The COVID-19 pandemic reached staggering new highs today, as the U.S. death toll surpassed 130,000.Sixteen states have now posted record daily spikes in new infections this month.All this as hospitals in the South and the West struggle to keep up with the urgent demand for care. William Brangham has our report.In many places, it was a subdued holiday weekend, one overshadowed by a virus that's spreading with alarming speed.Americans marked the Fourth of July with measured celebrations, their trips to the beach flanked with warnings.But even in states with soaring new infections, others gathered defiantly and rejected those warnings.I'm an American, and I feel I should be able to do what I want to. I pay my taxes. I live free. I want to be free.Some at this rodeo in Houston refused to wear masks, despite a new statewide order to wear them in public.Because it's against our constitutional rights. They shouldn't be able to dictate what I wear.The surging caseload in Texas has stretched hospitals to capacity, with record numbers of new patients admitted every day.Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner: The number of people in our ICU beds has exponentially increase.In fact, if we don't get our hands around this virus quickly, in about two weeks, our hospital system could be in serious, serious trouble.A similar concern from the mayor of Miami, another hot spot.
