May 11 coronavirus news

Authorities in mainland China reported 17 new novel coronavirus cases inside the country today, including 10 that were locally transmitted.

The country's National Health Commission (NHC) said that five of the new local transmissions were reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in central China considered ground zero for the global pandemic.

Wuhan reported its first new case in more than a month yesterday, raising concerns that a second wave of cases could be coming. The city's Dongxihu district was classified as being at a medium risk level as of Sunday afternoon, while other areas of Wuhan remain low risk.

Troubling signs in the northeast: Fresh lockdown measures were announced for the city of Shulan in China’s northeastern Jilin province over the weekend after 11 coronavirus cases were reported there yesterday. 

A statement released by Jilin’s provincial health commission on Sunday said Shulan is currently under lockdown since Saturday, with public services and recreation venues shut down and only takeaway services allowed for restaurants.

Gatherings are banned and only one member from each household is allowed to go out to collect daily necessities. The statement did not say how long the lockdown measures would last.

The epidemic risk level in Shulan has been changed to “high," the top level on China's scale.

Total cases: The NHC said it has now identified 82,918 Covid-19 patients. Right now, there are 780 asymptomatic patients under medical observation, 12 of which are new cases. A total of 78,144 coronavirus patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. More than 4,600 have died.

A mysterious illness that's affecting children and could be linked to the coronavirus has left officials alarmed and searching for answers as infections increase.

Doctors are referring to the condition that has hospitalized dozens of children as "pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome," and health officials believe it could be linked to coronavirus. Three children have died because of it in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday.

New York is investigating if the cases contradict the belief that children are less at risk for coronavirus and what other hospitals should look out for, Cuomo said.

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US airline workers have been largely spared from the carnage that's pushed the country's unemployment to record highs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But those same workers -- roughly 750,000 pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers, mechanics and others -- will soon be among the most at-risk for losing their jobs.

The federal bailout for the airline industry barred layoffs, involuntary furloughs or pay cuts for employees. But executives have been blunt that job cuts are coming once that prohibition lifts on October 1, with estimates that up to a third of the sector's jobs could disappear.

The airlines have already requested that workers take voluntary unpaid or low-paid leaves. About 100,000 workers at the four largest carriers -- American (AAL), United, Delta (DAL) and Southwest -- have done so, equal to about 26% of those companies' staffs at the end of 2019.

But even with that level of voluntary leaves, $25 billion in grants and low-interest loans from the federal bailout known as the CARES Act, airlines are hemorrhaging millions of dollars a day. The first-quarter losses in the industry topped $2 billion. The second quarter will be much worse.

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It's a sunny day on Bangkok's most famous tourist street, and shopkeeper Cletana Thangworachai is open for business.

Her Khao San Road shop is crowded with shiny magnets, brightly colored elephant key rings and the patterned cotton pants that have become an unofficial uniform for backpackers in Southeast Asia.

But for now, there's no one to buy them.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on travel, with the UN World Tourism Organization estimating that international tourism could decline by up to 80% this year over 2019, putting at least 100 million jobs at risk.

In Thailand, where tourism makes up 18% of the country's GDP, the Tourism Authority expects visitor numbers could be down 65% this year.

Many, like Cletana, are struggling to make ends meet. Before Covid-19, she could make $300 a day. In April, Thailand banned all international flights into the country, and now, her daily earnings are down to $2 -- sometimes even zero.

But the 45-year-old, who has been selling souvenirs on the street for more than a decade, still opens her shop each day, hoping that she may get lucky with a rare passing tourist.

With so much at stake for livelihoods and economies, countries around the world are looking at ways to keep tourism businesses afloat.

New Zealand and Australia have committed to creating a "travel bubble" allowing visits between the two countries -- once it's safe to do so. China has begun allowing domestic travel, although its borders are still shut to most foreigners. Thailand is considering special tourism resorts that double as quarantine zones.

But experts warn that even with new initiatives, it could take years for travel to rise to pre-Covid-19 levels. And even when it happens, we might never travel in the same way again.

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By Julia Hollingsworth and Kocha Olarn, CNN

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 4.1 million people and killed at least 282,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. If you're just joining us, here is the latest on the pandemic:

Germany's coronavirus reproduction rate is estimated to have risen over the crucial value of 1, reaching 1.13, according to the country's disease and control center, the Robert Koch Institute. 

Prior to Saturday, Germany's reproduction rate was below 1, the institute reported. 

The reproduction rate refers to how many people each person infected with coronavirus will infect on average.

The background: The increase in reproduction rate indicates a rise in infections across Germany, a few days after Chancellor Angela Merkel announced an easing of lockdown measures.

On Wednesday last week, Merkel announced a gradual reopening of all shops and schools, as well as the resumption of the Bundesliga soccer league, although there will be no spectators.

The Robert Koch Institute said there is still a "degree of uncertainty" with these estimates but the increase in reproduction rate "makes it necessary to observe the development very closely over the coming days."

Germany has reported more than 171,000 coronavirus cases, including over 7,500 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Indian Railways announced passenger services will partially resume in the country starting Tuesday. The railways will start with special trains on 15 selected routes, including the New Delhi-Mumbai route, according to the Railways Ministry. 

Indian Railways will then start additional special services on other routes, based on availability. Priority will be given to 20,000 coaches for Covid-19 care centers and then up to 300 trains every day to bring home stranded migrant workers across the country, the statement added. 

Only passengers with valid confirmed tickets -- which can be purchased on Monday afternoon -- will be allowed to enter the railway stations and it will be mandatory for the passengers to wear a face cover and undergo screening at departure. Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the train. 

The background: Indian railways stopped passenger services for the first time in 167 years on March 24 after a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus was announced. The lockdown is scheduled to continue to at least May 17.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee, will self-quarantine after a staff member in his office tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement from Alexander’s chief of staff, David Cleary.

“The senator will be working remotely and will chair the Senate Health Committee hearing on Tuesday morning by video conference where the witnesses will be Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Brett Giroir and Dr. Stephen Hahn," Cleary said.

Cleary said the staffer is “recovering at home and is doing well.”

In conversations on the weekend, US President Donald Trump has expressed concern that aides contracting coronavirus would undercut his message that the outbreak is waning and states should begin reopening, according to a person who spoke to him.

Trump voiced frustration that two White House staffers tested positive for coronavirus and has asked why his valets weren’t ordered to wear masks before this week, according to the person.

Trump believes an economic rebound will come only when governors decide to lift restrictions and is concerned at any signs the virus is resurgent.

At the same time, he’s told people he doesn’t want to be near anyone who hasn’t been tested and has bristled when coming into contact with some people at the White House, according to the person who spoke to him.