July 9 coronavirus news

By Joshua Berlinger, Brett McKeehan, Ivana Kottasová, Ed Upright, Meg Wagner and Melissa Macaya, CNN

Updated 9:12 PM ET, Thu July 9, 2020
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3:21 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Florida governor says he supports schools reopening and hosting RNC outdoors

From CNN’s Angela Barajas

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference about the coronavirus held at the Pan American Hospital on July 07, 2020 in Miami, Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference about the coronavirus held at the Pan American Hospital on July 07, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he "would not hesitate" sending his own kids to school when the academic year begins. All of his three children are below the age of four and not of school age.

"Educating our kids is absolutely essential, we have put them to the back of the line," he said at a news conference this afternoon in Jacksonville.

When asked about safety precautions for the Republican National Convention, DeSantis supported hosting the convention in an outdoor space, citing safety for all of those in attendance. DeSantis said no plan had officially been submitted to host the convention in an outdoor space. 

On the state of Covid: DeSantis said staffing was proving to be an issue statewide. He alluded to seasonal shortages as part of the reason. Hundreds of contract nurses are expected to be deployed statewide in addition to 100 additional nurses being sent to the Tampa area as well as another 100 nurses to Miami-Dade. 

The governor announced antibody testing in Jacksonville is available for the general public. DeSantis said the state is moving forward contracting with self-swabbing vendors to expedite the test results. Currently, testing results are taking longer than 48 hours. 

3:13 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

US is collaborating on Covid-19 vaccine with international community, HHS secretary says

From CNN’s Andrea Kane

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education building in Washington, DC on July 8.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education building in Washington, DC on July 8. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday described the global race to develop a coronavirus vaccine saying, “It’s a very tight international collaboration here; we're all working towards a common goal.”

Azar explained that the United States currently has four major investments in vaccine candidates that work in three different ways: the Moderna vaccine, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine and the Novavax vaccine.

“So we now have major bets in all three of the major potential platforms for vaccines. With each of them we will drive towards manufacturing to have tens of millions of doses by this fall and hundreds of millions into the beginning of next year," he said during a virtual summit hosted by The Hill.

"And phase two, three clinical trials for many of them will be beginning just later this month, probably,” he added. “I like to say the return on investment for a vaccine is almost infinite in terms of the investment that you would make.”

Azar said that while some trials and the manufacturing will occur in the United States, other countries won’t be shut out.

“We're investing in US manufacturing and US fill-and-finish capacity so that we're not dependent on any movement of product across borders from outside the United States. But in no way would we do anything to preclude development for the rest of the world,” he said. 

3:10 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Gyms and parks in São Paulo, Brazil, to reopen starting Monday

From Rodrigo Pedroso in Sao Paulo

A man and his dogs seen in front of a sign that reads "Park Closed' at the gates of Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 21.
A man and his dogs seen in front of a sign that reads "Park Closed' at the gates of Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 21. Rodrigo Paiva/Getty Images

Gyms in the Brazilian city of São Paulo will start reopening along with 70 of the city’s municipal parks starting Monday, the city's Mayor Bruno Covas said Thursday.

Two of the city’s biggest parks, Ibirapuera and do Carmo parks, will operate Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. Other parks will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and all parks will be closed on weekends.

The parks will have controlled entry and will operate at 40% capacity, while the gyms can only operate six hours a day at 30% capacity. Masks are required in gyms and parks.

Some context: Last Monday, the city reopened bars, restaurants and beauty salons with restrictions, and extended the hours of operation for street commerce, malls, real estate agencies and car dealerships.

The state of São Paulo has 8,350 new cases of Covid-19 as of Thursday, according to state health secretary data, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 349,715.

The state recorded an additional 330 deaths on Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 17,118, more deaths than in all of Peru.

3:02 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Woman, 37, says coronavirus battle is the "toughest thing" she's ever gone through

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Chelsea Alionar, 37, has been battling coronavirus since March 9.

“This is far and above the toughest thing that I have ever had to go through,” she told CNN’s Brianna Keilar.

Alionar said that she started experiencing symptoms in March, but was unable to get tested or meet testing criteria until April 10. That’s when she tested positive for Covid-19.

She said early symptoms included headaches, a mild fever and cough.

Alionar said she quarantined herself until she was able to get tested and has remained in quarantine except for doctor and hospital visits.

“I have remained quarantined and have really not left my home, except for doctors appointments and a hospital visit just a couple of days ago. I’ve had symptoms of loss of hearing and difficult breathing,” she said.

Alionar added that she also experienced “Covid brain” where she “really can’t recall short-term memory.”

Other symptoms she said she experienced are; dry mouth, adrenaline running throughout her body like she “drank a shot of espresso,” internal shakes, rapid heart rate and insomnia.

“I thought at 120 days, I was past the worst of it,” Alionar said, but said she’s still struggling.

Watch the full interview:

2:41 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

White House says it's on the "same page" as CDC on school reopening guidelines

From CNN's Allie Malloy 

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on July 9.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on July 9. Evan Vucci/AP

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany could not explain the discrepancy between Vice President Mike Pence and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert Redfield on whether there would be a revision on CDC’s guidelines for schools reopening, telling reporters that the administration is on the “same page.” 

Earlier this week, said the CDC would be soon issue a new "set of tools" on the topic of reopening schools. But today, Redfield said that the guidelines would not be revised, although additional reference documents will be provided.

“Our guidelines are our guidelines, but we are going to provide additional reference documents to aid basically communities that are trying to open K-through-12s,” Redfield said on Good Morning America Thursday. “It’s not a revision of the guidelines; it’s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance we put forward.” 

When asked about the contradiction to the Pence's comments, McEnany repeated that “the CDC director noted there would be additional guidance. The vice president noted that as well."

"But we’re on the same page with Dr. Redfield who has said I don’t want this guidance to be a reason for schools to not reopen. He said these are not meant to be prescriptions," she said.

McEnany continued: “I think Dr. Redfield was noting he doesn’t plan to rescind the current guidance that’s out there. It will be supplemental guidance, but these are not requirements and not prescriptive. It was the way he characterized the initial guidance — and he said this guidance should not be used as a reason for schools not to reopen. We all have the same goal here. It’s for schools to reopen because the health of the child absolutely depends on it."

When asked whether the White House would provide an additional document with guidance, McEnany said there were “none in the works but doesn’t mean it won’t happen."

2:39 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Texas governor orders more counties to suspend elective surgeries

From CNN's Kay Jones

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott speaks about reopening the state's economy in Austin, Texas on May 5.
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott speaks about reopening the state's economy in Austin, Texas on May 5. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/USA Today/Sipa USA

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation today suspending elective surgeries in hospitals in all counties located in the 11 trauma service areas (TSA) in the state.  

The suspension already includes hospitals found in Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo, Nueces, Travis and Webb counties.

"The state of Texas continues to implement strategies to help ensure ample supply of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients," Abbott said in a statement announcing the proclamation. "By expanding this directive to include the counties within these 11 TSAs, we are freeing up more resources to address upticks in Covid-19 related cases."

Abbott's proclamation adds 105 of the state's 254 counties to the original executive order, bringing the total number of counties to 113 that must suspend elective surgeries.   

2:33 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Nashville public schools will no longer return to in-person learning on August 4

From CNN's Elizabeth Hartfield

Metro Nashville Public Schools will not return to in person learning on August 4 and will instead fully implement virtual learning through “at least” Labor Day, Dr. Adrienne Battle, the director of the Metro Nashville Public Schools, said today. 

Last month, Nashville announced plans to offer parents two choices; a physical or in-person return for families who wanted to pursue that route, as well as the option for families to continue virtual learning.

However, given the latest coronavirus data in the area, officials concluded that schools should not return to the in-person model as scheduled on August 4, Battle said. 

“I’m not a public health expert, but I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with the data and information in front of us,” Battle said at a news conference, noting that in the last week alone the area has seen “some of the worst daily numbers” since the crisis began in March.  

“This is not the way I wanted things to go,” she added.

2:20 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

Business group says policy to possibly remove international students is harmful to US economy

From CNN's Kate Trafecante

Two students are seen leaving their campus with baggage at Harvard University premises in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 08.
Two students are seen leaving their campus with baggage at Harvard University premises in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 08. Anik Rahman/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The US Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s top business lobbying group, called the Trump administration's new policy not allowing foreign students to take online-only courses "ill-conceived," warning that it will have a "chilling effect" on the American economy. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday said international students studying the US will have to leave the country or face deportation if their universities switch to online-only courses. Many schools across the country are beginning to make the decision to transition to online courses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

US Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue said the move would "inflict significant harm" not just on American colleges and universities, but all US businesses.

International graduates from American college and universities "are a critical source of talent for American businesses and the Chamber will consider its legislative and legal options should this policy remain in place," Donahue said in a statement

"We urge the administration to rethink this ill-conceived policy," he added.

Yesterday, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration over the new guidance, calling it "cruel" and "reckless."

CNN's Priscilla Alvarez, Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report

1:46 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020

The efficiency of coronavirus transmission is "really striking," Fauci says

From CNN's Gisela Crespo

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 30 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 30 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP

The variability and "striking" transmissibility of Covid-19 makes the virus the "perfect storm," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

"Not to be hyperbolic about it — it really is the perfect storm and [an] infectious disease and public health person's worst nightmare. It's a spectacularly transmissible virus. The efficiency with which this transmits is really striking," he said at an event hosted by The Hill.

Fauci explained that the range of people it affects — from those with no symptoms to those who end up in intensive care or die — make the virus "a very complex situation to really get control of."

"Now what we need to do in this country is to successfully make that transition from baseline control to safely be reopening the country, and following the guidelines are going to be critical," Fauci said. "And I think what we've seen unfortunately, is that in some of the Southern states, the states have not really followed those guidelines in some respects, and jumped over the benchmarks, and the points that needed to be checkpoints. We've got to do better.”