U.S. coronavirus cases hit 3 million, stoking fears of overwhelmed hospitals

By Jane Wardell

 

People wait in their vehicles in long lines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing in Houston, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

 

(Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States pushed past 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, roughly equal to the population of Nevada, stoking fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed.

 

The United States has the highest known numbers of both COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world. More than 130,000 Americans have died from the disease, a toll that experts warn will likely surge following recent record spikes in case numbers in many states.

 

In the first seven days of July, 18 states have reported record increases in new cases of COVID-19, according to a Reuters tally.

 

In Texas alone, the number of hospitalized patients more than doubled in just two weeks. The Democratic mayor of Austin warned over the weekend that his city's hospitals could reach capacity in two weeks and run out of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in 10 days. In Arizona, about 90% of ICU beds are full.

 

The rise in cases also cast a shadow over the nation's Fourth of July celebrations, with many towns and cities across the country cancelling annual fireworks displays to avoid large crowds gathering.

 

During an Independence Day speech at the White House on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted without evidence that 99% of coronavirus cases in the United States were "totally harmless."

 

Trump, a Republican, has refused to wear a mask in public and has been reluctant to encourage Americans to do so, saying it was a personal choice. A July 4 celebration he attended at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota was "mask-optional" and had no social distancing.

 

(Open https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-TRENDS/dgkvlgkrkpb/index.html in an external browser for a Reuters interactive)

 

(Reporting by Jane Wardell; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-08

 

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Why they always bag on Texas and omit California? Cali is on par with Texas and their death count is higher. 
 

 

35 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why they always bag on Texas and omit California? Cali is on par with Texas and their death count is higher. 
 

 

And the population density is?

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And the population density is?

This is the argument you’re trying to tee up? 

 

The outbreaks in Texas are urban IE Houston, so your absurd nonsense is blown out of the water.  

Deaths per million population still far better than the UK, what's the fuss about?

3 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And the population density is?

This is the argument you’re trying to tee up? 

 

The outbreaks in Texas are urban IE Houston, so your absurd nonsense is blown out of the water.  

Talking points. 

 

As the surge accelerates. We need to convince Americans they can live with virus. We hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and come to accept tens of thousands of new cases every day. Americans will live with the virus being a threat. There can be no governmental aide or remedy.

 

Edited July 8, 20206 yr by LomSak27

52 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Deaths per million population still far better than the UK, what's the fuss about?

Its true that the UK messed up badly (oh the UK members told me i can't say this because its bashing). However the UK has curbed the spread (though with the pubs opening we have to see.. stupid they open pubs but let gyms closed.. shows a lot about priorities)

 

However the US is not getting more and more infections if hospitals get overwhelmed then the deaths per million will start to rise. It is still too early to make a good comparison but if this goes on the way it does the US could beat the UK in how badly its handled. 

 

Arch enemy of all the posters here Germany did far better then most (a lot better then my country the Netherlands, who did it about 40% better then the UK).  Still in my country some shameful things happened in nursing homes.

53 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Talking points. 

 

As the surge accelerates. We need to convince Americans they can live with virus. We hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and come to accept tens of thousands of new cases every day. Americans will live with the virus being a threat. There can be no governmental aide or remedy.

 

That is one option.. let the public accept it and not blame their leader. Might be the only way for Trump to get a second term. I hope that his fans will understand that his leadership caused the deaths of many. I doubt it given how polarized they are. 

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Deaths per million population still far better than the UK, what's the fuss about?

Seems you wont be satisfied and nothing to worry about until US is the worst.

 

Thats an interesting way to look at it.

17 minutes ago, robblok said:

That is one option.. let the public accept it and not blame their leader. Might be the only way for Trump to get a second term. I hope that his fans will understand that his leadership caused the deaths of many. I doubt it given how polarized they are. 

This is how Trump and crew will frame it; my talking bit strange love schtick.
 

That said he has dipped to 38 per cent approval and falling, They are desperate to deflect which is the reason for the culture war schtick.  In the meantime, Arizona & Florida are surging into CRITICAL. They have a lot of old white retirees. Trumps base. They now realize that they are in the viruses statistical crosshairs. Expect his base to lose more support as reality BITES.

