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The United States is again reporting more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths per day, a level not seen in more than six months.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the country reported 14,220 deaths in the week ending Tuesday. At this rate, an American dies from COVID-19 every 43 seconds.
In July, deaths were as low as 1,525 per week, or just over 200 per day, which means they are almost 10 times higher now. In other words, as many Americans are now dying every 18 hours from COVID-19 as they died in a full week just a few months ago.
Deaths are increasing because America is still in a wave fueled by a delta variant. The number of cases is still around 12 times higher than it was during the last relative lull a few months ago, but it is on the decline. Deaths are expected to peak in the coming weeks.
But the rate of death remains lower than in some weeks in January, when about 3,400 Americans were declared dead on a typical day.
– Mike stucka
Also in the news:
►The Reverend Jesse Jackson, 79, was released Wednesday from a Chicago facility a month after being hospitalized with COVID-19 infection and Parkinson’s disease. His wife Jacqueline, 77, was also infected but was not vaccinated. She needed oxygen and a brief stay in the intensive care unit and was released this month.
►Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Dr Joseph Ladapo – who has said he does not believe in school closings, lockdowns or vaccination warrants – as the state’s surgeon general.
►United Airlines says more than 97% of its US-based employees are fully vaccinated, less than a week before the deadline to get vaccinated or fired.
►New Britain High in Connecticut, which recently resumed full in-person learning, is temporarily returning to distance learning. Mayor Erin Stewart said the school cited difficulties controlling vandalism and fighting among students.
►Almost one in 5 Americans consumes an unhealthy amount of alcohol, according to a new survey. Several previous studies have suggested that Americans buy more alcohol and drink more frequently during the coronavirus pandemic.
►Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga, in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, said he had tested positive and would quarantine in the United States Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who addressed the assembly on Tuesday, suffered a mild case last year and said he does not need to be vaccinated.
??Today’s numbers: The United States has recorded more than 42.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 678,900 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global totals: Over 229.7 million cases and 4.7 million deaths. More than 182 million Americans – 54.8% of the population – have been fully immunized, according to the CDC.
??What we read: Parents of young children woke up Monday morning to learn that COVID-19 vaccines for their toddlers could be imminent. So when can children get vaccinated? We have answered your questions.
Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY’s Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates direct to your inbox and join our Facebook group.
Acute teacher shortage puts learning strain on pandemic
The pandemic has sparked a surge in teacher retirements and resignations at a time when schools need more staff to make up for learning losses and to organize e-learning for those who are not ready to come back. The shortage of teachers is “really a nationwide problem and certainly a statewide problem,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, chair of the California State Board of Education.
In Michigan, Eastpointe Community Schools downgraded their college to distance learning this week because they don’t have enough teachers. The small district north of Detroit has 43 vacant positions, or a quarter of its teaching staff.
“You don’t just want an adult who can pass a background check, you want a teacher in front of your kids,” spokeswoman Caitlyn Kienitz said.
Who gets booster shots? This panel will decide
A committee of top vaccine experts kicked off a 10-hour meeting on Wednesday to decide who should be eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. A vote is expected Thursday. Another federal advisory committee on Friday recommended a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine six months after full vaccination for people 65 years of age and older and those at high risk of severe COVID-19.
The FDA has not yet issued an approval for the booster doses, so although the CDC committee can meet, it cannot vote on the recommendations until it receives that approval, said. Dr. Julie Morita, Executive Vice President of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a health-focused non-profit organization.
– Elizabeth Weise and Karen Weintraub
Doctor accused of stealing vaccine sues bosses, accuses them of bias
A Houston-area doctor who was fired after public health officials accused him of stealing vials of COVID-19 vaccine to administer to family and friends is suing Harris County, l ‘accusing them of discriminating against South Asians. Dr Hasan Gokal said his supervisors accused him of administering the vaccine to too many people of South Asian descent late on the first night of the Moderna vaccine rollout. Everyone present had been vaccinated and 10 doses remained. No volunteers or policemen during the deployment wanted them, Gokal said, so he phoned people he knew late at night, and even his wife. Gokal said his boss told him he didn’t distribute the injections fairly.
“I asked him, ‘Fairly? What do you mean by fairness? Are you saying that there are too many Indian names in the group?’” Gokal said. “He looks at me and says, ‘Exactly.'”
The county attorney’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Biden announces 500 million more vaccines for low-income countries
President Joe Biden is expected to announce that the United States is doubling its purchases of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines to share with the world – 1 billion doses – as he embraces the goal of vaccinating 70% of the world’s population during of the next year.
The additional vaccines are part of an agreement with the US government to provide doses to 92 low and lower middle income countries and 55 African Union member states, regions that do not have widespread access to COVID vaccines -19.
Pfizer said the doses will be provided at a not-for-profit price. Vaccine deliveries to these areas started in August and a total of one billion doses are expected to be delivered to these areas by September 2022, the company said, adding that the first doses under this program have arrived in Rwanda. August 18. Since that time, more than 30 million have been shipped to 22 countries.
– Christal Hayes
California has best control over transmission of COVID-19
California is now the state with the lowest transmission of COVID-19 in the country, according to data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state reports levels of transmission considered “significant” by the CDC, as well as the territory of Puerto Rico. All other states currently have “high” transmission levels.
California’s rate is 94 cases per 100,000. For comparison, Texas has 386 and Florida has 296. About 70% of eligible Californians – those 12 and older – are fully vaccinated, data shows of State. That’s compared to the national average of around 64%.
Art installation in nation’s capital commemorates deaths from COVID-19
An installation of more than 660,000 white flags on the National Mall was on display, starting this weekend, to represent the lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The temporary art installation, titled “In America: Remember”, was created by artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg. It will be visible for two weeks. Many flags include personal tributes to those who have died.
There have been more than 678,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the country since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
Monoclonal antibody shortage hits states
A shortage of monoclonal antibody drugs, used to fight infections and shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths if given early, is impacting states as the number of unvaccinated people is increasing.
In Tennessee, the state government is now recommending that nearly all vaccinated residents be denied access to monoclonal antibody therapy in order to preserve the limited supply of unvaccinated patients.
Health centers in Hawaii receive only half the amount of monoclonal antibody treatments they request to treat patients. The state’s weekly supply has been capped at 680 salaries by the federal government.
“Worried about her fertility”: the unvaccinated future bride dies
The family of an unvaccinated Kentucky woman who died from COVID-19 just days after she was supposed to get married are sharing her story in hopes of encouraging others to get vaccinated.
Samantha Wendell, a 29-year-old surgical technician in Grand Rivers, Ky., Got engaged to her longtime boyfriend in 2019, her family told national media. She spent much of the end of the summer in hospital and ended up on a ventilator, according to her family. His funeral was held at this same church the days after his death on September 10.
“She was worried about her fertility,” wrote a cousin in a Facebook group for COVID-19 survivors and relatives of those who have died from the virus. “The disinformation killed her.”
– Mary Ramsey, The Courier-Journal
Contribution: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID deaths 10 times the July rate; panel deciding who receives booster injections
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