California shuts down bars as COVID-19 Cases Surge

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic – one of the worst in decades – some states who eased lockdown orders, are going back to it as cases continue to rise.

Global coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday according to a Reuters tally, a major milestone in the pandemic. The global death toll exceeded half a million in seven months, another grim marker.

In California, the easing of lockdown is being rolled back, as bars were ordered to close yesterday after cases nationwide soar to record levels day after day.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday.

Public health officials in California and throughout the United States have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses currently open.

More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the United States and more than 125,000 have died, making the country the worst affected globally.

For a third consecutive day on Saturday, the number of confirmed U.S. cases leapt by more than 40,000, one of the world’s largest surges.

In many states, people under 35 accounted for a large percentage of new cases. More tests are also coming back positive, up to 25% in some areas.

Due to the surge in cases, Vice President Mike Pence cancelled events to campaign for Donald Trump’s re-election in Florida and Arizona.

On Sunday, Pence travelled to Texas, where he told a news conference that Americans should wear masks.

“We encourage everyone to wear a mask in the affected areas,” Pence said. “Where you can’t maintain social distancing, wearing a mask is just a good idea, especially young people.”