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US Leads World in Coronavirus Cases, Deaths

VOA News

   The death toll in the United States from the COVID-19 pandemic rose
   above 130,000 people Monday, according to data compiled by U.S.-based
   Johns Hopkins University.

   The U.S. leads the world not only in terms of coronavirus deaths but
   total number of confirmed cases, with 2.9 million. The nation has
   reported over 50,000 new daily confirmed cases during the first week of
   July, with many states posting a record number of single-day new cases.
   The figures support Monday's declaration by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the
   nation's top infectious disease expert, that the United States is
   "still knee-deep in the first wave" of the pandemic.

   Among the hardest-hit states is Texas, which reported at least 8,700
   new COVID-19 cases, a new single-day record for the southwestern state.
   Hospitals across Texas have reached full capacity due to the huge
   numbers of hospitalized coronavirus patients; the situation has become
   so dire in the city of SanAntoniothat the U.S. military is planning to
   deploy a 50-member team of medical personnel to help with the crisis,
   including emergency-room and critical care nurses.

   The dramatic rise in new COVID-19 cases has prompted authorities in
   some states, including California and Florida, to reimpose
   restrictions.

   In California, which reported a record 11,786 new confirmed cases on
   Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars in six new counties to shut
   down, just days after imposing a similar order for 19 counties that
   also calls on restaurants, movie theaters and wineries to close indoor
   services.

   Officials in Florida's largest county, Miami-Dade, Monday ordered the
   closure of restaurants, gyms, fitness centers and other indoor venues.
   The county's mayor, Carlos Gimenez, is allowing retail stores and hair
   salons to stay open. Beaches in the county will reopen Tuesday after
   they were closed for the July Fourth weekend.

   In neighboring Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was
   diagnosed Monday with COVID-19. She says she has not shown symptoms and
   plans to work from her home office in isolation with her family.

   Major League Baseball's announcement of its coronavirus-shortened
   60-game schedule on Monday was overshadowed by news from the Washington
   Nationals and Houston Astros, last season's World Series teams, had
   canceled their workouts because of delays in receiving results of
   COVID-19 tests of their players. The St.LouisCardinals alsoshut downits
   practice session because of the delays.

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