Retailers already hit by coronavirus board up as U.S. protests rage - Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Target Corp and Walmart said on Sunday they shuttered stores across the United States as retailers already reeling from closures because of the coronavirus pandemic shut outlets amid protests that included looting in many U.S. cities.

FILE PHOTO: People walk past boarded up stores as demonstrations against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd continue, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., May 30, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Protests turned violent in places including New York and Chicago following the death in Minneapolis of a black man, George Floyd, seen on video gasping for breath as a white police officer knelt on his neck.

In Los Angeles, protests led to the looting of the Alexander McQueen clothing store on Rodeo Drive, and a Gucci store on the vaunted strip was marked with the graffiti slogan: “Eat the rich,” according to local media reports.

In the nearby Grove Shopping Center, which houses 51 upscale stores, Nordstrom, Ray Ban and Apple were broken into. Nordstrom Inc temporarily closed all its stores on Sunday, it told Reuters in an emailed statement.

“We hope to reopen our doors as soon as possible,” the statement said. “We had impacts at some of them and are in the process of assessing any damage so we can resume serving customers.”

Apple Inc said in an email statement it also had decided to keep a number of its U.S. stores closed on Sunday. The company did not specify how many stores were closed, or if the closures would be extended.

The violence was widespread, and Minnesota-based Target said it was closing or limiting hours at more than 200 stores. It did not specify how long the closures would last.

The company told Reuters it was beginning to board up its Lake Street store in Minneapolis, near where Floyd was killed, for safety and to begin recovery efforts. The company said in a statement that it would plan to reopen the store late this year.

“There is certainly potential for the resulting social unrest to hurt certain businesses like retailers and restaurants, and for it to further dent consumer and business sentiment,” said Robert Phipps, director at Per Stirling. “It is even possible, particularly if the unrest continues and spreads, that it would, all other things being equal, have a significant impact on investor psychology and the markets.” 

Walmart closed some stores in Minneapolis and Atlanta after protests Friday, and closed several hundred stores at 5 p.m. on Sunday, a spokesman said. “We’ll look at them each day, and at how each community is impacted and make decisions then,” the spokesman said.

Online retailer Amazon said it was monitoring the situation closely. “In a handful of cities we’ve adjusted routes or scaled back typical delivery operations to ensure the safety of our teams,” the company said in an emailed statement.

U.S. retail sales have posted record declines as the novel coronavirus pandemic kept Americans at home, putting the economy on track for its biggest contraction in the second quarter since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault; Additional reporting by Sinead Carew and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Peter Cooney and Diane Craft

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Cuomo says he stands with Minneapolis protesters, links higher rates of coronavirus to racial inequality - Fox News

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday used social media and his daily coronavirus briefing to lash out against "injustice in the criminal justice system" and called for an end to the violent protests that have taken place in dozens of cities across the United States following the brutal death of George Floyd.

Initially, the Democratic governor seemed to link the coronavirus outbreak to inequality and Floyd.

"Why are black people dying from #COVID at higher rates than white people? Why are health outcomes worse in communities of color? Why did George Floyd die? Why does this happen again and again? It's all related," he waxed over Twitter.

About an hour later he tweeted a list of the names of 18 minorities affected by police brutality.

"Yes, the names change, but the color doesn't," Cuomo tweeted.

About 20 minutes later he tweeted again, "You are in denial if you think the death of George Floyd was an isolated incident."

Floyd, 46, died Monday night in Minneapolis while he was in police custody. A cell phone video showed Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, had kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes as Floyd gasped for air and begged for his life.

Floyd's death triggered peaceful protests in Minneapolis over police brutality and racial inequality on Tuesday. As the week went on, the demonstrations took an ominous turn and by Friday had turned deadly.

Similar protests have taken place in several U.S. cities including Brooklyn, N.Y.

At his Friday briefing, Cuomo said he stood with the Minneapolis protesters.

"Nobody is sanctioning the arson, and the thuggery and the burglaries, but the protesters and the anger and the fear and the frustration? Yes. Yes. And the demand is for justice," he said.

That evening, New York police officers purportedly shoved protesters as unruly crowds gathered near the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn.

Two sisters from the Catskills who had been in the area were arrested for throwing a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD van Friday night.

In this photo provided by Khadijah, firefighters work to contain the flames from a New York City Police Department van ablaze, Friday, May 29, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York, amid a protest of the death of George Floyd in police custody on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. (Khadijah via AP)

"It is by the grace of God ... that we don't have dead officers today," New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at a news briefing.

At his coronavirus briefing on Saturday, Cuomo said New Yorkers had the right to demonstrate but warned they should wear masks while doing so.

"You have a right to demonstrate, you have a right to protest — God bless America," he said. "You don't have a right to infect other people. You don't have a right to act in a way that's going to jeopardize public health."

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Cuomo also expressed confusion at why people disregard "the effectiveness of the mask."

"Demonstrate with a mask on," he said. "What's the difference?"

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Coronavirus pandemic: Updates from around the world - CNN International

Stranded migrant laborers prepare to board a special train to Bihar after the government eased a nationwide lockdown in Chennai, India, on May 30. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

Multiple states and territories throughout India will today begin lifting some coronavirus-related lockdown measures as part of the country's phased reopening plan.

As of today:

• The curfew prohibiting the movement of people between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. will be shortened to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nationwide.
• The federal government will now allow states and union territories to lift restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods, if those jurisdictions so choose.
• However, so-called "containment zones" -- where outbreaks of Covid-19 are more severe -- must remain under lockdown until June 30.

The official first phase of the plan, dubbed "Unlock 1," doesn't actually begin until June 8. During this phase, places of worship, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other hospitality services can reopen.

