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July 3 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Melissa Macaya, Amy Woodyatt and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 2311 GMT (0711 HKT) February 1, 2021

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5:22 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020

Here's the latest coronavirus update from Texas

From CNN’s Konstantin Toropin

Healthcare workers move a patient in the Covid-19 Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, July 2. Mark Felix/AFP/Getty Images

Texas is reporting a third day of new Covid-19 cases topping 7,000, according to state health department data.

The state is reporting 7,555 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. Although this is lower than the previous two days, which included a record high for Texas, it continues the trend of sharp increases of cases in the state.

The state also reported 50 new deaths from Covid-19 Friday.

Here's what we know about the surge in coronavirus cases in Texas:

Rise in cases: Texas reported a record 8,076 new cases on Wednesday and 7,915 new cases yesterday, state data shows.
Hospitalization rates: Texas is expected to see nearly 2,000 new hospitalizations per day by mid-July, according to forecasts published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mask mandate: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday mandated that residents in counties with 20 or more active Covid-19 cases — which is about 95% of Texans — to wear a face covering in public.
Major GOP event still happening: The Republican Party of Texas will hold their state convention in-person with an expected attendance in the thousands. The convention will be held indoors at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston from July 16-18. Committee meetings will begin on July 13.

5:32 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020

This is what it looks like at Mount Rushmore, where Trump is headed for tonight's fireworks show

From CNN's Joe Johns and Betsy Klein

Despite social distancing guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that say people in large gatherings should wear face masks and attempt to stay at least six feet apart, there are hundreds of black plastic folding seats linked together with plastic ties at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial amphitheater, where President Trump is expected to attend, speak and view a fireworks show tonight.

"Folding chairs at an event like these need to be zip tied together by code, per a public safety official involved with the event," a public safety official tells CNN. "In case of an emergency, like a fire event or a storm or anything that would cause people to quickly move out, the zip ties would ensure that the chairs will not be easily knocked over or fly into egress paths — moving a full row of chairs, rather than one or two. Additionally, the zip tied chairs then cannot be used as a weapon."

A majority of the attendees at the venue arriving so far have not been wearing face coverings.

There is also bleacher seating in the venue which means many spectators at the event will not have to sit in seats that are linked together.

Some background: The 7,500 tickets for the event are lower than the typical visitor flow during the busy summer season. On normal days, 28,000 to 32,000 visitors come to Mount Rushmore during a 10-hour period. Amid the pandemic, the park never closed but visitation has been down to around 20,000 people, said Maureen McGee-Ballinger, Mount Rushmore's chief of interpretation and education.

Coronavirus cases in South Dakota currently remain stable, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, with 6,893 confirmed cases and 97 deaths as of Thursday — but it remains to be seen how many attendees will travel from other states. Thirty-six states are currently experiencing a rise in new cases.

WATCH:

4:52 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020

Miami Heat closes facility after second player tests positive for Covid-19

From CNN’s Jacob Lev

The NBA's Miami Heat have closed their practice facility at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida, after a second player tested positive for Covid-19, according to multiple media reports which the team confirmed to CNN.

The team will not resume practices until it enters the NBA's "bubble" at Disney later this month.

In recent weeks, the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets had to shut down their facilities after players on both teams tested positive for the virus.

The NBA season is scheduled to restart on July 30 at the Walt Disney Resort near Orlando, Florida.

4:52 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020

Man voluntarily gets off plane after refusing to wear face covering

From CNN’s Ganesh Setty

The man caught on video arguing with a police officer on Spirit Airlines flight NK197 from LaGuardia Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Florida chose to voluntarily deplane after refusing to keep his face covering on, according to a Spirit Airlines spokesperson.

“I’m going to my father who had a stroke. I’m not leaving the flight ... I'm a Purple Heart, I gave my life for this country,” the man said in the video.

In the video, the man said he was allowed onto the flight with the scarf draped on his head.

Spirit Airlines requires all passengers to wear face coverings, with some exemptions for children, according to the airline’s website.

“Spirit will always err on the side of caution when it comes to the health and safety of our guests. Wearing a face covering is simple, it’s easy, and it’s critical to Spirit and the airline industry as a whole,” said Spirit in a statement to CNN.

CNN has reached out to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for comment.

4:16 p.m. ET, July 3, 2020

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

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

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.