States retreat as cases hit all-time high
PENCE SAYS US ‘IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE’ AS TASK FORCE HOLDS FIRST BRIEFING IN TWO MONTHS
The number of daily new cases in the US continued to spike yesterday after hitting an all-time high of 40,184 on Thursday — eclipsing the mark set during one of the deadliest stretches in late April.
Texas and Florida reversed course and clamped down on bars again yesterday. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered all bars closed, while Florida banned alcohol at all such establishments. Abbott had pursued up to now one of the most aggressive reopening schedules of any governor.
The Republican not only resisted calls to order the wearing of masks but also refused until last week to let local governments take such measures.
Texas reported more than 17,000 new cases in the past three days, with a record high of nearly 6,000 on Thursday.
While cases in the Northeast, once the epicentre of the US outbreak, have decreased dramatically, a number of states in the West and South, including Texas, Florida and Arizona, have seen significant increases in cases, and officials are holding up or rolling back reopenings.
Louisiana reported its second one-day spike of more than 1,300 cases his week. The increasing numbers led Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards to suspend further easing of restrictions.
Republican Governor Doug Ducey did the same in Arizona, which has been seeing more than 3,000 cases a day. And Nevada’s governor ordered the wearing of face masks in Las Vegas casinos and other public places.
In addition to closing bars again, Abbott scaled back restaurant capacity in Texas, shut down rafting operations and said any outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people will need approval from local government.
Assurances
Meanwhile, the White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice-President Pence, held its first briefing in nearly two months, signalling a recognition that the administration can’t ignore the alarming increases.
Pence gave assurances that the US. is “in a much better place” than it was two months ago. He said the country has more medical supplies, a smaller share of patients are being hospitalised, and deaths are much lower than they were in the spring.
However, leading government expert Dr Anthony Fauci said: “We are facing a serious problem in certain areas,” noting that while some places were faring far better than others, the entire country was “interconnected” and remained at risk.