COVID-19 infections hit record low

For the first time since March 2020, the United States recorded fewer than 10,000 new cases on a single day and daily coronavirus-related deaths dropped to 340. The total U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpassed 600,000, but the daily toll has declined to one-tenth of January’s peak.

How is reopening going? New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the state will celebrate dropping many pandemic-related restrictions with fireworks. California, which recorded more COVID-19 deaths than any other state, now has a rate of infection below 1 percent and lifted most of its restrictions at midnight coming into Tuesday. The same day, Massachusetts lifted its state of emergency after 462 days and Kansas let its state of emergency expire. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said the state can expect the same, as well as a lifting of mask requirements, on July 1.

Dig deeper: Read John Dawson’s report in Beginnings about how COVID-19 protocols may have eradicated some flu strains.