Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

First came the global scramble for personal protective equipment. Now, the aftermath. It's washing up on shores around the world. That's just part the extraordinary rise in plastic waste that lockdowns have been driving. And South Koreans love bullfighting, not the Spanish kind, but a frequently bloodless bovine face-off.

Animal rights activists have a real beef with the practice, but fans aren't cowed.

When the crowds can return, they're sure, to lockhorns again.

First up, though.

Over the weekend, several American states hit new daily highs for coronavirus cases.

Florida, South Carolina, and Nevada, all reported record levels as the national total surged beyond two and a half million.

The Trump administration continues to assert that increased testing accounts for the higher numbers.

The data suggests otherwise.

Many of the states that had rushed to restart their economies are now the worst affected,

and lockdowns are being reimposed. In Florida and Texas, governors closed bars on Friday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott admitted the state had been too quick to reopen.

If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening

of bars.

Yesterday, he said that as many as 5,000 people a day were being admitted to hospitals

for treatment.

Appearing alongside Mr. Abbott was Vice President Mike Pence.

He made an appeal that represents an about-face for an administration that's been flippant about common-sense protections.

If your local officials in consultation with the state are directing you to wear a mask, we encourage everyone to wear a mask.

And in California, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties,

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