Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

Cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. topped 3.5 million Thursday afternoon after dozens of states saw a spike in cases in recent weeks.

A risk dashboard from health experts at Harvard University now lists 11 states at the highest risk level from coronavirus, nearly double the number less than a week ago. Those states, in order of most cases per 100,000 people, are: Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Tennessee, Mississippi and Idaho.

The coronavirus crisis is gripping the nation, with more and more communities and businesses embracing face coverings and school districts announcing scaled back reopening plans.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democrat, over face covering rules and coronavirus restrictions, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The lawsuit filed Thursday, challenges Atlanta's face mask mandate and Bottoms' decision earlier this month to revert to stricter reopening rules, including urging residents to stay home.

The move comes after Kemp issued an order Wednesday night that barred local governments from issuing face-covering mandates, and overrides those already in place in more than a dozen cities in his state.

Georgia reported 3,871 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, its second-highest number since the pandemic began. Georgia has confirmed more than 127,000 infections, the eighth-highest number in the United States. At least 3,091 people have died from the virus statewide.

Kemp encourages the use of face masks and recently went on a statewide tour promoting their use, but says rules requiring them are legally unenforceable. Kemp has also prohibited local governments from putting restrictions in place that go beyond anything the state has ordered.

Local officials, many of whom are Democrats, fired back at the Wednesday order.

"It is officially official," Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said on Twitter. "Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us. Every man and woman for himself/herself."

More than half of U.S. states now have some form of face-covering mandate, including several led by Republicans. Dozens more cities and counties have also issued mask orders.

Kemp's Wednesday order also extended some state restrictions, including a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide continues to surge, with more than 3.55 million as of Thursday evening, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 137,800 people have died because of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Worldwide, more than 586,000 people have died, and 13.6 million cases have been confirmed.

Latest Developments

United States:

-Students in Alabama's largest school district won't have in-person classes for at least the first nine weeks. Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Chresal Threadgill said in a statement Thursday that the school year will start Sept. 1 with remote learning for the first quarter, and re-evaluate for the second quarter.

-At least 67 employees at Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta tested positive for COVID-19 and 40 more tests are pending, WSB-TV reported.

-Texas hit a new high in COVID-19 deaths for the second consecutive day in a row. The state recorded 129 deaths on Thursday, topping the record of 110 the day before, the Texas Tribune reported. The rising number of coronavirus deaths has prompted some cities and counties to turn to refrigerated trucks to hold dead bodies, The Associated Press reported.

-The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended a "no sail" order for cruise ships until Oct. 1, the Miami Herald reported. The order was set to expire July 24. All the major cruise companies that sail from the U.S. had already voluntarily suspended operations until Sept. 15. Cruising stopped on March 13 as coronavirus pandemic took hold in the use, but it took several weeks to get all passengers cleared and disembarked after several ships experienced outbreaks.

-The Boy Scouts of America postponed next year's National Jamboree. The event was scheduled for July 21-30, 2021, at the Scouts' Summit Bechtel site in West Virginia. The National Jamboree is usually held every four years, and the last one in 2017 was estimated to have drawn 40,000 participants. "Planning, preparations, and decisions regarding National Jamborees take place months, and even years, in advance," the Boy Scouts said in a statement. "Given the current situation and the uncertain nature of future conditions, we determined we could not prepare in a manner that would provide the safest possible environment for all those involved." No new date was announced.

-At least 72 NFL players have tested positive for COVID-19, ESPN reported. The league and players are still working out details starting play in the fall.

-Target shoppers are required to wear face coverings starting Aug. 1. The retailer made the announcement the day after Walmart, Kohl's and Kroger all said they will require face coverings. Target said more than 80% of its stores already require face coverings due to local rules. CVS also added its name to the list of businesses where face coverings must be worn, as did Publix supermarkets.

-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, where Walmart has its headquarters, issued a statewide face covering mandate Thursday.

-Colorado Gov. Jared Pollis also issued a face mask order.

-Montana Gov. Steve Bullock issued a mask order for his state Wednesday night, requiring face coverings in public indoor spaces, and outdoors at gatherings of 50 or more people when social distancing isn't possible or isn't being observed. The rule applies to counties with four or more cases. Montana has one of the lowest number of known cases of COVID-19 in the nation, with 2,096 infections and 34 deaths.

-The number of new people filing for unemployment nationwide remained steady at 1.3 million last week, but rose in many places where COVID-19 is surging, according to the latest Department of Labor report for the week ending July 11. The number of people filing in Florida, for example, doubled over the past week. Applications also rose in Arizona, California, Georgia and South Carolina. The record-high number of unemployment applications before the coronavirus pandemic was about 700,000, according to the AP.

-Delta Airlines lost some $5.7 billion during three months of coronavirus shutdowns and restrictions, the AP reported. The airline's passenger numbers dropped 93% from the same period a year earlier, and revenue plunged by 88%. Airline officials say it will likely take at least two years to recover. Delta is at least one of three major airlines that has limited capacity to 60% in order to promote social distancing.

-Large school districts across the country continue to unveil plans to hold online classes only. Georgia's Fulton County, where Atlanta is the county seat, announced Thursday that schools will go 100% virtual when the new year starts in August. Cobb County, Georgia, which includes parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area, made a similar announcement. Albuquerque, New Mexico, schools announced a hybrid mixture of online and in-person classes for the first few weeks of school.

-The Republican Party convention planned for August in Jacksonville, Florida, will be scaled back and parts of it will be held outdoors, the Washington Post reported. Still, as many as 7,000 people will be allowed to attend. Florida has one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world, with new cases and deaths spiking to record highs in recent weeks. The state has reported more than 300,000 known cases of COVID-19 and at least 4,500 deaths.

-After repeated attacks on his credibility by the White House, Dr. Anthony Fauci called the political grandstanding "nonsense." "I cannot figure out in my wildest dreams why they would want to do that," Fauci told the Atlantic in a recent interview, referencing a document compiled and sent to media outlets by the White House that questioned statements made by Fauci.

Worldwide:

-The U.S., Great Britain and Canada accused a Russian group of trying to hack organizations working on possible coronavirus vaccines. An intelligence report issued Thursday alleges that the attacks were carried out by a "cyber espionage group, almost certainly part of the Russian intelligence services."

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.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.