Coronavirus live updates: India nears 1 million cases after record spike; Georgia Gov. Kemp scraps local mask mandates

Another 1.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, according to data released by the Labor Department, as U.S. businesses reopen at varying stages of operation after widespread virus shutdowns. Initial claims have plateaued at 1-million-plus in recent weeks, after spiking to a stunning 6 million in March.

Continuing claims, representing filers who have put in for benefits for at least two weeks, improved slightly to 17.3 million, down from 18.1 million during the prior period. That continuing claim figure is still 10 times higher than pre-pandemic levels, when continuing claims hovered around 1.7 million. —Sara Salinas

Johnson & Johnson’s profit fell 35% from a year ago as the coronavirus pandemic forced hospitals to postpone elective surgeries and more Americans stayed at home.

The decline in its medical device unit was partially offset by higher sales for its over-the-counter products such as Tylenol and Listerine mouthwash, J&J said in its second-quarter earnings release.

Separately, the company announced that it plans to enter a phase one human trial next week testing its potential Covid-19 vaccine. J&J’s Chief Financial Officer Joseph Wolk told CNBC the trial will include more than 1,000 participants between the ages of 18 and 55 as well as 65 and older.  —Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 

India is nearing 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus after a record daily rise in new infections. The country reported an additional 32,695 cases Thursday, its health ministry said, bringing the total number of cases to 968,876.

The surge in infections has been driven by the spread of the virus in rural areas, Reuters noted, and has prompted some states to impose fresh lockdowns. India now has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world after the U.S. and Brazil. —Holly Ellyatt

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order Wednesday night banning local and city officials from issuing their own mask mandates while reiterating that residents of the state “are strongly encouraged” to wear face coverings.

The order also voids existing mask mandates, such as the one issued by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Kemp’s new order comes as cases are surging in Georgia, as well as a number of other states, particularly in the South and West. —Will Feuer

Read CNBC’s previous coronavirus live coverage here: San Francisco Unified School District will welcome students back this fall strictly online