Coronavirus in the United States: the country is “ turning the corner towards a calamity ”, says the expert, with deaths from Covid-19 expected to double soon

The United States has now reported more than 100,000 infections every day for 25 consecutive days, and hospitalizations remain at record highs – with more than 89,800 patients reported nationwide Friday, according to the COVID monitoring project. A record was set just a day earlier, with a staggering 90,481 hospitalizations, according to the project. And the nation has recorded fewer than 1,000 daily deaths just twice this week, while the two days leading up to Thanksgiving each saw more than 2,000 reported U.S. deaths.

Based on current Covid-19 numbers in the United States, the country is a long way from turning the corner, he said.

“If anything, we’re turning the corner into calamity,” Wen said. “We will soon overcome well over 2,000 deaths, possibly 3,000, 4,000 deaths every single day here in the United States.”

That projection was picked up by other experts including Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine at George Washington University, who predicts the country’s daily death toll is likely to double over the next 10 days.

An intense travel weekend is expected

The Thanksgiving trip and gatherings that took place last week will likely only push cases further, experts said, warning of another wave to come soon.

Reiner previously described the vacation as “potentially the mother of all super-broadcast events,” with Americans departing from every airport in the country and carrying the virus with them, often unknowingly.

To prevent further spread of the virus, anyone who has traveled and been in reunion with people outside their family should be quarantined, Wen said.

“This is because those meetings, especially those indoors with many people who don’t wear masks for extended periods of time, are the highest risk for coronavirus transmission,” he said Friday. “Quarantine for at least seven days and then take the test.”

“If you fail to take a test because the tests remain so limited, you should quarantine for 14 days. And I mean a full quarantine, don’t go to work, don’t go to school, keep yourself safe.”

Los Angeles County under blocking order

As more and more local and state leaders impose stricter restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, Los Angeles County health officials announced on Friday a new residency order that prohibits all public and private encounters with people outside of a single family.

“Residents are advised to stay at home as much as possible and always wear a face that covers their nose and mouth when out of their family and around others,” the county public health department said in a news release. .

The order will take effect Monday and run until December 20, the statement said.

Essential businesses will have to operate at 35% occupancy, while non-essential retail operations, personal care services and libraries will operate at 20% occupancy.

“We know we are asking a lot from so many who have sacrificed for months and we hope that Los Angeles County residents continue to follow public health safeguards that we know can slow the spread,” Barbara Ferrer, director of public for the county health department said in a statement.

“Acting with collective urgency right now is essential if we are to end this wave. Stay at home as much as possible and don’t reunite with other people who are not in your family for the next three weeks,” Ferrer added.

Meanwhile, the New Mexico statewide two-week “restoration” order will move to a county-by-county reopening framework next week, the governor’s office announced Friday.

The counties where the virus is most prevalent, the governor’s office said, will operate with more restrictions.

First mass air shipment of vaccine

“As a result of the historic pace of vaccine development through Operation Warp Speed ​​and careful logistical planning, the FAA today supports the first mass air shipment of a vaccine,” the FAA said in a statement.

The agency said it set up a Covid-19 vaccine air transport team last month to ensure “safe, rapid and efficient transport of vaccines.”

It says it is working with manufacturers, air carriers and airports to provide guidance on regulations for the safe transport of large quantities of dry ice in air freight.

Meanwhile, the CDC’s Immunization Practices Advisory Committee has convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday, where they will vote on which groups of people recommend getting a Covid-19 vaccine first, once one is authorized.

“It’s a significant advance in the development and progression towards vaccine availability,” Rick Bright, member of President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisory committee, said Friday.

The committee usually meets after a vaccine is cleared to make its recommendations.

“What we are seeing now is that the CDC is moving forward and is very proactive and is having some of those early discussions before the vaccine is even finished being FDA cleared, so they will be ready for that data when it comes to them.” Bright said.