Florida posts second day in row with at least 100 deaths

The Florida Department of Health announced that 10,181 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 301,810.

The department also said that just one day after Florida set a record for its highest single-day COVID-19 death count with 132, the state reported a three-figure loss of life, with 112.

Florida continues to be one of the worst current outbreaks in the United States and has posted singleday confirmed case increases of 10,000 or more in five of the past six days.

CDC: Mask use could halt spread in 4-6 weeks

Disciplined use of face coverings, social distancing and hand washing can shut down the pandemic that continues to strengthen across the nation, said Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks, he said at a press conference Tuesday in North Carolina, are our “major” defense against the spread of the virus. He also said that President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence should wear masks to set an example.

“If all of us would put on a face covering now for the next four weeks to six weeks, we could drive this epidemic to the ground in this country,” he said.

California narrows testing priority amid surge

With coronavirus cases rising fast, the state overhauled its guidelines Tuesday for which groups have priority when it comes to testing. The changes come as the state faces testing shortages and long wait times for results as new outbreaks pop up. The system is designed to help officials zero in on outbreaks spread among essential workers or by gatherings of family and friends. Here’s a look at the priority groups:

Tier One: Includes hospitalized patients with COVID-19 symptoms and those in close contact with confirmed cases.

Tier Two: Includes other individuals with virus symptoms and those who live and work in skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, correctional facilities or homeless shelters.

Tier Three: Includes retail, manufacturing, food services, public transportation and education workers.

Tier Four: Includes those who are asymptomatic but believe they have a risk for being actively infected as well as routine testing by employers.

About 7,800 people are testing positive a day in the Golden State, where 10,000 contact tracers are reaching out to people who have been in close contact with infected individuals. The state is testing about 107,000 people daily. Arlene Martinez

Tenn. governor won’t consider closing again

While pleading with Tennesseans to wear masks – and affirming that doing so is not a political statement – Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday said bringing back restrictions that would once again hamper the state’s economy is still off the table.

“I’m not at any point considering closing the economy back down,” Lee said, noting there are “levers and options” to pull around expanding health care capacity.

Some other states, including Texas, have reverted back to previous phases of restrictions as coronavirus cases have continued to mount.

Natalie Allison and Joel Ebert, Nashville Tennessean

Contributing: John Bacon, Jessica Flores and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY; The Associated Press