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At least 31 states set their one-day coronavirus case records in October

November 1, 2020 [email protected]_84 case, coronavirus, October, OneDay, records, Set, states

October was a month of grim records in the Covid-19 pandemic, and as November begins, experts say the US hasn’t seen the worst of it yet.

a person in a blue room: Medical staff members work in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at the United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on October 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. According to reports, Texas has reached over 916,000 cases, including over 18,000 deaths. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

© Go Nakamura/Getty Images
Medical staff members work in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at the United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on October 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. According to reports, Texas has reached over 916,000 cases, including over 18,000 deaths. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)

From Alaska to Maine, at least 31 states across the US reported at least one record-high day of new coronavirus cases in the past month, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And 15 reported their highest one-day tallies of Covid-19 deaths.

The country’s seven-day average of new daily cases was 78,380 Saturday — a number that has risen 128.2% since a post-summer-surge low on September 12. With any potential vaccine still a ways off from possible distribution, and the colder months threatening to increase spread, experts emphasize more people need to regularly take precautions to stem the rise anytime soon.

“It’s the way we protect our neighbors and our communities. And we need to avoid crowds. We have to socially distance. You can’t go to a mass gathering now. We need to lower our viral footprint,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine at George Washington University, told CNN on Saturday.

October was unprecedented for several recorded metrics associated with the pandemic.

Of the country’s seven highest daily tallies of new cases, six were in October. The highest — 99,321 recorded on Friday — was the most recorded in one day for any one nation so far.

The number of US Covid-19 patients in hospitals on Saturday, October’s last day, was 47,374 — 65.6% higher than it was on September 20, when it was at a low following the summer surge.

And Reiner said there is no sign that the number of daily cases will drop soon.

“We won’t peak until we change our behaviors. And our behaviors that principally need to change are our lack of masking all over the country,” he said.

The country has recorded more than 9.1 million infections and 230,548 deaths during the pandemic, according to JHU.

A spike in deaths could come, experts say

Hospitals could become overwhelmed as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb, Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Friday.

In El Paso, Texas, where hospitals are struggling to keep up with the number of Covid-19 patients, officials are preparing to add a third mobile morgue unit in anticipation of a spike in deaths.

“If that doesn’t put our situation into perspective I don’t know what will,” County Judge Ricardo Samaniego wrote on Facebook.

The number of hospitalizations is the best measure of how the nation is faring in the coronavirus pandemic, Murray said.

“They are a leading indicator ahead of deaths,” he said.

Murray and his colleagues at IHME are

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5 things states must do to curb the spread of COVID-19: ANALYSIS

November 1, 2020 [email protected]_84 analysis, COVID19, Curb, Spread, states

The dreaded fall and winter COVID-19 wave has arrived and with a vengeance. Much of the nation is experiencing a viral load of infections unlike those previously seen since the start of the pandemic.

Any one metric by itself doesn’t fully relay the significance of the threat, but coupling it with multiple metrics, like the number of daily new cases, percent positivity rate, infection rate, hospitalization rate and deaths, provide a more complete burden of the illness.

There are 50 epidemics playing out in the United States, each state with its own trajectory and prognosis. Only two states, Maine and Vermont, are trending in the right direction, having control on their epidemic, the remaining 48 states are all trending in the wrong direction.

To curb the spread of COVID-19, these are five measures that must be taken to prevent further amplification of cases, illnesses, hospitalizations and death.

1. Mandate face masks

The verdict is in, masks work. In a study published in Health Affairs, mask mandates in 15 states and the District of Columbia led to a slower daily COVID-19 growth rate that was seen over time.

Currently across the nation, 49% of Americans wear a mask in public, with only some states mandating wearing a face covering. If we increase this to 95%, we could save 129,000 lives, the study said.

PHOTO: A 'masks required' sign is seen at Belmont University near the entrance of the 2020 U.S. presidential election debate hall on Oct. 21, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images) — PHOTO: A ‘masks required’ sign is seen at Belmont University near the entrance of the 2020 U.S. presidential election debate hall on Oct. 21, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)

2. Better risk communication on preventative measures

Communication can make or break any medical response. Countries, like those in Asia, that have been able to curtail the spread of COVID-19 have showcased effective risk communication with the general public — that is — telling the public in layman’s terms the good, the bad, the ugly and what we don’t know yet.

