Im not going to get into whos right and whos wrong. So you wont say whether 99 of coronavirus cases are completely harmless as true or false, what the president said at the would us last night . Danna, ill say we have data in the White House Task force the data show us its a serious problem and people need to take it seriously. Florida Governor Ron Desantis set to brief media at any moment and were carry part of that for you at the coronavirus situation in florida. Of course, its getting critical. Waiting for that to get under way. First, going to florida, nbcs Kerry Sanders in st. Petersburg. Kerry, floridas cases are hitting levels no the seen sis new yorks peak. The governor pressured to issue a statewide mask mandate as the Texas Governor had to do last week. What is the situation there . Reporter well to put a fine point on that, im in st. Petersburg, as you noted. This is one of four hospital the floridaarea agency on Health Care Administration says is out of space in its icu for more coronavirus cases. That is of concern here in Pinellas County but really across the state as were continuing to see going from, well it took four months to have 100,000 positive tests. Now, in the last two weeks, to 200,000, and after this Holiday Weekend, the fear is that people did ignore social gathering right here in Pinellas County. Beaches were open, people gathered on the beaches. So the fear is that that lag time is now going to show up, and its not only just spacing the hospitals, because hospitals can, they can move a little bit. They can add a little room here, make an area and an added icu. Its the number of nurses need to attend to each of the patients. Its pretty much been a oneonone across the country to give the care thats needed for the patients in the hospitals, and as they run out of space and certainly dont have enough nurses, they then have a crisis on their hands. In miamidade county, Jackson Memorial went in advance of the fourth of july weekend and hired 80 new nurses knowing that theres likely to be more patients. But bottom line is, the concern is, there is going to be even more before it lessens and nobody knows when its going to lessen. Listen to what this expert had to say. I do anticipate that after this weekends parties we are going to see a bump in the next, you know, week to ten tdays, tw weeks. Beaches are closed. They are pausing on reopening because south florida behaved a lot more like the northeast than the rest of the state of florida does. Reporter florida is averaging 45 deaths a day. Sunday the greatest number of deaths was right here in Pinellas County. 14 14. Bottom line, Health Officials are uncertain what is going to be the eventual end to all this because of the patchwork in the state, and its possible floridas governor will address that. Up until now he that stood back. He has allowed the counties to make decisions. So in miamidade county, for instance, they have just decided now theyre going to open the beaches tomorrow, but theyre going to close Indoor Dining a the restaurants, but they will allow it for takeout. Whereas here, the beaches are open and you can go in to the restaurants. Its a big state and, remember, this is a tourist state. So there are those who have been traveling, andrea, to miamidade, discovering when they got there, well, our vacations a little different, and get in the car, come up here to central florida. Out on the west coast on the beaches here. Of course is, if theyre asymptomatic, carrying potentially the spread of the coronavirus. Andrea . All to be, allworrying indeed as we wait for Governor Desantis briefing. Thanks for setting us up and nbcs priscilla is in houston. They hit a new record in hospitalizations over the weekend. More than 8,000 people. You spoke to an e. R. Doctor earlier. What did he tell you . Reporter well, some of the same things, andrea, that ker talked about. For one, a need for more staffing. As these icu beds in the hospitals begin to fill up, there is a growing concern about having staff here. The e. R. Doctor i spoke with says they are in touch about the possibility of bringing in Health Care Providers from other states to be able to help out, because they are preparing to possibly have to use that Surge Capacity here soon. Right now the Texas Medical Center is reporting 98 of icu beds here are full, and so doctors here at houston methodist are preparing extra rooms to have those icu capabilities, and i also spoke to the doctor about the patients that theyre seeing coming through these doors and really what theyve learned since this virus first emerged a few months ago. Take a listen to what this doctor told me. This second surge is showing us a younger population. The rates of infection are higher. Weve already tripled the number at our peak to 629 today. If not higher. And those patients are requiring admission for treatments to increase oxygen, but not necessarily needing ventilation because of things we learned from the first surge. Reporter and so, andrea, that might explain why were not hearing as much as the need for more ventilators as we heard whenever new york city was a hot spot, because it seems doctors developed different strategies to not necessarily have to put folks on those ventilators immediately. But, you know, folks here still urging people to use those preventative measures, because it is really the only way well begin to see the numbers come down, andrea. Thanks so much to you, priscilla. Joining us now, nbc news medical correspondent dr. John torres. Dr. Torres, a lot to unpack including what the president said about 99 of the cases are harmless. None of the experts weve spoken to are indicating that that is correct. Theres also the lack of Face Covering at his events. Especially in Mount Rushmore. Barely month masks to be seen and his own lack of models of Face Covering. Youre right. A lot to unpack. Start with the 99 thing. I think he was referring to the death rate, we think is around 1 maybe a little less. That is different than saying this is a harmless virus, because only 1 of people are affected by it. What we estimate is 15 to 20 , so around 20 of people who test positive for coronavirus or have coronavirus end up in the hospital. Of those around 20 end in up the icu. A portion of those end up with longterm issues. Respiratory issues, neurological issues, other issues they have. Some of these are probably going to carry with them the rest of their lives. To say its harmless is far if a the fact and that 99 again, i think referring to the death rate not the virus itself and what it can do to people. Again that 20 are getting harmeds by the virus. Doesnt even fall close to the 1 . As far as the crowds out there, what we do know is that the more people you are around, the longer youre around those people, the more likely to catch coronavirus. Being outdoors certainly helps. Not having masks, being shoulder to shoulder, that close to others that can cause it to spread. Well find out over the next couple of weeks what the actual impact is. We know from protests doesnt seem to have spread as much but they werent in a static situation. Walking around. Air moving around. Here its different but it is outdoors and hopefully that helps out a little bit, andrea e. And take a look at part of what new jerseys Governor Phil Murphy had to say on meet the press about people coming from myrtle beach, coming from other areas, cullioming from florida reinfecting jersey, so hardhit, second after new york at the i dont ut set. Lets watch. Were starting to see a small spike in reinfection from folks come canning back from places like myrtle beach and as well as in florida. Other hot spots. We went through hell. We cannot afford to go through hell again. We need a National Strategy i think right now and masking has to be at the core of that. And you here have situations where greg abbott retreating in florida from his ruling previously that local mayors could not ban the lack of masks, and in texas, rather, and then as well desantis resisting that in florida. Asa hutchinson i spoke to on meet the press from arkansas saying masks were encouraged but he wasnt going to require it. All of these different decisions statebystate, and Public Health people saying, why not have a National Standard . And i think thats the exact question. Why not have a National Standard . Im hearing as well as you have, anecdotal stories of people going inside without masks getting in arguments with staff. Even getting violent with staff or vice versa. This is the type of thing. If we had a National Mandate that would quell the whole situation, because then it would be one of those, im not saying this because its our policy. Saying it because this is a national policy. One thing, because of our nation, we have borderers that are open. You can travel from one coast to the other. Travel north to south without issues but also transport coronavirus, and one of the big things to realize, sure in some situations in some areas, absolutely no virus or very little virus, they might be Wearing Masks and not necessarily needed as much. Some of the other areas, hot spots, but the goal here is for everybody to protect themselves, their loved ones, their community add the whole country to make sure we all recover from this as quickly as possible. And now i also wanted to ask about 200 scientists urging the w. H. O. To adropt Higher Standards regarding airborne spread. Known quite a while think is an airborne spread and why people are concerned about singing and other, shouting and what can be spread from these, these droplets in the air. Especially indoors, and with poor ventilation. And now the, the scientists are urging the w. H. O. To focus more on that as part of their requirements, or recommendations . And the world health organization, cdc, both looking into this. What essentially theyre saying, these 239 scientists, is that because of different patterns of spread in restaurants and other indoor situations, that it looks like the virus might be airborne. Thats justish, more on les a scientific distinction of the size of the virus and how long it lasts. Indoor, no ed to be care of the. Spreads more readily indoors. Children, young adults going back to college in those indoor situations come fall. We need to be very careful. A better look at the ventilation system, better look how to make sure the virus doesnt spread whether its respiratory droplets or airborne particles, smaller ones. Seems social distancing, might have to wear them indoors, might be part of the mandate, and ventilati ventilation, those things will make sure we get through this. John torres, youre helping us get through it so thank you very much, doctor. Appreciate it. Coming up, the divider in chief. President trump, ramping up his rhetoric on a weekend meant to celebrate the country. Plus, the veep states. Who is joe biden going to pick for his running mate . Later a look at some contenders. This is Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc. This is Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc. Dear fellow Business Leaders and technologists, i see all the Amazing Things you have been doing. You are transforming business models, and virtualizing workforces overnight. Because so much of that relies on financing, we have committed two billion dollars to relieve the pressure on your business. As you adapt and transform, were here with the people, financing, and technology, ready to help. Were here with the people, finansaturpain happens. Gy, aleve it. Aleve is proven stronger and longer on pain than tylenol. When pain happens, aleve it. All day strong. And sometimes, you can find yourself heading in a new direction. But when youre with fidelity, a partner who makes sure every step is clear, theres nothing to stop you from moving forward. A partner who makes sure every step is clear, yeah. This moving thing never gets any easier. Well, xfinity makes moving super easy. I can transfer my internet and tv service in about a minute. Wow, that is easy. Almost as easy as having those guys help you move. We are those guys. Thats you . The truck adds 10 pounds. In the arms. Okay. Transfer your Service Online in a few easy steps. Now thats simple, easy, awesome. Transfer your service in minutes, making moving with xfinity a breeze. Visit xfinity. Com moving today. Today the president continues to play to the most extreme factions of his Political Base tweeting an attack against Bubba Wallace, the only black sponsored driver in nascar. The president asking, has Bubba Wallace apologized to all of those great nascar drives and officials who came to his aide, stood by his side and willing to sacrifice everything for him only to find out the whole thing was just another hoax, well, it wasnt. Actually wallace and nascar replied in full in the last days and weeks the rope found in this garage was unlike all others shaped like a noose. The difference, it had been there a while and not found by the fbi to be aimed specifically at Bubba Wallace. Another driver tweeting we dont need an apologize. Well do just fine without i dont support. The president deciding an attack on critics of the confederate monuments is a big appeal to his base during this Holiday Weekend speeches in the Mount Rushmore and in washington. The radical ideology attacking our country advances under the banner of social justice, but in truth, it would demolish both justice and society. It would transform justice into an instrument of division and vengeance. Their goal is not a better america. Their goal is to end america. We will never allow an angry mob to tear down our statues, erase or history indoctrinate our children or trample on our freedoms. [ applause ] and joining me now, nbc White House Correspondent and weekend today cohost peter alexander, msnbc political analyst rick tyler. Pbs news hour White House CorrespondentYamiche Alcindor and welcome to all. What a way to celebrate the nations birthday and bring the nation together. Peter, the attacks continuing today. The bub ba wallace. Why go after Bubba Wallace personally with that dig today . Andrea, exactly right. Not just going after Bubba Wallace also perhaps striking in the tweet him being so supportive of the Confederate Flag in his two addresses over the weekend that faced a lot of criticism. He tried to uphold the American Heritage as he describes it but steered clear of making any particular references to the confederacy. He did that, though, in this tweet, in speaking to one of the president s allies within the last hour this individual described it to me and an unforced error, a step backwards and the president basically pursuing a smaller and smaller slice of the pie right now. Also struck by what Lindsey Graham said about this just moments ago, pushing back, one of the president s own allies pushing back publicly to the president s statement saying to Fox Newsradio about nascar, theyre trying to grow the sport. Ive lived in South Carolina owl my life. In business, the Confederate Flag is not a good way to grow your business. As weve witnessed this is the president not just doubling, triples, be quadruple down on the culture wars against stoking racial divisions within the country, andrea. Peter, you did great. We can hear you fine over that blower or trucks and Everything Else on the north lawn. Yamiche alcindor, the president falling back on his denial in terms of the virus and focusing on dividing the country by going after protesters and emphasizing any violence in the protesters and really drilling down on support for the confederate soldiers saying they were fighting for freedom, not fighting against racism. Thats right, andrea. What we see in President Trump is someone who is determined to be on the side of confederate generals, determined to be on the side of people who see american history, critics say, as weis white history. The idea america treated everyone equally and there was no racial strife in america is the history President Trump continue to harkin baearken on. Andble the black lives matter, its swelled, support of americans across all 50 states including in red states. People taking to the streets saying africanamericans should be treated equally. Police brutality should stop. The particulresident is saying americans are asking for the country to could better, he does the no want that movement to succeed and taking a political risk. Looking a the people against moving America Forward saying, no. We need to be on the other side of those people. Interesting that all of this is happening as the New York Times had to sue the trump administration, the cdc, to get racial data on the virus that shows africanamericans and latinos are dieing and infected in the virus at higher rates than white americans. I think all of this