World News:

As of Thursday, July 30, there are over 17.3 million cases of COVID-19 around the world, and over 672,000 deaths as a result of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to statistics website Worldometer.

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Outside of the United States, which remains the world epicenter, the countries with the most confirmed infections are:

• Brazil: 2,556,207 confirmed cases; 90,212 deaths.
• India: 1,636,410 confirmed cases; 35,779 deaths.
• Russia: 834,499 confirmed cases; 13,802 deaths.
• South Africa: 471,123 confirmed cases; 7,497 deaths.
• Mexico: 408,449 confirmed cases; 45,361 deaths.

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National News

Thursday, July 30, 2020

US Death Toll Surges to Over 154,000

As of Thursday, July 30, there are now 4.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with the virus resulting in over 154,400 US deaths. This week, an association warned of hundreds of thousands more deaths if the US fails to gain control of the virus.

The states with the most cases of COVID-19 stand as:

• California: 487,478 confirmed cases; 8,912 deaths.
• Florida: 461,379 confirmed cases; 6,587 deaths.
• New York: 442,638 confirmed cases; 32,738 deaths.
• Texas: 424,433 confirmed cases; 6,381 deaths.
• New Jersey: 186,543 confirmed cases; 6,381 deaths.

Herman Cain Dies from COVID-19

Herman Cain, who was a popular Republican presidential candidate in 2012, has died from COVID-19, as confirmed by his. He was 74. The former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza was in attendance for President Donald Trump’s June 20 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which saw at least eight Trump staffers test positive for coronavirus. It cannot be confirmed where Mr. Cain contracted the virus from.

“We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight,” Dan Calabrese, the editor of HermanCain.com since 2012, wrote in a post Thursday. “He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal, but it became clear pretty quickly that he was in for a battle.”

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

US Death Toll Exceeds 152,000; Florida Reports Record Death Toll

There are over 4.5 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and the death toll now stands at 152,771, according to Worldometer. Florida, which has been especially hard hit lately, recorded 9,230 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday and 186 deaths on Tuesday, a new state record. The states with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 are:

• California: 474,819 confirmed cases; 8,716 deaths.
• Florida: 451,423 confirmed cases; 6,335 deaths.
• New York: 441,262 confirmed cases; 32,719 deaths.
• Texas: 414,877 confirmed cases; 6,004 deaths.
• New Jersey: 186,309 confirmed cases; 15,905 deaths.

Association Warns of Hundreds of Thousands More Deaths if Virus Not Controlled

• One day after the US surpassed 150,000 deaths from COVID-19, one medical education association is warning that the US must control the pandemic now, or risk the possibility of the death toll surging “well into the multiple hundreds of thousands.” This statement came from The Association of American Medical Colleges, who released a roadmap for reopening. “Decisive, coordinated action is urgently needed to save lives, end the pandemic, restore America’s economy, and return our lives to normalcy,” Dr. David Skorton, AAMC president and CEO, said Wednesday.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

• The United States has reached yet another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic. There are now over 150,000 deaths in the US attributable to COVID-19 (151,494 is the current count). There are 23 states trending upward in new cases, and while states like California, Texas, Florida (which surpassed New York in confirmed cases), and Arizona have been getting hit exceedingly hard recently, but now Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning several states including Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky to get control over the recent rise of cases, saying the US cannot afford to handle the type of surges seen further south and west, as CNN reports.

Monday, July 27, 2020

California Surpasses NY for Most US Infections

• After long holding the distinction as the US epicenter of COVID-19 cases, New York was overtaken this weekend by California, which now has 459,195 cases of the novel cornavirus – the most of any US state. California has 8,455 deaths, which remains third in the country behind New York and New Jersey. New York has 439,885 confirmed cases and 32,689 deaths, while Florida, which reported almost 9,000 new cases today, has a total of 432,747 total infections and 5,933 deaths.
• The first Phase 3 study of a COVID-19 vaccine began on Monday. The vaccine was developed by biotechnology company in conjunction with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. The trial will enlist approximately 30,000 adult volunteers, and will assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and whether it can prevent COVID-19 symtoms.

Friday, July 24, 2020

• The US edges closer to hitting the bleak milestone of 150,000 deaths, as there are now 147,679 deaths to report as this article goes to publish. The US leads the world with over 4.1 million infections.
• Statisticians from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told CNN that they expect COVID-19 to end up a top 10 leading cause of death in the US in 2020. “We know that based on the # of COVID-19 deaths so far in 2020, it will end up as a Top 10 leading cause of death but won’t know exactly how high it will rank until next year,” CDC mortality statisticians said in the email. “Heart Disease and Cancer, the two leading causes of death in the U.S., account for more than half of all deaths in the U.S. each year and that isn’t expected to change.”

Medical Experts Urging for National Shutdown

More than 150 US medical experts, scientists, nurses and others signed a letter urging the federal government to order a national shutdown to control the spread of COVID-19. “The best thing for the nation is not to reopen as quickly as possible, it’s to save as many lives as possible,” they wrote in the document. “Right now, we are on a path to lose more than 200,000 American lives by November 1st. Yet, in many states people can drink in bars, get a haircut, eat inside a restaurant, get a tattoo, get a massage, and do myriad other normal, pleasant, but non-essential activities.”

Fauci Says Vaccine Could Stop COVID-19 ‘Dead in its Tracks

Dr. Anthony Fauci believes that while public health measures like social distancing and mask wearing will slow the spread of COVID-19, the real answer to stop the virus remains an effective vaccine. “And if we can do that at the global level, when we get a vaccine I think we could really stop it dead in its tracks.”

Thursday, July 23, 2020

As of Thursday, there are now 4.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and the US inches closer and closer to hitting a death toll of 150,000 (146,378 is the current count). There have been 915,000 new cases reported in the last two weeks – more than the entire month of June.

• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says there is a “fundamental agreement” in place between the White House and Senate Republicans on $1 trillion coronavirus relief package, per a CNN report. The announcement may come as soon as today, although both Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows declined to commit on that.The multi-piece plan would include:

• A second round of direct payments and an extension of unemployment benefits, though at a reduction from the extra $600 people currently receieve.
• A second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans, aimed at ameliorating the financial burden on small businesses hard hit by the virus.
• $16 billion in new funding for state testing.
• $26 billion for vaccine research and distribution.
• On Wednesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense announced a $1.95 billion agreement with Pfizer to produce 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. As part of the deal, the US government can procure an additional 500 million doses, if needed. The Pfizer vaccine would be available to Americans at no cost, according to the HHS. “For any vaccine that we have bought — so for instance, the Pfizer vaccine — those hundred million doses would actually be acquired by the US government, then given for free to Americans,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Trump Says COVID-19 in the US ‘Will Probably Unfortunately Get Worse Before it Gets Better’

President Donald Trump said in a White House briefing on Tuesday that COVID-19 “It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better,” Trump said, in what has widely been regarded as a play to improve his political plight. “Something I don’t like saying about things, but that’s the way it is.”

Trump’s dire words come as the US has hit yet another grim milestone with over 4 million confirmed cases. The death toll currently stands at over 145,000, and yesterday the death toll rose to 1,000 for the first time in weeks.

Baltimore Suspends Indoor Dining and Now Requires Masks

The city of Baltimore suspended indoor dining and mandated the use of masks at restaurants and bars, per an Executive Order signed by Baltimore City Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young. “Under the Mayor’s order, restaurants and bars are permitted to continue with outdoor dining that’s socially distanced, along with offering carryout and delivery services,” Young’s office said in a press release.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Death Toll Over 144,000

There are now almost 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States (currently 3,983,940), and the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has killed 144,253 people across the nation since March.

The US states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New York: 435,569 confirmed cases; 32,585 deaths.
• California: 399,898 confirmed cases; 7,773 deaths.
• Florida: 369,834 confirmed cases; 5,207 deaths.
• Texas: 347,135 confirmed cases; 4,181 deaths.
• New Jersey: 183,114 confirmed cases; 15,804 deaths.

Vaccine Makers Testifying Before Congress

Today, executives from five drug companies leading the race to produce a COVID-19 vaccine will testify at congressional hearing about their progress. They include executives from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, and Pfizer (details to follow).

Surge in Cases Putting a Huge Strain on Testing

The multitude of new COVID-19 cases hitting the US is putting a strain on testing by slowing down the time testing takes. One leading diagnostic lab says that test results now take up to two weeks for some patients. “We really do need to improve our turnaround times, primarily in areas and counties of outbreaks,” Adm. Brett Giroir, a White House coronavirus task force member, said in a CNN interview.

Promising Results from COVID-19 Triage Test

VoltitionRx Limited, a global epigenetics company, recently announced that promising results from two proof of concept clinical studies using its NuQ assays. The trials were submitted for peer review. Cameron Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of Volition commented, “Nu.Q^TM has shown correlation with more severe COVID-19 cases implying strong prognostic potential, and we are now focused on the completion of larger longitudinal studies that would be needed to support a potential COVID-19 product launch. If we continue to see positive results in these longitudinal studies, we aim to have a CE-marked product available on multiple platforms in 2020 and will look to launch a low-cost product that could be used in any laboratory worldwide as soon as possible thereafter.”

Monday, July 20, 2020

US Death Toll Tops 143,000; Several Hotspots Break Records Over Weekend

At the start of another week, the United States now verges on 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. The novel respiratory disease has killed over 143,000 US citizens as this article goes to publish. Alarmingly, several hotspots reported record numbers over the weekend. They include:

• Los Angeles: Reported a record 2,216 hospitalizations in a day.
• Georgia: Reported a record 4,688 new cases.
• North Carolina: Reported a record 2,522 new cases.
• Arizona: Reported a state record 147 new deaths on Saturday.

Overall, at least 31 US states are seeing an increase in new cases.

The US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• New York: 434,164 confirmed cases; 32,570 deaths.
• California: 391,084 confirmed cases; 7,713 deaths.
• Florida: 350,047 confirmed cases; 4,985 deaths.
• Texas: 339,210 confirmed cases; 4,063 deaths.
• New Jersey: 182,983 confirmed cases; 15,781 deaths.

NYC Enters Phase 4 of Reopening – Different from Rest of State

New York City enters into phase four of reopening today, but the city’s reopening will different slightly from the rest of the state. For example, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced indoor dining will not resume as of yet as its considered a “high risk” activity. Other parts of the state allowed indoor dining to resume as part of phase 3. What is allowed to reopen in NYC include: low-risk outdoor entertainment such as botanical gardens and zoos, which must operate at 33% capacity; sports (but without audiences); and production of movies and TV shows.

White House to Begin Negotiations for Next Stimulus Bill

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows stated on Sunday that the Trump administration start negotiations “in earnest” Monday on Capitol Hill for a second stimulus bill, CNN reported. Meadows added that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will sit down with President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “to actually start to fine tune (the bill).”

Friday, July 17, 2020

Over 70,000 US Infections Reported on Thursday – A New Record

• The US recorded 70,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday – shattering the previous record of 67,417 that set back on Tuesday. Also, Thursday saw Florida, Texas and South Carolina record death tolls, and many states are now worried that their hospitals are reaching a breaking point.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday defended the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a reputable source for Americans to receive COVID-19 data. “The CDC, you know forever, has been the lead agency in both surveillance and response to outbreaks,” he said. “So I would point you to the CDC website, to get the kind of information that I think would be very valuable to you.”

Thursday, July 16, 2020

• The United States has reached a new grim milestone – there are now over 140,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. Overall, there are over 3.6 million cases, and 39 states are trending upwards in infections.
• This week, Walmart became the largest retail chain to require masks at all of its US locations. The requirement will go in effect beginning next week. Other national chains that will require patrons to don a mask include Target, Kroger, and Kohl’s.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

US Sets a Record for New Infections

COVID-19 will just not let up on the United States. On Tuesday, the US reported a record 67,417 new cases of the novel coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins. In total, there are over 3.5 million confirmed cases in the US, and the death toll inches closer to 140,000 (currently at 139,314). Most alarmingly, 38 states reported an increase in number of new cases since last week – a grim reminder that as Dr. Anthony Fauci said, the nation is still ‘knee-deep’ in phase 1.

The US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• New York: 429,278 confirmed cases; 32,462 deaths.
• California: 346,445 confirmed cases; 7,243 deaths.
• Florida: 301,810 confirmed cases; 4,521 deaths.
• Texas: 285,772 confirmed cases; 3,471 deaths.
• New Jersey: 181,773 confirmed cases, 15,662 deaths.

