Coronavirus: Death toll in US passes 98,000

More than 5.4 million people worldwide – including at least 1.6 million in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. While efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak continue, states have begun to shift their focus toward reopening their economies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the U.S. here.

>> Coronavirus: Know the facts directly from the CDC

Live updates for Monday, May 25, continue below:

Singapore says 344 new cases reported

Update 11:12 p.m. EDT May 25: Government officials in Singapore said 344 new cases of the coronavirus were reported Monday. In a statement, government officials said 99% of the cases are linked to known clusters, CNN reported.

A dramatic spike in cases among the city’s foreign workers -- who live in small, cramped spaces -- forced authorities in Singapore.

Peru reports more than 4,000 new cases

Update 8:34 p.m. EDT May 25: Peru’s Health Ministry said the total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country climbed at least 123,979 -- an increase of 4,020 from Sunday.

Peru has the second-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South America behind Brazil.

California allows houses of worship to reopen at 25% capacity

Update 7:12 p.m. EDT May 25: State officials in California announced that places of worship can reopen for religious services, but must limit attendance to 25% capacity or a maximum of 100 visitors -- whichever is lower -- for the first 21 days after their counties allow religious services and ceremonies, KTLA reported. The reopenings will follow the California Department of Public Health’s new guidance.

After 21 days, state and local health officials “will review and assess the impact of these imposed limits on public health and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of activities in places of worship."

Brazil travel suspension moved up to Tuesday

Update 6:33 p.m. EDT May 25: The White House announced it has moved up the travel suspension to Brazil to 11:59 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Originally, the travel restriction to the South American nation was to go into effect Thursday.

The travel restriction will suspend entry into the United States for any individual who has been in Brazil within 14 days immediately preceding their attempt to enter the country.

Brazil is second only to the United States in coronavirus cases, with 363,211 as of Monday evening.

Death toll in US passes 98,000

Update 5:24 p.m. EDT May 25: The death toll in the United States topped 98,000 Monday evening, according to figures tabulated by Johns Hopkins University.

The number of fatalities was at least 98,034 shortly after 5 p.m., with the total amount of U.S. cases at 1,657,441.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other U.S. territories.

Maryland company announces experimental vaccine

Update 5:07 p.m. EDT May 25: Novavax, a Maryland-based biotechnology company, announced plans to begin enrolling approximately 130 people with a new experimental vaccine against the coronavirus. It is the 10th company worldwide to start human trials of potential vaccines against COVID-19, and the first volunteer is expected to be vaccinated in Australia, CNN reported.

The vaccine, called NVX‑CoV2373, produced high levels of neutralizing antibodies in pre-clinical testing, the company said in a statement.

“These results provide strong evidence that the vaccine candidate will be highly immunogenic in humans, leading to protection from COVID‑19 and thus helping to control the spread of this disease,” the statement said.

Connecticut reports 49 new COVID-19 related deaths

Update 4:29 p.m. EDT May 25: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s office issued a statement that said there were 495 new coronavirus cases and 49 deaths.

Some of the numbers have been compiled over the last several days to a week, Lamont said.

As of 2 p.m. today, the state now has a total of 40,873 cases of coronavirus and 3,742 deaths. On Tuesday, Lamont reported there were 3,693 deaths.

At least 706 Covid-19 patients have been hospitalized.

Officials respond to Trump’s threat to pull RNC from North Carolina

Update 3:55 p.m. EDT May 25: Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina and other officials responded Monday after President Donald Trump threatened to pull the Republican National Convention from Charlotte due to the state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, WSOC-TV reported.

In a series of tweets published Monday, Trump said Cooper must immediately tell organizers whether or not they’ll be able to host the convention as expected from Aug. 24 to Aug. 27 at the Spectrum Center and Charlotte Convention Center.

“Plans are being made by thousands of enthusiastic Republicans and others to head to beautiful North Carolina in August,” the president wrote. “They must be immediately given an answer by the governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied.”

Cooper said Monday that state health officials are working with the Republican National Committee and reviewing their plans for holding the convention, WSOC-TV reported.

“North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state’s public health and safety,” Cooper said, according to WSOC-TV.

As of Monday, 23,964 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections in North Carolina. Officials said at least 754 people have died of COVID-19 statewide.

>> Read more on WSOCTV.com

Most stores in England will be allowed to reopen in June

Update 3:40 p.m. EDT May 25: The vast majority of shops in England will be allowed to reopen next month as the government gradually eases coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said outdoor markets and spacious car showrooms will be allowed to open from June 1 because the likelihood of transmission is low there.

Clothes stores, bookshops, tailors, auctioneers and other retailers will follow on June 15, as long as the number of infections continues to fall and the businesses can be made “COVID-19 secure.”

