May 11 coronavirus news

By Joshua Berlinger, Julia Hollingsworth, Zamira Rahim and Adam Renton, CNN

Updated 9:20 p.m. ET, May 11, 2020
22 Posts
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2:38 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

The world's second-oldest airline just filed for bankruptcy because of the coronavirus pandemic

From CNN's Maija Ehlinger in Atlanta and CNN's Natalie Gallón in Mexico City

Aircraft of Colombian airline Avianca are seen on the tarmac at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on August 28, 2019.
Aircraft of Colombian airline Avianca are seen on the tarmac at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on August 28, 2019. Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

Colombian carrier Avianca, the world's second-oldest airline, filed for bankruptcy due to the "unforeseeable impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," according to a statement released on its website on Sunday. 

The decision to file for bankruptcy was made with the intention to "protect and preserve operations" during the continuing pandemic.

According to the statement, Avianca directly employs 21,000 people throughout Latin America. Nearly 90% of countries where Avianca operates are under total or partial travel restrictions, according to additional information on the Avianca website. 

“Avianca is facing the most challenging crisis in our 100-year history as we navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Anko van der Werff, the company's CEO.

According to Van der Werff, Avianca is the second-oldest continuously running airline in the world. 

2:21 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

It's just past 8:20 a.m. in Berlin and 3:20 p.m. in Seoul. Here's what you may have missed

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 4.1 million people and killed at least 282,700 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. If you're just joining us, here is the latest on the pandemic:

  • Germany on alert: The coronavirus reproduction rate is estimated to have risen over the crucial value of 1, reaching 1.13, according to the country's disease and control center. The increase indicates a rise in infections, a few days after Chancellor Angela Merkel announced an easing of lockdown measures.
  • New Zealand to ease restrictions: PM Jacinda Ardern said authorities will begin to lift lockdown measures in several phases, but warned that while her country "may have won a few battles," it has not "won the war," against the virus.
  • Small spikes in China: Fresh lockdown measures were announced for the city of Shulan in northeastern Jilin province over the weekend after 11 cases were reported. Five local transmissions were reported in Wuhan, ground zero for the pandemic. The city reported its first new case in more than a month yesterday, raising concerns that new cases could be coming.
  • Potential second wave in South Korea: At least 85 coronavirus patients in South Korea are believed to have contracted the virus in nightclubs in recent weeks, prompting authorities to order the businesses shuttered. Of 35 new cases reported Monday, all 29 locally transmitted infections were related to clubs in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul.
  • World's second-oldest airline grounded: Colombia-based airline Avianca Holdings has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US Southern District of New York. The "voluntary petition" was filed as a result of the "unforeseeable impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," according to a statement released on their website.
1:54 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

Fresh outbreaks in China and South Korea show we can't let our guard down

Analysis by CNN's James Griffiths in Hong Kong

"It's not over until it's over."

That was South Korean President Moon Jae-in, speaking Sunday after a new cluster of coronavirus cases emerged in the country's capital Seoul, sparking fear of a second wave of infections in the East Asian country.

South Korea was among the first places to deal with a major coronavirus epidemic, and seemed to be on track to loosen restrictions, after weeks of social distancing measures and careful surveillance. But the new cluster seems to have put an end to that, for now, with Moon warning his people "we must never lower our guard regarding epidemic prevention."

China too, is introducing renewed restrictions after two cities reported new cases of the virus. Shulan, in Jilin province in the country's far northeast, has been put under lockdown, following 11 newly confirmed cases. Jilin borders both Russia and North Korea, and concerns have previously been raised over imported cases from overseas causing a renewed outbreak.

More alarming are the new cluster of infections in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where cases of the novel coronavirus were first detected late last year. Wuhan was the first city in the world to enter into lockdown, only returning to relative normality late last month after 76 days.

On Monday, city officials said five new cases had been confirmed in the city, none of which were imported from overseas. While that is a far cry from the figures at the beginning of the crisis, or those being reported daily across much of western Europe and the United States right now, the apparent ability of the virus to continue spreading undetected -- especially in a city as intensely surveilled and restricted as Wuhan -- will lead to concerns about the viability of reopening.

Read the full analysis:

1:35 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

India records highest single-day spike in cases

From CNN's Manveena Suri in New Delhi

Authorities in India said Monday that 4,213 coronavirus patients were reported in a 24-hour period ending Sunday evening local time -- the highest number of cases identified in a single day since the pandemic began.

