Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

The number of coronavirus cases around the world Saturday continued to climb to shocking levels that show normality is a long way off.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide soared above 14 million and the number of deaths neared 600,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, the number of confirmed cases has hit 3.67 million and there have been nearly 140,000 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects 150,000 to 170,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. by Aug. 8, based on a computer model that combines forecasts from 24 outside institutions and researchers. The states with the greatest likelihood of a larger number of deaths include Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, the Virgin Islands, and West Virginia.

The World Health Organization on Friday reported a single-day record of new infections at more than 237,000.

Experts think the actual numbers are higher because of testing shortages.

Latest Developments

United States:

-The Food and Drug Administration gave Quest Diagnostics an emergency use authorization to pool samples from four people at a time to speed up coronavirus testing, according to a news release from the agency. If the pooled sample tests positive, each individual's sample is tested separately.

-Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 300,000 more vials of remdesivir will be arriving at Florida hospitals, directly from distributors, in 48 to 72 hours. He also said the state has added self-swab COVID-19 tests — which have a 24 to 48 hour turnaround time — at some test sites.

-Florida reported 10,328 new confirmed cases and 90 new deaths on Saturday. This brings the state’s total cases to 337,569, Health Department data shows. The statewide death toll is now 4,895.

-CNN reports at least 39 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have implemented some type of face mask requirement.

-A health official in Nueces County, Texas, said 85 infants under the age of 12 months have tested positive for the coronavirus, CNN reported. "These babies have not even had their first birthday yet. Please help us stop the spread of this disease," said Annette Rodriguez, director of public health for Corpus Christi Nueces County. She did not provide additional details on their conditions.

-Officials at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border have ordered all personnel to wear masks inside all facilities at the base, according to a tweet Friday night.

-California Gov. Gavin Newsom said schools may not reopen classrooms until the county they are in remains off the state’s “watch list” for virus outbreaks for at least two weeks. Thirty-two of California’s 58 counties are currently on the list.

-California reported 9,199 new cases, bringing the state to 375,363 total confirmed infections. The state has recorded 7,595 deaths, an increase of 120 from the day before.

Worldwide:

-The Canadian government denied the Toronto Blue Jays approval to play baseball in Toronto during the coronavirus pandemic, AP reported. The team had been given clearance by city and provincial governments to play regular-season games at Rogers Centre and was awaiting approval from Canada’s federal government. Allowing games in Toronto would have meant frequent back-and-forth travel to the U.S. The border remains closed to nonessential travel until at least Aug. 21.

-Tokyo reported 293 new infections on Friday, the highest number of daily infections reported in Japan's capital since the outbreak began. Overall, Japan has reported just under 25,000 total cases.

-India's total number of cases has climbed above 1 million after a surge of 34,884 new infections. The Health Ministry on also reported 671 confirmed deaths in the past 24 hours for a total of 26,273.

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.