The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — can set their own timetables.

Since a nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 23, only shops classed as “essential,” such as supermarkets, have been allowed to operate.

Pennsylvania reports lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since mid-March

Update 3:35 p.m. EDT May 25: Officials in Pennsylvania on Monday reported the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since mid-March, according to WPXI.

Officials with the state Department of Health reported 473 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the statewide total to 68,186 cases, WPXI reported. About 61% of those diagnosed have since recovered, according to health officials.

As of Monday, 5,139 people have died statewide of COVID-19, WPXI reported.

>> Read more on WPXI.com

1,625 new coronavirus infections reported in the UK

Update 3:15 p.m. EDT May 25: Officials in the United Kingdom reported 1,625 new coronavirus infections Monday morning, raising the country’s total number of infections to 261,184.

Officials said that as of 9 a.m. local time, 36,914 people had died nationwide of COVID-19.

Nearly 38,000 coronavirus cases reported in Louisiana

Update 3 p.m. EDT May 25: Officials in Louisiana reported 640 new coronavirus infections Monday, raising the state’s total number of infections to 37,809.

The number was far higher than average due to a server issue which delayed reports of positive cases from commercial lab data, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Statewide, at least 2,585 people have died of COVID-19 and at least 28,700 people have recovered from the viral infection, officials said.

Patrick Ewing released from hospital after coronavirus diagnosis

Update 2:25 p.m. EDT May 25: Basketball Hall of Famer and Georgetown men’s basketball coach Patrick Ewing has been released from a hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, his son said Monday in a post on Twitter.

Patrick Ewing Jr. said his father was resting Monday at home and continuing his recovery.

“I want to thank all of the doctors and hospital staff for taking care of my father during his stay, as well as everyone who has reached out with thoughts and prayers to us and since his diagnosis,” the younger Ewing said in a post on Twitter.

“I hope everyone continues to stay safe and protect yourselves and your loved ones.”

The elder Ewing had announced Friday that he was diagnosed with a coronavirus infection.

Number of deadly COVID-19 cases continues to fall in Massachusetts

Update 2:10 p.m. EDT May 25: Officials in Massachusetts on Monday announced 68 new coronavirus-related deaths in the state, marking the fourth day in a row that the number of new deadly cases has decreased, according to WFXT.

As of Monday, at least 6,372 people statewide have died of COVID-19, according to numbers released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Officials said 92,675 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state.

>> Read more on Boston25News.com

965 new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Jersey

Update 2 p.m. EDT May 25: Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said Monday that 965 new coronavirus infections have been reported, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 155,092.

Murphy said officials also reported 16 more deaths, much smaller than the number of new daily deaths reported so far in the pandemic. He noted the low number might be due to delayed reporting over the holiday weekend.

As of Monday, 11,144 people have died in New Jersey of COVID-19.

WHO temporarily pauses review of antimalarial drug touted by Trump in COVID-19 fight

Update 1:25 p.m. EDT May 25: World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Monday that the organization has paused a review of the efficacy of an antimalarial drug touted by President Donald Trump due to concerns over its safety for use in treating novel coronavirus infections.

At a news conference Monday, Tedros said the decision was made in light of an observational study published Friday in the medical journal The Lancet which found that coronavirus patients who were treated with antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine or a combination of the drugs and an antibiotic were at a higher risk for death.

“The Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial, representing 10 of the participating countries, met on Saturday and has agreed to review a comprehensive analysis and critical appraisal of all evidence available globally,” Tedros said Monday.

“The review will consider data collected so far in the Solidarity Trial and in particular robust randomized available data, to adequately evaluate the potential benefits and harms from this drug. The Executive Group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity Trial while the safety data is reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board."

Tedros said other coronavirus drug trials were continuing Monday.

“This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloraquine in COVID-19,” Tedros stressed. “I wish to reiterate that these drugs are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria.”

Trump honors fallen soldiers, military members fighting coronavirus pandemic on Memorial Day

Update 1:10 p.m. EDT May 25: President Donald Trump is mourning America’s fallen service members and noting that Memorial Day this year is different from years past.

Marking the holiday at Baltimore’s historic Fort McHenry, Trump noted that tens of thousands of service members and national guard personnel are currently “on the frontlines of our war against this terrible virus.”

The U.S. leads the world with more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and is approaching 100,000 deaths.

Trump said brave warriors from the nation’s past have shown that “in America, we are the captains of our own fate.”

Fort McHenry is where a poem written during the War of 1812 became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The fort is closed to the public because of the pandemic.

Trump speaks at Memorial Day ceremony at Fort McHenry

Update 12:05 p.m. EDT May 25: President Donald Trump is speaking Monday at a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

96 new fatal coronavirus cases reported in New York

Update 11:45 a.m. EDT May 25: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said Monday that 95 more people have died of COVID-19 statewide. The number was slightly less than the 109 new fatal cases reported one day earlier.

