31 States Report Increases of at Least 10% Compared to Previous Week
Deaths Trending Upwards in Twelve US States
Universities Driving Outbreaks as 20 US Counties With High College Populations Report Infection Rates Three Times Higher Than States as a Whole
Trump on Monday: “Open Your Schools, Everybody Open Your Schools.”
As schools resume in person learning, President Trump’s failure to heed the science and take decisive action to curb the spread of the virus has had disastrous consequences for students, teachers and communities. Across the United States, schools are experiencing massive outbreaks that are driving dangerous statewide surges and Trump still has no plan to combat the virus or provide a safe educational environment for Americans.
Trump Continues to Push For Schools to Open Despite Clear Evidence That Openings Are Driving New Outbreaks
Trump On Monday: “Open Your Schools, Everybody Open Your Schools.”
- “The increased risk of spread among children has taken center stage in the debate over in-person learning, as K-12 schools across the nation that had reopened have had to close or change course after students or staff members fell ill or were forced to quarantine. On Monday, Trump repeated his wish for educators to reopen in-person learning, saying, ‘Open your schools, everybody open your schools.’” [Washington Post, 9/22/20]
National Trends Are Headed in the Wrong Direction as Fall Begins
In 31 States, The Number Of New COVID-19 Cases Has Increased By At Least 10 Percent This Week Compared To The Previous Week.
- “In 31 states, the number of new Covid-19 cases has increased by at least 10% this past week compared to the previous week, according to data Sunday from Johns Hopkins University. Only four states — Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana and Michigan — have had decreases of more than 10%.” [CNN, 9/20/20]
Deaths Are Trending Upwards In Twelve US States And Two US Territories.
- “In the United States, the daily death toll from the virus is down from where it was in early August, when more than 1,200 deaths were occurring every day. Yet even as some of the country’s most populous states report vast improvements, and as Northeastern states have kept new infections low, deaths continue to trend upward in 12 states and two territories.” [New York Times, 9/20/20]
In Wisconsin, A Spike In Hospitalizations Is Following Surging Cases.
- Wisconsin health officials have warned of it since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic: When case numbers rise, hospitalizations will follow. For weeks, cases have been burgeoning in the Fox Valley… Now hospitalizations have begun to follow at a rate that has some local leaders alarmed — a trend that breaks with what Wisconsin is seeing statewide… The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has increased four-fold in recent weeks throughout the Fox Valley Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition, which includes Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Menominee, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Green Lake counties.” [Appleton Post-Crescent, 9/17/20]
Wisconsin Reported A Record Single Day Increase Of New Infections On September 18.
- “Wisconsin also reported a record number of new cases — 2,533 on Friday. Health officials urged people to stay home, keep at least 6 feet of distance from those outside their household, and wear masks in public.” [CNN, 9/20/20]
On September 18, Utah Reported A Record Single Day Increase In New Infections.
- “Utah set a new record high of 1,117 cases on Friday, Gov. Gary Herbert said Saturday. Herbert extended Utah’s state of emergency until October 20.” [CNN, 9/20/20]
College Reopenings Continue to Drive Up Infection Rates and Spark New Hot Spots
20 Of 50 US Counties With The Highest Concentrations Of College Students And Populations Of At Least 50,000 Are Reporting Consistently Higher Rates Of Infection Than Their States As A Whole.
- “Among the 50 U.S. counties with the highest concentrations of students and overall populations of at least 50,000, 20 have consistently reported higher rates of new virus cases than their states have since Sept. 1, according to an Associated Press analysis. On average, infection rates in those 20 counties have been more than three times higher than their states’ overall rates.” [Associated Press, 9/19/20]
In The Ten Counties With The Highest Infection Rates, Colleges Have Reported At Least 15,000 Cases Among Students And Staff.
- “In the 10 counties with the highest infection rates, colleges have reported at least 15,000 cases among students and employees in recent weeks, though testing and reporting practices vary significantly and the actual number is probably much higher.” [Associated Press, 9/19/20
Four Colorado Universities Have Now Been Identified As Coronavirus Hot Spots.
- “The number of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to Colorado colleges more than doubled this week, with four universities now identified as hot spots. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Wednesday reported a dozen active outbreaks linked to colleges and universities, with seven of them identified in the last week. This follows warnings by state public health administrators of a sharp rise in coronavirus infections among college-aged people, and new efforts this week at the University of Colorado Boulder and Regis University in Denver to slow the virus’ spread through student quarantines.” [The Denver Post, 9/17/20]
More Than Half Of Those Tested At Ball State University Have Been Positive For The Virus, As The Area Becomes Indiana’s Epicenter.
- “Just two weeks after students started returning to Ball State University last month, the surrounding county had become Indiana’s coronavirus epicenter. Out of nearly 600 students tested for the virus, more than half have been positive. Dozens of infections have been blamed on off-campus parties, prompting university officials to admonish students.” [Associated Press, 9/19/20]
Between September 16 And September 18, 120 Providence College Students Tested Positive For Coronavirus, Forcing The School To Move To Fully Remote Learning.
- “‘We are out of options,’ Providence College President the Rev. Kenneth Sicard said Thursday. ‘If we are not successful, we will have no alternative other than to shut down our campus for the remainder of the fall semester.’ The college moved to remote learning for at least a week, Sicard said Thursday. Indoor and outdoor gatherings and travel to bars, restaurants and neighborhood businesses are not allowed. All students living on campus will be tested for Covid-19 and those living off campus are not allowed to leave their apartments, Sicard said. Violations will result in ‘immediate interim suspensions,’ the president said. By Friday evening, the number of Providence College students who had tested positive had risen to about 120 in three days, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.” [CNN, 9/9/20]
Outbreaks At Michigan Colleges And Universities Had Resulted In More Than 4,000 Infections As Of September 10.
- “Recent coronavirus outbreaks at Michigan colleges and universities have resulted in more than 4,000 coronavirus cases as of Sept. 10, according to a state report released last week. ‘We knew that (the reopening of schools) was going to probably increase our cases,’ said Marcia Mansaray, deputy director of the Ottawa County Health Department. Her county has had almost 1,000 new cases since Sept. 1. That’s a third of the county’s total cases since March. ‘But honestly, I think we were caught a little off guard at how big it got at Grand Valley as fast as it did, and I think Grand Valley was, too, because they were making every effort’ to control the virus, she said. ‘There was testing and doing all these preventive measures in place for that not to happen. But it did.’ [Michigan Live, 9/21/20]
K-12 CHAOS: Schools Across the Country Are Closing Again as the Virus Spreads Among Students and Staff
A Teacher At Bay Port High School In Wisconsin Died Of COVID-19 Weeks After The School Reopened.
- “A Bay Port High School teacher died Thursday morning from complications related to COVID-19, the Howard-Suamico School District said in a letter sent home with students… Hussli is believed to be the first area schoolteacher with COVID-19 to die since the school year began several weeks ago. A colleague said Hussli was in classes the week of Sept. 8, became ill over the weekend and was unable to return to class. She is survived by a husband and son. Her mother passed away in late August.” [Green Bay Press Gazette, 9/17/20]
Several K-12 Schools Across Connecticut Have Been Forced To Close After Reporting Positive Cases.
- “Several public kindergarten through Grade 12 schools were closed Monday and all classes moved to remote learning after positive coronavirus tests. The schools include all Weston schools, Southington High School, Torringford Elementary School in Torrington, Discovery Interdistrict Magnet School and the Luis Muñoz Marin School in Bridgeport and the Noah Webster Micro Society Magnet School in Hartford. Some schools will be closed for two days and others longer while contact tracing and cleaning are done, officials said.” [U.S. News & World Report, 9/21/20]
West Orange High School In Orange County, Florida Closed After 159 Students And Staffers Were Identified As Having Been In Direct Contact With At Least 10 People Who Tested Positive For COVID-19.
- “West Orange High School will be closed for two weeks after more than 100 students and staff had direct contact with people who tested positive for COVID-19, Orange County Public Schools announced Friday evening. There are 159 students and staff that have been identified as having direct contact with at least 10 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, the district said. Quarantine letters from the Florida Department of Health will be sent out.” [WFTV9, 9/19/20]
At Least Four Schools In Long Island, New York Were Closed After Students Or Staff Members Tested Positive For COVID-19.
- “At least four Long Island schools were closed Friday after students or staff members tested positive for COVID-19, adding to scattered retreats from classroom instruction linked to virus cases over the last few weeks. Schools in the Cold Spring Harbor, Malverne, East Rockaway and Copiague districts were closed, with at least three expected to reopen on Monday, officials in the districts said.” [Newsday, 9/20/20]
The Novi Community School District In Michigan Closed After Closed All Schools After Five High School Students Tested Positive For COVID-19.
- “Five cases of COVID-19 among its high school student population forced the Novi Community Schools district to close the school to in-person learning this week. Superintendent Steve Matthews said the five students are in quarantine and the high school was closed Thursday and remained closed on Friday to students. Students were switched to the district’s online learning program for those days.” [Detroit News, 9/18/20]
Two Elementary Schools In Woodland, Washington Closed After Two Staff Members Tested Positive For COVID-19 And Potentially Exposed All Staff Members At Both Schools.
- “Two Woodland elementary schools closed for in-person services Monday and Tuesday after two school district staff members tested positive for COVID-19, according school officials. All staff members at Columbia Elementary School and North Fork Elementary School may have been exposed to COVID-19, so both school buildings will be closed out of caution to protect staff and the public, according to a message to parents from Columbia Principal David Starkey.” [Daily News, 9/21/20]
28 Students At Attleboro High School In Massachusetts Were Forced To Quarantine After A Student Attended In-Person Classes Despite Knowing That They Were Infected With COVID-19.
- “Six students tested positive for the novel coronavirus days before Attleboro High School in Massachusetts reopened its doors for the first day of school this week. Only five of them stayed home, the city’s mayor told WJAR. The parents of the sixth student who tested positive for the virus that causes covid-19 sent him to class anyway, the mayor said. Now, 28 students who were in close contact with the teenager have to quarantine for two weeks. ‘It was a reckless action to send a child — a teenager — to school who was covid-positive,’ Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux (D) told WHDH. ‘It was really poor judgment. If you know that your child has coronavirus, is covid-positive, you should not send your child to school under any circumstances.’” [Washington Post, 9/18/20]