Florida tops 10,000 virus cases in a day

Florida shattered records, Thursday - reporting 10,000 new coronavirus cases – its biggest one-day increase in the state since the pandemic started, according to a Reuters tally.

To put that into perspective – Florida, with 21 million residents, reported more new daily coronavirus cases Thursday than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.

(PENCE): “We really are here to assure the people of Florida."

Vice President Mike Pence met with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Thursday, and praised the governor's -quote- ‘prudent steps’ to slow the spread of the virus.

(DESANTIS): "We have the virus community transmission in particularly with younger people."

The Florida governor has ordered bars - and some beaches - closed… But he has not mandated the use of masks.

That rule however is going into effect in parts of Texas where, after resisting the move for months, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday issued an order mandating that face masks must be worn in public in counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases.

"Medical studies have shown that wearing a face covering slows the spread of COVID-19 and it protects you..."

Abbott also gave local authorities the power to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Also on Thursday – word that 2012 Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, is battling coronavirus in an Atlanta-area hospital.

Cain had attended Trump’s recent Tulsa, Oklahoma rally - and tweeted a maskless photo of himself surrounded by fellow Trump supporters also not wearing face coverings.

Trump’s campaign spokesman said Cain did not meet with Trump while in Tulsa.