From America coronavirus crisis has gotten worse. More than 77,000 new cases were reported Thursday, breaking the single-day record by nearly 10,000. The number of daily deaths is over 900, including a record 156 in Florida.
Meanwhile, the national debate on wearing masks is intensifying as much of the economy remains stagnant.
CDC announced that they will extend their no-sail order for cruises until September. That means ships in Port Miami won’t be carrying passengers anytime soon, and if things don’t change soon here, rollbacks may not be an option.
“I also want to emphasize to you the seriousness and seriousness that we are in,” Mayor Francis Suárez said Thursday.
Suarez said he will meet with business leaders on Friday to discuss another city-wide shutdown. “We are not exactly sure if there are any tools left in the toolkit, frankly,” he said.
Its eastern neighbor, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said that avoiding another lockdown depends on the actions of all Miami-Dade County residents. “If people don’t wear masks, the decision will be made for all of us because the trajectory we have been following for the past few weeks is unsustainable,” Gelber said.
Florida does not have a statewide mask order. Meanwhile, the governors of Arkansas and Colorado announced masking mandates for their own Thursday.
But in Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stands firm after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp filed a lawsuit against her and the city council to block her mask mandate. Kemp said the order is more restrictive than her and claims Bottoms “exceeded their authority.”
“I am not afraid that the city will be sued and I will put our policies against anyone, any day of the week,” Bottoms said.
At least 15 cities and counties in Georgia had required masks, and many were upset, such as Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., who said “it doesn’t make sense” and believes everyone is “shocked” by what Kemp has done. .
Texas on Thursday reported 129 coronavirus-related deaths, the largest one-day figure in the state so far. The number of new cases has passed the 10,000 mark. Houston is now receiving help from teams of doctors and nurses dispatched by the US Army and New York State.
Dr. Rivan Meléndez of the Hidalgo County Health Authority painted an image of a health system in chaos as the beds fill up. “Things are so dire that people are being resuscitated on stretchers in the hallways. The night before, I received four calls for four patients to die.”
Gov. Greg Abbott said patients under the age of 30 are a driving force behind the latest increase in cases.
Heather Valentine, a 24-year-old intensive care nurse, contracted COVID-19 and was released from the hospital this week. She was fortunate to have a room with a window where her parents could visit her. Unable to touch, they pressed their hands against the glass.
“It is really important to take every symptom very seriously because it could have ended up in very bad condition,” Valentine said.
“How scared were your parents?” CBS News asked. “My mother, this has been her worst nightmare since, you know, I’m on the front lines and working with people with COVID. She has been very scared of me.”
Melendez, who also recovered from COVID, said emotions are high for patients, their loved ones, and front-line doctors and nurses. He said that at least six nurses he worked with have died and said the hospital he works at is doing everything possible to make more room for more COVID patients.
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