US holiday fuels worries about skyrocketing coronavirus cases

United States has dipped under 50,000 new daily infections for first time in four days, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, but experts fear celebrations for July 4th weekend will act like rocket fuel for nation’s surging coronavirus outbreak.

Johns Hopkins on Sunday counted 45,300 new coronavirus infections reported Saturday in U.S. after three days in which daily count reached as high as 54,500 new cases. lower figure does t mean situation in U.S. is improving, it could be due to reduced reporting on a national holiday.

United States has most infections and virus-related deaths in world, with 2.8 million cases and nearly 130,000 de, according to university. Experts say true toll of pandemic is significantly higher, due to people who died before y were tested and missed mild cases.

Worldwide, nearly 11.3 million people have been infected and over 531,000 have died, with outbreaks surging in India, South Africa, Pakistan, Brazil and several or Latin American countries. In a first, South Africa on Sunday reported more than 10,000 new confirmed cases in a single day.

To show just how steep U.S. infection curve is, authorities were reporting under 20,000 new infections a day as recently as June 15. On Saturday, Florida and Texas reported more record daily increases in confirmed cases and virus-related deaths have begun to rise.

Despite warnings by health experts to limit garings, President Donald Trump went ahe with a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday and an evening of tribute and fireworks Saturday on National Mall in Washington. Trump used nation's Independence Day as an occasion to assail those who do t support him and did t mention horrific death toll from pandemic.

Pat Lee of Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, and two friends, ne in masks, gared near event in Washington.

“POTUS said it would go away,” Lee said of pandemic, using an acronym for president of United States. “Masks, I think, are like a hoax.”

In ar worrying sign, World Health Organization said member states reported more than 212,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 around world on Saturday, highest single-day increase since start of pandemic. Geneva-based organization said more than 60% of confirmed cases reports it received were in Americas, which includes United States and Brazil.

Faced with rising infections, many U.S. communities canceled pares and fireworks and cautioned people against hosting large garings.

Texas, which reported a record daily increase of 8,258 confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday, is retreating from what h been one of country's swiftest reopenings. Much of state began mandating face coverings Friday, with a $250 fine for scofflaws.

In Florida, which reported 11,445 confirmed infections on Saturday, bars statewide are shut down and some regional attractions, such as Zoo Miami and Jungle Island, have closed. Officials in South Florida — including in Miami-De County and Florida Keys — also closed beaches through weekend.

Or beaches remained open. At St. Pete Beach on Gulf of Mexico, parking s were scarce and hundreds clustered under umbrellas and in cabanas on sand. Keisha Pereira came to beach from Osceola County — more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland — with her daughter and two or children.

“We’re going to stay with each or," she said. "I feel pretty safe outside.”

holiday weekend coincided with a big step back this week for California’s efforts to reopen state’s ecomy. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a three-week closure of bars and many indoor establishments in counties where some 30 million people live.

In several California regions, ecomic woes prompted campaigns to convince state residents to travel within its borders. But public health experts and mayors of popular beach towns Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay pleed with people to stay home for holiday.

Crista Luedtke said demand has been “bonkers” since reopening 14-room Boon Hotel and Spa that she owns in Soma County town of Guerneville. Guests must stay at least two nights and are assigned lounges near pool.

“Tourism is t dangerous,” Luedtke said. “I think people t following rules is dangerous."

In Britain, pubs and barbers reopened Saturday for first time in months. It did t overwhelm emergency services as many h feared, but one senior police officer said Sunday it was “crystal clear” that drunk people struggled, or igred, social distancing rules.

Rafal Liszewski, a store manr in central London, voiced concerns about swelling crowds on Saturday.

“Quickly everything got out of control and by 8-9 p.m. it was a proper street party with people dancing and drinking,” he said. “Barely anyone was wearing masks and body respected social distancing .... to be honest, with that many people on one street, it was physically impossible.”

In Australia and rast Spain, authorities ordered lockdowns for specific counties or communities to stomp out local outbreaks.

In Bolivian city of Cochabamba, relatives of one apparent virus victim left his coffin in street for hours to protest difficulties in having him buried. Police Col. Iván Rojas said demand "is collapsing police personnel and funeral workers” in city of 630,000 people.