The rise in coronavirus cases in the US is troubling many health officials and state leaders, so much so that many governors are undoing some of their reopens in stages to contain further spread.
“For the winter, there is concern,” Dr. Jennifer Ellice, a Los Angeles-area-based emergency physician, said in Yahoo Finance’s The First Trade (video above). “But I am also concerned for the next two weeks because we know that this is our lagging indicator. From what I’m seeing now, I think unfortunately there is going to be a lot of death. ”
With the relaxation of the restrictions of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), visitors crowd the boardwalk on Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City, Maryland, USA, May 23, 2020. REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque
Only two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, reported a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases last week. And on Friday, the US reported more than 40,000 infections, the highest number of new cases in one day.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), spoke about the troubling trend during a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, stating: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we increased to 100,000 [new cases] one day if this doesn’t change. “
Coronavirus cases are increasing in the region of the solar belt. (Graphic: David Foster / Yahoo Finance)
While some countries that were once the main coronavirus hot spots have been able to start flattening the curve, the United States has been unable to do so.
The United States remains the world leader in the number of cases and deaths from coronavirus. Part of this is attributed to the fact that many states reopened their economies and lifted restrictions on staying home too quickly.
“What we are seeing right now is a huge number of them coming back,” said Ellice. “We are starting to see people coming back in with what we know to be the start of another great wave.”
Coronavirus cases are emerging in many parts of the world. (Graphic: David Foster / Yahoo Finance)
California, where Dr. Ellice is based, is one of the states that sees a significant increase in the number of cases.
“We never really left in Los Angeles County,” he said. “We had been a hot spot at all times, but I think the rest of the state had perhaps started to think that the worst was behind them, but as of a week ago, we started seeing some cases and then it started to seem more and more like the first days of March. ”
Many of these peaks are attributed to Memorial Day weekend activities, during which crowds gathered throughout the weekend.
COCOA BEACH, FL – MAY 23: Cocoa Beach was crowded over Memorial Day weekend (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
As a result, some hospitals across the country are nearing capacity in terms of available beds, especially in their ICUs, along with a lack of ventilators. At the Ellice hospital, there are enough fans for now, but there is still a lot of concern.
“In Los Angeles and California, there is some concern that one of our counties, Imperial County, is overwhelmed,” Ellice said. “In our hospital system where I work, in the past we have been able to move patients to accommodate, as we had surges in different areas. What’s a little concerning at the moment for the entire state and for the entire country is that with the recent openings and elective surgeries underway, this is going to be a bit more of a challenge than perhaps the start of the first wave in March. ”
Some states have more problems than others.
Florida is reporting its highest number of daily cases, while Houston is quickly running out of beds. Although many of these locations had begun to resume elective surgeries, Ellice said they are likely to be undergoing further screening, particularly because hospitals may transfer patients.
“ICU beds can be extended,” he said. “The fans can be extended and moved from one place to another. But staffing is difficult, and especially as some of us get sick from treating these patients, it becomes challenging in the sense that if we continue to operate normally and perform elective procedures, there will be fewer resources available. to treat these patients. So I anticipate that it will probably be re-examined in the future. ”
Radiotherapists Jessica Penney, left, and Jennifer Campbell, right, prepare cancer patient Kenton Fabrick for treatment in the Radiation Oncology Department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA on June 10, 2020. (Photo by Craig F. Walker / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
And while there is hope that a coronavirus vaccine will be created, Ellice is not so sure it is a reality to have a list for next year.
And “given that once all clinical trials are completed, there is also the question of distribution and acceptance,” he said. “These are formidable challenges in themselves. Even if we had a vaccine right now, increasing production and distribution would be formidable. I have seen many people say that we will have a vaccine next year, and I think that is very optimistic. “
