This week the U.S. set a new record in Covid-19 deaths, cases, and hospitalizations.
What We Know:
- On Wednesday, an NBC News tally calculated 2,777 deaths related to coronavirus. The same day over 200,000 new cases erupted. Just last month, the country broke the single-day record with a little over 100,000. We are now facing double that number across the nation. The COVID Tracking Project displayed 100,000 people were hospitalized on Wednesday as well due to the virus. Following Thanksgiving travels, the U.S. totaled a record-breaking 14,007,908 cases total.
- Prior to the Thanksgiving celebration, the CDC warned to avoid traveling to see family and friends. They insisted on helping stop the spread people should stay home and only have gatherings outside with limited guests. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield predicts winter will “be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.” Many health experts anticipate a continued surge in cases due to holiday travel.
- Dr. Henry Walke, CDC’s incident manager for Covid-19, urges others to stop the rise in cases and try to bend the curve. “Cases are rising, hospitalizations are increasing, deaths are increasing,” he says.
- With new research present, the CDC recently changed the recommended quarantine guidelines for people exposed to the virus. Previously the institute order 14 days of quarantine; now, they offer two alternatives. One option states a person may end quarantine after 10 days if they show no signs or symptoms of coronavirus. The other option allows an individual to cease quarantine after 7 days if they test negative and show no symptoms. However, the 10-day quarantine still carries a 1% risk of infection, while the 7-day quarantine holds a 5% risk, according to Dr. John Brooks, CDC’s chief medical officer.
- On December 10, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will get together and discuss the emergency use application for Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine. Clinical trials found the vaccine to be more than 90% effective.
- In a news release last month Dr. Albert Bourla, CEO and chairman of Pfizer, said, “Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent, as we continue to see an alarming rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 globally.” The U.K. became the first country to approve Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine and are set to be administered next week, as stated by their government.
The U.S. struggles daily to control the spread of this virus. Americans must do their part to stop the spread: wear a mask, social distance, and please stay safe!
