Fearing a repeat of the increase in coronavirus cases that followed Memorial Day, public health experts are calling for caution this July 4, concerned that if Americans attend large meetings without masks, the number of cases is already record. in this country it could continue growing.
On Thursday, the United States confirmed more than 55,000 new coronavirus cases, a new record for single-day cases, and more than double the daily total the country was seeing just a month ago.
In the past two weeks, all but 10 states have seen an increase in recently reported cases, according to the COVID Follow-Up Project, with clear signs that the increase is not just due to more testing: 36 states have seen an increase. the percentage of tests tested positive for the virus, the Associated Press reported. In hot spots like Houston, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has nearly quadrupled since Memorial Day.
With Houston hospitals on the brink of capacity, Roberta Schwartz, director of innovation at Houston Methodist Hospital, urged the public to follow health precautions, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following hand hygiene rules. .
“It wasn’t that those warnings weren’t out there, it’s just that people weren’t following them as closely as they should,” he said. “We continue to deliver the message: Your patriotic duty this Fourth of July is to stay home and celebrate with your nuclear family and not go out and try to throw a party, because this is not the time for that.”
But the parties have already been happening across the country, with consequences: In Seattle, dozens of University of Washington students tested positive for the coronavirus this week after allegedly attending fraternity parties without masks. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, an outbreak of new infections was reported among youth after revelers allegedly launched so-called “COVID parties” where they intentionally tried to catch the infection, sparking contempt from local officials.
While coronavirus disease, COVID-19, tends to be more deadly and more severe in older people or those with underlying conditions, healthy young people are not immune, and have been an increasing part of recent cases of coronavirus worldwide. The US can experience complications in some cases, and can also pass it on to others who are more vulnerable.
“I think people have a false sense of security, as most of the new case numbers are for younger people in their 20s and 30s, and many of them are recovering, which is obviously a great thing.” said Goodwin Veenema, a visiting professor and researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety. “But it is these young people who will take him home with his parents, grandparents and older friends.”
Some states have taken steps to prevent a surge in the coronavirus over the holiday weekend, including Texas and Florida, which have closed some popular beaches. Along the Jersey shore in New Jersey, large crowds are expected as the beaches reopen at reduced capacity levels.
Paul Kanitra, mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, told the Associated Press that he was concerned that the restrictions were not enough.
“We are seeing spikes across the country in states that opened weeks ago, and while we are doing a good job in New Jersey, there are many people who are too arrogant about social distancing,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump planned to kick off the holiday weekend with a fireworks show for the first time in a decade over Mount Rushmore, which 7,500 people received lottery tickets to attend. The event will offer masks to attendees, but will not require them.
In an interview with “TODAY” on Friday, Jerome Adams, the US surgeon general, did not go so far as to tell Americans not to congregate in large gatherings, but urged them to cover their faces.
“As we talk about July 4 and independence, it is important to understand that if we all use these, we will actually have more independence and more freedom, because more places will be able to stay open and we will have less spread of the disease,” he said.
Public health experts say it is up to people to take responsibility for avoiding the same increase in cases that resulted from Memorial Day meetings.
“We have the power to stop him. The simple things are: stay home whenever possible,” said Goodwin Veenema. “Celebrate a quiet Fourth of July in your own home or in your own backyard. It’s just a year-round party as we all work together to try to stop the spread of this horrible disease.”
David Gura contributed
