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CHICAGO: Nearly half a million people in the United States have contracted the new coronavirus in the past seven days, according to a Reuters tally, as cases and hospitalizations set new records in hot spots in the Midwest.
More than 5,600 people died from the virus across the country in the past week, and hospitalizations soared 13 percent, a Reuters analysis showed.
Illinois, which has become a hot spot in recent weeks, reported more than 31,000 new cases in the past seven days – more new infections than any other state except Texas.
The outbreaks are getting worse in hotly contested “battlefield” states in next week’s election, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Tuesday (October 27) a new record for new daily coronavirus cases, while Wisconsin broke state records for one day for COVID-19 cases and deaths, as state officials told residents who stay home wear a mask and cancel. trips and social gatherings.
“We must take meaningful and collective action,” Wisconsin Department of Health Services Designated Secretary Andrea Palm said at a news conference, adding that contact trackers were overwhelmed and that hospitals could soon face staff shortages. . “This is going to get worse before it gets better.”
US President Donald Trump, facing an uphill battle for re-election on Nov. 3, again lashed out at reports that the coronavirus is on the rise, reiterating his claim that the country is “turning around” in its battle. with the virus that has killed more people. of 226,000 people.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump took a defiant tone, saying once again that his administration had done “a very good job” in fighting the pandemic.
“We made the ventilators and now we are making all the equipment and now we are doing vaccines, we are doing therapies. We have done a great job and people are beginning to see.”
READ: Trump does not grant any COVID-19 economic relief agreement before Election Day
To try to contain the increase, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker imposed new rounds of restrictions in seven of the 11 regions, the most recent in Chicago on Tuesday.
Starting Friday in the Windy City, indoor meals in bars and restaurants will be suspended and meetings will be limited to 25 people. The implementation of such restrictions has already begun in other regions of the state amid strong pushback from some business owners hit by the pandemic.
BEYOND THE MIDDLE WEST
Other states have backtracked, reopening plans to slow the spread of the virus as cooler weather approaches in most parts of the country.
Idaho Governor Brad Little announced Monday that indoor gatherings of more than 50 people would be banned, and outdoor gatherings will be limited to 25 percent of capacity.
Health experts believe the virus is on the rise due to private social gatherings, colder temperatures that drive people indoors, and fatigue with COVID-19 precautions.
Beyond the Midwest, the city of El Paso in Texas is also facing a surge in cases that is overwhelming local hospitals, with officials establishing an alternative care center to help ease medical facilities.
“We are seeing all kinds of patients. Historically, the narrative has been that of those over 65, those with multiple comorbidities. But we are seeing people in their 20s. We are seeing people in their 30s, 40s” Old, “he said. Dr. Ogechika Alozie, an infectious disease specialist from El Paso, told Reuters “There’s that burnout, but again, we buckle up and take care of the patients.”
In Denver, Colorado’s largest city, Mayor Michael Hancock announced that he would reinstate some restrictions to combat what city officials described as a “dramatic increase” in its average daily COVID-19 cases, positivity rate and hospitalizations.
“We cannot control what our neighbors may be doing,” Hancock wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “I don’t think this is a Denver failure; it is more of a failure of those who still refuse to believe in science and those who don’t take this seriously.”
Restaurants, retail stores and offices will see their capacity cut to 50 percent in half, the mayor said, while indoor events will be capped at 25 and outdoor gatherings at 75.
Colorado reported a record one-day increase in cases Monday and hospitalizations increased 60 percent in the past two weeks to 571 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The percentage of tests that tested positive has more than doubled this month to more than 7 percent. However, the number of people hospitalized in the state is far from the April record of 1,000.
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