kaylee hartung reports from houston. >> reporter: in a grueling battle against covid-19, dr. grant lashley fought for 39 days. >> there were discussions when i was in the icu of, is it time to remove life support? >> there were a lot of days when we didn't know if grant would survive the intensive care unit. >> reporter: but getting out of the icu was just the beginning. >> keep breathing. >> i'm breathing. >> reporter: tonight, a firsthand account of what recovery looks and feels like. >> when i first came out of the icu, i couldn't do any of this. >> reporter: dr. lashley has spent the past at this houston rehab facility. >> 1, 2, 3. >> nice. yes, good job. >> reporter: relearning the most basic functions. >> you got this. you can do it. breathe. >> 1, 2rks, 3. >> nice job. nice job, grant. >> reporter: today, an emotional reunion. >> hi, kids. >> hi, daddy. >> love you. >> reporter: grateful to be with his family again. how good does it feel to be able to hug your dad? >> good. >> so good. >> repor enohe's heading home. >> i couldn't have told you three or four weeks ago t

there was nowhere else to turn. >> kaylee hartung, we thank all of those first responders. >>> in the meantime, another attack on dr. anthony fauci tonight. the second top adviser to president trump to take aim blistering words and it com hs of fauci quotes. the president said just today i like anthony. so what's going on here? here's our chief white house correspondent jonathan karl tonight. >> reporter: after enduring days of attacks from white house officials some named, some not, the usually mild mannered dr. anthony fauci today said enough is enough. >> let's stop this nonsense and figure out how can we get our control over this now. >> reporter: the latest shot from the white house, peter navarro, a man who advises the president on trade but has no medical experience whatsoever published a short article in "usa today" saying, quote, anthony faucieen wrong about everything i have interacted with him on. >> i can't explain peter navarro. he is in a world by himself so i don't even want to go there. >> reporter: today the president who has also criticized dr. fauci distanced himsel

here is abc news reporter kaylee hartung. >> reporter: as the search grows for des pat interest powerfuloment, rivera's family visiting the scene. her grief-stricken brother dropping to her knees. naya's brother consoling her. >> goal to bring closure. they're devastated. >> reporter: our goal is to bring the family closure. >> reporter: a sonar system being used to search the lake where they believe she drowned. this video showing how crews scanned bottom of the lake with difficult conditions in low visibility even in the dark. >> this is the situation that are difficult. we don't know if she'll be found five minutes from now or five days from now. >> reporter: the search for the 33-year-old actress began four days ago, the last moment caught on this surveillance video she was seen alive, leaving the dock on a pontoon boat with her son. three hours later, the boat was found adrift in the middle of the lake. >> emergency is we have a missing person. the mom is nowhere to be found. >> reporter: the 4-year-old on board sleeping alone. the lake was a canyon dammed and flooded 20 years ago.

here's kaylee hartung. >> hi dad! >> hi, daddy! >> reporter: for dr. grant lashley, this is a moment he wasn't sure he'd ever experience again. ma embracing his family for the first time in over three months after a grueling battle with coronavirus. >> oh, i love you. >> reporter: the 50-year-old er doctor contracted covid-19 while working at a hospital in lafayette, louisiana, the virus stripping him of his ability to walk and nearly taking his life. >> he was left with dramatic life-altering consequences from this illness and had to have patience with himself first and foremost. >> i told you i'd walk out. >> reporter: but today more than 90 days and three hospitals later, he's finally heading home. dr. lashley is one of the lucky survivors. more than 4 million people have been diagnosed with covid-19 across the u.s. but cases continue to surge in 37 states, puerto rico and the district of columbia. according to the cdc, more than 100,000 health care professionals have contracted the disease. more than 850 have died, likely after helping patients dur

our kaylee hartung with paramedics on covid calls in mesa.-old patient with trouble breathing. his mother rushing to see him before he's taken to the hospital. >> i just came to i can -- because -- you know, we can't -- we can't see them. we can't talk. so -- well -- anyway, i just wanted to see him, that's all. >> reporter: now the governor of california, gavin newsom, has talked about toggling back on stay-at-home orders, which likely means reimposing the restrictions we've been seeing over the past several months. another thing he mentioned that we have not heard much about is enforcement. unclear exactly what that will look like. matt gutman, abc news, los angeles. >> matt, thank you. >>> president trump plans to attend a fourth of july celebration at mt. rushmore where his administration's coronavirus guidelines will not be enforced. south dakota governor kristi noem said they will not be social distancing as thousands gather to see the president and watch fireworks. free face masks will be handed out but wearing them is optional. >>> pr

here's abc's kaylee hartung. >> honestly, i was an idiot, straight up. i know when i'm wrong. i didn't take this virus seriously. i didn't take my own health seriously. >> reporter: jimmy flores has a warning for everyone. don't be like him. the once-healthy 30 year old from scottsdale, arizona is now at home with covid-19. >> i got 103-degree fever. i started developing loss of sense of taste and smell e. >> reporter: he suspects he contracted it after a busy night out at a bar. >> there was action that could have been better, like sharing drinks and whatnot. there was a really high risk of getting covid there. >> reporter: and as now he sees the number of cases explode he's urge being othevigilant. >> i was looking at my friends on facebook, still partying, still doing all this other stuff. >> reporter: 35 states across the country are seeing an upward trend in covid-19 cases. >> we are now having 40-plus thousand new cases a day, i would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around. >> reporter: arizona is one of eight states to hit record leve

here's kaylee hartung. >> 911. >> emergency is we have a missing person. >> reporter: a nightmare comes to life on this california lake. >> it just seems like a tragic accident. you come out here for a great day and something bad happens. >> reporter: actress naya rivera, now presumed dead after going missing wednesday. her son was found safely asleep on board their pontoon rental by another boater when they called 911 when they realized the child was alone on the boat. the 33-year-old. ♪ sometimes i go out by myself >> reporter: made her mark on the hit tv show "glee" as santana. >> i like being in glee club. it's the best part of my day, okay? >> reporter: on thursday, co-stars, friends and fans began sharing heart-felt pleas online, hoping for a miracle. demi lovato asking followers to pray for her to be found safe and sound. ♪ >> reporter: from its first episode, "glee" was a cultural phenomenon. fans lovingly refer to themselves as gleeks. it was nominated for 40 emmies, winning six. >> "glee" was groundbreaking for its diversity, story line. >> reporter: sadly, rivera's disappeara

our kaylee hartung was with paramedics in mesa during the crisis. this mother saying she wanted to see her son before he was taken into the hospital. >> i just came so i can -- because, you know, we can't see them. we can't talk. well, anyway, i just wanted to see him, that's all. >> reporter: infections are now rising in 35 states with 17 states either pausing or rolling back re-openings and warning against large gatherings. evidence of new clusters apparent in alabama where students in tuscaloosa knew they were sick but went to a party anyway. >> we thought that was kind of a rumor at first. we did some additional research. not only did the doctors' offices help confirm it, but the state had confirmed they had the same information. >> reporter: new jersey state prosecutors vowing to take this bar to court after video showed hundreds of people packed inside without wearing masks. it comes as new york, new jersey and connecticut expand their quarantine list now including visitors from california, georgia and 14 other states. airlines flying into new

here's abc's kaylee hartung. >> reporter: the orosa and chan families were celebrating a birthday in carmel valley, california, on the fourth of july, when they say a man at the table next to them began berating them. >> suddenly i hear this loud voice -- effing asians. >> reporter: they started recording. >> oh, now you're shy? >> reporter: the man identified as michael lofthouse unleashing a string of racist obscenities at the group. >> trump's going to [ bleep ] you. you [ bleep ] need to leave. >> you need to leave. >> asian piece of [ bleep ]. >> oh, my god. >> he was full of hate and anger. i'm sad that there's still people that are like that in this world. >> reporter: a restaurant employee confronts lofthouse. >> get out. now. >> who are these [ bleep ] -- >> they are valued guests. >> reporter: lofthouse, the ceo of a tech company called solid8, later apologized, writing, "my behavior in the video is appalling. this was clearly a moment where i lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments." the family has been in this country for more than 25 years. they sa

our kaylee hartung with paramedics on covid calls in mesa. today, a 40-year-old patient with trouble breathing. his mother rushing to see him before he's taken to the hospital. >> i just came so i can -- because, you know, we can't -- we can't see them, we can't talk, so -- well, anyway, i just wanted to see him, that's all. >> that separation for covid patients and their families so difficult. matt joins us now from a testing site at dodger stadium. and matt, california's governor with a real warning tonight. many anxious to know if the state is going to see more restrictions again. >> reporter: tom, the governor talked about toggling back on those stay-at-home orders, which likely means reinstituting a lot of those restrictions that we've been seeing over the past couple of months. he mentioned something we haven't heard much about recently, and that is enforcement, but he didn't specify. one thing that is clear, the number of cars at this testing site. the traffic goes back for miles, which likely means the number of covid cases here is go

here's kaylee hartung. >> reporter: tonight, with the search for "glee" star naya rivera grows more desperatethis powerful moment, rivera's family visiting the scene. her grief-stricken mother dropping to her knees. naya's brother consoling her. >> our goal is to bring the family some closure. it's a traumatic time for them. they're devastated. >> reporter: a sonar system now being used to search lake piru where they believe she drowned. this video showing how crews scan the bottom of lake, in difficult conditions with low visibility, even in the dark. >> this is a situation -- these are difficult, because we don't know if she's going to be found five minutes from now or five days from now. >> reporter: the search for the 33-year-old actress began four days ago. the last moments she was seen alive caught on this surveillance video, leaving the dock on a pontoon boat with her son. three hours later, the boat was found adrift in the middle of the lake. >> the emergency is we have a missing person. the mom is nowhere to be found. >> reporter: the 4-year-old on board found sleeping alone. lake pi

kaylee hartung has more in houston. good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: more grim news this morning, michael. the national death toll is rising and it's now more than 18% higher than it was just last week. and here in texas all the key metrics are bad. in hidalgo county there is a two-week-long wait list for crematoriums. this morning, the u.s. topping 4 million cases. 1 million new infections in less than two weeks. now with 144,000 americans already fatally succumbing to the virus, the cdc with a dire prediction estimating between 15,000 to 30,000 more americans could die over the next three weeks. on thursday, both california and florida setting new records for their states for the most covid deaths in a single day. ♪ as pictures of crowds like these become more and more common, hundreds gathering for a worship service in redding, california, wednesday. many without masks and no social distancing. at least 50 hospitals in florida have no icu beds available. >> we got to make sure you cover your whole face. >> reporter:

kaylee hartung has more. kaylee, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, tom. been under a harsh spotlight for the past few weeks, and just as ellen vows to make changes, these new allegations are paint an even more unsettling picture of what's going on behind the scenes. >> be kind to one another, bye. >> reporter: this morning, disturbing new allegations rocking the "ellen" show just hours after ellen apologized over accusations her show created a toxic work culture. buzzfeed publishing a new report overnight detailing sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against several top producers at the talk show by dozens of former employees who spoke out anonymously. these accusations following earlier claims from one current and ten former employees who also spoke anonymously to buzzfeed claiming they faced, quote, racism, fear and intimidation. >> i think one of the reasons that this story sort of became as big as it was is because the show and ellen herself has sort of a be kind mantra and these are the allegations of, you know, a toxic work culture, and it

here is kaylee hartung. >> reporter: this powerful moment, rivera's family visiting the scene, her grief-strickenaya's brother consoling her. >> goal to bring closure. they're devastated. >> reporter: a sonar system being used to search the lake where they believe she drowned. crews scanned bottom of the lake with difficult conditions in low visibility even in the dark. >> this is the situation that are difficult. we don't know if she'll be fun five minutes from now or five days from now. >> reporter: the search for the 33-year-old actess began four days ago, the last moment caught on this surveillance video leaving the dock on a pontoon boat with her son. three hours later, the boat was found adrift in the middle of the lake. >> emergency is we have a missing person. the mom is nowhere to be found. >> reporter: the 3 4-year-old on board sleeping alone. the lake was a canyon dammed and flooded 20 years ago. it's littered with debrises and trees complicating a difficult search. >>> in southern california federal agents and investigators say thelas gutted motion of motn mission san gabriel early ye

kaylee hartung is in california with the latest. ylee. >> reporter: good morning, george. we have talked about the cringe worthy and dangerous concept of these so-called covid parties before. here in california cases are surging, and there seems to be video evidence of a party that's so over-the-top that you have to see it to believe it. controversial youtube star jake paul under fire this morning for recklessly defying the rules in the city of calabasas. >> they're holding onto the bulldozer like it's a bull. >> reporter: the video showing dozens of people packed into the 23-year-old's mansn upalhills on cato completely disregard safety precautions. no social distancing. no masks. the videos outraging the city's mayor. >> i really could not believe that an event like this was taking place. we expect everyone in our community to act responsibly because we're in this together and we just cannot show such disregard. >> reporter: while she hopes the backlash paul is facing will deter any future parties, she says there will be repercussi

kaylee hartung has the details for us, good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: good morning, robin.rivera and her young son came to this lake about an hour north of their home in los angeles. it was a beautiful day, they rented a pontoon boat right behind me, and what happened next it seems only a 4-year-old witnessed. this morning, ventura county sheriff's deputies continuing their search for naya rivera, known for playing the sharp tongued santana on "glee." >> if you ever tell anyone this, i'll deny it but i like being in glee club. it's the best part of my day. okay? >> reporter: the 33-year-old actress' young son was found alone in the middle of lake piru in a national forest wednesday afternoon. >> they were seen going out on the lake together in the early afternoon and approximately three hours after they left the dock, another boater out on the lake discovered the boat drifting. >> reporter: on board authorities say 4-year-old josie was found sleeping alone with no sign of rivera. investigators say the child was wearing a life vest, and one other adult vest was found on the

kaylee hartung has the details. good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: hey, eva. home in new hampshire, this master storyteller allegedly wove a web of lies, courting mistress, stealing money and deceiving his partner of 30 years. now blythe brown says she's standing up for herself. he spun imaginative tales. but this morning dan brown, the best-selling author and blockbuster hitmaker of "the da vinci code" is accused of the kind of secrecy and fraud he writes about in his stories. his ex-wife, blythe brown, suing her husband of 21 years in a lawsuit filed monday claiming he was living a secret double life accusing him of removing substantial funds from their hard earned marital assets to conduct sordid extramarital affairs with women one-half his age including pieing -- buying a prize-winning stallion horse for $345,000 for one of them. >> if she could show the money used to purchase the horse came from their joint funds, she might be able to show she was entitled to all or some of those funds. >> reporter: the suit also claiming the 56-year-old man misrepresente

kaylee hartung is there at that lake with new details on this, good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: good, cecilia. we're now heading into day three of the search for naya rivera here at lake piru. at this time yesterday authorities were hopeful but now they are being realistic saying they presume she drowned. this search is now a recovery mission. this morning, the desperate search for missing singer and actor naya rivera is now a recovery mission after finding her 4-year-old son sleeping on a boat by himself. >> the emergency is we have a missing person. mom nowhere to be found. >> reporter: authorities saying they do not suspect foul play. >> our hearts and our thoughts go out to the rivera family. this is a terrible tragedy for all of them. >> reporter: rivera was last seen alive in this surveillance video leaving the dock for a fun afternoon with her son on this pontoon boat. the search began wednesday when the employee that rented her the boat went looking when she didn't return as scheduled. >> it can't be easy when your witness is a 4-year-old. >> no, because you want to try to li

kaylee hartung has more on whether your kids might end up learning outdoors. or more than just recess and pe. the questions being asked every day with more and more urgency, how can we make it safe to bring kids back into the classrooms come fall? well, some schools are getting creative and redesigning their classrooms outdoors. the reality is setting in for some students. the fall will be another round of at-home learning, but now a possible alternative. outdoor classrooms. this school in honolulu, hawaii building these covered learning spaces which will allow kids to go back to in-person schooling full-time. >> these spaces are just our way us.help get kids outsidestcer ro the goal is to have it be a complete outdoor learning center. >> reporter: other schools are catching on. this one in melbern, florida building an outdoor learning garden. the idea backed by the american academy of pediatrics stresses the importance of in-person learning and lists utilizing outdoor spaces as one of its high priority strategies for getting kids back to school. >> the same pr

kaylee hartung has much more on this. good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: good morning, amy.'s life was one of tremendous strength, mustering enough energy to get her son back on that boat even when she didn't have enough to save herself. the desperate search for actress naya rivera coming to an end five days after taking her 4-year-old son for a boat ride on this southern california lake. >> we are confident the body we found is that of naya rivera. >> reporter: rivera's parents visiting the lake just hours after the discovery. the 33-year-old was last seen on this surveillance video. authorities say she then facetimed her family. that video key evidence guiding the search. >> her son described being helped into the boat by naya. he said he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water. >> reporter: more than 100 personnel aided in the challenging search. rivera's former "glee" co-stars joining her family and friends on the lake shore. her career began as a child actor. >> hello, mr. irkle. ♪ now i love you just the way >> reporter: but it was her bolsteri

kaylee hartung has the latest. >> reporter: as the world races to find a coronavirus vaccine, american, canadian and british governments are accusing russia of spying on vaccine researchers. >> i think that's pretty poor. i think it needs calling out and the world should know. >> reporter: the nsa identifying the espionage group suspected of having ties tot kremlin's intelligence services as cozy bear, saying they tried to hack pharmaceutical companies and other researchers working on a covid vaccine. >> russia has neither the capacity or money to spend on developing vaccines, and looking to steal their way to first place. >> reporter: the kremlin denies the allegations but whoever may be behind the attempted hack, the motive is likely about more than saving lives. >> russia not only can derive benefit economically by speeding up their own development of a vaccine but they can also disrupt our efforts to develop a vaccine and that could have dramatic implications on the public health and security of the united states. >> reporter: more than 100 different vaccines are being tested at re