Under phase two of the plan, educational, training and coaching institutions, including schools and colleges, will be opened after consultations with states and union territories.

Dates for restarting international air travel for passengers, except as permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, resuming metro rail services and reopening movie theaters, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment parks, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will be decided in phase three.

No exact dates were provided for the start of phases two and three.

Cases spike: India recorded 8,380 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the most in a 24-hour period in the country since the global pandemic began.

To date, India has confirmed more than 190,000 cases of Covid-19 and more than 5,400 virus-related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

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New Coronavirus Losing Potency, Top Italian Doctor Says - http://hamodia.com

ROME (Reuters) -

Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 5:20 pm | ח' סיון תש"פ

An electron microscope image of the virus that causes COVID-19. (NIAID-RML)

The new coronavirus is losing its potency and has become much less lethal, a senior Italian doctor said on Sunday.

“In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,” said Alberto Zangrillo, the head of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy’s coronavirus contagion.

“The swabs that were performed over the last 10 days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago,” he told RAI TV.

Italy has the third highest death toll in the world from COVID-19, with 33,415 people dying since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21. It has the sixth highest global tally of cases at 233,019.

However new infections and fatalities have fallen steadily in May and the country is unwinding some of the most rigid lockdown restrictions introduced anywhere on the continent.

Zangrillo said some experts were too alarmist about the prospect of a second wave of infections and politicians needed to take into account the new reality.

“We’ve got to get back to being a normal country,” he said. “Someone has to take responsibility for terrorizing the country.”

The government urged caution, saying it was far too soon to claim victory.

“Pending scientific evidence to support the thesis that the virus has disappeared … I would invite those who say they are sure of it not to confuse Italians,” Sandra Zampa, an undersecretary at the health ministry, said in a statement.

“We should instead invite Italians to maintain the maximum caution, maintain physical distancing, avoid large groups, to frequently wash their hands and to wear masks.”

A second doctor from northern Italy told the national ANSA news agency that he was also seeing the coronavirus weaken.

“The strength the virus had two months ago is not the same strength it has today,” said Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at the San Martino hospital in the city of Genoa.

“It is clear that today the COVID-19 disease is different.”

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Japan May Ease Entry Bans; Asian PMIs Show Fallout: Virus Update - Bloomberg

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Japan May Ease Entry Bans; Asian PMIs Show Fallout: Virus Update  Bloomberg

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Coronavirus becoming much less lethal, virus is losing its 'potency,' top doctor reveals - TheBlaze

The coronavirus has become much less lethal and the virus is losing its "potency," a top Italian doctor has said, Reuters reported.

Dr. Alberto Zangrillo, the head of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan — one of the areas in Italy hardest hit by COVID-19 — explained the evolution of the virus is extremely positive.

"In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy," Zangrillo told RAI television, Reuters reported.

"The swabs that were performed over the last 10 days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago," he explained.

Although daily COVID-19 cases continue to rise, daily deaths are steadily decreasing after reaching a peak in mid-April. The increase in positive cases reflects mass testing across the globe, not a virus that is rapidly spreading. Italy, specifically, now averages fewer than 100 COVID-19 deaths per day after becoming the global epicenter just two months ago.

The decrease in potency means nations should reopen, Zangrillo said.

In fact, the doctor said there should be accountability for leaders who enacted such harsh lockdowns when the virus never lived up to the scientific predictions.

"We've got to get back to being a normal country," he said, Reuters reported. "Someone has to take responsibility for terrorizing the country."

Dr. Matteo Bassetti, the head of the infectious diseases clinic at a hospital in Genoa, corroborated Zangrillo's analysis.

"The strength the virus had two months ago is not the same strength it has today," he told the ANSA news agency, Reuters reported. "It is clear that today the COVID-19 disease is different."

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Will Protests Set Off a Second Viral Wave? - The New York Times

Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people out of their homes and onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases.

While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus.

More than 100,000 Americans have already died of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. People of color have been particularly hard hit, with rates of hospitalizations and deaths among black Americans far exceeding those of whites.

The protests in dozens of cities have been spurred most recently by the death last week of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis. But the unrest and outrage spilling out into the streets from one city to the next also reflects the dual, cumulative tensions arising from decades of killings by police and the sudden losses of family and friends from the virus.

The spontaneous outpouring of protests are occurring as many states have warily begun reopening after weeks of stay-at-home orders with millions of American unemployed. Restaurants, schools, beaches and parks are under scrutiny as the public tentatively practices new forms of social distancing.

In Los Angeles, where demonstrations led to the closing of virus testing sites on Saturday, Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that the protests could become “super-spreader events,” referring to the types of gatherings, usually held in indoor settings, that can lead to an explosion of secondary infections.

Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican, expressed concern that his state would see a spike in cases in about two weeks, which is about how long it takes for symptoms to emerge after someone is infected, while Atlanta’s mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, advised people who were out protesting “to go get a Covid test this week.”

Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. In addition, many of the demonstrators were wearing masks, and in some places, they appeared to be avoiding clustering too closely.

“The outdoor air dilutes the virus and reduces the infectious dose that might be out there, and if there are breezes blowing, that further dilutes the virus in the air,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. “There was literally a lot of running around, which means they’re exhaling more profoundly, but also passing each other very quickly.”

The crowds tended to be on the younger side, he noted, and younger adults generally have better outcomes if they become ill, though there is a risk they could transmit the virus to relatives and household members who may be older and more susceptible.

But others were more concerned about the risk posed by the marches. Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian who studies pandemics, likened the protest crowds to the bond parades held in American cities like Philadelphia and Detroit in the midst of the 1918 influenza pandemic, which were often followed by spikes in influenza cases.

