Virus Cases Surge Across US, Nearly Tripling Over 2 Weeks

AP: US Virus Cases Nearly Triple In 2 Weeks Amid Misinformation
COVID-19 cases nearly tripled in the U.S. over two weeks amid an onslaught of vaccine misinformation that is straining hospitals, exhausting doctors and pushing clergy into the fray. “Our staff, they are frustrated,” said Chad Neilsen, director of infection prevention at UF Health Jacksonville, a Florida hospital that is canceling elective surgeries and procedures after the number of mostly unvaccinated COVID-19 inpatients at its two campuses jumped to 134, up from a low of 16 in mid-May. (Hollingsworth and Salter, 7/21)

Axios: COVID Cases Are Up 55% Across The U.S. 
Coronavirus infections are rising dramatically all over the U.S. as the highly contagious Delta variant spreads. Some “breakthrough” infections are happening to vaccinated people, but this rising tide of cases and hospitalizations is mainly a threat to those who aren’t vaccinated. And in some parts of the country, most people aren’t vaccinated — so the virus can still do serious damage. Nationwide, the average number of new cases per day was up 55% over the past week. (Baker, 7/22)

Stat: There Are Tools To Beat Back Covid Again. Does Anyone Want To Use Them?
Before Covid-19 vaccines, public health officials fought off the pandemic with the only tools they had: mask-wearing, social distancing, school closures, and limits on the size of gatherings. Now, with cases surging again in much of the United States due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, those tools could still make a measurable difference at a critical moment — but not if the public is unwilling to use them. (Branswell, 7/22)

Covid's wrath continues from coast to coast —

The Boston Globe: Provincetown COVID-19 Cluster Grows To 256 Confirmed Cases, Town Manager Says
A COVID-19 cluster in Provincetown that prompted officials there to issue an indoor mask-wearing advisory earlier this week has grown to 256 confirmed cases, a town official said. On Monday, town officials said from July 1 through July 16, 132 positive COVID-19 cases had been identified, a “vast majority” in fully vaccinated people. But as of Tuesday, the number of cases had nearly doubled, Town Manager Alex Morse wrote in a Facebook post. Officials are investigating the vaccination status of those who tested positive, he said. Of those who tested positive, 190 are Massachusetts residents, 109 of whom live in Barnstable County, Morse said. The rest live outside Massachusetts. Those who were fully vaccinated and tested positive are largely experiencing mild symptoms, officials said. (Kaufman, 7/21)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Reports More Than 200 COVID Cases For The First Time Since May, But With 30% Less Testing 
Maryland health officials reported more than 200 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide Wednesday for the first time since May 30. Testing levels are down about 30% since late May and are on a downward trend, according to state data. A total of 14,864 new tests were reported over the past 24 hours. Decreased testing limits the state’s surveillance of the spread of virus, including its more contagious delta variant. (Campbell, 7/21)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Average New COVID-19 Cases Increased For The 15th Consecutive Day
The average number of new COVID-19 cases and the average positivity rate both increased on Wednesday, according to Department of Health Services data. The seven-day average of daily cases increased to 221, up 27 cases from Tuesday. The seven-day average has increased for 15 consecutive days. The positivity rate increased to 2.8%. (Bentley, 7/21)

Des Moines Register: The Average Number Of New Daily COVID-19 Cases In Iowa Has More Than Doubled In The Past Two Weeks
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are back on the rise in Iowa, like in the U.S. in general, according to the weekly coronavirus data released by the Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday. Two weeks ago, Iowa was averaging 76 new coronavirus cases per day. That rate has more than doubled since then, with an average of 199 new individuals testing positive each day over the past week. Public health experts are warning that infections are mounting, especially among unvaccinated people, because of the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the virus. (Webber, 7/21)

Oklahoman: Oklahoma Experts Concerned With COVID Surge As Start Of School Nears
Some Oklahoma health leaders are calling on the governor to reissue an emergency health declaration as the state’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge, especially as children are set to return to school next month. Fueled by the delta variant and low vaccination rates, COVID-related hospitalizations nearly tripled in the last two weeks in Oklahoma, said Aaron Wendelboe, an epidemiologist with the University of Oklahoma’s College of Public Health. “This situation is really looking grim, with a greater increase in cases and hospitalizations than I expected for mid-summer,” Wendelboe said. (Branham, 7/21)

Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Doctors Warn Of Another Summer Surge Of COVID-19 — As Daily Case Count Is The Highest In 5 Months
Utah is seeing a summer rerun of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Delta variant has helped drive new cases and hospitalizations to levels not seen for months, a leading doctor warned. “We are in a very similar place to where we were last summer,” said Dr. Brandon Webb, an infectious diseases physician at Intermountain Healthcare, during a COVID-19 community briefing broadcast Wednesday on Facebook Live. University of Utah Health is postponing some elective surgeries “because COVID-19 is surging again,” said Dr. Kencee Graves, associate chief medical officer for inpatient services. (Intermountain so far has not delayed any elective surgeries, a company spokesman said.) (Means and Pierce, 7/21)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada Sees Biggest 1-Day Increase In COVID-19 Deaths Since Feb. 20
Nevada on Wednesday reported 931 new coronavirus cases and 28 deaths over the preceding day — the latter a concerning number that reflected two days of delayed reporting. The fatalities reported by the Department of Health and Human Services — the highest single-day increase since Feb. 20 — raised the state death toll from the disease to 5,789 and doubled the 14-day moving average of daily deaths from two to four. The report came a day after the department reported no deaths, and a spokeswoman for the agency confirmed that the fatalities figure covered two days. (Dylan, 7/21)

Los Angeles Times: Alarming L.A. Spike In Coronavirus Cases: 2,551 In One Day
Los Angeles County reported its largest single-day total of new coronavirus cases in months as the region races to wrap its arms around what officials now say is a new surge of the virus. Public health officials reported 2,551 new infections Wednesday — the highest figure since early March, when the county was shaking off the last vestiges of the fall-and-winter wave. Wednesday’s report continues a troubling pattern of increased transmission that emerged after the state’s June 15 reopening and coincided with increased circulation of the hypercontagious Delta variant. (Money, 7/21)

Anchorage Daily News: Sitka Grapples With Spread Of COVID-19 As Alaska Sees Continued Rise In Cases
Sitka’s growing COVID-19 outbreak continued this week, with another 62 resident cases reported Tuesday and Wednesday as case counts statewide climbed by 472 total over the same two-day period. A Sitka resident died with the virus Monday, according to reports in the Daily Sitka Sentinel. Also Monday, a visitor leaving Sitka tested positive for the virus, then boarded an Alaska Airlines flight at 6 a.m. Tuesday with three others, according to a message from the local public health nurse. All four showed symptoms of COVID-19. (Hollander, 7/21)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Hawaiian County Warns Residents About COVID Risk In Las Vegas
A rural Hawaiian county is warning residents that recent Las Vegas visitors returned to its islands with coronavirus, according to daily briefings from the county. Kaua’i County, which covers the islands of Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, Lehua and Kaʻula, said many of their most recent COVID-19 cases were in residents who had recently traveled to Las Vegas. The county reported four new cases Wednesday, bringing the confirmed area total to 477. Hawaii has reported 3,425 confirmed cases as of Wednesday and 83 probable cases, according to state data. (Schnur, 7/21)