By Ben Westcott, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya and Mike Hayes, CNN
From CNN's Raja Razek
Texas continues to break its own record for highest cases of Covid-19 in a single day, with 8,076 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday.
This is the state's highest number of cases in a single day, bringing the statewide total to 168,062, with 2,481 deaths.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has paused reopening of the state and signed an executive order to close all bars in the hopes that the effort will decrease the spread of Covid-19.
From CNN’s Janine Mack
North Carolina has reported the state’s highest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began, said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, during a news conference on Wednesday.
The department reported 66,513 cases of coronavirus and 1,373 deaths. There were 17,660 tests completed and 901 people are hospitalized.
That’s an increase of 1,843 new cases and 30 deaths in one day, according to the department.
“As we go into the holiday weekend, we must keep our guard up. This virus is just as contagious and deadly as any other on a holiday as it is any other day. And I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masking (and) social distancing, is one of the most likely places for Covid-19 to spread,” Cooper said.
Cooper has also delayed a decision on whether or not to reopen open schools in August.
The governor said he would make a decision “within the next couple of weeks.”
Cooper said that he has given extra time to the state’s school districts to make a plan to reopen and to make sure teachers and staff are prepared.
From journalist Rodrigo Pedroso in Sao Paulo
The governor of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, Carlos Moises, tested positive for Covid-19, the state government's press office announced Wednesday.
Moises is now under quarantine at his home. He has reported symptoms of cough, sore throat, and low fever.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, eight of 27 Brazilian governors have contracted the virus, Brazilian news agency G1 Globo reported.
The state governors of Alagoas, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Pará, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, and Roraima have also contracted the virus.
What the numbers say: Brazil is nearing 60,000 deaths from coronavirus as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases. The country has the second most confirmed cases — behind the United States — with more than 1.4 million confirmed cases.
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order today, closing indoor service at bars throughout most of lower Michigan “to protect the progress Michigan has made against Covid-19,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Bars statewide can however continue to serve customers outdoors and Michigan will now allow cocktails-to-go at bars, while restaurants and expand social districts are being given permission for more outdoor seating and areas for people to safely congregate while practicing physical distancing, the statement said.
“Following recent outbreaks tied to bars, I am taking this action today to slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe. If we want to be in a strong position to reopen schools for in-person classroom instruction this fall, then we need to take aggressive action right now to ensure we don’t wipe out all the progress we have made,” Whitmer said.
Recently, health officials in Ingham County linked 107 confirmed Covid-19 cases to an outbreak in a single bar in East Lansing.
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe
US stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow sliding into the red just minutes before the closing bell, driven lower by energy and tech stocks.
It was a rather quiet day in the market, but investors were optimistic about some “positive data” from a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine trial. The drug maker was also the best performing Dow stock of the day.
That said, the focus is on tomorrow morning’s labor market data, including the June jobs report and weekly unemployment claims.
Here's where things ended up today:
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
New Jersey has reported an additional 423 positive Covid-19 test results for a cumulative total of 171,928, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday.
There were 45 new confirmed deaths, bringing the statewide total to 13,224 and total probable deaths 1,854.
The daily spot positivity rate is 2.29% for tests recorded on June 27.
Casinos, outdoor amusement parks, water parks along with certain indoor recreation such as bowling alleys, batting cages, shooting ranges and arcades are still on track to reopen tomorrow, the governor said. Gyms will open tomorrow for individualized training only.
One thing to note: These figures were released by the New Jersey governor’s office and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.
From CNN's Pamela Wessmann
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that she is extending the face-covering requirement from seven counties to the entire state.
Brown said the requirement, “generally applies to all indoor places where the public may go. This means grocery stores, pharmacies, and shops. It means lobbies, elevators and restrooms. It means gyms, restaurants, and churches.”
Speaking at a news conference in Portland Wednesday, the governor said there would be exceptions to the rule.
The mandate does not extend to children under 12. It also makes accommodations for those with a medical condition where wearing a mask could be potentially dangerous, for those eating or drinking in a restaurant, and if physical exertion makes it difficult to wear a face covering while exercising, provided a six-foot distance is maintained, she said.
From CNN's Jessica King
As Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he was less worried about July 4 outdoor gatherings this coming weekend because “the science is pretty clear” that they are safer.
There are no plans at the state level to close beaches or parks.
“Doing things outdoors in Florida is less risky than doing things when you’re packed indoors,” he said in a news conference Wednesday, in response to a question about Fourth of July weekend. He added that “it needs to be controlled” but that certain localities are doing that, and that his bigger concern was people crowding indoors.
“By and large, the virus does not like sunshine, heat, and humidity. I think every study has shown that,” DeSantis said.
He did caution those 65 and older, and those who have underlying medical conditions, to take necessary measures to isolate.
“We all have a responsibility not to put others in jeopardy,” he said.
CNN asks Gov. DeSantis about case spike:
From CNN's Nikki Carvajal
President Trump said Wednesday he still supports a phase four stimulus plan, but added that he believes “it has to be done properly.”
“I do, I support it,” Trump told Fox Business in an interview Wednesday. “I support actually larger numbers than the Democrats, but it’s got to be done properly.”
Asked if he wanted direct payments to be larger, the President said he wants to see more money going to Americans.
“I want the money getting to people to be larger so they can spend it, I want the money to get there quickly and in a non-complicated fashion and they wanted to make it too complicated, also it was an incentive not to go to work. You’d make more money if you don’t go to work, that’s not what the country is all about and people didn’t want that,” Trump said.
On unemployment benefits, Trump didn’t answer directly when asked if he agreed with extending the $600 enhanced benefit that’s set to expire.
“We’re getting together, we’re going to meet tonight,” he said. “And we’re going to make a determination but it’s going to be a good number, a substantial number. People are going to be happy.”