July 13 coronavirus news

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there are simple things states can do to turn around the trajectory of the virus in the US.

Fauci spoke about how after not shutting down the country completely, the US saw surges in states like California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, among others, as the country began to reopen.

He said the guidelines released for initial reopening attempts did not work well for the country, noting that some states went from shutdown to “complete throwing caution to the wind,” using examples of people without masks in crowded bars.

However, Fauci said that he is “confident” the US can get a handle on this situation.

“You don’t necessarily need to shut down again, but pull back a bit. And then, proceed in a very prudent way, observing the guidelines of going from step to step,” he said.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday that the President wants to "point out the fact that when we use science, we have to use it in a way that's not political."

This was in response to a question about what Trump meant by retweeting a baseless claim by game show host Chuck Woolery that "everyone is lying" about the coronavirus –– including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She pointed to some health experts who say not to condemn crowds of protesters while still keeping churches closed as an example.

"We need to use science, lean in to science but not use it, and cherry-pick it to fit whatever our particular political persuasion is," McEnany said.

McEnany added that the President has confidence in the CDC.  

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Coronavirus is “clearly the most challenging” public health crisis he’s ever dealt with – including HIV, Ebola, Anthrax and Zika, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said during a webinar with Stanford School of Medicine on Monday.

As cases continue to surge across the US and the Trump administration pushes to reopen schools, Fauci has actively continued to warn about the seriousness of the pandemic.

Fauci told the Wall Street Journal in a podcast last week that the country must control crowds, get people to wear masks and do a better job on physical distancing to get on top of the surging coronavirus pandemic as cases spike across parts of the South and Southwest.

Fauci noted that in order to get children back in school this fall, the country has to maintain control over the pandemic.

“We have got to keep our eye on that,” he said.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany would not answer why the White House anonymously released a statement attempting to discredit Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert.

Asked by CNN’s Jim Acosta why the White House put out an opposition research style statement against Fauci from a “White House Official” without anybody putting their name to the statement, McEnany did not answer.

Pressed about putting a statement out from an anonymous source, something Trump has criticized in the past, McEnany again declined to answer, instead saying that Trump and Fauci have “always had a very good working relationship.”

CNN has reported that the White House is making a concerted effort to discredit Fauci as he becomes increasingly vocal about his concerns over reopening the country as coronavirus cases surge. The two men have not spoken in weeks.

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The number of total coronavirus cases in Florida is now 282,435, up 12,624 cases since Sunday, according to the state's Department of Health.

More than half of positive coronavirus cases were people ages 25 to 54 year old, with the highest age group being 25-34 year-olds representing 20% of the total number.

If Florida were a country, it would be the fourth-highest in the world in reporting new cases. The state would rank 10th in terms of having the most cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

JetBlue says it will continue to block all middle seats through September 8, extending a policy that was set to expire at the end of the month. 

The policy also blocks sale of aisle seats on smaller aircraft.

Southwest and Delta also have policies that limit the number of seats sold on a given flight. 

The other major carriers, American Airlines and United, both have said they will sell every seat on their flights.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has re-enacted restrictions on indoor seating at restaurants and breweries in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the state, a statement from her office said.

The new public health order again prohibits indoor dining at restaurants, which had been allowed with limits since June 1, and restricts indoor seating at breweries, which was allowed with limits since June 15, according to the statement.

The latest numbers: In the past two weeks, the state has seen at least 3,049 new positive cases of Covid-19, representing 20.2% of the total positive cases statewide over the course of the pandemic, according to the governor’s office.

However, the state’s infection rates are not as serious as its neighbor, Arizona, which has led the nation for over a month with the highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

Both restaurants and breweries can still seat people outdoors at 50% of their capacity and restaurants can continue to operate carry out, pickup and delivery services, the statement said.

The governor also tightened restrictions on gyms and other “close contact businesses” like tattoo shops and salons. Those establishments are now limited to 25% of their maximum capacity, the statement said.

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook announced he has tested positive for coronavirus. 

In a statement issued on social media, Westbrook said he’s feeling well as he anticipates joining his teammates once cleared from the virus. 

Westbrook and another teammate, James Harden, haven’t joined the rest of the team in Orlando ahead of the NBA restart. The Rockets tip off the season against the Dallas Mavericks on July 31.

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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is working on a supplemental funding request for education that would essentially create a new pot of money for schools — but one that districts can only access if they commit to reopening, a source familiar with the plan tells CNN. 

The White House has been told it cannot withhold existing funding from schools to get them to open their classrooms. This is a new working strategy to get around the rules: Instead of threatening baseline funding, the White House will just try to offer additional money to provide an advantage to schools that reopen.

The proposal, which is for now in the works as part of the White House proposal for the next stimulus bill, provides yet another example of aides scrambling to find a workable avenue for plans President Donald Trump has announced without warning or preparation.

Some context: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on CNN yesterday would not deny that the administration would look at withholding funds from schools in order to force their hands. And earlier this morning, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow suggested in an interview with Fox News that there may be a financial incentive for local governments that reopen their schools amid the President’s push to reopen.