At least 67,152 people inside the country have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Of those, 20,916 have recovered while 2,206 have died.

1:25 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

Japan records another 70 Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo

A medical staff member holds a swab at a coronavirus testing site on May 10 in Kashima, Japan.
A medical staff member holds a swab at a coronavirus testing site on May 10 in Kashima, Japan. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Japan reported 70 new coronavirus infections and eight Covid-19-related deaths on Sunday, the country's health ministry said.

The country has now recorded 16,510 cases and 634 fatalities. Of those, 712 infections and 13 deaths are tied to the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

1:22 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

New Zealand will take a staged approach to lifting its lockdown restrictions

From CNN's Julia Hollingsworth in Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at a news conference on May 11.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at a news conference on May 11. Reuters

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country will begin to lift coronavirus-related lockdown measures in several phases.

  • Starting May 14, cafes, movie theaters, shops, malls and restaurants will reopen. Gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed and New Zealanders will be permitted to travel within the country.
  • Starting May 18, schools will open.
  • Starting May 21, bars will reopen.

As of Monday, New Zealand had identified 1,497 confirmed and probable coronavirus patients. Though the rate of new infections has slowed significantly, Ardern said the country would proceed with caution.

"We may have won a few battles, but we have not won the war," she said.
12:21 a.m. ET, May 11, 2020

South Korea nightclub clusters spark fears of second wave

From CNN's Jake Kwon in Seoul, South Korea

Notices are posted at the entrance of a closed nightclub in Seoul on Sunday.
Notices are posted at the entrance of a closed nightclub in Seoul on Sunday. Ahn Young-joon/AP

At least 85 coronavirus patients in South Korea are believed to have contracted the virus in nightclubs in recent weeks, prompting authorities to order the businesses shuttered.

On Saturday, all nightclubs and bars in Seoul were ordered to close until further notice after a spike in cases linked to venues in the capital prompted concerns of a second wave of infections.

Thirty-five new cases were detected in the country on Sunday, according to the South Korean health ministry. Of the new cases, all 29 locally transmitted infections were related to clubs in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that the next two to three days will be "critical," and called upon those who had visited the nightclubs to get tested.

"If Seoul falls, the country falls," he said. "One moment of letting the guard down can lead to an explosion of infections."

The city collected the names of 5,517 people who visited the relevant nightclubs between April 24 and May 6 and has since reached more than 2,000 of them, the health ministry said. At least 3,000 others who could not be reached will be tracked down with the help of credit card records and police cooperation.

As of Monday, South Korea has reported 10,909 Covid-19 cases, 9,632 of which had recovered. The death toll remains at 256. 

11:59 p.m. ET, May 10, 2020

US reports more than 20,000 new cases

The United States recorded 20,241 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 733 deaths on Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

That brings the nationwide totals to at least 1,329,791 infections and at least 79,528 Covid-19-related fatalities.

The totals includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

CNN is tracking US coronavirus cases here:

11:34 p.m. ET, May 10, 2020

New coronavirus clusters emerge in northeast China and fresh cases identified in Wuhan

From journalist Alexandra Lin and Sol Han

Authorities in mainland China reported 17 new novel coronavirus cases inside the country today, including 10 that were locally transmitted.

The country's National Health Commission (NHC) said that five of the new local transmissions were reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China considered ground zero for the global pandemic.

Wuhan reported its first new case in more than a month yesterday, raising concerns that a second wave of cases could be coming. The city's Dongxihu district was classified as being at a medium risk level as of Sunday afternoon, while other areas of Wuhan remain low risk.

Troubling signs in the northeast: Fresh lockdown measures were announced for the city of Shulan in China’s northeastern Jilin province over the weekend after 11 coronavirus cases were reported there yesterday. 

A statement released by Jilin’s provincial health commission on Sunday said Shulan is currently under lockdown since Saturday, with public services and recreation venues shut down and only takeaway services allowed for restaurants.

Gatherings are banned and only one member from each household is allowed to go out to collect daily necessities. The statement did not say how long the lockdown measures would last.

The epidemic risk level in Shulan has been changed to “high," the top level on China's scale.

Total cases: The NHC said it has now identified 82,918 Covid-19 patients. Right now, there are 780 asymptomatic patients under medical observation, 12 of which are new cases. A total of 78,144 coronavirus patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. More than 4,600 have died.