The United States has reached a grim milestone of 4 million coronavirus cases, doubling the total number of infections in just six weeks as deaths and hospitalizations continue a sharp rise in many states.
Despite the rosy picture painted by President Trump at his latest White House briefing, almost every metric shows just how badly America is losing its fight against the virus.
Positivity rates are at alarming levels in numerous states, hospitalizations are soaring, and more than 1,100 new coronavirus deaths were reported Wednesday, marking the first time since May 29 that the daily count exceeded that number, according to Washington Post tracking.
The rolling seven-day average of infections has doubled in less than a month, reaching more than 66,000 new cases per day Wednesday.
The U.S. death toll now exceeds 141,000.
Here are some significant developments:
• Senate Republicans are preparing to roll out a $1 trillion coronavirus relief package after three days of deliberations that exposed a rift between the White House and some GOP members who oppose the high price tag or object to Trump’s insistence on including a payroll tax cut.
An additional 1.4 million American workers filed for unemployment benefits last week — the first time since March that new claims rose.
• Employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration are among the latest federal employees suing the Trump administration for hazard pay they claim they’re entitled to for being exposed to coronavirus on the job.
• Despite mounting anecdotal evidence, doctors remain unsure whether it’s possible to get the coronavirus twice.
• Trump said he would feel “comfortable” having his family members attend in-person classes this fall, as a new poll showed that most parents would prefer to delay the start of in-person school.
• The opening day of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was to have been Friday. Instead, the city is grappling with a spike in coronavirus infections, with 366 new cases reported Thursday, a daily record. The rescheduled Summer Games are set for a year from Thursday.
• Major League Baseball begins its pandemic-shortened season Thursday, although there are questions about whether the sport can make it through October without having to abort. Nationals star Juan Soto tested positive for coronavirus and will miss the start of the season, GM Mike Rizzo said Thursday.