Cuomo said hospitalization rate and the number of patients needing intubations continued to fall Monday, though he stressed that social distancing efforts need to continue.

Trump to participate in Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Update 10:25 a.m. EDT May 25: President Donald Trump is set to participate in Monday morning’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley are also scheduled to participate.

Pence: Republican National Convention will be moved from NC ‘if needs be’

Update 9:50 a.m. EDT May 25: Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that the Republican National Convention will be moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to another city “if needs be” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event is scheduled to begin Aug. 24.

“I think the president is absolutely intent on ensuring that as we see our nation continue to make steady progress on putting the coronavirus epidemic in the past that, come this August, we’ll be able to come together in a safe and responsible venue and renominate President Donald Trump for four more years,” the vice president said Monday during an appearance on Fox News’s “Fox and Friends."

His comments came after Trump wrote in a series of messages posted earlier Monday on Twitter that Republicans “must immediately be given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied.” The president framed the governor’s decision to keep businesses shut in the state due to the health threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic as a political decision by a Democratic governor.

As of Sunday, the last date for which data was available, 23,222 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections in North Carolina. Officials said at least 744 people have died.

Stay-at-home order protesters plan demonstrations in North Carolina

Update 9:05 a.m. EDT May 25: Protesters organized by the group ReOpen NC plan to hold a “Freedom Rally” Monday outside the governor’s mansion in North Carolina, WSOC-TV reported.

“It would just be so appropriate to do it on Memorial Day and just really shine a light on honoring our fallen heroes and standing up for freedom right now,” said Ashley Smith of ReOpen NC, according to WSOC-TV. “We just all feel it is more important now -- than many of us have seen in our lifetime.”

Protests were also planned for Monday in Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro and Wilmington, WSOC-TV reported.

Rally organizers told WTVD that Gov. Roy Cooper’s phased reopening of businesses was hurting the state’s economy.

As of Sunday, the last date for which data was available, 23,222 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus infections in North Carolina. Officials said at least 744 people have died.

>> Read more on WSOCTV.com

Volunteers work in the night to create scaled-back Memorial Day flag garden in Boston

Update 7:48 a.m. EDT May 25: A Memorial Day tradition in Boston was made possible by a group of volunteers who worked through the night to honor our fallen heroes, WFXT is reporting.

Each Memorial Day for the past decade, the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund has planted more than 37,000 flags on Boston Common – one flag for each fallen service member from Massachusetts since the Revolution.

The project requires hundreds of volunteers, and due to coronavirus precautions and guidelines, organizers initially canceled the event this year.

To keep the tradition alive, a group of 10 volunteers worked carefully overnight to plant 1,000 flags on the common.

Each flag in the scaled-back display is 6 feet apart from the others, and organizers hope the smaller spectacle will minimize the number of people who visit the garden.

People who plan on stopping by to see the display are asked to wear masks at all times, stay a safe distance away from others and be respectful.

In addition to the flag garden, people were encouraged to create their own patriotic displays at home this year and share photos online using the hashtag #HeroesFlagGarden.

A Monday morning ceremony at Boston Common will include speakers, a wreath-laying and a rendition of “Taps.”

Florida reports lowest number of daily deaths since late March

Update 5:04 a.m. EDT May 25: Florida health officials on Sunday reported five new coronavirus-related deaths statewide since Saturday – the lowest day-to-day increase since March 29, records show.

According to Orlando’s WFTV, officials also reported 740 additional cases of the virus statewide since Saturday.

As of Sunday, the total number of cases in the state was at 50,867, with 2,237 deaths.

Read more here.

>> Coronavirus: Can the government make you stay home if you are sick?

‘Person of interest’ identified in bias crimes against Asians in Seattle

Update 3 a.m. EDT May 25: Police in Seattle are investigating a growing number of crimes targeting Asians during the outbreak.

Seattle officers said the attacks started late Saturday afternoon in the heart of Ballard and moved to Golden Gardens Park.

They believe one man is responsible for all the incidents.

A victim at Golden Gardens Park said the man spat in his face. The workers at Thai Thani Restaurant said the man threw things at them while demanding to know if they are Chinese.

“I hear some noise, and I see some guy angry, yelling," Umboom Moore told Seattle’s KIRO-TV.

That was the first time she knew something unusual was happening Saturday night at the restaurant where she works.

“Just like some crazy guy,” she said. “So I just started taking pictures.”

Her co-worker, Natthiya Chumdee, said he was yelling at her.

“Right over there, he smashed the window,” she said.

