COVID-19 sweeps the South
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The summer reprieve from the coronavirus isn't coming, and the outbreak is hitting the Sun Belt the hardest.
Why it matters: Anthony Fauci warned today of a "disturbing surge" driven by community spread in metropolitan areas in Florida, Texas and Arizona.
- "We were going down from 30,000 [new cases per day] to 25,000 to 20,000, and then we sort of stayed kind of flat, but now we're going up. A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections."
Between the lines: This isn't just from expanded testing.
- In Arizona, the state's positive test rate has soared to 21%, the FT reports. That's a 3x increase from a month ago.
- In Florida, the state had a 10% positivity rate on Monday, up from 4% at the beginning of the month.
- In Texas, the city of Houston's positivity rate has tripled to 9%.
Grim comparison: A dean at the Baylor College of Medicine warned that Houston could "become the worst affected city" in America if the trajectory holds, and "maybe rival what we're seeing now in Brazil."
- Brazil has now joined the U.S. as the second country to register 50,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths.
The big picture: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott even warned that lockdowns — a last resort — could return if the outbreak grows.
- “If we are unable to contain the spiraling spread of COVID-19, there will be more requirements put on businesses, including even considering have to ratchet back on the expansion of opening businesses in Texas.”
- Abbott warned that the "spread is so rapid right now, there’s never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you need to go out."
- "The safest place for you is at your home.”
The bottom line: Don't plan any European trips.
- America risks being lumped with Russia and Brazil as countries that failed to control the coronavirus when the EU reopens its borders on July 1, according to the N.Y. Times.