MORE: Massachusetts’ COVID-19 response was science-based, so why are cases rising?

Even more important is saying it with one voice, not mixed messages that erodes trust. During a time when many Americans are experiencing pandemic fatigue, are confused about the evolving science of COVID-19 and want to resume pre-pandemic activities, providing coherent, consistent and reliable guidance has never been more important.

Reliable guidance includes communicating what constitutes low-risk activities (outdoor events) versus high-risk activities (indoors, confined space and poor ventilation), as well as reminding people to stay home when sick, and continue physical distancing and hand-washing.

3. Surveillance at the local level

Early in this pandemic, the nation was blinded by the number of COVID-19 cases that were brewing in our communities. Fast forward 10 months, and we’ve learned a lot about this disease and the various indicators that can help track and trace where the virus is spreading.

PHOTO: A health care worker beckons incoming cars at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site inside the Alliant Energy Center complex, as the outbreak continues in Madison, Wis., Oct. 31, 2020. (Bing Guan/Reuters)

Each

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COVID Cases Are Falling in These Five States

October 31, 2020 [email protected]_84 Cases, COVID, falling, states

As the number of daily new coronavirus cases in the U.S. reached a record high of 91,295 on Thursday, a handful of states have each reported a decline in new infections over the latest two-week period.

a group of people posing for the camera: A spectator waits for the Missouri State vs. Oklahoma NCAA college football game to begin, socially distanced from other seating areas on September 12 in Norman, Oklahoma. New COVID-19 cases were reported to be on a downward trend in a handful of states, including Oklahoma.

© Sue Ogrocki-Pool/Getty Images
A spectator waits for the Missouri State vs. Oklahoma NCAA college football game to begin, socially distanced from other seating areas on September 12 in Norman, Oklahoma. New COVID-19 cases were reported to be on a downward trend in a handful of states, including Oklahoma.

The five states listed below have each seen a decrease in the average number of daily new cases over a 14-day period from October 16 to 29, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Daily case counts below reflect a seven-day moving average of daily new infections reported from October 16 to 29.

Missouri

Day 1 (October 16): 2,040.34
Day 14 (October 29): 1,477.75
Highest daily case count in 14-day period: 2,213 on October 17
Lowest daily case count in 14-day period: 1,477.75 on October 29

While the average daily case tally in Missouri statistically dropped in the recent two-week period, the figure has been increasing throughout the outbreak since mid-March, according to JHU.

Oklahoma

Day 1 (October 16): 1,127
Day 14 (October 29): 864.25
Highest daily case count in 14-day period: 1,348 on October 22
Lowest daily case count in 14-day period: 864.25 on October 29

While the average number of daily new cases in Oklahoma statistically declined in the latest two-week period, the average count has been rising sharply since early June, after flattening out from mid-March, according to JHU.

Louisiana

Day 1 (October 16): 551.86
Day 14 (October 29): 498.75
Highest daily case count in 14-day period: 615.71 on October 24
Lowest daily case count in 14-day period: 494.50 on October 27

The average number of daily new cases in Louisiana statistically declined in the latest two-week period. However, the count has been flattening out from late August, after decreasing since late July, when it peaked at 2,267 on July 23, according to JHU.

Where Are Coronavirus Cases Rising In The World?

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Hawaii

Day 1 (October 16): 79.14
Day 14 (October 29): 59.75
Highest daily case count in 14-day period: 91.57 on October 22 and 23
Lowest daily case count in 14-day period: 59.75 on October 29

The average number of daily new cases in Hawaii were reported to be on a downward trend in the latest 14-day period. The average count has been decreasing since late August when it peaked at 255 on August 26. The figure remained flat from mid-March to mid-July, before it rose sharply, according to JHU.

