Trump wants U.S. schools to reopen in fall despite COVID-19

As coronavirus infections soar, states in the U.S. are reassessing how to reopen later this summer and fall. President Donald Trump is eager for things to return to normal.

The Trump administration on Tuesday continued to push for schools to resume with a focus on what the White House says is "holistic health and learning needs of America's students."

Administration officials said the "most vulnerable" students must be protected with the help of critical services provided by schools. They say closings have had a "significant negative impact."

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced that international students may have to leave the country if their universities switch to online-only courses for the 2020 fall semester. Otherwise, ICE says, they will risk violating their visa status. This decision could impact thousands of foreign students in the U.S.

The Florida Department of Education has issued an executive order to require all “brick and mortar” schools reopen in August.

President Trump tweeted on Monday: "SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!"

Coronavirus cases are on the rise in 40 states. The number of confirmed infections is approaching three million.

Almost 90 percent of U.S. mayors say their cities face shortages of testing kits, face masks and ventilators.

Hospitals in Texas, Arizona and Florida report near capacity over the weekend.

Last weekend, health officials say nearly all the adult intensive care unit beds were used by COVID-19 patients in Arizona. There are no ICU beds available in Florida, according the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

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