Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. White House Adviser Supports Bar Closings as US COVID Cases Surge Ken Bredemeier A top White House adviser voiced support Wednesday for closing bars as the U.S. faces a new surge in coronavirus cases partly fueled by younger people socializing shoulder to shoulder at drinking establishments. At least 19 of the 50 U.S. states have paused reopening their economies as more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in each of several recent days. In 37 states, the number of confirmed cases is increasing, not falling as had mostly been the case.