Coast To Coast, States Suffer With COVID Surges

Politico: Paradise Lost: How Hawaii Went From Covid-19 Star To Cautionary Tale 
Hawaii’s control of the coronavirus has swiftly unraveled this summer, transforming what was the nation’s best-performing state into one of the worst. Just two months ago, the island state had the fewest cases per capita in the country at less than two dozen per day. Democratic Gov. David Ige was praised for acting early to close Hawaii’s borders and impose strict quarantines, a painful economic sacrifice for a state heavily dependent on tourism. (Miranda Ollstein and Goldberg, 8/30)

Politico: New York City Nervously Braces For Another ‘Explosive Spread’ 
Most of the country looked on in horror this spring as Covid-19 flooded New York City hospitals and morgues, and a disease many had never heard of threw America’s biggest city into paralysis. Now New York is watching the same scenario play out in states throughout the U.S., while presiding over three months of sustained success in keeping infections low. But with cold weather approaching, schools tentatively reopening and many forced back indoors, the threat of a new outbreak is never far from the minds of public health officials — and this time they know outside help will be harder to come by. (Eisenberg, 8/27)

AP: Texas Deaths From Illness Caused By Coronavirus Pass 12,500
Texas health officials on Saturday reported the number of deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has surpassed 12,500 and the number of reported cases increased is now above 610,000. There are 610,354 coronavirus cases and 12,510 deaths, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The true number of cases in Texas is likely higher because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. (8/30)

AP: South Dakota Hospital System Warns Of Surge In Virus Cases
Monument Health leaders have told physicians and caregivers to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks. The Rapid City Journal reports the warning came from system-wide email after a total of 60 physicians and caregivers tested positive for COVID-19 in August, including 44 in the past week. (8/29)

AP: Iowa Virus Numbers Vary Widely Because Of Website Problem
The numbers on Iowa’s online coronavirus tracker varied widely this weekend because of a maintenance problem with the site. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Saturday morning that 1,108 Iowans had died from COVID-19. Later in the day, the number of deaths fell to 894 before rebounding Saturday evening to 1,109. (8/30)

How Arizona and California are handling reopening —

The Hill: Once A COVID-19 Epicenter, Arizona Emerges From Lockdown 
For months, Arizona stood out as one of the world’s worst coronavirus hot spots, suffering through an outbreak that sickened hundreds of thousands of people. Hospitals were so overwhelmed that the state Department of Health enacted crisis standards of care, in preparation for surging capacity. But now, cases have ebbed after major cities implemented new restrictions and lockdowns. (Wilson, 8/29)

The Hill: California Launches Plan To Reopen In Slower Phases After Surge In Coronavirus Cases 
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) launched a new plan to more slowly reopen his state’s economy after an alarming spike in coronavirus cases across the Golden State over the summer. Under the new framework announced Friday, Newsom will allow each county to oversee their reopening based on a four-tier system based on the seriousness of the spread of COVID-19 in the areas. The tiers are based on the number of cases per 100,000 residents and percentage of coronavirus tests that come back positive. (Axelrod, 8/29)

In news from Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Michigan —

AP: Illinois' High Court Says Face Masks Must Be Worn In Courts
Anyone entering a Illinois courthouse should be wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to an Illinois Supreme Court order. The state’s highest court issued an order Thursday including face masks in its rules governing who is admitted into courthouses “in the interests of the health and safety of all court users, staff, and judicial officers during these extraordinary circumstances.” (8/30)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Mental Health Agency Sees Uptick In Need As Pandemic Continues
As Georgians head into the sixth month of a pandemic that has infected more than 260,000 residents, killed about 5,000 and left hundreds of thousands looking for work, more people are turning to the state’s mental health programs for help. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities operates the state’s Crisis and Access Hotline, which often is used to help those who are considering harming themselves. (Prabhu,. 8/28)

AP: Governor Encourages Tourists To Come To Florida On Planes
Gov. Ron DeSantis made the case that tourists could safely take commercial flights to visit Florida, as newly reported coronavirus cases grew by more than 3,800 people Friday, down from peak averages of nearly 12,000 cases daily in mid-July. Speaking with industry executives at an airline travel forum in Fort Lauderdale, DeSantis said he hadn’t heard of any airline passenger catching the virus on a plane. (8/28)

ABC News: Nursing Home Residents Isolated By Coronavirus Now Face Looming Challenge: Voting 
For residents of the Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads senior living center in Falls Church, Va., voting used to be just an elevator ride away.The senior living community room once doubled as an official voting precinct. But this year, with heightened concerns about coronavirus locking down nursing homes around the nation, election officials were forced to move the polling location away -- leaving in its place uncertainty for the facility's approximately 500 residents. (Freger, 8/31)

USA Today: Conditions At Lapeer Nursing Home Led To COVID-19 Deaths, Illnesses
Dennis Williams is haunted by the memory of his mother, Wanda Parker, through the window at a Michigan nursing home. He said she was begging for help. It was the last time he saw his 68-year-old mother alive. She died of COVID-19 on April 7, two days after she was transported to a hospital from the Villages of Lapeer Nursing & Rehabilitation. Williams said he remembers seeing employees of the facility not wearing masks, gloves or other personal protective equipment (PPE) during his through-the-window visits with his mother before she died. And he's aware of the significantly lower COVID-19 statistics reported at the other nursing homes in the area. (Hall, 8/30)