By STAFF REPORTS

The second half of July began with a Covid-19 positivity rate in California of 7.5 percent, still below the desirable 8 percent the state was aiming for. It remains to be seen whether the positivity rate will stay below 8 percent going forward.

Deaths continued to remain steady, hovering around 100-150 per day, with the death rate (deaths versus positive cases) declining to as little as 0.2 percent on July 18 and then going back up to 0.5 percent the next day.

Following are a few snapshots of the current situation in California and elsewhere.