Top US virus expert warns of ‘serious problem’

America’s top infectious diseases expert has warned the US is facing a “serious problem” from a resurgent coronavirus as the illness puts the brakes on reopening two of the country’s largest states.

Texas and Florida closed bars and reimposed other curbs as the number of infections in the US hit a single-day record with increases in 16 states, mostly in the south and west.

The contagion also continued its march through Latin America, where Brazil recorded another 1,140 deaths and Argentina toughened a lockdown. In Europe countries wrangled over plans to partially reopen the EU border.