By Helen Regan, Steve George, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes and Veronica Rocha, CNN
From CNN’s Ganesh Setty
New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Judith Persichilli said that young adults are the fastest growing group in the state testing positive for Covid-19.
Residents ages 18-29 accounted for 12% of the state’s cases in April, and in June, that age group represented 22% of the state’s total cases, she said.
Residents ages 18 to 29 years old account for nearly 24,000 of the state’s cases.
More than 730 residents have been hospitalized in that group, while 53 have died.
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there are simple things states can do to turn around the trajectory of the virus in the US.
“There are things you can do now: physical distance, wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, washing hands. Those things, as simple as they are, can turn it around,” Fauci said during a webinar with the Stanford School of Medicine on Monday. “And I think we can do that and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Fauci spoke about how after not shutting down the country completely, the US saw surges in states like California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, among others, as the country began to reopen.
He said the guidelines released for initial reopening attempts did not work well for the country, noting that some states went from shutdown to “complete throwing caution to the wind,” using examples of people without masks in crowded bars.
However, Fauci said that he is “confident” the US can get a handle on this situation.
“You don’t necessarily need to shut down again, but pull back a bit. And then, proceed in a very prudent way, observing the guidelines of going from step to step,” he said.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday that the President wants to "point out the fact that when we use science, we have to use it in a way that's not political."
This was in response to a question about what Trump meant by retweeting a baseless claim by game show host Chuck Woolery that "everyone is lying" about the coronavirus –– including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"The President, what his intent in that retweet, expresses displeasure with the CDC, some rogue individuals leaking guidelines prematurely," she said. "He believes that misleads the American public with planning materials released that are not in their fullest form and their best form," she added.
She pointed to some health experts who say not to condemn crowds of protesters while still keeping churches closed as an example.
"We need to use science, lean in to science but not use it, and cherry-pick it to fit whatever our particular political persuasion is," McEnany said.
McEnany added that the President has confidence in the CDC.
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From CNN's Amanda Watts and Shelby Lin Erdman
Coronavirus is “clearly the most challenging” public health crisis he’s ever dealt with – including HIV, Ebola, Anthrax and Zika, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said during a webinar with Stanford School of Medicine on Monday.
“We haven’t even begun to see the end of it yet,” Fauci said of the virus.
As cases continue to surge across the US and the Trump administration pushes to reopen schools, Fauci has actively continued to warn about the seriousness of the pandemic.
Fauci told the Wall Street Journal in a podcast last week that the country must control crowds, get people to wear masks and do a better job on physical distancing to get on top of the surging coronavirus pandemic as cases spike across parts of the South and Southwest.
Fauci noted that in order to get children back in school this fall, the country has to maintain control over the pandemic.
“We have got to keep our eye on that,” he said.
From CNN's Jason Hoffman
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany would not answer why the White House anonymously released a statement attempting to discredit Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert.
Asked by CNN’s Jim Acosta why the White House put out an opposition research style statement against Fauci from a “White House Official” without anybody putting their name to the statement, McEnany did not answer.
“There is no opposition research being dumped to reporters. We were asked a very specific quest by 'The Washington post,' and that question was President Trump noted that Dr. Fauci made some mistakes, and we provided a direct answer to what was a direct question,” McEnany said.
Pressed about putting a statement out from an anonymous source, something Trump has criticized in the past, McEnany again declined to answer, instead saying that Trump and Fauci have “always had a very good working relationship.”
CNN has reported that the White House is making a concerted effort to discredit Fauci as he becomes increasingly vocal about his concerns over reopening the country as coronavirus cases surge. The two men have not spoken in weeks.
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From CNN’s Dan Shepherd and Rosa Flores
The number of total coronavirus cases in Florida is now 282,435, up 12,624 cases since Sunday, according to the state's Department of Health.
More than half of positive coronavirus cases were people ages 25 to 54 year old, with the highest age group being 25-34 year-olds representing 20% of the total number.
If Florida were a country, it would be the fourth-highest in the world in reporting new cases. The state would rank 10th in terms of having the most cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
From CNN's Pete Muntean
JetBlue says it will continue to block all middle seats through September 8, extending a policy that was set to expire at the end of the month.
The policy also blocks sale of aisle seats on smaller aircraft.
Southwest and Delta also have policies that limit the number of seats sold on a given flight.
The other major carriers, American Airlines and United, both have said they will sell every seat on their flights.
From CNN’s Konstantin Toropin
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has re-enacted restrictions on indoor seating at restaurants and breweries in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the state, a statement from her office said.
The new public health order again prohibits indoor dining at restaurants, which had been allowed with limits since June 1, and restricts indoor seating at breweries, which was allowed with limits since June 15, according to the statement.
The latest numbers: In the past two weeks, the state has seen at least 3,049 new positive cases of Covid-19, representing 20.2% of the total positive cases statewide over the course of the pandemic, according to the governor’s office.
However, the state’s infection rates are not as serious as its neighbor, Arizona, which has led the nation for over a month with the highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.
Both restaurants and breweries can still seat people outdoors at 50% of their capacity and restaurants can continue to operate carry out, pickup and delivery services, the statement said.
The governor also tightened restrictions on gyms and other “close contact businesses” like tattoo shops and salons. Those establishments are now limited to 25% of their maximum capacity, the statement said.
From CNN's Jabari Jackson
Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook announced he has tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement issued on social media, Westbrook said he’s feeling well as he anticipates joining his teammates once cleared from the virus.
“I tested positive for Covid-19 prior to my team’s departure to Orlando,” Westbrook said in the statement. “I’m currently feeling well, quarantined, and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared. Thank you all for the well wishes and continued support. Please take the virus seriously. Be safe. Mask up. #whynot”
Westbrook and another teammate, James Harden, haven’t joined the rest of the team in Orlando ahead of the NBA restart. The Rockets tip off the season against the Dallas Mavericks on July 31.
Read the tweet: