(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)CHARLESTON, W.Va. __ White House coronavirus task force leader Dr. Deborah Birx says widespread coronavirus infections in urban and rural America mark a new phase for the pandemic as she doubled down on calls to wear face masks and observe social distancing measures. South Africas caseload represents more than 50% of all reported coronavirus infections in Africas 54 countries. ___TOKYO Confirmed coronavirus cases are hovering at near record levels in Japan, raising worries the pandemic may be growing more difficult to control. Israel is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases after having largely contained an earlier outbreak in the spring. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the case fatality rate was progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18%, one of the lowest globally.