More than 2 million detected cases of Covid-19 and 112,924 deaths: American statistics are panicking the counters of Johns Hopkins University, which measures the progression of the pandemic in the light of data communicated by the various States. Those numbers may well continue to grow as 21 states continue to see rising case counts.
Bogged down. The United States seems unable to end this health crisis. According to data collected by thejohns hopkins university, 21 states – including Puerto Rico – have seen the number of contaminations increase since the end of May, 14 of them even register their worst weekly average of infection. A paradoxical situation when Texas – the 2nd most populous state in the country with nearly 29 million inhabitants – has never had so many people hospitalized for Covid-19, the country is at the same time experiencing a general relaxation of measures social distancing, reports The Guardian. The most glaring example being the reopening of casinos in Las Vegas (Nevada) in early June, even though the number of new cases detected almost doubled between June 2 and 6 to reach an average of 184 new cases on the 8th.
A worrying situation since the number of infected people and deaths remains at a high level – 20,000 new daily cases and 1,000 deaths on average today. Outstanding numbers. The United States reaches 2 million proven cases of Covid-19, or nearly a third of the officially declared cases worldwide. Ditto in terms of deaths, where officially the 112,924 cumulative American deaths on June 11 represent more than a quarter of the deaths recognized worldwide.
Still more cases in California
If the pandemic decreases in the majority of the states on the east coast, the contamination curve increases in the south and west of the country. After reaching the peak of 10,824 new daily contaminations on average on April 9, the situation seems to be regulating in the State of New York – the 4th most populous political entity in the country with 19.4 million inhabitants. Now, the Big Apple state is averaging 1,000 new daily cases, less than a tenth of its peak.
A 40% increase in Los Angeles and San Francisco
Despite this good news, 21 other states are recording an upward trend in the number of contamination, mainly in the south (South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc.) and on the West Coast (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, etc.). Of most concern is that the three most populous states are also seeing their contamination curve increase. In California – the 1st most populous state with 39.5 million inhabitants – the average contamination curve has been growing continuously since mid-March and reached a peak of 3,082 new daily cases on June 5. The state recorded a 40% increase in contamination last week, explains The Guardian, especially in large cities like Los Angeles – the most affected city – and San Francisco. Same scenario in Texas – 2nd most populated with nearly 29 million inhabitants – where the trend has been rising since mid-March despite two periods of decline. However, even if the number of cases detected doubled between May 28 and June 5 to reach a peak of 1,864 new cases, the trend seems to have decreased over the past three days. As for Florida – 3rd most populated with 21 million inhabitants – after a first wave in April, a second is emerging in early June to reach the average of 1,347 new cases on June 4.
Yet the deconfinement continues
The other reason for this continued contamination seems to be the mixing of populations during the long weekend at the end of May corresponding to “Memorial day”. “We are very concerned that our prevention messages do not seem to be echoedadmits Robert Redfield, head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – federal public health protection agency – at a conference last week. We keep looking for ways to make them heard by different groups.“
Nothing is worse deaf than someone who doesn’t want to hear. Many cities and states – especially where the pandemic has been progressing for weeks – are lifting restrictions on social life. Thus the Guardian reports that Florida has begun its second phase of deconfinement by allowing bars and cinemas to welcome the public despite the second wave in progress. One example among others of “uninhibited deconfinement”: “Great disparities emerge [NDLR : entre États] on wearing a mask: very widespread in states with a majority Democrat, such as New York, but much less in the South (Texas, Georgia, Louisiana),” writing Philippe Berry, correspondent for 20 minutes in the United States.
Demonstrations against racism: new health bomb?
However, it was not so much the spread of the virus that caught the attention of American citizens but the death of George Floyd. This news item has exacerbated racial tensions within American society and provoked multiple and major demonstrations all over the country.. enough to cause an acceleration of the pandemic?
“Will the protests cause an increase in Covid-19 cases? Yes. Will it be anecdotal, a rebound or a sharp rise? we do not know“, estimates on Twitter the director of emergencies of the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Craig Spencer reports 20 minutes. This coronavirus was detected among several National Guard reservists – sometimes called in to supervise demonstrations. Their number remains uncertain while like the silent spread of Covid-19.
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