The Covid-19 surge in hospitalizations in parts of the South is also affecting states such as Hawaii and Oregon that were once seen as pandemic success stories.
Months after they kept cases and hospitalizations at manageable levels, they see progress slipping away as record numbers of patients overwhelmed health care workers to the bone.
Oregon – like Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana in recent times – has more people in hospital with COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. Hawaii is also about to reach that point.
This is despite the vaccination levels of both the states being higher than the national average of last week. Arkansas and Louisiana were well below average, while Florida was even.
“It’s heartbreaking. People are tired. You can see it in their eyes,” said Dr. Jason Kuhl, chief medical officer at Providence Medford Medical Center in Oregon.
In other developments, Food and Drug Administration It is expected to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for some people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients, to give them an extra dose of protection.
The US is seeing the virus coming back, particularly in the South and other rural and conservative parts of the country, driven by a combination of highly contagious delta variants and lagging vaccination rates.
New cases across the country average around 123,000 per day, a level last seen in early February, and deaths are running more than 500 a day, turning the clock into May.
For the most part during the pandemic, Hawaii enjoyed some of the lowest infection and death rates in the country. In recent days, however, it recorded a record high of more than 600 new virus cases per day.
On its worst day in 2020, Hawaii had 291 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus. Officials expect the tally to reach 300 by the end of this week.
Despite the initial demand for COVID-19 shots, it took longer than expected — three weeks — for 50% to 60% of the vaccine-eligible population to be fully vaccinated. Vaccination has been stable since then. Nationally, the rate is around 59%.
The biggest hospital in Hawaii’s Big Island is feeling the pressure. Of the 128 acute beds, 116 were moved to Hilo Medical Center on Wednesday, and the hospital’s 11 intensive care unit beds are almost always full these days, spokeswoman Elena Kabatu said.
“If someone has a heart attack or sepsis or gets into a bad accident that requires intensive care, we have to put that person in the emergency department,” Kabatu said.
“I’m surprised we landed here,” she lamented. “Hope was just so high during the Mass Wax Clinic.”
Hilton Rathel, President and CEO Healthcare Association of Hawaii, disputed any notion that the rebound in tourism in Hawaii is largely to blame.
“Tourists have been sources of infection, but they have never been a major source of infection,” Rathel said. “There’s a lot of concern about Hawaiians, residents who move south, go to Vegas, go to other places, and they come back and spread it.”
In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced this week that nearly everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, will have to wear masks again in indoor public places.
For the second straight day on Wednesday, the state reported a record number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients – 665. The previous peak of 622 came during the November surge, before a vaccine was available. ICU beds across the state are about 90% full.
During the pandemic, health officials have described Oregon as a success story, largely because of its stringent restrictions, which were lifted in late June.
During this, white House More people are being vaccinated in states with the highest infection rates, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, said coronavirus coordinator Jeff Ziants.
“We’re getting more shots in the weapons in the places where they’re needed the most. That’s what it takes to end this pandemic,” he said.
In Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has mandated wearing masks, some emergency rooms are so overcrowded that doctors are stocking up with oxygen and small, portable oxygen-monitoring devices to free up beds for sick patients. sending home.
Months after they kept cases and hospitalizations at manageable levels, they see progress slipping away as record numbers of patients overwhelmed health care workers to the bone.
Oregon – like Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana in recent times – has more people in hospital with COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. Hawaii is also about to reach that point.
This is despite the vaccination levels of both the states being higher than the national average of last week. Arkansas and Louisiana were well below average, while Florida was even.
“It’s heartbreaking. People are tired. You can see it in their eyes,” said Dr. Jason Kuhl, chief medical officer at Providence Medford Medical Center in Oregon.
In other developments, Food and Drug Administration It is expected to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for some people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients, to give them an extra dose of protection.
The US is seeing the virus coming back, particularly in the South and other rural and conservative parts of the country, driven by a combination of highly contagious delta variants and lagging vaccination rates.
New cases across the country average around 123,000 per day, a level last seen in early February, and deaths are running more than 500 a day, turning the clock into May.
For the most part during the pandemic, Hawaii enjoyed some of the lowest infection and death rates in the country. In recent days, however, it recorded a record high of more than 600 new virus cases per day.
On its worst day in 2020, Hawaii had 291 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus. Officials expect the tally to reach 300 by the end of this week.
Despite the initial demand for COVID-19 shots, it took longer than expected — three weeks — for 50% to 60% of the vaccine-eligible population to be fully vaccinated. Vaccination has been stable since then. Nationally, the rate is around 59%.
The biggest hospital in Hawaii’s Big Island is feeling the pressure. Of the 128 acute beds, 116 were moved to Hilo Medical Center on Wednesday, and the hospital’s 11 intensive care unit beds are almost always full these days, spokeswoman Elena Kabatu said.
“If someone has a heart attack or sepsis or gets into a bad accident that requires intensive care, we have to put that person in the emergency department,” Kabatu said.
“I’m surprised we landed here,” she lamented. “Hope was just so high during the Mass Wax Clinic.”
Hilton Rathel, President and CEO Healthcare Association of Hawaii, disputed any notion that the rebound in tourism in Hawaii is largely to blame.
“Tourists have been sources of infection, but they have never been a major source of infection,” Rathel said. “There’s a lot of concern about Hawaiians, residents who move south, go to Vegas, go to other places, and they come back and spread it.”
In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced this week that nearly everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, will have to wear masks again in indoor public places.
For the second straight day on Wednesday, the state reported a record number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients – 665. The previous peak of 622 came during the November surge, before a vaccine was available. ICU beds across the state are about 90% full.
During the pandemic, health officials have described Oregon as a success story, largely because of its stringent restrictions, which were lifted in late June.
During this, white House More people are being vaccinated in states with the highest infection rates, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, said coronavirus coordinator Jeff Ziants.
“We’re getting more shots in the weapons in the places where they’re needed the most. That’s what it takes to end this pandemic,” he said.
In Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has mandated wearing masks, some emergency rooms are so overcrowded that doctors are stocking up with oxygen and small, portable oxygen-monitoring devices to free up beds for sick patients. sending home.
.