Coronavirus updates: Weekend masses resume in Pittsburgh for first time since outbreak started

More than 6.9 million people worldwide – including at least 1.9 million in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. While efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak continue, states have begun to shift their focus toward reopening their economies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the U.S. here.

Live updates for Sunday, June 7, continue below:

Weekend masses resume in Pittsburgh for first time since outbreak started

Update 10:02 p.m. EDT June 7: For the first time since mid-March, parishioners returned to Catholic churches across the Pittsburgh area Sunday, WPXI-TV reported.

Services also look at lot different than they did three months ago.

Church capacity is cut in half, parishioners have to sit six feet apart and wear masks.

“Everybody knows that they have to come in with a mask. We have hand sanitizers. We have the pews roped off and they’re separated with the social distancing and just follow proper protocols and just use common sense,” said Rev. Thomas Burke, of Saint Mary Magdalene Parish.

CDC closely monitoring protests

Update 5:42 p.m. EDT June 7: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is closely monitoring the protests that have erupted across the country in relation to the spread of the coronavirus.

"CDC and our federal partners are monitoring closely the demonstrations happening across America," CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said in a statement, CNN reported. "Protests and large gatherings make it difficult to maintain our recommended social distancing guidelines and may put others at risk."

The number of protesters who have tested positive for the virus after participating in a demonstration is unclear.

“It is too early to know what, if any, effect these events will have on the federal COVID-19 response,” Nordlund said. “Every local situation is different. State and local officials will make decisions to protect public health and safety based on circumstances on the ground.”

Death toll in US tops 110,000 mark

Update 3:01 p.m. EDT June 7: The coronavirus passed another grim milestone Sunday afternoon in the United States, as Johns Hopkins University reported the death toll from COVID-19 topped 110,000 deaths.

As of Sunday afternoon, there are at least 110,028 deaths in the United States and at least 1,927,428 confirmed cases.

CDC is ‘monitoring closely’ protests across US

Update 12:04 p.m. EDT June 7: A spokesperson for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the agency is closely watching the demonstrations across the United States, watching to see if the gatherings might spike more cases of the coronavirus.

“CDC and our federal partners are monitoring closely the demonstrations happening across America. Protests and large gatherings make it difficult to maintain our recommended social distancing guidelines and may put others at risk,” CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said in a statement. “It is too early to know what, if any, effect these events will have on the federal COVID-19 response. Every local situation is different. State and local officials will make decisions to protect public health and safety based on circumstances on the ground."

Global death toll reaches 400K; total cases surge past 6.9M

Update 6:30 a.m. EDT June 7: The global coronavirus death toll surged past 400,000 early Sunday as the total number of confirmed cases reached 6.9 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

As of 6:30 a.m. EDT, at least 6,913,608 confirmed coronavirus cases and 400,121 deaths had been reported worldwide, according to the university’s tally. The United States remained the hardest-hit, with at least 1,920,061 cases and 109,802 deaths; followed by Brazil, with 672,846 cases and 35,930 deaths; and Russia, with 467,073 cases and 5,851 deaths. The United Kingdom had the second-highest number of deaths, with 40,458, and the fourth-highest number of cases, with 286,294.

Georgia nurse who helped battle COVID-19 in New York returns home to Atlanta

Update 5:39 a.m. EDT June 7: A Georgia nurse who left a job in metro Atlanta to help on the front lines of the battle against coronavirus in New York City is back home with an unexpected end to her story.

WSB-TV’s Jorge Estevez remained in contact with Vanessa Warner over the past two months as she detailed her journey on “WSB Tonight” about taking care of victims of the virus in the Big Apple.

She is now back home – for a few days, at least.

“You left the job and your family to go up to New York City and fight COVID-19. Was it worth it?” Estevez asked Warner.

"Absolutely. Without a doubt, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was the hardest choice but the best choice ever made. Atlanta, I love you. You guys have shown up,” Warner said.

While in New York, she felt the love from Georgia, from messages of hope to supplies. Metro Atlantans sent gowns, personal protective equipment, food, donations – you name it.

“Those things, those little pieces of love that were sent by total strangers to support us got us through,” Warner said.

Warner said things got really tough during her shifts.

“What surprised you about going up there that we wouldn't even really think about?” Estevez asked Warner.

“The cameras are not capturing what the extent of the horror that COVID can be, the severity of how sick those people are and all of the interventions we have to do to try to get them better or fight for them until the end,” Warner said.

Read the full story here.

Next phase of reopening Massachusetts starts Monday

Update 3:13 a.m. EDT June 7: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Saturday that Phase 2 of the state’s reopening process will begin Monday, Boston’s WFXT is reporting.

“Thanks to your hard work and your sacrifices, we’re bringing the fight to the virus,” said Baker, thanking residents and business owners who have been anxiously awaiting a return to normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Baker administration previously published details of Phase 2, which includes the return of youth sports practices, child care, day camps, warehouses and distribution centers, higher education courses required for graduating, lodging, routine medical exams and return of retail sales with restrictions.

Key health metrics and advice from public health officials led the on-time start to Phase 2, according to Baker.

The seven-day average of positive coronavirus tests since the start of May is down 82%, the three-day average of hospitalizations fell 55% over the same period, and hospitals operating in “surge” has been down 76%.

“The goal here is as we move thing forward is so we can sustain it,” said Baker.

There is a second part of Phase 2 that will include businesses offering nail care, massage therapy, tattoo and body art, and personal training services.

There is no timetable for when the second portion of the phase will begin, according to the Baker administration.

Each phase takes as little as three weeks, but if health data reveals a spike in key metrics, the state would put its reopening in reverse.

Phase 3 could begin as early as June 29.

US coronavirus cases top 1.9M, deaths near 110K

Published 1:15 a.m. EDT June 7: The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States continued to climb past 1.9 million early Sunday across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, there are at least 1,920,061 confirmed U.S. cases of the virus, which have resulted in at least 109,802 deaths.

The hardest-hit states remain New York, with 377,316 cases and 30,280 deaths, and New Jersey, with 163,893 cases and 12,106 deaths. Massachusetts, with 103,132 cases, has the third-highest number of deaths with 7,289, while California has the third-highest number of cases with 128,593. Only 14 states and territories have confirmed fewer than 5,000 cases each.

Seven other states have now confirmed at least 50,000 novel coronavirus cases each, including:

• Illinois: 126,890 cases, resulting in 5,864 deaths

• Pennsylvania: 79,505 cases, resulting in 5,931 deaths

• Texas: 74,470 cases, resulting in 1,833 deaths

• Florida: 62,758 cases, resulting in 2,688 deaths

• Michigan: 58,525 cases, resulting in 5,613 deaths

• Maryland: 57,482 cases, resulting in 2,740 deaths

• Georgia: 51,359 cases, resulting in 2,178 deaths

Meanwhile, Virginia, Connecticut and Louisiana each has confirmed at least 42,000 cases; Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina each has confirmed at least 34,000 cases; Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Arizona, Washington, Iowa, Wisconsin and Alabama each has confirmed at least 20,000 cases, followed by Mississippi with 17,039; Nebraska and Rhode Island each has confirmed at least 15,000 cases, followed by Missouri with 14,951, South Carolina with 13,453, Utah with 11,798 and Kentucky with 11,287; Kansas has confirmed at least 10,000 cases; Delaware, Nevada, the District of Columbia and Arkansas each has confirmed at least 9,000 cases; New Mexico has confirmed at least 8,000 cases, followed by Oklahoma with 7,059, South Dakota with 5,367 and New Hampshire with 5,019.

Click here to see CNN’s state-by-state breakdown.

Cox Media Group