Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that at this point would settle for the

bronze. We've got some breaking news in the Olympics just ahead. I'm Jonathan Lemire on this Monday,

August 2nd, and let's start with the news. We begin with a grim new milestone in the coronavirus

pandemic. According to an NBC news tally, late last night, total cases in the United States surpass

35 million. The latest statistics from the CDC show a 64% increase in cases over the week

that ended on July 30th, last Friday, compared to the previous week. Florida is quickly

becoming the epicenter of this fourth wave of infections, accounting for

all but about a fifth of all new cases in the U.S. Yesterday, the state broke a previous record for

current hospitalizations set more than a year ago, well before vaccines were available.

Hospitals across the state are once again becoming overwhelmed.

In Jacksonville, for instance, hospitals have more COVID patients than ever before,

despite the availability of those vaccines. The near Times spoke to health care workers in Florida

who feel disbelief that they must endure another surge. One nurse said, quote, we are scared of seeing what we saw, and this time affecting the

younger population.

This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire career.

Another nurse told the times, it's the worst feeling ever.

When you watch somebody looking at you like, I can't breathe, help me.

And that's the worst image that I have in my mind. I never forget it.

Despite the record number of cases in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Friday that blocks schools from issuing mask mandates.

He argues that parents have the right to decide if their children wear face coverings in school.

At least two counties in the state had required students to cover their faces when they

return to class next month. This new executive order overrules those requirements.

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