LIVE STREAM: White House coronavirus task force holds briefing

Watch live at 11 a.m. Wednesday

FILE - In this June 26, 2020, file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, right, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens as Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a news conference with the Coronavirus task force at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington. As the public face of the administration's coronavirus response. Vice President Mike Pence has been trying to convince Americans that the country is winning even as cases spike in large parts of the country. For public health experts, that sense of optimism is detached from reality. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (Susan Walsh, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

WASHINGTON – The White House coronavirus task force will host a news conference at 11 a.m. on Wednesday to address the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.

You can watch the briefing live in the video player below at 11 a.m.

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States across the U.S. have been experiencing significant spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, which is presumed to be related to the premature reopening of economies amid the pandemic.

On Tuesday Florida reported an increase of more than 60,000 cases in the span of just one week. In comparison Michigan is reporting a total of 66,000 COVID-19 cases overall.

Other states like Texas and California also reported an increase of around 48,000 COVID-19 cases each in the last week. COVID-19 cases are climbing at a rapid pace in Arizona, Georgia, North and South Carolina and more states.

READ: COVID-19 in the US: Tracking states with the most cases, deaths on July 7

Michigan is also reporting an uptick in COVID-19 cases -- though the increase is not as dramatic as other states are experiencing. As of Tuesday the state is reporting a total of 66,627 COVID-19 cases and 6,005 deaths.

New cases have increased slightly in the last week, while deaths remain flat in Michigan. Testing has increased slightly in the last week, with an average of more than 15,000 per day. After an uptick in recent weeks, hospitalizations declined last week.

As a number of states struggle with a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday that she is prepared to shut the state down again if it becomes necessary.

“I want to reengage this economy more than anyone, but I’m not going to do it if it is too risky to do so, and that’s why we’re seeing focus on the epidemiology,” Whitmer said. “I’m not going to be bullied into moving before it’s safe, and if we have to move back, we’re going to.”

Whitmer announced before the Fourth of July weekend that she wouldn’t be moving the Lower Peninsula to phase five of her reopening plan as hoped. She also halted indoor bar services while loosening restrictions on delivery and to-go alcohol beverages.

New Michigan COVID-19 cases per day since June 22:

  • June 22 -- 179 new cases
  • June 23 -- 221 new cases
  • June 24 -- 323 new cases
  • June 25 -- 353 new cases
  • June 26 -- 389 new cases
  • June 27 -- 314 new cases
  • June 28 -- 252 new cases
  • June 29 -- 236 new cases
  • June 30 -- 373 new cases
  • July 1 -- 262 new cases
  • July 2 -- 543 new cases
  • July 3 -- 460 new cases
  • July 4 -- 398 new cases
  • July 5 -- 343 new cases
  • July 6 -- 295 new cases
  • July 7 -- 456 new cases

About the Author:

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.