Moderna Vaccine Trial Shows Positive Results

A potential vaccine for COVID-19, developed by biotechnology company Moderna in conjuction with the Nation Institutes for Health is showing positive signs. The drug was able to induce an immune response in all volunteers. The findings were published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this phase 1 study, researchers enrolled 45 healthy adults (ages 18 to 55) who received two doses of the vaccine, mRNA-1237, 28 days apart. The volunteers were allocated into three groups, and were administered the vaccine at 25, 100, or 250 micrograms.

The vaccine caused an antibody response in all participants, although there were some mild side effects reported, including: fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle pain. “These Phase 1 data demonstrate that vaccination with mRNA-1273 elicits a robust immune response across all dose levels and clearly support the choice of 100 μg in a prime and boost regimen as the optimal dose for the Phase 3 study,” Dr. Tal Zaks, chief medical officer of Moderna, said in the company’s press release on Tuesday.

Phase 3 trials are expected to begin July 27, and Moderna plans to enroll 30,000 adult participants.

COVID-19 Data to Now Route Directly to White House Instead of CDC

COVID-19 data from hospitals will now go directly to the White House instead of first being sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to a CNN report as confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Michael Caputo, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the department, confirmed the change first reported by The New York Times earlier in the day, saying in a statement that the “new faster and complete data system is what our nation needs to defeat the coronavirus and the CDC, an operating division of HHS, will certainly participate in this streamlined all-of-government response. They will simply no longer control it.”

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Several Major School Districts Will Not Resume In-Person Classes In Fall

School districts throughout the US are reconsidering their reopening plans for schools as COVID-19 shows no signs of letup in most states. Many large districts are now opting to begin the school year with 100% online classes. They include:

• Los Angles and San Diego: Two districts that announced on Monday that classes will not begin with students in physical attendance come fall.
• Miami: The Miami-Dade PS district cannot reopen until the region enters Phase 2 of reopenings – they remain in Phase 1. The district is allowing parents to decide how they wish for their children to return to school: either in-person, through a blended model, or strictly remote learning. The parents have until July 15 to submit their decision to the district.
• Atlanta: Will begin the first nine weeks of the school year virtually. Also, the start of the school year is postponed from August 10 to August 24.
• Nashville: Public schools will no longer return to in-person schooling on August 4, and will only offer remote learning through at least Labor Day, CNN reports.
• Detroit: Public Schools in the motor city resumed in-person instruction on Monday. The district will be offering both in-person and virtual learning courses, and parents are permitted to choose the model they prefer.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Cases Still Surging; Florida Shatters Record

• The United States continues its ‘knee-deep’ surge in the first wave of COVID-19. Worldometer reports over 3.4 million confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus – which has now killed over 137,871 Americans. Florida reported 15,300 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday – a new record for any US state. The previous record was 12,274, set by New York back on April 4.
• Tremendously good news to report – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said there were no deaths reported within a 24-period in the city – the first time this has occurred since the start of the pandemic. Despite the positive news, Mayor de Blasio is concerned about a rising infection rate people in their 20s, a trend he called “worrisome.”
• California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all counties in California to close indoor activities – this includes restaurants, bars, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, and museums.
• The Los Angles Unified School District will not start with students in physical attendance, according to a CNN report. “The health and safety of all in the school community is not something we can compromise,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said.

Friday, July 10, 2020

COVID-19 Continues to Devastate the US

The infection rate of COVID-19 shows an upward trend in nearly all US states, and there are now over 3.2 million. The US states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New York: 425,072 confirmed cases; 32,343 deaths.
• California: 303,323 confirmed cases; 6,860 deaths.
• Florida: 244,151 confirmed cases; 4,102 deaths.
• Texas: 241,013 confirmed cases; 3,046 deaths.
• New Jersey: 177,795 confirmed cases; 15,522 deaths.

Florida ICUs At Near Capacity

As of this week, over 84% of Florida’s intensive care unit (ICU) beds are filled. A day after the state reported a record high death toll, the harsh reality is that out of the state’s 5,023 ICU beds, only 962 remain available.

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Fauci Says US Still ‘Knee-Deep’ in First Wave as Florida Reports Record Death Toll

Despite concerns of a second wave hitting the United States, the nation’s top infectious disease expert warns that the country isn’t even past the first. “People ask about, ‘Are we concerned about a second wave?’ And I keep telling people, ‘What are you talking about a second wave? We are actually knee-deep in the first wave.’ We’ve never really gotten out of it,” Fauci said during a pre-recorded interview with SiriusXM Doctor Radio airing on Friday.

Fauci’s grim reminder comes as Florida reported 120 new deaths on Thursday, a record for the state. Florida reported 8,935 new cases on Thursday.

The US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• New York: 424,263 confirmed cases; 32,311 deaths.
• California: 296,075 confirmed cases; 6,723 deaths.
• Florida: 232,718 confirmed cases; 4,009 deaths.
• Texas: 229,619 confirmed cases; 2,944 deaths.
• New Jersey: 177,461 confirmed cases; 15,416 deaths.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

• Worldometer reports over 3.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with the SARS-CoV-2 virus having killed over 134,000 Americans. Cases of the novel coronavirus continue to skyrocket in the US – which reported 60,000 cases on Tuesday, the single day record since the pandemic started. There’s currently an uptick in infections in 35 US states.
• The United States has officially submitted its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). President Trump initially froze funding to the WHO in April while his administration conducted of a review of the country’s relationship with the public health body. The withdrawal becomes effective next Monday.
• Gilhead Sciences will start clinical trials for the an inhaled version of the antiviral drug remdesivir. The trial will be conducted on 60 healthy people between the ages of 18-45 in the US. “With promising data emerging from the randomized, clinical trials of intravenous remdesivir administered to hospitalized patients, it became clear that efforts were needed to investigate the drug’s potential in the outpatient setting. Significant research efforts have been undertaken to deliver remdesivir in an inhaled, nebulized format. We are pleased to announce the initiation of a Phase 1a clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of an investigational, inhaled solution of remdesivir in healthy volunteers,” Gilead Sciences Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merdad Parsey said in a statement Wednesday.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Cases Keep Spiking

On Tuesday, July 7, there are well over 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US, and the novel coronavirus has killed over 133,000 Americans. While many northern states, such as New York and New Jersey, have experienced a significant reduction in their numbers, the virus is devastating the southern US.

