Cases continue to rise across the United States, showing a worrying trend that could only intensify as more people return to work and enjoy summer activities. Hospitalizations in Texas have steadily risen consecutively the past few days at a rate not seen yet in the region, while the governor of North Carolina stated that the recent increase in cases in his state is making him rethink his reopening strategy, according to the Associated Press.

Yet, there is no direct reason for the alarming rise in cases, with some being attributed to more testing availability while others are from local outbreaks. However, health experts are pointing to the easing of social restrictions back in May as the push behind at least some of the numbers. The United States currently has over 2 million confirmed cases and 115,000 deaths.

Alarming still, across the world in Africa cases are rising as well. The World Health Organization on Thursday warns that the continent is going to experience a "stead increase" in cases until a vaccine is developed, according to Reuters.

"Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we'll probably have to live with a steady increase in the region, with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries, as is happening now in South Africa, Alegria, Cameroon for example, which require very strong public health measures, social distancing measures to take place," Matshidiso Moeti, the agency's regional director for Africa, stated in a press briefing in Geneva.

Total Global Cases: Over 7.59 Million

Total Deaths: Over 423,000

Total Recovered: Over 3.8 Million

Testing Acceleration

U.S. government backed Moderna (MRNA  ) confirmed with Reuters on Thursday that the biotech is set to begin a 30,000-person clinical trial of its potential coronavirus vaccine in July. The company stated that the trial comes as Moderna enters its final stage of testing to find if its vaccine hopeful prevents symptomatic COVID-19.

The drugmaker selected a 100-microgram dose of the vaccine for the upcoming study. At that dosage level, the company will be able to produce about 500 million doses per year with the possibility of 1 billion per year starting in 2021. The company's manufacturing will be done both at its own site in the United States as well as in partnership with Swiss pharmaceutical Lonza (LZAGY  ).

Meanwhile, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN  ) announced the start of its first clinical trial of its experimental antibody cocktail for both potential treatment and prevention of the coronavirus. The drug, REGN-COV2, will be tested in four separate groups: hospitalized COVID-19 patients, non-hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients, uninfected people in groups that are at high risk of exposure, and uninfected people with close exposure to a COVID-19 patient. The placebo controlled trials will be conducted in multiple locations.

"REGN-COV2 could have a major impact on public health by slowing spread of the virus and providing a needed treatment for those already sick--and could be available much sooner than a vaccine. The antibody cocktail approach may also have long-term utility for elderly and immuno-compromised patients, who often do not respond will to vaccines," Chief Scientific Officer Dr. George D. Yancopoulos stated in a press release. "Ultimately, the world needs multiple solutions for COVID-19..."