U.S. cases top 2 million

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday extended the state's 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from out of state through the end of July.

"We continue to look for opportunities to invite guests from out of state," he said, but cautioned that some mainland states were seeing new increases in coronavirus cases.

Ige announced that the self-quarantine mandate would be lifted for interisland travel beginning Tuesday. "It really is an opportunity to reunite families," he said.

The state attorney general Wednesday announced that 48-year-old Patricia L. Pian of Honolulu was arrested and is accused of failing to self-quarantine when she returned from a trip to San Diego.

Multiple tourists have been arrested after failing to self-quarantine, but Pian is the first returning state resident to be accused of violating the emergency proclamation.

The Iowa State Fair, an annual slice of Americana summer since before the Civil War, was canceled Wednesday because of ongoing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced.

"We are heartbroken we can’t be together this August," event officials in Des Moines said in a statement, promising to be back Aug. 12-22 in 2021. "We tirelessly analyzed all the unique traditions at the Iowa State Fair and believe it will be safer given the current COVID-19 situation. That will give us enough time to properly get ready for the Iowa State Fair you know and love." 

The first Iowa State Fair was held in 1854 and has been skipped only a handful of times before - in 1898 to make room for the World's Fair in Omaha and in 1942-45 because of World War II.

California music festival Coachella and its smaller sibling Stagecoach are officially canceled this year.

Citing the ongoing pandemic, both festivals were initially postponed from their usual dates in the spring until October but public health officials said on Wednesday that even the fall is too soon for such a large gathering. 

“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” said Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser.

“In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter," he added. "Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward."

As her colleagues pointed to a still evolving pandemic, and the danger of asymptomatic spread, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove cautioned against a false dichotomy of "focusing on public health or livelihoods," insisting, "We must do both."

Nearly three months after closing, Disney has set its sights on a phased reopening for its California parks and resorts starting early next month, the company announced Wednesday.

Downtown Disney District will begin reopening on July 9, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will reopen by July 17 and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel plan to reopen on July 23. All of these dates are subject to state and local government approval.

Parades, nighttime spectaculars and character meet-and-greets will return at a later date, the company said. 

Theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with government requirements as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. Visitors will be required to make a reservation in advance for park entry.

NBC News' Vaughn Hillyard breaks down the numbers behind Arizona's spike in coronavirus cases requiring ICU hospitalization after Gov. Doug Ducey lifted COVID-19 restrictions.

Utah gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman said Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"After a second try, test results came back positive for Covid-19," Huntsman wrote. "Have been experiencing classic symptoms..like so many others, my goal is to keep my family safe. Though isolated temporarily, we’ve never been more energized in this important race for Governor. The work goes on!"

Huntsman — the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination — had to take a second COVID-19 test after being given the wrong results to an earlier test.

He previously served as Utah's governor from 2005 to 2009 and resigned to become ambassador to China.

A GOP primary in Utah's governor's race is scheduled for June 30. Among Republican candidates, Huntsman is running neck-and-neck with Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox.

"These trailers became new neighbors and served as a reminder of the neighbors we lost," said photojournalist Angus Mordant. See more photos of New Yorkers interacting with one of the few visual signs of the pandemic's toll on the city.

Texas is experiencing a troubling spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations, setting a new record for three consecutive days.

The state reported 2,153 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Wednesday, 2,056 on Tuesday and 1,935 on Monday. All of those totals topped the earlier record of 1,888 hospitalizations set on May 5.

More than 13,000 hospital beds and 1,500 ICU beds were available Wednesday, statewide totals show.

The spike comes as the state continues to reopen businesses. Gov. Greg Abbott last week issued an executive order announcing the third phase of the state's reopening, which calls for nearly all businesses to operate at 50 percent occupancy. On Friday, restaurants will be allowed to increase their capacity to 75 percent.

The Lone Star State has reported more than 77,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,853 fatalities since the pandemic began.

Beginning Thursday, the majority of stores in New York City's iconic Fifth Avenue district will reopen for curbside and in-store pickup, after temporarily shutting down for three months as part of New York’s stay-at-home order.

On Monday, some businesses and construction in the city were allowed to get back to a modified business schedule, after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted coronavirus-related restrictions.

