More Than 4,000 Coronavirus Deaths in a Day as Eyes Watch Capitol Hill
Record ICU Patients, Hospitals Overwhelmed
Economy Sinking as Cases Surge
New Video: Trump Botched the Vaccine Roll Out
While the eyes of the world this week watched violence — fomented by Donald Trump — threaten American security and democracy, coronavirus continued its ferocious assault on American lives.
More than 4,000 people on Thursday lost their lives, as 274,000 were infected. Hospitals are treating a sustained surge of patients, with record numbers requiring intensive care. The deadly prevalence of the virus continues to undercut an economic recovery, the United States once again losing jobs. And the Trump administration’s complete refusal to support the distribution of a life-saving vaccine promises to unnecessarily prolong this crisis.
On January 7, The United States Recorded More Than 4,000 Daily Coronavirus Deaths For The First Time Ever.
- “On Thursday [January 7], more than 4,000 people died of covid-19 in the United States, the first time the toll has exceeded that milestone, following a record day Wednesday of 3,915 deaths. The pandemic has now claimed more than 363,000 lives in the United States.” [Washington Post, 1/7/21]
On January 7, The United States Reported Over 274,000 New Infections — Its Second-Highest Single Day Increase Of New Infections Since The Pandemic Began.
- “The U.S. also reported more than 274,000 new cases for Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins data. It was the second-highest day on record after Jan. 2, when many states reported extra cases after not reporting any on New Year’s Day. Thursday’s figure was an increase from Wednesday’s 249,735, which had been the second-highest day on record after Jan. 2.” [Wall Street Journal, 1/7/21]
As Of January 7, A Record Number Of COVID-19 Patients Are Being Treated In ICU Units, While More Than 130,000 Are Hospitalized.
- “Hospitalizations in the U.S. were at 132,370 on Thursday, according to the Covid Tracking Project, down slightly from a day earlier after four record-high days in a row. A record 23,821 people were in intensive care units, the project reported.” [Wall Street Journal, 1/7/21]
Dr. Anthony Fauci: “Things Will Get Worse As We Get Into January.”
- “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the United States, predicted on Thursday that the daily death toll from the coronavirus would continue to rise for weeks to come, and counseled patience with the vaccination program gearing up across the nation…. In an interview with NPR, Dr. Fauci said the high toll was likely to continue, and was probably a reflection of increased travel and gatherings over the holidays. ‘We believe things will get worse as we get into January,’ he said.” [New York Times, 1/7/21]
Craig Spencer, Director Of Global Health In Emergency Medicine At New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center: The Death Toll Is “Going To Be Higher Sometime In The Next Week And Higher Again In The Coming Weeks.”
- “Craig Spencer, director of Global Health in Emergency Medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center… said if not for the siege on the Capitol — in addition to fatigue with news related to the pandemic — the story of the day late Wednesday might have been the record death count. ‘We’re a year into this and we set a record death toll yesterday, and it’s going to be higher sometime in the next week and higher again in the coming weeks,’ he said, adding: ‘Unlike this massive acute onslaught of insurrection … people have just gotten used to the fact that thousands of people will die.’” [Washington Post, 1/7/21]
In A Letter To HHS Secretary Alex Azar, The American Hospital Association Is Raising Concerns About Vaccinating Americans Amid An Overwhelming Surge Of Patients.
- “Richard Pollack, CEO of the [American Hospital Association], said in the letter to [HHS Secretary Alex] Azar that the slow initial rollout of the vaccine has cast doubt on whether the country will be able to vaccinate enough Americans to reach herd immunity by the summer…. And many hospitals across the country are currently overwhelmed treating Covid-19 patients, Pollack said hospitals cannot also vaccinate the public without help. He said hospitals are suffering from staff shortage and limited protective equipment like masks and gloves. Pollack asked for more details about the administration’s plan to include pharmacy chains in the broader vaccine rollout.” [CNBC, 1/7/21]
US Employers Shed 140,000 Jobs Last Month, Cutting Positions For The First Time Since April.
- “U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is faltering as the viral pandemic tightens its grip on consumers and businesses. At the same time, the unemployment rate stayed at 6.7%, the first time it hasn’t fallen since April.” [Associated Press, 1/8/21]