By Alexander Lee

The image depicts people enjoying a day at the beach in Miami Beach, Florida, despite the state reporting a record-breaking 15,300 new Coronavirus cases on July 12, 2020.

On July 12, 2020, Florida reported a record increase of over 15,000 new COVID-19 cases within 24 hours, while protests against mask mandates were planned in Michigan and Missouri. This surge in cases would rank Florida fourth in the world for the most new cases in a day, following the United States, Brazil, and India. This new daily tally surpasses the highest reported by any European country at the peak of their outbreaks, as well as New York state's record of 12,847 new cases on April 10. 

The record increase in cases comes as the Trump administration is pushing for schools to reopen and a day after Walt Disney World in Orlando reopened with new safety measures, including masks and temperature checks. Anti-mask activists in various states, including Florida, have been protesting against local mask mandates, claiming that they infringe upon individual freedoms. 

Coronavirus infections are on the rise in about 40 states across the U.S., with approximately 60,000 new cases reported daily for the last four days consecutively. Hospitalizations and positive test rates are also increasing in Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. Florida reported a record amount of testing on Sunday, with nearly 143,000 results announced, compared to the average of 68,000 for the previous week.

Reporter Alexander Lee alexanderlee_24@newsyn.co.kr