America sees an “unvaccinated pandemic” as cases rise in every state | Corona Virus

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The media reported Friday that Covid cases are on the rise in all 50 US states as the delta variant is spreading from coast to coast, and with less than half of the US population fully immunized, public health chiefs warned of an “extraordinary increase.”

“This has become an epidemic of the unvaccinated,” Rochelle Wallinsky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a White House briefing.

Walinsky said the US sees an average of 26,000 new coronavirus cases per day — a seven-day average that’s 70% higher than last week. Hospitalizations and deaths are also seeing increases — about 36% and 26%, respectively, with Wallinsky noting that this was another “critical moment” in the outbreak.

“We are seeing outbreaks in parts of the country with low immunization coverage because people who are not immunized are at risk. Communities that have been fully vaccinated are doing well in general,” she said.

Anthony Fauci, the country’s chief infectious disease official, said there had been an “extraordinary increase” in the delta variant of Covid-19 – which is more transmissible – around the world, including in the United States.

Jeff Zentes, the White House coronavirus team coordinator, emphasized that unvaccinated Americans “account for nearly all recent hospitalizations and deaths of Covid-19.”

Zentz said that four states currently experiencing significant increases in Covid-19 cases accounted for more than 40% of the total Covid cases seen in the country last week. One in five cases occurred in Florida, where about 50% of the entire state has been vaccinated.

“Every Covid-19 death is tragic, and what is happening now is even more tragic because it is preventable,” he said.

Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada are also seeing a sudden rise in infections in many parts.

On Friday, CNN reported that all US states are now seeing an increase in new cases, more than 18 months after the pandemic.

Data compiled by the New York Times showed that the average rate measured over the past 14 days was rising in all 50 states — and ranged from 373% in Tennessee to 10% in Maine.

The Johns Hopkins Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center has provided data showing cases are currently up in all states except in recent days, despite Zentz’s comments, in Florida.

Zents said the White House has been working on local outreach to communities questioning the vaccine and has been making the vaccine available in doctors’ offices and workplaces.

As the infection spreads, again raising concern for hospital systems, some authorities have begun imposing new restrictions.

Los Angeles will return from Saturday night to mandatory mask-wearing indoors, even for people who have been vaccinated, as the nation’s largest county seeks to contain the continuing increase in cases among its 10 million residents.

On Thursday, Los Angeles County recorded 1,537 new cases — the largest daily load since early March.

Nearly 400 people were hospitalized with Covid in Los Angeles as of Wednesday, 275 more than the previous week, and nine new Covid deaths were reported on the same day.

“This is a moment of hands-on deck,” said Dr. Monto Davis, Los Angeles County Public Health Officer.

Louisiana has illustrated the challenge now facing states with relatively low levels of vaccination, with CNN reporting that only 36% of citizens are fully vaccinated and some hospitals are feeling overwhelmed. The state records nearly 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day, the highest level in four months.

About 60% of new Louisiana cases are accounted for by the delta variable.

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