Health experts fear that traditional July 4th barbecues and fireworks will cause infections to escalate further. Many states have suspended plans to reopen restaurants and other businesses this week. Some states, including Texas and California, re-imposed restrictions that had already been reversed, closed bars, and limited restaurant seating that had just reopened after months-long closings.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide executive order Thursday that requires masks to be worn in public spaces after long resisting the measure.
Despite the increase in coronavirus, President Donald Trump’s outlook on the pandemic appears to be optimistic. Just a day after assuring Americans that the White House is “controlling” the pandemic, the president landed in South Dakota to deliver a speech at a July 4 event on Mount Rushmore, which he hoped to attract approximately 7,500 people. . South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said event attendees would not have to wear masks or social distance.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said earlier this week that he “would not be surprised” if the United States began seeing 100,000 new cases per day if current trends continue.
