Variants Pulling Ahead? Covid Cases Rising In Closely Watched States
The path of the virus in Florida, New York and New Jersey have previously served as signals for future surges. New cases are spiking there as public health experts worry variants' spread could outpace vaccinations.
NPR:
Rising COVID Cases And Fear Of Variants Prompt Concern In U.S.
COVID-19 vaccinations are on the rise in the U.S. — and so are coronavirus cases. After a plateau lasting several weeks, the number of cases is once again on the increase in parts of the country. New cases, test positivity rates and hospital admissions are creeping upward. An increase in daily COVID-19 deaths is likely to follow, health officials say. (Huang, 3/28)
The New York Times:
Cases In Florida, A National Covid Bellwether, Are Rising — Especially Among Younger People
Scientists view Florida — the state furthest along in lifting restrictions, reopening society and welcoming tourists — as a bellwether for the nation. If recent trends there are any indication, the rest of the country may be in trouble.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida has been steadily rising, though hospitalizations and deaths are still down. Over the past week, the state has averaged nearly 5,000 cases per day, an increase of 8 percent from its average two weeks earlier. (Mandavilli, 3/29)
AP:
Virus Fight Stalls In Early Hot Spots New York, New Jersey
A year after becoming a global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, New York and New Jersey are back atop the list of U.S. states with the highest rates of infection. Even as the vaccination campaign has ramped up, the number of new infections in New Jersey has crept up by 37% in a little more than a month, to about 23,600 every seven days. About 54,600 people in New York tested positive for the virus in the last week, a number that has begun to inch up recently. The two states now rank No. 1 and 2 in new infections per capita among U.S. states. New Jersey has been reporting about 647 new cases for every 100,000 residents over the past 14 days. New York has averaged 548. (Villeneuve and Catalini, 3/28)
CNN:
Some States Report Concerning Covid-19 Case Increases -- And One Warns The Surge Is Already Here
For weeks, health experts have warned of another possible Covid-19 surge if Americans get lax with safety measures while the country races to vaccinate more people. Now infections are on the rise again and some state leaders are sounding the alarm over their latest trends. After weeks of declines and then a plateau, the average number of new Covid-19 cases saw a 7% increase from the previous week, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Friday. The average of new virus-related hospitalizations also saw a slight increase from the previous week, she said. (Maxouris, 3/29)
CNBC:
The U.S. Is In A Delicate Position As Covid Cases Increase Alongside Vaccinations, Experts Warn
With the possibility of summer barbeques just a few months away, along with the promise of widespread Covid-19 vaccine supply in the U.S. by the end of May, many Americans may be feeling as though the nation has finally turned the corner on the pandemic. But to leading infectious disease experts, the country isn’t there yet. (Higgins-Dunn, 3/28)
CNBC:
Fauci: Rise In Covid Cases Can't Be Blamed On Variants Alone As Travel Resumes
The latest rise in new Covid-19 infections can’t be pinned on highly transmissible variants alone as more Americans travel for spring break and states lift restrictions, including mask mandates, intended to slow the virus’ spread, White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday. Following nearly three months of declines, U.S. coronavirus cases are beginning to rebound once again. The country is reporting a weekly average of 61,821 new Covid-19 cases per day, a 12% increase compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Higgins-Dunn, 3/28)
