The new coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 600,000 people worldwide.
More than 14.5 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to a paucity of evidence, many unreported cases, and suspicions that some governments are hiding or minimizing the extent of their nations’ outbreaks.
The United States has become the most affected country, with more than 3.7 million diagnosed cases and at least 140,534 deaths.
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This is how the news is unfolding. All eastern times. Check back for updates.
8:25 am: Surgeon General begs Americans to wear face masks
During an interview on “Fox and Friends,” Surgeon General Jerome Adams pleaded with Americans to wear face masks and cited their benefits, despite the president’s previous vocal concerns.
Adams told the hosts that Trump and the administration are on the same page and that the most effective way to reopen the country safely is for each person to wear a mask voluntarily.
“I beg your viewers, I beg you, understand that we are not trying to take away your freedoms when we say that you should cover your face,” he said. “We are saying that if we do these things, we can actually open and stay open.”
On Sunday, during his interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News, Trump said he is a mask believer, but also “masks also cause problems,” and said there would be no national mandate for the masks. He also disagreed with CDC Director Robert Redfield’s statement that if everyone wore a face mask for the next four to six weeks, “we could take this epidemic to the ground.”
“I do not agree with the statement that if everyone wears a mask, everything disappears,” Trump said during the interview.
Trump also criticized Adams during the interview for earlier statements against wearing a mask. The surgeon general admitted that he and his team were wrong during the start of the pandemic.
“Once we realized that the science was different for this virus, we changed our recommendations,” Adams said.
Adams argued against a federal mask mandate citing concerns about the application.
“I prefer to help people understand why they should cooperate with wearing a mask and how they benefit from it rather than simply saying that we are going to force it to do so, particularly by sending federal troops and using a federal mechanism,” he said.
3:55 am: France requires the use of a mask indoors
France is taking a new step in the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus that makes the use of the mask in closed public spaces mandatory starting today.
Health Minister Olivier Véran said Saturday that the obligation to wear a mask would apply in stores, “establishments open to the public”, “covered markets” or even banks.
The use of a mask on the street, in the parks, at sea, on hiking trails or on the beach is not included in the new legislation.
The fine for non-compliance will be 135 euros ($ 154 US).
Meanwhile, the French Minister of Health said that there are approximately “400 and 500 groups active in France” of COVID-19.
Véran told local news outlet franceinfo on Monday morning that there were “worrying signs of an epidemic resumption in certain territories”, including 400 to 500 active groups.
“These contamination sites are mainly located in closed places and in specific environments such as slaughterhouses,” Véran said. “We are a long way from the epidemic wave … there is a virus circulation dynamic that worries us.”
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2:10 am: 85 members of the Alaska shipping ship test positive for COVID-19
According to the company, at least 85 crew members on an American Seafoods ship tested positive for COVID-19.
A factory trawler called The American Triumph left Oregon on June 27 with 119 crew members on board to head to Alaska to fish for pollock, but two weeks after the ship’s departure, seven crew members reported suffering from symptoms potentially associated with COVID-19.
All seven crew members were tested at Unalaska and six out of seven were positive for the virus.
All crew members were screened and a total of 79 more workers were found to be positive, bringing the total to 85 crew members of the 119 aboard the American Triumph, according to a city statement.
American Seafoods spokeswoman Suzanne Lugoni said none of the crew showed symptoms of COVID-19 before boarding and that the company examined employees before the fishing expedition began.
“We are moving quickly to relocate our crew and get the care they need,” said American Seafoods CEO Mikel Durham. “I want to thank the Illiuliuk Family and Health Services, the Unalaska City Unified Command, and the critical public health and infrastructure professionals in Alaska who provided clear guidance and support.”
Meanwhile, Alaska had 119 new COVID-19 cases reported Sunday, a new record for the state.
All crew members will be transferred to Anchorage, where they will be isolated.
“Our priority is to support our crew members and protect the community. I am deeply grateful to the entire Alaska community for working with us to provide our crew with the care they need, “Durham said.
ABC News’ Ibtissem Guenfoud, Jordyn Phelps and Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.
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