TOPLINE
Health officials in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and South Carolina all reported record-high numbers of new daily Covid-19 cases once again Saturday, as states scramble to cope with surges in Covid-19 infections that have plagued the southern and western U.S. this week.
Diane, a nurse from Houston, Texas, sunbathes at the beach next to her husband, both wearing … [+] facemasks, in Miami Beach, Florida.
AFP via Getty Images
KEY FACTS
9,585 new confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported by the Florida Department of Health on Saturday alone, passing up the previous record for most new daily infections set just the day before, the third time this week Florida has broken its record for new cases reported in a day, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Arizona also hit a high point of infections Saturday when the state recorded 3,591 new daily cases, a match of its record set on Tuesday.
Nevada’s state officials confirmed 1,099 new daily cases Saturday, double the previous record of 507 the state counted Thursday, reportedly the fourth record set this week.
In South Carolina, 1,599 new cases were reported Saturday, far higher than the prior record of 1,290 set Tuesday.
Saturday’s numbers are the latest record-breaking figures in a surge of confirmed Covid-19 infections this week that have been largely concentrated in southern and western states that rolled back their pandemic restrictions early on.
KEY BACKGROUND
The recent spikes in cases have led states like Texas, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and Nevada to scale back their reopening plans. Florida, along with Texas, shut down bars statewide Friday in a bid to slow viral transmission. The people testing positive are increasingly young and under the age of 30. The recent increase in infections led Arizona hospitals state-wide to activate surge plans that will increase intake capacity and allow for treatment of more patients.
FURTHER READING
These Are The Only Four States On Track To Contain Coronavirus (Forbes)
Texas, Florida Governors Walk Back Reopenings—But Refuse To Mandate Masks As Virus Rages (Forbes)
Trump’s Coronavirus Approval Rating Sinks To New Low As Cases Surge (Forbes)
Masks Help Stop The Spread Of Coronavirus, Studies Say—But Wearing Them Still A Political Issue (Forbes)