Stores that are part of the Fifth Avenue Association district, which include Armani, Bergdorf Goodman and Dior, will begin breaking down the wooden boards that have covered their windows.

Cartier, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and Wempe are among the companies leading the district's reopening efforts this week.

Disney Resort Hotels announced Wednesday that it will enhance cleaning efforts across its locations to follow public health guidelines, said Katie Kelly, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services.

Guest will have access to online check-in services at select locations, luggage pickup at redesigned bell services, and hand sanitizer stations, Kelly said in a news release. There will also be adjustments to restaurants, pools, and other public areas to enable physical distancing and reduce capacity at high-traffic areas.

"We are asking our guests to help, by washing your hands frequently with soap and water; following physical distancing and other guidelines when you visit; and rescheduling your visit if you or a member of your party feel ill or are subject to quarantine or other travel restrictions," Kelly said.

United Airlines is set to deny boarding to customers who don’t fill out new health assessment forms at check-in, the company said on Wednesday. 

The self-check forms are aimed at keeping flyers safe from sick passengers but likely don’t do much to protect against asymptomatic carriers. According to the airline, passengers must agree that they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 21 days and have not had symptoms including a temperature higher than 100.4 F, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat and recent loss of taste or smell, within the past 14 days. 

"United's 'Ready-to-Fly' wellness checklist sets clear guidelines on health requirements for our customers and helps minimize the risk of exposure during the travel experience."said Pat Baylis, United's Corporate Medical Director. 

The checklist was created in concert with the Cleveland Clinic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.

Passengers will be asked to verbally confirm that they have submitted the health information when checking in with an agent. United also wants passengers to attest that they haven’t been denied boarding by another airline for a communicable disease either, and that they have not come into close contact with someone who tested positive in the prior 14 days. 

The company added that masks will be compulsory for customers, and that anyone who could not comply with the checklist would be able to reschedule their flight.

SeaWorld San Antonio will reopen its doors to the public on June 19, the park announced in a news release Wednesday. 

The park's reopening will include enhanced health and safety protocols, physical distancing, face covering requirements, and temperature screening.

"We are committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and animals in our care, and will continue to follow the guidance of health officials as conditions evolve," said Marc Swanson, interim CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

Compounding the hardships of the coronavirus, some nursing homes have demanded that low-income residents turn over their $1,200 economic stimulus checks, a cash grab lawmakers want to halt.

On Tuesday, Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the Health and Human Services inspector general’s office to issue a warning to nursing homes and assisted living facilities that such practices are “improper and unlawful.” 

In the House, Reps. Richard Neal, D-Mass., and Frank Pallone, D-N.J., asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to spell out to nursing homes that the relief money from Congress is not considered income that facilities can legally claim to defray the cost of care. Low-income Medicaid recipients must not be “coerced into wrongly handing over their checks for fear of being kicked out of their homes,” wrote Neal and Pallone. Any funds taken must be returned.

Nationally, over 35,500 people have died from coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes and long-term care facilities, about a third of the national toll, according to a running tally by The Associated Press.

Read the full story.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed testing as the reason for documented spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases across the U.S. — but data and public health experts attribute the surge to the easing of lockdown restrictions just weeks ago. "The surge numbers are real," said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the Columbia University National Center for Disaster Preparedness.

Read more here.

How the coronavirus compares with 100 years of deadly events [The New York Times]

Opinion: The pandemic and the protests are mirror images [Wired]

Bye bye, buffets; hello, plexiglas: How coronavirus is changing hotels [The Los Angeles Times]

Starbucks lost as much as $3.2 billion in revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic, the coffee giant said Wednesday.

The company forecast that same-store sales could fall by as much as 20 percent in the U.S. and China, its two biggest markets. It will also halve the number of new store openings set for this year, with only 300, down from its prior estimate of 600.

“With each passing week, we are seeing clear evidence of business recovery, with sequential improvements in comparable store sales performance,” CEO Kevin Johnson and CFO Pat Grismer wrote in a letter to stakeholders. “The Starbucks brand is resilient, customer affinity is strong and we believe the most difficult period is now behind us.”

U.S. same-store sales fell 43 percent in May as the company reopened locations with modified hours and operations. About 95 percent of U.S. locations are now open, with the majority of closed locations centered in the New York City area.

The company also plans to shutter up to 400 company-owned cafes over the next 18 months as part of its plan to accelerate changes to U.S. stores. As more customers order through Starbucks’ app, the Seattle-based company had planned to modify its cafes over the next three to five years, but the pandemic moved up that timeline.

Public beaches will reopen in Miami Beach, Florida, on Wednesday after a 12-week closure due to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, beachgoers will have to get used to new COVID-19 safety measures while sunbathing or playing in the waves. 

The city said facial coverings are required to use bathrooms, purchase concessions or when social distancing cannot be ensured, except for members of the same household.

It said social distancing will be enforced and groups of 10 or more are still prohibited. No organized activities, sports or group picnics are allowed either. 

The city said more than a hundred "social distancing ambassadors" will be deployed on the beaches every day for the next few weeks to ensure everyone is sticking to the rules. 

The virus crisis has triggered the most severe recession in nearly a century, and is causing enormous damage to people’s health, jobs and well-being, an international economic report warned Wednesday.

The latest analysis of global economic data by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reveals two equally probable scenarios – one in which a second wave of infections, with renewed lockdowns, hits before the end of 2020, and one in which another major outbreak is avoided.

In the best-case scenario, if there is no second wave of infections, the agency forecast a global drop in economic output of 6 percent this year. 

If the coronavirus re-emerges later in the year, however, the global economy could shrink 7.6 percent, before climbing back 2.8 percent in 2021, the OECD said.

Germany will extend its travel warning for non-European countries until the end of August but lift border controls to all its neighbours by mid-June, ministers said on Wednesday.

As the coronavirus crisis in many European countries eases somewhat, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany does not yet have systems with the rest of the world to assess and coordinate travel without entailing potentially incalculable risks.

“We cannot and will not risk Germans being stranded all over the world again this summer or holidaymakers returning to Germany with the virus undetected,” said Maas in a statement.

Aware that many holidaymakers want to travel to destinations including Turkey, the United States, northern African and south-eastern Asia, Maas said the government would keep looking at the travel warning before September. Germany had already announced it would lift a blanket travel ban for EU members, Britain, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from June 15. 

The U.S. is set to reopen its consulate in Wuhan, China, later this month, according to a congressional notification letter obtained by NBC News.

Wuhan was the first city to identify cases of the coronavirus, late in 2019, and the U.S. shut down the consulate in January, evacuating all State Department personnel.

The State Department informed Congress on Friday that conditions were now appropriate to resume operations in Wuhan "on or around" June 22, but the agency "stands ready to modify this schedule as conditions develop."

Relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated during the pandemic, with a war of words about the handling of the early stages of the outbreak by China and the World Health Organization. 

"At this critical juncture in U.S.-China relations, it is critical that our diplomatic posts in China are staffed," said the letter from Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, Mary Elizabeth Taylor.

Brazil on Tuesday restored detailed COVID-19 data to its official national website following controversy over the removal of cumulative totals and a ruling by a Supreme Court justice that the full set of information be reinstated.

The move came after days of mounting pressure from across the political spectrum and allegations the government was trying to mask the severity of the outbreak, now the world’s second-largest. 

The official website reverted to showing cumulative totals of deaths and infections as well as breakdowns by state as it had done until last week. On Tuesday evening, the latest daily numbers were uploaded to the site, showing a cumulative total of 739,503 cases, and 1,272 new deaths, bringing the toll to 38,406 dead, the third highest after the United States and Britain.

Right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently sought to play down the severity of the coronavirus, dismissing it as a “little flu” and urging governors to reverse lockdown measures battering the country’s economy.

A number of families of victims of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Italian region of Bergamo, one of the hardest hit during the epidemic, filed complaints with the local prosecutor Wednesday, the committee coordinating the efforts told NBC News. 

The complaints concern issues including the lack of information provided around infection risk in the early stages of the pandemic, the lack of PPE available in healthcare facilities and the lack of medicine for managing COVID-19 symptoms at home. 

Luca Fusco, the committee's president, as well as relatives of some of the victims and their lawyers, delivered the first 50 complaints to Bergamo's prosecutor Wednesday morning. Lawyers acting for the victims are examining nearly 200 complaints, so more submissions could follow. 

"We have a duty to give our fathers, our mothers and our families the justice they deserve," Fusco said. 

