US Sees Over 64,000 New Cases in a Day
More Americans Hospitalized Than at Any Point Since August
A Dozen States Reporting Record Hospitalization Levels
The United States is rapidly approaching 8 million coronavirus infections while more than 217,000 Americans have lost their lives. Across the country, a worsening pandemic is overwhelming hospitals, taxing limited resources, and spreading like wildfire.
Experts Warn We Could Be Entering One of the Worst Periods of the Pandemic as Cases Spike Nationally
On October 15, The US Surpassed 64,000 Coronavirus Cases In A Day For The First Time Since July.
- “For the first time since late July, the tally of newly reported coronavirus cases in the United States surpassed 64,000 on Thursday.” [Washington Post, 10/16/20]
The Seven-Day Average For Daily Cases Has Reached 51,000 With Cases Increasing 18 Percent Over The Last Week.
- “After a month of warning signs, this week’s data make it clear: The third surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is underway. Outbreaks have been worsening in many states for more than a month, and new COVID-19 cases jumped 18 percent this week, bringing the seven-day average to more than 51,000 cases a day. Though testing rose by 8 percent nationally, that’s not enough of an increase to explain the steep rise in cases.” [The Atlantic, 10/16/20]
In 44 States And The District Of Columbia, Cases Are Higher Than They Were A Month Ago.
- In 44 states and the District of Columbia, caseloads are higher than they were one month ago, and many of the new infections are being reported in rural areas with limited hospital capacity.” [Washington Post, 10/16/20]
At Least 35 States Are Reporting More Cases Than A Week Ago, While 14 States Reported Their Highest Seven-Day Average On Record.
- “At least 35 states are now reporting more new cases than the previous week, data from Johns Hopkins University shows. Fourteen states — Alaska, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming — were at their peak seven-day case average Thursday, according to the data.” [CNN, 10/16/20]
Dr. Peter Hotez, Professor And Dean Of Tropical Medicine At The Baylor College Of Medicine: “We Could Be Entering One Of The Worst Periods Of Our Epidemic And One Of Our Worst Periods In Modern American Public Health.”
- “Dr. Peter Hotez, professor and dean of tropical medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, called the rising average ‘an ominous sign.’ ‘This is the time when we could be entering one of the worst periods of our epidemic and one of our worst periods in modern American public health,’ he said Thursday. ‘I’m very worried for the nation.’” [CNN, 10/16/20]
University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Projected That The US Could See 389,000 COVID-19 Deaths by February 1.
- “An updated forecast from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects the US could top 389,000 Covid-19 deaths by February 1. And the latest ensemble forecast published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 20,000 Americans could die from the virus in just the next three weeks.” [CNN, 10/16/20]
The Pandemic Is Overwhelming Hospitals Across the Country
More Americans Are Currently Hospitalized With The Virus Than At Any Point Since Late August.
- “More Americans are now in the hospital with Covid-19 than at any other point since late August, causing some states to nearly run out of hospital beds, as coronavirus infections continue to increase nationwide ahead of a potential end-of-year surge… Some 37,048 coronavirus patients were hospitalized as of Wednesday, the highest level in almost two months according to new data from the COVID Tracking Project, though total hospitalizations are still below their mid-April peak of almost 60,000.” [Forbes, 10/15/20]
At Least A Dozen States Have Reached Record Hospitalization Levels In The Past Week.
- “At least a dozen states have reached record hospitalization levels in the past week, according to data tracked by The Washington Post. Wisconsin opened a field hospital at the state fairgrounds this week to accommodate an influx of patients, while 98 percent of inpatient beds in Montana’s most populous county were full on Wednesday.” [Washington Post, 10/16/20]
Three Weeks After Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb Removed Coronavirus Restrictions, Hospitalizations Are Up 67 Percent And The State Is Facing “Critical ICU Bed Shortages” And “Personnel Shortages.”
- “In Indiana, the state is facing ‘critical ICU bed shortages along with personnel shortages’ according to Chief Medical Officer Lindsay Weaver, only three weeks after Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb removed most Covid-related restrictions. Officials have put out a call for volunteers to help fill staffing shortages in hard-hit facilities near the Michigan and Kentucky borders. Indiana has fewer than one-third of its ICU beds available, according to its health department, and there are more than 1,300 patients in the hospital, the most since May and up 67 percent in three weeks.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
Dave Dillon, Missouri Hospital Association: “If Missouri Cannot Bring Down The Infection Rate, We Will Meet Or Exceed Our Capacity To Care For The Most Critical Covid-19 Patients.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
- “In Missouri, hospitals are reaching capacity in every region of the state. ‘ICU beds are very limited in several regions,’ said Dave Dillon, a spokesperson for the Missouri Hospital Association. ‘Hospitals are working collaboratively to manage patient flow, but Missourians still have heart attacks, strokes and automobile accidents, for example, that demand ICU care. This is a finite resource and if Missouri cannot bring down the infection rate, we will meet or exceed our capacity to care for the most critical Covid-19 patients.’” [Politico, 10/16/20]
Eight Missouri Hospitals Had To Temporarily Stop Accepting Ambulances On October 14 Due To High Volumes Of Patients.
- “Eight hospitals and emergency departments in the Kansas City area in Missouri saw such high volumes of patients on Wednesday night that they had to temporarily stop accepting ambulances, Marc Larsen, an emergency physician overseeing the coronavirus response at St. Luke’s Health System, told the Kansas City Star on Thursday. Health-care facilities are ‘bursting at the seams’ and ‘continually struggling with having adequate capacity for the surge that we are continually seeing and experiencing,’ he said.” [Washington Post, 10/16/20]
In Fargo, North Dakota’s Most Populous City, There Are Only 10 Remaining ICU Beds, While In Bismarck, There Is Only One.
- “In Fargo, North Dakota’s most populous city, there were 10 ICU beds available on Wednesday, and in Bismarck, the state capital, there was only one, according to the health department. Republican Gov. Doug Burgum on Wednesday recommended that bars, restaurants and other large venues in the state’s most populated counties serve only a quarter of their capacity and no more than 50 people but declined to require them to do so.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
The Area Around El Paso, TX — A City Of More Than 700,000 — Has Only Ten Remaining ICU Beds.
- “The area around El Paso, Texas, a city of nearly 700,000, has 10 remaining ICU beds, according to the state health department. On Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was sending 75 health workers, including nurses and respiratory therapists, to help respond.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
The ICU At One Of Utah’s Largest Hospital Systems Is At 95 Percent Capacity.
- “The University of Utah Health System, one of the largest hospitals in the state, reported its ICU is 95 percent filled, and health systems in other parts of the country have been forced to relocate patients because of bed and staffing shortages.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
Utah Governor Gary Herbert: “Our Hospitals Are Getting Overwhelmed.”
- “‘Our hospitals are getting overwhelmed,’ Republican Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said this week. ‘The dramatic increase in infections has put the integrity of our health care system at risk.’ Herbert said the National Guard is on standby to build a field hospital in a convention center outside Salt Lake City, and on Tuesday he ordered masks be worn at all outdoor events.” [Politico, 10/16/20]
States Continue to See Record Surges
Arkansas And Michigan Reported Their Highest Daily Cases On Record While New Hampshire Has Seen A 56% Increase In Cases Over The Last Week.
- “Meanwhile, in Arkansas and Michigan, health officials reported the highest daily Covid-19 case count on record. In New Hampshire, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said the state saw a 56% increase in its number of active Covid-19 cases over the past week.” [CNN, 10/16/20]
On October 15, Idaho’s Seven-Day Moving Average Of New Infections Reached An All-Time High.
- “Idaho reported 652 new confirmed and 146 new probable cases of COVID-19 on Thursday to match the state’s all-time record of 798 new cases set Tuesday. Idaho’s seven-day moving average also reached an all-time high at 641.0 cases per day.” [Idaho Statesman, 10/15/20]
Minnesota Has Reported More Than A Thousand New Cases For Six Days In A Row.
- “Minnesota has reported more than a thousand new Covid-19 cases for six days in a row, something that hasn’t happened since the start of the pandemic.” [NBC News, 10/14/20]
On October 15, Ohio Shattered Its Record For Daily New Infections For The Second Day In A Row, And Reported A Sharp Rise In Hospitalizations.
- “Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reported a record number of new coronavirus cases for a second day in a row during a news conference on Thursday. A record 2,039 new coronavirus cases were reported on Wednesday. ‘Today we are reporting another record 2,178 new coronavirus cases,’ DeWine said. ‘This is in stark contrast to not too long ago. Sept. 20, a month ago, we had 762 cases.’ The governor also reported a sharp rise in hospitalizations. ‘Yesterday we had 1,042 hospitalizations, so it basically doubled in a short period of time,’ he said.” [CNN, 10/15/20]
Pennsylvania Has Seen Ten Consecutive Days Of Spiking Coronavirus Infections.
- “Pennsylvania marked its 10th straight day Thursday with new daily COVID-19 cases in four digits as the state prepares for a fall resurgence of the virus. The state Health Department announced 1,598 new cases of the virus that day, taking the statewide total since March to 177,520.” [Observer-Reporter, 10/15/20]