Florida reported over 12,000 new cases of Covid-19, the fifth day in a row the state has announced over 10,000 new infections, Reuters reported.

The virus has claimed over 140,000 lives in the US since the pandemic started, and Florida, California, Texas and other southern and western states shatter records every day.

Hospitalizations of currently ill Covid-19 patients in Florida reached a record high of 9,229, up about 2,000 patients in the last week, according to a state agency. At least 14 states have reported record levels of coronavirus hospitalisations so far in July, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona.

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