Arkansas governor says cities may implement mandatory mask ordinances
From CNN's Hollie Silverman
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed an executive order that will give cities the ability to mandate face coverings.
The executive order allows local municipalities to require face coverings and allows for local law enforcement and city officials to enforce the rule, according to a statement from his office.
"This provides a local option for cities to give them more flexibility if they have a community in which they might have a surge in cases. This model ordinance, from the Municipal League, provides a consistency in approach across the state," Hutchinson said in a statement.
4:00 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Texas Rangers player tests positive for Covid-19
From CNN’s Jacob Lev
Tom Pennington/Getty Images/FILE
Major League Baseball pitcher Brett Martin of the Texas Rangers has tested positive for Covid-19, the team confirmed to CNN on Friday. The team says Martin is now in quarantine in Texas.
Brett Martin is also diabetic. He was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes at the age of 16.
The Major League Baseball season resumed on Wednesday with players reporting to training and games are scheduled to start on July 23 or 24.
3:58 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Covid-19 cases in Latin America and Caribbean surpass 2.7 million
From CNN's Tatiana Arias
Health professionals leave a home after administering COVID-19 tests to an elderly indigenous Guarani couple at the Sao Mata Verde Bonita tribe camp, in Marica, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, on July 2. Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images
The number of Covid-19 cases in Latin America and the Caribbean reached more than 2.7 million and the number of deaths reached more than 121,000, according to a CNN tally.
Just in the top 10 hardest-hit countries in the region, at least 2,658,083 coronavirus cases and at least 119,608 virus-related deaths were reported, according to CNN’s tally.
Since last Friday, Argentina surpassed Ecuador, Bolivia surpassed Panama and the Dominican Republic, and Panama surpassed the Dominican Republic in number of Covid-19 cases.
As of today, these are the countries with the highest number of Covid-19 infections and deaths in the region (according to CNN's tally):
Brazil: 1,496,858 cases; 61,884 deaths
Peru: 292,004 cases; 10,045 deaths
Chile: 288,089 cases; 6,051 deaths
Mexico: 238,511 cases; 29,189 deaths
Colombia: 106,110 cases; 3,641 deaths
Argentina: 69,941 cases; 1,385 deaths
Ecuador: 60,657 cases; 4,700 deaths
Bolivia: 35,528 cases; 1,271 deaths
Panama: 35,237 cases, 667 deaths
Dominican Republic: 35,148 cases; 775 deaths
With previous reporting from CNN's Ingrid Formanek, Claudia Rebaza, Radina Gigova and Stefano Pozzebon
3:32 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Red Sox manager says some team members have tested positive for Covid-19
From CNN’s Jacob Lev
Ron Roenicke Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said during a news conference on Friday that the team has had "some positive tests" within the organization.
“We didn’t have everybody that came in," Roenicke said. "We do have some positive tests and with the Covid laws, the laws that MLB have placed on the protocols, we won’t be able to give you names on these players."
The Major League Baseball season resumed on Wednesday with players reporting to training and games are scheduled to start on July 23 or 24.
3:27 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Costa Rica extends restrictions as Covid-19 cases rise
From CNN's Radina Gigova and Marlon Sorto in Atlanta
A municipal employee takes part in a disinfection operation against Covid-19 in San Jose, Costa Rica on July 2. Ezequiel Becerra/AFP/Getty Images
Costa Rica extended coronavirus restrictions in several provinces due to the sharp rise in cases.
The restrictions, which went into effect today, include closures of various establishments and limitations on traffic in several regions, according to a statement from the Health Ministry. The restrictive measures will continue until July 13.
The number of cases in the country have surged since early June.
At the time, Costa Rica recorded 1,157 cases on June 3. The number of cases have now jumped to more than 4,000 at the beginning of July.
"It will be the first time that ... due to the number of cases, we will go backwards with measures previously adopted, with more restrictions," President Carlos Alvarado Quesada said this week.
Health Minister Daniel Salas said in a statement people who work in retail and grocery stores will be required to wear masks.
Here are some of the other restrictions in place:
There's a nighttime vehicle restriction from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday to Sunday, with the exception of border areas.
In areas with a higher number of cases, commercial activity will operate from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, except for places of worship, public parks, bars and events involving mass gatherings, which won't be allowed to operate.
Hotels will be allowed to operate Monday to Sunday at 50% capacity.
On weekends, only supermarkets, pharmacies, medical centers, grocery stores, home service stores, agricultural, veterinary and hygiene supplies stores, banks, funeral homes, hardware stores, locksmiths and repair shops for vehicles will be authorized to operate.
At least 4,023 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Costa Rica and at least 18 people have died in the country from the virus, according to the latest Health Ministry numbers released Thursday.
3:20 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Coronavirus cases in Ecuador top 60,000
From CNN's Radina Gigova in Atlanta
Ecuador's Ministry of Health reported 1,171 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, bringing the country's total to 60,657.
The numbers indicate a slow consistent rise in recent weeks.
The ministry said the death toll for the country currently stands at 4,700.
3:16 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
Chile's coronavirus death toll surpasses 6,000
From Cristopher Ulloa in Santiago and Florencia Trucco in Atlanta
Chile’s health ministry reported 131 new Covid-19 fatalities Friday, bringing the country’s death toll to 6,051.
The total number of cases stands at 288,089, with 3,548 reported in the last 24 hours, a slight increase in the last few days.
Chile’s health officials insisted there are good signs.
“We are seeing positive figures,” Paula Daza, the health ministry’s subsecretary, said during the country’s daily briefing.
Daza also said there has been an increase in the number of people who have recovered from the virus. A total of 253,343 people have recovered from the virus since the pandemic started.
2:47 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
South Carolina reports 20.7% positivity rate from new coronavirus tests
From CNN's Hollie Silverman
AnMed phlebotomists test people in their cars during a free COVID-19 testing at the Civic Center in Anderson South Carolina on June 18. USA Today
South Carolina reported 1,558 new cases and 10 new confirmed deaths Friday, according to a statement from the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control.
According to the agency, the positivity rate in new cases was 20.7%.
There are currently 1,148 hospital beds occupied by patients who have either tested positive or are under investigation for Covid-19, the statement said. The state is currently at a 72.68% hospital bed utilization rate, according to the agency.
South Carolina has a total of 41,413 confirmed cases, 119 probable cases, 787 confirmed deaths and six probable deaths, according to the statement.
4:15 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020
About 43% of California's total Covid-19 cases are located in Los Angeles County
From CNN's Cheri Mossburg
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Pittsburg, California on June 30. Rich Pedroncelli/Pool/AP
California's coronavirus cases continue to climb, with the state reporting a total of 248,235 confirmed cases, an increase of 5,688 since Thursday.
An additional 100 deaths are being reported, bringing the state’s total to 6,263.
About 43% of all of California’s cases are located in Los Angeles County.
The positivity rate stands at 6.4% over the past 14 days, and hospitalization rates are again at an all-time high with more than 5,500 patients admitted.
New measures taken: California's governor has announced significant rollbacks to the state's reopening. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all indoor activities be halted in counties on the state’s coronavirus "watch list" for increased transmission of the virus.
Those closures affect 19 counties representing 72% of the state’s population, and include restaurants, museums, zoos, movie theaters, family entertainment, and card rooms.
Note: The numbers were released by the California Department of Public Health and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project