The five US states with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 are:

• New York: 422,851 confirmed cases; 32,267 deaths.
• California: 277,433 confirmed cases; 6,459 deaths.
• Florida: 213,794 confirmed cases; 3,841 deaths.
• Texas: 210,006 confirmed cases; 2,738 deaths.
• New Jersey: 177,384 confirmed cases; 15,302 deaths.

Contact Tracing No Longer Viable Across Southern US, Health Expert Says

One health expert warns that contact tracing is no longer an option in the South and Southwest US due to the rapid spread of the virus. “The cases are rising so rapidly, that we cannot even do contact tracing anymore. I don’t see how it’s possible to even do that,” Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday.

Monday, July 6, 2020

US Infection Total Soars to Over 3 Million

Coming off of Independence Day weekend, COVID-19 continues to devastate many US states. As of Monday there are over 3 million confirmed infections across the US, according to Worldometer. The respiratory disease has now killed over 132,000 people in the US, and 32 states are trending in the wrong direction. Moreover, an apparent lack of regarding for masks and social distancing over the 4th of July weekend may increase these numbers. “We are in free fall,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital in a CNN article. “You see the footage of what happened this past weekend. And people are either naive to the influence of their actions, or they’re simply resigned to ignore it.”

The US states with the most total infections are:

• New York: 422,268 confirmed infections: 32,248 deaths.
• California: 264,832 confirmed infections: 6,373 deaths.
• Florida: 206,447 confirmed cases; 3,778 deaths.
• Texas: 200,952 confirmed cases; 2,675 deaths.
• New Jersey: 176,967 confirmed cases; 15,279 deaths.

Regeneron Launches Phase III COVID-19 Antibody Trial

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, along with the US National Institute of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching Phase II trials of REGN-COV2, a two-cocktail antibody intended for the treatment and prevention of the novel coronavirus. The late-stage trial will assess the REGN-COV2’s ability to prevent COVID-19 among uninfected people who have been in close contact to an infected person and will be conducted at approximately 100 sites and will include 2,000 patients from across the US.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

US Sets Record High in New COVID-19 Cases

The US set a record for new COVID-19 cases reported in a day on with 50,203 on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Wednesday’s total breaks the previous record of 45,255 new cases reported in a day set back on June 26. Overall, the states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New York: 419,369 confirmed cases; 32,165 deaths.
• California: 239,159 confirmed cases; 6,168 deaths.
• New Jersey: 177,245 confirmed cases; 2,541 deaths.
• Texas: 175,509 confirmed cases; 2,541 deaths.
• Florida: 169,106 confirmed cases; 3,618 deaths.

Florida Sets New Daily Record

Florida, which has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, set a state record for confirmed infections with 10,109 on Thursday – a day after Arizona, California, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas all reported record high new infections.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

There are over 2.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US – which has experienced an marked spike infections in many states – such as Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. On a positive note, New York, once the US epicenter, reported only 11 deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, a record low since the pandemic started.

Overall, the states with the most confirmed infections currently stand as:

• New York: 418,391 confirmed cases; 32,139 deaths.
• California: 232,466 confirmed cases; 6,088 deaths.
• New Jersey: 176,953 confirmed cases; 15,177 deaths.
• Texas: 167,269 confirmed cases; 2,496 deaths.
• Florida: 158,997 confirmed cases; 3,554 deaths.

Fauci Warns that New Cases Could Climb to 100,000

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told Congress on Wednesday that the US could see new cases of COVID-19 rise to a level of 100,000. “We are now having 40-plus thousand new cases a day. I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around and so I am very concerned,” Fauci told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee during a hearing on the pandemic on Tuesday.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Virus is Beyond Control, According to CDC Official

At the close of June, there are close to 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US (2,705,394 as this article goes to publish). The US has seen a rapid uptick of infections, and now the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that the US has just too much too virus to control it. “We’re not in the situation of New Zealand or Singapore or Korea where a new case is rapidly identified and all the contacts are traced and people are isolated who are sick and people who are exposed are quarantined and they can keep things under control,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC in an interview with The Journal of the American Medical Association’s Dr. Howard Bauchner. “We have way too much virus across the country for that right now, so it’s very discouraging.”

The US states with the most cases in total remain as:

• New York: 417,777 confirmed cases; 31,499 deaths.
• California: 223,981 confirmed cases; 5,987 deaths.
• New Jersey: 176,399 confirmed cases; 15,123 deaths.
• Texas: 159,310 confirmed cases; 2,437 deaths.
• Florida: 152,434 confirmed cases; 3,505 deaths.

Monday, June 29, 2020

US Death Toll Nears 130,000

COVID-19 has now killed over 128,000 people worldwide, as the novel respiratory disease continues to many US states, such as Texas and Florida, extremely hard. There are over 2.6 million confirmed infections in the US.

The US states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New York: 416,787 confirmed cases; 31,484 deaths.
• California: 216,089 confirmed cases; 5,935 deaths.
• New Jersey: 176,354 confirmed cases; 15,118 deaths.
• Texas: 153,175 confirmed cases; 2,416 deaths.
• Florida: 146,341 confirmed cases; 3,447 deaths.

Fauci Warns Vaccine May Not Get US to Herd Immunity

Dr. Anthony Fauci says that because many Americans say they won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine, the nation likely won’t reach herd immunity. Dr. Fauci added that he would “settle” for a coronavirus vaccine that has a 70-75% efficacy rate.

Friday, June 26, 2020

US Sets Daily Record for New Infections; CDC Says Numbers are Understated

The US set a daily record for coronavirus cases on Thursday. According to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, there were 39,972 new COVID-19 infections reported on June 25, which shatters the previous record of 36,291 new infections set on April 24. In fact, US case numbers are vast understated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Our best estimate right now is that for every case that was reported, there actually were 10 other infections,” Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, said during a call with reporters Thursday.

Overall, the US states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New York: 414,274 confirmed cases; 31,373 deaths.
• California: 201,004 confirmed cases; 5,809 deaths.
• New Jersey: 175,346 confirmed cases; 15,012 deaths.
• Illinois: 139,434 confirmed cases; 6,810 deaths.
• Texas: 137,152 confirmed cases; 2,334 deaths.

