Category: Covid-19

FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) 87 of Kentucky's 120 counties now have high transmission levels of COVID-19, according to state data.

In Thursday's COVID-19 report, 2,217 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state. The current positivity rate has also gone up to 10.27%.

939 Kentuckians are in the hospital from the virus, 282 are in the ICU, and 108 people are on a ventilator.

Four more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the total number of those who died from COVID-19 in the state to 7,366.

A majority of Kentucky counties are considered to have high transmission levels by the state. That means the county has 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 people.

Kentucky Department of Public Health

Excerpt from:

2,217 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Kentucky, number of red zone counties rises to 87 - LEX18 Lexington KY News

The global tally of confirmed cases of the coronavirus-borne illness COVID-19 topped 200 million on Thursday, reaching a milestone that the World Health Organization had predicted just a day ago would come by next week in the latest sign of just how far and fast the virus has spread.

The official death toll, as recorded by Johns Hopkins University, stands at 4.26 million, although the WHO and other agencies have said the actual numbers are likely much higher given shortages of testing in some places and discrepancies in how countries record their numbers.

Latest tallies: Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 200 million and U.S. to require foreign travelers are vaccinated

Coronavirus Update:MarketWatch has published a daily roundup of COVID-19 news every weekday since the pandemic began accessible here

With the highly transmissible delta variant rapidly infecting especially unvaccinated people, efforts to persuade vaccine resisters to get their shots and to get vaccine supply to underserved countries have become more urgent. Thats why the WHO on Wednesday called for a moratorium on boosters until poorer countries have got access to first doses.

The U.S., France and Germany appear to have rejected that plea. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that was it was a false choice, arguing that the U.S. can both offer boosters to vulnerable people and continue to donate vaccines to others.

France and Germany both announced plans to offer boosters to their elderly and immunocompromised starting in September, Reuters reported. The WHO has repeatedly called for greater vaccine equity and has warned that allowing large parts of the world to remain unvaccinated while wealthier countries hog supply will allow the virus to continue to find hosts and create new variants, some of which may prove vaccine-resistant.

I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the delta variant, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it.

The Biden administration is gearing up to make it a requirement for nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated, a White House official said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. The requirement would come as part of the administrations phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens. No timeline has been determined, as interagency working groups study how and when to safely move toward resuming normal travel.

But thanks to delta, now the dominant strain in the U.S., cases are rising in all 50 states, especially among the millions of Americans who remain unvaccinated. A New York Times tracker shows the seven-day average of cases at 96,000, up 131% from two weeks ago, and more than seven times higher than at the beginning of July.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Bidens chief medical adviser, warned Wednesday that the numbers could double to 200,000 cases a day in the coming weeks and the country could be in trouble by the fall.

What were seeing, because of this increase in transmissibility, and because we have about 93 million people in this country who are eligible to get vaccinated who dont get vaccinated that you have a significant pool of vulnerable people,Fauci told McClatchy in an interview.

The peak day for new cases was Jan. 7, when 295,880 were recorded. By June 14, that number had fallen to 8,069, before starting to climb again.

Dont miss: As the more contagious delta variant circulates, public health experts say herd immunity has become an even more distant goal

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine tracker has barely budged in recent weeks with just 49.8% of the total population fully vaccinated. That means they have had two shots of the vaccines developed by Pfizer PFE, -0.29% with German partner BioNTech BNTX, -2.30% or Moderna MRNA, -0.67%, or one shot of Johnson & Johnsons JNJ, +0.19% one-dose vaccine, the only three that are authorized in the U.S. so far.

Among adults 18 and older, just 60.7% are fully vaccinated, while 70.2% have received at least one shot. Fauci said hes hoping the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will get full FDA approval in the coming weeks, at which point they can be mandated.

If we dont crush the outbreak to the point of getting the overwhelming proportion of the population vaccinated, then what will happen is the virus will continue to smolder through the fall into the winter, giving it ample chance to get a variant, which, quite frankly, were very lucky that the vaccines that we have now do very well against the variants particularly against severe illness, Fauci told McClatchy. Were very fortunate that thats the case. There could be a variant thats lingering out there that can push aside delta.

