Government

European Leaders Warn Of New Lockdown Amid Surge

The New York Times reports: In France, President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that the authorities were doing “everything to avoid a new lockdown.” A day later, the country reported over 7,300 new virus cases, its highest daily tally since March 31 and a number that sent its seven-day average to a new record of 4,668. As Germany faces its …

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New York State Sees Record Low COVID Infection Rate

The New York Daily News reports: New York reported a record low coronavirus infection rate Friday, capping three weeks in which the important indicator remained below 1%. Of the 97,826 test results received by the state a day earlier, only 636 were positive for a 0.65% infection rate, Gov. Cuomo announced. Hospitalizations fell by 12 to 478 with the number …

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FL Passes 10K COVID Deaths, 5K Just In Last Month

The South Florida SunSentinel reports: More than 10,000 people have now died from COVID-19 in Florida, according to the latest state pandemic data released Wednesday. The updated death toll comes after the state Department of Health reported 174 more resident deaths that happened in recent weeks but were just confirmed, following a surge of coronavirus cases this summer. Florida, which …

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Cuomo: Gyms Can Open At 33% Capacity Next Week

Gothamist reports: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new rules for gyms to be able to reopen around New York State this morning, saying they would be allowed to open at one third capacity as early as next Monday. According to the new guidelines, gyms can reopen at 33% capacity as long as HVAC changes are made. Masks must be worn inside …

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Florida Reports 8800 New COVID Cases After Miami Lab Turns In “Backlog” Of 4000 Cases Dating Back To June

The Miami Herald reports: Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 8,109 additional cases of COVID-19, pushing the state’s known total to 550,901. An additional 212 Florida resident deaths brings the statewide resident death toll to 8,765. Miami-Dade County reported 4,141 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 30 new deaths, according to Florida’s Department of Health. The county now has …

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FL Breaks Deaths Record, Gov Shrugs Off Risk To Kids

The Tampa Bay Times reports: Florida logged a new record for the most coronavirus deaths announced in a day with 277 on Tuesday. Tuesday’s record brought the statewide death toll to 8,685 people, according to the Florida Department of Health. The weekly death average increased to 166 people dead per day. The previous high was 257 deaths on July 31, …

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De Blasio Sued For Denying “Blue Lives Matter” Mural

The New York Post reports: A pair of pro-cop groups are suing Mayor Bill de Blasio after being denied a Blue Lives Matter mural akin to the one Black Lives Matter had splashed across Fifth Avenue, The Post has learned. The lawsuit, filed late Monday by Blue Lives Matter NYC and Standing up for NYC in the Southern District of …

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Auckland On Lockdown Over First Cases In 102 Days

The Washington Post reports: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday the country had confirmed four new novel coronavirus cases, ending a more than 100-day streak without recording any community transmission. Auckland will move to impose new restrictions Wednesday afternoon though midnight Friday as officials assess the threat, Ardern said, and asked residents to stay home and take precautions. …

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TX Testing Down 42% As Schools Prep For Reopening

The Texas Tribune reports: The number of Texans being tested for the coronavirus has fallen sharply in recent weeks, a trend that has worried public health experts as officials consider sending children back to school while thousands more Texans are infected each day. In the week ending Aug. 8, an average 36,255 coronavirus tests were administered in Texas each day …

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Florida COVID Hospitalizations Break Weekly Record

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 — …

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New Zealand Goes 100 Days Without New COVID Case

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 …

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MA Gov Warns “Bars Masquerading As Restaurants”

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 …

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Riders Sail Past De Blasio’s Checkpoints At Penn Station

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 …

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Initial Vax Supply Likely To Fall Short For Most At Risk

The Wall Street Journal reports: Initial supplies of any successful coronavirus vaccines are now expected to fall short of what is needed even for high-priority groups like health-care workers, forcing drugmakers and U.S. officials to grapple with the thorny question of who should be first in line. Public-health officials estimate more than 100 million Americans, including doctors and nurses, other …

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LA To Cut Off Power/Water For Hosting House Parties

The Washington Post reports: Los Angeles will cut off water and electricity at houses that repeatedly host “egregious” parties, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday. With bars and nightclubs closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, hundreds of young people have flocked to large parties held at private homes and rental properties in the Hollywood Hills. In addition to raising …

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New York State COVID Infection Rate Falls Below 1%

The New York Daily News reports: New York’s coronavirus infection rate fell below 1% Wednesday as the state continues to stave off a second wave of the deadly respiratory illness. Gov. Cuomo said only 636, or 0.87%, of the more than 70,000 test results that came back Tuesday were positive as hospitalizations fell by four patients to 564 people statewide. …

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FL Passes 500K Cases, Breaks Hospitalizations Record

Forbes reports: One of the country’s hardest-hit states, Florida surpassed 500,000 coronavirus infections on Wednesday against a backdrop of dwindling federal aid that has turned local governments against each other. Despite a recent dip in new infections, Florida reported an additional 5,409 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, while setting a new record for hospitalizations. Last week, mayors from 163 Florida cities …

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Billy Graham Statue Set To Be Installed At US Capitol

Christianity Today reports: A life-sized statue of Billy Graham will be installed in the US Capitol’s Statuary Hall collection sometime next year, replacing a statue of a white supremacist that both the state of North Carolina and the US House want removed. Last week, a North Carolina legislative committee approved a 2-foot model of the statue depicting the famous evangelist …

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NYC To Set Up Quarantine Checkpoints At City Borders

The New York Daily News reports: Mayor de Blasio announced NYC will set up checkpoints for the bridge-and-tunnel crowd to comply with the state’s mandatory 14-day coronavirus quarantine rule for those arriving from COVID-19 hotspots. “They (visitors) will be reminded that it is required not optional,” de Blasio said. “This is serious stuff. If we’re going to hold at this …

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NYC Health Commissioner Quits, Scorches De Blasio

ABC News reports: Dr. Oxiris Barbot resigned as New York City’s health commissioner, saying in her resignation letter that “the Health Department’s incomparable disease control expertise was not used to the degree it could have been.” “I leave my post today with deep disappointment,” her resignation letter said. “Our experts are world renowned for their epidemiology, surveillance and response work. …

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