Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
COVID-19 on rise in patches of U.S.
Florida daily virus total of 4,000-plus a record
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The map of the outbreak in the U.S. has become a patchwork, with infections falling in some areas and surging in others. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t hold a televised coronavirus briefing for the first time in months Saturday — a sign of progress in the state that was home to the epicenter of the outbreak — though he did convene a conference call to make an announcement about baseball spring training.
However, the outbreak continued its fevered escalation in Florida on Saturday, as Gov. Ron DeSantis again tried to tamp down worry over another record-breaking spike in infections since reopening restaurants, bars, gyms and other public places.
The state reported more than 4,000 new cases of COVID-19 — the highest daily total yet in a state that has now seen a consistent resurgence since reopening. The Florida Health Department also reported 40 more people have died from the virus, bringing the state’s tally to more than 3,140.
During an afternoon press conference at the Florida Capitol, DeSantis tried to shift focus away from the sheer number of new cases that has begun to raise alarm.
“I think it’s also important to provide context and perspective in terms of what that actually means,” the governor told reporters.
With more people being tested, DeSantis said the number of cases was bound to rise. He said there was a noticeable jump in the number of asymptomatic younger people in their 20s and 30s testing positive.
The governor acknowledged that complacency might be a factor as Floridians fail to heed social distancing measures as they begin resuming their daily lives.
“We’re now three months into this. There’s a lot of fatigue in terms of the social distancing,” he said.
In other developments:
■ Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will issue a proclamation ordering Yakima County residents to wear masks while in public places in an effort to halt the spike of coronavirus cases there.
Inslee said Saturday the proclamation will come in the next several days and that it will be a legal requirement that businesses not sell products to customers who don’t wear face coverings.
“Essentially this means, no masks, no services. No masks, no goods,” Inslee said. “We are going to be swamped with a tidal wave of COVID-19 if we do not act now.”
■ Arizona’s total of COVID-19 cases neared 50,000 on Saturday as the state’s surge in additional cases continued to set daily records for hospitalizations, ventilator use and use of intensive care beds for coronavirus patients.
The state Department of Health Services reported 3,109 additional cases, increasing the statewide total to 49,798 along with 1,338 deaths, including 26 reported on Saturday.
The number of in-patient hospitalizations for COVID-19 as of Friday reached 1,938, with 368 COVID-19 patients on ventilators and 546 in ICU beds, the department reported.