Coronavirus Watch: Next couple weeks are 'critical'

The sun is out. Beaches are open. And Independence Day is coming up. But don't let your guard down, health officials warn.

The next couple weeks will be "critical" in combating the surge of coronavirus cases in states across the U.S., Dr. Anthony Fauci said today in a hearing on Capitol Hill.

It's Tuesday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 2:15 p.m. ET:

• More than half of U.S. states are seeing surges in new daily infections, and, in at least six states, the number of total infections has topped 100,000.
• A vaccine could be available by the end of 2020 or early 2021, Fauci said. One candidate is scheduled to enter a phase three trial next month.
• Voting amid COVID-19: The pandemic has pushed multiple states – including Kentucky and New York, which vote Tuesday – to postpone their primary elections, and to expand early and absentee voting, in order to stave off the risk of spreading the virus in crowded polling stations.
• Warning: The Food and Drug Administration is advising people not to use certain hand sanitizer products due to the potential presence of methanol, a toxic substance when absorbed through skin or ingested.
• Today's numbers: More than 2.3 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 120,000 have died. See the numbers in your area here. Worldwide, more than 9.1 million people have tested positive for the virus, and 473,000 have died.

It's been more than five months since the U.S. confirmed what was then thought to be the nation's first coronavirus case. Here's a recap of how the pandemic has unfolded since then.

Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them! David from Chattanooga, Tennessee, asks: If you have had the coronavirus, are you immune to it now?

This is a question we've been getting for months now, and health officials say the answer is still unclear. On Tuesday, Fauci again reiterated that you are likely protected from reinfection for "some period of time ... but we don’t know how long you are protected."

In order to more accurately answer that question, scientists need to study the virus and the body's antibody response for "months and years," Fauci said.

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As always, thank you for subscribing! We appreciate you trusting the Paste BN Network with this important information.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck