U.S. sets another record for new daily cases of COVID-19

July 11 (UPI) -- The United States set another single-day record of COVID-19 cases -- 63,900 -- according to a Johns Hopkins University global tracker.

The country logged the new tally Friday, bringing the cumulative number of cases to nearly 3.2 million. More than 134,000 Americans have died from the virus and 983,000 have recovered.

Friday's total surpassed the previous record of 63,247 set Thursday.

According to The New York Times' tracker, dozens of states have experienced dramatic spikes in cases in recent weeks, led by Arizona, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, California and Georgia, among others.

In California, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health ordered the closure of Los Angeles Apparel, where more than 300 workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Four people have died in June and July.

"The death of four dedicated garment workers is heartbreaking and tragic," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. "Business owners and operators have a corporate, moral and social responsibility to their employees and their families to provide a safe work environment that adheres to all of the health officer directives -- this responsibility is important, now more than ever, as we continue to fight this deadly virus."

The department said it learned of the outbreak at the facility in June by a "concerned" healthcare provider.

For the first time since the pandemic began, Florida began releasing data on hospitalizations. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration said nearly 7,000 people were hospitalized Friday.

The state has had 244,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,100 deaths.

Miami-Dade County had a 28 percent positivity rate among all tests, marking the 14th day of a positivity rate above 18 percent.

In Texas, hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 cases, forcing some to keep patients in emergency rooms while waiting for rooms to open up. Some have had to be transferred to less crowded medical facilities.

Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, president of the Harris Health System, told the Houston Chronicle that hospital wait times have more than doubled, from up to 12 hours in late June to more than 24 hours this week.

"If things don't change, we're facing a picture like New York City did," Porsa said. "That's what scares the bejesus out of me."

Texas recorded 9,765 new cases Friday, the third-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. There were 95 deaths that day, bringing the total to 3,013. There have been an estimated 123,000 recoveries.