California became the first state to surpass 600,000 coronavirus cases, an NBC News tally of data determined Thursday.
Florida has recorded 557,137 cases, and Texas, 527,715.
COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S., which saw the highest number of coronavirus deaths in two weeks, a new NBC News tally showed Thursday.
A lack of widespread testing has raised concerns that the data coming out of the hardest-hit states might be showing fewer deaths than the true scope.
Over the weekend, the United States reached a milestone of 5 million coronavirus cases, and by Thursday, more than 5,230,500 infections had been reported.
Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday reported 1,999 cases and 64 deaths. The state’s second-largest county, San Diego, reported 266 cases and seven deaths.
San Diego County officials said in a statement that they have recorded a “downward trend” in virus cases and that if its numbers continue to trend this low Friday it could come off a California watch list and reopen some businesses.
Being on the state’s watch list also means local schools can’t reopen.
A group of parents is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow schools to open for in-person learning regardless of a community’s virus rate. They argue their children are suffering academically and psychologically.