“Yes, the protests are outside, but they are all really close to each other, and in those cases, being outside doesn’t protect you nearly as much,” Dr. Markel said. “Public gatherings are public gatherings — it doesn’t matter what you’re protesting or cheering. That’s one reason we’re not having large baseball games and may not have college football this fall.”

Though many protesters were wearing masks, others were not. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease, is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets spread when people talk, cough or sneeze; screaming and shouting slogans during a protest can accelerate the spread, Dr. Markel said.

Tear gas and pepper spray, which police have used to disperse crowds, cause people to tear up and cough, and increase respiratory secretions from the eyes, nose and mouth, further enhancing the possibility of transmission. Police efforts to move crowds through tight urban areas can result in corralling people closer together, or end up penning people into tight spaces.

And emotions have been running high, Dr. Markel said. “People get lost in the moment, and they lose awareness of who is close to them, who’s not, who’s wearing a mask, who’s not,” he said.

The biggest concern is the one that has bedeviled infectious disease experts since the pandemic began, and it’s the coronavirus’s secret weapon: that it can be transmitted by people who don’t display any symptoms and feel healthy enough to participate in protests.

“There are a huge number of asymptomatic carriers, and that makes it hugely risky,” Dr. Markel said.

The Coronavirus Outbreak

• Frequently Asked Questions and Advice

  Updated May 28, 2020

  • My state is reopening. Is it safe to go out?

    States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.

  • What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface?

    Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.

  • What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

    Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.

  • How can I protect myself while flying?

    If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)

  • How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.?

    More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.

  • Is ‘Covid toe’ a symptom of the disease?

    There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing.

  • Can I go to the park?

    Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.

  • How do I take my temperature?

    Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.

  • Should I wear a mask?

    The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.

  • What should I do if I feel sick?

    If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

  • How do I get tested?

    If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.

  • How can I help?

    Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.

---

Dr. Ashish Jha, a professor and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said more than half of coronavirus infections are spread by people who are asymptomatic, including some who are infected but never go on to develop symptoms and others who don’t yet know they are sick.

A patriotic parade in Philadelphia helped spread the influenza epidemic of 1918, historians have found.Credit...U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, via Associated Press

Arresting, transporting or jailing protesters increases the potential for spreading the virus. Dr. Jha called on protesters to refrain from violence, and urged the police to exercise restraint.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday, also predicted the protests would lead to new “chains of transmission.”

He said social and economic inequities, including poor access to health care, discrimination in health care settings, greater reliance on public transportation and differences in employment were all factors leading to a greater burden of Covid-19 disease among people of color.

“Stopping the pandemic is going to depend on our ability to take care of our most medically and socially vulnerable,” Dr. Gottlieb said. “We absolutely need to resolve these underlying problems to eliminate the risk of pandemic spreading of the epidemic."

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New coronavirus losing potency, top Italian doctor says - Reuters UK

ROME (Reuters) - The new coronavirus is losing its potency and has become much less lethal, a senior Italian doctor said on Sunday.

A lifeguard wearing a protective face mask takes the temperature of a woman at a newly reopened beach after months of closure due to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Punta Hidalgo, in Punta Ala, Italy May 31, 2020. REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini

“In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,” said Alberto Zangrillo, the head of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy’s coronavirus contagion.

“The swabs that were performed over the last 10 days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago,” he told RAI television.

Italy has the third highest death toll in the world from COVID-19, with 33,415 people dying since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21. It has the sixth highest global tally of cases at 233,019.

However new infections and fatalities have fallen steadily in May and the country is unwinding some of the most rigid lockdown restrictions introduced anywhere on the continent.

Zangrillo said some experts were too alarmist about the prospect of a second wave of infections and politicians needed to take into account the new reality.

“We’ve got to get back to being a normal country,” he said. “Someone has to take responsibility for terrorizing the country.”

The government urged caution, saying it was far too soon to claim victory.

“Pending scientific evidence to support the thesis that the virus has disappeared ... I would invite those who say they are sure of it not to confuse Italians,” Sandra Zampa, an undersecretary at the health ministry, said in a statement.

“We should instead invite Italians to maintain the maximum caution, maintain physical distancing, avoid large groups, to frequently wash their hands and to wear masks.”

A second doctor from northern Italy told the national ANSA news agency that he was also seeing the coronavirus weaken.

“The strength the virus had two months ago is not the same strength it has today,” said Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at the San Martino hospital in the city of Genoa.

“It is clear that today the COVID-19 disease is different.”

Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Additional reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Giles Elgood

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Illinois Coronavirus Updates: State Reports 1,462 New Cases of Virus Saturday - NBC Chicago

As most of Illinois entered Phase Three of the state’s “Restore Illinois” plan, more than 1,400 new cases of coronavirus were reported by health officials on Saturday.

Of the state’s 102 counties, 101 have now reported cases of the virus, with only Scott County remaining free of a confirmed case, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Chicago, which will enter its own Phase Three on Wednesday, has seen more cases than any other area of the state, but while Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the city is ready to move forward, she still is encouraging residents to remain cautious.

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis today (May 30):

Illinois Reports 1,462 New Cases of Coronavirus

The statewide coronavirus toll keeps rising, as 1,462 new cases of the virus were reported by health officials Saturday.

To date, 118,917 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Illinois, including more than 44,000 in Chicago alone.

Statewide, 61 additional deaths were reported Saturday, bringing the death toll to 5,330 since the pandemic began.

There was some good news however, as the state’s rolling positivity rate continued its decline. Just seven percent of coronavirus tests have come back positive over the last seven days, according to health officials.

