The new coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 667,000 people worldwide.
More than 17 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to a paucity of evidence, many unreported cases, and suspicions that some governments are hiding or minimizing the extent of their nations’ outbreaks.
The United States has become the most affected country, with more than 4.4 million diagnosed cases and at least 150,765 deaths.
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This is how the news is unfolding today. All eastern times. Check back for updates.
10:40 am: Herman Cain dies after battle with COVID-19
Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain died at the age of 74, according to a post on his personal website, almost a month after his coronavirus diagnosis was announced.
A source close to the White House also confirmed his death to ABC News.
Cain’s hospitalization was announced on July 2.
A Cain spokesman said Monday that he was still hospitalized and was being treated with oxygen for his lungs.
“Doctors say his other organs and systems are strong,” added the spokesman.
Cain, co-chair of Black Voices for Trump, attended President Donald Trump’s rally on June 20 in Tulsa. Cain was photographed inside the arena without wearing a mask and sitting close to the others.
The businessman and radio show host campaigned for the Republican nomination in 2012.
10 am: 33% increase in cases among Tennessee children
Tennessee has experienced a 33% jump in coronavirus cases among children in the past 10 days, reported ABC Memphis affiliate WATN.
And in some parts of rural western Tennessee, cases among children have increased by more than 100%, WATN reported.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said at a press conference Tuesday that reopening schools for classroom learning is the “best option” and that “planned delays should be reserved for the most extreme situations,” he reported. The Tennesseean.
9:10 am: NJ sees 112% increase in cases, deaths double in Atlanta area
An internal FEMA memo obtained by ABC News highlights an increase in New Jersey and a double death toll in the Atlanta area.
New Jersey saw 2,066 new cases of coronavirus in the past week (ending July 27), a 112% increase from the previous week, according to the memo.
The coastal city of Long Beach Island reported 35 cases linked to social gatherings between first responders, according to the memo.
And in nearby Connecticut, 943 new cases were reported for the week ending July 27, an increase of 77.9% over the previous week.
People under the age of 30 accounted for 40% of those new cases, according to the memo.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, the number of new deaths from COVID-19 in the past week nearly doubled in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs area. The week ending July 20 had 71 deaths, while the week ending July 27 brought 139 deaths, according to the memo.
In some parts of Georgia, some patients were forced to wait in ambulances due to the increase in COVID-19 patients, according to the memo.
In Alabama, new cases are on the rise despite a 28.3% decrease in new tests administered, according to the memo.
As of Monday, only 12% of Alabama ICU beds were available. A record number of ICU beds were filled with 496 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units.
4:46 am: Dispatchers stop asking 911 callers about COVID-19 symptoms, raising concern about firefighters
Callers to 911 in Houston will no longer be asked if they are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, changing a one-month practice to relay the information to first responders. Firefighters are now being told to treat each call as if the patient or home were COVID-positive.
Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said the change is an admission of the widespread nature of the virus in the city and out of concern that callers don’t always offer true information.
For months, Peña pleaded with the public to give honest responses to protect firefighters, who have suffered a large number of COVID-forced quarantines.
The change was announced the same day that the Houston Fire Department attended a funeral for Capt. Leroy Lucio, the first Houston firefighter to die from COVID-19.
Houston Professional Firefighters Association President Marty Lancton told ABC13 that he cannot understand why the department would want less information for firefighters rather than more.
“Less information for the men and women on the front lines who answer calls is dangerous to firefighters, paramedics and Houston citizens,” Lancton said.
Chief Pena explained the change to HFD members in a memorandum obtained by 13 Investigates. “The prevalence of COVID-19 is high in the Houston area and COVID-19 cannot be ‘ruled out’ in the field and cannot be adequately examined through the OEC. In the best interest of the health and well-being of HFD members, all addresses and patients should be viewed as potential COVID-19 positive sites and patients. No attempt should be made or opinions formed to treat and treat any patient as ‘non-COVID’. ”
The change is the second in recent weeks that affects the COVID-19 information in the shipment. In early July, the department stopped registering addresses of COVID-19 positive patients in the citywide dispatch system. Chief Peña says it was taking too long to enter thousands of cases into an outdated system, one by one.
3:23 am: Global confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceed 17 million
Globally, there are now more than 17 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the John Hopkins University count.
The current number is now 17,031,281, but the actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to a paucity of evidence, many unreported cases, and suspicions that some governments are hiding or minimizing the extent of outbreaks of their nations.
The global count topped 15 million just eight days ago on July 22. Just four days later, on July 26, the 16 million mark was reached.
2:38 am: Governor DeSantis extends the eviction and foreclosure moratorium until September 1
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until September 1.
The ban initially expired on August 1, but the governor extended it for the third time in three months after the moratorium began in April.
State Representative Ana Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, tweeted the news saying: “BREAKING: The moratorium on eviction and foreclosure has been extended for another month.”
DeSantis issued the executive order without comment.
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2:11 am: Florida to pause COVID testing due to tropical weather
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced that all state-supported driving and touring COVID-19 test sites will temporarily close at 5 pm on Thursday, July 30, in anticipation of the impacts of the potential tropical cyclone. nine.
Test sites are being closed as a precaution to keep people operating and assisting sites safe. All sites have separate structures, including tents and other equipment, that cannot withstand strong tropical storm winds, and could cause damage to people and property if not insured.
Potential tropical cyclone nine is expected to hit Florida with heavy rains and strong winds reaching southern Florida as soon as Friday. The sites will remain closed until it is safe to reopen, and it is anticipated that all sites will reopen by 8 am on Wednesday, August 5.
Free COVID-19 tests remain available through local county health departments.
ABC News’s Will Gretsky, Ahmad Hemingway, Josh Margolin, Tom Shine and Scott Withers contributed to this report.
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