Italy to extend state of emergency; Nevada rolls back reopen for bars

U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in June as depressed demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic battled the economy.

The Labor Department said its producer price index for final demand dropped 0.2{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} last month after rebounding 0.4{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} in May, Reuters reported. In the 12 months through June, the PPI declined 0.8{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} after decreasing 0.8{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} in May.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PPI climbing 0.4{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} in June and falling 0.2{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} on a year-on-year basis. —Melodie Warner

The coronavirus is “most likely” transmitted through particles in the air, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Josep Jansa, group leader of response at the ECDC, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday that it was “most likely there is potential for aerosol transmission” of Covid-19. He added that the ECDC had never discarded this as a possibility, and said there was evidence the coronavirus had spread more easily in closed environments or when people participated in activities like choir singing.

The World Health Organization said this week that it was reviewing new evidence on whether Covid-19 can spread through particles in the air.

The ECDC, which expects coronavirus cases to begin rising again in Europe over the coming months, recommends wearing face coverings, combined with other prevention measures, to mitigate the spread of the disease.

“It has to be a combination because using masks and putting that as the main and central measure can bring this false sense of safety,” Jansa told CNBC. “(People think) ‘while I’m using a mask I don’t need to do anything else,’ and that’s not the case. So, clear ventilation of spaces, respiratory etiquette, together with the other measures, that’s the way forward.” —Chloe Taylor

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned the country will likely need to extend its state of emergency beyond the current deadline of July 31.

The prospect of an extension to the state of emergency means Italy will be able to remain “in a position to continue taking the necessary measures,” Conte said, according to Reuters. 

The euro zone’s third-largest economy had declared a six-month state of emergency at the end of January, paving the way for the government to act quickly to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. 

To date, Italy has recorded over 240,000 cases of the coronavirus, with 34,926 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. —Sam Meredith

Nevada plans to roll back some of its reopening, shutting down bars in certain counties with growing outbreaks, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced late Thursday.

The order, which has not yet been issued, will take effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sisolak said. He added that the order will reimplement restrictions similar to those seen under phase one of the state’s reopening plan in which they were allowed to remain open for curbside pickup. 

“We know COVID-19 can easily spread when people are congregating for long periods of time,” Sisolak said in a tweet. “Recently, Dr. Fauci, the US’s top infectious-disease expert, advised congregating in bars is one of the most dangerous things people could do. We must heed his advice.” —Will Feuer

Read CNBC’s previous coronavirus live coverage here: India sees record daily rise in cases, Hong Kong to close all schools