House, where President Trump added fresh fuel to the fire in the controversy over whether and when to send kids back to school. Earlier i spoke with dr. Yvonne maldonado. Thank you for joining us this morning. At his briefing last night, President Trump said hed feel comfortable sending his son and grandkids back to school because he said kids dont transmit the coronavirus very easily. He also said they dont catch it easily. That seems to conflict with some of the research that weve seen just this week. I want to get your thoughts on that. Well, i dont think we really understand exactly whats going to happen with children. It does look like they are less likely to get sick, and maybe to transmit, than older children, and certainly adults. But we do need to have them go back to school very carefully and make sure that theyre socially distanced, that the older kids wear masks, and especially the teachers take all the precautions not to get infected. And the other big headline this morning is the u. S. Government spending nearly 2 billion on a potential vaccine being produced by pfizer, even though the vaccine isnt ready yet. Whats your take on this kind of early investment . Are they jumping the gun too soon . I do think its importa start tracking what vaccines are being developed. But well see. If the vaccine is not effective, will we get our money back . I hope so. In the meantime, there are other candidates out there vying for our market and the market around the world. When it comes to developing a vaccine, distribution is also potentially a problem. How would that work . The federal government currently has a task force in place that is trying to come up with an equitable way to decide how to distribute vaccines. There are many stakeholders involved, and its going to be a very important decision so that the vaccine can be shared equally among highrisk groups and among the entire population in a fair manner. One big issue we continue to hear is about the massive demand for testing right now. Because of long wait times, some colleges and universities that are trying to reopen are turning to athome saliva test kits. What have you heard about the accuracy of such tests . The saliva test kits in general are not as sensitive as the nasal tests. But in general the more tests we can get out, whatever kinds they are, are better than no tests at all, because we really want to make sure that students come back to school knowing that theyre not infected. So they just need to realize that those saliva tests may not be as accurate, may need to be retested. Our thanks to dr. Maldonado. Theres been stories about people getting reinfected and that has been frightening a lot of people, causing concern. At least one Health Expert from harvard says its unlikely that people are getting reinfected, whats likely happening is that its a drawnout case of the illness. Sounds promising there, too. Coming up, the new Playing Field for americas youngest generation of activists. Why tik tok is quickly becoming the goto space for political debate. The surfaces in your home in 24 hours. Try new microban 24. Spray on hard surfaces to kill 99. 9 of viruses and bacteria initially. Once dry, it forms a bacteria shield that keeps killing bacteria for 24 hours, even after multiple touches. Try new microban 24. Available in multipurpose, sanitizing, and bathroom sprays. This has been medifacts for microban 24. S you say you want a revolution well you know we all want to change the world generations of young people have wanted to change the world through revolution. Members of todays technologically savvy generation of activists are increasingly flocking to whats turning into the hottest space for political debate, tik tok. Heres abcs ashan singh. Im actually going to start with this over here. This is my storyboard. Reporter Taylor Cassidy is recording a tik tok. What is blaxploitation . Reporter this isnt one of those viral dances. Shes recording her latest post. An explainer on blackploitation on film. One of the first to show africanamericans as a superhero. Reporter for her nearly 2 million followers. At just 17 shes already got more than 38 million likes. And that blue check mark . Validation for the aspiring activist. Hundreds of thousands of people just started coming to this little black girls channel just to support her. I still cant fully fathom it, but im so thankful. Reporter director of tik toks Creative Community says the apps new role is an organic progression. People have really been opened up to be able to express their authentic voice and things that they also care about. Not just only having fun, but inspiring people, educating people, informing people. Reporter Taylor Cassidy quickly recognized its potential as a megaphone for social issues. In a series called fast black history. Reporter cassidy highlighted lesserknown black trailblazers or littleknown facts about black icons. Black history is your history. Reporter this post, her second one of the month, has more than 1 million views. I had found out about zelda winnvaldez a few months prior. She designed the playboy bunny costume. I was captivated that this black woman created such an iconic costume, i need to share this woman. Reporter the platform is also a hotbed of political commentary. Most notably conservative ones. You wanting this guy to fail is like wanting the pilot to crash the plane were all riding. There was a period of time i posted normal tik toks, like i tried to be funny or whatever on my personal account. It didnt really work out. Then i noticed i would start making trumprelated videos talking about what i agree with or disagree with and they were massively successful. Reporter 20yearold cam higbee is the founder of hype house account conservative hype house, a mix of likeminded tik tokers each contributing content. A warning to parents, not everything on the account is suitable for children. You know whats so funny about the left . The lack of loyalty they have for each other. They love to eat their own. Theres tons of rightwing content that performs incredibly well on tik tok. Part of the reason conservative hype house is so viral and