Nine states where COVID-19 hospitalizations are now spiking after reopening

Nine states are seeing spikes in the number of people that have been hospitalized for COVID-19 since Memorial Day as Arizona’s health department told hospitals to activate coronavirus emergency plans to prepare for a surge in new cases. 

Coronavirus hospitalizations have been increasing in at least nine states – mostly in the south and south-west of the country – over the past two weeks. 

Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Utah are among those that have seen record spikes in hospitalizations since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in mid-March. 

South Carolina, parts of California, Oregon, Arkansas and Mississippi have also seen an uptick in the number of people being hospitalized.  

The increase in hospitalizations in those nine states has occurred as states reopened and large gatherings were held across the country over the Memorial Day weekend.

All of those states, apart from Mississippi, are now virus hotspots after also seeing increases in the number of infections in the past week.  

The uptick, which could lead authorities to reimpose or tighten public health restrictions, complicates efforts to reopen the economy that has been devastated by stay-at-home orders that were in place across much of the US. 

More than 112,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus and 1.9 million have been infected in the past three months.  

ARIZONA: 

Deaths: 1,076 – Cases: 28,296  

Arizona, which was among the first states to reopen from lockdowns in mid-May, has seen a surge in hospitalizations and cases in recent weeks. 

The number of positive or suspected hospitalized COVID-19 patients has been increasing since May 26 and surged last week to record highs of more than 1,200 each day.

It prompted Arizona’s state health director Cara Christ to urge hospitals on Saturday to ‘fully activate’ its emergency plans – a message last sent on March 25 when the pandemic was taking hold.  

Arizona’s largest medical network Banner Health warned on Monday it was reaching its capacity in intensive care unit beds and said ventilated COVID-19 patients have quadrupled since May 15. 

Currently in Arizona, there are 1,258 intensive care beds in use and 400 beds available. There are 1,192 ventilators available across the state and 641 currently in use.   

The state saw its infections increase more than 90 per cent last week and deaths rose by 30 percent.   

Arizona currently has more than 26,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths. 

In Arizona, a ‘cavalier’ exit from the state’s successful stay-at-home program has caused the sudden case surge, according to former state health chief Will Humble.

Humble said Governor Doug Ducey let Arizonans voluntarily follow Centers for Disease Control guidance but must now impose measures like mandatory face mask use inside public spaces. A failure to do so will leave Ducey with two drastic choices, he added. 

‘He’s going to have to either A) implement a field hospital plan, B) do another stay-at-home order, or C) both,’ said Humble, head of health professionals organization the Arizona Public Health Association.

Ducey last week told a press briefing that the increase in cases was to be expected due to a rise in testing. 

TEXAS: Texas set a record-breaking high for coronavirus hospitalizations with 1,935 patients admitted on Monday just one month after the state reopened early

TEXAS: 

Deaths: 1, 867 – Cases: 78,130 

Texas set a record-breaking high for coronavirus hospitalizations with 1,935 patients admitted just one month after the state reopened early. 

Texas reported a record-breaking number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday. It compares to the previous record set on May 5 when 1,888 hospitalizations were recorded.  

New infections in Texas have increased by 71 per cent over the past two weeks, according to the 14-day trend line provided by state health officials. 

Although hospitalizations are on the rise, Texas has more than 1,600 a intensive-care beds and 5,8000 ventilators available for ill residents.

The state has seen cases increase by nearly 20 percent in the past week, while deaths have declined nearly 5 percent in a week.  

Texas currently has 74,000 cases and 1,800 deaths.  

NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina saw its hospitalizations spike to a record high on Monday when 774 coronavirus patients were admitted. The number of people being admitted has been gradually increasing since Memorial Day when 621 hospitalizations were reported

NORTH CAROLINA:

Deaths: 1,068 – Cases: 37,228 

North Carolina saw its hospitalizations spike to a record high on Monday when 774 coronavirus patients were admitted.

The number of people being admitted has been gradually increasing since Memorial Day when 621 hospitalizations were reported.

The state currently has 453 out of 3,223 intensive care beds available. There are currently 2,314 ventilators available, or 72 percent, in the state. 

The state has seen its cases increase nearly 30 percent in a week.

There are currently more than 37,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths in the state.  