Lightfoot Calls on Chicagoans to Remain on Guard Against COVID-19

Even with the city set to move into Phase Three of its reopening plan on Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is still encouraging city residents to keep up their guard against a new surge in virus cases.

Lightfoot encouraged city residents to continue wearing facial coverings in public and maintaining social distancing even as businesses begin to reopen their doors. Beginning Wednesday, a variety of businesses throughout the city, including non-essential retailers and personal care facilities like hair salons, can reopen their doors.

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Attorney General Letitia James to investigate NYPD response to George Floyd protests - New York Daily News

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Coronavirus live updates: EU asks U.S. to reconsider cutting ties with WHO as India extends lockdown in 'containment zones' - CNBC

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is "terminating" the country's relationship with the World Health Organization after repeatedly criticizing the group for its response to the coronavirus crisis and accusing the agency of being "China-centric." Trump's strained relationship with the WHO could bring complications as scientists around the world race for a Covid-19 cure and treatment.

Before Trump's WHO announcement, French drugmaker Sanofi said it is suspending clinical trials for hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19 while the WHO reviews safety data on the Trump-touted drug. Later Friday, Moderna announced that the first participants in a phase two trial have been dosed with a potential vaccine for the coronavirus.

This is CNBC's live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks. 

• Global cases: More than 5.95 million
• Global deaths: At least 365,437
• U.S. cases: More than 1.74 million
• U.S. deaths: At least 102,836

The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Governors urge protesters to wear masks

4:52 p.m. ET — Large protests over the death of George Floyd have brought up concerns about coronavirus transmission among state leaders.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged protesters to demonstrate while wearing a mask and said he doesn't see any justification to not wearing one.

"You have a right to protest. You have a right to demonstrate. God Bless America," Cuomo said at a press briefing Saturday. "You don't have a right to infect other people. You don't have the right to act in a way that's going to jeopardize public health."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz commended peaceful demonstrators who earlier this week wore masks and practiced social distancing. However, he said protests on Friday, which turned violent, were a different story.

"The masks last night were worn to disguise," Walz said at a press briefing Saturday. "The masks worn by people there were to cause confusion and take advantage of the situation."

NYC identifies coronavirus 'hot spots' as it prepares to reopen

2:50 p.m. ET —With New York City's reopening planned for June 8, the state has identified ten "hot spots" that are still generating new cases, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Identified through coronavirus testing, the hot spots are predominately low-income and minority communities located in zip codes in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

"It's a dramatic difference between the overall city situation and the situation in these zip codes," Cuomo said. The city as a whole has a 20% infection rate, but some of these hot spots have an infection rate of around 50%, according to Cuomo.

He said the city is working on adding more testing sites with one for each hot spot. —Hannah Miller

India extends lockdown in 'containment zones' while opening up other parts of the country

LUCKNOW, INDIA - APRIL 8: People stand in queue outside Reserve Bank of India while maintaining social distance on day fifteen of the 21 day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus at RBI Chowk Branch, Koneshwar Chauraha on April 8, 2020 in Lucknow, India.

Dheeraj Dhawan | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

1:06 p.m. ET — India is extending lockdown restrictions to June 30 in what the home ministry is calling "containment zones," while allowing restaurants, malls and religious buildings to reopen in other parts of the country, Reuters reports.

The order comes as India reported a record number of daily new Covid-19 cases a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initial lockdown order was set to lift, according to Reuters.

India is allowing hospitality and retail businesses, along with places of worship, to open on June 8, while those buildings must keep social distancing rules in place, Reuters reported. —Chris Eudaily

Pop-up bars in New York City pushing the limits of shutdown rules

People are seen social distancing in the Meatpacking District during the coronavirus pandemic on May 24, 2020 in New York City.

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12:33 p.m. ET — Restaurants in New York City are allowed to do takeout under pandemic restrictions, but some operations are pushing the limits of the service rules with outdoor tables and allowing customers to stick around a little longer, the Associated Press reports.

Clothing stores and a tanning salon have also reportedly tried to open early, the AP reports.

"It's been this way more and more each week," said Levi Nayman, 45, who was outside a piano bar and sipping bourbon on Manhattan's Restaurant Row. "It's better than nothing."

Paul Denamiel, owner of the French restaurant Le Rivage, said the pop-up scene could be a test run for what things will look like when eateries officially reopen, according to the AP.

"We're sort of doing it now," Denamiel said. "But we are taking social distancing very seriously." —Chris Eudaily 

Health experts on how to reduce health risks of summer activities

Crowds - drawn by the sunny, warm weather - socially distance at Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco, Calif. to enjoy Memorial Day weekend, on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Scott Strazzante | The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

12:03 p.m. ET — This summer, as the U.S. begins to reemerge from months-long quarantines, there's no activity that doesn't come without risk, public health and infectious disease professionals warn.

However, there are some that may have reduced risk of Covid-19 infection or ways to safeguard yourself and others from the disease, they say.

"You can't eliminate risk, but you can decrease it," said Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer and professor of medicine and infectious disease at the University of Michigan.

CNBC spoke to a group of infectious disease and public health experts across the country to gauge how much risk is associated with some common summer activities and discover ways to make these activities safer. 

In any instance, experts stress the need to follow key physical distancing guidelines, like staying at least 6 feet away from others and limiting how long you interact with people. Wearing a face covering and opting for spaces that have enough air flow are also good ideas. Outdoor activities generally pose a lower risk than indoor.

"It's a matter of a spectrum from low risk to high risk," Ryan Demmer, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota said. "And there are several factors that contribute to where you might find yourself on that spectrum." —Noah Higgins-Dunn

NASA working to redesign ventilators for coronavirus patients

NASA's VITAL machine is tailored for COVID-19 patients; it's focused on providing air delicately to stiff lungs — a hallmark symptom of the virus.

