[ad_1]
Five US states currently experiencing large increases in COVID-19 cases could also see the number of deaths increase in the coming weeks.
Nationally, cases have increased by nearly 30% as the Indian ‘Delta’ variant continues to spread, with most concentrations in the south and the western mountain.
Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada have seen infections from the virus increase by up to 98% in the past 14 days, and hospitalizations are also skyrocketing.
But a doctor told CNN he anticipates states could also suffer a “surprising number of deaths” in the near future, as deaths tend to be a lagging indicator.
In Missouri, the current epicenter of the United States, the seven-day average of cases rose from 822 per day two weeks ago to 1,631, a jump of 98%.
Arkansas has seen new coronavirus cases increase by 47% in the past two weeks, from an average of 402 cases per day to 591 per day
“In places like Missouri where intensive care units are crowded, you’re going to see a surprising number of deaths,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine, told CNN on Sunday. & Health Science.
Missouri continues to be the country’s COVID-19 epicenter, with cases and hospitalizations continuing to skyrocket.
Mercy Health Springfield, the largest hospital in southwest Missouri, was overwhelmed last week after a large spate of cases.
The hospital ran out of ventilators at one point over the weekend.
Reiner told CNN that typically peaks in COVID-19 cases lead to increased death rates three to four weeks later.
“We are going to start to see an increase in mortality in this country,” he said.
CoxHealth Springfield, another hospital in the area, even had to transfer patients elsewhere to deal with an increase in their hospital.
The federal government has offered to help Springfield, sending a COVID-19 rescue team to the area to help hospitals there.
The Delta variant – a highly contagious strain of the virus originating in India – is largely responsible for the outbreak.
New cases in Missouri rose from an average of 822 a day two weeks ago to 1,631 on Sunday, a jump of 98%, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of data from Johns Hopkins.
It is estimated that 97 percent of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant.
In Arkansas – another variant ravaged state – data from Johns Hopkins shows new cases increased 47%, from an average of 402 reported per day to 591 per day.
More than 70 percent of active cases in Arkansas are of the Delta variant.
After months of declining trend despite few restrictions, COVID cases in Florida have doubled in the past month
Florida, a state that has defied the odds by maintaining relatively low case rates despite limited COVID restrictions, also appears to be on the verge of an epidemic.
Cases have more than doubled in the past month, from 1,636 on June 11 to 3,392 on July 11, an increase of 107%.
Louisiana (92% increase from last month) and Nevada (89%) have also faced recent increases in cases.
Louisiana suffers wave of COVID cases as much of its population remains unvaccinated
Nevada’s COVID situation has worsened over the past month, with daily cases nearly doubling
However, some states are better equipped to deal with potential COVID-19 outbreaks than others.
Nevada and Florida both have more than half of their populations at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19.
Although they are a long way from achieving herd immunity – with only 51% and 54% of populations vaccinated, respectively – controlling outbreaks statewide is easier with so many defenses against the virus.
Louisiana, meanwhile, struggled to roll out its vaccine, with just 39% of them having received at least one dose of a vaccine – the second lowest of any state.
Missouri with 46 percent of the population at least partially vaccinated and Arkansas with 43 percent also have low vaccination rates.
While the country still has a large stock of vaccines, health officials still recommend anyone who can get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus.
Reiner said almost all deaths from COVID-19 are “completely preventable” now that vaccines are widely and readily available.
The vaccines we have work very well against this variant. It doesn’t have to be that way, ”he told CNN.
In May, 99% of COVID-19 deaths in America were among the vaccinated.
Mercy Health – which includes Mercy Springfield in its hospital system – recently established an employee vaccination mandate to fight the wave of cases in the state affecting their staff.
Health officials have warned that as the Delta variant spreads, pockets of unvaccinated Americans across the country will experience a severe increase in cases while areas with high vaccination rates are little affected.
Nationally, cases and deaths are still much lower now than they were during the massive surges of summer 2020 and the final holiday season, although they are on the rise.
Over the past month, daily new cases nationwide rose from 14,788 to 19,032, a 28% increase.
[ad_2]
Source link