Coronavirus Watch: Cases are rising in these states
A number of states are seeing a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, including: Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Mississippi, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, as well as Puerto Rico.
Though experts aren't exactly sure why these states are experiencing an unexpected uptick in cases, they said lifting lockdown restrictions, isolated outbreaks and the virus catching up to communities previously not impacted may each play a role. Read more about the surge in cases here.
It's Thursday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 1:30 p.m. ET:
- More than 2 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S. The Johns Hopkins virus dashboard counted more than 27,000 new cases Wednesday alone, a day that saw almost 1,000 U.S. deaths. More than 113,000 Americans have died. See the numbers in your area here. Worldwide, more than 7.4 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 417,000 have died.
- Stocks opened sharply lower on Wall Street as investors turn jittery once again in the face of rising numbers of coronavirus infections in many U.S. states and in other countries.
- About 1.5 million Americans filed first-time applications for unemployment insurance last week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That pushes the tally of those who have made initial claims over the past 12 weeks to a staggering 44.1 million.
Road trip? What to pack and how to stay safe when the travel bug bites this summer.
Tell us your coronavirus story: What does your summer look like? Paste BN wants to know. To share your story, go to coronadiaries.io/usatoday.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them! Lois from Melbourne, Florida, asks: How should we protect ourselves from the COVID-19 virus when traveling on a commercial airline?
Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends that you avoid all nonessential international travel at this time.
While most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others, sometimes for hours, increasing your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the CDC.
At the airport, wear a face mask, stay away from crowds in the gate area and bring wipes to sanitize your seat. Follow this step-by-step guide on how to disinfect your airplane seat. And get ready to fill out a pre-flight health checklist. As always: Clean your hands often, wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face and cover coughs and sneezes.
If you're considering traveling this summer, here's what you should be weighing. The CDC also put together a list of questions for you to consider before booking your trip.
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– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck