This was the scene in the Harlem neighborhood of NYC on Wednesday, as hundreds of mask-free rap fans danced in the streets and blocked traffic to shoot a music video by rapper Casanova.
Judging by this scene – and other scenes like it on social media – you wouldn’t know the United States in the midst of a record 45,000 jump in COVID-19 cases this week as the global total of coronavirus cases nears 10 million.
Health officials say the spike in the number of cases is thanks to the “complacency” of young people across the south and the west.
The 45,000 cases reported on Wednesday tops the late April record of 36,000 cases in a single day.
The news comes as many states are reopening and allowing salons, barbershops, restaurants and bars to resume operations.
Seven states, including California, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas saw record spikes in confirmed cases, but the coronavirus death rate has plummeted nationwide.
New York, NJ and Connecticut have all said they will be reinforcing quarantine orders and targeting travelers from out-of-state.
Out-of-state travelers will be fined as much as $10,000 if they don’t agree to quarantine for 14 days.
People I spoke with online believe the virus is being weaponized for political purposes. Others who once were afraid have moved on with their lives, saying the coronavirus is just another flu.
The Trump administration vows there will not be another nationwide lockdown like the one that crippled the U.S. economy and led to a record number of job losses.