Short-term rental market takes a hit in the wake of coronavirus

11:15 a.m. ET — The short-term home rental market is going through consolidation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic curtailing travel in 2020.

Mom and pop landlords and venture-backed companies that rent out properties on websites like Airbnb are now offloading their units. At the same time, others in the market are seeing this time as an opportunity to expand their businesses.

Notably, Washington state-based Stay Alfred, which had raised $62 million in funding, announced last week that the company will shut down. Meanwhile, Vector Travel in Jacksonville, Florida, and FrontDesk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have expanded their portfolios. This week, FrontDesk acquired 18 units in Pittsburgh that were previously a part of Stay Alfred's portfolio. —Sal Rodriguez

EU calls for U.S. to reconsider WHO exit

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, May 29, 2020.

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11:05 a.m. ET — The European Union issued a statement asking the U.S. to reconsider its decision to cut ties with the World Health Organization, Reuters reported.

"In the face of this global threat, now is the time for enhanced cooperation and common solutions. Actions that weaken international results must be avoided," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, in a statement, according to Reuters.

"In this context, we urge the U.S. to reconsider its announced decision," they said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also spoke out against Trump's announcement, Reuters reported, pledging talks with Washington on the issue.

The decision is "the wrong signal at the wrong time," Maas told German outlet Funke. With the number of infections continuing to rise globally, "we cannot tear down the dike in the middle of a storm", he said, according to Reuters. —Chris Eudaily

What working from home permanently means for your taxes

10:32 a.m. ET — Many workers say work-life balance has improved during the pandemic because they don't have to commute to work — and they like it.

Employers aren't rushing to get staff back on-site too quickly, either, and 3 out of 4 say they might make some positions remote permanently. But beware: Depending on where your remote workplace will be based, both you and your boss could face additional tax burdens.

Things get even more complex for individuals who might reside in one state but go to another to work, CNBC's Darla Mercado reports. —Kenneth Kiesnoski

India reports record jump in new coronavirus cases

Doctors and medical staff wait for their turn during the collection of samples for Covid-19 testing at LNJP Hospital, during nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, on May 9, 2020 in New Delhi, India.

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10:13 a.m. ET — India said it had 7,964 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a record daily jump, as the country was set to ease lockdown restrictions on May 31, according to Reuters.

In an open letter to the country's 1.3 billion people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked residents to heed lockdown rules to stem the spread of the virus, Reuters reported. Modi said there was a "long battle" ahead.

"Our country (is) besieged with problems amidst a vast population and limited resources," Modi said, adding that laborers and migrant workers had "undergone tremendous suffering" from restrictions, according to Reuters. 

The government could extend the lockdown past May 31, a home ministry official said, according to Reuters. — Chris Eudaily

University of Michigan aims to bring students back for fall semester

10:00 a.m. ET — The University of Michigan said it is planning to bring students back on campus for the fall semester.

"The average student is very anxious to get out of mom and dad's basement and come back to school," President Mark Schlissel told CNBC.

Schlissel said he is optimistic that the university can host a "public-health-informed residential semester," CNBC's Jessica Dickler reports.

The on-campus plan would mean hosting large lectures online, and limiting in-person gatherings and teaching labs to small groups. —Chris Eudaily

Financial fallout from pandemic likely set to hit schools nationwide

An empty classroom at the Grace Farrar Cole School in Norwell, MA with a bottle of sanitizer left on a desk on April 21, 2020.

David L. Ryan | Boston Globe | Getty Images

8:54 a.m. ET — Schools across the country found themselves having to make big changes when stay-at-home measures were put in place to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Now, more than 13,000 school systems in the U.S. are facing the likelihood of major budget cuts while trying to plan for what the fall may look like for their students, the Associated Press reports.

Advocates are calling for federal aid to schools as researchers say budget shortfalls could mean a large number of teacher layoffs, and less learning for students, according to the AP.

In Catoosa County, a 10,000-student school system in northern Georgia, the next school year will be shortened to 170 days, and the system will send its 1,700 employees home for 10 unpaid days to try and make up an expected $12.6 million budget gap, the AP reports.

As many as 319,000 teachers could be lost nationwide if spending drops 15% this year, according to Michael Griffith, a senior fellow with the Learning Policy Institute in California. —Chris Eudaily

Read CNBC's previous coronavirus live coverage here: Russia's daily death toll falls; Spain to reopen island leisure spots.

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Newsom says coronavirus spread has stabilized - Los Angeles Times

California’s efforts to restart the economy hit a new milestone with the decisions to allow Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the coronavirus in California, to reopen restaurants, barbershops and hair salons.

There have been questions about whether the state is moving too fast.

But Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order was crediting with slowing the spread of COVID-19, on Friday made the case for how the state is proceeding.

Californians have successfully slowed the spread of the coronavirus this spring allowing the rapid easing of his stay-at-home order and freeing most residents to leave the safety of their homes to venture to salons, shops and restaurants, and in some cases return to work.

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Los Angeles became the latest county to receive approval from the Newsom administration to accelerate the reopening of its economy, despite being California’s biggest COVID-19 hotspot with nearly 2,300 confirmed deaths thus far out of the roughly 4,000 statewide. In all, 48 of California’s 58 counties have been granted waivers.

In April, Newsom unveiled his multistage plan for reopening in late April and the state has moved expeditiously to grant variances to counties since then. It took just 17 days for state officials to sign off allowing the state’s first two counties to begin reopening — Butte and El Dorado, both in Northern California — and the green light for loosening the restrictions in Los Angeles.

