Coronavirus Watch: Breaking out of your COVID-19 social bubble?

Are you thinking about breaking out of your COVID-19 social bubble?

A new study suggests we can still have social lives during the pandemic as long as we think a little bit about the groups we interact with. With infection rates growing around the country, setting up some kind of bubble now can be important to allowing you and your community to slow infection rates.

Here's a visual guide breaking down how and why social bubbles work to curb viruses.

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:

• The U.S. reported more than 50,000 new daily cases yesterday. Nearly 2.7 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 128,000 have died. Worldwide, more than 10.7 million people have tested positive for the virus, and more than 517,000 have died.  See the numbers in your area here, and see where cases are rising here.
• The death count from the pandemic has long been regarded as an underestimate. A new study says the actual death toll could be much higher.
• A labor union representing the nation’s immigration judges has filed suit against the Trump administration, arguing that the government is stifling the judges’ rights to speak publicly on key issues, including the threat of COVID-19 to their lives and to public health.
• New York City has delayed indoor dining indefinitely.
• A $300 fine? Sheriff deputies will begin to issue citations to people who are not wearing masks in West Hollywood, California.
• Good news for small businesses: The House voted Wednesday to pass the Paycheck Protection Program extension deadline.
• The U.S. economy added a record 4.8 million jobs in June as states continued to allow businesses shuttered by the coronavirus to reopen and more Americans went back to work, even as massive layoffs have persisted. The unemployment rate fell to 11.1% from 13.3% in May, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Some good news: Walmart has a remedy for families pining for a trip to shuttered movie theaters. The retail giant is transforming 160 of its store parking lots into contact-free, drive-in movie theaters.

Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them. Betsy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, asks: Why are airlines allowed to fill planes to capacity putting all at risk of infection?

The federal government has not mandated social distancing on planes, and policies vary by carrier, with some airlines blocking more seats than others and some social distancing policies set to expire soon unless extended.

United Airlines and budget carriers Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air are already booking flights to capacity, and American Airlines, which has been blocking half the middle seats in economy since April, ended the practice on Wednesday.

Health officials criticized American Airlines' decision at a Senate hearing Tuesday. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said the agency was reviewing the policy and added, "We don’t think it’s the right message."

Southwest, Delta and JetBlue are still blocking middle seats or restricting the number of seats for sale on each flight. JetBlue, Alaska and Frontier are still limiting the number of passengers per flight.

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