Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today

As the United States records more daily infections than ever before, it is confronting a perilous new stage in the outbreak, with the resurgence largely concentrated in the South and the West. Here’s a look at what’s happening in a few of the country’s hot spots.

Texas

After a severe uptick in infections and hospitalizations, Gov. Greg Abbott paused the state’s reopening plans today and ordered hospitals in four counties to suspend elective surgeries. Businesses that had reopened last month — including restaurants, gyms, retailers and bars — are still allowed to operate. Although critics have blamed the reopening for contributing to the expanding pandemic, Mr. Abbott has said repeatedly that rolling it back would be a last resort. The state has recorded more than 130,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths; see a map of cases in the state here.

Florida

Despite Florida’s rising case count, which tops the previous record nearly every day, Gov. Ron DeSantis has given no indication that the state will roll back its economic opening. He attributed the rising infections to younger people who have started to socialize in bars and homes and pleaded with them to be responsible. He also urged residents to avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowds and close contact with others. There have been at least 114,010 cases in Florida, and at least 3,326 people have died; see a map of cases in the state here.

Arizona

After it reopened, Arizona quickly curbed measures meant to prevent the spread of the virus, and Gov. Doug Ducey did not make it a requirement for residents to wear masks in public. Last week, as infections surged, he changed course slightly, allowing local governments to set their own mask requirements. Drive-up sites have been overwhelmed by people seeking coronavirus tests, and hospitals are running out of intensive-care beds — about 88 percent are already in use. The state has had 60,207 cases and at least 1,467 deaths; see a map of cases in the state here.