June 30 coronavirus news

A growing number of US states have mandated the use of masks and face coverings while in public.

With many states starting to lift coronavirus restrictions, more people are venturing out in public, but the number of cases is still rising in nearly half of them.

That's where masks come in. A recent study found that the use of masks and face coverings has been the most effective way to reduce person-to-person spread of coronavirus.

Here are the states that require the use of masks or face coverings in public settings:

Read more about the individual state mandates here.

More than 6,300 coronavirus cases were reported in California in the last day.

The total number of new cases in California is now at least 222,917 and nearly 6,000 people have died from the virus in the state. People between the ages of 18 and 49 represent a majority of the cases.

Hospitalizations and intensive care rates are also at an all-time high in California.

With more than 4.1 million tests having been performed, the state’s positivity rate stands at 5.6%.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said there are 101 new cases of coronavirus statewide and the seven-day average of positive cases remains at 1.9%.

There are also 762 patients hospitalized, including 138 in intensive care.

Baker said he will decide by the end of the week if the state will move forward with phase three of reopening.

In phase three, fitness centers, museums, theaters and some other businesses can begin to reopen, according to the state's reopening website.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden slammed President Trump and his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a speech in Wilmington, Delaware.

Biden added that there needs to be a clear message about the importance of wearing masks.

"We absolutely need a clear message from the very top of the federal government that everyone needs to wear a mask in public. Period," he said.

Biden went on to say that "it's a simple measure. It's also one of the most effective ways we can do the right thing."

Authorities in Brevard County, Florida, say beaches will remain open for the Fourth of July holiday. 

Don Walker, spokesperson for the county, tells CNN that they are expecting a high number of people on their beaches. Walker says the county has 72 miles of shoreline which is ample space for people to safely socially distance. 

The county is recommending all beachgoers follow all social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Walker says hotel bookings are down as they head into the holiday weekend which leads them to believe people are watching the numbers and are either opting to stay home or they're making last minute plans based on their own "risk tolerance."

Brevard County officials are expected to meet later today to determine if they will issue a mandate for face masks, Walker said. 

New Jersey announced 461 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to more than 171,600, Gov. Phil Murphy announced today.

The state reported 47 new deaths. The total number of confirmed Covid-19-related fatalities in New Jersey is now 13,181. 

Murphy noted that he and the state’s health commissioner believe that the low number of fatalities reported on Monday — 18 — may have been the result of a glitch in the state’s recording systems. 

Three New Orleans Pelicans basketball players have tested positive for coronavirus, Pelicans Executive Vice President David Griffin said today. 

The players, who were tested on June 23, the first day of NBA testing, are in self-isolation and have been tested daily, Griffin said. Once the players get two negative tests, they can return to team activities.

According to Griffin, no other player has tested positive for the virus since the start of testing.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,014 additional cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of infections to at more than 58,000, according to data released by the state today.

Today's positive test rate is 4.25%, which is significantly lower than the past 10 days. 

According to state data, hospitalizations are at 781 and continue rising.

##Cases#

Following an announcement that the European Union will bar American travelers from entering its member countries as borders begin to reopen, a US State Department spokesperson said the country is "committed to coordinating with them as we look forward to reopening our economies and easing restrictions."

The spokesperson noted that as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "We’ve been working with countries all across the world, including our friends in Europe and the EU proper, to determine how it is we can best safely reopen international travel."

The State Department will continue to urge US citizens to check embassy or consulate websites for information about travel.

What this is about: Earlier today, the EU formally agreed a set of recommendations that will allow travelers from outside the bloc to visit EU countries, months after it shut its external borders in response to the outbreak of Covid-19.

As had been widely expected, the list of 14 countries does not include the United States, whose current Covid infection rate does not meet the criteria set by the EU for it to be considered a "safe country."

The list of approved countries included in the recommendations are: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.