The U.S. counted more new COVID-19 cases Thursday than any day so far, breaking the previous record from late April.
That's more than 40,000 new cases in 24 hours, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Thirty states are now reporting an increase in daily cases. Texas was hit particularly hard Thursday, with the state reporting nearly 6,000 new cases. And California's case totals are breaking new records almost daily.
While the U.S. nears 2.5 million infections and some states pause reopening plans, the gap between public opinion and President Donald Trump's insistence that the virus is going away has widened.
The president said at a rally Thursday, "We're going to have a great third quarter and we're going to have a phenomenal next year. You'll see next year will be one of the greatest years. You see it happening already. It's happening and it's happening quickly."
As the president seeks reelection, he's pushed a narrative that encourages packed crowds, slowed testing and resistance to wearing masks. It might not bode well for his campaign. A new ABC/Ipsos pollreleased Friday shows 56% of Americans think the country reopened too quickly, and 89% say they've worn a mask in public this week.