Edited July 8, 20206 yr by LomSak27

2 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

This is the argument you’re trying to tee up? 

 

The outbreaks in Texas are urban IE Houston, so your absurd nonsense is blown out of the water.  

Oh, so now you want to ignore the population density of the rest of Texas.

 

 

1 hour ago, LomSak27 said:

Talking points. 

 

As the surge accelerates. We need to convince Americans they can live with virus. We hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and come to accept tens of thousands of new cases every day. Americans will live with the virus being a threat. There can be no governmental aide or remedy.

 

Hey, happens with gun violence so you probably aren’t too far off the mark on that one.

A post with a link to am unapproved website removed

Flordia man says "We're in a good place."

 

Trump says he disagrees with Fauci: "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him."

 

“Well, I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him,” Trump told Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren, according to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday. “Dr. Fauci said don't wear masks and now he says wear them. And he said numerous things. Don't close off China. Don't ban China. I did it anyway. I didn't listen to my experts and I banned China. We would have been in much worse shape.”

 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-07-20-intl/h_980c3fd6931a1535a28ac5a56c4b3be2

 

16 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Flordia man says "We're in a good place."

 

Trump says he disagrees with Fauci: "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him."

 

“Well, I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him,” Trump told Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren, according to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday. “Dr. Fauci said don't wear masks and now he says wear them. And he said numerous things. Don't close off China. Don't ban China. I did it anyway. I didn't listen to my experts and I banned China. We would have been in much worse shape.”

 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-07-20-intl/h_980c3fd6931a1535a28ac5a56c4b3be2

 

Once again, Donald Trump shares with us his grasp of the facts:

More Than 40 Hospital ICUs In Florida Have Hit Maximum Capacity With Zero Beds Available

Despite Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis seeming to downplay the severity of current coronavirus outbreak in his state, the numbers tell a different story; as of Tuesday morning, 43 hospital intensive care units (ICU) in 21 Florida counties have hit capacity and show zero beds available, while another 32 hospitals show ICU bed availability of 10% or less, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/07/07/more-than-40-hospital-icus-in-florida-have-hit-maximum-capacity-with-zero-beds-available/#3f62701c3e70

what a colossal fail of a potus for the American people and a gift to our enemies making us weaker every day he’s getting us killed in the 10s of thousands due to his stupidity just unbelievable 

1 minute ago, Tug said:

what a colossal fail of a potus for the American people and a gift to our enemies making us weaker every day he’s getting us killed in the 10s of thousands due to his stupidity just unbelievable 

 

Like the CIA briefer who chooses NOT to brief the president on russian bounties for fear of setting him off, suspect the increasingly diminishing "inner circle" (miller, kushner, ivanka) is reluctant to share the real news about Covid-19. So they probably tell him everything is fine.

 

Sad.

 

 

 

 

hear a lot of roaring on increased case but not a peep on declining death

5 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Flordia man says "We're in a good place."

 

Trump says he disagrees with Fauci: "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him."

 

“Well, I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him,” Trump told Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren, according to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday. “Dr. Fauci said don't wear masks and now he says wear them. And he said numerous things. Don't close off China. Don't ban China. I did it anyway. I didn't listen to my experts and I banned China. We would have been in much worse shape.”

 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-07-20-intl/h_980c3fd6931a1535a28ac5a56c4b3be2

 

banned China and then let in 3 million europeans/brits into jfk in 3 months, hence the horrific spread in NYC.

6 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Flordia man says "We're in a good place."

 

Trump says he disagrees with Fauci: "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him."

 

“Well, I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him,” Trump told Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren, according to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday. “Dr. Fauci said don't wear masks and now he says wear them. And he said numerous things. Don't close off China. Don't ban China. I did it anyway. I didn't listen to my experts and I banned China. We would have been in much worse shape.”

 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-07-20-intl/h_980c3fd6931a1535a28ac5a56c4b3be2

 

Fauci didn't say 'don't wear a mask.'

