Contagion Live News Network: Coronavirus Updates for April 24, 2020

Welcome to the Contagion Live News Network, I’m Michaela Fleming and this is your coronavirus update for Friday, April 24^th.

According to Johns Hopkins, there are now more than 2.7 million cases of COVID-19 and 192,000 associated deaths.

In the United States alone there are more than 870,000 cases and 49,000 deaths. As of this morning more than 4.6 million tests had been administered across the United States. New York, California, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey round out the top 5.

According to Vice President Mike Pence, he is hopeful that the coronavirus epidemic will largely be behind us by Memorial Day — just one month from now. In a radio interview he states that the White House’s recommended “phased approach” is the best way to ensure that there is not a resurgence of the virus.

However, Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that he is “not overly confident” about the United State’s current testing capacity, which needs to be increased before governors can begin re-opening their states.

Beaches in Sarasota, Florida will reopen Monday for fishing, running, walking, swimming and surfing, their playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and beach pavilions will remain closed. On the other hand, Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state’s stay at home order will remain in place until at least May 15^th.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America is warning the public that we do not know enough about antibodies to make assumptions about immunity to COVID-19.

Dr. Mary Haden, an IDSA spokesperson and chief of the division of infectious diseases at rush university medical center spoke at a briefing on Friday and said that it is not known if antibodies are protective or what degree of protection they provide. Therefore the IDSA recommends that individuals with antibodies do not change their behavior in any way and continue to practice social distancing.

For other stories relevant to COVID-19 and the latest infectious disease news, visit ContagionLive.com. To track the spread of the pandemic in the United States and abroad, be sure to use the Contagion® Outbreak Monitor.

For the Contagion Live News Network, this is Michaela Fleming signing off one last time.