Nearly 135,000 people have died in the U.S. since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins data.
The surge in coronavirus cases is straining hospitals in Florida, Texas and Arizona, where ICU beds in some areas are reaching capacity. In Houston, the Texas Tribune reported some hospitals are turning away emergency responders as beds fill up with coronavirus patients.
California, Texas and Florida have reimposed some restrictions on bars and indoor dining as cases surged in recent weeks, though governors have stopped short of ordering new stay-at-home orders introduced earlier in the pandemic.
Florida’s Walt Disney World reopened its parks this week despite concerns from staff and health experts. The Sunshine State is also pressing on with its plan to host the GOP convention in Jacksonville, though Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close Trump ally, on Tuesday refused to say whether he would lift restrictions on indoor gatherings. The Washington Post reported Thursday that Republicans are considering holding the event outdoors. Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to meet with RNC officials in Jacksonville on Saturday.
The nationwide coronavirus spike has sparked a battle over plans to reopen schools this fall. President Donald Trump is pushing for full reopenings, threatening to withhold federal government funding from schools that don’t completely reopen.
