Government

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 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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

The Washington Post reports: In the absence of a national testing strategy for the novel coronavirus pandemic, six governors have formed a first-of-its-kind purchasing compact they hope will pressure companies that make rapid-detection tests to quickly ramp up production. The governors, three Republicans and three Democrats, say that other states and cities may join them and that talks have already …

The Houston Chronicle reports: The government’s official data on the coronavirus outbreak is startling: More than 4.6 million cases in the U.S. More than 440,000 in Texas. More than 70,000 in Harris County. But those numbers don’t include all positive COVID-19 patients. Texas, unlike 27 other states, excludes the results of increasingly popular, rapid COVID-19 tests from the numbers it …

The Orlando Weekly reports: The Florida Department of Health reported 257 new COVID-19 deaths in Florida on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day the state has surpassed its own daily death record. The state’s total amount of lives lost to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic in March now nears 7,000, with 6,843 Florida resident deaths and 123 …

The Miami Herald reports: The Florida Department of Health announced 9,956 new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Thursday, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 461,379 since the pandemic began. The number of reported deaths of Florida residents surpassed Wednesday’s single-day record increase, setting a record of 253 new deaths reported in a single …

Click On Detroit reports: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-160, amending Michigan’s Safe Start Order and issuing revised workplace safeguards amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Starting on July 31, statewide indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people and bars will be closed for indoor service across the state. “As we see COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Michiganders …

Florida Today reports: The Florida Department of Health reported 8,892 new COVID-19 cases Monday. While that marks the lowest daily total since July 9, it’s the 34th consecutive day the state has recorded more than 5,000 new cases. Florida has counted a total of 432,747 cases since the pandemic began. The state also reported 77 new deaths, increasing the state’s …

Just in from Herman Cain’s staff: We know it’s been a few days since we last gave you an update on the boss. But he is still in the hospital being treated with oxygen for his lungs. In the meantime, the doctors say his other organs and systems are strong. Re-strengthening the lungs is a long and slow process, and …

Reuters reports: Vietnam is evacuating 80,000 people, mostly local tourists, from the central tourism hot spot of Danang after three residents tested positive for the coronavirus at the weekend, the government said on Monday. The evacuation will take at least four days with domestic airlines operating approximately 100 flights daily from Danang to 11 Vietnamese cities, the government said in …

New York City’s ABC News affiliate reports: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that investigators issued 105 violations of COVID-19 restrictions at bars and restaurants in downstate New York this weekend. The counties where violations were uncovered included Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, the governor said in a Sunday morning conference call with the press. “This weekend in every …

The Associated Press reports: Florida’s top business regulator said Saturday that he planned to set up meetings with bar owners to discuss how they can reopen their businesses again safely, as almost another 12,200 coronavirus cases and 126 virus-related deaths were reported in the Sunshine State. Halsey Beshears [photo], secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, said …

Click Orlando reports: The Florida Department of Health on Saturday reported 12,199 new cases of COVID-19 as well as 126 new deaths. Saturday marks the second day in a row that the FDOH reported over 12,000 cases. On Friday, officials reported 12,444 new cases. The state is now also releasing data about currently hospitalized coronavirus patients. The Florida Agency for …

Gothamist reports: For the last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo has been shaking his fist at restaurants and bars that continue to break the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, particularly after videos went viral last weekend showing people partying on Steinway Street in Astoria. Earlier this week, four businesses in the NYC area have had their liquor licenses suspended. And today, Cuomo announced …