Coronavirus Watch: An unprecedented July 4th

Amid virus concerns and rising national case numbers, some July 4th gatherings proceeded this weekend, including President Trump's party in Washington, D.C.

In Arizona, where 90% of ICU beds were in use Saturday, people watched as fireworks lit up the sky. Meanwhile, beaches drew holiday crowds in several states, including Maryland and Wisconsin.

Rallies, marches and sit-ins were held as well, as July 4th protests against police brutality and systemic racism took place in several major cities across the U.S.

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

• The commissioner of the FDA on Sunday did not backup President Trump's claims that a vaccine would soon be ready and that 99% of infections were harmless. Stephen Hahn, appearing on ABC's "This Week", cited "unprecedented speed" in the development of a vaccine but said science and data will ultimately determine when it is ready.
• Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego said Sunday that the state's recent boom in cases was fueled by premature reopening policies. "We reemerged at zero to 60 ... Our 20- to 44-year-olds, which is my own demographic, really led the explosion," Gallego said.
• The World Health Organization said member states reported more than 212,000 new cases Saturday, the highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic.
• Today's numbers: More than 2.8 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 129,000 have died. Worldwide, more than 11.3 million people have tested positive for the virus, and more than 531,000 have died. See the numbers in your area here, and see where cases are rising here.

Do you miss sports too? The NBA takes a big step towards reviving its pandemic-halted season this week, as teams are scheduled to report to the Orlando "bubble" starting on Tuesday. The first day of games is slated for July 30, but several players have opted out, while others maintain worries about the virus.

Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them. Susan from Warminster, Pennsylvania, asks: I see so many recommendations to not wear gloves, but this is what I do. Is it bad? If so, why?

"CDC doesn’t recommend the general public use gloves. Gloves can be a source of contamination, even for the wearer, if not properly removed," spokeswoman Kate Grusich told Paste BN in an email.

The CDC's online guide for glove use recommends wearing them when cleaning or caring for someone who is sick. It expressly notes gloves are a bad choice for running errands. The best way to protect yourself from germs when running errands and after going out is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Still not convinced? Read our full fact check about why wearing gloves is a bad idea for the general public.

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

– Jay Cannon, Paste BN Network and wires editor (@JayTCannon) and Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter (@grace_hauck)