More than 5.3 million people worldwide -- including more than 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 Sunday, May 24, continue below:
Japan expected to lift Tokyo’s state of emergency Monday
Update 11:46 p.m. EDT May 24: Japan is expected to end a state of emergency in Tokyo and four other prefectures Monday.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura asked experts to lift the measure that was put in place about six weeks ago at a special task force meeting allowing businesses to gradually reopen.
“It appears the measure is no longer needed in all of the prefectures,” Nishimura said.
Japan’s state of emergency is soft and largely a request for people to stay at home and for non-essential businesses to close or operate shorter hours.
Experts are expected to give their approval. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would then make an official announcement later Monday.
Japan has 16,580 confirmed cases and 830 deaths, according to the health ministry.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Millions of students return to schools in Australia Monday
Update 9:16 p.m. EDT May 24: Millions of students will return to classrooms Monday as school resumes in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.
Schools in the less populous Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory had already reopened as cases throughout the country continue to drop.
Students in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory are expected to return to classrooms in stages in June.
Safety precautions are still in place. Schools can not have assemblies or field trips.
New South Wales has recorded 50 of the country’s 102 deaths. Queensland has recorded six deaths. South Australia and the Northern Territory also have no active cases. The Australian Capital Territory has not had a case in three weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House tightens travel restrictions with Brazil
Update 6:00 p.m. EDT May 24: Travelers who have been in Brazil for the 14 days preceding their arrival to the U.S. are barred entry to the country, the White House announced Sunday.
"I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Federative Republic of Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States," President Donald Trump said in the proclamation.
The restrictions are intended to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
There are 347,398 confirmed cases and 22,013 deaths from the coronavirus in Brazil, according to Johns Hopkins tracking information.
“Today’s action will help ensure foreign nationals who have been in Brazil do not become a source of additional infections in our country,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, CNN reported. “These new restrictions do not apply to the flow of commerce between the United States and Brazil.”
The White House had already banned travel from the United Kingdom, Europe and China, other countries hard hit by the virus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Spain prepares to open some beaches Monday
Update 4:50 p.m. EDT May 24: Spain will open some beaches for sunbathing in Madrid and Barcelona Monday as part of the country’s easing of coronavirus-related restrictions.
Bars and restaurants will also open at 50% capacity with outdoor seating available for customers.
The two cities account for more than 15,000 of the country’s 28,752 deaths from the coronavirus. Health officials said 70 people died from the virus in the last 24 hours. In March at the height of the outbreak, more than 900 people a day died from the coronavirus in Spain.
Travel between regions is prohibited until late June. International travel will not be allowed until July.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FDA commissioner warns pandemic ‘not yet contained’
Update 2:30 p.m. EDT May 24: Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, warned Americans observing Memorial Day weekend to follow federal guidelines aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, saying it “is not yet contained.”
“With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community," Hahn tweeted. “Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all."
With the country starting to open up this holiday weekend, I again remind everyone that the coronavirus is not yet contained. It is up to every individual to protect themselves and their community. Social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks protect us all.
— Dr. Stephen M. Hahn (@SteveFDA) May 24, 2020
Boris Johnson says UK schools to begin reopening June 1
Update 12:52 p.m. EDT May 24: Schools in the United Kingdom will start to reopen June 1, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at his daily briefing.
“In line with the approach being taken in many other countries, we want to start taking our children back into the classroom, in a way that is as manageable and as safe as possible,” Johnson told reporters. “We said we would begin with early years’ settings and reception, year one, and year six in primary schools.”
“We then intend from June 15 for secondary schools to provide some contact for year 10 and year 12 students to help them to prepare for exams next year, with up to a quarter of these students in at any point."
Johnson said schools would need to reduce the size of classes, have staggered breaks and lunch, and staggered pickup and drop-off of students.
WATCH LIVE: #coronavirus press conference (24 May 2020)
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 24, 2020
Speakers:
🔵 PM @BorisJohnson
🔵 Prof Stephen Powis, @NHSEngland https://t.co/3JPORYxCQ7
Cuomo: Pro sports in New York can begin training camps
Update 12:43 p.m. EDT May 24: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said professional sports teams in New York can open their training camps.
“Starting today, all the New York professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps," Cuomo said during his daily news conference. “I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it. Do it. Work out the economics, if you can. We want you up. We people to be able to watch sports to the extent people are still staying home. It gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy.”
Crowds at Missouri tourist spot ignore social distancing
Update 11:37 a.m. EDT May 24: Large crowds of vacationers in Missouri were caught on video ignoring social distancing guidelines as they reveled in bars, pools and yacht clubs, The Washington Post reported.
The lack of social distancing occurred at the Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, the newspaper reported. One photograph shared by KSDK showed dozens of people crowded at an outdoor patio beneath a sign reading, “Please practice social distancing.”
No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks😳 #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u
— Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020
Police: Crowds larger than normal in Daytona Beach, Florida
Update 10:30 a.m. EDT May 24: Crowds gathering in Florida’s Daytona Beach were “larger than normal” on Saturday, the Daytona Beach Police Department, tweeted Saturday.
“You may have seen larger than normal crowds this evening, both on the beach side, and on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd,” the department said in its tweet.
The night was not incident-free however. Daytona Beach police said two people were injured Saturday evening in a shooting that happened at a convenience store near the boardwalk. WFTV reported.
You may have seen larger than normal crowds this evening, both on the beach side, and on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. The Police Department deployed resources to assist with traffic control. The crowds were compliant when asked to disperse. No arrests were made.
