Wall Street is getting a look at another batch of quarterly earnings reports on Wednesday, with General Motors, CVS Health and Wendy’s all offering updates ahead of the market open. Disney reported a rough second quarter for parks and cruises when it provided results after the bell on Tuesday, recording a 58% drop in operating income for that division. Health experts are weighing research on a potentially more contagious strain of the virus, as states and local governments continue to ease closures.
This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. All times below are in Eastern time. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks.
- Global cases: More than 3.6 million
- Global deaths: At least 257,818
- US cases: More than 1.2 million
- US deaths: At least 71,078
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
9:04 am: Concerns over coronavirus drop in 2020 swing states, CNBC/Change Research poll finds
Detroit residents line-up to be tested for free for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Sheffield Center in Detroit, Michigan, April 28, 2020.
Rebecca Cook | Reuters
About 68% of likely voters in six key 2020 swing states said they have “somewhat” or “very” serious concerns about Covid-19, a new CNBC/Change Research poll found. The share dipped from 76% in mid-April.
Fears among Republicans dwindled, while Democratic worries stayed about the same. Only 39% of likely GOP voters responded that they have “somewhat” or “very” serious concerns, a slide from 55% when the States of Play survey was last taken on April 17 and 18.
About 7 in 10 Republicans said the effects of the pandemic are getting better rather than worse. Only 12% of Democratic respondents said the same.
Larger shares of Democrats than Republicans said they are taking a range of precautions during the outbreak, from engaging in social distancing to sheltering at home and wearing a face mask in public.
The poll surveyed 3,544 likely voters in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from May 1 to 3, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points. —Jacob Pramuk
8:41 am: Wendy’s U.S. customers are returning
Wendy’s customers are starting to come back for Frosties and burgers. While the company’s weekly same-store sales for the U.S. remain negative, last week’s same-store sales only fell 2.1%.
Despite more consumers eating breakfast at home, Wendy’s U.S. sales are getting a boost from the breakfast menu, which launched nationwide in March.
Wendy’s U.S. business hit its low in early April, with same-store sales plunging 25.8%.
Read more on Wendy’s first-quarter results from CNBC’s Amelia Lucas. —Amelia Lucas
7:46 am: US Foods CEO says the industry will recover
7:03 am: German federal and state governments agree on path to easing restrictions
MUNICH, GERMANY – Germany has launched a nationwide policy that people should wear protective face masks in stores and public transportation after easing lockdown measures.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
The German government and its 16 states have agreed on a path to reopening large parts of the economy, according to a document viewed by Reuters.
Shops can reopen and some sports can resume with certain conditions, schools will gradually reopen and states will decide on their own about the reopening of restaurants, hotels and gyms, according to the document dated Tuesday. Reuters reported the document was prepared by federal chancellery chief Helge Braun and heads of regional chancelleries for a conference call Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to hold with state premiers on Wednesday.
States will decide whether to reopen universities, bars, trade fairs, cosmetic studious, brothels, theaters, cinemas and discos based on infection levels, Reuters reported. —Will Feuer
Read CNBC’s coverage from CNBC’s Asia-Pacific and Europe teams overnight here: Spain’s daily death toll rises again; EU to see sharp economic decline