July 4 coronavirus news

Following a spike in coronavirus cases in Melbourne, Australia — and a "hard lockdown" of more than 3,000 people in public housing towers — the Australian Medical Association has called for a pause in easing Covid-19 restrictions until clear evidence shows the outbreaks in Melbourne are under control.

Association President Dr. Tony Bartone said the new outbreaks are a stark reminder the fight against coronavirus is far from over, according to a press release from the association.

Coronavirus cases have been rising sharply across the state of Victoria for nearly 3 weeks. Bartone said the outbreaks were "directly linked to failures to follow established and successful public health guidelines" and that Australia should play it safe before "rushing back to the pub, the footy crowds, or the big weddings and parties."

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher David Price announced on Twitter that he has chosen to opt out of playing in the 2020 MLB season. In a statement, Price said the decision was made in the best interest of his health and his family’s health.

This would have been Price’s first season as a member of the Dodgers. Price is a five-time All-Star and the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner.

Several other baseball players have decided to opt out as well because of health concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross will not play in the 2020 season, the team confirmed Monday. Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Mike Leake also has decided not to play this season, according to a statement from his agent.

Monday night, Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond posted an emotional message on Instagram stating he will not play this season. The 34-year-old, who is biracial, made reference to the ongoing racial tensions in the country and the pandemic.

Read David Price's full statement:

Despite the surge of coronavirus cases across the United States, many attendees seen at the White House's Salute to America event on the South Lawn are not practicing social distancing or wearing masks ahead of President Donald Trump's Fourth of July remarks. 

The Washington, DC, celebration does not appear to be following US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines concerning gatherings despite deputy White House press secretary Judd Deere telling CNN this week that the White House would enforce social distancing.

CNN has asked the White House whether guests are being tested or having temperatures checked but has yet to receive a response. The White House stopped temperature checks of all those entering the White House grounds weeks ago. Reporters at Saturday's event have not been tested or received a temperature check. 

A campaign aide familiar with the President's prepared remarks for Saturday night characterized them as "patriotic" and said the President will celebrate America's founding and the triumphs of American history while saluting the US military. The aide said the President "will appeal to the very best in the American Character."

The US Navy Blue Angels team have canceled their 2020 Pensacola Beach Air Show performance, according to a press release from the Santa Rosa Island Authority. The air show was scheduled to take place July 8-11 in Pensacola, Florida.

"After much discussion and consideration regarding the current rise in COVID cases in our hometown, we have come to the conclusion that canceling our flights during the Pensacola Beach Air Show is the only way we can ensure the safety of our community we love so much," the Blue Angels said in the statement.

"Each year we look forward to the opportunity to fly for our friends, family and neighbors here in Pensacola. This was not an easy decision to make," the statement said. "Unfortunately, we are navigating very uncertain and unpredictable times. We felt this was the necessary decision to make in an effort to keep our community safe.”

The authority says it plans to host the event again in 2021, on July 9-10.

The Kansas City Royals announced Saturday that catcher Salvador Perez has tested positive for Covid-19. The MLB team said, however, that Perez is asymptomatic.

Perez does not know how he contracted the virus.

"I don't feel anything. I'm in my home right now," Perez told reporters. "Nobody in my family is positive. Everybody is negative. Everybody took the test two days ago and yesterday, too."

MLB and the MLB Players Association on Friday announced the first set of results for Covid-19 testing before the start of workouts and full baseball activities. Thirty-one players and 7 staff members tested positive out of 3,185 samples that were collected.

"I can't wait to be back. I know it's going to take me at least 12 days," Perez said, "but I'm good. I don't feel anything."

He added, "Hopefully everything passes super-fast, and I can be back with the guys on the field."

The MLB season resumed Wednesday with players reporting to training. Games are scheduled to start on July 23 or 24.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 8,258 new cases of Covid-19 in Texas on Saturday — the state's second-highest number of new cases reported in a single day.

Of the new cases reported Saturday, about 1,200 were in Harris County, which includes Houston. Dallas County had 1,085 new cases, according to DSHS.

The highest daily total was set on Wednesday, when the state reported 9,308 cases.

The following day, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order mandating face covering in public for counties that have 20 or more positive Covid-19 cases.

Fireworks are arguably the best part of Fourth of July. But this year, as coronavirus cases rise across many parts of the US, gathering at the park or the beach to watch spectacular shows is more dangerous than usual.

Staying home and lighting your own fireworks if you live in a state where that is allowed and you have the space to do it is the best idea.

But if you'd rather go to the park or beach to watch them, there are a few steps you should take to stay safe:

While this year might look a little different than usual, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family. Just stay safe — not just for you, but for everyone around you.

Huntington Beach in Southern California would normally be jammed towel-to-towel with beachgoers on a July Fourth weekend. 

But this year, Los Angeles-area beaches are closed for the holiday as the state continues to see increases in coronavirus cases. Today, the Huntington Beach sat empty:

The comparison is jarring when you look at photos from just a few weeks ago. On June 14, crowds packed Huntington Beach:

Huntington Beach also canceled its annual Fourth of July parade. Instead, the city put on a neighborhood tour — two small 20-vehicle caravans that weaved through the streets with local dignitaries, replicas of famous screen and Volkswagen buses.

Brazil marked 50 days without an official health minister today, as the country reports more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases.

The position is temporarily occupied by Army General Eduardo Pazuello, who has no previous medical experience, since the last Health Minister, Nelson Teich, resigned on May 15.

Teich, who spent less than a month in office, left following criticism from President Jair Bolsonaro that he was "too timid in the push to reopen the economy and to advocate for the use of chloroquine." Teich, however, didn't provide a reason for his resignation.

Teich's predecesor, Luiz Henrique Mandetta — who advocated for social distancing measures, the use of masks, and never clearly recommended the use of chloroquine — was fired by Bolsonaro. 

Bolsonaro, who frequently defies social distancing guidelines recommended by most health experts and has dismissed the virus as "a little flu," has been widely criticized for downplaying the severity of the virus. 

Under Pazuello's interim command, more than 20 strategic positions within the ministry have been replaced with military personnel. Nonetheless, the greatest criticism against him came when following Bolsonaro's orders and desire to reduce the negative repercussion of the high death toll, he changed the format of how the data was presented. 

After strong domestic and international pressure, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court ruled that data should be presented as before. Despite the continued rise in Covid-19 cases and related deaths, Bolsonaro shows no signs of planning to replace Pazuello any time soon. 

With more than 1.5 million confirmed cases and at least 63,174 deaths, Brazil has the second highest number coronavirus cases and deaths globally after the US.