The rate of new coronavirus infections appears to be slowing down for the first time in 2 weeks across the US, with significant reductions reported for Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
On Sunday, Arizona reported a 13% drop in the seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases, logging 2,627 newly diagnosed cases over the previous 24 hours, down from 3,022 the previous week, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.The state has also begun to see signs that its Covid-19 hospitalizations may be slowing down, according to data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project, a volunteer group founded by journalists from The Atlantic magazine. As of Sunday, coronavirus hospitalizations also fell by about 14% from the previous week to a seven-day average of 2,919.Cases in Texas have fallen almost 19% over the previous week, hitting roughly 8,404 daily new cases based on a seven-day moving average on Sunday, according to the CNBC analysis. Its peak in average daily new cases was 10,572 on July 20. CNBC uses a seven-day average to calculate Covid-19 trends because it smooths out inconsistencies and gaps in state data….Florida has just begun seeing its curve start to flatten since reaching a record-high average of daily new cases of 11,870 on July 17, according to data from Johns Hopkins. On Sunday, the state had 10,544 average new cases, which is an 8% decrease compared with a week ago.
As a Californian, I would like to point out I live in one of the most COVID-aware areas of the country, and the state is still trying to handle its surge of new cases.
July has brought a month of grim COVID-19 headlines for California, with a state once seen as a model of prevention enduring a new surge in cases as the economy rapidly reopened.But will July end with more bad news or some tentative signs that the efforts to slow infections by closing down some businesses and institutions might be paying off?Health officials are anxious for more signs of the latter, especially amid indications that other hot-spot states may be beginning to plateau.
Astute observers might theorize that the COVID-containment rules seem to be failing, and perhaps preparing for the virus to continue to infect the population until it burns itself out would be the wiser move. The assertion has credence since the Centers for Disease Control has discovered that its original guidance of 14-day quarantines is not warranted.
Citing multiple studies by the agency and beyond, the CDC found those who have mild cases of COVID-19 may not have to be in quarantine for 14 days, that duration potentially being shortened to 10.Scientists found 10 days after onset symptoms, patients they studied did not have “replication-competent virus” — or in simpler terms, virus which could infect cells and replicate.For patients with severe cases of COVID-19, scientists found 88% were not contagious after 10 days and 95% were not after 15 days.Another study involving contact tracing found those in a high-risk household and hospitals who were exposed to a positive patient did not develop symptoms if they came into contact 6 days or more after the patient first reported symptoms.These findings go on to support the calls for those who feel ill to stay home but also could cut down on the initial 14 day quarantine, depending on severity of illness.
The American media has been bashing the Trump administration for failing to stem the continuing outbreaks, which began to occur shortly after the BLM-protesters gathered with no adherence to the established social distancing guidelines. The press pointed to Europe as a success story.
Now, Germany, France, and Spain are all reporting new outbreaks.
In France, health officials said Friday that a recent rise in new coronavirus cases in the country has “erased” much of the headway made since the country crept out from their lockdown, The Telegraph reported.1,130 new daily cases were reported Friday, a far cry from the mere 81 counted this time last month, and France is working to have their residents work from home as a mitigation effort.Spain is also concerned about a potential second wave as new, localized clusters appear to spring up just a month after their lockdown ended, with cities like Barcelona experiencing spikes as its larger region, Catalonia, announced it would shutter nightclubs for two weeks to try and get a grasp of the spread.Germany’s “second coronavirus wave is already here,” Michael Kretschmer, Saxony’s Minister President, was quoted as saying in the Rheinische Post Saturday per a Deutsche Welle translation.The country has counted an upward slope of new daily cases over a week, according to media reports, with most coming from the south and southwestern parts of the country.
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