U.S. Records Second-Highest Single-Day Increase in Confirmed Covid-19 Cases - The Wall Street Journal

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Medical personnel waiting to conduct Covid-19 tests in Mexico City’s Tláhuac neighborhood Friday.
Photo: Gerardo Vieyra/Zuma Press

Updated July 25, 2020 7:16 am ET

The U.S. recorded more than 73,700 new coronavirus cases Friday, its second-highest single-day increase.

The country also reported more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths for the fourth straight day, as the cumulative death toll surpassed 145,500.

While higher case counts in the U.S. are partly attributable to expanded testing across the country, a patchwork of rules and regulations has contributed to a resurgence of infections.

Friday’s new case count represents a significant jump from the previous day’s rise of 68,000. The highest one-day increase of 77,300 was registered on July 16, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The latest surge has been largely driven by Southern and Western states that had quickly reopened, though the outbreaks there haven’t yet been as severe as the earlier wave of infections that took hold in the Northeast U.S. in March and April.

Daily reported Covid-19 cases in the U.S.

Note: For all 50 states and D.C., U.S. territories and cruises. Last updated
Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering

Daily reported Covid-19 deaths in the U.S.

Notes: For all 50 states and D.C., U.S. territories and cruises. Some fluctuation in data, such as the June 25 spike, is due to states revising criteria for deaths due to Covid-19. Last updated
Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering

Texas reported 8,701 new cases and 196 deaths Friday, just one shy of the highest one-day death toll set two days earlier. Gov. Greg Abbott announced the creation of a 1,200-strong joint task force involving members of the Texas National Guard and soldiers from the U.S. military to support hospitals in combating the pandemic.

Health departments in Houston and surrounding Harris County signed a public-health order for schools to remain closed for in-person classes through Sept. 7.

Monitoring the U.S. Outbreak

Confirmed cases by state, ranked by latest full-day count

Daily confirmed cases per 100,000 residents

Note: Trend indicates whether a state had an increase or decrease in total number of cases in the past seven days compared with previous seven days. Last updated
Sources: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering; the Lancet; Associated Press; U.S. Census

Georgia reported over 4,800 new confirmed cases Friday, its highest single day total. And in Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves introduced additional statewide restrictions on social gatherings, bars, restaurants and alcohol sales, citing the stress on the state’s hospital caused by the increase in coronavirus cases.

“We have over 1,600 new cases today. And that number is simply not sustainable. It pushes us towards almost 6,000 new cases in the last four days alone,” he said.

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The Coronavirus Crisis

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines for schools, encouraging them to open this fall, but recommending some measures to lower the risk of contracting the virus, including wearing masks.

The new guidance comes just weeks after President Trump pushed federal health officials to ease guidelines—and threatened to withhold funding from districts that don’t reopen for in-person learning.

Coronavirus cases also rose in other parts of the world.

Mexico’s health ministry reported 7,573 new Covid-19 infections Friday, bringing the nationwide total to 378,285. It also reported 737 new deaths.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the high number of new confirmed cases reported was a result of increased testing and a delay in updating new figures. He said the pandemic was “losing steam” in the country.