COVID-19 in Los Angeles

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on resistant Republican governors to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities.

Los Angeles County public health officials reported 2,293 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 1,307,970 as of Tuesday, Aug. 3. The total number of cases represents 13% of Los Angeles County’s population. Officials reported 20 new deaths linked to the coronavirus, for a total 24,704 deaths since tracking began.

The county reported another 2,293 COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, raising the cumulative number from throughout the pandemic to 1,307,970. Another 20 fatalities were also reported, giving the county an overall death toll of 24,704.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday downplayed a spike in COVID-19 cases that’s shattered state hospitalization records and strongly reiterated his vow not to impose a mask mandate or any business restrictions.

If approved, the motion would ask the county CEO, attorneys and Department of Human Resources to develop a vaccination policy for employees within 15 days, requiring them “to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or be tested at least once per week.”