U.S. coronavirus infections have surged to a six-month high, with an average of more than 100,000 daily cases. In Florida, the Memorial Healthcare System has suspended elective surgeries and has set up beds for COVID-19 patients in conference rooms, an auditorium and a cafeteria. Florida now faces its worst surge of the pandemic. Even so, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has refused to reverse his ban on mask mandates, calling vaccinations, social distancing and masking an “individual choice.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will require all K-12 students to wear masks when school returns this fall, reversing his decision last June to drop a mask requirement for schools. On Thursday, Governor Murphy shouted down anti-vaccination protesters who heckled him during a public appearance in Union City.

Gov. Phil Murphy: “These folks back there have lost their — you’ve lost your minds. You are the ultimate knuckleheads. And because of what you are saying and standing for, people are losing their life. People are losing their life, and you have to know that.”