This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for July 26th, 2021.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff warned that restrictions for unvaccinated people may be necessary if infection numbers reach new heights in the coming months. That has politicians there very divided. The unvaccinated may be banned from restaurants, movie theaters and sports stadiums.

Apparently believing lack of access to them is the problem, the White House is considering sending masks to every American household, according to three people familiar with the talks. It’s not certain what kind, or how many will be sent per residence. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the administration is even weighing whether people should double-mask.

France's parliament approved a law requiring special virus passes for all restaurants and domestic travel and mandating vaccinations for all health workers. Health workers who refuse risk suspension. To get the pass, people must prove they’re fully vaccinated, recently tested negative, or recently recovered from the virus.

Vietnam has locked down Hanoi for at least 15 days. This bans the gathering of more than two people in public, and only government offices, hospitals and essential businesses are allowed to stay open. The city had already suspended all outdoor activities and ordered non-essential businesses to close.

Usually during the Olympics we’re counting medals. This year we’re counting coronavirus cases. Olympics organizers say 127 people connected to the games have tested positive in the past few weeks. 71 of them are residents of Japan and 56 are non-residents like athletes and the media. 14 athletes have tested positive so far. About 100 of the total 613 U.S. athletes have not yet been vaccinated.

In the United States cases were up 170%, deaths are up 20%, and hospitalizations are up 58% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending up since July 5.

There are now 5,060,794 active cases in the United States.

Keeping in mind that several states have now decided to stop reporting their daily case numbers, the five states with the most new cases: California 3,010. New York 1,902. Missouri 1,620. Arizona 1,508. And Texas 1,428.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Dimmit, TX. Baxter, AR. Phillips, AR. Douglas, MO. Perry, AR. Nassau, FL. Taney, MO. Marion, AR. Karnes, TX. And Wright, MO.

There have been at least 610,891 deaths in U.S. recorded as Covid-related.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s been fully vaccinated: Vermont unchanged at 67.1%, Massachusetts unchanged at 63.3%, and Maine at 63%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Alabama unchanged at 33.9%, Mississippi at 34%, and Arkansas at 35.6%. The percentage of the U.S. that’s been fully vaccinated is unchanged at 48.8%.

The 5 countries with the largest recent 24-hour increase in the number of fully vaccinated people: Vietnam up 6%. Saudi Arabia 5%. Nepal 4%. And Kazakhstan, Australia, and Malaysia 3%.

Globally, cases were up 19% and deaths were up 21% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since June 21.

There are 13,882,962 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Indonesia 38,679. India 38,153. The U.K. 29,173. Iran 27,146. And Russia 24,072.

There have now been at least 4,158,469 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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