Daily reported coronavirus infections in the U.S. top 50,000 for the first time
Washington: Newly registered CoronaVirus cases in the USA surpasses 50,000 on Wednesday for the first time. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday announced that he was renewing parts of the state’s wide lockdown, ordering bars to close and a range of other service-sector businesses in 19 counties to cease indoor operations as infections soar in the state. And Pennsylvania has joined a growing list of states mandating that face masks be worn in public.
The number of CoronaVirus cases in the United States swelled enormously last month as states tried to relax quarantine rules and reopen their economies. More than 800,000 new cases were reported in the month of June, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California are the worst that brought the nations officially reported total to approximately 2.8 million.
Fauci warns of 100,000 US cases per day
Top infection scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci has told the US Senate that he “would not be surprised” if new virus cases in the country reach 100,000 per day, if Americans do not start following public health recommendations.
He made the remark at a Senate hearing on reopening schools and workplaces. Asked to forecast the outcome of recent surges in some States, Fauci said he could not make an accurate prediction but believes it would be “very disturbing”.
“Clearly we are not in control right now,” he testified, warning that not enough Americans are wearing masks or social distancing.
During the hearing, he said about half of all new cases come from four states.
Earlier, the New York governor said nearly half of all Americans must self-quarantine if they visit the state.
On Wednesday, cases rose by more than 50,000 in one day for the first time in the USA.
The surge – which is happening exceptionally in southern and western states – has forced at least 16 states to stop or overturn their reopening plans. Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California are the four states referenced by Dr. Fauci as being most heavily hit currently.
For some, the new measures come over a month after they first began to reopen their economies.
Also, on Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded the number of Americans who are required to self-quarantine for 14 days if they visit the state. There are now 16 states on the list.
The newly added states are California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Tennessee. They join Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Altogether, the order affects 48% of all US residents, according to a USA Today analysis.
“I can’t make an accurate prediction, but it is going to be very disturbing, I will guarantee you that,” he told Senator Elizabeth Warren.
“Because when you have an outbreak in one part of the country even though in other parts of the country they’re doing well, they are vulnerable.”
“We can’t just focus on those areas that are having the surge. It puts the entire country at risk,” he added.
Dr. Fauci also called on the US government to produce face masks to be distributed for free to all Americans and condemned the “all or none phenomenon” of some people who have completely disregarded social distancing measures.
Fauci also criticized American Airlines’ decision to pack flights full while the outbreak continues to grow across much of the US.
“Obviously, that is something that is of concern. I’m not sure what went into that decision making,” he told the Senate panel. “I think in the confines of an airplane that becomes even more problematic.”
Several US airlines say they are limiting capacity on planes to between 60% and 67% of all seats. However, United Airlines never promised to leave seats empty, and Americans said last week that starting Wednesday it would drop its effort to keep half of all middle seats empty.