“It’s because of your extraordinary work, 40 million of you, we bought time,” Newsom said at a COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento on Friday. “We never allowed that curve to take off like other parts of this country. We’ve had stability for weeks and weeks and weeks.”

Newsom noted that roughly 50,000 Californians statewide are being tested daily for the coronavirus. Over the past seven days, just over 4% of those tested statewide have been positive, which he called an “encouraging number.” Newsom said that hospitalizations for COVID-19 also have remain stable statewide, and most California medical centers have ample capacity.

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But the state has also faced setbacks with reopening.

The decision comes as two of the first counties in California to ease restrictions, Sonoma and Lassen, scaled back reopening plans after experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases when some restrictions were lifted. Santa Clara County public health officer Dr. Sara Cody, a key architect of the nation’s first stay-at-home order, earlier this week also criticized California’s fast pace in lifting stay-at-home restrictions, saying it could trigger a surge in cases.

Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, an epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said that despite Los Angeles County being hard hit by the pandemic, hospitalizations for the virus have not increased. He said that’s a good indication that the county has “flattened the curve” and, thus far, effectively prevented COVID-19 patients from overwhelming hospitals and the healthcare system, which has been the primary public health concern since the outbreak.

“It’s very difficult for people to make a living at this stage. But a responsible phased reopening, done in a prudent manner — it makes sense at this stage,” Kim-Farley said.

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Still, Kim-Farley and others cautioned that it could be several weeks before public health officials are able to determine if the eased restrictions will trigger an increase in COVID-19 cases, and warned that the “free-for-all” of crowded bars and gatherings seen in other states would likely lead to a new wave of the virus.

“If we fully reopen too soon without the necessary restrictions and prevention methods like masking, testing and physical distancing, we could have another spike in infections and deaths that will lead us back to fully sheltering in place, and no one wants that to happen,” said epidemiologist Brandon Brown of the UC Riverside Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health. “If we develop reopening standards, we need to make sure we meet those standards before moving forward, otherwise why make the standards at all?”

In seeking a variance from the state, L.A. County officials argued that the county has met the criteria created by the California Department of Public Health to reopen. Even if COVID-19 cases increase, the county will have the capacity to respond, officials said.

Los Angeles County reported a decline in its total number of hospitalized patients, a seven-day average of daily percent change of -1%, according to the variance application. The county also stated that the prevalence of the coronavirus spreading in the community was low enough to reopen, with less than 8% of those who tested coming back positive over the previous seven-day period.

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Newsom established the variance process in May, requiring counties to prove to the state that COVID-19 hospitalizations have stabilized, medical centers, nursing homes and other essential services have adequate protective equipment and that they are prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus.

On Friday, Newsom made it clear that adherence to those reopening standards is the responsibility of the counties — not the state — repeating his oft-used catchphrase “localism is determinative.” The Newsom administration has not yet provided specifics as to whether or when state health officials would intervene if restrictions are not followed at the county level and cases begin to increase.

“Local health officials are the tip of the spear,” Newsom said. “They have the right and the responsibility to make determinations based on local conditions in partnership with their local elected officials. We respect that right, we honor it. Some will go slowly, some will go a little bit more quickly.”

Counties granted waivers by the state have been allowed to reopen restaurants for in-person dining, along with barbershops and hair salons — with proper safeguards in place, such as the use of face coverings, a restricted number of customers and sanitation protocols.

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The state already allowed retailers and shopping centers to open, along with office buildings, manufacturers and other business, with the same safeguards in place. Faith-based organizations also can resume services, with the number of congregants limited.

Large gathers, such as concerts and major sports events with fans, remain prohibited and are not expected to resume until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19.

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Utah sees another spike in coronavirus cases, third big day in a row - Salt Lake Tribune

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For the third consecutive day, Utah recorded more than 200 new COVID-19 cases. Saturday’s total of 269 is the second highest reported since the pandemic began and came after the state reported 343, the highest, on Friday.

In comparison, on Wednesday, shortly after the Memorial Day holiday, the number of new cases had been only 86.

The Utah Department of Health also reported four more deaths Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 112.

The big spikes in new cases come two weeks after most of the state moved on May 16 to the low-risk “yellow” category for COVID-19 restrictions, encouraging more people to leave their homes. But officials have cautioned against jumping to conclusions about blaming that for the spike.

Dr. Angela Dunn, the state’s epidemiologist, said Friday that it could be explained by catching up after a lull in testing attributed to the Memorial Day weekend — and said the number of new cases this week is only a slight increase over the previous week.

Or, she said, there could be “an actual uptick in cases,” including outbreaks like the one happening at the Salt Lake Veterans Home. She has said the state was anticipating a rise in cases as restrictions loosened.

Jenny Johnson, spokeswoman for the state health department, said Saturday, “What we’re seeing in our numbers is usually a lag from when an infection actually occurred …. It could take up to 14 days for you to show symptoms of COVID-19 after you’re infected.”

With that, she said it is possible that moving to yellow status “could be part of the reason” for the jump in new cases. But she said a temporary drop in testing over the holiday weekend followed by an increase may be part of the reason, too. “We’re not totally sure.”

New data also show that the Bear River Health Department — which includes Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties — saw a big increase cases in the past two days, from 117 on Thursday to 190 on Saturday.

“As Dr. Dunn said yesterday, we expect as the economy opens to have potential localized outbreaks, which is what we might be seeing up in the Bear River area,” Johnson said.

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She said that underscores the need for residents to continue caution as the economy opens more.

“We really need people to still be vigilant about good hand hygiene, social distancing, wearing a mask when you can't social distance appropriately when you're out in public. Those things are all really important,” Johnson said.

