The statewide number of hospitalizations increased by 13.5% over the past 14 days, and the number of patients in intensive care has grown by nearly 20% Source: California COVID-19 efforts fare better than national average – Los Angeles Times

The email created the specter of the federal government intimidating local election officials or otherwise intervening in vote tallying amid calls by President Trump to end the tabulating in states where he was trailing in the presidential race, former officials said.

A law prohibits the stationing of armed federal officers at polls on Election Day. But a top official told prosecutors that the department interpreted the statute to mean that they could send armed federal officers to polling stations and locations where ballots were being counted anytime after that.

The statute “does not prevent armed federal law enforcement persons from responding to, investigate, or prevent federal crimes at closed polling places or at other locations where votes are being counted,” the official, Richard P. Donoghue, told prosecutors in an email that he sent around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., November 4, that there were 2,795 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 217,666. Daily increases are now the highest they have ever been since the start of the pandemic. Source: Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19: 2,795 Additional Positives Bring Statewide Total to 217,666

The former vice president led by more than 60,000 votes in the state as of Wednesday afternoon, according to estimates from The Associated Press. Trump carried the state by less than 11,000 votes in 2016.

“Michigan’s elections have been conducted transparently, with access provided for both political parties and the public, and using a robust system of checks and balances to ensure that all ballots are counted fairly and accurately,” Jarvi added in the statement, which Nessel shared on Twitter.

“When we are served, we will review it and respond accordingly,” Jarvi added. “Michigan will always continue to protect the rights of all voters to have their ballots counted.”

Source: ‘Stop the count’ protesters push toward door of Detroit ballot counting place | TheHill

The Italian government announced Wednesday night that it will lock down a significant portion of the country, including the northern regions that are its economic engine, in an effort to stop a resurgent wave of coronavirus infections. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that the measures, the most drastic since the nationwide lockdown in March, will take effect on Friday and will seal off six regions in the country’s deeply infected north and highly vulnerable, and poorer, south.

A study of the lungs of 41 people who died from COVID-19 in Italy has revealed extensive damage, persistent distortion of the normal organ structure, scarring of respiratory tissue, and massive blood clotting of the arteries and veins, which may help explain why it takes some people—so-called “long haulers”—months to recover from fatigue and shortness of breath.

Source: Postmortem lungs of COVID-19 patients show massive damage | CIDRAP

“Regardless of where you stand on this race and what party you are, and who you voted for, most Americans really want a free and fair election process and they want us to count the votes,” Hogan continued. “I think they are doing that in every state, that they’re being very cautious to make sure we count all the absentee ballots and provisional ballots, there’s Republicans and Democrats overseeing the process.” Source: Hogan rebukes Trump over election remarks | TheHill

It will be able to take stricter measures against police, including the ability to investigate complaints made against the Portland Police Bureau and officers’ use of deadly force, among other things. To assist with its investigations, the board can subpoena documents and witnesses and access police records. In the event that wrongdoing by police is shown, the board can impose disciplinary actions, including the firing of officers. Source: Portland votes to create community-run police oversight board | TheHill