Currents News Staff
New weekly cases are on the rise in at least 26 states, including California recording 5,000 new cases – its highest daily count since the start of the pandemic.
“We are now seeing a disturbing surge of infections. The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we’re seeing,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In Texas, one of the first states to begin reopening, Governor Greg Abbott now says its possible restrictions will be back, adding “Because the spread is so rampant right now, there is never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you do need to go out. The safest place for you is at your home.”
There’s no statewide mandate for wearing masks in Texas, nor is there in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis is still resisting issuing one.
“I think you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. When you attach criminal penalties for something you’ve got to enforce it and the question is in some of the parts of Florida is that really a good use of resources,” said DeSantis.
Top health officials testified before a House Committee about the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus.
“We’ve all done the best that we can do to tackle this virus. And the reality is it brought this nation to its knees,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC Director.
On the question of a possible vaccine, Dr. Anthony Fauci said “I still think there is a reasonably good chance that by the very beginning of 2021 that, if we’re going to have a vaccine, that we will have it by then.”