The US reported more than 55,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a new daily global record for the coronavirus pandemic, as infections rose in a majority of states, according to Reuters.
A surge in coronavirus cases over the past week has put Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis under the microscope and led several governors to halt plans to reopen their states after strict lockdowns.
The daily US tally stood at 55,274 late Thursday, topping the previous single-day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on 19 June.
New infections were rising in 37 out of 50 US states in the past 14 days compared with the two weeks prior, according to a Reuters analysis. The US has now recorded nearly 129,000 deaths, nearly a quarter of the known global total.
Florida confirmed more than 10,000 new cases on Thursday, marking the state’s largest daily spike so far and a level that exceeded single-day tallies from any European country at the height of the outbreak there.
Positive tests in California, another hotspot, climbed 37%, with hospitalisations up 56% over the past two weeks.
The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, a Republican who has previously resisted calls to make face masks mandatory, on Thursday ordered them to be worn in all counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases. Texas reported nearly 8,000 new cases on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, Kansas required face coverings after a 46% spike in infections there last week.
The wave of new cases has several governors halting or back-pedalling on plans to reopen their states after months of strict lockdowns, closing beaches and cancelling fireworks displays over the upcoming independence day weekend.