Moderna said Thursday its vaccine is still 93% effective six months after the second dose. This is different from what Pfizer Inc.said last week about its COVID-19 shot, which is thatimmunity can wane to 83.7% four to six months after getting the second shot. Both vaccines are two-dose mRNA vaccines that had efficacy rates of about 95% in clinical trials.

In other COVID news, Australias second biggest city, Melbourne, is entering a sixth lockdown as it struggles to contain an outbreak, ABC News reported. Melbourne joins the biggest city, Sydney, where soldiers are patrolling the streets to enforce a lockdown.

In China, Beijing is canceling all large-scale events for the rest of August, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing state media. China has been battling a series of COVID-19 outbreaks caused by the variant since mid-July, with new cases numbering 62 nationwide on Wednesday, according to the countrys National Health Commission. The events were canceled after authorities confirmed three cases of locally transmitted COVID Wednesday caused by the delta variant.

In New York City, the annual car show has been canceled because of delta, and country-music singer Garth Brooks is reconsidering whether to continue a stadium tour this year.

Meanwhile, in South Dakota, there are growingfears that COVID-19 infections will be unleashed among the 700,000 people expected to show up at the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, as the AP reported. Last years event went ahead despite those same concerns with 460,000 attending and creating a superspreader event.

From the archives (September 2020):Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota in August linked to more than 250,000 coronavirus cases, study finds

The rally is a behemoth, and you cannot stop it, said Carol Fellner, a local who worried that this years event would cause a fresh outbreak of cases. I feel absolutely powerless.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has given the rally her blessing, as she did in 2020. Noem has mostly taken a hands-off approach to the pandemic, and will appear in a charity ride.

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Global tally of COVID-19 cases tops 200 million as U.S., Germany and France push back against WHO call on boosters - MarketWatch

(CNN) If you're planning to travel to Portugal, here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The basics

Portugal is in a State of Calamity until August 8, with case numbers and deaths at a four-month high, according to the government. However, it is open for tourism for EU citizens plus arrivals from countries including the US, Canada and Japan.

What's on offer

Ancient towns, some of the loveliest coastline in Europe, and plenty of pasteis de nata. Portugal has long been overlooked in favor of Europe's bigger hitters, but over the last few years, that's started to change rapidly. Capital Lisbon, with its trams rattling up hills and peerless views of the river Tagus, is the place to start. Then there's the Algarve, whose beach resorts are set atop crumbling cliffs, and the dramatic Atlantic coast, beloved by surfers, and the vast Alentejo region, whose landscapes and hilltop towns have been barely touched by tourism.

Who can go

Residents of the EU and Schengen-associated countries can travel freely. Also allowed in for non-essential travel are arrivals from the following: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China, South Korea, USA, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Moldova, Northern Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine and Hong Kong. See below for the rules.

Arrivals from the UK are also allowed, but further restrictions apply: see below.

Only essential travel is permitted from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa. Anyone eligible to come from those countries must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

What are the restrictions?

Arriving by sea entails the same entry regulations. Arriving by rail or train, those coming from the main list of destinations have no restrictions. Again, those coming from the UK must either show proof of vaccination or must quarantine for 14 days.

What's the Covid situation?

Portugal has had over 972,000 cases and 17,378 deaths as of August 3. The 17,348 new cases registered in the week leading up to August 3 are a far cry from the record 86,389 in one week of January 2021, but cases are rising -- both new infections and deaths are at a four-month high, according to the government.

What can visitors expect?

Face masks are mandatory on public transport. Passengers must sit in the back seats only of taxis. If renting cars, vehicles with more than five seats have a capacity limit of two thirds, unless travelers belong to the same household. Groups in restaurants and bars are limited to six inside and 10 outside, while cultural facilities are capped at 66% capacity. Alcohol cannot be sold in service areas or gas stations.

You must present an EU Covid Digital Certificate or a negative test when checking in to accommodation, eating inside restaurants on Friday nights, weekends and public holidays, and entering spas, casinos and exercise classes. PCR tests within 72 hours or antigen tests within 24 hours and certified by a medical professional are acceptable. Children under 12 are exempt.

Useful links

Our recent coverage

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Travel to Portugal during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go - CNN

Kids are heading back to school soon. So we've compiled this helpful list of COVID-19 regulations. This is not a complete list and will be updated as more information enters the FOX 13 newsroom. Check back for updates.

Canyons School District

- Vaccinations: Not required- Masks: Not required- Testing: Not specified- Quarantine: Students who test positive for COVID-19 required to quarantine at home for 10 days.

Kane County School District

- Vaccinations: Not required to enroll in school or extracurricular activities- Masks: Face masks are not mandatory but students are welcome to wear them.- Testing: Testing will not be required in most circumstances, unless a school has more than 30 positive cases in 30 days.- Quarantine: If a student tests positive for COVID-19 they will be required to quarantine at home for 10 days.

Provo School District

- Vaccinations: COVID-19 vaccination not required to enroll in school or join an extracurricular team, but is encouraged for those eligible.- Masks: Face masks are not required but recommended.,- Testing: COVID-19 testing not required in most circumstances, including for extracurricular activities.- Quarantine: It's possible a student may be quarantined if they have COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19. That decision will be made by the health department.

Tooele County School District

- Vaccinations: TBA- Masks: TBA- Testing: Testing will not be reuired to enroll in school or extracurricular activities unless 2% of students and staff test positive for COVID-19.- Quarantine: TBA

For details about any policy, please check the school district's website and social media pages or reach out to the school directly. This is not a complete list and schools may change policy without notice.

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Utah Back-To-School COVID-19 information - fox13now.com

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of August 5, 2021, there have been 3,150,938 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 168,733 total cases and 2,961 deaths.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 61-year old male from Harrison County, a 60-year old female from Raleigh County, a 71-year old female from Upshur County, a 79-year old female from Cabell County, and a 74-year old male from Kanawha County.

We are thankful for our healthcare professionals and all on the front line who continue to do everything in their power to end COVID-19, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. Our condolences are extended to these families for their loss.

CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (1,557), Berkeley (13,200), Boone (2,216), Braxton (1,065), Brooke (2,282), Cabell (9,258), Calhoun (407), Clay (549), Doddridge (654), Fayette (3,728), Gilmer (905), Grant (1,329), Greenbrier (2,940), Hampshire (1,948), Hancock (2,887), Hardy (1,598), Harrison (6,414), Jackson (2,327), Jefferson (4,899), Kanawha (15,816), Lewis (1,404), Lincoln (1,629), Logan (3,372), Marion (4,804), Marshall (3,681), Mason (2,163), McDowell (1,696), Mercer (5,338), Mineral (3,020), Mingo (2,842), Monongalia (9,567), Monroe (1,249), Morgan (1,286), Nicholas (1,975), Ohio (4,432), Pendleton (727), Pleasants (970), Pocahontas (699), Preston (2,990), Putnam (5,519), Raleigh (7,280), Randolph (2,923), Ritchie (782), Roane (681), Summers (875), Taylor (1,338), Tucker (556), Tyler (772), Upshur (2,068), Wayne (3,291), Webster (621), Wetzel (1,451), Wirt (476), Wood (8,124), Wyoming (2,153).

Free pop-up COVID-19 testing is available today in Barbour, Berkeley, Fayette, Hampshire, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, and Mingo counties.

Barbour County

9:00 AM 3:00 PM, Barbour County Health Department, 109 Wabash Avenue, Philippi, WV

Berkeley County

1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Shenandoah Community Health, 99 Tavern Road, Martinsburg

10:00 AM 5:00 PM, 891 Auto Parts Place, Martinsburg, WV

Fayette County

2:00 PM 6:00 PM, Oak Hill High School, 350 Oyler Avenue, Oak Hill, WV

Hampshire County

10:00 AM 5:00 PM, Hampshire County Health Department, 16189 Northwestern Turnpike, Augusta, WV

Jefferson County

10:00 AM 6:00 PM, Hollywood Casino, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV

Lewis County

Lincoln County

Mingo County

10:00 AM 2:00 PM, Seven Eleven, 11 West Second Avenue, Williamson, WV

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COVID-19 Daily Update 8-5-2021 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

A new study, to appear in the journal Cell, suggests that the first response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the nose and throat may determine the severity of the illness.

A team from Boston Childrens Hospital, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center looked at cells from the nose and throat of people with SARS-CoV-2 infections and compared these with the samples from healthy individuals who formed the control group.

The researchers took nasal swabs from 35 adults with COVID-19 between April and September 2020.

