Wisconsin reports largest increase of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began
From CNN’s Janine Mack
Wisconsin reported at least 754 new cases on Thursday – its highest number of new confirmed coronavirus in a single day.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health's website, the second largest increase of new coronavirus cases in the state was on July 4 with about 738 new cases.
In total, at least 33,908 cases of coronavirus have been reported statewide and at least 809 people have died from the virus, according to the health department.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services urged people to practice physical distancing and to wear a mask when appropriate.
Note: These numbers were released by Wisconsin Department of Health, and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.
6:12 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Keeping the pandemic under control is going to be a "real problem," even with a vaccine, Fauci says
From CNN’s Jen Christensen
Al Drago/Pool/Getty Images/FILE
Dr. Anthony Fauci is skeptical about the prospects of getting the Covid-19 pandemic under control without a vaccine.
“This virus, to our dismay, is spectacularly efficient in transmitting from person to person. So that makes me skeptical whether we would get permanent, sustained control of this without having a vaccine,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Thursday on Podcast-19, FiveThirtyEight’s weekly podcast on Covid-19.
He does think the pandemic can be controlled.
“But keeping it under control is going to be the real problem. Because this virus is not like other viruses that we’ve experienced,” Fauci said.
Despite the urgency, Fauci said regulators and vaccine makers are doing everything in their power to make sure it is effective and safe.
“We got to get it right. We really do,” Fauci said. “Because if we don’t, it might have a real negative impact in the long range, in the long term, on how people approach and respond to the need for vaccination, which is the reason why we’re taking so seriously that even though we’re doing this quickly, we’re not compromising the safety and nor are we compromising the scientific integrity.”
5:57 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Fauci says he doesn't blame the EU for banning American travelers
From CNN’s Jen Christensen
As some European countries are starting to reopen their borders during the pandemic, the European Union will ban most travelers from the US for now.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he thinks that’s “understandable.”
“So right now, they have their infection rate very low, much lower than we do. So they’re looking at us and they’re saying the same thing that we said to them,” Fauci said on Podcast-19, FiveThirtyEight’s weekly podcast on Covid-19.
The US banned travel to the US from China, Europe, and the UK in March.
“I would say it’s understandable," he added.
Some background: The EU travel ban went into effect on July 1. The US has recorded more cases and deaths than anywhere in the world. Brazil, Russia and India – the three nations with the highest numbers of cases after the US – have also been excluded from the EU's list of safe countries.
The decision is based on whether a country has a similar or better epidemiological situation than Europe, as well as comparable hygiene and containment measures.
5:49 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Brazil reports more than 40,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours
From CNN's Rodrigo Pedroso
Brazilian army soldiers disinfect the outside area of the presidential residence, Alvorada Palace, on Thursday, July 9, in Brasilia, Brazil. Andre Borges/Getty Images
Brazil is approaching nearly 70,000 fatalities from novel coronavirus after its health ministry reported at least 1,220 new deaths in the last 24 hours.
The nationwide death toll now stands at approximately 69,184.
The ministry also reported at least 42,619 new Covid-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total to approximately 1,755,779.
Some context: Brazil maintains the second highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide behind the US. On Tuesday, the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, announced he tested positive for the virus.
The president's press office reported Thursday that Bolsonaro "is in good health" and "progresses well, without complications."
5:38 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
North Carolina reports record number of Covid-19 hospitalizations
From CNN’s Eileen McMenamin
Gov. Roy Coope UNC TV
Gov. Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina reported the highest number of hospitalizations in the state and the second highest number of coronavirus cases.
“We’re continuing to watch with concern as Covid cases and hospitalizations increase,” he said. “And though North Carolina isn’t a surging hotspot like some other states, we could be if we don’t stay strong in our fight.”
As of today, the state has at least 79,349 lab-confirmed cases of the virus, including approximately 2,039 new cases and about 1,034 people in hospitals, according to the governor. At least 1,461 people have died from the virus.
North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said the state is in a "critical period."
