Summer Surge Peaked? Covid Cases Tapering Off In Some Areas

CIDRAP: US COVID-19 Cases Drop For First Time In 3 Months
The summer surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta (B1617.2) variant may be tapering off after causing the fourth wave of heightened pandemic activity in the United States. The 7-day average of new daily COVID-19 cases is 118,015, with 1,996 deaths, according to the Washington Post tracker. In the past week, new daily cases fell 20%, deaths fell 0.8%, and hospitalizations fell 8.9%. (Soucheray, 9/27)

Newsweek: When Will Delta Variant Peak? Winter Uncertain As COVID Cases Drop In U.S.
U.S. COVID cases have been declining for several days, suggesting the country as a whole might have seen the peak of the summer Delta wave. But the winter remains uncertain, experts have told Newsweek. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country's seven-day moving average of cases has been declining since September 14, when the daily average of new cases was just under 150,000. ... The country's surge in infections over the summer came as the Delta variant of COVID became dominant, accounting for the vast majority—nearly 100 percent—of sequenced samples. (Browne, 9/27)

CNN: People In The Northeast Could Prevent A Covid-19 Surge Like The One In The South By Following These Measures, Fauci Says 
As weather grows colder and children spend more time in school, a surge of Covid-19 cases like the one in the South could be in store for the Northeast -- but it is not too late to get ahead of it, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. "It is within our power, and within our grasp, to prevent that from occurring," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Monday. The way to do it, he said, is by utilizing mitigation measures like wearing masks indoors and in schools, as well as increasing vaccination rates. (Holcombe, 9/28)

In other news about the spread of the coronavirus —

Axios: COVID Surging Among Ohio's Youth 
COVID-19's Delta variant is sending more young people into Ohio hospitals than ever before. The recent spike is putting a major strain on healthcare systems. It's also threatening Ohio's ability to keep children in classrooms. Nationwide Children's Hospital chief medical officer Dr. Rustin Morse told Axios that COVID hospitalizations were a "non-issue" in the spring and summer — then came the Delta variant. (Neese and Buchanan, 9/27)

The Oregonian: September Is Oregon’s Third-Deadliest Month Of COVID Pandemic
More Oregonians died with COVID-19 in September than in all but two other months of the pandemic, according to new state data released Monday. September’s death toll now stands at 423 people, surpassing August for the third-most fatalities of the pandemic. And the carnage from the delta surge could push this month’s final tally past January, when 476 people died. The monthly record, set in December, is 603 COVID-related fatalities. (Schmidt, 9/27)

AP: Health Officials See COVID Cases Tied To Pendleton Round-Up
Health officials in Umatilla County, Oregon, say they are starting to see COVID-19 cases linked to the Pendleton Round-Up. Umatilla County Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara told county commissioners Monday the county’s case count last week was 550 cases of COVID-19, and Fiumara said he had 151 pending cases from the weekend. (9/28)

WUSF 89.7: Florida's Weekly COVID Numbers Reflect That Delta-Fueled Surge Is In Decline 
All the top indicators of the coronavirus improved over the seven days ending Sept. 23 as weekly state data released Friday showed cases, positivity, rate and deaths on the decline. This follows a months-long surge driven by the highly contagious delta variant. The 56,325 new cases of coronavirus in Florida in the week ending Thursday were almost three times less than a month ago. They also marked the lowest weekly number since mid-July, according to data released by the Florida Department of Health. (Sheridan, 9/27)

Health News Florida: The State Files Motions Asking A Judge To Dismiss A Case Over COVID Records 
The Florida Department of Health is trying to scuttle a public records lawsuit seeking information about COVID-19, arguing that requested reports don’t exist and that the underlying data is confidential. Attorneys for the department filed two motions Friday in Leon County circuit court arguing that a judge should reject the lawsuit, filed last month by the non-profit Florida Center for Government Accountability and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. Several state and national news organizations have intervened in the case to back the plaintiffs. (Saunders, 9/27)

Also —

AP: House Votes To Extend Lamont's COVID Power Amid Protests
Connecticut lawmakers moved closer Monday toward extending Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic for the sixth time, an issue that has become more contentious with each extension. The House of Representatives voted 80-60 in favor of extending Lamont’s renewed declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergencies. Ten Democrats joined all of the Republicans in opposition. The Senate is scheduled to vote on Tuesday. (Haigh, 9/27)

Bloomberg: Airlines Demand Virus-Busting Seats To Ease Covid Deep Cleaning
Demand for airplane-seat coverings that repel viruses and bacteria has soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, as carriers look to cut the time and cost of cleaning cabins. “The stakes are high for airlines,” said Quentin Munier, head of strategy and innovation at the seat division of aircraft-parts giant Safran SA. Tenders for new orders increasingly call for fabrics with virus-killing properties, he said. (Patel, 9/28)