Medics and paramedics from Cuba arrive at the Malpensa airport of Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 22, 2020. Fifty-three doctors and paramedics from Cuba arrived in Milan to help with coronavirus treatment in Crema. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Medical Examiner personnel and construction workers are seen at the site of a makeshift morgue being built in New York, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Editor’s Note: Here are the latest key updates you may have missed over the past weekend relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as of April 6, 2020. 

In the US.

According to the CDC (as of April 6, 2020):

  • Total U.S. cases:  330,891
  • Total U.S. deaths: 8,910
  • The total number of areas affected: 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Marianas, and U.S. Virgin Islands

The CDC issued new recommendations for all persons to wear cloth face masks in public settings to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The CDC also urges the public not to use surgical masks and N-95 respirators, which should be reserved only for health care personnel.

In the first known case globally, a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for COVID-19. At least six other big cats are exhibiting symptoms consistent with the virus. According to Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian at the zoo, the tiger likely contracted the virus from an infected asymptomatic zookeeper.

As of Sunday, nine states remain without stay-at-home orders. The governors of Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming have offered varying reasons as to why they have not instituted stay-at-home orders. As of Sunday, confirmed coronavirus cases in each of these states did not exceed 215.

A record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment last week — 10 times more than the previous record set in 1982.

(Source: Statista)

The Democratic National Convention, originally set to start on July 13, has been moved to August. The convention will still take place in Milwaukee.

According to a recent survey by Next Insurance, nearly 60% of small-business owners say they are experiencing losses related to the coronavirus and more than 50% say they are expecting layoffs or plan to close.

Friday, April 3, was the deadliest day in the U.S. with 1,161 coronavirus deaths nationwide. On Monday (April 6), the U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams warned that this week is expected to be “the hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives.”

On Monday, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said in a shareholders letter that he expects a bad recession is ahead as a result of the coronavirus. “We don’t know exactly what the future will hold — but at a minimum, we assume that it will include a bad recession combined with some kind of financial stress similar to the global financial crisis of 2008,” he said in the letter.

Around the world

According to the World Health Organization (as of April 6, 2020):

  • Total cases globally: 1.17 million
  • Total deaths globally: 64,541
(Source: Statista)

The United States, Spain (124,736), Italy (124,632), Germany (91,714), and China (83,005) have the most reported coronavirus cases globally.

Several European countries reported a slowdown in coronavirus cases and deaths over the weekend. Spain reported the lowest number of new coronavirus cases since March 22, while deaths in the U.K. slowed for the second consecutive day on Monday.

Germany announced a “limitless” aide program for small- and mid-sized businesses suffering from coronavirus business slowdowns. Loans of up to 800,000 euros ($862,000) will be available to help businesses cover bills and business costs.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a 108 trillion yen ($989 billion) stimulus package to aide the economy hit by the coronavirus. The package is the largest ever in Japan’s history.

Between March 16 and March 25, 1.55 million Canadians applied for jobless benefits, according to a senior government official.

Austria will begin reopening its economy next week, easing lockdown restrictions with some business reopening doors within the next several days.

Related: Coronavirus update: Tri-state travel warnings, CARES Act and more