COVID cases rise across country as doctors fear fourth wave

Doctors are a warning the following COVID-19 surge is not on the horizon, but already there. Cases are increasing in 27 states, including New York, Connecticut and Louisiana.

Nationwide, infections increased by double digits last week compared to the previous week.

The increase in pediatric cases is particularly disturbing. In Michigan, per capita COVID cases among people aged 10 to 19 are increasing faster than any other age group, more than doubling last month.

“We are currently seeing an increase in transmission among young children, primarily in the upper Midwest, in the Northeast. But it’s only a matter of time before we see it spreading across the United States, ”said Dr Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. “Unfortunately, we are going to see an increase in pediatric hospitalizations and serious illnesses.”

Doctors say the outbreak can be slowed down if Americans don’t let your guard down and get vaccinated.

“We’re almost at the finish line, but we’re not there,” said Osterholm.

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke to the country’s governors on Tuesday, asking them to enforce mask warrants in their states.

“I encouraged all governors to include a mask mandate in their states. And since states did not have a mask mandate … I would ask citizens to mask, regardless of the mandate,” said Dr Rochelle Walensky.

Arkansas is the latest state to lift its order for masks.

Meanwhile, the United States and 13 other countries issued a joint statement criticizing the World Health Organization survey in China on the origins of the coronavirus outbreak, saying the study “has been significantly delayed and does not have access to complete and original data and samples.”

As the United States continues the vaccination race, a number of temporary Federal Emergency Management Agency sites are expected to close next month as the Biden administration strives to make retail pharmacies the main point of distribution. The Los Angeles County FEMA site administered more than 269,000 doses in a month and a half.