June 28 coronavirus news

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the first NBA player to test positive for Covid-19, told the French sports publication L’Equipe that he still has not recovered from the virus. 

When speaking with the French sports publication, Gobert revealed that his senses haven’t fully recovered saying, “The taste has returned, but the smell is still not 100%. I can smell the smells, but not from afar. I spoke to specialists, who told me that it could take up to a year.” 

Some context: The 28-year-old faced backlash after he touched every microphone during a press conference while discussing the pandemic, just days before testing positive.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver made the decision to suspend the season on March 11 after the Frenchman’s positive diagnosis.

Gobert plans to join the Jazz in Orlando when the NBA season returns on July 30.

South Florida, especially the Miami–area, has reported the most new cases in the state and it's mostly due to socializing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news briefing Sunday.

The uptick in positive cases has been driven "by a big increase" over the last three weeks in younger age groups, particularly those in the 18-to-44 age range, DeSantis said. Graduation parties and gatherings where people aren't adhering to social distancing are responsible for several Covid-19 cases, DeSantis said. 

A backlog of testing has also accounted for the current spike, DeSantis said.  

Florida was in the 10% positivity range when testing ramped up in March and April, DeSantis said. 

In April, that rate dropped and was stable in May and June, at around 3%. Positivity rate is about 12% now, DeSantis says. 

Chile reported 4,216 new cases of coronavirus and 162 new deaths Sunday as Health Minister Enrique Paris praised the effort made by people complying with lockdown procedures.

Chile’s chief epidemiologist Rafael Araos said the country is reporting large numbers "of coronavirus deaths and probably they will keep going up."

Chile has the third highest number of coronavirus cases in Latin America with a total of 271,982. There has also been at least 5,509 coronavirus-related deaths in the country.

Cities in Broward County will follow Miami Dade County's example and close its beaches ahead of July 4 weekend, the city of Fort Lauderdale said in a tweet. 

Beaches in Broward County will closed from July 3 through July 5, according to the tweet.

Several mayors from Broward’s coastal cities will hold a news conference today at 4:30 p.m ET to discuss the measure, according to the tweet.

Read the tweet:

Louisiana state officials reported 1,467 new Covid-19 cases over the weekend, according to Louisiana Department of Health. 

Louisiana health officials also reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths for Saturday and Sunday, bringing the state total to 3,086.

To note: The figures released by the Louisiana's public health agency may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

Read the tweet:

There are at least 2,530,587 cases of Covid-19 in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.

Approximately 125,630 people have died from coronavirus nationwide. 

On Sunday, Johns Hopkins reported 9,732 new cases and 91 reported deaths in the US. The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

Miami Beach's mayor has called for a special commission meeting on Monday to discuss mask usage compliance as Covid-19 cases continue to surge in Florida, according to a tweet from Mayor Dan Gelber.  

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has ordered all of the beaches in Miami-Dade County to close for the July 4 weekend but residents in South Florida continue to congregate despite pleas from officials to social distance.  

In Pinecrest, an affluent Miami-Dade suburb, the "largest problem is private house parties,"  Mayor Joseph Corradino said in a letter to the community this week.  

House parties have become prevalent in recent weeks and "are the most dangerous things that impact our community," Corradino said.  

"The law does not enable us to enforce the rules we use on public spaces on private property. So, our current option is to appeal to the common sense and decency of our citizens. This danger comes directly from within," the letter said. 

Miami Beach code enforcement continues to enforce social distancing mandates from Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach spokesperson Melissa Berthier told CNN.

But, whether Miami Beach's commission will discuss mandating face masks and imposing fines for violators like neighboring city of Miami, "it's one theory," Berthier said. 

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Sunday that a rise in deaths and hospitalizations due to Covid-19 in the coming weeks are “appropriate to be concerned about.” 

Azar told CNN that while fatalities and hospitalizations are at “two month lows,” there is an increase in hospitalizations across the Southern states.

When asked if he was aware that an increase in hospitalization and fatality rates would lag behind an increase in positive cases, Azar said “those are certainly risks” and said that is why he is encouraging those who have “not exercised appropriate social distancing” in the last couple of weeks should wear face coverings and get tested. 

The city of Tupelo, Mississippi, will require face coverings at all indoor public spaces and businesses starting at 6 a.m. Monday, they city said in an executive order posted on Facebook. 

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton said his job as mayor is "to keep our community safe, not make easy or politically popular decisions," he wrote on Facebook.

Shelton said the city is "committed to listening to our local doctors and health care professionals regarding Covid-19 and we are doing all that we can to keep our community safe," he told CNN over email.

"It is very unfortunate that in today’s political climate and due to the words and actions of some of our political leaders that many Americans simply refuse to believe the urgency and severity of the Covid-19 crisis," Shelton added. "Stable and rational leadership is desperately needed on the national level and in many states across our nation. We should all listen to our health care professionals regarding health care matters."