White House Coronavirus Task Force is Meeting

The White House coronavirus task force is meeting today for the first time in almost two months. In the meeting, Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged that the US south is seeing a spike COVID-19 cases. “We stand here today because with the rising cases among southern states, President Trump asked us to brief the American people, to give details on what we’re seeing, what we’re doing, and how it’s different from two months ago,” Pence said. Pence added that the US’s mission right now is to “partner with states to save lives and safely reopen.”

On the topic of personal protective equipment (PPE), Pence said there are currently “no outstanding requests” from any state, even the ones currently experiencing a surge in cases. “Let me say that again, in the affected areas, particularly the states down South that are seeing rising cases, we have no outstanding requests. But as I told the governors, we’re ready at a moment’s notice to surge personnel, to surge supplies, to expand capacity and to support their health care response,” Pence said.

NY, NJ, Conn. Issue Travel Advisory

Effective this week, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced a joint travel advisory that will require a self-quarantine of visitors from COVID-19 states with a high infection rate. Some eight states currently meet that “high infection” threshold of 10 infections per 10,000 residents: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas. The list of states subject to the quarantine will be updated regularly.

Texas Shifts to Containment Strategy

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is implementing new restrictions, a day after he “paused” a phase reopening after the state reported almost 6,000 new cases on Thursday. As part of the new restrictions, bars may remain open for delivery and take-out, including alcoholic beverages. Restaurants can have only 50% capacity for dining in. Rafting and tubing businesses must close. Outdoor gatherings of 100 people or more must be approved by local governments. “At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Gov. Abbott said in a press release.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Cases Spiking in Three Populated US States

COVID-19 is far from done with the United States. The world epicenter of the virus, the US now has over 2.4 million confirmed infections and close to 125,000 deaths (124,544). Three of the nation’s most populated states set records for new COVID-19 cases. Florida and Texas both announced as Wednesday more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period, while California reported more than 7,000 cases in the same period. Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine told CNN that: “The big metro areas seem to be rising very quickly and some of the models are on the verge of being apocalyptic.”

Overall, the states with the most confirmed cases are:

• New York: 414,002 confirmed cases; 31,368 deaths.
• California: 196,044 confirmed cases; 5,729 deaths.
• New Jersey: 173,132 confirmed cases; 13,129 deaths.
• Illinois: 138,540 confirmed cases; 6,770 deaths.
• Texas: 131,863 confirmed cases; 2,302 deaths.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

As of Wednesday, June 24, there are over 2.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US and over 123,000 deaths. The US states with the most confirmed cases remain:

• New York: 413,150 confirmed cases; 31,340 deaths.
• California: 191,514 confirmed cases; 5,635 deaths.
• New Jersey: 173,082 confirmed cases; 13,122 deaths.
• Illinois: 137,825 confirmed cases; 6,707 deaths.
• Texas: 125,581 confirmed cases; 2,255 deaths.

Fauci Warns Coronavirus Could Become Like “Forest Fire” If Not Controlled

Dr. Anthony Fauci told the House Energy and Commerce Committee  that if the US fails to contain COVID-19 by fall, “you’re essentially chasing after a forest fire.” Fauci told lawmakers to prepare for a change in season, and that the US must equip health care workers with enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to fight the pandemic. “Getting the PPE, getting the ventilators, getting the equipment that we need and have them in store so that if — and I hope it’s if, and not when — but if we ever need them, we’ll have them and not be in the situation that we were in in February and March,” Fauci said.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

As of today, there are now over 2.4 million confirmed infections of COVID-19 in the United States, and the US death toll has risen to over 123,000. New York, which has reported a dramatic reduction in their numbers, still leads the nation with 412,497 confirmed cases and 31,301 deaths. Meanwhile, California has moved into second place in confirmed infections with 184,951. California has reported a total of 5,565 deaths. New Jersey, which like neighboring New York has experienced a marked decline in its COVID-19 numbers, has a total of 172,543 confirmed cases and 13,073 deaths.

Outside of the top three, the US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• Illinois: 137,224 confirmed cases; 6,671 deaths.
• Texas: 119,969 confirmed cases; 2,220 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 107,210 confirmed cases; 7,874 deaths.
• Florida: 103,503 confirmed cases; 3,256 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 86,992 confirmed cases; 6,521 deaths.

Fauci, Other Health Experts Testify on COVID-19 Response

Dr. Anthony Fauci along with other health experts, like US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, are testifying before a House committee today on the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response.

Among the highlights:

• Dr. Fauci commented that in all his career, he’s never seen a virus that has such a wide array of symptoms as COVID-19. “I’ve been dealing with viral outbreaks for the last 40 years. I’ve never seen a single virus  — that is one pathogen  — have a range from 20% to 40% of the people have no symptoms,” Fauci said.
• Vaccine in 2020 still possible: Fauci remains optimistic of a possible COVID-19 vaccine this year, saying that could be available at the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.
• Tests are increasing: Fauci and Redfield were asked to respond to President Trump’s assertion that he asked staff to slow down testing. They said that tests are increasing, not decreasing.
• Fauci addresses spike in cases: Fauci spoke on “a disturbing surge of infections” in some areas of the country. Fauci said that overall, it “is really a mixed bag,” with some US states currently doing better than others.

Monday, June 22, 2020

US Death Toll Over 122,000

As of Monday, June 22, the US has over 2.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 122,000 fatalities.

The US states with the most cases remain:

• New York: 411,758 confirmed cases; 31,260 deaths.
• California: 178,567 confirmed cases; 5,518 deaths.
• New Jersey: 172,077 confirmed cases; 12,997 deaths.
• Illinois: 136,762 confirmed cases; 6,647 deaths.
• Texas: 114,725 confirmed cases; 2,203 deaths.

A Significant Decline in New York

New York, which was long the US epicenter in US cases, has seen an appreciable drop in its numbers. There were only 10 COVID-related deaths in New York State on Sunday, Gov. Andew Cuomo announced Monday. Moreover, less than 1% of coronavirus tests performed on Sunday came back positive, Gov. Cuomo tweeted.

