U.S. Hits Record 40K Coronavirus Cases In One Day

ACROSS AMERICA — The United States broke its own record yet again when states reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day. On Friday, coronavirus infections surged to all-time one-day high of 40,000.

The record comes just two days after 36,000 new infections were reported by state health departments, surpassing the previous single-day record of 34,203 set on April 25. On average, newly reported cases per day have increased about 60 percent over the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The United States has the most infections and deaths by far in the world. As of Friday evening, the United States had recorded more than 2.4 million coronavirus cases and nearly 125,000 deaths.

The troubling spike in cases is prompting some governors to hit pause on reopening their state economies. In some cases, leaders are actually backtracking by reimplementing bans and closures that were lifted just weeks ago.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all bars closed, while Florida banned alcohol at such establishments.

Texas reported more than 17,000 new cases in the past three days, with a record high of nearly 6,000 on Thursday. In Florida, under Gov. Ron DeSantis, the agency that regulates bars acted after the daily number of new cases neared 9,000, almost doubling the record set just two days earlier.

California has broken several of its own daily records for the number of positive tests, and hospitalizations have risen by more than 30 percent in the past two weeks, AP reported. And in Arizona, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey suspended further easing of restrictions in the state, which has been seeing more than 3,000 new cases a day.

READ: Florida Sees Record Coronavirus Spike

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Health experts have said a disturbingly large number of cases are being seen among young people who are going out again, often without wearing masks or observing other social distancing rules, according to The Associated Press.

“It is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said.

The White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, held its first briefing in nearly two months Friday. There was no presidential appearance and no White House backdrop as members acknowledged the surge in new cases across the South and West.

During the briefing, Pence gave assurances that the U.S. is “in a much better place” than it was two months ago.

He said the country has more medical supplies on hand, a smaller share of patients being hospitalized, and daily deaths totals that are much lower than they were in the spring.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, also spoke at the briefing, urging people to mind their responsibility to others: “A risk for you is not just isolated to you.”

As the number of coronavirus cases increases in more than half of U.S. states, the Trump administration is simultaneously urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

The administration's high court filing Thursday night came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov.

The administration's legal brief makes no mention of the virus.

More than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage, and protections for people with pre-existing health conditions also would be put at risk if the court agrees with the administration; however, nothing will happen immediately and likely won't be heard before the fall.

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