Wisconsin Less Than Two Weeks Away From Running Out of ICU Bed Capacity, Deaths Up 111% Over the Last Two Weeks
Minnesota Shatters New Cases Record Day Before Trump’s Rally, Mayo Clinic Warns of Risk Trump’s Rally Poses to the State
Cases in Michigan Up 73% in Last Two Weeks, Hospitalizations Have Doubled Since the End of September
As Donald Trump continues his Keep America Sick tour in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“As the third wave of outbreaks pushes the country past 9 million cases, Donald Trump is holding three mask-less, crowded super spreader rallies in three of the worst coronavirus hot spots in the country.
“It’s a devastating split screen to offer voters four days before voting ends on Tuesday and one that exposes Trump’s willingness to endanger the lives of Americans if he thinks it’ll give him a political edge. For eight months, Trump has downplayed the danger of the virus, undermined experts, and mocked mitigation efforts like masks and social-distancing.
“The consequences have been deadly, and when voters cast their ballots, they’ll only be thinking about what Donald Trump’s ego has cost them.”
Trump Is Visiting Wisconsin While the State Is on the Verge Running Out of ICU Capacity
[New York Times, 10/30/20]
Wisconsin Quick Facts:
Cases: 226,712
Current Hospitalizations: 1,453
Deaths: 2,008
Trump Will Host A Rally In Green Bay, Which Has The 14th Highest Coronavirus Infection Rate In The Entire Country.
- “President Donald Trump will sweep into Green Bay on Friday as he makes a last-ditch effort to win over voters in a pivotal swing state… The deluge of campaign events comes as Wisconsin health officials urge people to stay home to slow the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 across the state. Green Bay had the 14th highest infection rate in the country as of Wednesday, according to a New York Times analysis, while four other Wisconsin cities cracked the top 10.” [Green Bay Press Gazette, 10/28/20]
Wisconsin Is On Track To Run Out Of ICU Beds, And Nurse Capacity, In “As Little As Two Weeks” And As Of October 27 There Were Only 187 Beds Available In The Whole State.
- “Wisconsin is on track to run out of ICU beds, and nurses to staff them, in as little as two weeks as the state reported 5,200 positive COVID-19 cases Tuesday with only 187 beds available. ‘There is nothing magical about this math,’ said Bill Melms, chief medical officer for Marshfield Clinic Health System. ‘Every single positive increases the probability or likelihood of having another patient who is hospitalized.’” [USA Today, 10/29/20]
According To The New York Times, Hospitalizations In Wisconsin Have Increased By 43 Percent Over The Last Two Weeks, While Deaths Have Increased By 111 Percent.
- The New York Times’ “Wisconsin Covid Map and Case Count” reflects that cases have increased by 41% over the last two weeks, deaths have increased by over 111% the last two weeks, and hospitalizations have increased by 43% over the last two weeks. [New York Times, Accessed 10/30/20]
Wisconsin Is Reporting A Record Average Of Daily New Infections — More Than 4,100 Cases Per Day — Which Is Six Times Greater Than The Average Two Months Ago.
- “The average number of new daily cases over the last seven days is 4,128, a record high. Two months ago, just before the virus began surging in Wisconsin, the seven-day average was six times smaller, at 684.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/29/20]
One In Five Wisconsin Hospitals Is Reporting Critical Staffing Shortages.
- One in five hospitals in the state reported critical staffing shortages as hundreds of health care workers are forced to quarantine at home after being exposed to the virus in the community. The staffing shortages mean a difficult job is even more grueling for health care workers, Willems Van Dijk said. ‘What it means is everybody has to step up and work a lot harder when they’re already working very hard as it is,’ she said. ‘It means people work double shifts, it means people come in on their day off, it means people take more patients than they normally do.’” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/29/20]
Hospitals In Some Parts Of Wisconsin Are At 90 Percent Capacity Or More.
- “Hospitals in Wisconsin are seeing record numbers of COVID-19 patients, the consequence of weeks of unchecked spread of the pandemic across the state. The increase has put hospitals at or above 90 percent of their capacity in some regions, and workers are putting into place surge plans they made months ago in the first stage of the pandemic, but haven’t had to use until now.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/30/20]
Trump Is Visiting Minnesota The Day After The State Broke Its Daily New Case Record
[New York Times, 10/30/20]
Minnesota Quick Facts:
Cases: 142,364
Current Hospitalizations: 867
Deaths: 2,472
On October 29, Minnesota Reported Nearly 2,900 New Cases, A Daily Record Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “COVID-19 continues its grim October ascent in Minnesota. The Health Department Thursday reported nearly 2,900 new cases — a daily record in the pandemic — and 32 more deaths, a near-record. The newest numbers come toward the close of a troubling month. Hospitalizations, caseloads and deaths are rising steeply and seem poised to spill into November.” [MPR News, 10/29/20]
The Mayo Clinic And Rochester Mayor Kim Norton Warned Residents About The Risk Trump’s Rally Posed To The Area And Urged Attendees To Follow State Guidelines.
- “In wake of the news that President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally at the Rochester International Airport on Friday, both Mayo Clinic and Rochester Mayor Kim Norton have voiced their support for state health guidelines, including those limiting crowds to 250 persons. ‘Mayo Clinic supports the state of Minnesota’s COVID-19 guidelines, which were put in place to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public’s health,’ the clinic said in a statement. ‘Preventive measures such as masking, good hand hygiene and social distancing are essential steps to stop the spread of the virus, protect our communities and our neighbors. Community members who choose to attend a large event that exceeds recommended guidelines should contact their healthcare provider and be evaluated for possible COVID-19 testing.’ ‘We expect them to follow the state guidelines,’ said Norton.” [Twin-Cities Pioneer Press, 10/29/20]
There Are Currently More Than 15,000 Minnesotans Infected With COVID-19, A First In The State Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “There are now more than 15,000 known active cases of COVID-19 in the state for the first time. That number has grown dramatically in the last week.” [MPR News, 10/29/20]
According To The New York Times, Hospitalizations In Minnesota Have Increased By 40 Percent Over The Last Two Weeks, While Deaths Have Increased By 28 Percent
- The New York Times’ “Minnesota Covid Map and Case Count” reflects that cases have increased by 54% over the last two weeks, deaths have increased by 28% over the last two weeks, and hospitalizations have increased by 40% over the last two weeks. [New York Times, 10/30/20]
On October 28, Minnesota Added 37 New COVID-19 Related Hospitalizations, The Largest Single Day Increase Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “The state added 37 new hospitalizations Wednesday — a one-day record — bringing the total now hospitalized to 643 patients. The state reported another 19 deaths on Wednesday, all but five being residents of greater Minnesota. Health officials said that one of the recent deaths had likely contracted the illness at a wedding with an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, an event associated with outbreaks.” [Twin-Cities Pioneer Press, 10/29/20]
One Month Following A Trump Rally In Bemidji, MN, Cases In The Region Jumped By 385 Percent.
- “CNN also looked at the September 18 rally in Bemidji, Minnesota and found that while rates of infection had already been increasing in the month prior to the rally, the rate of infection in the county one month later had jumped by more than 385% and was greater than the state’s rate of infection.” [CNN, 10/29/20]
Cases, Hospitalizations And Deaths Are Spiking Rapidly In Michigan
[New York Times, 10/30/20]
Michigan Quick Facts:
Cases: 189,926
Current Hospitalizations: 1,332
Deaths: 7,651
Michigan’s Cases Have Increased By 73 Percent In The Last Two Weeks, While The Number Of Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 Has More Than Doubled Since The End Of September.
- “The situation is nearly as worrisome in Michigan: Cases there have risen 73 percent in the last two weeks, to 2,600 per day, while the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has more than doubled since the end of September.” [Vox, 10/29/20]
On October 29, Michigan Reported 3,675 New Cases, Its Highest One-Day Case Increase Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “Michigan is now at the ‘active or imminent outbreak’ level for COVID-19, according to the COVID Act Now website. The website said ‘Michigan is either actively experiencing an outbreak or is at extreme risk. COVID cases are exponentially growing and/or Michigan’s COVID preparedness is significantly below international standards.’ On Thursday, the state reported its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began with 3,675 new cases and 41 new deaths.” [WXYZ, 10/30/20]
Michigan’s Rolling Seven-Day Average Of Daily New Infections Is Double What It Was Just Two Weeks Ago.
- “The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported an additional 3,271 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the second time in the past week the single-day count has broken 3,000. Michigan’s surging growth in new cases of the coronavirus raised the rolling seven-day average to 2,365 — double what it was two weeks ago. The 3,271 new cases reported Wednesday are the second-highest single day total of the pandemic; Saturday’s 3,338 cases were the highest number of positive cases reported in one day.” [Crain’s Detroit Business, 10/28/20]
Eight Michigan Counties Recorded A Seven-Day Positivity Rate Of More Than 10 Percent.
- “Eight Michigan counties now have a seven-day positivity rate of more than 10% on coronavirus diagnostic tests, a benchmark the federal Centers for Disease Control says is a problematic warning sign. Those eight counties: Muskegon, Calhoun, Van Buren, Cass, Delta, Gogebic, Dickinson and Ontonagon. The latter four are in the Upper Peninsula.” [MLive, 10/30/20]