BEAUMONT, Texas — This article contains ongoing U.S. and international updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. Here are some key updates for Tuesday, April 28, 2020. You can find more details by scrolling through the story.
Key updates:
- Beaumont reports ten new cases and three recoveries related to COVID-19
- President Trump delivers remarks on supporting small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program
- Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday afternoon that the U.S. has reached the 1 million mark with COVID-19 cases.
- United Nations report says Zimbabwe could sink deeper into a hunger crisis
- Turkey has dispatched a planeload of personal protective equipment to US
- President Trump urges governors to consider reopening schools before summer
- Look back at the Monday, April 27, blog at this link
School Impacts | Business Impacts, Closures | Map of SE Texas cases | Coronavirus symptoms & prevention | Coronavirus questions answered
Latest updates:
Here are the latest updates from around Southeast Texas, Texas, Louisiana and some from the world (all times are local Central Daylight Time)
April 28, 4:15 p.m. — Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames confirms 10 more positive cases of COVID-19 and three recoveries in the city.
The total number of positive cases in Beaumont is 222, according to Beaumont Public Health Department. The total number of positive cases in the Beaumont area is 230, which includes one case in Fannett, two in Cheek, three cases in China and two cases in Nome.
April 28, 3 p.m. — A mobile test collection site will be set up on Thursday, April 30 at the Newton County Fair Grounds. Those with appointments will be tested between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. MORE
April 28, 2 p.m. — During Tuesday's Beaumont City Council meeting, Beaumont Public Health Director Sherry Ulmer said the city's number of cases are continuing to rise. There hasn't been a flattening of the curve yet. Only 1,100 people have been tested, a sizable proportion of Beaumont hasn't been tested for COVID-19. It's recommended that community members wear face coverings when going out.
April 28, 1:25 p.m. — The United States reached 1,000,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 56,000 deaths and more than 111,000 recoveries in the U.S.
April 28, 9:30 a.m. — A mobile COVID-19 testing site open today in Orange County at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center for those who schedule an appointment by calling 512-883-2400 or visitng TxCovidTest.org.
Officials say you'll be screened for fever and/or chills, cough, fatigue, body aches/muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, sore throat, headaches, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea or nasal congestion. Those with a loss of taste and/or smell will also be screened. You will NOT be able to get tested without an appointment.
April 28, 8:25 a.m. — Germany’s disease control center says the country’s rate of coronavirus infections has slightly increased but the number of new infections remains at a manageable level. Scroll down for more.
April 28, 6:45 a.m. — Official figures show that the number of deaths recorded in England and Wales in the week to April 17 was around double the usual amount — a clear indicator of the scale of the human cost of the coronavirus epidemic. Scroll down for more.
April 28, 6:30 a.m. — Nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking treatment if they thought they were infected. The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out Tuesday found that younger people, members of minority groups, people with less than a college degree, and those making less than $40,000 a year were more likely to say they would avoid seeking treatment. Scroll down for more.
April 28, 6 a.m. — Turkey has dispatched a planeload of personal protective equipment to support the United States as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.
A Turkish military cargo plane carrying the medical equipment took off from an air base near the capital Ankara on Tuesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
April 28, 5:30 a.m. — There were more than 988,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 6 a.m. EDT Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University, and is likely to reach 1 million by the end of the day. There have been more than 56,000 deaths and more than 111,000 recoveries in the U.S. Scroll down for more.
April 28, 5 a.m. — President Donald Trump says states should “seriously consider” reopening their public schools before the end of the academic year, even though dozens already have said it would be unsafe for students to return until the summer or fall. Scroll down for more.
There were more than 1,000,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States by Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 56,000 deaths and more than 111,000 recoveries in the U.S.
The global total of confirmed cases is more than 3 million, with 212,000 deaths and nearly 906,000 recovered.
For most, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
Trump delivers remarks on supporting small businesses
Ivanka Trump joined President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House Tuesday as the president began by talking about the Payroll Protection Program.
The program is for organizations like small businesses and community bank programs. The president said that more that twice as many users are attempting to access the program on the second round in comparison to the first. 450,000 loans have been processed in phase two, according to the White House.