An Uptick in Younger People in South and West Testing Positive

Young people in the US South and West are increasingly testing positive for COVID-19, according to a CNN report. While younger people are more likely to have better outcomes from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they are still able to infection those in more vulnerable populations – the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions. “With younger age of recent infections in at least some places such as Florida, expect a lower death rate in this wave … until the 20-40 year olds who are infected today go on to infect others,” Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a Tweet.

New Jersey to Reopen Casinos Indoor Dining

New Jersey casinos are permitted to reopen at 25% capacity on July 2, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday morning. Also, indoor dining Indoor dining “limited at first to 25% capacity” can also resume, he posted, adding that additional guidance relating to health and safety will be released “within the next several days.”

https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1275083306783191041

Carnival Cruise Lines Cancels All Cruises Through September

Carnival Cruise Line will cancel all cruises through September 30 due to the COVID-19. “We have watched with great interest as commerce, travel and personal activities have begun to start back up, and once we do resume service, we will take all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we bring our ships to in order to maintain public confidence in our business,” Carnival said in a statement.

Friday, June 19, 2020

US Hits 120,000 Deaths

The United States reached another grim milestone this week – there are now over 120,000 deaths in caused by COVID-19. New York, which despite seeing a significant drop in its numbers, still leads the nation with 408,426 confirmed cases, and 31,092 deaths. Neighboring New Jersey, which also reports a notable decline in its numbers, remains in second place with 171,029 confirmed cases; and 12,927 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most number of cases are:

• California: 167,233 confirmed cases; 5,362 deaths.
• Illinois: 134,778 confirmed cases; 6,537 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 106,422 confirmed cases; 7,770 deaths.
• Texas: 102,661 confirmed cases; 2,142 deaths.
• Florida: 85,926 confirmed cases; 3,064 deaths.

A Unique Strain of COVID-19 Found in Chicago

Chicago appears to have a unique strain of COVID-19 that is directly linked from the early outbreak in Wuhan, China, according to Northwestern University researchers. “This is the first clear evidence that genetic differences in the viruses are associated with differences in the characteristics of the infections that they cause,” said Dr. Egon Ozer, an assistant professor in infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician in an interview with NBC Chicago.

Nation’s Capital Enters Phase 2 of Reopening

Washington, DC will enter phase two of reopening on Monday, June 22 announced DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on Friday. As par of phase two reopenings:

• Nonessential retail can open at 50% capacity,
• Restaurants can have indoor dining at 50% capacity.
• Houses of worship are encouraged to hold virtual services, but are permitted to have up to 100 people, or 50% capacity. DC recommends that churches do not have choirs or singing.
• Personal services, including nail care, tattooing and waxing will be permitted with certain restrictions in place.
• Gatherings of more than 50 people are still banned.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

• New cases of COVID-19 are spiking across some US states, even as other countries in Europe and across the globe are seeing downward trends. For example, Florida, Texas and Arizona all saw their highest single-day increases in new COVID-19 infections. New projects now say that Florida may become the new epicenter.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is offering up a national strategy for expanding antibody testing throughout the US. “A central repository, similar to that found in ClinicalTrials.gov, would be a valuable resource to include all serosurveys, including their methodology, timelines, and purpose. A systematic method of entering data on serosurveys would then allow studies to be easily compared and could also allow individuals to access serosurveys in their area,” the researchers wrote in the report. “Right now, states are designing and initiating their own studies, but having a consistent protocol for carrying out serosurveys would make findings more valuable.”

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

On Tuesday, June 16, the COVID-19 death toll in the US remains over 2.1 million.

The states with the most confirmed infections include:

• New York: 405,705 confirmed cases; 30,980 deaths.
• New Jersey: 170,152 confirmed cases; 12,831 deaths.
• California: 155,842 confirmed cases; 5,123 deaths.
• Illinois: 133,639 confirmed cases; 6,398 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 105,885 confirmed cases; 7,665 deaths.

At Least 18 US States Show Upward Trend of Cases

At least 18 US states are still experiencing an upward trend of COVID-19 cases, including Texas, Florida, and South Carolina. “Increased mobility and premature relaxation of social distancing led to more infections, and we see it in Florida, Arizona, and other states,” said Ali Mokdad, one of the creators of the model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. “This means more projected deaths.

Monday, June 15, 2020 

Over 2.1 Million Confirmed US Cases; NY Update

There are now over 2.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and the novel coronavirus has killed 117,951 Americans as of Monday, June 15. New York, which long stood as the nation’s hot spot, still leads the country in cases (404,470) and deaths (30,911). However, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reported Monday the lowest number of hospitalizations across the state since the pandemic started. Neighboring New Jersey, the second hardest hit state in the US, now reports 169,441 confirmed cases and 12,733 deaths. NJ has also experienced a decline in hospitalizations, and today began phase II of its reopening. Effective today, non-essential retail and outdoor dining are permitted in the Garden State.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• California: 152,882 confirmed cases; 5,089 deaths.
• Illinois: 132,543 confirmed cases; 6,308 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 105,603 confirmed cases; 7,624 deaths.
• Texas: 89,242 confirmed cases; 1,996 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 83,484 confirmed cases; 6,306 deaths.

FDA Terminates Hydroxychloroquine Emergency Use

The US Food and Drug Administration today revoked its emergency use authorization for the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment of the novel coronavirus. “FDA has concluded that, based on this new information and other information discussed in the attached memorandum, it is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ and CQ may be effective in treating COVID-19, nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks,” FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton wrote in a letter to Gary Disbrow of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) on Monday.

Oscars Delayed for First Time in 40 Years

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that the 93rd annual Oscars will be delayed until April 25, 2021 instead of February 28 as planned. “For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a joint statement.

Friday, June 12, 2020

On Friday, June 12, there are now 2,099,910 cases of COVID-19 in America, and 116,273 deaths as this article goes to publish, according to Worldometer. New York now reports 402,021 confirmed cases and 30,741 deaths, while New Jersey reports 168,204 confirmed cases and 12,552 deaths. However, both those states now boast among the lowest current infection rates in the country, after getting hit hard during the virus’ peak.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• California: 143,553 confirmed cases; 4,941 deaths.
• Illinois: 130,603 confirmed cases; 6,185 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 104,667 confirmed cases; 7,492 deaths.
• Texas: 83,457 confirmed cases; 1,945 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 82,457 confirmed cases; 6,245 deaths.