ARKANSAS: Arkansas currently has 173 people hospitalized for COVID-19. It compares to the 92 that were hospitalized on May 25. As of Monday, there 46 coronavirus patients on ventilators

ARKANSAS:

Deaths: 161 – Cases:  10,080

Arkansas has seen a huge surge in the number of hospitalizations. The state currently has 173 people hospitalized for COVID-19. It compares to the 92 that were hospitalized on May 25.  

As of Monday, there 46 coronavirus patients on ventilators.

State health officials say despite the increase, hospitals remain below capacity. 

Cases in Arkansas have increased more than 63 percent in the last week. The state currently has more than 10,000 infections and 160 deaths. 

UTAH: Utah’s hospitalizations have more than doubled in the last two weeks. The state, which currently has recorded a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on June 1 with 23 patients admitted

UTAH: 

Deaths: 127 – Cases: 12,559 

Utah’s hospitalizations have more than doubled in the last two weeks. The state, which currently has  recorded a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on June 1 with 23 patients admitted. 

There are currently 126 patients in hospital with COVID-19, according to the Utah’s most recent data. 

Utah has seen its cases, which now top 12,000, increase by more than 60 per cent in a week.   

At least 287 of the state’s 2,269 new cases were tied to an outbreak at a meat processing plant in Cache County.    

SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina’s hospitalizations have spiked in recent days. Across the state, 12 counties have reached a current capacity of 75 percent or more. Hospitalizations on Monday surged to 541, which was up from the 482 patients recorded two days earlier

SOUTH CAROLINA: 

Deaths: 568 – Cases: 15,228 

South Carolina’s hospitalizations have spiked in recent days.

Across the state, 12 counties have reached a current capacity of 75 percent or more.

Hospitalizations on Monday surged to 541, which was up from the 482 patients recorded two days earlier. 

Infections in South Carolina are up more than 37 percent in the last week. The state currently has more than 15,000 cases and over 560 deaths. 

MISSISSIPPI: Hospitalizations in Mississippi have also been increasing with 444 people in hospital as of Monday. Of those patients, 171 were in intensive care and 100 were on ventilators

MISSISSIPPI:

Deaths: 847 – Cases: 18,123 

Hospitalizations in Mississippi have also been increasing with 444 people in hospital as of Monday.

Of those patients, 171 were in intensive care and 100 were on ventilators.

The state saw another surge in hospitalizations on May 27 when 476 people were admitted.

There are currently more than 18,000 infections across the state and over 840 deaths.

CALIFORNIA: The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in California has been increasing over the last two weeks. There are currently 3,257 patients in hospital with COVID-19 and 1,103 in intensive care. It compares to March 30 when there were 1,307 patients in hospital and 545 in ICU

CALIFORNIA: 

Deaths: 4,753 – Cases: 137,060 

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in California has been increasing over the last two weeks. There are currently 3,257 patients in hospital with COVID-19 and 1,103 in intensive care.

It compares to March 30 when there were 1,307 patients in hospital and 545 in ICU.

There has been a surge in hospitalizations in Sacramento County, according to health officials.

‘Many of the cases that are showing up in hospitals are linked to gatherings that are taking place in homes – birthday parties and funerals,’ said Olivia Kasirye, public health director of Sacramento County.

Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spiking in parts of California has prompted officials to place counties – including Sacramento – where half its population lives on a watch list.

More than 18 million of California’s 39 million residents live in counties now on the watch list, including Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Fresno.

Infections are up two percent in the past week in California. Deaths are down nearly six percent compared to the previous week.

There are currently more than 137,000 cases and over 4,700 deaths across the state. 

OREGON: Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have spiked by 40 percent in the last week. On Monday, the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus increased to 65 – up for the 46 that were recorded on June 2

OREGON: 

Deaths: 169 – Cases: 4,988 

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have spiked by 40 percent in the last week.

On Monday, the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus increased to 65 – up for the 46 that were recorded on June 2.

Oregon is among the states that have recored the lowest infections and deaths across the country throughout the pandemic.

The state currently has over 4,900 cases and more than 160 deaths.

Where COVID-19 is on RISE: Twenty two states see weekly increase in infections and six states see rise in deaths   

Arizona recorded an increase of more than 90 percent in new cases in the week ending June 7 compared with the previous seven days, according to a Reuters analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.

Michigan saw a 158 percent increase in new cases last week due mainly to the state reporting 5,000 probably cases on June 5. 

Arkansas, Utah, New Mexico and Massachusetts all saw weekly increases of more than 40 percent and new cases in Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina and North Carolina all rose by more than 30 percent in the past week. 

In New Mexico, about half of the new cases were from one prison in Otero County, state health officials said. Utah said at least 287 of the state’s 2,269 new cases were tied to an outbreak at a meat processing plant in Cache County.  

Twenty one US states reported weekly increases in new cases of COVID-19 with Arizona, Utah and New Mexico all posting rises of 40 percent or higher for the week ended June 7 compared with the prior seven days, according to an analysis that shows data as of Sunday each week between March 1 to June 7

Florida attributed its increase to more testing, while the other states have not commented on the increase in cases. 

New cases in Texas were up 19 percent in a week, according to the analysis.  

Michigan’s cases soared more than 150 percent last week due to the state including nearly 5,000 probable infections. 

The increases comes after all 50 states at least partially lifted coronavirus lockdown measures last month. 

Some of the new cases are linked to better testing but many stem from loosened public health restrictions that have allowed people to gather in groups and go inside stores to shop.

Health officials believe other cases have been passed along by people not following social-distancing recommendations.

The number of new infections in the first week of June rose 3 percent in the United States, the first increase after five weeks of declines. 

Infectious disease experts have warned that large protests held in major US cities after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis two weeks ago could touch off a new outbreak of the disease. 

Officials have said it is too soon to see whether cases will also spike in the wake of the protests.   

Deaths in Michigan, Louisiana and Arizona have increased by more than 30 percent in the last week. Michigan’s increase was due, in part, to the state reporting 240 probable deaths on June 5

Infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci issued a grim assessment of the coronavirus, calling the ongoing pandemic his ‘worst nightmare’ and insisting the fight against its spread is far from over 

Dr Anthony Fauci admits coronavirus has become his ‘worst nightmare’ and ‘it is not close to over yet’

Infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci issued a grim assessment of the coronavirus, calling the ongoing pandemic his ‘worst nightmare’ and insisting the fight against its spread is far from over. 

‘In a period of four months, it has devastated the whole world,’ Fauci said of COVID-19 during a virtual appearance at a Biotechnology Innovation Organization conference. ‘And it isn’t over yet.’  

The White House advisor said although he knew it was possible for a devastating outbreak like this could occur, he was surprised by how ‘rapidly he took over the planet’.

‘An efficiently transmitted disease can spread worldwide in six months or a year, but this took about a month,’ Fauci said.

Fauci continued that still so little is known about the virus, how it can be contracted or spread and the specific impact it may have on the human body.

He said the coronavirus is far more complicated than HIV – a disease he has dedicated his career studying – because of its varying degrees of severity, ranging from asymptomatic carriers to patients who develop fatal conditions.

‘Oh my goodness,’ Fauci responded. ‘Where is it going to end? We’re still at the beginning of really understanding.’

The nation’s top coronavirus expert added that vaccines will be the only way to completely curb the coronavirus’ spread, however he did voice confidence that an antidote would be found soon.

Fauci said he’s expecting ‘more than one winner in the vaccine field because we will need vaccines for the entire world – billions and billions of doses,’ he said. 

‘I’m very heartened by the fact that the industry has stepped to the plate — very much differently than what we saw with SARS,’ Fauci continued. ‘The industry is not stupid — they figured it out. SARS had a degree of transmissibility that it burned itself out with pure public health measures. No way is that going to happen with this virus.’

The doctor said COVID-19 shines a ‘bright light’ on the health disparities in the US, warning that as the country begins to rear its head from the public health crisis, resources must be readily available for the most vulnerable communities.

Fauci identified African Americans as a particularly vulnerable group, who, because of a number of different factors – including socioeconomic and employment – have been ‘getting hit with a double whammy’ of the virus.

‘[African Americans] have a greater proportion of jobs that don’t allow them to sit in front of a computer and do telework. They’re out there, they’re doing a lot of things physically where you to have interact,’ Fauci said.