April 5 coronavirus news

By Joshua Berlinger, Jenni Marsh, Rob Picheta, Peter Wilkinson, Fernando Alfonso III and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 9:30 p.m. ET, April 5, 2020
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10:57 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

81 new coronavirus cases identified in South Korea

From CNN's Yoonjung Seo in Seoul, South Korea

A medic administers a coronavirus test at a walk-thru testing station at Jamsil Sports Complex, in Seoul, on April 3.
A medic administers a coronavirus test at a walk-thru testing station at Jamsil Sports Complex, in Seoul, on April 3. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 81 new cases of novel coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the national total to 10,237. A total of 6,463 people have recovered and been discharged.

Six more people died as a result of the virus, bringing the national death toll to 183, the KCDC announced Sunday.

10:50 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Mortuaries in New Orleans are full due to Covid-19

From CNN’s Ashley Killough

City of NOLA/Facebook
City of NOLA/Facebook

New Orleans is running out of places to store those who have died from the novel coronavirus, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Friday.

Cantrell said the New Orleans coroner's office and its mortuaries were now full.

“Mortuaries cannot even come pick them up or store them because they're at capacity. I've had to ask the federal government for additional refrigeration so we can take care of our people while they're resting in God's peace, but not resting well because they haven't been laid to rest as they deserve,” she said.

About 7,000 patients have been identified in the two parishes that make up the metro New Orleans area

10:37 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

There are at least 311,301 coronavirus cases in the United States as of 10 p.m. on the East Coast

Medical workers move a patient to a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 3.
Medical workers move a patient to a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 3. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

There are at least 311,301 cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University. And 8,476 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded.

On Saturday, at least 33,348 new cases and 1,324 new deaths were reported.

For a countrywide breakdown, click below:

10:31 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

It's just past 10 a.m. in Beijing and Hong Kong. Here's what you might have missed while you were sleeping

Ambulances line the street outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York on April 4.
Ambulances line the street outside Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York on April 4. Mary Altaffer/AP

A grim day in the US: At least 1,324 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in the United States on Saturday, making it the country's deadliest day in this pandemic. More than 305,820 cases have been recorded nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

President Trump said this week and next will likely be the toughest in the fight against coronavirus. "There will be a lot of death, unfortunately," he said.

More die in Spain, but positive signs emerge: At least 809 people died of Covid-19 on Saturday, bringing the total there to 11,744 deaths. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the country will extend the nationwide "state of alarm" until April 26.

"We are facing the great crisis of our lives," he said.

More than 126,000 have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The Spanish Health Ministry said that 34,219 people have now recovered from the virus -- nearly 4,000 more than the number reported Friday. While the number of active cases continues to rise, the rate of increase is slowing.

Bracing for the worst in the UK: The national medical director for England's National Health Service, Stephen Powis, said Saturday that the high number of coronavirus-related deaths across the United Kingdom is "likely to continue" over the next two weeks.

More than 700 coronavirus-related deaths were reported Saturday, the UK's largest one-day rise since the outbreak began. According to figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care, 4,313 have now died in the UK.

9:49 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Nearly 20% of the New York Police Department's uniformed workforce are out sick, but some officers are returning to work

From CNN’s Mark Morales

An NYPD traffic officer stands on 23rd street in New York City on April 1.
An NYPD traffic officer stands on 23rd street in New York City on April 1. John Lamparski/Getty Images

On Friday, 6,698 uniformed members of the New York Police Department -- accounting for 18.5% of the Department’s uniformed workforce -- were out sick, according to a daily NYPD coronavirus report.

Currently, 1,775 uniformed members of the force and 260 civilian members have tested positive for Covid-19, the report says.

About 50 NYPD members returned to work after being out sick due to the virus on Friday, a law enforcement source told CNN.

“Now we’re getting the first wave back,” said the official. “By next week, we could be getting hundreds back.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea previously said that while the force was not close to implementing 12-hour shifts, they would do so if staffing levels made it necessary.

9:32 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Mainland China recorded 30 new coronavirus cases and 3 deaths on Saturday

From CNN’s Anna Kam in Hong Kong.

Thirty patients were reported to have contracted the novel coronavirus in mainland China on Saturday, according to country's National Health Commission. Twenty-five of those cases were imported from abroad.

This raises the national case total to 81,669. Three deaths were reported on Friday, bringing the national toll to 3,329. Nearly 77,000 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Additionally, 47 new asymptomatic infections were reported, including 16 imported cases. There are currently 1,024 asymptomatic cases under medical observation, among which 244 are imported.

9:23 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Dubai locks down for two weeks to fight coronavirus spread

From CNN’s Sharif Paget

A car travels down nearly empty road in Dubai on Tuesday, March 31.
A car travels down nearly empty road in Dubai on Tuesday, March 31. Jon Gambrell/AP

Dubai announced a two-week lockdown starting on Saturday to combat the spread of novel coronavirus, the state-run news agency WAM said, citing Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

During this time, "individuals will not be allowed to leave the house, except for essential purposes," WAM reported. Only one family member is permitted to leave the house for essential goods like food or medicine. 

Individuals found violating these instructions "will face legal action." Besides the sterilization efforts, "extensive medical tests will be conducted across densely populated areas of Dubai," WAM reported.

The Dubai Media Office also tweeted charts with frequently asked questions.

As of Saturday, Dubai's health authority confirmed a total of 1,505 cases of Covid-19 in the United Arab Emirates and 10 deaths. Dubai reported 241 new cases, about 16% of the country's total, on Saturday.

9:10 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Queen Elizabeth to address 'challenging' coronavirus crisis in televised speech 

From CNN’s Max Foster 

The exterior of Buckingham Palace in London on March 29.
The exterior of Buckingham Palace in London on March 29. Aaron Chown/PA/AP

Queen Elizabeth II will deliver a televised statement to the United Kingdom on Sunday, in which she will address the "challenging" period the nation faces amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The Queen will pay tribute to National Health Service staff and essential workers, while recognizing the "pain felt by many families" who have been affected by the deadly virus, according to the Palace.

"I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all," the Queen is expected to say Sunday.

The Queen is expected to say she hopes "in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any."

 

9:02 p.m. ET, April 4, 2020

Dr. Deborah Birx: 'This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy'

From CNN’s Nicky Robertson

Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Dr. Deborah Birx emphasized Saturday that the next two weeks will be crucial for the effort to flatten the curve of coronavirus cases.

"This is a very important -- the next two weeks are extraordinarily important, and that's why I think you've heard from Dr. (Anthony) Fauci, from myself, from the President and the Vice President that this is the moment to do everything that you can on the presidential guidelines," Birx said. "This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe, and that means everybody doing the 6 feet distancing, washing your hands." 

Birx made her comments at the daily coronavirus task briefing at the White House.