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More than 11 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported in the United States – the most recent million in less than a week, according to the latest data.
Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracking topped 11 million cases in the United States on Sunday – an increase that prompted Michigan and Washington to join several other states in stepping up their restriction measures over the weekend.
As of Monday morning, 11,038,312 cases were recorded.
The most recent million cases have occurred in just six days. It has taken the country 300 days to reach 11 million cases since the first case was diagnosed in Washington state on January 20.
Meanwhile, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on Sunday ordered high schools and colleges to stop in-person classes, shut down dining at indoor restaurants and suspend organized sports – including the playoffs of football – with the aim of keeping the number of infections in the state at bay.
Under Whitmer’s Order, indoor and outdoor residential gatherings are restricted, some entertainment facilities are closed, and gyms are prohibited from hosting group classes.
The new measures are expected to last three weeks.
“The situation has never been so dire,” said Whitmer, a Democrat who authorities say has been targeted in an anger-fueled kidnapping plot against her previous anti-virus measures, said during a press conference on Sunday. “We are on the precipice and we must take action.”
In Washington state, which also faces an increase in cases, Gov. Jay Inslee on Sunday announced new restrictions on businesses and social gatherings for next month.
Gyms and some entertainment centers in the state will have to shut down their indoor services starting Tuesday.
Indoor capacity will be limited inside retail stores – including grocery stores – and social gatherings inside multiple households will be prohibited unless everyone involved has been quarantined for 14 days or tested negative for COVID-19 and quarantined for a week.
From Wednesday, restaurants and bars will be reduced to al fresco dining and take-out.
Washington’s 39 counties have been suspended in the second or third phase of a four-stage reopening plan that began in early May following a lockdown imposed in March.
Restrictions imposed by Inslee, also a Democrat, now temporarily place all counties under the same guidelines.
According to the guidelines, people should also avoid non-essential out-of-state travel and self-isolate for two weeks after arriving from another state or country.
The United States has reported 246,224 deaths from COVID-19. The United States has the 13th highest number of coronavirus deaths per capita in the world – a rate of 746.9 per million population, according to Statista.
With Post Wires
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