Delaware

Day 1 (October 16): 129.57
Day 14 (October 29): 148
Highest daily case count in 14-day period: 148 on October 29
Lowest daily case count in 14-day period: 124 on October 22

The average daily case tally in Delaware reported a statistical decline in the latest 14-day period. However, average daily new cases

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States, medical group add independent COVID-19 vaccine review boards

October 30, 2020 [email protected]_84 Add, Boards, COVID19, group, independent, medical, Review, states, vaccine

Pressure to create a coronavirus vaccine is increasing by the day, but for a safe vaccine to enter the market, it takes time.

USA TODAY

At least five states – California, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington – and a Black medical group say they’ll conduct independent verification of any COVID-19 vaccines approved by Food and Drug Administration.

These review panels, which began popping up last month, are meant to instill public confidence and counter the political pall cast over COVID-19 vaccine development and approval. In recent weeks, faith has improved in the FDA’s commitment to base COVID-19 vaccines decisions in science, but the growing number of oversight groups seek to add another layer of trust.

And while some worry the independent review boards may hurt the effort, all agree establishing that trust is vitally important. A survey this month found only 58% of Americans said they would get vaccinated as soon as a vaccine became available.

“We would like to give Washingtonians the highest confidence that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available that it’s safe and works,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said of the pact.

The first push for oversight outside the FDA came Sept. 21, when the National Medical Association announced it would create an expert task force to review any decisions about COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The association of Black physicians was founded in 1895 at a time when racism in medical groups excluded Black doctors.

“Questions of political influence on scientific process because of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), have threatened the public trust in the FDA that will adversely affect participation in clinical trials, especially in the African-American community,” the association said in its announcement.

The first state to launch an oversight group was New York, on Sept. 24. At the time there was significant concern in the scientific community the FDA was being pressured by the Trump Administration to approve a vaccine quickly in order to have it available by the presidential election.

It was an expectation President Trump has expressed in tweets, news conferences and during campaign rallies.

“The White House’s dispute with the FDA raises serious questions about whether or not the vaccine has become politicized,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sept. 24.

“Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion and I wouldn’t recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion. We’re going to put together our own review committee headed by the Department of Health to review the vaccine.”

The climate around vaccines began to shift on Sept. 8, when vaccine developers issued a public letter vowing to keep politics out of science. Soon after, and defying White House pressure, the FDA stood firm in requiring at least two months of safety data before a vaccine could be considered for release.

Still, last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would create an independent 11-member Scientific Safety Review Workgroup to study the safety of COVID-19 vaccines as an added safeguard to any efforts

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States say they lack federal funds to distribute coronavirus vaccines as CDC tells them to be ready by Nov. 15

October 29, 2020 [email protected]_84 CDC, coronavirus, distribute, Federal, Funds, Lack, Nov, Ready, states, tells, vaccines

State officials have been planning in earnest in recent weeks to get shots into arms even though no one knows which vaccine will be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, what special storage and handling may be required and how many doses each state will receive.

Despite those uncertainties, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking states to be prepared to “preposition” doses in key locations throughout the country. Officials want to move quickly once the FDA authorizes a vaccine and a CDC advisory panel issues recommendations on which populations should be vaccinated, according to a letter the CDC sent Monday to state preparedness and immunization officials.

As part of that effort, the CDC is asking states to provide by Tuesday critical information, including a list of each jurisdiction’s top five sites capable of receiving and administering a vaccine that must be stored at ultracold temperatures of minus-70 Celsius (minus-94 Fahrenheit). The letter refers to the vaccine only as Vaccine A, but industry and health officials have identified it as Pfizer’s candidate.

Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said Tuesday that “hundreds of thousands” of doses had already been produced and that a first look at the data would occur soon. Pfizer will not apply for any authorization of its vaccine sooner than the third week of November, when it will have sufficient safety data.

“We acknowledge that you are being asked to do unprecedented work,” wrote Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, which is leading the CDC’s role in vaccine distribution. She added: “This is a new planning ask.”

State officials say they have been trying to raise the issue with federal officials but have received little response.

“It is absolutely ridiculous that the administration, after spending $10 billion for a Warp Speed effort to develop a vaccine, has no interest in a similar investment in a Warp Speed campaign to get the vaccine to every American as quickly as possible after it is approved,” said Michael Fraser, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Operation Warp Speed is the federal initiative, funded by more than $10 billion of taxpayer money, to fast-track development of coronavirus countermeasures.

“The now accelerated timeline underscores the need to address the issue of funding for state and territorial health agencies to make this all work,” Fraser said. “There are many other costs that have no clear way to be paid for at this point.”

Local officials still need to recruit thousands of people to staff vaccine clinics and enroll and train providers. They also have to ramp up information technology and data systems to track vaccine inventory and ordering to ensure people get the correct doses at the right times — most vaccines will require two shots — and to monitor for adverse events. They will need to develop locally tailored vaccination communications campaigns, too.

“States have received some funding, but it’s not nearly enough” to support the scale, scope and

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Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases Surge in Several States

October 29, 2020 [email protected]_84 Cases, coronavirus, Live, states, surge, Updates

Nearly 44.5 million coronavirus cases have been reported world-wide, and the global death toll is approaching 1.2 million.

India: Total coronavirus cases in India surpassed eight million as the country reported 49,881 new cases. India has the second highest number of infections in the world behind the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The country’s death toll rose by 517 to 120,527.

China: Health authorities on Thursday reported 23 locally transmitted cases for the previous day, all in Kashgar, a city in the far-western Xinjiang region. Since last Sunday, the Kashgar government has tested 4.7 million of its residents and reported more than 100 local cases, most of which are tied to a local garment factory, according to local officials.

Australia: A day after lifting its strict lockdown, Australia’s Victoria state recorded three new coronavirus cases. New South Wales, home to Sydney, added four new locally acquired cases and a school closed after a student tested positive. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she wanted to see the southern state’s contact-tracing system tested before she would consider reopening the state border. She said she received economic advice that it would be more prudent to reopen to all of Australia, New Zealand and possibly other overseas places than Victoria until the risk of another outbreak there was proven to be low.

Guam: The U.S. territory reported 48 new cases, bringing the total to 4,466. The number of hospitalized patients rose to 88, as the hospitals on the island start to reach capacity. Guam’s governor on Wednesday extended a public health emergency until Nov. 29 and a partial lockdown remains in place.

Japan: New cases topped 700 for the third time in the past seven days, as Japan reported 731 new infections. The country’s death toll stands at 1,733, including three fatalities logged Thursday.

South Korea: South Korea added 125 more cases, with many linked to clusters at nursing homes and other medical facilities. Health officials have shut down Seoul night clubs for the Halloween weekend and warned there could be more upticks as South Koreans travel during the fall.

Source Article …

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Coronavirus US: More than 40 states are reporting an increase in Covid-19 cases and many in the Midwest are seeing record hospitalizations

October 29, 2020 [email protected]_84 Cases, coronavirus, COVID19, Hospitalizations, increase, Midwest, record, reporting, states

The seven-day average is part of a fall surge that has brought the national case count to more than 8.8 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Four of the five highest number of cases in a single day were recorded in the last seven days, with the top two reported on Friday and Saturday. And 41 states are reporting at least 10% more cases compared to the week before.

When it comes to the climbing metric, the US is “not in a good place,” director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a virtual Q&A on Wednesday. Health experts have pushed measures against the virus to bring the baseline of infections down before colder months drove them back up. But rising records of cases and hospitalizations are making up “a bad recipe for a tough time ahead,” Fauci said.

In the Midwest, residents are being impacted by the rising cases with spiking rates of hospitalizations.

Indiana and Wisconsin reported their peak levels of coronavirus hospitalizations. And Kansas saw the most ICU hospitalizations of the virus in one day, the same day the state surpassed 1,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

“Each one of these Kansans was someone’s child, parent, or grandparent,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a release. “They were part of a community.”

On Wednesday, 13 states reported more hospitalization records, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

Mask mandates lower hospitalizations, study says

Mask mandates may be a key strategy to lowering rates of hospitalization, according to the findings of a study from Vanderbilt School of Medicine.

