A version of this story appeared in the August 13 edition of CNN’s Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction newsletter. Sign up here to receive the need-to-know headlines every weekday.

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As the United States reported its highest single-day virus death toll from Covid-19 so far this summer, Senator Kamala Harris laid out the Democratic case against Donald Trump, hammering the President’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic in her debut speech as Joe Biden’s running mate.

“This virus has impacted almost every country, but there’s a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation. It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start,” Harris said during a joint appearance with the former Vice President on Wednesday, in a preview of what is likely to be the Democrats’ main line of attack in an election campaign like no other.

“His refusal to get testing up and running, his flip-flopping on social distancing and wearing masks, his delusional belief that he knows better than the experts – all of that is the reason … an American dies of Covid-19 every 80 seconds.”

The fact that the US has the worst outbreak in the world – with more than 5 million cases and 165,000 deaths – hasn’t stopped Trump from pushing students to return to classrooms, businesses to open their doors, and college football stadiums to fill with fans. In the face of mounting criticism, Trump has brought in backup for his mission to kickstart the economy at all costs – recruiting a controversial new coronavirus adviser who has echoed his unscientific claims.

While the President continues his usual routine of relaying false narratives about the virus and touting untrue claims of great success, some of the nation’s top health experts say they are “extremely concerned” about the Trump administration’s changes to the way hospitals report Covid-19 cases and deaths, warning that they have left hospitals “scrambling” and have “serious consequences on data integrity.”

Concerns about data integrity come as the coronavirus continues to spread at high rates across the US South, Midwest and West. The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging all Americans to adhere to public health measures to prevent “the worst fall” in US public health history.

“For your country right now and for the war that we’re in against Covid, I’m asking you to do four simple things: wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and be smart about crowds,” Dr. Robert Redfield said Wednesday.

The psychological impact of the pandemic is coming into sharper focus.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris arrive at their first joint press conference on Wednesday wearing masks.

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED

Q: Is it safe to send my children to daycare or school?

A: Health experts say there’s no evidence the coronavirus can be transmitted through food.

After considering all the objective criteria and assessing the situation in our own community, we have made the decision to keep our girls out of school for the time being. This was not an easy choice, but one that we believe best respects the science, decreases the risk of further spread and follows the task force criteria. This is the checklist of considerations we had while weighing our decision as a family.

Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you’re facing: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY

The race for a Covid-19 vaccine

New Zealand reported 13 new community coronavirus cases on Thursday — a dramatic turn of events for a country that was heralded as a world leader in how it handled the outbreak. For months, life was largely back to normal, and the country went 102 days without a locally acquired case until earlier this week.

Four years is the fastest time a vaccine has been developed. This year, scientists are attempting to do it under one, CNN’s Eliza Mackintosh, Gianluca Mezzofiore, and Katie Polglase report on the high stakes scramble to create a coronavirus immunization.

Concerns mount about Trump trying to undermine election

Last month, researchers in one of India’s largest cities made a surprising discovery. Of the nearly 7,000 blood samples taken from people in Mumbai’s slums, 57% tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.

While some were alarmed by the results, others were optimistic about what it might mean for herd immunity – when the virus can no longer infect enough people to pose a threat.

Mail-in ballots are seen as a necessary step in the face of the pandemic during the upcoming November US election. Nearly 60% of voters showed up on election day in 2016, waited in long lines, used communal pens, and touched the same voting machines – all dangerous moves in the coronavirus era.

Infections surging in Europe amid fears of second wave

Germany has recorded a spike in coronavirus cases for the first time in months. France is seeing the biggest rise since lockdown began lifting in May. Greece has clocked its highest tally since the start of the pandemic. And Spain is facing the worst infection rate in Western Europe.

Surging infections in these four countries, which had successfully managed to contain the virus through strict stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures, are prompting fears of a second wave across the continent.

The fresh outbreaks come at the height of Europe’s holiday season, when many people are still traveling despite the pandemic. In an effort to combat the spread of the virus, which has been linked in some cases to holidaymakers, Italy is now mandating that visitors arriving from Croatia, Greece, Malta, and Spain take a coronavirus swab test.

Deaths during Covid-19 surge in New York City recall the peak of 1918 pandemic

Boris Johnson’s latest strategy to fight coronavirus aims to make Britain healthier – but campaigners are worried about the impact the policy will have on people living with eating disorders.

Johnson’s government launched its Better Health strategy in an effort to combat the country’s high obesity levels, which increase the risk of death from Covid-19, according to Public Health England. The new measures include a ban on junk food advertisements before 9 p.m., tools to help people lose weight and a proposal requiring restaurants to show how many calories their dishes contain.

History is repeating itself, a new study has found, which says deaths in New York City in the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic were comparable to fatalities in the city at the peak of what’s considered the deadliest pandemic to date – the flu pandemic of 1918.

ON OUR RADAR

TOP TIPS

Many people may be experiencing increased anxiety during the pandemic, which experts say can be compounded by the sense of isolation that can come with social distancing. That’s why it’s important for people who are vulnerable to have access to mental health care, panelists said during an American Lung Association event on Wednesday.

Ken Duckworth, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, stressed the importance of telehealth services and phone sessions for people without internet access. “Pain shared is pain halved,” Duckworth said.

This year, it’s “more important than ever to get a flu shot because we will almost certainly face the double whammy of flu season coinciding the same time as surging cases of COVID-19,” emergency room physician Dr. Leana Wen said.

TODAY’S PODCAST

“The virus really affects the lungs and people get very, very hypoxic – or their oxygen levels can get really low – and the brain is the one organ that really can’t tolerate that and can get injured very easily.” – Dr. Sherry Chou from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

In today’s episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to the coach about life inside a NBA bubble facility in Orlando, where players are isolated and tested regularly. Listen Now.