In Major U-Turn, NJ To Begin ‘Partial Reopening’ Monday; 5% Of Spain Already Has The Virus, Survey Shows: Live Updates
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Wed, 05/13/2020
Summary:
Spain says 5% of population infected by the virus
NJ gov says state will partially reopen Monday
Washington DC reopening pushed to June 8
NY reports jump in new cases for first time in 5 days
NY deaths decrease slightly day-over-day
US set to extend travel restrictions on Canada & Mexico borders
UK releases latest figures
Mexico plans to reopen Monday
Spain won’t reopen borders to most foreigners until at least July
VW ‘pauses’ manufacturing of VW Golf, SUVs
China imposes ‘partial lockdown’ on northeastern border city
SK’s ‘Itaewon’ cluster climbs to 120
Germany, Austria agree to reopen mutual border
Global cases: 4.22 million
Global deaths: 291,519
Poland reports record jump in new cases
Russia sees numbers start to slow after shocking record run of confirmations
* * *
Update (1340ET): As more states and countries conduct random testing using the notoriously unreliable antibody tests that are flooding the market, the Spanish government has just announced the results of its first test, which found that 11% of the Madrid residents tested came back positive for virus antibodies.
Testing positive for the antibodies means you were likely infected by the virus (unless it’s a false positive, which are rarer unfortunately than false negatives), or were infected, but didn’t show any symptoms of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the novel coronavirus).
INITIAL DATA FROM SPAIN’S NATIONAL CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODY STUDY SHOWS ABOUT 5% OF POPULATION HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO VIRUS, WITH MADRID AT 11%, SORIA AT 14%
We were surprised: Considering initial rounds of antibody surveillance in NYC found that more than 1/5th of residents have been infected.
* * *
Update (1310ET): Less than a day after he whined during his daily press briefing about having the worst mortality rate from the virus in the country (he doesn’t), NJ Gov Phil Murphy has on Wednesday seemingly taken a major u-turn, moving ahead with a plan to partially reopen the state on Monday after pledging to wait for more testing.
Specifically, the state will allow construction workers and more ‘non-essential’ retail workers to report to work, with shoppers able to shop via ‘curbside’ pickup. We’ll let the governor tell you more himself:
Holding a COVID-19 briefing. WATCH: https://t.co/JoDcRJysDp
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 13, 2020
Today, I will sign an Executive Order, effective 6:00 AM Monday, May 18, 2020:
☑️Allow the restart of non-essential construction
☑️Allow non-essential retail stores to reopen for curbside pickup only
☑️Permit drive-through and drive-in events under social distancing guidelines pic.twitter.com/M6IWXpnLl4— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1260616863228268546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1260616863228268546&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Fsecond-wave-china-orders-partial-lockdown-border-city-seouls-newest-cluster-explodes
LOOK: Let’s not forget where we were only six weeks ago, when we first shared our worst-case projections. We were preparing for upward of 36,000 hospitalizations, 9,000 New Jerseyans in the ICUs and 7,500 on ventilators. Because of your hard work, reality never came close. pic.twitter.com/ZX4Sb8rq1j
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 13, 2020
DATA DETERMINES DATES. The data we are seeing gives us confidence that we can begin the restart of our economy – to get people back to work, and set the stage for the steps to come. pic.twitter.com/8VfkF2P4LF
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 13, 2020
Yesterday, Murphy laid out a plan to use state money to significantly boost its testing and tracing capacity as he faces mounting pressure from the state’s business community to start the reopening process sooner rather than waiting out of what critics said was a misguided sense of caution. The state has already hired nearly 1k contact tracers.
Murphy also reported a slowing in deaths in long-term care homes, as well as a slowdown in deaths and hospitalizations overall.
Sadly, today we report another 197 deaths from COVID-19 complications. Our statewide total now stands at 9,702.
Together, we mourn each of these losses, members of our New Jersey family, and our hearts are with their friends and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/v9AVb1xbsw
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 13, 2020
Meanwhile, Washington DC is extending its lockdown until June 8 as Mayor Muriel Bowser insists that more testing is needed before the city can reopen. With markets deep in the red thanks to reopening anxieties stoked by a couple of “big rich guys”, will NJ’s reopening push have the opposite effect of Tuesday afternoon’s report about LA County’s reopening plans?
* * *
