Government

The Texas Tribune reports: For the third day in a row, Texas has reported a record number of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus, a metric Gov. Greg Abbott has said he’s watching as businesses continue reopening and limits on their operations are loosened. Data released Wednesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows 2,153 people were hospitalized …

The Associated Press reports: New Orleans will let the good times roll in casinos and bars again beginning Saturday, with restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Wednesday. That means bars and casinos in the city can open — although only at 25 percent capacity, Cantrell said during a “Town Hall” broadcast on WBOK. Food-serving …

NorthJersey.com reports: Gov. Phil Murphy lifted the stay-at-home order that has been in effect since the height of the coronavirus outbreak at a press conference late on Tuesday. New Jersey residents were initially told on March 21 to stay at home unless they needed to leave for essential items or if they were an essential worker. The state has seen …

The New York Times reports: The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, delivered a grim assessment of the devastation wrought around the world by the virus, describing Covid-19 on Tuesday as his “worst nightmare” — a new, highly contagious respiratory infection that causes a significant rate of illness and death. “In a period of four months, it …

The Hill reports: Wearing a mask in public will be mandatory in Spain until there is a widely available cure or a vaccine for the coronavirus, Health Minister Salvador Illa announced Tuesday. Illa said at a press conference that wearing masks and other hygienic measures in public places will “remain in place until we permanently defeat the virus, which is …

Phoenix’s ABC News affiliate reports: The Arizona Department of Health Services director sent out a letter this weekend, informing hospitals in our state to “fully activate” their facility emergency plans. In doing so, the hospitals are going to be preparing surge beds, cross-training staff, and possibly reducing or suspending elective surgeries to “ensure adequate bed capacity for both COVID and …

CNBC reports: Texas reported a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations Monday — weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott took the lead among governors in easing social distancing measures to help bring jobs back. There are currently 1,935 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the state, topping the previous hospitalization record of 1,888 patients on May 5, according to new data from the …

The New York Post reports: A masked Gov. Andrew Cuomo rode the subway to work in Manhattan on Monday as New York City entered Phase One of its reopening amid the coronavirus. The governor took the No. 7 train in Queens to his office in Midtown. “Today, I took a ride on the 7 train,” Cuomo said at a daily …

The New York Daily News reports: Gov. Cuomo says 15 coronavirus testing sites are being set up in NYC for people who have participated in the mass protests over the police killing of George Floyd as the city moves to start reopening businesses Monday. The governor praised the protesters for showing idealism and putting their lives on the line to …

The New York Post reports: Mayor Bill de Blasio lifted the Big Apple’s controversial curfew a day early in an unexpected announcement Sunday morning. “New York City: We are lifting the curfew, effective immediately,” Hizzoner tweeted, ending the planned final night of the city shutting down to help curb looting and violent protests that plagued the city earlier in the …

The New York Daily News reports: Construction projects getting going again are destined to be the most obvious sign that the city is approaching a semblance of normalcy as the coronavirus pandemic wanes. Mayor de Blasio estimated Friday that work will restart at roughly 32,000 shuttered construction sites this week. Office jobs, hair salons, gyms, and restaurants, which will offer …

Newsday reports: For the first day in months, New York City witnessed zero confirmed deaths due to coronavirus, current records show. The first confirmed COVID-19 death in the Big Apple occurred on March 11 with the death toll reaching its horrible peak at 590 on April 7, according to records put out by the city. Those same records show that …

Michigan Live reports: Michigan’s stay-at-home order will be lifted and bars and restaurants across the state will be allowed to reopen in a limited capacity in the coming days after being shuttered for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce this afternoon. She will also loosen restrictions on gatherings, allowing for up to 100 …

Newsday reports: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced an overnight curfew in New York City will be instituted Monday night and more than 8,000 NYPD officers will be on city streets as officials look to stem the violent protests. Cuomo, in a joint statement with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, said the curfew would begin at 11 p.m. and stretch until …

The New York Post reports: Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday its is time for protesters taking to the streets over the police-involved death of George Floyd to “stay home” as he warned that there could be a spike in coronavirus infections. “You’ve made your point. It’s time to stay home,” de Blasio said during his daily City Hall press …

NBC News reports: District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she is putting the nation’s capital under an earlier curfew Monday night, moving the start time to 7 p.m. ET from 11 p.m. ET as it had been on Sunday. “Tonight, I’m ordering another curfew in Washington, D.C. We want your voices to be heard, but we also want …

The Week reports: After “the horrific death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis,” the Senate Judiciary committee will conduct a hearing on police use of force, committee chair Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced Friday. Both he and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) “are appalled at what we saw,” and will hold the hearing to “shine a bright …

Business Insider reports: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that New York City will begin reopening the week of June 8. “We will stay on track by focusing on the hotspots,” Cuomo said in a tweet. “We know down to the zip code where the infection rate is higher than average. We will meet the need where it is …

The Associated Press reports: Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he would extend the state’s 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers arriving in the state beyond June 30. The state mandated the quarantine beginning on March 26 to control the spread of the coronavirus. The governor told a joint online press conference held with the state’s four county mayors that …

NBC News reports: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that he is signing an executive order authorizing businesses to deny entry to people who do not wear a mask or face covering. “That store owner has a right to protect himself,” the governor said at his daily coronavirus briefing. “That store owner has a right to protect the other …