Government

Newsweek reports: Sweden’s total number of coronavirus cases grew by more than 100 overnight Wednesday, making it the second most-infected country per capita in the world. The Scandinavian country known for its light-touch approach to battling the pandemic reached 54,562 total cases Wednesday, according to covidgraph.com, which compiles current data from multiple government health agencies and universities across the world. …

USA Today reports: Florida added another 3,207 coronavirus cases Thursday, shattering the previous daily record as the state emerges as an alarming hot spot among places grappling with a resurgence of the disease. Thursday’s new record topped the 2,783 cases reported just two days earlier by the Florida Department of Health, which had been the third record-setting total in less …

The Omaha World-Herald reports: At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store. But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other county offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told counties that they won’t receive any …

CBS News Los Angeles reports: Face masks are now required across the state of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday. The order applies to all Californians in indoor spaces, healthcare settings, on public transportation and rideshare vehicles and at workplaces that are visited by the public or where food is prepared for sale or distribution. Masks will also be required …

The Texas Tribune reports: Texas students will be returning to public schools in person this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott told state lawmakers Thursday morning. The state’s top education officials confirmed the plans in a statement to The Texas Tribune. “It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this …

The New York Post reports: New York City rents will freeze for the roughly 2 million New Yorkers living in rent-regulated units for a year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Rent Guidelines Board, the panel that sets the rent for the city’s 1 million rent-regulated apartments, voted 6-3 Wednesday night to implement a one-year freeze running from Oct. …

NPR reports: Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that he will hold his last daily coronavirus briefing on Friday. He’s held them, mostly in Albany but also at locations across the state, for more than 115 consecutive days since the coronavirus pandemic began. Cuomo made the announcement at his daily briefing Wednesday in Albany. He said he would hold more on …

The New York Daily News reports: The Boss says wear a mask — or stay out of the people’s house. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is laying down the law when it comes to face coverings in the House of Representatives during the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic leader has issued an order requiring all lawmakers to wear masks in committee hearings, …

The Texas Tribune reports: The mayors of nine of Texas’ biggest cities urged Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter Tuesday to grant them the “authority to set rules and regulations” mandating face masks during the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in Texas, an executive order from Abbott bans local governments from imposing fines or criminal …

CNN reports: The United States could see more than 200,000 deaths from Covid-19 by October 1, a closely watched model predicted late Monday as states continue to reopen. More than 2 million have been infected by the virus and 116,125 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Though many states are seeing improved conditions, the pandemic has not …

The Alabama Reporter reports: Alabama has recorded record numbers of new coronavirus cases for four straight days amid a worsening outbreak in the state. On Sunday, Alabama reported more than 1,000 cases in a day for the first time since the pandemic began, marking a fourth-consecutive record following 888 cases seen on Saturday, 859 cases on Friday and 848 cases …

The New York Post reports: Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Sunday encouraged people to wear a mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus — saying the face coverings don’t infringe on Americans’ “freedom” and will help to get the economy up and running. The surgeon general had originally said in February that masks are “not effective” to prevent transmission, …

Forbes reports: Dr. Anthony Fauci told a British newspaper Sunday that something resembling normal life in the U.S. would likely return in “a year or so,” with the coronavirus pandemic expected to require social distancing and other mitigation efforts through the fall and winter, although political divisiveness, reopening efforts and the George Floyd protests could add more layers of difficulty …

Fox News reports: Sao Paulo has started to dig up graveyards to create more space as coronavirus continues to ravage Brazil. In a statement issued Friday, Sao Paulo’s municipal funeral service said the remains of people who died at least three years ago will be exhumed and put in numbered bags that will be delivered to other cemeteries within 15 …

Politico reports: South Carolina reported its highest number of new cases for a fourth consecutive day on Saturday, as Alabama and Florida documented their highest numbers for a third day in a row. South Carolina counted 785 new cases on Saturday, the highest one-day increase recorded since the coronavirus pandemic struck the state, according to data from The New York …

CBS New York reports: Social distancing guidelines appeared to have gone out the window in various popular areas of Manhattan over the weekend. Video and photos posted on social media show crowds of people gathered outside bars and restaurants on the Upper East Side and in the East Village on Friday night. While current rules allow for people to get …

The Texas Tribune reports: With the number of people hospitalized for the new coronavirus continuing to climb in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that there’s “no real need to ratchet back the opening of businesses in the state.” One of the reasons, he said in an interview with KYTX television in Tyler, is “because we have so many hospital …

Reuters reports: New guidance from federal health officials urges the organizers of large gatherings to require the use of face coverings among staff. The guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “strongly encourages” masks in settings “where individuals might raise their voice” for shouting, chanting or singing. The new recommendations come after President Trump announced he will …

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports: A flood of new coronavirus cases this month comes from expanded testing of younger people who won’t wind up in hospitals or die from the disease, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday. By pointing to more testing in agricultural communities, workplaces and among millennials who get swabbed at CVS, the governor downplayed reports of 1,000 …

The Oregonian reports: Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday evening that she has put all applications for further reopening across the state on hold for at least seven days after seeing a “concerning” increase in coronavirus infections. The announcement came on the night many Portlanders had hoped to receive news of a Phase 1 reopening in Multnomah County, the last of …