Reuters: U.S.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Overnight Health Care: Trio of states report record-high COVID-19 case counts | Oklahoma coronavirus cases spike just ahead of Trump rally | Trump blasts health adviser: 'Fauci has nothing to do with NFL Football'

 
 
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Welcome to Friday’s Overnight Health Care. 

There are 2.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. Three states are seeing escalating outbreaks, despite what their governors say about hospital capacity. And cases in Oklahoma are increasing just ahead of President Trump’s campaign rally there. 

We'll start with the surge: 

Three states report record-high COVID-19 case counts… again 

Arizona, Texas and Florida are all reporting record-high single-day increases in COVID-19 cases, surpassing previous records set just a few days ago.

The three states all reported their highest new case numbers yet on Thursday and Friday, worrying public health experts.

“These are on the cusp of getting out of control," former Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottlieb said Thursday on CNBC. "I think these states still have a week or two to take actions to try to get these under control," he said, describing the rising cases as "outbreaks."

Arizona reported 3,246 new COVID-19 cases Friday morning, surpassing the record-high of 2,519 new cases reported the day before.

Texas reported 3,516 new cases Thursday evening, an increase from the previous record-high of 3,129, which was reported Wednesday.

In Florida, 3,822 new cases were reported Friday, the highest single-day increase for the state, beating a record set Thursday of 3,207 new cases.

Read more here

Oklahoma coronavirus cases spike just ahead of Trump rally

President Trump is holding a rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, and coronavirus cases in the state are spiking. 

Oklahoma has reported more than 800 new coronavirus cases in the past two days. 

The state reported 352 new cases on Friday, one day after a record 450 new cases on Thursday. The previous record was 259 new cases, and that was set only Wednesday.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he chose Oklahoma as the spot for his rally because of how well officials have responded to the virus.

"It’s like, very few people. And I think they’re in great shape. But I would even say the spike ends, has already ended," Trump said. 

Read more here.

Trump blasts health adviser: 'Fauci has nothing to do with NFL Football' 

A new twist in the Fauci/Trump saga: President Trump pushed back Friday on comments his top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, made about the risks of an NFL season. 

"Tony Fauci has nothing to do with NFL Football," Trump tweeted. "They are planning a very safe and controlled opening. However, if they don’t stand for our National Anthem and our Great American Flag, I won’t be watching!!!"

Trump's tweet was in reference to comments Fauci made to CNN the day before, saying it would be "very hard" for the NFL to have a season safely without having players in a "bubble," which the league currently does not have plans for.

Flashback: In April, Trump retweeted a post with the #firefauci hashtag, but the White House said then that the president did not plan to fire him.

But the new tweet from Trump is some of his most explicit and public distancing from his top infectious disease official to date.

Read more here.

Trends are looking better in DC: Washington to enter Phase 2 of reopening on Monday

Washington, D.C., will enter the second phase of its reopening on Monday as coronavirus cases continue to decline, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced Friday. 

The new phase will allow nonessential retail stores to reopen and for indoor dining to occur, both with 50 percent capacity limits. Outdoor dining was allowed in the first phase. Gyms can also reopen, as long as there is physical distancing and showers and locker rooms remain closed. 

Gatherings of up to 50 people are now allowed as well.

People are still encouraged to wear masks when around others and stay six feet apart. 

There were 49 new cases of the coronavirus in the District on Thursday, down from highs of more than 200 cases per day at the peak in early May.

Read more here.

Tennessee passes abortion restriction bill 

Tennessee passed sweeping legislation in the early hours of Friday morning, seeking to place restrictions on abortion, becoming the latest state to try to curtail access to the procedure. 

The bill, which passed 23-5 in the state Senate, was one of several pieces of legislation that had been put on pause during the coronavirus pandemic, but it was boosted by new momentum after negotiations between the two legislative chambers. 

Among other things, the legislation bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which could take place early as six weeks and if the procedure is taking place because of the fetus’s race or sex or if there has been a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. It also bans abortions for minors in custody of the Department of Children's Services, and scraps the current option to petition a judge for permission for the procedure. There is no exception for rape or incest. 

End game: The legislation may not take effect. Like other strict abortion bans, the goal is to invite a legal challenge in the hope that it will reach the Supreme Court, where a conservative majority will overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Read more here.

What we’re reading 

Apple closing 11 stores again in states seeing a spike in coronavirus cases (NPR)

Ex-Trump FDA chief says requiring coronavirus masks is not ‘denying people their liberty’ (CNBC)

Is the coronavirus death tally inflated? Here’s why experts say no (New York Times)

Coronavirus was already in Italy by December, waste water study finds (BBC)

AMC Theaters reverses course on masks after backlash (Associated Press)

State by state

Life in Arizona has almost returned to normal. A coronavirus surge could send it back. (NBC News)

California hits record 4,000 cases in a day; mask order in place (Sacramento Bee)  

Coronavirus cases are increasing at Texas child care centers, but the state repealed safety rules (Texas Tribune

As the coronavirus surges in Oklahoma, rising fears of outbreaks in nursing homes (NBC News)

 
 
 
 
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