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July 7th WashingtonPost Coronavirus Update

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In the wind

The Latest
The Trump administration has sent a letter to the United Nations withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization over its handling of the pandemic, a dramatic move that could reshape public health diplomacy and puts the U.S. at odds with traditional allies. It is not clear whether the president can pull the nation out of the organization and withdraw funding without congressional approval.

Hospitalizations and deaths are climbing in some places, along with the new surge in confirmed cases, and states and cities are adding new restrictions — or shutting down again — in an attempt to control the spread and save lives.

Arizona reported new highs for coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths Tuesday, and nearly 90 percent of the state’s intensive care unit beds were full as of Monday. Florida has seen its caseload soar past 10,000 a day, which has prompted new closures. The Trump administration said it will provide surge testing temporarily in Louisiana, Texas and Florida, where recent outbreaks have been particularly severe.

Miami-Dade County authorities reversed course on a reopening plan, after beach closures and mask requirements that were implemented over the past two weeks. In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice (R) announced that face coverings will be mandatory inside buildings.

Despite the alarming spread in the U.S., the Trump administration is pushing for all schools to reopen in the fall, arguing that they can do so with protections in place for particularly vulnerable students and staff. “Nobody should hide behind CDC’s guidance” to avoid reopening schools, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. In Florida, the state's top school official issued a sweeping executive order requiring all schools to reopen their buildings for in-person instruction in the fall.

A Pennsylvania nursing home gave some veterans a “covid cocktail,” including hydroxychloroquine, in conflict with guidance from the FDA, a Post investigation found. The regimen was routinely dispensed at the Southeastern Veterans’ Center for more than two weeks in April, often for patients who had not been tested for covid-19 and for those who suffered from conditions known to raise the risk of dangerous side effects.

Other important news
You can now search our database to see who received small-business loans from the $660 billion coronavirus relief program, and how much. Since yesterday's newsletter, we learned that aid went to private-equity backed chains, members of Congress and the law practice that represented Trump.

A new wave of infections prompted officials in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, to reinstate lockdowns.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly minimized the coronavirus, said Tuesday that he has tested positive for covid-19. The U.S. ambassador to Brazil recently hosted Bolsonaro for a Fourth of July barbecue.

International students must take classes in person to stay in the country legally this fall, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced. Some students fear being suddenly deported.

States such as Texas are seeing massive losses in tax revenue. The downturn in that previously-strong economy is a warning sign about what's to come.