Global health expert: US must act quickly on virus

A leading global health expert says the U.S. must "act quickly and aggressively" to get control over the coronavirus, which is spreading rapidly in a number of states, including Florida, Texas and Arizona.

Speaking on a network morning news program, Dr. Ashish Jha said most of the states that are seeing a rapid rise in confirmed cases "opened when their underlying level of cases was really still high."

"They weren't coming down. So I think they didn't meet the White House's own guidelines," he said.

"If you're in one of these hot zones, then really I think people have to rethink any large gathering, whether indoors or outdoors."

Arizona health officials reported 3,858 more confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday, the most reported in a single day in the state so far. It was also the seventh time in the last 10 days that daily cases surpassed the 3,000 mark.

Some Arizona hospitals have begun activating surge plans to increase their capacity to treat COVID-19 patients as confirmed cases rise and more people seek treatment.

Speaking Sunday in Texas, both Vice President Mike Pence and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledge that there has been a rapid increas in coronavirus cases in the state in recent weeks.

Abbott said said the increase has been “swift and very dangerous.