“If you have even mild symptoms of COVID-19 get tested so that we can identify cases quickly and help people understand how important it is to isolate or quarantine as appropriate.”

The total number of confirmed cases in Utah since the pandemic began is now 9,533.

The four deaths reported Saturday include three Salt Lake County residents and one from Weber County — all with underlying health conditions, and two were residents of long-term care facilities. Two were men and two were women. Two were older than 85, one was between ages 60-84, and one was younger than age 60.

Also added back into the state totals was a death that was earlier reported, but had been removed temporarily from totals for more investigation to ensure it had been caused by COVID-19.

The health department also reported on Saturday 10 more hospitalizations, for a total of 763 since the pandemic began. And 99 people are currently in hospital.

The state reported 4.250 more people received tests for COVID-19. That brings the total to 210,105, with a positive rate of 4.5%.

The state considers 5,995 cases “recovered” — which is defined as still being alive three weeks since being diagnosed.

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Coronavirus pandemic updates from around the world - CNN International

Extremely vulnerable people who have been "shielding" in Great Britain — staying at home at all times and avoiding any face-to-face contact — will be allowed outdoors from Monday, the UK government said in a statement ahead of the official announcement on Sunday. 

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick will announce that 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable people will be able to go outside with members of their household, while continuing to follow social distancing guidelines, according to the government statement. The updated guidance says those who live alone can meet outside with one other person from another household.

This is seen as a boon for the most clinically vulnerable, including many who have not had any face-to-face contact since they were first advised to shield 10 weeks ago. However, it comes at a time when members of the scientific advisory board to the UK government – SAGE – are warning that a premature easing of the coronavirus lockdown could lead to a "significant" number of new cases and deaths across the country.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also on Saturday urged citizens to "act with caution" as the government prepares to relax lockdown measures on Monday, expressing his concerns that the country is “rushing” to ease restrictions.

However, the government advised those shielding: "The average chance of catching the virus is now down from 1/40 to 1/1000, delivering greater reassurance that it is safe to cautiously reflect this in the guidance for those who have been advised to shield." It added that people who are shielding should remain at a two-meter distance from others when outside, should only leave the house once a day and should not go to work or the shops. They should also avoid crowded places where they can’t social distance. 

"I want to thank everyone who has followed the shielding guidance – it is because of your patience and sacrifice that thousands of lives have been saved," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. "I do not underestimate just how difficult it has been for you, staying at home for the last 10 weeks, and I want to pay tribute to your resilience."

Johnson thanked those who have helped deliver medicine and shopping or checked in on people who are isolating. "We have been looking at how we can make life easier for our most vulnerable, so … I am happy to confirm that those who are shielding will be able to spend time outside with someone else, observing social distance guidelines," Johnson said. “I will do what I can, in line with the scientific advice, to continue making life easier for you over the coming weeks and months.”

"Thanks to the sacrifices made across the country, which have protected the NHS and saved lives, it’s now time to begin lifting restrictions, step by step, and while we must all stay alert, we can now start to resume a sense of normality," Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

During his speech at the government's daily press conference on Sunday, Jenrick is expected to set out a plan to review shielding guidance at the same time as the government reviews its social distancing measures. The next review will take place later this month.  

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US cities fear protests may fuel new wave of virus outbreaks - KOMO News

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Utah reports largest one-day rise in COVID-19 cases, and one new fatality - Salt Lake Tribune

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The state of Utah had the largest one-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday — with a spike of 343 new cases, the Utah Department of Health reported.

But the state’s epidemiologist, Dr. Angela Dunn, urged “caution against jumping to conclusions” about that number. “One day does not make a trend,” Dunn said in a statement issued by UDOH.

“Comparing weekly cases over the past two weeks, we have seen a 3% increase in daily cases,” Dunn said. “Specifically, we have seen 1,197 new cases in the current week, compared to 1,162 cases in the week prior.”

Friday’s increase in cases — a 3.8% increase from the day before — could be explained, Dunn said, by the lull attributed to the Memorial Day weekend. Or, she said, there could be “an actual uptick in cases,” including outbreaks like the one happening at the Salt Lake Veterans Home.

“We want to see where we go over the weekend,” agreed Nicholas Rupp, spokesman for the health department in Salt Lake County, where cases rose by 118 between Thursday and Friday — the third biggest leap so far. “Given that we think we were lower because of a lull over the holiday, I think we want to not be alarmist until we have a few more days of data.”

Although the jump could just be an anomaly in the timing of when tests are reported, he said, Utahns should still be taking precautions in public.

“Everyone should still be wearing their face coverings and practicing social distancing as much as possible,” he said.

Friday’s leap brings the total number of cases of COVID-19 statewide since the pandemic began to 9,264.

UDOH reported one new death in Utah from COVID-19: a Salt Lake County woman, over the age of 85, who was living in a long-term care facility. Her death brings the overall number of fatalities in the state to 107.

The state was anticipating a rise in cases as restrictions loosened around the state, Dunn said. She and other public health officials are also watching the proxy transmission rate — a metric based on new hospitalizations and the use of intensive care units.

The state’s transmission rate now stands at 1.1%, and use of ICUs “remains well below our threshold level,” Dunn said.

Nineteen more people were admitted to a hospital in Utah because of COVID-19, compared to the day before, UDOH reported. As of Friday, there were 101 people still hospitalized; there have been 753 hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

The state reported 2,348 more tests for COVID-19 have been administered in the last day. That brings the total to 205,855, with a positive rate of 4.5%.

The state considers 5,813 cases “recovered” — which is defined by UDOH as going three weeks since being diagnosed and not dying.

