Trump and Fauci at cross purposes

He said that Fauci and other members of his coronavirus task force discouraged him from instituting travel bans on visitors from China and Europe “when Italy and when France and Spain were having all the problems,” adding that the measures likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

His task force, Trump added, was also wrong about the efficacy of masks.

Meanwhile, Fauci, who has become the most prominent voice in public health during the pandemic, said in an interview published Friday that he has not briefed the president on the coronavirus in more than two months.

He told the Financial Times that his reputation for “not sugar-coating things” might be why he hasn’t been on television lately. He also said he has not seen Trump in the White House since June 2, but he is “sure” his messages are passed along.

Fauci warned that continued increases in cases would merit another round of restrictions on businesses and commerce. He said Thursday that states that reopened early should “seriously look at shutting down” again.

Nearly 3.2 million coronavirus infections have been confirmed in the United States, and at least 133,885 people have died.

Florida added 11,385 new coronavirus cases Friday, making it the second-highest single-day total recorded since the pandemic began in March. The record for the highest daily infections was set on Saturday, with 11,458 new cases. There were also 93 new deaths reported and a record 435 new hospitalizations. The highest increases in cases were in counties in South Florida, such as Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The median ages in both counties are 35-44, a demographic that doctors previously reported was less likely to become infected with the coronavirus than older people. New reporting has shown that younger adults below age 65 are at risk of getting seriously sick, according to reporting from Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. set a new record with about 60,000 new cases Thursday. Daily fatalities are ticking up as well, indicating that months of declining daily deaths have come to an end. California reported an average of 85 deaths per day over the past seven days, an increase of more than 29% compared with a week ago, CNBC reported. Florida recorded an average of 56 deaths per day, up more than 35% compared with a week prior. Texas reported an average of about 66 new deaths per day over the past seven days, up more than 106% compared with the previous week.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Thursday that businesses must refuse entry to people who are not wearing protective masks. Masks are now mandatory in Michigan in all indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.

“By wearing masks, we can save lives and protect our family, friends, and neighbors from the spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer said. “And by wearing masks now, we can put our state in a stronger position so our kids can return to school safely in the fall. For the sake of your loved ones, let’s all mask up, Michigan.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned that a second round of economic restrictions may be necessary to slow the rising rates of new cases and hospitalizations in Texas since June. He told several news outlets Friday that the situation in Texas will likely get worse, the Texas Tribune reported.

“Things will get worse, and let me explain why,” he told KLBK TV in Lubbock, Texas. “The deaths that we’re seeing announced today and yesterday, which are now over 100, those are people who likely contracted COVID-19 in late May.”

Abbott implemented a mask mandate in most Texas counties on July 2, which he was reluctant to do and called it a “tough decision” on Friday. He has been calling on Texans to abide by mask mandates all week in several television appearances.

“I made clear that I made this tough decision for one reason: It was our last best effort to slow the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “If we do not slow the spread of COVID-19 … the next step would have to be a lockdown.”

Trump’s approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic has reached a new low, with 67% of those polled disapproving of his response, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll out Friday. About one-third of people polled approve of Trump’s efforts.