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The United States recorded more than 50,000 new cases of coronavirus for the third day in a row as infections increased on the eve of the weekend of July 4.
The party has raised concerns for many public officials. Leaders across the country have urged people to exercise caution at their Independence Day celebrations, with many virtual or completely canceled fireworks.
The nation added 52,104 cases on Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, bringing the total to nearly 2.8 million cases. Confirmed cases approached 11.1 million worldwide, with more than 525,000 deaths.
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Florida, Texas, California and Arizona were among the hardest hit states, while other states set records for new daily cases.
President Trump visited Mount Rushmore on Friday for a fireworks display and event, drawing thousands of attendees with little social distance and few masks, before returning to the capital for Saturday’s celebrations.
Before the Mount Rushmore event, Kimberly Guilfoyle, one of the top campaign aides and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., tested positive for the virus in South Dakota, said a person familiar with the events. Mr. Trump Jr., who tested negative, and Ms. Guilfoyle did not travel with the President to the state and were not with him prior to the holidays. The couple, who had spearheaded fundraising in the region, were expected to return to the east coast to avoid contact with others.
The Florida health department reported nearly 9,500 new cases on Friday, after the state passed the 10,000 mark, setting a record a day earlier.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez ordered a county-wide curfew from 10 pm to 6 am beginning Friday, and said it would be effective until further notice. It also ordered that entertainment venues, including cinemas and casinos, be closed again after reopening in May.
“The curfew is intended to prevent people from venturing out and hanging out with friends in groups, which has shown that it is spreading the virus rapidly,” the mayor said in a statement.
The resurgence of coronavirus cases as the nation reopens its doors has led to many last-minute changes or holiday cancellations.
“As the holiday weekend begins, remember to celebrate responsibly,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wrote on Twitter on Friday.
In New York, Macy’s Inc.’s annual fireworks show was held as five-minute displays throughout the week in unannounced venues to keep viewers from congregating.
Los Angeles County, which has the most cases in the country according to Johns Hopkins, has canceled the July 4 fireworks, but the city of Lancaster plans to continue holding the fireworks.
“This is America. This is our birthday, and it is the worst year we have ever experienced,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris, adding that event staff would have to wear masks and keep their distance.
Data from the Department of Labor released this week showed unemployment fell and the US economy recovered 4.8 million jobs in June, but the recent surge in coronavirus infections could offset the recovery. On Saturday, Trump signed into law a bill that extends the deadline for small businesses to apply for forgivable loans. The bill extending the Paycheck Protection Program was approved by the House and Senate this week.
India, one of the most affected nations in the world, on Saturday reported a one-day record of 22,771 new cases, bringing the nation’s total to 648,315, data from the country’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed. The death toll in India is 18,655, including 442 in the previous 24 hours.
New Delhi’s broader strategy to contain the virus has been to apply stringent closure measures in areas with many cases, improved testing, and isolation of positive patients. However, cases continue to rise, forcing an overwhelmed health system.
As a precautionary measure, the country continues to have restrictions on large meetings, and has not yet resumed the metro rail, international flights, schools and universities.
In Australia, the southern state of Victoria reported 108 new cases on Saturday, its second highest daily rise and the biggest jump since the end of March. The increasing number of infections has prompted officials to urge residents in designated “hot spots” to stay at home, while nine government housing estates in the capital Melbourne were formally closed on Saturday.
It will last at least five days to allow the evaluation of some 3,000 residents, who will be required to remain inside their homes for the duration of the closure.
Japan’s total infections topped 20,000 on Saturday, after Tokyo reported 131 new cases, Kyodo News reported.
Write Wenxin Fan at [email protected]
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