Exactly one year after the death of the USA 1 million coronavirus casesthe nation reported a total of more than 32 million infections on Wednesday, according to the Data from Johns Hopkins University.
More than 500,000 Americans died last year.
However, the US crisis appears to be easing. Potential spikes could have collapsed in almost any state, as an analysis of the data in the US TODAY shows. The national case counters of New York, Michigan and now Florida have all reported falling case numbers. But the threat has also decreased in most countries with smaller populations.
“We should be moving towards a new normal for the most part,” tweeted Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of Brown University Public Health School, noting that most adults in the US are now at least partially vaccinated.
Florida, which still leads the way in new cases, is down 12% from the previous week. It only got in the lead because Michigan numbers have dropped more than 36% since the beginning of this month.
Still, three states seem to be struggling with persistently rising cases: Colorado and Washington, where cases have more than doubled since their March lull, and Oregon, where cases are nearly three and a half times higher than in March. Deaths have also increased in these states. In the week ending Tuesday, 135 deaths were reported, and in the week ending March 27, there were 78 deaths.
These increases and the population of the states are too small to keep the national numbers high. The United States now reports fewer deaths than it did before the fall began, averaging less than 700 deaths per day. The United States still reports about 376,000 cases a week, but that number has dropped about 24.5% in less than two weeks.
– Mike Stucka
Also in the news:
►Veteran Hawaii State Sen. Kalani English said Tuesday he would retire on May 1 after being diagnosed with long-term effects of COVID-19.
►Oregon Governor Kate Brown said rising COVID-19 hospital stays are threatening to overwhelm doctors and she is taking steps to impose restrictions on 15 counties, including a ban on indoor eating.
► A child who traveled to Hawaii with their vaccinated parents has died after contracting COVID-19. The Hawaii Department of Health announced Tuesday that the boy was younger than 11 years old and had a known underlying medical condition before contracting the coronavirus.
►A Southwest Airlines flight attendant has filed an unlawful death lawsuit The airline alleged that lax COVID logs during mandatory training last summer and the follow-up of contacts after a participant tested positive resulted in her husband’s death from the virus.
►As the federal government is working to make COVID-19 vaccines available to all Americans, lawmakers are in more than 40 states have introduced laws banning mandates that require people to be vaccinated.
📈 Today’s numbers: The US has more than 32.1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 573,000 deaths. according to the Johns Hopkins University. The global total: more than 148 million cases and 3.1 million deaths. In the United States, more than 297.5 million vaccine doses have been distributed and 232.4 million administered. according to CDC.
📘 What we read: Do you have a loved one who does not want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s how to talk to them.
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“Cuomo-Chips” could go down in history
New York state lawmakers say they will relax some of the COVID restrictions imposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Below this is the rule “Cuomo-Chips”, which prescribes the purchase of food with alcohol in bars and restaurants.
“As more New Yorkers get vaccinated and our infection rates continue to drop, it is time to remove certain restrictions and regulations that are no longer required,” Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement .
India tops 200,000 coronavirus deaths
India surpassed 200,000 deaths on Wednesday as a devastating spate of new infections ripped through dense cities and rural areas, overwhelming healthcare systems on the verge of collapse. The Ministry of Health reported a daily record of 3,293 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours. 201,187 people died in India as the second most populous country in the world is going through its darkest pandemic chapter to date.
The country also reported 362,757 new infections, a new world record that brought the total to over 17.9 million. Monday’s previous high of 350,000 had completed a five-day streak that saw the largest single-day gains in any country during the pandemic.
India, a country of nearly 1.4 billion people, is the fourth country with 200,000 deaths after the United States, Brazil and Mexico. And as in many countries, experts believe the coronavirus infections and deaths in India are serious counts.
CDC is updating masking guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans
New masking guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Americans are fully vaccinated You don’t have to wear a mask outside. Public health officials said Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans can expose while walking, running, hiking, or biking outdoors alone or with members of their household.
Vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask even in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated family members and friends, or in gatherings with a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated people. In addition, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask in outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households, the instructions say.
The CDC also recommends that fully vaccinated individuals wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public areas or in places where masks are required.
“The bottom line is clear: when you are vaccinated, you can be safer both outside and inside,” President Joe Biden said in a later briefing on Tuesday at the White House. “For those who haven’t had their vaccination, especially if you are younger or think you don’t need it, this is another great reason to get vaccinated now.”
– Adrianna Rodriguez
Government distributes 765,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The federal government plans to allot around 765,500 doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine after two weeks, bringing the nation back to about 9.6 million first-time doses next week, Department of Health and Human Services data shows late Released Tuesday. The first doses of Pfizer and Moderna remain nearly identical to this week’s roster. For the week beginning Monday, approximately 5.1 million first doses will be allocated from Pfizer and nearly 3.8 million first doses from Moderna.
The current week’s allotment was roughly 8.8 million first-time doses, all Pfizer and Moderna, federal worksheets show. The federal government on Friday night removed a hiatus from using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has been linked to a small number of unusual coagulation disorders. Government advisors said the J&J vaccine would save far more lives than it would risk.
– Mike Stucka
Chicago has plans for vaccination certificates, the official says
Chicago’s top epidemiologist said the city plans to release some form of vaccination pass next month that gives vaccinated residents access to certain events.
“We are interested in thinking about ways we can incentivize people,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, in a briefing Tuesday afternoon. “Younger people in particular may be excited about the idea of attending, for example, events that may be restricted to vaccinated people.”
Arwady said the city is working with club organizers and planning concerts and other events through the Vax Pass program. She said the city will also release more details about its “Vax and Relax” program of barbershops, beauty and nail salons, where vaccinated residents may get a free haircut or manicure.
“We’re not going to bribe Chicago people to get vaccinated, but we’re going to do everything we can to build confidence, convenience, and then fun,” she said.
– Grace Hauck
The largest fire fighting aircraft can be sold in response to COVID
Western countries are preparing for this year Forest fire seasonThe world’s largest fire-fighting aircraft has been grounded and could be rebuilt to fight another crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic.
After tens of millions invested in upgrading the Global SuperTanker and its technology, the revenue, mostly from contracts with the U.S. government and California, did not bring enough profit for the company to continue funding the tanker, Roger Miller said , Managing Director at Alterna Capital Partners LLC, the investment company that owns the aircraft.
The Connecticut-based company has received several offers to buy the SuperTanker and convert it into a cargo plane, Miller said. The investment firm is open to potential investors who would like to continue using the SuperTanker for forest fire reactions. However, if freight companies come up with a more attractive offer, the company will sell it to them, Miller said.
“The COVID crisis has created a huge boom in the aircraft cargo market, flying around PPE, flying around vaccines, all that stuff you can’t afford to dock and wait 45 days,” Miller said .
Contributor: The Associated Press.
