July 1 coronavirus news

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recently, health officials in Ingham County linked 107 confirmed Covid-19 cases to an outbreak in a single bar in East Lansing.

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:

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.

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. 

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.

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:

President Trump said Wednesday he still supports a phase four stimulus plan, but added that he believes “it has 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.”

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said Wednesday she would consider closing bars in the state if more owners did not comply with health regulations.

Raimondo made the announcement after a large inspection of bars on Friday that found 18% did not have adequate social distancing. She said the state would begin ramping up enforcement.

"If we continue to see that, we're gonna close the bars,” Raimondo added. “It's really that simple."