Model Predicts Increased Number of US Deaths by Fall

An influential model cited by the White House is making a grim prediction. It projects that 169,890 Americans will die from COVID-19 by October 1, with a possible range of 133,000 to 290,000 deaths. “If the US is unable to check the growth in September, we could be facing worsening trends in October, November and the following months if the pandemic, as we expect, follows pneumonia seasonality,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

New CDC Guidelines Advise Travel Caution

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines for public transportation and travel. “Public transit can put you in close contact with others. When using public transportation, follow CDC’s guidance on how to protect yourself when using transportation,” the agency said in the new guidelines, aimed at providing advice for people to lead their lives day to day while the coronavirus continues.

Supply of Important Coronavirus Drug Running Out

The US government’s current supply of remdesivir, the only treatment known to work against COVID-19, will run out at the end of the month, said Dr. Robert Kadlec, a US Department of Health and Human Services official. The government’s last shipment of the drug will go out the week of June 29. Gilead Sciences, the drug’s manufacturer, is ramping efforts up to make more, but it’s unclear how much will be available this summer, as noted in a CNN article.

Some States and Cities Delaying Reopenings

According to a CNN report, some US states and cities – such as Oregon and Nashville, Tennessee – are delaying reopenings due to an upstick in COVID cases.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

• A month after reopening, Florida reported a state record for most confirmed COVID-19 cases in a week – a signing that state reopenings may spur an increase in infections. Also, in Texas, hospitalizations increased by more than 6% earlier this week, the highest spike since the start of the pandemic. Moreover, California’s hospitalizations are at their highest since May 13, and have risen 9 of the last 10 days. “There is a new wave coming in parts of the country,” said Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s small and it’s distant so far, but it’s coming.”
• Last week, 1.5 million more Americans filed unemployment claims, according to the Department of Labor. That brings the total number of claims filed since mid-March up to 44.2 million.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

COVID-19 has infected over 2 million Americans, though the true number is of course much higher. As of Wednesday, June 10, the confirmed United States death toll sits at 114,414. New York, which which still leads the nation in infections/deaths, reports 400,660 confirmed cases and 30,603 fatalities. Neighboring New Jersey, which yesterday joined a list of states who have removed their state-at-home orders, now reports 167,192 confirmed cases and 12,369 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most number of confirmed cases are:

• California: 137,144 confirmed cases; 4,772 deaths.
• Illinois: 129,212 confirmed cases; 6,018 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 103,889 confirmed cases; 7,408 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 80,961 confirmed cases; 6,086 deaths.
• Texas: 78,997 confirmed cases; 6,086 deaths.

Fauci Calls Out WHO

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’s leading infectious disease expert, says the World Health Organization (WHO) is incorrect in saying that the asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 “appears to be rare.” Dr. Fauci stated WHO’s comment “was not correct.” According to Dr. Fauci, in a ABC “Good Morning American” interview, evidence shows that 25% to 45% of infected people likely don’t have symptoms. “And we know from epidemiological studies they can transmit to someone who is uninfected even when they’re without symptoms,” said Fauci.

FDA Authorizes First COVID-19 Test That Looks for Mutations

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) on Wednesday to Illumina, Inc. for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test that uses genetic sequencing technology to pinpoint changes in the virus. “Having a next generation sequencing diagnostic tool available will continue to expand our testing capabilities. Additionally, genetic sequencing information will help us monitor if and how the virus mutates, which will be crucial to our efforts to continue to learn and fight this virus,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement.

Researchers to Evaluate Drugs Prescribed to Children with COVID-19

Investigators have initiated a new study to assess drugs prescribed to infants, children, and adolescents with the novel coronavirus, CNN reports. The study will be funded by the National Institutes of Health, the agency announced. “As we search for safe and effective therapies for Covid-19, we want to make sure that we do not overlook the needs of our youngest patients who may respond differently to these drugs, compared to adults,” Dr. Diana W. Bianchi, director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in the statement.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

• There are over 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of Tuesday, June 9. The US epicenter, New York, now has 400,499 confirmed cases and 30,579 deaths, while neighboring New Jersey has 167,101 confirmed infections and 12,348 deaths. Outside of NY and NJ, the states with the most confirmed infections are:
• California: 134,097 confirmed cases; 4,697 deaths.
• Illinois: 128,415 confirmed cases; 5,924 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 103,626 confirmed cases; 7,353 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 80,847 confirmed cases; 6,069 deaths.
• Texas: 77,249 confirmed cases; 1,868 deaths.
• Even as more states ease their lockdown restrictions, coronavirus cases continue to rise. Currently 22 US states are experiencing a spike in cases, they include inland states including Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona. Also, Friday, health officials in Utah said they were “very concerned” about the rise in new cases over the past week.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Over 2 Million US Cases

The United States has hit another grim milestone. There are now over 2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. The novel coronavirus has now killed over 112,000 US citizens. New York, which has long been the nation’s epicenter, now reports 398,828 confirmed cases and 30,442 deaths, while neighboring New Jersey reports 166,006 confirmed cases and 12,216 fatalities.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most confirmed cases are now:

• California: 131,710 confirmed cases; 4,653 deaths.
• Illinois: 127,757 confirmed cases; 5,904 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 103,436 confirmed cases; 7,316 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 80,004 confirmed cases; 6,010 deaths.
• Texas: 75,763 confirmed cases; 1,853 deaths.

New York City Begins Reopening

Following almost 80 days of state-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City begins reopening on Monday. “This is a triumphant moment for New Yorkers who fought back against the disease,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “My message is to stick to it.” In the first phase of reopening, New York City is allowing nonessential workers in construction and manufacturing to go back to work and retail stores to set up curbside or in-store pickup. However, hair salons, offices and indoor seating at bars and restaurants remain closed until phase two.

Some States Experiencing a Spike in Cases

While every state has begun phased reopenings, almost half of US states are experiencing higher rates of new COVID-19 cases. One of those states is Florida, which saw an increased average of roughly 46% over the past week, even as the state entered phase two of reopenings.

Friday, June 5, 2020

Over 110,000 US Fatalities

There are now 110,804 deaths in the United States due to COVID-19 and the number of confirmed cases will soon break 2 million. New York, the nation’s epicenter, now reports 384,837 confirmed cases and 30,296 deaths while second place New Jersey has 165,101 confirmed cases and 12,078 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• Illinois: 125,915 confirmed cases; 5,795 deaths.
• California: 123,137 confirmed cases; 4,485 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 102,063 confirmed cases; 7,201 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 78,920 confirmed cases; 5,969 deaths.
• Texas: 71,471 confirmed cases; 1,828 deaths.

