Author:

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The message was dropped into a WhatsApp group used by suburban moms in South Africa. Amid the grumblings over homeschooling during lockdown, one mom went off topic: “Does anyone know where to get illegal cigarettes? I just need a few. I’m desperate.” She emphasized her anguish with an emoji, a face with eyes bulging and tongue hanging out. The “desperate mama,” as she described herself, is one of 9 million smokers in South Africa affected by the government’s decision in late March to ban the sale of all tobacco products, ostensibly to help protect citizens’ health during the coronavirus pandemic. The ban remains even after South Africa eased most of its strict lockdown restrictions, including another contentious outlawing of alcohol sales. Confirmed COVID-...

');$vidEndSlate.removeClass('video__end-slate--inactive').addClass('video__end-slate--active');}};CNN.autoPlayVideoExist = (CNN.autoPlayVideoExist === true) ? true : false;var configObj = {thumb: 'none',video: 'health/2020/07/01/florida-california-coronavirus-cases-kaye-pkg-newday-vpx.cnn',width: '100%',height: '100%',section: 'domestic',profile: 'expansion',network: 'cnn',markupId: 'large-media_0',adsection: 'const-article-carousel-pagetop',frameWidth: '100%',frameHeight: '100%',posterImageOverride: {"mini":{"width":220,"type":"jpg","uri":"//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/200619112108-01-florida-coronavirus-advisory-sign-file-small-169.jpg","height":124},"xsmall":{"width":307,"type":"jpg","uri":"//cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/200619112108-01-florida-coronavirus-advisory-sign-file-medi...

Video above: California rolls back more openings due to virusHealth officials are urging Americans to limit their holiday weekend festivities to avoid clusters of outbreaks."We know people are tired of being cooped up at home ... but cases surged after Memorial Day," said Dean Sidelinger, the Oregon state health officer. "We don't want the same thing to happen over the Independence Day holiday."In Nebraska, officials warned residents to maintain a contact list for future tracing if they have to invite guests over for July Fourth. They urged people to hold such events outdoors if possible, avoid sharing items such as sun screen and maintain social distancing.The Fourth of July weekend could be the "perfect storm" for a spike in coronavirus cases, said Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious...

Press release from the Humboldt County Joint Information Center: Three additional cases of COVID-19 were reported today, bringing to 136 the total number of Humboldt County residents who have tested positive for the virus. Two of these new cases were acquired through contact with a known case. The means of transmission for the remaining case is under investigation. For the most recent COVID-19 information, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or during business hours by contacting covidinfo@co.humboldt.ca.us or calling 707-441-5000. Humboldt County COVID-19 Data Dashboard: humboldtgov.org/dashboard, Follow us on Facebook: @HumCoCOVID19, Instagram: @HumCoCOVID19, Twitter: @HumCoCOVID19, and Humboldt Health Alert: humboldtgov.org/Humbol...