massive is because people are constantly dunking on and refuting their videos. So i think that they post a lot of videos that people feel are racist or people feel they disagree with. Reporter higbee says he embraces backlash. I would like it if people that disagree with us saw our content, because thats sort of my goal. I want to display my ideas to people who disagree with me so i can have conversation with them. Reporter higbee and cassidy find tik tok is an important place for people to express their ideologies. Its better that people on both the right and left get into politics when theyre younger. Because by the time theyre an adult, maybe theyll actually know what is happening. A politically savvy generation as well. Anything i have to say about tik tok will make me sound like the old guy that i am. So i will tell you that secretary of state mike pompeo has been calling tik tok a National Security threat because its a chineseowned company. Tik tok sent a statement, theres a lot of misinformation out there. Tik tok has an american ceo. It has a u. S. Team that works diligently to develop a best in class security infrastructure. It reminds us that tik toks user data is stored in the u. S. And singapore. You heard that, people in the back. Weird science on a thursday for you. Apparently weve been living on this continent, north america, for quite some time. Yeah, about 30,000 years, to be exact, or at least according to some researchers. Yeah, they found some tools excavated from a cave in central mexico. They say its all evidence that humans were living in north america that long ago. Thats 15 years earlier than previously thought, according to the scientists. Wow. They found some tools. I dont know what tool that is. Maybe its a little hammer. It looks like a rock to me, but thats why im not an archaeologist. A wrench, i dont know what a wrench looks like. Phillips head . A lot of people came here a few years ago. In the 70s, we sailed the high seas. Right, right, right. Bats got a bad rap this year. Some are blaming bats for being linked to the start of the coronavirus. But apparently this whole social distancing thing that some of us cant get right, they got it on lock. Scientists found out, i assume its scientists, researchers . Yeah, theyre scientists, its weird science. The scientists found out that bats apparently, when theyre not feeling well, will isolate themselves. Oh they wont interact, they wont even do that squeaking noise they do because they dont want to spread the germs. They said, leave me alone, im hanging upside down, minding my own business, dont blame me for corona, had nothing to do with it. Just in case, staying six feet apart. Still trying to figure that out, right . Yeah, yeah. Allegedly. Yeah. The gondolas in venice, ive actually had the pleasure. Oh because im fancy culture. Well traveled. To go to venice, ride the gondolas. So you would think that they would lower the capacity there, restrict the number of people on the gondolas because of coronavirus. Right. Social distancing and whatnot. Right. Mona, its not because of that. What . What could it be . Because people have gained yeah, apparently the last ten years, were not as skinny as we used to be. No. Imagine whats going to happen after this pandemic. So from six people to five. Because they say too many people, too many pounds on the boat can make it take on water so theyve got to be careful there. Titanic. They said its easier than having people step on a scale. We dont shame people around here. Finally in weird science, how about a mask thats for all of us . One that can keep the coronavirus out of your face. Subtle mask. Not too in your face. But apparently it keeps out pathogens, allergens, and other air pollutants. Yes, created by a team of torontobased inventors, biovisor. It goes well with a cardigan. This morning on world news now, coronavirus concerns at the white house. Were learning overnight that a worker has tested positive. What it means for the president s staff. Plus cases in california surging. Will los angeles shut down again . The bright spot for sports fans, baseball begins today. Its the latest clash between china and the u. S. The chinese consulate in houston abruptly ordered to close tomorrow. The u. S. Accusing the chinese of spying. We hear from chinas representative in houston. The neighborhood dispute that ended with a garage cut in ha wan electric saw. What led to this and the lesson these homeowners say theyve now learned. And the coronavirus is forcing some Business Owners to get creative. Like one states first drivethru strip club. Its thursday, july 23rd. You know what you forgot to say . What . It is july 23rd, 2020. Yeah. Thats why this doesnt surprise me anymore. It doesnt. Because yesterday we told you that people are attracted to alexa. So whats a drivethru strip club in 2020 . What you going to order in that drivethru . Not wings. Maybe see . No, no. Mona, youre not going to do it to me, im not going to do it. No, no. Whatever it is, to go. Keep pushing. Weve got to get to the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic. Abc news has learned that two cafeterias in the white house complex are now shut down after a worker tested positive for the virus. An email to staffers says Contact Tracing is under way, but no quarantines are necessary at this time. President trump is now pointing to increased like those on memorial day as one reason for the current surge in coronavirus cases, yet those gatherings came weeks after trump began his push for states to reopen. Los angeles mayor Eric Garcetti is easing up on his warning that another lockdown may be necessary. He now says that no Additional Closures are planned, at least for the time being. Major league baseballs coronavirusshortened season finally gets under way today with two matchups. The nationals host the yankees and the dodgers take on the giants, both airing on espn. All this as the u. S. Closes in on 4 million cases of coronavirus and more than 143,000 deaths. Abcs Victor Oquendo begins oure reporter coronavirus cases soaring to new records in california, surpassing new york state, now with the most cases in the country four months into the pandemic. 60 of cases in Los Angeles County are among young adults with the National Daily death toll topping 1,000 for the first time in two weeks. More states now making masks mandatory to try to stop the spread. The governors of ohio, indiana, and minnesota joining a growing list of at least 31 states announcing new orders. With this mask mandate and with the things that we have done previously to this, i think it is very possible for us to not have the darker days behind us, but for us to start moving forward. Reporter President Trump refusing to issue a nationwide mask order, holding a Coronavirus Briefing for the second day in a row, urging americans wear a mask, socially distance, repeatedly wash your hands. You have to do this, you have to look at it differently. Reporter the president making an appeal to younger americans. We want Young Americans to avoid packed bars and other crowded indoor gatherings, and were all in this together. And as americans, were going to get this complete, were going to do it properly. Reporter 24 hours after the president said the virus would disappear, dr. Anthony fauci disagreeing. I dont see this disappearing. We are certainly not at the end of the game. Im not even sure were halfway through. Reporter nine states setting records for hospitalizations, including florida, where icus are filling up, hospitals are forced to find extra space for incoming covid patients. So its been a daily process of converting regular beds into icu beds . Some of the beds in our hospital were converted into icu beds so that we can move our patients around. Reporter in houston, these Young Brothers suffering unimaginable loss, losing both their parents in two weeks. I didnt get to say goodbye to my mom or my dad. Thats what hurts me the most. Reporter with testing a major problem in more than a dozen states, our abc news 538 report revealing the disparity minorities face finding scarcity of testing in minority neighborhoods. And they are often understaffed, leading to longer wait times. A new study looked at 34 patients who developed antibodies and found in many cases antibodies wore off in 90 days. They acknowledge more research is needed. Victor oquendo, abc news, miami beach. Our thanks to victor there. Now, to breaking news from portland, oregon. Another night of unrest that has turned into a riot. Federal officers fired teargas into demonstrators. The mayor had joined the crowd. He said he saw nothing to invoke that response. Protesters set off fireworks and set fires. We have a crew on the ground there. Well stay on top of the situation in houston. The chinese consul general of houston says he was shocked to learn the u. S. Is shutting them down and kicking the diplomats out. The u. S. Says the chinese are spying but the consul general tells our houston affiliate no facts have been presented to support that accusation. Reporter the clock is ticking at the chinese consulate in houston. A new front of the battle between the worlds two biggest economies. The Trump Administration giving the Chinese Government 72 hours to leave the consulate theyve occupied since 1979. To protect the countrys intellectual property and the private information of americans. Videos posted anonymously to social media show an orange glow and smoke rising from the compound. Chinese officials burning sensitive materials in large bins in the courtyard. When i attempted to make entry, they were denied access to the facility. As part of international agreement, we do not enter without consent. Reporter the order to vacate coming after the u. S. Indicted two chinese nationals accusing them of hacking and trying to steal information from Companies Fighting the coronavirus. President trump has said, enough. Were not going to allow this to continue to happen. Reporter senator marco rubio calling the consulate a spy shop. The central node of a massive spy operation. To influence agents and influence congress. Its long overdue that it be closed. Reporter chinese officials calling the u. S. Move a political provocation which sabotages china u. S. Relations. The early thinking is in retaliation, china could look to wuhan, which had reduced staffing because of the pandemic. Most expect china to respond and for this decadeslong tit for tat between the two countries to continue. Marcus moore, abc news, houston. Marcus, thank you. The house has overwhelmingly approved a bill that calls for removing statues honoring confederate figures from the capitol. The final vote was 305113. All those who voted against the legislation are republicans. The bill goes to the gopcontrolled senate, where its unclear if it will ever be acted upon. A bipartisan effort to make juneteenth a federal holiday failed in the senate. Republican senator ron johnson torpedoed the bill, saying he supported celebrating the end of slavery but the measure was too expensive. He estimated the holiday would cost the private sector up to 600 million a year. Support for a federal holiday gained momentum following protests over the death of george floyd. Tropical storm gonzalo is strengthening and expected to become a hurricane today. The fastmoving storm is on with 50milephouwinds and ern heavy rain. Itecast to weaken again toa trie Dominican Republic early next week. In the gulf of mexico, tropical depression 8 will move toward the texas coast this weekend. Well keep a watch on this one. A developing headline from some areas of this country. Theres a beer shortage. Yeah, and distributors say beer supplies that are up to the ceiling are now not even close. They say there are several reasons for the shortage. One is that people are buying more beer and drinking at home instead of at bars. Another reason is aluminum cans. Apparentlyhesh w augsome br s u supply and demand. Some brands are harder to come by because, mona, a lot of people are drinking them. Hm. I wonder why. I could see it now, people are going to start hoarding beer and toilet paper instead of milk and bread. I think they were yeah, they were definitely doing that at the top of this pandemic. Pour it up, pour it up. I hear the sound effects, pete, in