They then sequenced the RNA in each cell to see which cells contained RNA from the virus showing they were infected and which of the cells genes were turned on or off in response.

The researchers found that more of the genes that respond to infection were turned on in infected cells compared with healthy cells. However, the effect on the cells with SARS-CoV-2 was different in people with severe and mild infections.

Those people with COVID-19 had more mucus-secreting cells and far fewer mature ciliated cells the cells that move foreign material from the airways than their healthy counterparts. At the same time, they had more immature ciliated cells, which may have been in compensation for the loss of mature ciliated cells.

Of the 58 study participants, 35 had COVID-19, ranging from people with mild symptoms to the critically ill. The study included a control group of 15 healthy people two of whom had previously had COVID-19 and six intensive care patients, all of whom had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Why some people get more sick than others has been one of the most puzzling aspects of this virus from the beginning, says Dr. Jos Ordovs-Montas of Boston Childrens Hospital, co-senior investigator on the study.

Although the study had only a small sample size, there were some interesting results that may help in the development of effective treatments.

The researchers found that in those with mild symptoms, the genes involved in antiviral responses were switched on. In those with severe symptoms, this interferon response, which kick-starts the immune response, was decreased, but the inflammatory response was increased.

Speaking to Medical News Today, Dr. Christopher Coleman, assistant professor of infection immunology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, commented: The finding about the different immune response is especially interesting. Coronaviruses have numerous proteins that block innate immunity, including interferon, so the low response may be due to high viral protein expression.

Some researchers think that it is extreme inflammatory responses that are responsible for the more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Everyone with severe COVID-19 had a blunted interferon response early on in their epithelial cells and were never able to ramp up a defense, says Dr. Ordovs-Montas. Having the right amount of interferon at the right time could be at the crux of dealing with SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

This study is consistent with previous studies that have shown that a lack of good interferon response leads to more severe disease, Dr. Jonathan Stoye, a virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, U.K., told MNT. We need to discover why some people have a good interferon response and others dont.

Focusing on the nasopharynx is key, as thats where the infection starts. For me, the next step would be to look at whether these findings could be used to come up with a diagnostic test to predict whether people will develop severe COVID-19.

Dr. Jonathan Stoye

The researchers now plan to investigate what is causing this difference in the interferon response and whether there are ways to enhance it in early COVID-19 infections, perhaps with a nasal spray or drops. Successful developments might also be useful for other viral infections, such as flu.

For live updates on the latest developments regarding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, click here.

Originally posted here:

Severe COVID-19: Could new findings lead to better prevention? - Medical News Today

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A group of pediatricians says nearly 72,000 new cases of COVID-19 among children were reported last week.

But does that mean COVID-19 cases are rising disproportionately among kids?

Not necessarily at least, not in North Carolina.

Focusing on that big number might miss the bigger picture: That the increase could have more to do with whos vaccinated and less to do with the kids who make up a subset of that group.

READ THE AAP REPORT HERE

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported just more than 3,500 new cases last week among kids under 18 an increase of 42.9 percent from the 2,456 new cases that came a week earlier.

In a sign of proportionality, thats the exact same percentage change in the number of new cases among everyone whose age was reported to DHHS from 12,411 during the week of July 18 to 17,742 last week.

And a CBS17.com data analysis found the share of cases in kids has remained relatively constant through the past 1 1/2 months at roughly 20 percent, give or take a percentage point.

That cases among kids are rising at the same rate as they are among the general population and that the share has been steady seems to indicate that children arent necessarily driving the increase.

With experts saying the pandemic at this point is most strongly affecting the unvaccinated and kids under 12 unable to get the vaccine those numbers could be a reflection of that.

Im not sure that we have a great answer to whether its really the unvaccinated kids versus unvaccinated adults that are driving that rise in cases in kids, said Dr. Emily OBrien, an epidemiologist at the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chief of the division of infectious diseases in the pediatric department at Stanford and chair of the AAP committee on infectious diseases, made the vaccinated-vs.-unvaccinated distinction in speaking to CNN.com.

Thats high and considering the fact that we are vaccinated now, what thats telling us is that unvaccinated people are getting infected in higher numbers because the virus is more infectious with the delta variant, she told the website.

