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Texas and Florida, two states where coronavirus cases are surging, took steps on June 26 to help stop the spread of the virus. The United States set a new record for coronavirus cases, and officials have said that the number is a low estimate compared to the actual number of people infected.

As Texas reported 6,000 more cases on June 25, Governor Greg Abbott put further restrictions on businesses after “pausing” the state’s reopening earlier in the week. Rafting and tubing businesses must remain closed and outdoor gatherings of over 100 people must be approved by local governments. Florida banned on-premise alcohol consumption in bars as the state’s case count recorded 9,000 new cases in one day. While Miami Mayor Francis Suarez made masks mandatory on June 25, the governor of Florida has not made the regulation statewide.

Experts are still encouraging the public to social distance and wear masks. “Every epidemiologist was telling, screaming as loud as we could, that three weeks after Memorial Day, we’d have a peak in the cases, and five weeks after Memorial Day we’d begin to see a peak in hospitalizations and deaths,” epidemiologist Larry Brilliant told CNN on Thursday night. “If you let everybody out without face masks and without social distancing in the middle of a pandemic, this is what was predicted.”

Read more about protecting yourself from coronavirus. Check the CDC website for more information on how to protect yourself and check our latest article to learn how COVID-19 differs from the flu.

Scientists believe that the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, started at an exotic animal market in Wuhan, China. You can help stop the incidence of viruses like these by signing this petition to ban the wildlife trade.

This is a good time to reconsider our intake of animal products to stay healthy. Eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

Interested in joining the dairy-free and meatless train? We highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Catch up on our latest coronavirus coverage in One Green Planet, check out these articles:

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