June 29 coronavirus news

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Julia Hollingsworth, Amy Woodyatt and Adam Renton, CNN

Updated 12:02 a.m. ET, June 30, 2020
114 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
7:12 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Nevada governor pauses state's reopening 

From CNN's Dave Alsup

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak. Samuel Metz/AP

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak paused the state's reopening, saying it will remain in phase two during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Sisolak’s office issued a statement Monday saying the governor “will sign an emergency directive extending the length of Phase 2 through the end of July, due to the trends in COVID-19 infection rates, the time needed for expanded contact tracing to identify trends, and to see the impacts of the Governor’s new face covering directive.”  

The statement from his office said if statewide trends do not improve or get worse, Sisolak "will not hesitate to take any action necessary to protect the public and prevent exceeding our hospital capacity, including reinstituting previous restrictions."

7:01 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Houston, Texas reporting a 10% increase in Covid-19 positivity rate, mayor says

From CNN's Jamiel Lynch

Houston's Covid-19 positivity rate has gone up 10% since April and May, Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a briefing today.

Turner said in April and May the positivity rate was 3%, and it is now 13%. 

“We are experiencing a surge currently in the city of Houston. We cannot lose focus that our goal is to bring the number down to blunt the progression of this virus,” he said.

Turner and public health officials said that doctors are seeing more cases among young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. 

Dr. David Pearse with the Houston Health Department said that 15% of the patients in intensive care units right now are in their 20s and 30s. 

The city reported at least 1,317 new cases Sunday and Monday, Turner said. 

The city is averaging about 700 new cases a day, he said. 

6:46 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

More than 500 inmates test positive for coronavirus in Fresno County jail outbreak

From CNN's Jon Passantino

More than 500 inmates at the Fresno County Jail have tested positive for Covid-19 in a coronavirus outbreak at the Central California facility, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

After testing nearly 1,200 inmates for Covid-19, 507 were positive and 472 were negative, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said. An additional 186 inmates were still awaiting results.

The number of infections reported Monday was a significant increase from Thursday, when the sheriff’s office reported a total of 108 inmates had tested positive.

Earlier this month, the approximately 1,200 inmates at the North Jail Annex were quarantined after 13 inmates who had transferred from the Fresno County jail to the Wasco State Prison tested positive for the coronavirus.

At the time, the sheriff’s office called the cases “the largest spike in cases we have seen associated with our jail."

"There will be no inmate movement within the North Jail until further notice," it added. 

The sheriff’s office said Monday that the 14-day quarantine period, which began on June 19, is now more than halfway over and there is still no movement within the North Jail.

“This only occurs if someone there tests positive,” it said. We then move them to another area where they quarantine with other positive inmates.”

6:45 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Miami Beach mandates face masks in public spaces effective Tuesday

From CNN's Denise Royal

An aerial drone view as beachgoers take advantage of the opening of South Beach on June 10 in Miami Beach.
An aerial drone view as beachgoers take advantage of the opening of South Beach on June 10 in Miami Beach. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

The city of Miami Beach is now mandating the use of face masks to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Any person not wearing a facial covering is subject to a $50 civil fine, according to a statement from the city.

Effective at 11:59 p.m. Monday night, all establishments that are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, must stop serving liquor on-site between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. each day.

6:55 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Jefferson Parish president: "No mask, no service"

From CNN’s Janine Mack

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, President Cynthia Lee Sheng has signed an emergency declaration that will require all people to wear masks to curve the spread of Covid-19, starting on Wednesday. 

“No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service,” Sheng said during a news conference on Monday.

She said she is concerned about the asymptomatic spread of the coronavirus.

The mask ordinance will be enforced with a misdemeanor charge, including a $500 fine and possibly time in jail, according to Sheng.

6:28 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

At least 143 people at the University of Georgia test positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Jamiel Lynch

The Arch is seen at the entrance of the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia, on April 27, 2017.
The Arch is seen at the entrance of the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia, on April 27, 2017. Shutterstock

The University Health Center at the University of Georgia says 143 members of the UGA community, including students and staff, have tested positive for Covid-19, according to a statement on their website.

The statement said that this includes people who tested at the University Health Center as well as those who were tested other places and reported results back to the university.  

CNN has reached out to the university for more information. 

6:18 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Diamondbacks player to skip 2020 MLB season, agent says

From CNN's Jillian Martin

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Mike Leake has decided not to play in the 2020 MLB season, according to a statement from his agent.

The statement from Leake's agent, Danny Horwits, said, "During this global pandemic, Mike and his family had many discussions about playing this season. They took countless factors into consideration, many of which are personal to him and his family. After thorough consideration, he has chosen to opt out of playing in 2020."

Horwits added it was not an easy decision for Leake.

Read the statement:

6:10 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Georgia governor extends state of emergency and other safety measures

From CNN’s Maria Cartaya 

Brian Kemp is greeted as he visits the House Chambers in Atlanta, on Friday, June 26.
Brian Kemp is greeted as he visits the House Chambers in Atlanta, on Friday, June 26. Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed two executive orders on Monday to keep safety measures in place as the state works to contain coronavirus.

One order will extend the Public Health State of Emergency through 11:59 p.m. on August 11. The Public Health State of Emergency allows for enhanced coordination across government and the private sector for supply procurement, comprehensive testing and healthcare capacity.

An additional executive order will continue to require social distancing, bans gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person, outlines mandatory criteria for businesses, and requires sheltering in place for those living in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile.

The order also outlines that the State Board of Education must provide "rules, regulations, and guidance for the operation of public elementary and secondary schools for local boards of education" in accordance with guidance from Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the Department of Public Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. That order runs through 11:59 p.m. on July 15.

"While we continue to see a decreasing case fatality rate, expanded testing, and adequate hospital surge capacity, in recent days, Georgia has seen an increase in new cases reported and current hospitalizations,” Kemp said.

“Together, we can win the fight against Covid-19 and emerge stronger,” he added.

The latest numbers: On Monday afternoon, Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed 79,417 cases of Covid-19, 2,784 deaths, 10,824 hospitalizations, and 2,289 admissions into intensive care units in the state. 

6:20 p.m. ET, June 29, 2020

Peru reports 2,946 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Claudia Rebaza

Peru reports 2,946 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total to 282,365, according to data released by the country’s health ministry.

Peru’s capital, Lima, continued to show the highest number of cases in the country with 157,050 people infected.

The death toll has reached 9,504, with 187 new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. On Sunday, the ministry’s data reported 181 new deaths. 

Peru has now the sixth-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.