Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

More than 50,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S. Wednesday, the first time the number reached that high since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The daily record of 52,789 cases comes as states across the country report alarming increases in cases of COVID-19.

Arizona, California, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas all recorded their highest daily number of new cases.

In addition, Arizona reported 88 deaths on Wednesday, by far its highest number yet, according to the Arizona Republic.

"The virus is widespread in Arizona," the state health department said in announcing the record on Twitter. "Please follow all public health guidance to keep yourself and others safe and help contain the spread."

Florida reported more than 10,000 cases in a single day for the first time on Thursday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that daily deaths could climb to 100,000 if the country doesn't get the outbreak under control.

While more people are rushing to get tested, experts say the rise in cases is not just related to increased testing.

“There is no question that the more testing you get, the more you will uncover – but we do believe this is a real increase in cases, because the percent positivity’s are going up. So, this is real increases in cases,” Admiral Dr. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health for the US Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday, according to CNN.

In Arizona, for example, the number of tests administered increased by 77% over the past three weeks, while cases rose by 169%. Twenty percent of tests were positive last week, the Republic reported.

More than 2.7 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 130,000 people have died because of the new coronavirus. Worldwide, more than 517,162 people have died, and there have been 10.7 million infections.

Latest Developments

United States:

-More than 40 school principals in the San Francisco area are under quarantine after they were exposed to COVID-19 at a meeting to discuss schools reopening, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The in-person meeting was held June 19 by the Santa Clara Unified School District. A person who attended tested positive a few days after the gathering.

-A coronavirus outbreak traced to Michigan bar has now spread to more than 150 people. Fourteen cases were reported a week ago among people who had recently been at Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub, near the Michigan State University Campus. Now there are at least 128, plus another 24 people who contracted the virus by having contact with them, WLNS-TV reported.

-Nine more professional basketball players have tested positive for COVID-19, according to ESPN. In all, 25 of 351 NBA players tested have been positive, including 16 last week. The league is scheduled to resume play with a modified season on July 30 in Orlando, Florida.

-Some hospitals in the hardest hit states are nearing capacity. The chief medical officer at Houston's United Memorial Medical Center told CNN the facility could be at capacity in the next 14 days. "In the last three weeks, I have seen more admissions and sicker patients than on the previous 10 weeks," Dr. Joseph Varon said. "It's been an exponential increase on the severity of illness and on the number of cases that we admit." At least 12 states are reporting an increase in daily hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

-California shut down indoor businesses including bars, restaurants and theaters in 19 counties where cases are spiking. The restrictions affect more than 70% of California's population, the Mercury News reported.

-The White House will hold a socially distanced Fourth of July party on the South Lawn. Most of the guests will be front line workers, first responders and their families.

-Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state will move to phase three of reopening on Monday, which means indoor venues like movie theaters and museums can operate, with larger groups, and pro sports teams can hold competitions without spectators in the stands. Massachusetts has more than 109,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but is not seeing the same surge as some other states are.

-McDonald's is pressing the pause button on inside dining at locations around the country. The fast food chain had resumed limited inside service at about 2,200 of its 14,000 outlets, the Wall Street Journal reported. The rest were put on hold for at least three weeks.

-Health officials in Michigan are warning people who attended a garage sale near the community of Charlotte that they may have been exposed to coronavirus after a person working at the sale showed symptoms, the Lansing State Journal reported.

-Face masks will be required in all public areas in Indianapolis starting next week.

-Students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 are purposely attending parties in a contest to see who else can catch the virus, ABC News reported. Attendees put cash in a pot and whoever gets infected first "wins" the money.

Worldwide:

-Travelers from the U.S. to Switzerland will be required to quarantine for 10 days. The rule also applies to 28 other countries. Switzerland isn't part of the European Union, which has banned U.S. visitors altogether.

-The World Health Organization says the Eastern Mediterranean region, including the Middle East, is at a “critical threshold" for rising coronavirus cases, according to the Washington Post.

-At least two vaccines are being tested in Brazil, including a promising one developed at Oxford University, the Post reported. Brazil has reported more than 1.4 million cases of COVID-19, the second highest number in the world behind the U.S.

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

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