Topline
The U.S. is experiencing a wave of Covid-19 due to the hyper infectious delta variant. New infections and hospitalizations have fallen dramatically since September's peak. However, many states still face severe crises as the winter season approaches.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 20: A mother talks to her daughter about possible COVID-19 symptoms. She was then taken to a Houston hospital on August 20, 2021. The Delta variant of Coronavirus is causing a significant increase in the population of Texas' largest city. It is threatening EMS personnel and overwhelming local hospitals. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images). Getty Images
The Key Facts
According to data from The New York Times, there are now 70,291 cases per day in the U.S.A. This is a 60% drop from the September 13 peak of 175,822, which was reached September 13. Similar drops in hospitalizations are also occurring. From just over 103,000 admissions per day as of September 4, to 53,222 daily hospitalizations on average, this is a drop of 19% in the last two weeks. In recent weeks, the states with the most overloaded healthcare systems, including Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Mississippi, have all seen substantial improvements. These states had at least 45 percent of their ICU beds taken by Covid-19 patients by mid-September. (Alabama's overall ICU capacity was more than 100%). However, all of these states now have less that 25% of their ICU beds occupied with infected persons according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Contra
However, this does not mean that the Covid-19 crisis in the U.S. is over. Still, the country still reports an average of 1,441 deaths per daily. This is more than was reported at any other time during the pandemic. The death rate has been slower to fall and is only 30% higher than September. Many states still face serious outbreaks. Idaho was the state with the highest Covid-19 use in September. It had 60.8% of its beds occupied primarily by coronavirus patients. According to HHS data, this number is only 10% lower today. As they struggle with high mortality rates, Wyoming and Montana have more than 50% of their ICU beds occupied by virus patients.
Important Background
In late September, a third and more severe wave of the virus began to hit. Although experts are unsure why the infections started to decline, the national vaccination rate is slowly increasing with 69% of Americans fully inoculated and 80% at least partially vaccinated. Vaccines are more common with the approval of booster shots for millions and possibly the approval of a vaccine for children aged 5-11.
What to Watch
The winter season's impact, which was the most severe phase of the pandemic in the last year. Experts are predicting that the winter will not be as severe this year, according to experts. Justin Lessler, the University of North Carolina's Covid-19 Scenario Modeling hub, said to Axios that he wouldn't be surprised if there were more severe winters than last year. However, Dr. Anthony Fauci, top infectious disease official, stated that it would depend on how many people are vaccinated.
Important Quote
Fauci said that the U.S. is capable of preventing another winter surge. He spoke to Fox News Sunday, explaining that the extent to which the U.S. can continue to fall in those metrics will depend on how we do in getting more people vaccinated.
Continue reading
What to Expect in Covid winter 2021: Coronavirus In 2022 (Bloomberg).
Covid Cases Slide, but Hospital ICUs Feel the Pressure. These States Still Face a Crunch (Forbes).
Biden Administration Mandates Covid Vaccines For Foreign Travelers And Testing For U.S. Residents (Forbes)
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