US House of Representative will not return to Washington May 4
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) on Tuesday announced to reporters that the US House of Representative will not return next week to Washington D.C. because of the coronavirus.
New report says virus could worsen Zimbabwe's hunger crisis
A new United Nations report says Zimbabwe could sink deeper into a hunger crisis as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on the country’s troubled economy and food supply.
The southern African nation is called “one of the world’s top global food crises." The report says more than 4 million rural people, about a third of Zimbabwe’s population, “are in need of urgent action." Zimbabwe’s economy has imploded in the past year, with annual inflation rising to more than 600%.
Shortages of cash, gas, clean water, electricity and staple foods highlight the once-prosperous country’s problems.
Germany cases uptick after lockdown easing
Germany’s disease control center says the country’s rate of coronavirus infections has slightly increased but the number of new infections remains at a manageable level.
Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute says the “R” factor -- the number of people infected by every person with COVID-19 -- is now 0.96. Authorities have said they want to try to keep it below 1 to keep the pandemic manageable for the health care system.
It had been around 0.7 before Germany eased lockdown restrictions on April 20 to allow smaller businesses to open, while keeping social distancing in place. It’s too early to say whether that move has led to the increase.
Official UK figures show scale of virus deaths
Official figures show that the number of deaths recorded in England and Wales in the week to April 17 was around double the usual amount — a clear indicator of the scale of the human cost of the coronavirus epidemic.
The Office for National Statistics said that a total of 22,351 of people in England and Wales died in the week, the highest since comparable records began in 1993. The total was 11,854 more than the rolling five-year average.
In its analysis of death certificates, which take longer to compile than deaths recorded in hospitals, the statistics agency said the coronavirus was mentioned as one of the causes of death in 8,758 cases, nearly 40% of the total.
It also said that 4,316 deaths involving COVID-19 had been registered up to April 17 outside of hospitals with 3,096 in care homes. The equivalent figure for hospital deaths over the period is 14,796.
The daily figures presented by the government only show the number of people dying in U.K. hospitals, including those in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As of Monday, 21,092 people had died in U.K. hospitals.
Cost makes nearly 1 in 10 leery of seeking COVID care
With some states gearing up to lift coronavirus restrictions, a new poll finds a potential obstacle to keeping new infections tamped down.
Nearly 1 in 10 adults say cost would keep them from seeking treatment if they thought they were infected. The Gallup-West Health Healthcare Costs Survey out Tuesday found that younger people, members of minority groups, people with less than a college degree, and those making less than $40,000 a year were more likely to say they would avoid seeking treatment.
That could create a blind spot for governors trying to calibrate economic reopening plans to keep watch for potential virus flare-ups.
Turkey sends protective equipment to the US
Turkey has dispatched a planeload of personal protective equipment to support the United States as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.
A Turkish military cargo plane carrying the medical equipment took off from an air base near the capital Ankara on Tuesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
A top official said Turkey is sending 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, 2,000 liters (528 gallons) of disinfectant, 1,500 goggles, 400 N-95 masks and 500 face shields.
Turkey has sent similar medical equipment aid to a total of 55 countries — including Britain, Italy and Spain — in an apparent attempt to improve its global standing by positioning itself as a provider of humanitarian aid at times of crisis.
“We pledge to help our friends and allies in need to the best of our ability and stand in solidarity with nations around the world at this difficult time,” said Fahrettin Altun, the presidential communications director.
Trump urges states to consider opening schools before summer
President Donald Trump says states should “seriously consider” reopening their public schools before the end of the academic year, even though dozens already have said it would be unsafe for students to return until the summer or fall.
Trump made the comments Monday in a call with governors discussing how to reopen their economies, among other topics.
“Some of you might start thinking about school openings, because a lot of people are wanting to have the school openings. It’s not a big subject, young children have done very well in this disaster that we’ve all gone through," he said. While addressing Vice President Mike Pence, Trump added that it's something "they can seriously consider, and maybe get going on.”
None of the governors on the call responded to the suggestion, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press.
Reopening schools is considered key to getting the economy moving again. Without a safe place for their kids, many parents would have difficulty returning to work.