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Divisions continue in states reopening amid coronavirus

A man poses in front of the Baby Acapulco dining room in Austin, Texas, on May 1. Photo: Dave Creaney/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Roughly a dozen states began to reopen their economies on Friday, the New York Times reports, despite health experts' concerns that coronavirus infection spikes could be caused by premature returns to public life.

Zoom in: In Davenport, Iowa, which is still under tight restrictions, Glory Smith told the Times that the state's reopening was coming too soon since the virus doesn't respect county boundaries.

  • "It is like having a smoking section on a plane or in a restaurant,” she said. “It doesn’t work."
  • Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) eased closures of restaurants, shops, libraries, gyms and malls on Friday in 77 of the state's 99 counties — ones where novel coronavirus cases have been minimal or declining, the Des Moines Register reports.

The big picture: Protests against stay-at-home orders designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have continued across the country for weeks.

  • Protestors have gathered in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington state, California, New Hampshire and Maryland.

How it's playing:

The New York Times

Go deeper ... In photos: Cities take steps toward reopening

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
Aug 10, 2020 - Health

New York reports new low positive coronavirus test rate

People physically distancing at tables in New York City's Times Square in June. Photo: Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced Sunday 515 people, or 0.78% of those tested, returned a positive reading for COVID-19 the previous day.

Why it matters: It's the lowest single-day positive rate since the start of the pandemic. It's another sign that the state that was once a global coronavirus epicenter is curbing the spread of the virus. "Our daily numbers remain low and steady, despite increasing infection rates across the country, and even in our region," Cuomo said in a statement. "But we must not become complacent: Everyone should continue to wear their masks and socially distance."

Axios
Updated Oct 7, 2020 - Health

World coronavirus updates

Expand chart
Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

New Zealand now has active no coronavirus cases in the community after the final six people linked to the Auckland cluster recovered, the country's Health Ministry confirmed in an email Wednesday.

The big picture: The country's second outbreak won't officially be declared closed until there have been "no new cases for two incubation periods," the ministry said. Auckland will join the rest of NZ in enjoying no domestic restrictions from late Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, declaring that NZ had "beat the virus again."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Rebecca Falconer
Aug 10, 2020 - Health

97,000 children test positive for coronavirus in two weeks

A boy has his temperature checked as he receives a free COVID-19 test in South Los Angeles in July. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

At least 97,000 children tested positive for COVID-19 in the final two weeks of July and there's been an estimated 338,000 cases involving kids in the U.S. since the pandemic began, a new report finds.

Why it matters: The report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association comes as schools and day cares look to reopen in the U.S.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow