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US States Tighten Coronavirus Restrictions Amid Surge in Cases

VOA News

   With the national case count surpassing 11 million infections, the
   governors of several U.S. states are instituting new restrictions to
   try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

   Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a ban on indoor dining,
   in-person classes for high school and college students, and public
   events at casinos and movie theaters. At-home gatherings are limited to
   10 people.

   "We are in the worst moment of this pandemic to
   date,"Whitmertoldreporters. "The situation has never been more dire. We
   are at the precipice and we need to take some action."

   In the northwestern state of Washington, Governor Jay Inslee also
   banned indoor dining, and ordered retail stores to limit the number of
   customersallowed to 25% capacity. Outdoor gatherings are limited to
   five people, while indoor gatherings not involving people from the same
   household are prohibited.

   During the past week, the United States has recorded an average of
   nearly 150,000 new cases per day, according to Johns Hopkins
   University, with surging counts in numerous states across the
   country.More than 246,000 have died from COVID-19in the United States,
   a figure that like the total number of cases is the most in the world.

   Infectious disease health experts said Sunday that President Donald
   Trump's refusal to concede his reelection loss to Democrat Joe Biden
   has kept them from handing off key information to the incoming Biden
   officials to help curb the pandemic.

   One of Biden's COVID-19 advisers, Dr. Atul Gawande, told ABC's "This
   Week" show, "It is in the nation's interest that the transition team
   get the threat assessments ... understand the vaccine distribution
   plans, you need to know where the stockpiles are, what status is of
   masks and gloves."

   He added, "There's a lot of information that needs to be transmitted.
   It can't wait to the last minute."

   Trump has refused to concede his defeat while he pursues long-shot
   legal claims that the November 3 vote was rigged against him,and he has
   blockedadministrationofficialsfrom cooperating with Biden's transition
   team throughout government agencies.

   The country's top infectious disease expert. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a
   fixture on Trump's coronavirus task force, told CNN, "Of course it
   would be better if we could start working with them."

   Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
   Diseases, said he has been through political transitions involving six
   presidencies.

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