U.S. Covid Hospitalizations Hit Highest Level Since July

Topline

The U.S. may be dealing with yet again another coronavirus surge, with new data showing both a rise in cases and spike in hospitalizations at rates that haven’t been recorded in months, at a time when many states have significantly ramped up reopening efforts..

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“The upward hospitalization trend is real, and not a data artifact,” Alexis Madrigal, who co-founded the COVID Tracking Project, told Forbes.

Key Background

The U.S. has had two major coronavirus surges, the first of which was in the spring, almost exclusively in the Northeast leading to widespread restrictions around the country to slow the spread. The move was successful, as all major metrics declined nationally through the latter part of the spring. But another spike over the summer primarily hit large states outside the Northeast that had quickly lifted earlier restrictions. Most states enacted mask mandates and put new restrictions in place as a result, leading to a decline in spread throughout the rest of the summer. The current spike started showing up in data in mid-September. The surge since then has been the largest outside of the major spring and summer spikes, and there is little sign that this new increase will slow down.

What To Watch For

Many states are again aggressively lifting coronavirus restrictions. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has lifted all capacity restrictions on restaurants and bars, while taking away the ability for localities to enforce mask mandates. DeSantis’ move was followed by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R), who announced Sept. 30 that the state was lifting its mask mandate, making it the first state to put a statewide mask-wearing mandate in place and then remove that mandate. In Texas, bars will be able to reopen on Wednesday for the first time since June, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced.

Chief Critic

Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning against reopenings, saying “now’s the time actually to double down a bit.” Speaking of Florida, Fauci told ABC’s Good Morning America that the state is “really asking for trouble.”

Tangent

New restrictions are being put in place in many European countries, amid a massive spike in coronavirus there.

FURTHER READING

New York’s Covid Cases Are Growing At The Fastest Pace Since June (Forbes)

The 3 Biggest States Have All Broken Coronavirus Death Records (Forbes)

Over 230 Million Americans Now Live With A Public Mask Mandate (Forbes)

Covid Cases Spike In Florida As Bars And Restaurants Reopen At Full Capacity (Forbes)

Mississippi Becomes First State To Lift Mask Mandate (Forbes)

Bars Will Be Allowed To Reopen In Texas, Gov. Abbott Says (Forbes)

Fauci Says Florida Is ‘Asking For Trouble’ By Fully Reopening Restaurants And Bars (Forbes)

Hospital Beds Filling, Bars Closing With Nearly All European Countries At Critical Coronavirus Threshold (Forbes)

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