[ad_1]
(Journalist)
– By assessing the state of the pandemic in the United States, the Christian Science Monitor notes that something new is emerging across the country: “a sense of cautious optimism”. This is mainly due to a sharp drop in cases in recent weeks, although many potential issues are also on the horizon – including signs that the drop in cases has stopped and fears that the New York Times calls it a “fourth wave”. Blanket:
- The decline: The United States saw about 250,000 new cases a day in early January, and the figure fell to about 54,000 by the end of February, according to the CSM. The Times notes a 35% drop in cases this month, plus a 31% drop in hospitalizations. Deaths also fell, but not as fast (16%), with 3,210 deaths recorded on Wednesday.
- Which means? These statistics lead Apoorva Mandavilli from Times to write: “Is that it, then? Is this the beginning of the end? After a year of being beaten by grim statistics and berated for wanting human contact, many Americans feel that a long-promised promise is at hand. ” Mandavilli interviewed 21 scientists, and most thought the worst was behind us. “This summer, they said, life could be back to normal.”
- A big qualifier: In his New York Times newsletter, David Leonhardt draws attention to a potentially troubling trend: the number of new cases has stopped down in the United States and around the world in recent days. Jim Edwards from Insider too take note. “Big question: Are the new, fast-moving variants (UK, California and New York) moving faster than vaccines?” he wonders.
- Fourth wave: These rapidly emerging variants are a big reason why most scientists interviewed by Mandavilli predict a “fourth wave” of the virus. “Essentially, we’re dealing with a pandemic within a pandemic,” says Adam Kucharski of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. However, they stressed that the tide can be prevented or at least stifled if Americans – and US officials – don’t indulge in usual security protocols.
- Another good sign: Weekly COVID cases in nursing homes in the United States have fallen 89% since December due to vaccinations, reports USA today. This greatly exceeds the national decline.
- In summary: “Hang on a little longer,” Dr. Ashleigh Tuite of the University of Toronto told the Times. “There is a lot of optimism and hope, but I think we need to be prepared for the fact that the next few months are likely to continue to be difficult.” Or as Raemecca Evans, who lost her restaurant job in Cincinnati due to the pandemic, says CSM: “I mean, it got better.” But “it’s kind of a touch-and-go, for me.”
(Read more stories about coronaviruses.)
[ad_2]
Source link