In hospitals where more than 75% of the patients came from counties that required masks, rates of hospitalizations did not rise between July and October, while hospitals with fewer than 25% of patients from those counties saw an increase over 200%.

Fact check: Trump falsely claims California requires people to wear 'special' and 'complex' mask at all times

Other mitigation factors likely came into play, as areas with mask requirements are more likely to have residents who follow other mitigation strategies, the authors wrote.

“The good news is that we have learned a great deal since the beginning of the pandemic,” they said. “An important takeaway from this analysis is that areas with virus mitigation strategies … have seen lower growth in hospitalizations since the summer months; hospitals in these areas are in a much better position to serve the entire spectrum of community health needs, not just COVID-19 patients.”

As the weather continues to grow colder, Fauci said in an interview with CNBC Wednesday that he supports a national mask mandate.

“We’re going to have many more hospitalizations and that will inevitably lead to more deaths. So, this is an untenable situation. That’s the reason why I say we have got to do these things,” Fauci said.

While he is in support of a mask mandate, Fauci said he doesn’t think it will happen nationally “because it might not come from the White House to do it.”

States concerned over alarming hospitalization rates

Many state leaders are putting measures

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Strive Health Partners with Nearly 200 Nephrology Providers Across Multiple States to Implement Innovative Medicare Kidney Care Program

October 28, 2020 [email protected]_84 Care, health, Implement, Innovative, Kidney, Medicare, multiple, Nephrology, Partners, Program, providers, states, Strive

Strive Health, a national innovator in value-based kidney care, today announced that it has partnered with nearly 200 physicians and advanced practitioners from 20 nephrology groups across several states to participate in Medicare’s Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting options of the Kidney Care Choices model (CKCC).

CKCC is a new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) payment innovation model that incentivizes healthcare providers to manage the care of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4 and 5 and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Unlike prior value-based kidney care models, CKCC addresses both CKD and ESRD beneficiaries and aligns patients based on nephrology care, not dialysis treatments. The implementation period for the program started on October 15, 2020 and the official launch of the performance period is on April 1, 2021.

“New payment models like CKCC are putting nephrologists at the center and creating meaningful opportunities to transform care for our patients,” said Gary Singer, MD, a nephrologist who leads Midwest Nephrology Associates in St. Louis, MO. “We looked for a partner whose incentives align with our goal of delaying the progression of kidney disease, and whose model blends technological innovation with high-touch care. We believe Strive is well-positioned to support us in CKCC and beyond.”

Strive Health provides technology, high-touch care teams, and management expertise that empower nephrologists to participate and succeed in new value-based kidney care models. Physicians partnering with Strive gain access to advanced tools and resources that improve care delivery, such as sophisticated data science models that predict CKD disease progression with greater than 95% accuracy. Physicians also participate in performance-based incentive programs that reward high-quality and low-cost patient outcomes.

“Our company is the market leader in transformative, value-based kidney care. The new CMMI models take an exciting step in the right direction and create unprecedented opportunities for nephrologists to innovate and be rewarded for high-quality, long-term care goals over individual treatments,” said Chris Riopelle, CEO and co-founder of Strive Health.

Through partnerships with nephrologists and direct care arrangements, Strive manages thousands of complex CKD and ESRD patients in five states today and will be managing, or supporting the management of, more than 30,000 patients in 12 states by early 2021. The company is actively launching new value-based kidney care arrangements with commercial payors, health systems, and medical groups – most recently announced include Humana and Conviva Health – and engaging local nephrologists as central care providers within these models. Future growth plans include new application opportunities for CKCC and additional government programs.

About Strive Health

Strive Health is a national innovator in value-based kidney care and partner of choice for leading healthcare payors and providers. Through a unique combination of high-touch care teams, advanced technology, seamless integration with local providers, and next-generation dialysis services, Strive deploys an integrated care delivery system that supports the entire patient journey from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Strive partners with commercial and Medicare Advantage payors, Medicare, health systems, and physicians through

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Hospitals across 38 states report increase in COVID-19 patients

October 28, 2020 [email protected]_84 COVID19, hospitals, increase, Patients, report, states

The coronavirus is spreading faster than ever in the U.S., with the highest one-week average of new cases since the pandemic began. Thirty-eight states are reporting increases in the number of hospitalized patients compared to two weeks ago.