Kids make up a fraction of that group of unvaccinated people who face a higher risk of catching the delta variant. About 2 million of the 5.2 million North Carolinians who have not gotten the vaccine are under 18, DHHS data show.

The ones between 12 and 17 can get the shot, but only about 30 percent of them just under 260,000 have done so.

I think youd have to be precise about what you mean by kids, OBrien said. If its 12-to-17-year-olds who have access to the vaccine, they could fall in that vaccinated group. Some of them, over half, are still unvaccinated. Even though theyre eligible, they would be with the unvaccinated group. And then, of course, kids under 12, unless theyre part of a vaccine arm of an ongoing clinical trial, would also fall in the unvaccinated group.

The AAP report also indicates that severe illness remains relatively rare among children. Those under 18 accounts for 1.4 percent of the more than 54,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions in North Carolina since Oct. 1, 2020, DHHS data show.

But OBrien says she plans to monitor the hospitalization rates among children going forward because its not yet known if the Delta variant puts kids at a higher risk of serious illness than other strains of the virus.

The hospitalizations that come as a result of having increased numbers of cases could actually be pretty high as well, OBrien said. And that is coming down the pike for us.

Get the free WAVY News App, available for download in the App Store and Google Play, to stay up to date with all your local news, weather and sports, live newscasts and other live events.

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Why 72,000 new COVID-19 cases among kids last week might better reflect vaccination rates than age - WAVY.com

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham19 House Democrats call on Capitol physician to mandate vaccines The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by AT&T - Simone wins bronze with altered beam routine The job of shielding journalists is not finished MORE (R-S.C.) said Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, even though he was fully vaccinated.

I was just informed by the House physician I have tested positive for COVID-19 even after being vaccinated, he said.

I started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the doctor this morning. I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms. I will be quarantining for ten days, he added.

Graham was one of 17 GOP senators who have been helping advance a bipartisan infrastructurebill, meaning its supporters will be down a vote untilhe comes out of quarantine. They only need 10 GOP senators to support it if every Democrat does.

Graham is the first senator known to test positive for the coronavirus in months,and the first known "breakthrough" case among vaccinated senators. A CNN survey earlier this year found that only four out of 100 senators, at the time, were not vaccinated.

Graham's announcement comes amid growingpublic concern about the potential for so-called breakthrough cases, when a fully vaccinated persontests positive for the coronavirus.

Public health officialshave stressed that symptomaticbreakthrough infections for fully vaccinated individuals are rare and getting vaccinated makes getting a severe case of the coronavirus less likely.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 1 percent of fully vaccinated Americans have had a breakthrough case that results in hospitalizationor death.

Graham, in his statement, touted the vaccine, saying that if he wasn't vaccinated "my symptoms would be far worse."

I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now," he said.

After largely shedding their masks in mid-May after the CDC loosened its mask guidance for vaccinated individuals, the CDC and the Capitol physician recommended last week that everyone wear a mask when indoors and around others regardless of vaccination status.

Though the House has mandated masks, the guidance to the Senate is only a recommendation. That sparked a mostly partisan split in the upper chamber. Democrats largely wore masks while walking between their offices and the Capitol, though several shed them when they were on the floor with other senators.

Republicans have largely stopped wearing masks.

Graham was spotted in the Capitol on Monday morning and spoke briefly with reporters. He was wearing a mask and appeared to be in a hurry, both of which caught the attention of reporters.

Spokespeople forthe South Carolina Republican didn't immediatelyrespond to a question about if, or when, he alerted leadership or other Senate offices to his test result.

But Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiKaine says he has votes to pass Iraq War repeal in Senate Ohio special election: A good day for Democrats Graham's COVID-19 'breakthrough' case jolts Senate MORE (R-Alaska), who said she was wearing a mask in accordance with the CDC's new guidance, was not aware that Graham had tested positive.

"I haven't seen him and I didn't know that," Murkowski said when askedabout her mask. "I am wearing it because we're in the District, and the District has imposed a mask mandate."

A group of senators, including Graham, had gathered on Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSenate rejects GOP effort to add Trump border wall to bipartisan infrastructure deal Youth organizations call on Biden to ensure 'bold' climate investments Democrats barrel toward August voting rights deadline MOREs (D-W.Va.) houseboat over the weekend, a source confirmed to The Hill.

Sens. Jacky RosenJacklyn (Jacky) Sheryl RosenThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - White House, Dems play blame game over evictions Graham's COVID-19 'breakthrough' case jolts Senate Graham says he has COVID-19 'breakthrough' infection MORE (D-Nev.) and Mark KellyMark KellyWhite House trying to beat back bipartisan Cornyn infrastructure amendment The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - White House, Dems play blame game over evictions Graham's COVID-19 'breakthrough' case jolts Senate MORE (D-Ariz.) were also at the gathering on Manchin's houseboat with Graham. CDC guidance says fullyvaccinated individuals should get tested three to five days after a potential exposure and wear a mask for up to 14 days unless they get a negative test result.

Senator Kelly came into contact with Senator Graham during a bipartisan gathering this weekend hosted by Senator Manchin. Senator Kelly is fully vaccinated and following CDC guidelines and the advice of the Office of the Attending Physician," a spokesperson for Kelly said.

Sam Runyon, a spokeswoman for Manchin, said that he is fully vaccinated and following the CDC guidelines for those exposed to a COVID positive individual.

Updated at 5:13 p.m.

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Graham says he has COVID-19 'breakthrough' infection | TheHill - The Hill

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Republican leaders in Florida and Texas - home to roughly a third of all new U.S. COVID-19 cases - to follow public health guidelines on the pandemic or "get out of the way" as the country struggles to contain the rapid spread of the disease's Delta variant.

Biden also announced the United States had donated more than 110 million vaccine doses to 65 countries, but the White House kept its focus largely on the crisis at home: outbreaks in the two Republican-led states accounting for an outsized share of rising cases nationwide.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has opposed strict COVID-19 restrictions. On Friday, he issued an order blocking mask mandates in the state's schools. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an order last spring that would impose fines for mask mandates.

"Some governors aren't willing to do the right thing to beat this pandemic, and they should allow businesses and universities who want to do the right thing to be able to do it," Biden said, without referencing the two men by name.

"I say to these governors ... if you're not going to help, at least get out of the way."

Asked later if DeSantis and Abbott were making calls that harmed their citizens, Biden said: "I believe the results of their decisions are not good for their constituents."

One in three new COVID-19 cases nationwide occurred in Florida and Texas in the past week, White House pandemic response coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters on Monday.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the White House was in discussions with both states about offering help to address the problem.

As of Saturday there were about 72,000 new COVID-19 cases per day in the United States, a 44% increase over the previous week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. read more

New York City will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination at restaurants, gyms and other businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday. Biden urged other cities and localities to do the same.

INTERNATIONAL PUSH

A woman holds a small bottle labelled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken October 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

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Biden said the U.S. donation of vaccines outstripped efforts by other countries such as Russia and China.

He said the United States would continue to give tens of millions of doses away across the summer.

"We're doing this to save lives and to end this pandemic. That's it," he said.

In late August, the United States will also start shipping 500 million doses of Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE's vaccine to 100 lower-income countries, the White House said in a statement earlier in the day.

Advocates believe the United States could be sharing even more.

"We could give away lots of what we have and still be fine," said Gregg Gonsalves, assistant professor of epidemiology of microbial diseases at the Yale School of Public Health.

Helping the rest of the world would benefit the United States in its domestic fight as well, he added.

"If we don't control it everywhere, we're not going to control it anywhere," Gonsalves said.

COVAX, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, seeks to secure two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses for countries in need by the year's end. read more

In June, a WHO official said many nations did not have enough doses to continue vaccination efforts or had simply run out. read more

The White House on Tuesday said it would work with COVAX and other regional partners to ensure the donated vaccines were equitably delivered.

Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason and Susan Heavey; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Bill Berkrot and Karishma Singh

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Biden tells Florida, Texas leaders: Help on COVID-19 or 'get out of the way' - Reuters

Daily Data Reportfor Connecticut

Latest Update: August 3, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

Reporting schedule: The State of Connecticut's COVID-19 metric report is issued once per day, every Monday through Friday, usually around 3:00 p.m. The report that is issued each Monday contains combined data that was collected on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Open data portal:Supplemental data on COVID-19 in Connecticut can be found on the state's open data portal,data.ct.gov,in the COVID-19 data portal. Data presented on the open data portal is available in its rawest form.

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Connecticut COVID-19 Data Tracker