— Daytona Beach Police (@DaytonaBchPD) May 24, 2020
The night was not incident-free however. Daytona Beach police said two people were injured Saturday evening in a shooting that happened at a convenience store near the boardwalk. WFTV reported.
The two people shot had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
We've been on the beachside tonight helping out @DaytonaBchPD with large crowds and a shooting (non-life-threatening injuries) that's resolved by arrest. We appreciate everyone cooperating with us & helping us do our job. @SheriffChitwood says THANK YOU and stay safe.
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) May 24, 2020
White House adviser: Unemployment will top 20% in May
Update 10:08 a.m. EDT May 24: White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said he believes the nation’s unemployment rate will top 20% for the month of May.
Hassett told CNN said he expects the rate will be even higher in June, but “should start to trend down,” after that.
Hassett thinks it is possible that the unemployment rate could still be in double digits in November.
“I think that, yes, unemployment will be something that moves back slower," Hassett said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program. “I think it could be better than that. But you’re going to be starting at a number in the 20s and working your way down. And so of course you could still not be back to full employment by September or October. Again if there were a vaccine in July, then I would be way more optimistic about it,.”
The month of May could see an unemployment rate north of 20%, according to Kevin Hassett, senior economic adviser to President Trump.
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 24, 2020
He adds that he expects “the unemployment rate will be higher in June than in May, but then after that it should start to trend down.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/KoAMyXRLef
NSA chief says travel restrictions to Brazil likely
Update 9:20 a.m. EDT May 24: National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said the Trump administration is likely to announce new travel restrictions to and from Brazil.
O’Brien, during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” said the administration is likely to make a decision about restricting travel to Brazil on Sunday and said White House officials “hope that will be temporary.”
He said the White House would “take a look at the other countries on a country by country basis” in that region.
NEWS: The Trump Administration is looking at cutting off travel from Brazil amid #coronavirus pandemic, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien tells @margbrennan. See more of O'Brien's interview at 10:30 am EST today on @FacetheNation pic.twitter.com/IUo21QeYob
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 24, 2020
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre reopens
Update 6:55 a.m. EDT May 24: Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, reopened Sunday, The Washington Post reported.
The church, which closed several months ago for the first time since the 14th century, allowed 50 people at a time to visit the church, the newspaper reported. Visitors were required to wear masks and maintain a 6-foot distance from one another.
“From this Holy Place, in this Easter time, we continue our prayers, asking for the end of this pandemic,” the leaders of the Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian Orthodox churches in Jerusalem said in a statement Saturday. The churches share custody of the site, the Post reported.
UK lawmaker calls for Boris Johnson’s aide to resign
Update 6:47 a.m. EDT May 24: A growing number of Conservative Party lawmakers are calling for Dominic Cummings, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top aide, to resign.
“Enough is enough,” Steve Baker wrote in an editorial for The Critic website. “Dominic Cummings must go before he does any more harm to the UK, the Government, the Prime Minister, our institutions or the Conservative Party.”
Several newspapers in the United Kingdom reported that Cummings made a second trip from London to Durham during the coronavirus lockdown. But Johnson’s office on Downing Street refuted the allegations, saying in s statement that “We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr. Cummings from campaigning newspapers.”
Other Conservatives agreed with Baiker, taking to Twitter to voice their displeasure.
Roger Gale tweeted that Cummings’ position “is no longer tenable”
Caroline Nokes tweeted “there cannot be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others”
Craig Whittaker tweeted that “you cannot advise the nation one thing then do the opposite”
US coronavirus cases top 1.6M, deaths inch closer to 100K
Update 12:05 a.m. EDT May 24: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States surged past 1.6 million early Saturday 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 1,622,612 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 97,087 deaths.
The hardest-hit states remain New York with 359,926 cases and 28,926 deaths and New Jersey with 153,140 cases and 11,082 deaths. Massachusetts, with 90,889 cases, has the third-highest number of deaths with 6,228, while Illinois has the third-highest number of cases with 105,444. Only 16 states and territories have confirmed fewer than 5,000 cases each.
Seven other states have now confirmed at least 41,000 novel coronavirus cases each, including:
• California: 90,778 cases, resulting in 3,672 deaths
• Pennsylvania: 70,784 cases, resulting in 5,100 deaths
• Michigan: 54,395 cases, resulting in 5,224 deaths
• Texas: 53,584 cases, resulting in 1,470 deaths
• Florida: 50,127 cases, resulting in 2,233 deaths
• Maryland: 45,495 cases, resulting in 2,243 deaths
• Georgia: 42,139 cases, resulting in 1,817 deaths
Meanwhile, Connecticut, Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana each has confirmed at least 30,000 cases; Colorado and North Carolina each has confirmed more than 22,000 cases; Tennessee, Washington and Minnesota each has confirmed at least 19,000 cases; Iowa and Arizona both have confirmed more than 16,000 cases; Wisconsin has 14,877 cases; Rhode Island, Alabama and Mississippi each has confirmed at least 13,000 cases; Missouri and Nebraska each has confirmed at least 11,000 cases, followed by South Carolina with 9,638; Kansas, Delaware, Kentucky and Utah each has confirmed at least 8,000 cases; the District of Columbia and Nevada each has confirmed at least 7,000 cases, followed by New Mexico with 6,625; Oklahoma and Arkansas each has confirmed at least 5,000 cases.
Click here to see CNN’s state-by-state breakdown.
Cox Media Group