The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Saturday morning, July 4, at 7:33 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 11,141,020      Worldwide deaths:  527,647

U.S. cases: 2,817,620    U.S. deaths: 129,575

According to the Dashboard, the worldwide cases increased by 195,420 in the last 24 hours, and 4,612 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported.

According to the Dashboard, the United States has added 49,951  cases in the last 24 hours, and deaths attributed to COVID-19 have increased by 461.

As of Friday, the United States had topped 50,000 cases in a single day for two days in a row.   Several states are reaching all-time high case counts, including Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas.  More than 40 states are showing an upward tick in cases.   Many of the newest victims are younger people, who may not suffer severe cases but have the capacity to infect others who may be at more risk.  Two separate studies have shown that 40% to 45% of all people with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic, but may also be able to effectively infect others.  Click here for information about the Scripps study, and here for information about a study at the Imperial College of London and University of Padova.

One concern is hospital capacity.   Arizona reported its hospital Intensive Care Unit capacity is at an all-time high at 91%   On Friday, speaking on the PBS Newshour, Judge Lina Hilgado, head of the governing board of Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, said their county ICU’s are beyond capacity as the hospitalization rates are increasing.

Carlos Giminez is Mayor of Miami-Dade County.  Also on Friday’s PBS Newshour, he said the percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in Miami-Dade County is increasing, and he believes the number of cases is probably undercounted by a factor of 10 to 20.  He’s imposed a 10 p.m. curfew, closed beaches for the July 4th weekend, and has ordered some businesses previously open to close.

In Hawaii, compared to other states, the case count is low:  975, with 754 released from isolation, or 221 cases being monitored by the State Department of Health.  On Friday, 29 new cases were confirmed by State DOH, and since June 1, the state has added 323 cases.  In May, there were no days with more than 4 cases, but in the last month, many days are in double digits.

Hawaii County has  a cumulative 96 with 5 active. One person is currently hospitalized. One of the new active cases is in a server at Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kailua Village, who had a relative come from the mainland and who was in quarantine at the server’s home and developed COVID-19.  The server, not subject to quarantine, also developed COVID-19.  Owner Marlina Shirley said no other Gertrude’s employees tested positive and she has closed the facility until July 15.

Health officials are reinforcing how contagious COVID-19 is and asking everybody to wear masks when around others, continue distancing, and continue frequent hand washing.  They also say outdoor activities, or facilities with good ventilation (ie not air conditioning) are the safest.