Even as businesses and borders slowly reopen, global economies continue to feel the effects of coronavirus shutdowns. Another 1.5 million Americans filed for initial unemployment benefits last week, according to data released Thursday, notching the 13th consecutive week above 1 million claims. The Bank of England on Thursday announced an additional £100 billion ($124.5 billion) for its bond-buying effort to shore up the U.K. economy, but declined to take interest rates into negative territory as some investors had hoped.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases continue to surge throughout the American South and West, leading some state officials to rethink reopening strategies. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday reversed his stance against mandating mask-wearing and allowed local officials to set their own regulations. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that most of the population will have to wear masks starting June 24 amid a spike in some counties.
This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks.
- Global cases: More than 8.36 million
- Global deaths: At least 449,397
- U.S. cases: More than 2.16 million
- U.S. deaths: At least 117,717
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Voluntary leaves shrink U.S. airline staffing to lowest since August 2017
Gate agents assist travelers at a Delta Air Lines Inc. bag drop counter at the San Diego International Airport (SAN) in San Diego, California, U.S., on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Bing Guan | Bloomberg | Getty Images
1:20 p.m. ET — Staffing at U.S. passenger airlines in mid-April nearly fell 7% from a month earlier to the lowest since levels August 2017, mostly due to a slew of temporary and voluntary leaves at Delta Air Lines, according to new data from the Department of Transportation.
Carriers that have accepted portions of $25 billion in federal coronavirus payroll aid are prohibited from laying off or cutting the pay rates of their workers through Sept. 30 but airlines like Delta, United, American and others have encouraged employees to take voluntary unpaid or partially-paid time off.
More recently, airlines have urged workers to take voluntary separation and early retirement packages in a bid to cut costs as coronavirus continues to hurt demand.
In mid-April, staffing at U.S. passenger carriers fell by 31,000 from a month earlier to 428,569 full-time equivalent workers, the DOT data show. It said that was also the first year-over-year drop since April 2013. —Leslie Josephs
Carbon emissions bounce back to near 2019 levels as countries reopen
Policemen try to ease the traffic jam at an intersection in a rainy rush hour in Nanjing in east China’s Jiangsu province Monday, June 15, 2020.
Barcroft Media | Getty Images
12:50 p.m. ET — Carbon emissions are surging back to pre-pandemic levels as states and countries reopen, a rebound scientists have warned about since the start of lockdowns…
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