The pandemic is ravaging parts of the nation and affecting daily life. Here’s what happened in recent days
It has overwhelmed hospitals within a few days, forced people to re-imagine their holiday celebrations and fueled a debate over school reopenings. Now, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases is nearing 3 million.
While the future of the pandemic in the US is still unclear, here’s what has happened in the last few days.
The following day, Trump delivered a speech on the White House’s South Lawn where few guests appeared to be practicing social distancing and many were not wearing masks.
Beaches were packed for the Fourth of July
The beach at Coney Island in New York was heavily visited during the holiday weekend.
Some Americans altered their traditional Fourth of July celebrations while others flocked to beaches to enjoy the holiday weekend.
Crowds were spotted in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; New York’s Coney Island and the California beaches of San Diego. In Miami and Los Angeles, beaches remained empty after officials kept them closed for the weekend.
People have waited several hours to get tested
Crowds of people are visiting testing sites in the US every day and some have to wait hours before taking a Covid-19 test.
The Covid-19 testing capacity has increased considerably since March but the recent surge of cases is causing long lines to get tested and slow results.
Some hospitals reached capacity
City officials are concerned that Houston hospitals are on the verge of being overwhelmed by cases of coronavirus.
The number of daily hospitalizations in numerous states has been rising, putting critical resources including staffing, beds and ventilators in short supply.
A debate over school reopenings emerged
Teachers were protesting outside Florida’s Orange County Public Schools headquarters on Tuesday.
The debate over how schools would reopen in the fall has intensified this week amid coronavirus concerns.
Teachers in some of Florida’s largest school districts are pushing back and gathered to protest.
“We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools, to get them open,” Trump said at a White House event on Tuesday.
MLS is coming back despite coronavirus concerns
San Jose Earthquakes players and the rest of the teams have been tested numerous times since arriving in Orlando.
The league’s modified tournament in Orlando, Florida, is set to kick off Wednesday after more than a dozen people, including FC Dallas and Nashville SC players have tested positive for the virus.
