White House coronavirus task force to hold first public briefing since April

As the U.S. sets a record for number of new COVID-19 cases, the White House's coronavirus task force briefings are set to make a return.

The White House's coronavirus task force is set to hold its first public briefing in nearly two months on Friday, CNN reports. It will reportedly take place at the Department of Health and Human Services and be led by Vice President Mike Pence. President Trump isn't expected to be at the briefing, writes The Hill.

Many states have reported a surge in COVID-19 cases, and on Thursday, the United States set a record for number of new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. California, Florida, and Texas have been hit particularly hard, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Thursday announced the state will pause its reopening.

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The New York Times notes that the White House scheduling another coronavirus task force briefing came as a sign of the growing "urgency." CNN reports the White House coronavirus task force has been meeting less frequently with President Trump and, according to one administration source, has "remained sidelined and muzzled."

As CNN's Ryan Struyk notes, when the last coronavirus task force briefing was held on April 24, there were about 56,000 reported U.S. deaths from COVID-19. Going into Friday's briefing, that number has now reached about 124,000.