians, the governor said. 

Salon owner who denied meat plant workers haircuts reverses the policy. Here's why.

A salon owner in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, has reversed his ban on haircuts for workers from a nearby Tyson Foods poultry plant which had become the site of a local coronavirus outbreak.

Bob Hartley, the owner of the Wilkesboro SmartCuts, said today he’d initially created the ban after the plant reported 570 of its 2,200 employees had been infected. He said prior to those infections there had only been 20-30 reported infections in the area. 

Speaking on CNN Wednesday, Hartley said he implemented the ban to protect his employees and the community from the outbreak at the plant, where the majority of the employees who tested positive were asymptomatic. 

But Hartley said he soon realized the ban, which garnered international attention, was creating a stigma for the frontline workers laboring in the plant and was being imitated by other local business including dental offices and babysitters.

“What we did want to slowly understand is the perspective of the Tyson employee,” he said. “We did not fully understand how this was calling them out and offending them because of the local response to this same outbreak.”

Harley said his intention was never to harm frontline workers, and that the salon has now added new screening and protection measures that’s made him confident he can safely serve anyone in the community.

“Those folks truly are frontline people that we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for what they’re doing going through their efforts to feed hundreds of thousands of people literally and we certainly did not mean any disrespect and dishonor for those fine people,” he said.

Mississippi governor announces safer-at-home order will expire on Monday 

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced today that the state’s safer-at-home order will expire on June 1.

The order will be replaced by a safe return order that goes into effect on June 1 and lasts through June 15, Reeves said.

More context: Mississippi has two rules for gathering — one where social distancing is possible and one for when social distancing isn’t possible, Reeves said.

For gatherings that comply with social distancing, there is a limit of 50 people indoors and up to 100 people outdoors. Gatherings that cannot socially distance are limited to 20 people indoors and no more than 50 people outdoors.

Health care procedures can also return as long as the hospitals reserve at least 25% of its capacity for Covid-19 patients. School buildings will also be able to open for summer programs. 

“There are no perfect options, but freedom with risk is better than a prolonged shutdown that threatens livelihoods and lives through government action,” he added.

By the numbers: Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs confirmed there are 313 new cases of Covid-19 and 18 additional deaths and said there are still ongoing concerns about localized outbreaks and transmission of Covid-19.  

GO DEEPER

Iconic celebrity portraits to be auctioned for Covid relief
California church going to Supreme Court on in-person restrictions
Drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback thanks to coronavirus
Just as Covid-19 cases keep rising in 18 states, holiday revelers crammed together without masks
A teen’s guide to managing your parents during a pandemic

GO DEEPER

Iconic celebrity portraits to be auctioned for Covid relief
California church going to Supreme Court on in-person restrictions
Drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback thanks to coronavirus
Just as Covid-19 cases keep rising in 18 states, holiday revelers crammed together without masks
A teen’s guide to managing your parents during a pandemic