Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

Many hospitals have reached capacity because of the rising number of COVID-19 patients, but even those that have rooms left find their staffs are increasingly stretched thin.

The United States military is stepping in to help.

About 160 Air Force doctors, nurses and other health care specialists are being deployed to eight California hospitals facing staffing shortages, according to a news release from U.S. Army North, which is overseeing the effort.

Another 580 members of the Army and Navy are being deployed at Texas hospitals.

"I think people erroneously think of hospital capacity as all about beds and space," Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association, told the Associated Press. "It’s far more than a mattress and a pillow. The most important resource are the people who are taking care of patients."

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 nationwide continues to surge, with more than 3.6 million as of Friday evening, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 138,000 people have died because of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Worldwide, more than 593,000 people have died, and 13.9 million cases have been confirmed.

Latest Developments

United States:

-Residents in two South Florida communities at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic are under emergency curfew orders. The city of Miami beach announced Friday afternoon that a curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in most of the the city’s entertainment district, while the start time is 10 p.m. for the rest of the city. Nearby Broward County imposed a similar rule for 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

-Home improvement stores Lowe’s and Home Depot announced customers will be required to wear masks in all its U.S. stores. Walmart, Target, CVS, Kroger and Publix have also made masks mandatory at their stores.

-Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she will direct "all state agencies, school districts and local governments to focus on preparing the state to welcome back students and teachers to school in person this fall."

-The Miami-Dade County Commission unanimously approved an emergency order giving all code and fire inspectors authority to issue tickets of up to $100 for individuals and $500 for businesses not complying with guidelines to wear masks and practice social distancing. Police officers already had this enforcement power, AP reported. “We’re going to put a heck of a lot of people out there,” said Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “Our people are going to go everywhere.”

-The U.S. reported more than 75,600 confirmed COVID-19 infections on Thursday, the highest count since the pandemic began.

-According to the Center for Public Integrity, a White House report dated July 14 said 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases and 11 are in the “red zone” for test positivity. The document, which hasn't been publicized, suggests the states, which include Florida, Georgia and California, return to more stringent protective measures, such as limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, closing bars and gyms and asking residents to wear masks at all times.

-Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will not close the state’s gyms. “If you are good shape you have a very, very low likelihood of ending up in significant condition as a result of the coronavirus," DeSantis said during an afternoon news conference in Apopka, Florida.

-Twelve of Florida’s 13 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to immediately impose a statewide mask order and stay-at-home orders "in parts of the state where the outbreak is raging," the Miami Herald reported. The letter went on to say if safety steps weren't taken, "our state may be forced into a statewide economic shutdown, either by your order or simply because Floridians and visitors do not feel safe."

-Florida has led the nation in coronavirus cases per capita for five consecutive days, CNN.com reported. The state is averaging just over 55 cases per 100,000 people, according to an analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. On Friday, the state reported 11,466 new cases on Friday, bringing its total number of confirmed cases to 327,241. The state's death toll because of the coronavirus is 4,805.

-Florida's Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee has closed its main floor for cleaning after 12 workers tested positive for COVID-19, Jason Mahon, Florida Division of Emergency Management communications director, told CNN.com. The floor is expected to reopen Monday.

-Hospitalizations in Georgia have increased 39% over the past week, Georgia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said. “Gwinnett, Fulton and DeKalb counties have the highest number of new cases over the past three weeks, accounting for nearly 26% of all the new cases in the state,” she said, according to CNN.com. “We continue to see outbreaks in workplaces, in businesses, in congregant settings, day cares, camps, fraternity housing, many churches and any place where there are a large number of people gathering.”

-Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who is suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over that city's mask mandate, said Friday, "Now I know that many well-intentioned and well-informed Georgians want a mask mandate, and while we all agree that wearing a mask is effective, I am confident that Georgians don’t need a mandate to do the right thing. I know that Georgians can rise to this challenge, and they will. And I know that Georgians will do their part to defeat this deadly virus."

-Dr. Anthony Fauci's boss said the prospect of firing or demoting the nation's top infectious disease expert is "unimaginable." Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, told STAT News, “This is a remarkable scientist who has led NIH’s efforts in infectious disease with great distinction for more than 30 years and who continues to be our lead in vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. The idea of losing that leadership at this critical moment for our nation is unthinkable.”

-NPR reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not release its new guidance for reopening schools this week as expected. The full set will be published before the end of the month, a CDC spokesperson said.

Worldwide:

-Queen Elizabeth II knighted 100-year-old World War II veteran Capt. Tom Moore on Friday. Moore became something of a British hero when he raised about $40 million for the National Health Service in April by walking 100 laps in his garden. The ceremony was held outside Windsor Castle where the 94-year-old queen and her husband are sheltering during the coronavirus pandemic.

-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a further loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, including allowing live indoor performances and the reopening of leisure centers and bowling alleys starting Aug. 1, the AP reported.

-Residents of Barcelona are being asked to stay at home as much as possible and keep socialization to a minimum as infections increase. Social gatherings of more than 10 people are banned, and nightclubs and gyms were closed again.

-Masks will be required in all indoor public places in France starting next week.

-India surpassed 1 million confirmed infections and 25,000 deaths. The country is reporting about 30,000 new cases a day.

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.