Coronavirus

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Florida closed out the week with a record for weekly reported hospitalizations due to COVID-19, as the state’s case total and death toll continued to grow. From Sunday to Sunday, the state saw 3,355 hospitalizations, a new record for COVID-19 admissions in one week. In the span of five days alone — Tuesday to Saturday — …

The Associated Press reports: With confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. hitting 5 million Sunday, by far the highest of any country, the failure of the most powerful nation in the world to contain the scourge has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe. “Don’t they care about their health?” a mask-clad Patrizia Antonini asked about people in the …

Mass Live reports: Hours after its launch, Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 compliance hotline was hit with profane tirades about the governor’s restrictions, fake complaints and even a picture of a man’s genitalia. The pornographic missive, sent the day of the reporting line’s launch, was sent by an account named “Good German” with the subject line “no mask compliance.” An email …

Business Insider reports: New Zealand has made it 100 days without a single new local case of COVID-19, the country’s Ministry of Health announced Sunday. The public health milestone comes as coronavirus cases are spiking in other countries, including nearby Australia. The total number of cases in the US surpassed 5 million Sunday — by contrast, New Zealand has only …

USA Today reports: The U.S. reached another historic milestone Sunday, surpassing 5 million reported cases of COVID-19 — a number roughly equal to one-quarter of total worldwide cases reported. The numbers continue to roar higher: More than 56,000 new U.S. cases were reported Sunday, with more than 1,000 deaths. More than 162,000 Americans have died in little more than six …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: The Paulding County high school that became infamous for hallways crowded with unmasked students reported a half-dozen students and three staffers in the school with COVID-19, the school district told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Saturday. “At this time, we know there were six students and three staff members who were in school for at least some time …

CNBC reports: A deal that would have seen Eastman Kodak get funding to produce drug ingredients that could have helped fight the coronavirus has been put on hold. In a tweet Friday evening, the U.S International Development Finance Corporation said it was holding up the deal as regulators reportedly look into trading activity that sent Kodak’s shares surging on news …

Boston’s ABC News affiliate reports: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday announced decisions made in response to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and the average positive test rate. After listing a number of recent high-profile gatherings, some of which have led to clusters of coronavirus cases, Baker announced that the maximum number of attendees for outdoor gatherings would be …

The Associated Press reports: A last-ditch effort by Democrats to revive Capitol Hill talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money collapsed in disappointment Friday, making it increasingly likely that Washington gridlock will mean more hardship for millions of people who are losing enhanced jobless benefits. “It was a disappointing meeting,” declared top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, saying the White House had …

Gothamist reports: New York City is expanding its quarantine warning program, hitting bridges, tunnels, Penn Station, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal to intercept travelers—and returning residents—from states designated high-risk by Governor Andrew Cuomo. But on the first day of the new program, it became clear the enhanced efforts, which build on initiatives already in place at airports, are much …

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: They gathered on a summer weekend in the small northwestern Minnesota town of Lake Park to pay their respects to 78-year-old Francis Perreault and share their grief and memories of the good times. They hugged. They cried. They held hands and prayed and honored a man who was described by his daughter as “wonderful.” Yet despite …

Miami’s ABC News reports: Early Friday, Plantation police were parked outside of 1440 Fitness, letting members know the gym is closed and for now they’ll have to work out somewhere else. The gym’s owner Mike Carnevale’s spent Thursday night in Broward County jail over his refusal to enforce the use of face masks inside his business. This is the third …

The Washington Post reports: After each long day of working on the United States’ pandemic response, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert power-walks through his Northwest Washington neighborhood with his wife and their daughter’s dog. Recently, Anthony S. Fauci’s nightly jaunts through the neighborhood where he has lived since 1977 have taken him past at least a dozen signs bearing his …

ABC New York reports: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that schools in New York state can reopen in the fall. He said that every school district in every region is reauthorized to reopen. He added that they will continue to monitor the infection rate leading up to the first day of school. “It is just great news,” Cuomo said. “We are …

The Wall Street Journal reports: A coronavirus vaccine will be available to poorer countries for less than $3 a dose under a new partnership between the Gates Foundation and the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker. The collaboration is meant to ensure up to 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be available for distribution quickly …

USA Today reports: As Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed this summer for schools to reopen, state leaders told school boards they would need Health Department approval if they wanted to keep classrooms closed. Then they instructed health directors not to give it. Following a directive from DeSantis’ administration, county health directors across Florida refused to give school boards advice about one …

Roll Call reports: Three months ago, House Administration ranking member Rodney Davis led the GOP opposition to Democrats’ proxy voting rule that allows members to cast votes from their districts during the pandemic. Now the Illinois Republican, stuck quarantining at home after a positive COVID-19 test, will likely miss his opportunity to vote on the next coronavirus relief package because …

Just in from Gallup Polling: With more indications that a vaccine could be close, the next question for health professionals, policymakers and political leaders will be Americans’ willingness to be vaccinated once a vaccine is ready. But many Americans appear reluctant to be vaccinated, even if a vaccine were FDA-approved and available to them at no cost. Asked if they …

Reuters reports: Nearly 300,000 Americans could be dead from COVID-19 by Dec. 1, University of Washington health experts forecast on Thursday, although they said 70,000 lives could be saved if people were scrupulous about wearing masks. The latest predictions from the university’s widely cited Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) comes as top White House infectious disease advisers warned …

The Columbus Dispatch reports: A more sensitive coronavirus test has determined that Gov. Mike DeWine does not have COVID-19, his office announced Thursday night. A rapid test before DeWine was scheduled to greet President Donald Trump in Cleveland determined he was positive for the virus. A second, more-proven test administered later Thursday in Columbus produced a negative result. “We feel …