Georgia governor calls up National Guard
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Monday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the state and authorizing the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops in Atlanta. “Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda,” Kemp tweeted Monday night. “Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead. This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city. …This measure will allow troops to protect state property and dispatch state law enforcement officers to patrol our streets.” WSB reports the troops will protect public buildings, including the state capitol and governor’s mansion. The order follows a weekend in which 31 people were shot and eight people died, including an 8-year-old girl, in 11 separate incidents, though it’s unclear which if any of those incidents were connected to protests. The Georgia Department of Public Safety headquarters building was vandalized Sunday morning by protestors; National Guard troops have been assigned to protect it as well.
COVID-19 numbers
Here’s the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections and deaths.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 11,647,399
Global deaths: 538,796. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 130,306.
Number of countries/regions: at least 188
Total patients recovered globally: 6,328,000
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
There are at least 2,938,625 diagnosed cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 130,306. New York State has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 32,219.
U.S. total patients recovered: 924,148
U.S. total people tested: 36,032,329
The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in New York, with 397,649 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 19.5 million. That is the most reported cases than in any other single region in the world.
COVID-19 headlines
US COVID-19 death toll tops 130,000; will surpass three million cases this week
More than 130,000 people in the United States have now died from COVID-19, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. As of Tuesday morning, the number of people reported to have died from the virus was 130,306. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently forecasting between 140,000 and 160,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. by July 25. Additionally, some 45,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the U.S. Monday, following last Thursday’s daily high of more than 54,000 reported new cases. At this rate, the number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. will surpass three million this week – as of Tuesday morning, the count stands at 2,938,625. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.
Atlanta mayor positive for COVID-19; Florida virus cases double in two weeks
Keisha Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, announced Monday that she’s tested positive for COVID-19. “COVID-19 has literally hit home. I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive,” Bottoms tweeted Monday. Though Bottoms has stressed the importance of wearing masks, the city has not mandated it. Georgia currently has 97,064 COVID-19 cases and 2,878 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, an increase of 1,548 new cases and 18 deaths since Sunday. In Florida, one of the states hardest hit by the recent surge in coronavirus infections, there are 206,447 total COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, more than double the 100,217 cases reported two weeks prior on June 22. The number of deaths in Florida stands at 3,778. The figures come as the Florida Department of Education on Monday ordered that all schools must reopen next month, with accommodations allowed for COVID-19.