Yesterday, 1,499 Americans died from the novel coronavirus, the highest number since mid-May, and 1,000 Americans have been exposed to COVID-19 every day for the last 17 days, per 7-day rolling averages analyzed by the Washington Post.
In the Southern half of the country, states continue to report deaths, with Georgia recording 105 deaths yesterday, the second day with more than 100 deaths in a row. In Texas, 324 people died from the disease – a new record of one day.
In total, the United States has 5,226,916 COVID-19 cases and 166,623 deaths, according to the dashboard maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
During the entire pandemic, deaths counted 2 to 4 weeks new cases because the virus can cause long hospitalizations. Although many hot spots that were lit up earlier this summer with a rise in cases are now reporting fewer positive tests and fewer hospitalizations, the death toll could remain high until Labor Day.
In California, which has been struggling to control the virus for months, there are signs that the state is getting a grip on the virus. De San Francisco Chronicle reported the state has seen a 19% drop in COVID-19 hospitals over the past 2 weeks.
Yesterday during a news conference, Governor Gavin Newsom said parts of his state were opening too soon, and more care needed to be taken to maintain the gains California has made in recent weeks. Last month, Newsom had to reopen closures of bars, indoor restaurants, gyms and churches after seeing business numbers explode in early June.
Still, the death toll in California has been high: August has seen an average of 129 deaths a day, up from the daily average of 101 in July. In June, the daily average was just 64.
According to a new report based on data from The New York Times and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the FS may have already surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. The estimate is based on the phenomenon of ‘excessive death’, which occurs when a region sees a rise in COVID-19 activity, as deaths from all causes.
Companies are preparing for a high demand for flu vaccine
Pharmaceutical companies are increasing their flu vaccine production this year by about 13% to 200 million doses. Experts, including CDC director Robert Redfield, MD, have said that flu vaccination is critical this year, so hospitals are not properly burdened with the seasonal impact requirements and COVID-19.
“We do not want a patient in the [intensive care unit] on a flu ventilator when that hospital bed and ventilator could potentially be used for a COVID patient, “said Leonard Friedland, PhD, director of scientific affairs and public health for GlaxoSmithKline, the Wall Street Journal.
In an interview published today on WebMD, Redfield said that this may be one of the worst failures in American history from a public health point of view.
“This is a year that I’m asking people to think really deeply about getting the flu vaccine,” he said, while also urging all Americans to donate a mask in public, prevent crowds, maintain social distance and maintain their wash hands to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
White House doubles down on reopening of school
Yesterday, President Donald Trump said his administration sent 125 million masks to schools across the country to help with redevelopment.
“To support the rebuilding of America’s schools, we are providing $ 13 billion in elementary and middle schools toward the funding of the CARES Act and CARES Act,” Trump said. “We will supply a maximum of 125 million giant masks to various school districts around the country.”
Yesterday, the White House also published new guidelines on safe school reopening, urging Americans to keep the negative effects of schools closed. In recent weeks, school opening has become a political football.
“Prolonged school closures primarily reduce the education, mental health, and social development of children with inferior and special needs, pushing them further behind their peers and causing long-term harm to them and the country,” the document said. “We know how to protect high-risk individuals from infection, including students and their families, teachers and staff. These high-risk individuals like those with high-risk individuals in their family, can be offered options for distance learning and distance education.”
