The grim patterns occur when multiple states have reported a record number of new cases and deaths in the past few weeks. Some local leaders, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, have mentioned the possibility of a second order to stay home as officials warn of exhausted testing labs and overwhelmed hospitals.
“Right now, we are on the path to losing more than 200,000 American lives by November 1. However, in many states people can drink in bars, cut their hair, eat inside a restaurant, get a tattoo, get massage and do a myriad of other normal, enjoyable but not essential activities, “said the letter, which was sent to the Trump administration, members of Congress and state governors.
In the past two days, these states broke records:
As the number of cases and deaths in the country increases, at least four states reported record numbers since Friday.
California, which leads the nation with the most reported coronavirus cases, reported 159 virus-related deaths on Friday, the highest number recorded in a single day since the start of the pandemic. That number comes just a day after the state’s previous daily record of 157 deaths. More than half of all virus-related deaths in the state come from Los Angeles County, where more than 4,260 deaths have been reported. The state has had more than 446,450 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins.
Georgia It also broke a new single-day record on Friday, reporting at least 4,813 new cases of coronavirus. Health officials reported 3,787 new cases on Saturday. According to Johns Hopkins, more than 165,180 people tested positive in the state.
Oregon It reported nine new coronavirus-related deaths on Friday, breaking its record for the most reported deaths in a single day since the pandemic began. Those deaths were recorded in people age 61 and older. State health officials reported 396 new cases, bringing the state total to more than 16,100.
For the second day in a row, Hawaii reported a record number of new cases, identifying 60 new positive tests on Friday, according to health officials. On Thursday, Hawaii reported 55 new cases. Hawaii has had at least 1,620 reported infections, according to Johns Hopkins.
“Some of the cases we report today are associated with existing groups, known cases, and family distribution, but others are new and unrelated cases indicating increased community outreach,” said health director Bruce Anderson in a statement.
Florida’s youngest victim was a 9-year-old girl.
And across the state, at least 50 hospitals don’t have beds available in the ICU, a number similar to last weekend.
Last week, a 9-year-old girl with no pre-existing conditions became the state’s youngest coronavirus victim. Her family says Kimora “Kimmie” Lynum was taken to a local hospital to treat a “very high” fever.
The girl’s cousin and family spokesman Dejeon Cain said the hospital ordered the family to return home. After doing so, the young woman complained of not feeling well and collapsed. She did not have a detectable heartbeat, Cain added.
Her family says they don’t know where the girl got the virus, since she looked healthy and had spent the summer at home.
Texas hospital could send patients home to die
Starr County officials announced they are creating committees to review patient cases at Starr County Memorial Hospital, where at least 50% of patients admitted to the hospital emergency room have tested positive for coronavirus. .
“Unfortunately, Starr County Memorial Hospital has limited resources, and our physicians will have to decide who receives treatment and who is sent home to die for loved ones,” Starr County Judge Eloy Vera wrote Thursday, in a Facebook post. “This is what we did not want our community to experience.”
Earlier this month, the governor ordered a state-wide mask mandate and urged residents to pay attention to precautions so that businesses and the economy remain open.
CDC in favor of reopening schools
President Donald Trump also said he is pressuring governors to reopen schools in an effort to get the country back to normal.
In new guidelines released last week on child care and education, the CDC opposed reopening schools, saying that children do not suffer much from coronavirus and are less likely to spread it.
CDC guidelines recommend that local officials consider closing schools, or keeping them closed, if there is a substantial and uncontrolled spread of the virus.
“It is extremely important to our public health to open schools this fall,” CDC Principal Dr. Robert Redfield said in a statement announcing the updates. “School closings have disrupted the normal lifestyles of children and parents, and have had negative consequences for the health of our youth. CDC is prepared to work with K-12 schools to safely reopen and protect to the most vulnerable. “
CNN’s Andy Rose, Nicole Chavez, Kay Jones, Alta Spells, Sarah Moon, Rosa Flores, Denise Royal, Natasha Chen, and Chandler Thornton contributed to this report.
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