Coronavirus Watch: Fourth of July safety tips
Jumping in the pool this weekend? Hosting a barbeque? Getting on a plane?
We're here to help you celebrate safely this Fourth of July. Remember: Small gatherings are safer than large groups. Maintaining social distancing is safer than being in closer proximity. Being outdoors is safer than being indoors. And being around people who are wearing face coverings is safer than being around those who are not.
"An important reminder this #July4th holiday weekend: I wear my mask to protect you. You wear your mask to protect me," U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote on Twitter this morning.
It's Friday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 1:45 p.m. ET:
- Crisis in the Sunshine State: Florida added a record-breaking 10,109 new cases Thursday and 9,488 more cases Friday. See our interactive breakdown of cases, tests and deaths in the state.
- All but 10 states are showing an upswing in newly reported cases over the past 14 days, according to data compiled by the volunteer COVID Tracking Project.
- Today's numbers: More than 2.7 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 128,000 have died. Worldwide, more than 10.9 million people have tested positive for the virus, and more than 522,000 have died. See the numbers in your area here, and see where cases are rising here.
- There is increasing evidence that a specific mutation allows the virus to be more contagious, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday.
- Kansas and Texas have joined the growing list of states where it's mandatory to wear a face mask in public.
- Speaking of Texas: Over opposition from doctors and some local party activists, the Texas GOP is moving ahead with a three-day convention starting July 16 in Houston, one of the nation’s coronavirus hotspots. Meanwhile, the city of Dallas will distribute $500,000 in funding to help immigrant families affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
What we're reading: Paste BN looked at coronavirus cases in 8,500 ZIP codes across America. Among other findings, our analysis shows that COVID-19 is more prevalent in poorer neighborhoods.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them. Vince from Jacksonville, Florida, asks: How soon after being exposed to COVID-19 are you likely to develop symptoms?
Not all people infected with COVID-19 develop symptoms, but, if you do, symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, typically around four to five days, according to the CDC. One study reported that 97.5% of people who developed symptoms did so within 11.5 days of infection.
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