The situation is especially dire in seven states — Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas — where many intensive care units are near or at capacity. Average daily deaths have also edged back up to about 800 Americans per day, according to Johns Hopkins University. It’s a level not seen in more than a month.

In Utah, hospitals pushed to the brink are preparing to ration care.

Dr. Todd Vento, the top infectious disease doctor at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, told CBS News, “I would say that if you don’t think that your daily actions affect others that you’ve never met, you’re wrong. Everything we do that circulates the virus eventually makes it so that it might get to someone who ends up in the hospital.”

In the Midwest, the surge has been especially hard. Wisconsin saw 5,262 new cases, according to state health officials, which is its highest daily uptick in cases since the pandemic began. Illinois saw 4,000 new cases, and daily deaths have risen 58.3%, the state Department of Public Health reported.

“We have got to reverse the trend and slow the spread of this virus,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

COVID-19 cases in kids are also rising — up more than 14% in two weeks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And now, a British study suggests coronavirus antibodies might only last months — similar to those for the common cold.

The average number of new COVID-19 cases in New Jersey has jumped by more than 45% in the last two weeks. In the city of Newark, where the coronavirus positivity rate is topping more than 11%, new restrictions are in effect.

“It’s not panic. It’s calculated strategies to do what we know works here in Newark,” Dr. Mark Wade, director of the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness, told CBS News.

Starting Tuesday night, all non-essential businesses and indoor dining in Newark will shut down at 8 p.m. until at least November 10.

Meanwhile, on the vaccine front, drugmaker Pfizer announced Tuesday that it plans to apply for emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 vaccine in November.

Source Article …

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More than half of US states reported their highest day of coronavirus cases this month

October 28, 2020 [email protected]_84 Cases, coronavirus, Day, highest, month, Reported, states

The fall surge has ushered in daunting rates of Covid-19 spread, with 29 states reporting at least one record high day of new cases since October began, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

© Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images
Reading, PA – October 13: A nurse puts a swab into a vial after administering a test. At the state run free COVID-19 testing site setup on Front Street in Reading, PA outside FirstEnergy Stadium Tuesday morning October 13, 2020. The site will be there for 5 days and was setup in response to an increase in cases in Berks County. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

The record spread has brought the national total to more than 8.7 million infections and 226,723 deaths. And with this spike holding the potential to be the worst yet, experts warn that the impact of the virus will likely get worse.

“We’re rising quickly. If we just go back about six, seven weeks ago to Labor Day, we were at about 35,000 cases a day,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University School of Public Health, said Tuesday. “We’re above 70,000 and just heading up. I would not be surprised if we end up getting to 100,000.” The United States added 73,240 new cases Tuesday, and a record peak of more than 83,000 cases was reported on Friday.

The rise in cases has been followed closely behind by an increase in coronavirus deaths.

This month, 11 states reported their highest single day of new deaths since the pandemic began. And though researchers are racing toward a vaccine, health experts have cautioned that the public needs to take the virus seriously in the meantime.

“If we continue our current behavior, by the time we start to go down the other side of the curve, a half a million people will be dead,” CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said Tuesday.

Under the current conditions, more than 2,000 people are predicted to die of the virus daily by January 1, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

Imminent threats to hospital capacity

Forty states are reporting an increase of daily average cases by more than 10% compared to last week, and many are feeling the impact in their hospitalization rates.

Even with a hospital facility opened on fair grounds in Wisconsin, rising cases are threatening the capacity of health care facilities in the state, Gov. Tony Evers said.

“There is no way to sugarcoat it, we are facing an urgent crisis and there is an imminent risk to you and your family,” Gov. Tony Evers said.

Ohio, one of the states to report a record of daily cases this month, is also seeing a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations — one that “is noticeably sharper, steeper than the increase we saw during the summer peak,” Gov. Mike DeWine said.

ICU admissions in the state have doubled since the start of the month, he said.

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