Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

The U.S. reported four straight days with record numbers of new cases of COVID-19, dashing hopes that summer heat and humidity would help quash the pandemic.

The latest record day was Friday with 66,000 new cases, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Infections are climbing fastest in the nation's hottest states, despite earlier predictions by some health experts that summer might slow the spread.

California, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama all set record highs for the number of new cases in recent days. Georgia recorded its highest number to date on Friday.

The surge in cases prompted Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to order the city back to phase one of reopening Friday, which means people should stay home except for essential trips, and restaurants and retail outlets are restricted to curbside pickup and to-go orders only.

“Georgia reopened in a reckless manner and the people of our city and state are suffering the consequences," Bottoms said in a news release.

Gov. Brian Kemp lashed out at the move by Bottoms, saying local governments aren't allowed to make restrictions beyond what the state has ordered.

Georgia has confirmed more than 110,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 2,965 deaths.

Nationwide, the total number of known COVID-19 cases has climbed to 3.18 million. More than 134,000 have died in the U.S.

Worldwide, more than 12.5 million infections have been confirmed with at least 560,921 deaths.

Latest Developments

United States:

-Alabama has been added to a list compiled by Harvard University of states at highest risk from COVID-19. Harvard experts now recommend seven states be put under stay at home orders. Besides Alabama, those states are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas.

-The number of cases in Florida has nearly doubled in the past two weeks. Some counties saw positive test rates as high as about 30%, a number that health experts say shows the rising number of cases isn't just related to increased testing.

-Intensive care units in Miami-Dade County reached 97% capacity on Friday, according to the county health department.

-Disney World is forging ahead with reopening plans at its Orlando theme parks, despite the increased numbers in Florida. The flagship Magic Kingdom opened Saturday, as did Animal Kingdom. Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios are set to open Wednesday. Among precautions in place are temperature checks at entrance gates, a requirement to wear masks and hand sanitizer stations throughout the parks.

-In Houston, COVID-19 patients were being held in emergency rooms due to lack of beds, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NBC News. “It is not an optimal level of care," Harris Health System president and CEO Esmaeil Porsa told the network. "This is not something we would choose to do. The only reason this is happening is because we are being forced to do it.”

-Among those under age 65, people of color are most likely to die from COVID-19. An analysis of cases in the U.S. by the CDC from February to May also found that men over age 65 were overall most at risk, and the average of all people who died was 78 years old, CNN reported.

-A garment factory in Los Angeles was shut down by health officials after 300 workers tested positive and four died, KTLA-TV reported. The factory had been under investigation since June 19 and officials had found a host of shortfalls, including violations related to social distancing and infection control procedures.

Worldwide:

-Cases in India soared past 800,000, with the country on Friday reporting its most new cases in a single day. India has the third highest number of cases in the world behind Brazil and the U.S.

-A German soccer club plans to test more than 22,000 fans before each game in an effort to fill its stadium with spectators. Each person who tests negative within 24 hours of the start of the game will be allowed in the stands, The Associated Press reported.

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.