The U.S. is officially in a recession, bringing an end to a historic 128 months of economic growth, after the coronavirus pandemic swept the country and shut down the economy.

For more than a decade, the American economy seemed to contradict the adage "What goes up, must come down." That ended in February, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, or NBER, the agency that identifies periods of economic growth and contraction.

The economic expansion would have turned 11 years old this month — a span unmatched in the postwar economy.

Read the full story here. 

AMC Theaters, the largest theater chain in the nation, said Tuesday it planned to reopen all its locations in July.

The 1,000-venue company, which already reopened several screens in Norway, Germany, Spain and Portugal, is planning to reopen its U.S. and U.K. theaters in time to show "Tenet," scheduled to be released July 17.

In a statement, the chain said it would limit capacity, block off seating, require personal protective equipment and institute cleaning protocols.

Competitor Cinemark also plans to reopen its 345 theaters in time for "Tenet." A phased reopening would begin June 19 in some locations, CEO Mark Zoradi said in a statement Wednesday.

Initially, venues would be run at 50 percent capacity, he said previously.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and long-time HIV researcher, said Tuesday that COVID-19 appears to be more complicated than HIV.

"I thought HIV was a complicated disease," Fauci said during a presentation at the BIO International Convention, which included members of biotechnology companies. "It’s really simple compared to what’s going on with COVID-19."

Fauci was referring to the range of illness COVID-19 can cause, in which some people can be infected but never develop any symptoms, some can have fevers, cough and debilitating fatigue for weeks, and still others wind up fighting for their lives on a ventilator. 

"When is it going to end?" Fauci asked, adding that scientists are at the very beginning of understanding how COVID-19 works. 

"What are the long-term negative effects of infection? We don’t have enough experience because we’ve only been involved for four months," he said. "We don’t know the extent of full recovery or partial recovery. So, there’s a lot we need to learn."

More than 800 Best Buy store locations will reopen to shoppers beginning June 15 under strict social distancing guidelines that will limit the number of people in stores, the company announced on Tuesday.

The country's biggest consumer electronics retail company has been operating on an appointment-only model during the coronavirus crisis. 

It will also bring back more than 9,000 furloughed full- and part-time employees.

"Throughout the pandemic, nothing has been more important to us than the safety of our customers and employees,” said Ray Sliva, Best Buy’s president of retail. “We’re now confident we can provide a safe experience for shoppers who want to visit our stores.”

Best Buy, which is based in the Minneapolis area, plans to reopen stores at 25 percent capacity to allow for social distancing. Stores will also be outfitted with floor signage to guide customers and enforce the six feet of distance at all times.

All employees will be required to undergo self-health assessments and temperature checks through Best Buy’s app. Employees and shoppers will be required to wear masks while shopping. The company is also enhancing its sanitation procedures and has installed sneeze guards at checkout counters.

The D.C. National Guard says that some of its members have tested positive for COVID-19 since it was mobilized to respond to the protests over George Floyd’s death in Washington, but would not disclose how many had tested positive because of what a Guard official called "operational security."

As of Monday, June 1, the entire D.C. National Guard, which has 3,400 members, had been activated to assist in the response to protests. Members of the National Guard from other states were brought into the capital as well, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Utah and Indiana.

"National Guard personnel are social distancing and use of PPE measures remained in place where practical throughout the entire National Guard support to assist local and federal law enforcement responding to the civil unrest in the District of Columbia," the branch said in a statement. "All Guardsmen who are suspected to be at high risk of infection or have tested positive for COVID-19 during demobilization will not be released...until risk of infection or illness has passed."

"I am absolutely convinced that that is occurring. The question is how much," said WHO Executive Director Dr. Michael Ryan.

The governor of New Jersey lifted his stay-at-home order as the state continues to make progress in its fight against the coronavirus. 

At his daily news briefing on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he was ending the order, but still encouraged the use of masks and other safety measures. 

"Please continue to be responsible and safe. Wear face coverings and keep a social distance from others when out in public," the governor said in a tweet. 

New Jersey had been under a stay-at-home order since March 21. Murphy on Tuesday also signed an executive order raising the limit on outdoor gatherings to 100 people and indoor gatherings to either 25 percent capacity or 50 people.