Live updates: WHO warns of second coronavirus peak; some states see uptick in hospitalizations
May 26, 2020 / By Lateshia Beachum, Marisa Iati, Miriam Berger, Siobhán O’Grady, John Wagner, Kim Bellware, Felicia Sonmez, Meryl Kornfield, Candace Buckner and Samantha Pell
The World Health Organization warned that countries could face a second peak of coronavirus cases, even before a presumed second wave of infections months from now, echoing concerns expressed by opponents of rapid reopening in countries around the world.
Mike Ryan, head of the WHO’s emergencies program, warned North America, Southeast Asia, Europe and other regions against scaling back coronavirus restrictions and public health measures too quickly.
His comments came as crowds in the United States flooded newly reopened beaches and other public spaces over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and as officials in Europe increased calls to reopen the European Union’s internal borders in anticipation of its summer holiday season.
Here are some significant developments:
- At least 5.5 million coronavirus infections have been reported around the world — more than 1.6 million of them in the United States, where the death toll is nearing 100,000.
- More than 1.5 million people passed through U.S. airports during Memorial Day weekend in a significant increase from recent weeks. Yet air travel was about 13 percent of what it was in the same period last year.
- On the other hand, new-home sales grew unexpectedly in April, eking out a slight gain instead of the steep decline that had been forecast, the U.S. Commerce Department reported.
- The House will return Wednesday and Thursday for a scaled-down agenda that will include the first use of proxy voting in the legislative body’s history.
- Katie Miller, Vice President Pence’s press secretary, said Tuesday that she has returned to work after three negative tests for the coronavirus.
- More than 15,000 Rohingya refugees are quarantined amid efforts to contain the coronavirus in densely populated Bangladeshi camps. So far there are 29 confirmed cases, but authorities fear the virus is spreading.
