Coronavirus: what US states are doing to slow the Covid-19 spread
At least 31 states are seeing a significant increase in new coronavirus confirmed cases and the US appears to be failing to control the virus spread.
The United States continues to be a focal point of the coronavirus pandemic as the country surpassed 2.5 million confirmed cases, according to the John Hopkins University.
Many states started a four-phase plan to reopen their economy amid the coronavirus pandemic but in the last few weeks the number of confirmed cases have spiked and now some are looking to take drastic measures to stop the virus from spreading further.
Pittsburgh
Bars and restaurants in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which includes the city of Pittsburgh, will have to suspend the sale of onsite alcohol, officials said on Sunday. The county is seeing "alarming spikes" in positive cases of Covid-19, and bars in particular have been hotspots, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said at a news conference.
During the press conference it was also said that masks will be required at all times in public places. The county’s bars and restaurants reopened for dine-in guests on 5 June.
California
The Golden State’s Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an ordered on Sunday to close all bars in seven counties due to the “rising spread” of the coronavirus. In a tweet, Newsom said bars in Los Angeles, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, San Joaquin and Tulare counties were ordered to close.
Bars in another eight counties, covering much of suburban Southern California and parts of the Bay Area, were also recommended to close. Those counties included Contra Costa, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Ventura.
Arizona
Arizona saw a daily record number of new Covid-19 cases, with 3,858 reported on Sunday and nearly half of Arizona’s total Covid-19 cases are among adults aged 20-44. Arizona is one of seven states that have seen a record number of new cases since Friday.
Florida
The Florida Department of Health announced an additional 8,577 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, 1,000 less than the previous day. On Miami Beach a new law was imposed in order to prevent the spread and if people are not wearing face masks they can be fined up to $500.