BEAUMONT, Texas — Key updates for Monday, April 13, 2020:
- Coronavirus death toll tops 10,000 in New York
- President Trump says he'll decide when to ease social distancing guidelines, not governors
- Navy reports first coronavirus death from USS Roosevelt crew
- George Stephanopoulos reveals COVID-19 diagnosis
- The number of confirmed U.S. cases has passed 557,000 and the total number of deaths has passed 22,000, a mortality rate of about 4% among confirmed cases.
- Look back at the Sunday, April 12 blog at this link.
School Impacts | Business Impacts, Closures | Map of SE Texas cases | Coronavirus symptoms & prevention | Coronavirus questions answered
Latest local & Texas 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 13, 5:26 p.m. -- The City of Port Arthur is reporting no new cases for Monday, April 13. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie has signed a third amended stay home, work safe order. It's effective April 13, and 'amends provisions regarding golf courses, driving ranges and golf training centers in keeping with the Texas Attorney General’s opinion dated Saturday, April 11, 2020, requiring social distancing protocols and compliance with public health instructions.'
April 13, 4:28 p.m. -- Galveston County's unincorporated beaches have reopened as of Monday. "The beaches will continue to be heavily patrolled by law enforcement to ensure social distancing requirements are being adhered to," Galveston County officials said in a Facebook post.
April 13, 4:08 p.m.-- Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames report says there are 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city's jurisdiction. Beaumont now has 89 cases, China has 2 and Nome has 1. Cheek and Fannett each have one, bringing the total for Beaumont's jurisdiction to 94. Read More Here.
April 13, 2 p.m.-- College Street Health Care Center says nine of its residents tested positive for COVID-19. They were hospitalized late last week. One other resident had symptoms and has been placed in the hospital and tested. All the facility's staff and other residents are undergoing testing.
April 13, 2 p.m.--Southeast Texas officials pointed to a statement from the Texas Attorney General to explain why golf courses are allowed to remain open during the pandemic.
READ THE STATEMENT | Texas AG Ken Paxton's statement on why golf courses may remain open during the COVID-19 disaster with social distancing protocols
April 13, 1 p.m.-- One Newton County Sheriff's office employee is being tested for COVID-19, Sheriff Billy Rowles said in a weekly report. "We are waiting on the results," Rowles said. "We are praying for a negative result."
April 13, 11:50 a.m.-- Family has identified Christopher Segura, 44, of Beaumont, as the city's fifth resident to die after being tested positive for the coronavirus. Segura was a finance manager at Classic Southeast Texas as well as a minister.
April 13, 11:20 a.m.-- New York’s death toll from coronavirus topped 10,000, with hospitals still seeing 2,000 new patients a day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Scroll down for more.
April 13, 11:10 a.m.-- President Donald Trump asserted Monday that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to relax the nation's social distancing guidelines as he grows anxious to reopen the coronavirus-stricken country as soon as possible. Scroll down for more.
April 13, 9:30 a.m.-- A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt warship died Monday of complications related to the disease, the Navy said, adding to setbacks for the sidelined aircraft carrier. Scroll down for more.
April 13, 9 a.m.-- Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that it is closing its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls until further notice after hundreds of employees tested positive for the coronavirus — a step the head of the company warned could hurt the nation's meat supply. Scroll down for more.
April 13, 9 a.m.-- AT&T has agreed to pay for three months of free wireless service for nurses and physicians battling COVID-19 nationwide on the FirstNet network built exclusively for first responders.
April 13, 8:45 a.m.-- Carnival Cruise Line announced Monday that it has canceled all North American itineraries through June 26. The company said it is also canceling all Carnival Sunrise trips out of New York through the end of the year.
April 13, 7:10 a.m.-- Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos will announce today on-air that he has tested positive for the coronavirus according to ABC. He intends to continue to anchor GMA from his home.
April 13, 5:40 a.m.-- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is recuperating at his country retreat after praising nurses who took care of him during the seven nights he spent in the hospital fighting the new coronavirus. Scroll down for more.
April 13, 5:15 a.m.-- Delta Air Lines has implemented a back-to-front boarding procedure. During general boarding, passengers will be invited to board by rows, starting at the back. Scroll down for more.
The United States has 557,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of midnight ET Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been 22,079 deaths. There have been more than 2.8 million tests for COVID-19 in the U.S.
JHU says the U.S. currently has a mortality rate of 4%, based on confirmed cases. Only Germany (2.4%) is lower among the 10 countries most affected by COVID-19.
A model by the The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projected that Sunday would be the peak day for deaths from COVID-19 in the United States. The model predicts that the number of daily fatalities will begin to drop, but won't reach zero until June 22. The model is based on social distancing measures continuing. It also indicates that there are uncertainties that could lead to much higher daily death tolls.
Worldwide, there have been 1.85 million cases and 114,215 deaths, according to JHU.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older people and those with underlying conditions, it can cause severe symptoms and lead to death.
New York death toll tops 10,000
New York’s death toll from coronavirus topped 10,000, with hospitals still seeing 2,000 new patients a day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.
The state tallied 671 new deaths on Sunday. It was the first time in a week daily toll dipped below 700. Still, the governor noted people are still dying at a “horrific level of pain and grief and sorrow.”
“This virus is very good at what it does. It is a killer,” Cuomo said during a state Capitol news briefing.
Cuomo said almost 2,000 people were newly hospitalized with the virus Sunday, though once discharges and deaths are accounted for, the number of people hospitalized has flattened to just under 19,000.
Trump says he'll decide on easing guidelines, not governors
President Donald Trump asserted Monday that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to relax the nation's social distancing guidelines as he grows anxious to reopen the coronavirus-stricken country as soon as possible.
Governors and local leaders, who have instituted mandatory restrictions that have the force of law, have expressed concern that Trump's plan to restore normalcy will cost lives and extend the duration of the outbreak.
Trump has pushed to reopen the economy, which has plummeted as businesses have shuttered, leaving millions of people out of work and struggling to obtain basic commodities.
Taking to Twitter on Monday, Trump said some are "saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect...it is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons.”
He added, “With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue. A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”
First coronavirus death from USS Roosevelt crew
A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt warship died Monday of complications related to the disease, the Navy said, adding to setbacks for the sidelined aircraft carrier.
The sailor, whose name and other identifying information were not publicly released pending notification of relatives, had tested positive for coronavirus on March 30 and was taken off the ship and placed in “isolation housing” along with four other sailors at the U.S. Navy base on Guam. On April 9, he was found unresponsive during a medical check and was moved to a local hospital's intensive care unit.
The Roosevelt has been in a coronavirus crisis that prompted the Navy's civilian leader, Thomas Modly, to fire the ship’s captain on April 2. Five days later, after flying to the ship and delivering a speech in which he insulted the skipper, Capt. Brett E. Crozier, and criticized the crew for supporting Crozier, Modly resigned.
South Dakota plant closes after hundreds of employees test positive
Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that it is closing its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls until further notice after hundreds of employees tested positive for the coronavirus — a step the head of the company warned could hurt the nation's meat supply.
The announcement came a day after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken wrote to Smithfield and urged the company to suspend operations for 14 days so that its workers could self-isolate and the plant could be disinfected.
The plant, which employs about 3,700 people in the state's largest city, has become a hot spot for infections. Health officials said Sunday that 293 of the 730 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Dakota work at the plant.
AT&T offers free wireless for workers fighting COVID-19
AT&T has agreed to pay for three months of free wireless service for nurses and physicians battling COVID-19 nationwide on the FirstNet network built exclusively for first responders.
Actor John Krasinski shared details during his “Some Good News” YouTube show Sunday.
Carnival extends cancellations
Carnival Cruise Line announced Monday that it has canceled all North American itineraries through June 26. The company said it is also canceling all Carnival Sunrise trips out of New York through the end of the year.
"This is disappointing, but we are committed to being a strong partner with the government and taking steps to maintain public confidence in our business," the company said in its announcement.
Carnival said it hopes to resume sailing on June 27.
George Stephanopoulos announces COVID-10 diagnosis
"Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos has tested positive for COVID-19. He announced his diagnosis on "Good Morning America. His wife, Ali Wentworth had previously tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Unlike his wife, Stephanopoulos said he has been asymptomatic.
"I actually feel great," he said. "I've never had a fever, never had cough, never had shortness of breath, never had chills, any of the classic symptoms."
Boris Johnson recovering at retreat
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is recuperating at his country retreat after praising nurses who took care of him during the seven nights he spent in the hospital fighting the new coronavirus.
Dressed in a suit, Johnson said in a video posted on Twitter after his discharge from St. Thomas’ Hospital in London on Sunday that it was “hard to find the words” to express his debt of gratitude to the National Health Service for saving his life “no question.”
He listed a number of the frontline staff members who cared for him during his week-long stay at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London but singled out two nurses who stood by his bedside for 48 hours “when things could have gone either way.”
Delta Air Lines changes boarding procedures
Delta Air Lines has implemented a back-to-front boarding procedure. During general boarding, passengers will be invited to board by rows, starting at the back. The airline says the change will prevent passengers from having to pass each other to get to their seats.
The measure will be in place through May 31, but that date could change depending on what is happening with the pandemic.
Kentucky police take license numbers, issue notices to church goers
Some religious leaders believe the lines between church and state were blurred this weekend. Kentucky state and city officials warned people against going to in person church services and even drive-in services in some cases.
Governor Andy Beshear followed through on a promise he made Friday – there will be consequences for people who attend in person Easter services.
Shortly after the service started at Maryville Baptists Church, Kentucky State Police troopers put notices on people’s cars saying their license plate has been recorded. The notice stated that local health department officials will be contacting those associated with the vehicle with self-quarantine documents, "including an agreement requiring this vehicle’s occupants and anyone in the household to self-quarantine for 14 days.”
The service was also streamed on Facebook and broadcast with a speaker for people in their cars in the parking lot.
RELATED: Kentucky State Police mark license plate numbers of churchgoers who attended in-person services
Japan prime minister criticized for 'stay home' message
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “stay home” message he tweeted Sunday has drawn angry reactions on social networks from those calling him insensitive to people who cannot rest at home because of the government’s social distancing measures that do not come with compensation.
Some tweets said he acted as if “an aristocrat,” and others said “What does he think he is!”
A one-minute video shows Abe sitting at home, expressionless, cuddling his dog, reading a book, sipping from a cup and clicking on a remote control. The video, on a split screen, features a popular singer and actor Gen Hoshino strumming on a guitar at home, but later posted on his Instagram that his clip was used without his permission.