(Reuters) – New coronavirus cases in Oklahoma increased by a record amount just days ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, the biggest event in the country since pandemic restrictions were imposed in March.
FILE PHOTO: Bar manager at The Jackalope talks with agents from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as they check that bars are maintaining social distancing protocols to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the first day that bars in Texas were allowed to reopen after they were shut down in March, in Austin, Texas, U.S. May 22, 2020. REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona
After nationwide cases trended downward for several weeks, the numbers are rising – sharply in about half a dozen states, according to a Reuters analysis.
In addition to Oklahoma, Florida reported over 2,600 new cases on Wednesday and Arizona more than 1,800 – the second-highest daily increase for both states. A day earlier, six states reported record increases in cases, including Texas, Nevada and Oregon.
Trump’s campaign advisers believe his first rally in three months on Saturday night a