Nearly 200,000 New U.S. Covid Infections Friday—Over 82,000 Americans Hospitalized

Topline

United States’ health officials reported more than 198,000 new coronavirus cases on Friday, once again shattering the global record for the highest number of new Covid-19 infections recorded by any nation in a single day, and hospitals throughout the country are reporting critical staffing shortages, as the U.S. also set a new record for hospitalizations on Friday.

Key Facts

Key Background:

The U.S. passed the grim milestone of 11 million total Covid-19 infections last Sunday and has now sailed past 12 million just five days later. Many states are implementing ramped up restrictions in hopes of curbing the rampant spread of the virus. Illinois governor JB Pritzker announced that the entire state entered Tier 3 Mitigation on Friday, asking residents to work remotely when possible and avoid unnecessary travel. “This is not a stay-at-home order, but the best way for us to avoid a stay-at-home order is to stay home,” Pritzker said. On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a curfew prohibiting the vast majority of residents in the state from leaving their homes to gather from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m, except for essential work-related reasons. “We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom said. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again.”

What To Watch For:

The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Nurses Association published an open letter on Thursday, asking the public to curtail traditional Thanksgiving gatherings next week. “The record-shattering surge underway is resulting in uncontrolled community spread and infection that has already overburdened health systems in some areas and will ultimately consume capacity of our health care system and may reduce the availability of care in many places in our country,” they wrote. The CDC has also advised Americans to avoid travel for Thanksgiving.

Critical Quote: 

“There are even patients saying, ‘Well, I’d rather this be lung cancer than Covid,'” said Pam Katz, an oncology nurse at Rush Hospital in Illinois.

Further Reading:

U.S. records 12 millionth case as virus surge gathers speed (NYT)

U.S. coronavirus hospitalizations, new cases break record for second straight day (CNN)

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