When he asked if she is Chinese, she told him everyone there is Thai. He asked her to kneel and swear to it.

“Well, I’m not going to do that,” she said. “He’s starting [to] lose control. And he comes here, and he says, ‘You know, I’m going to slam the door, this table to you.’”

The night before, Tonya McCabe got the brunt of his anger.

“He said, ‘Are you Chinese?’” she said. “And I said, ‘No, we’re not.’ And he still kept yelling at us. And I said, ‘If you’re not going to leave, I’m going to call 911.’ And then he said, ‘Better [expletive] call 911.’”

Just last week, a man was captured on camera shoving an Asian couple as they walked by. They told Seattle police he spat on them, too.

The man in these latest attacks is described as white, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, in his mid-20s to mid-30s and is of a muscular build. He was wearing a white shirt and shorts. It is the same suspect description in two attacks at Golden Gardens Park on Saturday night.

“I stand back there, and ... yell to him, ‘Get out, leave!’” said McCabe.

It has McCabe and the others working at this restaurant finding a different way to get around this city that is now their home.

“I’m afraid to like walk on the street or take a bus,” said McCabe.

They told KIRO that the man also approached other Asian-owned businesses in the area before apparently heading to Golden Gardens Park.

Anyone who recognizes him is asked to call Seattle police.

>> Coronavirus symptoms: What you need to know

17-year-old Georgia boy becomes youngest in state to die from COVID-19

Update 2:24 a.m. EDT May 25: The Georgia Department of Public Health said Sunday that a 17-year-old boy has died of the coronavirus, marking the youngest fatality and first pediatric death in the state.

Nancy Nydam with the department confirmed the information to Atlanta’s WSB-TV on Sunday.

The teen was from Fulton County and had an underlying condition, according to officials. His identity has not been released.

More than 1,800 people have died of COVID-19 in Georgia since the outbreak began, with the median age of deaths at 73.6 years old, according to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of COVID-19 in children have typically been less severe, though there has been growing concern and a new warning about a rare condition recently seen in dozens of children nationwide.

A spokesperson for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta confirmed that a team of infectious disease and cardiology experts are evaluating several cases in metro Atlanta of children who exhibited Kawasaki-like symptoms and inflammation.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta physician specialists stressed that it appears to be a rare finding with a low rate in Georgia.

New York health officials have already issued a warning about a rare inflammatory syndrome that has infected at least 64 children in that state.

A spokesperson for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta said they have experts for treating the symptoms regardless of a potential link to COVID-19.

Families should contact their doctor or visit an emergency room if their child develops signs of illness such as high fever, rash, red eyes, abdominal pain and swelling of the face, hands or feet.

>> Coronavirus checklist: 100-plus disinfectants that may kill coronavirus on surfaces

US coronavirus cases top 1.6M, deaths near 98K

Update 12:43 a.m. EDT May 25: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States surged past 1.6 million early Monday across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, there are at least 1,643,238 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 97,720 deaths.

The hardest-hit states remain New York, with 361,515 cases and 29,141 deaths, and New Jersey, with 154,154 cases and 11,138 deaths. Massachusetts, with 92,675 cases, has the third-highest number of deaths with 6,372, while Illinois has the third-highest number of cases with 110,304. Only 16 states and territories have confirmed fewer than 5,000 cases each.

Seven other states have now confirmed at least 42,000 novel coronavirus cases each, including:

• California: 94,020 cases, resulting in 3,754 deaths

• Pennsylvania: 71,563 cases, resulting in 5,136 deaths

• Texas: 55,861 cases, resulting in 1,528 deaths

• Michigan: 54,679 cases, resulting in 5,228 deaths

• Florida: 50,867 cases, resulting in 2,237 deaths

• Maryland: 46,313 cases, resulting in 2,277 deaths

• Georgia: 42,902 cases, resulting in 1,827 deaths

Meanwhile, Connecticut has confirmed at least 40,468 cases; Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana each has confirmed at least 31,000 cases; Colorado, North Carolina, Minnesota and Tennessee each has confirmed more than 20,000 cases; Washington, Iowa, Arizona and Wisconsin each has confirmed at least 15,000 cases; Alabama and Rhode Island each has confirmed more than 14,000 cases; Mississippi, Missouri and Nebraska each has confirmed at least 12,000 cases; South Carolina has confirmed at least 10,000 cases; Kansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Utah and the District of Columbia each has confirmed at least 8,000 cases, followed by Nevada with more than 7,000; New Mexico and Oklahoma each has confirmed at least 6,000 cases, followed by Arkansas with more than 5,000; South Dakota and New Hampshire each has confirmed at least 4,000 cases; and Oregon and Puerto Rico each has confirmed at least 3,000 cases.

Click here to see CNN’s state-by-state breakdown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group