Washington, July 5 (RHC)-- Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alaska all reported record increases in coronavirus cases on Friday as Florida's most populous county imposed a curfew in advance of the Independence Day weekend.

The surge in cases, most pronounced in southern and western states, has alarmed public health officials, who urged caution before a July 4th holiday weekend that in normal times would feature big gatherings of families and friends.

In Florida's Miami-Dade County, Mayor Carlos Gimenez imposed an indefinite nightly curfew starting on Friday and halted the reopenings of entertainment venues such as casinos and strip clubs, while urging people to act responsibly.