CNBC Asia

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Friday that the city will pause its reopening plan "indefinitely" and will close indoor malls and non-essential offices as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the state.

The nation's governors and dozens of Democratic senators are calling on the Trump administration to delay or reverse its decision to shift control of "critical" coronavirus hospital data away from the CDC.

"We were surprised because the modules that we normally go to were empty. The data wasn't available and not there," coronavirus researcher Ryan Panchadsaram said. "There was no warning."

FEMA is sending 14 refrigerated trucks to the state next week — on top of the eight that were already sent — to serve as temporary mortuaries.

Most transmission of the coronavirus is coming from people who are asymptomatic and never develop any signs of the virus, a top official from the Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.

The U.S. has reported more than 65,400 new cases on average over the past seven days, up nearly 22% compared with a week ago.

"It's the community that defeats this virus not the government," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday.

Consumption in China remains relatively robust even though June retail sales data showed they missed expectations, says Tai Hui, Asia chief market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.

Stocks in Asia Pacific mostly edged higher on Friday following Thursday's drop that saw shares in China plunging more than 4%.

As of Friday morning Singapore time, Thailand's SET Composite index, Singapore's Straits Times' Index, the Jakarta Composite index as well as the Philippines' PSI Composite Index are still down more than 14% each for the year, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon.

Rising bad loans are set to squeeze Chinese banks' margins and profits in the coming quarters, said analysts.

Southeast Asian nations will likely benefit from China's economic rebound as the country commands a "lion's share" of the region's exports, Wellian Wiranto of OCBC Bank said.

The CDC added that it remains concerned about a number of elements of the companies' return-to-sailing plans, including failing to close self-serve buffets, gyms and salons.

"Being indoors, in close quarters, over long periods of time, is just a recipe for spread," Giroir said, adding that outdoor seating for restaurants and bars is "probably really safe."

"You know what virus is worse than Covid? The virus of American division and federal incompetence," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

"There is significant evidence of failure to comply," especially at restaurants and bars in New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters.

The company is in talks with the National Institutes of Health to move up the timeline for the trial, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Stoffels said.

J&J earned $3.63 billion, or $1.36 per share, during the three months ended June 30, a 34.6% drop from $5.6 billion a year earlier.

Stocks in Asia Pacific were lower on Thursday, with shares in mainland China leading losses regionally as the Shanghai composite dropped more than 4%.