To paraphrase:

Fauci said IF you don't wear a mask, wear something to cover your mouth and nose such as a scarf. It's not as effective as a mask but better than nothing.

Fauci and Bright need to quit Trump's covid 19 task force. Trump has never embraced medical science on covid 19 and will 'burn' any medical professional who doesn't support Trump's shifting misdirections for the sole sake of his personal benefit, ie., re-election.

1 hour ago, Siamjim said:

hear a lot of roaring on increased case but not a peep on declining death

Death rates are cumulative and thus cannot decline. They can only go up and they are doing so.

 

The curves I've seen for Tx and Az are pretty steep and it is likely to get worse in next few weeks. Would do so in any case -- deaths do lag behind hospitalizations -- but will be much worse as hospitals get overtaxed.

 

The metric to watch early in a surge is the hospitaluzation rate and that is increasing exponentially in the worst affected areas.

9 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why they always bag on Texas and omit California? Cali is on par with Texas and their death count is higher. 
 

 

One possible reason is that Cali started to reopen businesses according to CDC-Trump Covid 19 task force guidelines whereas Texas rejected the guidelines and opened in spite of the guidelines at the encouragement of Trump.

PS: population Cali about 40 million vs Texas of about 28 million. 

While flu cases hit 39-56 million in the first few months of 2020. 

 

Time to stay home ????????

 recent interviews with medical staff (not politicians) in these badly hit states are already suggesting that some are already overwhelmed, patients are being transferred to other areas of the country.. 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/houston-hospitals-transferring-covid-patients-running-icu-beds/story?id=71552472

9 minutes ago, A1Str8 said:

While flu cases hit 39-56 million in the first few months of 2020. 

 

Time to stay home ????????

Well at least your last sentence is right on point.

1 hour ago, Siamjim said:

hear a lot of roaring on increased case but not a peep on declining death

Either you get brain damage that can lead to severe neurological complications including inflammation, psychosis and delirium linked to covid-19 infection or you die. Neither pleasant. 

 

https://news.yahoo.com/scientists-warn-potential-wave-covid-230312538.html

"The goose" Trump has gone very quiet on all this now, maybe "the bunker" is getting some use after all

2 hours ago, Siamjim said:

hear a lot of roaring on increased case but not a peep on declining death

Big reason for decline in deaths is the success of the Northeast in combatting covid. Here are the hospitalization figures for the USA

 

Given the lag time  between infection and hospitallization, the levels in the South and the West should rise considerably.

"But even now, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia have seen an uptick in their average daily deaths, according to Covid Exit Strategy, while Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York have experienced a notable decline."

https://www.vox.com/2020/7/6/21314472/covid-19-coronavirus-us-cases-deaths-trends-<deleted>

9 hours ago, robblok said:

Its true that the UK messed up badly (oh the UK members told me i can't say this because its bashing). However the UK has curbed the spread (though with the pubs opening we have to see.. stupid they open pubs but let gyms closed.. shows a lot about priorities)

 

However the US is not getting more and more infections if hospitals get overwhelmed then the deaths per million will start to rise. It is still too early to make a good comparison but if this goes on the way it does the US could beat the UK in how badly its handled. 

 

Arch enemy of all the posters here Germany did far better then most (a lot better then my country the Netherlands, who did it about 40% better then the UK).  Still in my country some shameful things happened in nursing homes.

Every country has failed in dealing with this pandemic effectively.  Britain certainly handled it very badly.  But this is still an ongoing situation and there is much more to come.  No one can say with any confidence when this will be over or how much worse it will get.  The UK government cannot bring themselves to level with public because they have screwed up so badly and continue to do so. 

 

As for the USA, you have a complete idiot in the White House who has lost all grip on reality and just rants and raves like the lunatic he clearly is.

10 hours ago, robblok said:

I hope that his fans will understand that his leadership caused the deaths of many. I doubt it given how polarized they are. 

I doubt very much if Hilary would have had less deaths. There'd be about the same number of deaths whoever was the leader. Besides, back in February/March the predictions of deaths and such were much higher than what actually occurred.