U.S. Surge Keeps Growing; HCQ Debate Continues; Uncle Sam Wants You for Vax Trials

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As of Thursday at 8:00 a.m. ET, an unofficial U.S. tally listed 3,005,114 COVID-19 cases and 132,309 deaths. The increase in case count — more than 59,000 from Wednesday — set a new record, and the 829 new deaths made for the biggest two-day toll in a month.

The state of Arizona has less than 150 open ICU beds left. (Newsweek)

In Houston, meanwhile, more patients are dying at home, including many confirmed COVID-19 cases. (ProPublica)

President Trump is demanding public schools reopen this fall; but New York City announced that schools will not open fully, limiting attendance to one to three times a week. (Washington Post, New York Times)

An independent panel will review the World Health Organization’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as national governments’ responses. (Reuters)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said another coronavirus relief package is “highly likely.” But the Trump administration wants to limit aid to $1 trillion because of concerns about an inflating national deficit. (ABC-13 WBKO, Fox Business)

Billions in federal relief funding notwithstanding, United Airlines said it may have to furlough 36,000 employees in the coming months, due to the dwindling travel demand. (CNBC)

Two weeks after Gilead Sciences said it was starting a phase I trial of an inhaled, nebulized version of remedesivir, the company said it again Wednesday. It’s unclear why.

And the hydroxychloroquine debate continues, thanks to a retrospective study from Detroit being touted by the White House. (STAT)

Sellers of a toxic bleach product now face federal criminal charges for claiming it cures COVID-19, the Justice Department announced.

Want to participate in a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trial? The NIAID has you covered, with a sign-up portal for volunteers.

In the race for a COVID-19 vaccine, the federal government has relied on two small medical suppliers to manufacture syringes. Experts warn that this could be the next critical shortage. (Los Angeles Times)

Outbreaks in the southern U.S. have spurred Mexican border towns to call for travel restrictions. (The Guardian)

Ivy League cancelled college football this fall, raising the possibility of starting the season in spring 2021. (CBS Sports)

Robots in the age of social distancing? Japan is examining how they may replace some human interactions. (Washington Post)

In other news:

• The Supreme Court upheld a Trump administration rule expanding the religious exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s birth control coverage mandate to include any employer who has a religious or other objection to providing the coverage. (The Hill)
• Since stay-at home orders were put in place, childhood immunization rates for many vaccine-preventable diseases have plummeted. In some states, rates declined by more than 50%. (Scientific American)
• Adult vaccination rates for shingles have seen a sharp increase in recent years. But a federal report shows that low-income and minority communities are more likely to be left behind. (KHN)