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Record-Setting Day; Texas Pauses Reopening; Run on Dexamethasone

— A daily roundup of news on the novel coronavirus outbreak

MedpageToday
Covid-19 UPDATE and Other News over a background of illustrated coronaviruses

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After a record-breaking surge in new cases on Thursday, the unofficial U.S. COVID-19 toll stood at 2,422,312 cases and 124,415 deaths as of about 8 a.m. ET, increases of 40,943 cases and 2,436 deaths since the same time yesterday.

That increase in deaths is the , though some states began adding "probable" COVID deaths to their totals today. (Our World In Data)

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas in the state's four most populous counties while pausing the state's broader reopening plan. Meanwhile, leaders of Houston's sprawling Texas Medical Center said they were out of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients, but then and said the situation is manageable. (Houston Chronicle)

For every COVID-19 diagnosis, 10 infections , according to the CDC. (Reuters)

As the "tidal wave" of coronavirus has washed across the U.S., , especially common but potentially serious diseases, has fallen off, possibly setting the stage for other health crises. (STAT)

Commenting on the in several states, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said, "We're going to have hot spots, no question ... we just have to live with that." (Slate)

CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, suggested the agency might tap into the of the video website TikTok to reach younger Americans about the need for public health precautions to quell the spread of coronavirus. (CNBC)

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest (R) Gov. Roy Cooper (D) over the governor's executive orders related to coronavirus. (Fox News)

Beyond the U.S., the pandemic in many parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization. (Reuters)

Officials in southern England declared a "major incident" after thousands of people , ignoring social-distancing regulations. (CNN)

Summer sunlight may in as little as 30 minutes. (Tech Times, Photochemistry & Photobiology)

News that dexamethasone might reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients on ventilators -- and the threat of a shortage -- of the generic steroid, which is widely used to treat inflammatory conditions and cancer. (FiercePharma)

In other news:

  • Regeneron announced its intention to alleging the company's patient-assistance donations to charities were kickbacks to support sales of its macular degeneration drug aflibercept (Eylea). (FiercePharma)
  • The FDA approved an of fenfluramine (Fintepla) for the rare childhood form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome.
  • German officials announced continued for the World Health Organization but called for reforms to make the agency more accountable and transparent. (AP News)
  • The Trump administration's bid to (Obamacare) reached the Supreme Court yesterday. (NBC News)
  • author['full_name']

    Charles Bankhead is senior editor for oncology and also covers urology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. He joined 鶹ý in 2007.