US Unemployment Rate Drops

The United States economy gained 2.5 million jobs in May, and the unemployment rate fell to 13.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate had soared to 14.7% in April. The report suggests the job market may be recovering following its sharpest plunge in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two COVID-19 Studies Retracted Following Questionable Data

Both The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine retracted coronavirus studies this week after independent auditors were unable to access all the information necessary for data verification. Both studies used data from mystery analytics company Surgisphere Corporation.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Almost 2 Million US Cases; NY Update

There over 1.9 million confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, as of today. The US death has exceeded 109,000, despite the fact that every state has begun phased reopenings. On a positive note, the nation’s hardest hit state, New York, has seen a dramtic bend in its curve, with New York City seeing the “lowest number” of new infections, according to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.

New York’s official number sits at 383,770 confirmed cases and 30,244 deaths, while neighboring New Jersey remains second with 164,155 confirmed cases and 11,998 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the second most confirmed cases are:

• Illinois: 123,830 confirmed cases; 5,621 deaths.
• California: 120,260 confirmed cases; 4,421 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 101,592 confirmed cases; 7,152 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 78,232 confirmed cases; 5,838 deaths.
• Texas: 69,508 confirmed cases; 1,771 deaths.

The Ever-Rising Number of Unemployed

About 1.9 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, according to the Labor Department’s weekly report. Meaning that, since mid-March, roughly 44 workers have lost their jobs since mid-March due to COVID-19. While the number of weekly filings has reduced, Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the Indeed Hiring Lab, said in a statement to CBS News: “The situation might be improving, but only ever so slightly.”

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

The US death toll from COVID-19 now stands at over 108,000, and there now close to 1.9 million infections. New York, the nation’s leader in confirmed cases and deaths, reports 382,824 infections and 30,134 deaths, while neighboring New Jersey reports 163,530 confirmed cases and 11,880 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the states with most confirmed COVID-19 cases are:

• Illinois: 122,848 confirmed cases; 5,525 deaths.
• California: 117,962 confirmed cases; 4,360 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 101,163 confirmed cases; 7,085 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 77,788 confirmed cases; 5,756 deaths.
• Texas: 67,973 confirmed cases; 1,735 deaths.

100 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine by 2021, Says Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci believes the United States will have 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020. “Then, by the beginning of 2021, we hope to have a couple hundred million doses,” Fauci said during a live Q&A with the Journal of the American Medical Association. As previously reported, there are currently over 130 coronavirus vaccines in development worldwide.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Over 107,000 US Fatalities; NY Reporting a Low in Cases

There are now 1.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and over 107,000 fatalities. On a positive note, New York, the nation’s leader in reported cases and deaths, is seeing an “an all time low” in new cases, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York reported 58 deaths yesterday, which is slightly up from a total of 54 on Monday. New York’s official tally stands at 380,825 confirmed cases and 29,988 deaths. Neighboring New Jersey has also seen a bend in its curve, and reports 51 new deaths, according to Governor Phil Murphy’s social media account. NJ’s total tally is 162,642 confirmed cases and 11,770 deaths.

Outside of NY and NJ, the US states with the most confirmed cases are:

• Illinois: 121,234 confirmed cases; 5,412 deaths.
• California: 115,192 confirmed cases; 4,287 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 100,805 confirmed cases; 7,035 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 76,739 confirmed cases; 5,670 deaths.
• Texas: 66,076 confirmed cases; 1,700 deaths.

US Surgeon General Expects Clusters Amid Protests

As protests over the death of George Floyd continue in America, the US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams is concerned that COVID-19 may spread among demonstrators. “I remain concerned about the public health consequences both of individual and institutional racism [and] people out protesting in a way that is harmful to themselves and to their communities,” Adams said in an interview with Politico. “Based on the way the disease spreads, there is every reason to expect that we will see new clusters and potentially new outbreaks moving forward,” Adams said.

Monday, June 1, 2020

US Toll Over 106,000

As of June 1, COVID-19 is responsible for the deaths over 106,000 people in the US, and there are close to 2 million confirmed cases (currently 1,843,668). US-leading New York now reports 379,902 confirmed cases and 29,918 deaths. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said today that at least 54 people from coronavirus yesterday, noting that “number is dramatically different than what we were looking at for many many weeks.”

Behind NY, the US states with the most confirmed infections are:

• New Jersey: 161,764 confirmed cases; 11,711 deaths.
• Illinois: 120,260 confirmed cases; 5,390 deaths.
• California: 112,584 confirmed cases; 4,240 deaths.
• Massachusetts: 96,965 confirmed cases; 6,846 deaths.
• Pennsylvania: 76,271 confirmed cases; 5,586 deaths.

Pharmaceutical Company Begins Human Trials of COVID-19 Antibody Therapy

Eli Lilly and Company has started the first human trial of an antibody therapy to treat COVID-19. The company said that if successful, the therapy could become available by fall. “We’ve already started the manufacturing process to really scale this up without even knowing yet if it works for patients, because if it does work, we don’t want to waste a single day, we want to have as much medicine as possible available to help as many people quickly,” Dr. Dan Skovronsky, Eli Lilly’s senior vice president and chief scientific officer, said in a CNN interview.

Former FDA Commissioner Warns Mass Protests Could Spike Infections

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police has sparked an uproar in the US, with thousands of protesters assembling in many US cities over the past six days. However, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb is warning that the protests could cause a spike in COVID-19 infections. “There’s going to be a lot of issues coming out of what’s happened in the last week, but one of them is going to be that chains of transmission will have become lit from these gatherings,” former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.”

103-year-old Woman Beats COVID-19

In uplifting news, a 103-year-old Massachusetts woman defeated COVID-19, and celebrated her victory with a cold beer, her family told CNN. “She’s always been a feisty woman,” according to her granddaughter.

https://www.docwirenews.com/latest-general-medical-news/the-covid-19-pandemic-may-round-up/

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/the-covid-19-pandemic-april-round-up/

Here’s a full wrap-up of COVID-19 happenings from the month of March.