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America Breaks Another Coronavirus Record

Swimmers enjoy the water in Miami Beach. Florida is reporting record daily totals of new coronavirus cases.
Swimmers enjoy the water in Miami Beach. Florida is reporting record daily totals of new coronavirus cases.

After a week of grim coronavirus milestones across the U.S., Florida has shattered the record for the largest single-day increase in positive cases in any state since the start of the pandemic.

The state Department of Health recorded 15,299 positive cases this weekend — far more than the previous record of 11,624 cases in California.

Florida recorded 514 COVID-19 deaths last week (or, roughly 73 a day). Just three weeks ago, the state was averaging 30 deaths a day.

The news comes as Disney World reopened its doors to thousands of visitors, albeit with temperature checks and mandatory mask-wearing. Despite the safety precautions, many expert say they’re not on board.

Dr. Chidinma Chima-Melton recently told CNBC:

“In California and Florida, where a lot of the major theme parks are based, you have not only the case rates rising, we also have people from all over the world traveling in and out of [the state]. […] It’s a powder keg situation, and it’s a perfect storm. So, from my perspective, it is not safe at all to go.”

What’s going on in the Sunshine State?

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