“We need all hands on deck so we can maintain capacity for our health systems, get our kids back to school and reignite the economy. Our collective hard work to slow the spread of the virus has allowed us to avoid what we’re seeing in other states. But ongoing attention is needed," Cohen said.
On reopening schools: The governor said he will announce his plans for reopening schools next week. He said there are currently no plans to conduct pro-active coronavirus testing of K-12 students before they return to schools, but he encouraged the wearing of face masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the virus’ spread.
“We have been working on this for quite a while. This is a tough call – how to open up schools is something that every single state, every single governor is struggling with,” he said.
“I think it’s really important that we separate all of the politics here and talk about what’s best for our children. We know that they need to get back in school and do it in a safe way. And that can be a combination of in-person learning and remote learning, depending on the circumstances, depending on the student," he added.
Note: These numbers were released by the North Carolina Department of Public Health, and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.
5:34 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Some states, like Florida, reopened too fast, Fauci says
From CNN's Jen Christensen
Some states have opened too quickly, allowing the coronavirus pandemic to come roaring back, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday.
“There are some governors and mayors that did it perfectly correctly,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Podcast-19, FiveThirtyEight’s weekly podcast on Covid-19. “They wanted to open up, so they went through the guidelines of opening up their state. But what happened is that many of the citizenry, said, ‘You know, well, I’m either going to be locked down or I’m going to let it all rip.’"
Fauci said that "some states skipped over those and just opened up too quickly."
The nation's leading infectious disease doctor said he thought in some respects, Florida and Arizona’s reopening plans have contributed to the uptick in cases in those states.
“Certainly Florida I know, you know, I think jumped over a couple of checkpoints,” Fauci said.
5:29 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
The US isn't "doing great" with Covid-19 and partisanship is in part to blame, Fauci says
From CNN’s Jen Christensen
Al Drago/AFP/Getty Images/FILE
Dr. Anthony Fauci said people would have to have "blindfolders" and be covering their ears if they didn’t think partisanship has something to do with why it is so hard to control the Covid-19 pandemic.
“You have to be having blindfolders on and covering your ears to think that we don’t live in a very divisive society now, from a political standpoint,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Podcast-19, FiveThirtyEight’s weekly podcast on Covid-19.
“I mean, it’s just unfortunate, but it is what it is. And you know, from experience historically, that when you don’t have unanimity in an approach to something, you’re not as effective in how you handle it. So I think you’d have to make the assumption that if there wasn’t such divisiveness, that we would have a more coordinated approach," he said.
Fauci added that some parts of the country are doing “really well” at managing the pandemic, including communities where people follow the public health guidelines and have opened gradually.
“But as a country, when you compare us to other countries, I don’t think you can say we’re doing great. I mean, we’re just not," he said.
5:20 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Texas reports highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in a single day
From CNN's Raja Razek
Texas reported 105 Covid-19-related deaths on Thursday, the highest single-day increase in coronavirus fatalities.
The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the state is now 2,918.
Texas reported 9,782 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 230,346.
To note: These figures were released by the Texas Health and Human Services and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.
5:19 p.m. ET, July 9, 2020
Most key Covid-19 metrics in Los Angeles County are trending upward
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
The positivity rate in Los Angeles stands at 9%, with about 1.24 million tests having been conducted to date, according to Health Director Barbara Ferrer. Most key metrics are trending upward, she said.
Los Angeles is reporting 50 additional deaths today, which is well above the seven-day average of 24 fatalities. Approximately 1,777 additional coronavirus cases were reported, bringing the county’s total to almost 125,000.
Hospitalizations are also up slightly today. More than 2,000 patients are in the hospital with Covid-19 –– far more than the average of about 1,400 seen just four weeks ago.
Ferrer addressed what she calls the false narrative that younger people shouldn’t worry as much because they don’t tend to get as sick.
“The problem with that is that younger people affect everyone else,” she said.
“We are tied together as a community of human beings in what happens here. This isn’t the time for people to say, ‘I’m going to take the risk,’" Ferrer said. “It doesn’t work that way. It’s not just you that’s taking the risk. You’re creating a risk for other people.”
