Jun 9, 2020 - Health

NASCAR to allow fans at Alabama and Florida races

NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November 2019. Photo: Michael Bush/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NASCAR will allow some fans to attend Florida's Dixie Vodka 400 race and Alabama's Geico 500 race this month, the company announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: The most coronavirus infections in Florida have been reported in Miami-Dade County, where the speedway is located. In contrast, Alabama's Talladega County is not reporting a high rate of coronavirus spread.

Details: Both speedways say that fans will be required to wear face coverings at all times, undergo a temperature check and social distance by 6 feet.

  • The Talladega Speedway is capping guest capacity at 5,000 people for its race on June 21.
  • The Homestead-Miami Speedway is only admitting 1,000 Florida military service members to the race on June 14.

The big picture: More than 1,000 new coronavirus infections have been reported every day in Florida for the past week, according to the state health department's tracker. Daily positive cases have started to decline in Alabama in recent days.

Go deeper: Coronavirus curve rises in Florida

Go deeper

Marisa Fernandez
Updated 24 hours ago - Health

The states where face coverings are mandatory

Data: Compiled by Axios; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a statewide mask mandate on Tuesday for those in public, as well as for teachers and students going back to school.

The big picture: 34 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, have issued some form of mask mandate as infections surge across the country.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Jacob Knutson
Aug 4, 2020 - Sports

Indy 500 to be held without fans due to coronavirus

The 2019 Indianapolis 500. Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced on Tuesday that it will hold the 2020 Indianapolis 500 on Aug. 23 without fans due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Why it matters: It's the first time in the race’s 109-year history that fans won't be in attendance and marks yet another professional sports disruption set off by the virus. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway had originally planned to hold the race at 25% stadium capacity.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 12 hours ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios VisualsThe

The death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 700,000 early Wednesday, Johns Hopkins data shows.

By the numbers: More than 18.5 million people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and over 11.1 million have recovered.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow