Seven Day Rolling Average: 56,000 New Cases Per Day
Hospitalizations Rising in 39 States; # of COVID Patients Highest Point Since August 27; 67% Increase in PA During October
Virus Spreading Rapidly in Rural America: North Dakota, Oklahoma Running Out of ICU Beds
Experts Warn Winter Will Be One of America’s “Darkest Chapters”
The United States has recorded more than 8.2 million coronavirus infections and more than 220,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began. But the worst is not behind us. As Donald Trump continues to trivialize the human cost of his failures, the virus is ripping through rural communities — and sending the United States on a dangerous path that will only worsen as winter months approach.
[Axios, 10/19/20]
National Trends Suggest the United States Is Heading for Peak Hospitalizations and a Devastating Winter
The United States’ Seven-Day Rolling Average Of New Infections Has Climbed To 56,000 A Day, A Level Not Seen In Twelve Weeks.
- “At least 12 states reported their highest seven-day average of daily cases Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, the nation’s seven-day average climbed to more than 56,000 cases — a level not seen in the past 12 weeks. “ [CNN, 10/20/20]
Coronavirus Hospitalizations Are Rising In 39 States.
- “Coronavirus hospitalizations are increasing in 39 states, and are at or near their all-time peak in 16… No state is anywhere near the worst-case situation of not having enough capacity to handle its COVID-19 outbreak. But rising hospitalization rates are a sign that things are getting worse, at a dangerous time, and a reminder that this virus can do serious harm.” [Axios, 10/19/20]
The Number Of Patients Currently Hospitalized For COVID-19 Has Reached Its Highest Point Since August 27.
- “Nationally, seven-day moving case averages have climbed to their highest in two months, while the number of currently hospitalized Covid-19 patients was the most since Aug. 27, according to Johns Hopkins University and Covid Tracking Project data.” [Bloomberg, 10/19/20]
The University Of Washington’s Institute For Health Metrics And Evaluation Forecasts That 129,000 Hospital Beds Will Be Needed To Care For COVID-19 Patients By January 2021 — Nearly Twice As Many Beds As Were Used In Previous Peaks.
- “According to the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, nearly 129,000 U.S. hospital beds will be needed to care for COVID-19 patients by January 2021, when the institute expects the current wave to peak. That compares with an estimated 69,000 beds used by COVID-19 patients in April when outbreaks in New York City, New Orleans and other cities peaked, and 62,000 hospitalizations in July when the second virus outbreak peaked.” [Stateline, 10/20/20]
Peter Hotez, The Dean For The National School Of Tropical Medicine At Baylor College Of Medicine, Warned That Next Few Months Would Be “One Of The Darkest Chapters In Modern American History” And Predicted That COVID-19 Deaths Could Double By The January Presidential Inauguration.
- “‘The key is now hanging on now for the next four or five months, where we’re going to enter what may be the worst period during this epidemic. As bad as it’s been, it’s about to get worse,’ Peter Hotez said on CNN’s ‘New Day.’ Hotez, the dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, recommends creating a ‘unit’ with friends or family members for the next few months. ‘We could be looking at a doubling of the number of deaths by the week after the inauguration. This is tough stuff. What I’ve been trying to explain to people is it will get better, but we’re going to go through a terrible period,’ he said. Make sure you aren’t alone during this time, and consider having access to mental health counseling as well, he said. ‘People are going to feel abandoned; they’re going to feel on their own. This is going to be one of the darkest chapters in modern American history, and get ready for it, but just remember it will get better,’ he said.” [CNN, 10/20/20]
Rural States Are Under Siege
Pandemic Hotspots Have Shifted To Rural Communities, And Risk Overwhelming Small Hospitals And ICUs.
- “The nation’s pandemic hotspots have shifted to rural communities, overwhelming small hospitals that are running out of beds or lack the intensive care units for more than one or two seriously ill patients. And in much of the Midwest and Great Plains, hospital workers are catching the virus at home and in their communities, seriously reducing already slim benches of doctors, nurses and other professionals needed to keep rural hospitals running.” [Stateline, 10/20/20]
Rural States Are Seeing The Highest Increases In New Infections.
- “There’s a new troubling trend in rural areas. The highest case rates per capita in the past seven days have been in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Utah. While the initial surge of the virus hit densely populated urban areas, it’s now overwhelming rural regions, suburbs and small cities. Based on the seven-day rolling average of new cases, New Mexico, Missouri, South Dakota, Michigan and Illinois have seen the biggest increases in the past week, by percentage.” [Bloomberg, 10/19/20]
On October 19, More Ohioans Were Hospitalized For COVID-19 Than At Any Other Point During The Pandemic.
- “More Ohioans are in the hospital with COVID-19 on Monday than at any other point during the pandemic, state data shows. The finding is a troubling indicator as a record surge in new coronavirus infections continues to pound Ohio. On Monday, 1,154 COVID-19 patients occupied Ohio’s hospitals, compared to 1,144 on July 28, the previous high watermark, according to state data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project.” [Ohio Capital Journal, 10/20/20]
Hospitalizations Have Increased 67 Percent In Pennsylvania Since The Beginning Of October And The Number Of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized In The State Is At Its Highest Point Since June 26.
- “Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients continue to climb in Pennsylvania as the state’s fall coronavirus surge shows little sign of slowing down. After a long decline to a low mark of 452 on Sept 26-28, the state’s average daily count of hospitalized COVID-19 patients climbed to 756 on Monday, according to the Department of Health. That’s a 67% increase in three weeks. The number surpasses the summer peak of 718 patients during the state’s July surge, and is the highest number since June 26, when the state was steadily falling from the pandemic’s highest peak in late April.” [Lancaster Online, 10/19/20]
Last Week, No ICU Beds Were Available In Oklahoma City And The Surrounding Region.
- “In Oklahoma City and the surrounding area, no ICU beds were available last week, according to the University of Oklahoma. The lack of beds required medical professionals in those already understaffed hospitals to spend hours on the phone arranging patient transfers to other Oklahoma hospitals.” [Stateline, 10/20/20]
Fewer Than 20 ICU Beds Were Available Last Week In The Entire State Of North Dakota — In Some Cases Forcing Patients To Be Transferred To Other States For Care.
- “Fewer than 20 ICU beds were available in the entire state of North Dakota, according to state data. That meant patients had to be transferred hundreds of miles, in some cases to South Dakota and Montana.” [Stateline, 10/20/20]