2nd US virus surge hits plateau, but few experts celebrate

MIKE STOBBE and NICKY FORSTER

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - While deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. are mounting rapidly, public health experts are seeing a flicker of good news: The second surge of confirmed cases appears to be leveling off.

Scientists aren't celebrating by any means, warning that the trend is driven by four big, hard-hit places - Arizona, California, Florida and Texas - and that cases are rising in close to 30 states in all, with the outbreak's center of gravity seemingly shifting from the Sun Belt toward the Midwest.

Some experts wonder whether the apparent caseloa...