|
 Coronavirus hot spots include Illinois, which reported 31,000 new
infections over the past week, and two states expected to be key in
the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3: Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin.
"We must take significant and collective actions," Andrea Palm of
the Wisconsin Department of Health Services told a news conference,
adding that contact tracers were overwhelmed and hospitals may face
staffing shortages. "This is going to get worse before it gets
better."
Wisconsin broke one-day state records in both cases and deaths;
state officials told residents to stay home, wear masks and cancel
social gatherings.
Alaska set a statewide record for single-day positive tests over the
weekend, and some of the hardest-hit parts of the state were rural
communities with mostly Native populations.
Nationwide more than 5,600 people died from the virus nationwide in
the last week, with hospitalizations rising 13%, a Reuters analysis
showed.
U.S. President Donald Trump, facing a tough re-election battle on
Nov. 3, on Tuesday reiterated his claim that the country is
"rounding the turn" in the pandemic that has killed more than
226,000 people since erupting in March.
"We did the ventilators and now we're doing all of the equipment and
now we're doing vaccines, we're doing therapeutics. We've done a
great job, and people are starting to see," Trump told reporters at
the White House.
ILLINOIS CRACKS DOWN
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker imposed fresh rounds of restrictions
in seven of 11 regions, most recently in Chicago
Beginning on Friday, indoor dining in bars and restaurants will be
suspended in the Windy City and gatherings will be limited to 25
people. Business owners in parts of Illinois have pushed back
against restrictions, citing financial damage.
Other states have walked back reopening plans to curb the spread of
the virus as cooler weather sets in across most of the nation.
Idaho Governor Brad Little on Monday prohibited indoor gatherings of
more than 50 people and capped them outdoors at 25% capacity.
[to top of second column] |
Health experts believe the virus is surging because of private social
gatherings, colder temperatures driving people inside, and Americans' fatigue
with COVID-19 restrictions that have now been in place for more than six months.
Beyond the Midwest, the Texas city of El Paso is also facing a surge in cases
that is overwhelming local hospitals, with officials setting up an alternate
care facility to help relieve medical centers.
"We are seeing all sorts of patients. The narrative historically has been the
above-65, those with multiple co-morbidities. But we're seeing 20-year-olds.
We're seeing 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds," Dr. Ogechika Alozie, an infectious
disease specialist in El Paso, told Reuters.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced he was reinstating some coronavirus rules
to combat what city officials described as a "dramatic rise" in COVID-19 cases
and hospitalizations.
Restaurants, retail businesses and offices will have their 50% capacity slashed
in half, the mayor said, while events will be capped at indoor 25 people indoors
and 75 outdoors.
Colorado reported a record one-day increase in cases on Monday and
hospitalizations have risen 60% in the last two weeks to 571. The percentage of
positive tests has more than doubled this month to over 7%. However, the number
of those hospitalized in the state is far below April's record 1,000.
(Reporting by Lisa Shumaker and Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Maria Caspani in New
York; additional reporting by Nathan Frandino in El Paso, Peter Szekely in New
York, Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland in Washington, Yereth Rosen in Anchorage
and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Emelia
Sithole-Matarise, Marguerita Choy and Gerry Doyle)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
