California Covid curfew to begin, as US cases hit 12 million mark

California has initiated a nighttime curfew, in a bid to curb the surge in coronavirus cases.

The latest figures for the Western state are now worse than the previous peak in August, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Across the United States, the daily death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2,000 for the first time since May.

The country now has more than 12 million confirmed infections, with more than 255,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

It is by far the highest death toll in the world.

About 187,000 new infections have been recorded nationwide in the latest figures – released Friday for the day before – which is a record high.

Several states have imposed new warrants and mask restrictions in an attempt to combat the build-up, and in Texas, the National Guard is deployed to the city of El Paso to assist with morgue operations there.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also urged Americans to avoid traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26 to avoid an increase in transmissions.

Thanksgiving typically heralds the busiest week for travel to the United States. Last year, about 26 million people passed through airports across the country in the week surrounding the holiday.

President Donald Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr was revealed on Friday to have tested positive for coronavirus. “Apparently I had the ‘rona,” he said in a video on social media, adding that he had so far been asymptomatic and was in quarantine.

Much of California must stay at home

California reported a total of one million cases last week, making it the second state to do so after Texas.

The new daily curfew, from 10 p.m. local time on Saturday (6 a.m. GMT Sunday) to 5 a.m., will continue until December 21, with a possible extension if necessary, according to authorities.

Restaurants may offer take-out meals and deliveries outside of these hours.

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The stay-at-home order affects 41 of California’s 58 counties, covering more than 94% of the state’s population. Some 40 million people live in California, the most populous state in the United States.

Some counties have also warned that a more severe lockdown could follow. The latest measures are not as strict as the restrictions imposed between March and May, when all non-essential business and travel was banned.

Other places, including New York City, also have a nighttime curfew. Bars, restaurants and gyms are allowed to open until 10 p.m., but schools have been closed.

The California curfew was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom.

“The virus is spreading at a rate that we have not seen since the start of this pandemic, and the next few days and weeks will be critical in stopping the outbreak,” he wrote in a statement.

Hospital admissions have risen 61% statewide in the past two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

“The data looks really bad right now,” Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said on Friday.

Americans urged to avoid Thanksgiving travel

The CDC has recommended that Americans “consider” avoiding Thanksgiving trips and gatherings.

“This is not a requirement. It is a recommendation,” Dr Henry Walke, CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager, said Thursday.

The next day, President Donald Trump re-tweeted Republican Congressman Jim Jordan’s words: “Don’t shut down the country. Don’t impose a curfew. Don’t shut down schools. Let the Americans decide for themselves. And celebrate Thanksgiving. “

Both President and President-elect Joe Biden have said they are against imposing a nationwide lockdown and are in favor of states making their own rules.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force held its first public briefing in months on Thursday. Members, including Vice President Mike Pence, noted the increase in coronavirus cases.

The task force said indoor gatherings are expected to be limited over the next two weeks.

However, on Saturday, US media noted that Mr. Pence’s wife, Karen, had sent an invitation for a “Craft Christmas” reunion at their home on December 9 for members of the Congressional Club.

The White House has also so far refused to engage with Joe Biden and his new administration on politics, as Mr. Trump refuses to concede the presidential race.