Trump wears mask in public for 1st time on visit to Walter Reed
The novel coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 564,000 people worldwide.
Over 12.6 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their nations' outbreaks.
The United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 3.2 million diagnosed cases and at least 134,764 deaths.
Saturday's headlines:
Here is how the news developed on Saturday. All times Eastern.
10:05 p.m.: Several 4th of July partygoers at Michigan sandbar test positive
Several people who attended a Fourth of July party at Torch Lake sandbar near Rapid City, Michigan, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
The popular hangout spot on Houghton Lake in northern Michigan had been flagged by police as problematic in a press release on July 8. Michigan State Police said it saw an increase of 26% in call volume over the previous 10 years at the so-called Torch Fest. Seven people were arrested for drunk and disorderly charges and nine were charged with operating while intoxicated.
Photos released by police showed hundreds of people and boats crowded into close quarters.
"If you were at the Torch Lake Sandbar party over 4th of July weekend, you should monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and seek testing if symptoms should develop or if you were at high risk for exposure due to being in close proximity with others or not wearing a cloth facial covering," the health department said in a statement.
7:15 p.m.: 9 Maryland athletes, staff test positive, football practices halted
The University of Maryland has halted its football program's offseason training after nine athletes or staff tested positive for COVID-19.
The school said it had tested 185 students and staff, but did not specify how many of those who tested positive were staff or athletes -- or even if those nine were part of the football program.
"Contact tracing is ongoing through the Prince George's County Health Department and all identified individuals will follow a mandated 14-day self-observation period, under the supervision of university health officials," the university said in a statement. "Under guidance from the Prince George's County Health Department, we have temporarily suspended voluntary, individual training for the football program."
Maryland, which is part of the Big Ten Conference, said it tested 105 people in June and no one tested positive.
The Big Ten announced earlier this week it would be canceling all nonconference games for fall sports, including football.
5:46 p.m.: Trump visits Walter Reed hospital; wears mask for 1st time
President Donald Trump wore a mask for the first time in public on a visit to Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday afternoon.
Trump briefly answered questions before departing the White House to visit troops at the medical center and said that he would wear a mask.
"I think when you're in a hospital, especially in that particular setting where you're talking to a lot of soldiers and people that in some cases just got off the operating tables, I think it's a great thing to wear a mask," Trump told reporters. "I've never been against masks, but I do believe they have a time and a place."
It was more than three months ago that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended people wear masks in public, but the president always said he was regularly tested so it was not necessary he wear one.
The mask included the presidential seal. Face coverings are required at Walter Reed Medical Center, per its policy.
"President Trump is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to visit brave combat wounded service members and their families as well as healthcare staff who have been caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.
Trump did wear a mask at a behind-the-scenes tour of a Ford plant in late May, but not in front of the media, saying he "didn't want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it."
Trump has regularly come under criticism for not wearing a mask, including last week from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: "He is enabling the virus. How did this become a political statement? ... I've been asking him to do it for weeks. Just wear the mask and say to the American people, 'This is real. And it's a problem.'"
5:16 p.m.: Texas sets new record for cases
Texas set a new record of COVID-19 daily cases with 10,351 in the last 24 hours, according to the Department of State Health Services.
Gov. Greg Abbott told local news outlets Friday he thinks the situation will only get worse and is willing to consider further restrictions if necessary.
There have now been 250,462 cases to date. Of those, 119,470 are active, while an estimated 127,800 have recovered.
In the Rio Grande Valley, an area especially hard hit, there are only four available ICU beds and 353 available hospitals beds, according to officials. The Rio Grande Valley has a population of about 1.3 million.
The total death toll in Texas rose to 3,112, with 99 deaths reported since Friday -- four more than yesterday, but six shy of the daily record set Thursday.
More than 2.7 million tests have been administered, with the positivity rate today of 15.81%.
4:55 p.m.: Louisiana to mandate masks, close bars after rise in cases
Louisiana will require the public to wear a mask when social distancing can't be observed, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced.
“When outside in close proximity to others, you’re going to need to have your mask on. ... We know that face masks work," he said.
The mandate comes a day after the state reported 75 new cases, its highest number to date. It will go into effect Monday after midnight.
All bars without food permits will also be closed. Edwards said 36 outbreaks, which affected more than 500 people, were due to bars.
Edwards added that these steps were not ones he wanted to take. However, he said, "We have no reason to believe that the numbers we reported today are going to get better over the next week."
About a month ago there were 542 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. On Friday, there was a total of 1,182 confirmed cases.
4:41 p.m.: Wisconsin sets another case record
Wisconsin has set a record for most daily cases for the second day in a row, according to its health department.
The state reported 926 cases in the past day to bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 35,679.
There were also seven more deaths in the state yesterday to bring the total to 821 since the start of the pandemic.
3:15 p.m.: Boston moves to phase 3 reopening
Boston joined the rest of Massachusetts in moving to its phase 3 of reopening from COVID-19 lockdown, reported the Boston Globe.
In phase 3, gyms, movie theaters, casinos and other activities are allowed to resume, with restrictions.
As of Friday, the state's death toll reached 8,081 and the number of confirmed cases was 105,290.
932,796 people have been tested in Massachusetts. The state is offering free, no-symptoms required testing in its hardest-hit communities including Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lynn, Lowell, Marlborough and New Bedford, the Boston Globe reported.