UDOH, Dunn said, “will continue to watch our daily case counts closely, with the goal of preventing widespread, community transmission.”

She also issued a reminder to Utahns: “Low and moderate risk does not mean ‘no risk.’ We all have a responsibility to be proactive and to do the things we know will help limit the spread of this virus.”

Those include staying home if you’re sick, washing your hands thoroughly and often, using hand sanitizer, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face mask where necessary.

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Politico says New York Gov. Cuomo's 'coronavirus halo begins to fade' - Fox News

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Politico took aim at Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a report Friday, saying his "coronavirus halo" has begun to "fade."

"Two and a half months into the crisis, Cuomo’s take-charge attitude has begun to soften," Politico reporters Anna Gronewold and Erin Durkin wrote. "The governor, who gained legions of fans for his briefings that blended an authoritative tone with a personal touch, is increasingly on the defensive -- and casting blame on the federal government and its guidance."

Cuomo has been under increasing scrutiny for the controversial nursing home policy implemented in March that critics say is responsible for thousands of deaths among senior citizens in the state.

"Gone is the split-screen Cuomo often shared with President Donald Trump early in the outbreak," the Politico piece continued. "Now, Cuomo is still briefing daily, though in not as big of a national spotlight, while Trump has shied away from the podium."

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Democrat state Assemblyman Ron Kim slammed the governor, who said in the early weeks of the pandemic that the "buck" stops with him.

“It’s ludicrous. You can’t one day say you can blame me and the buck stops with me, and the next day pass the buck to anyone besides yourself," Kim told Politico, while Cuomo's secretary Melissa DeRosa said: "We will take our responsibility; we embrace it."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Cuomo's March 25 order required nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients. Then, on May 10, Cuomo issued a new directive stating that hospitals cannot send patients back to nursing homes in the state unless they tested negative for the virus. The move appeared to largely invalidate the March 25 directive.

However, senior Cuomo communications director Peter Ajemian has insisted in an email to Fox News that it was "not accurate" to state that Cuomo had "reversed" the March 25 order. "He didn't reverse or rescind anything," Ajemian wrote at the time. "The order is still in effect," adding that Cuomo "did add a directive."

When confronted about the nursing home policy, Cuomo placed blame on the Trump administration, saying: "The state followed President Trump's CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance."

"New York followed the president's agencies' guidance," Cuomo said during a press conference Saturday. "... What New York did was follow what the Republican Administration said to do. That's not my attempt to politicize it. It's my attempt to depoliticize it. So don't criticize the state for following the president's policy."

NEW YORK HEALTH WEBSITE DELETES CUOMO'S ORDER LINKED TO NURSING HOME FATALITIES

However, New York State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a Democrat from Manhattan who has called for an independent investigation into the more than 5,700 nursing home deaths, isn't buying it.

“The federal government never told New York to tolerate low staffing levels in nursing homes or to have a lax or understaffed enforcement of health and safety safeguards in nursing homes,” Gottfried told Politico. “The executive branch -- going back decades — has done that all by itself.”

THE ATLANTIC SLAMS CNN'S CUOMO-CUOMO 'ACT' FOR PURSUING RATINGS OVER JOURNALISM

Earlier this month, Politico had some choice words for the naysayers in the mainstream media who blasted Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for reopening his state.

In its coronavirus newsletter, Politico reporters Marc Caputo and Renuka Rayasam said Florida was "not a post-apocalyptic hellscape of coronavirus infection and cadavers stacked like cordwood," and that the media's treatment of DeSantis was much harsher than its treatment of Cuomo.

"Florida just doesn’t look nearly as bad as the national news media and sky-is-falling critics have been predicting for about two months now," they wrote. "But then, the national news media is mostly based in New York and loves to love its Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, about as much as it loves to hate on Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis."

MSNBC'S STEPHANIE RUHLE SLAMMED FOR 'SOFTBALL INTERVIEW' WITH CUOMO AMID NURSING HOME CONTROVERSY 

Caputo and Rayasam said "DeSantis looks more right than those who criticized" his decision to slowly reopen the state, pointing to the fewer than 2,000 dead and the roughly 43,000 statewide cases, which was "a fraction of the dire predictions" that were previously made, also noting that Florida's coronavirus numbers are "dwarfed" by New York's and that "more people reportedly died in New York nursing homes than in all of Florida."

"DeSantis is actually polling worse than Cuomo in their respective states, and the Florida press is wondering why," the newsletter continued. "Part of that is style. Cuomo has a smooth delivery, a deep and calming voice and an attitude that projects he can answer any question. DeSantis sometimes comes across as peevish and defensive, has made a misstatement or two and was mocked for struggling to put on a mask. But most of the difference between DeSantis and Cuomo is due to politics. DeSantis governs a politically divided state. Cuomo is a scion of Democratic royalty in a deeply Democratic state."

The Politico reporters acknowledged that "media bias" is a major factor, noting how Cuomo has a press that "defers to him" and "preferred to cover 'Florida Morons' at the beach."

"Maybe things would be different if DeSantis had a brother who worked in cable news and interviewed him for a 'sweet moment' in primetime," the reporters wrote in an apparent swipe at CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's softball interviews with his governor-brother.

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However, they said DeSantis "can't quite take a victory lap" since he "deferred to local leaders early on" and how "more than 1.4 million unique unemployment claims have been submitted, but only half have received compensation."

"DeSantis is trying to get fixed quickly. He knows that in a state he won by less than half a point two years ago, and one that President Donald Trump won by slightly more than a point in 2016, it’s a political time bomb to have potentially hundreds of thousands of people blaming the party in power for their woes in an election year," the newsletter concluded.

Fox News' Gregg Re contributed to this report.

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