Topline
According to Johns Hopkins University data, the total number of Covid-19-related infections in the United States has surpassed 40,000,000 since the outbreak. This fourth wave, fueled by the Delta variant, is threatening many hospitals in many states.
Over Labor Day weekend, more than 102,000 Americans were treated with Covid-19. getty
The Key Facts
On Memorial Day, in May, many considered the official start of summer, the U.S. averaged fewer than 25,000 cases per week. But that number has risen to over 160,000 by Labor Day. USA Today reported Monday that the daily U.S. case count is 316% higher than last Labor Day weekend and that hospitalizations have increased 158% compared to a year ago. Since the outbreak, 648,910 Covid-related death have been reported. The daily death rate has risen 55% in the past two weeks, and the country is now averaging over 1,500 deaths per day, for the first time since March.
Important Quote
Claire White, an ICU nurse at Mercy Hospital Northwest, Arkansas, said that "Last Year, most of us were just burned out because it was tragic and depressing." It's still tragic and depressing, but it could have been avoided.
The Key Background
According to the New York Times database, over 102,000 Americans were hospitalized by Covid-19 due to the widespread spread of the delta coronavirus. Since February's first week, the average daily number hospitalized with Covid-19 has risen to 100,000. The virus has caused a surge in the number of patients being admitted to hospitals across the country. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R), stated that only four adult ICU beds, out of almost 400, were available throughout the state. Little stated that "We are dangerously near to activating statewide crisis standards of care." "In essence, someone would need to decide who can and cannot be treated." In Arkansas, there were only eight ICU beds available in mid-August. Governor Gov. Kate Brown (D-Ore.), announced last month that she would deploy up 1500 National Guard members in support of frontline health care workers. Oregon's Health Authority reported that 50 of the 638 hospital beds were not open over the weekend. The most recent data from Department of Health and Human Services shows that more than 75% of all hospital beds are occupied.
What to Watch Out For
Providers now administer approximately 950,000 doses daily, after the U.S. reached a low of approximately 500,000 vaccine doses per day in July. The delta variant has spread because 47% of Americans still are not fully vaccinated. Biden Administration planned to make Covid-19 booster shot available to the public in September. Dr. Anthony Fauci stated Sunday that it is "conceivable" that Pfizer's shot won't be approved before Sept. 20. Moderna's jab could be delayed for "at most, a few weeks."
Tangent:
According to The Associated Press the pandemic has caused a crisis in nurse staffing. Many hospitals are having to increase their wages to retain staff. Risa Moriarity from the University of Mississippi Medical Center's emergency service said, "You leave work at night just exhausted by the effort it takes (to) dig) that compassion up to people who aren taking care of themselves or the people around you."
Additional Reading:
Where can you get a Covid-19 booster shot? (Forbes)
Gov. DeSantis' Net Aproval Rating Drops to 14 Points in the Face of Covid Spike and Poll Findings (Forbes).
Moderna will likely miss the Booster DeadlinePfizer's Sept. Rollout is expected (Forbes).
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