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In the past month, the U.S. has seen:
More than a million new infections
More than 30,000 people hospitalized
The recent spike in Covid-19 infections has mercifully been accompanied by a declining death count https://trib.al/gftrYsK
More than a million new infections More than 30,000 people hospitalizedThe recent spike in Covid-19 infections has mercifully been accompanied by a declining death count https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Thankfully, much has been learned about how to treat Covid-19.
Even though death is a lagging indicator, and the numbers are likely to catch up to some degree, thereās reason to hope that the lag could now be longer and slower than it was in the spring https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Even though death is a lagging indicator, and the numbers are likely to catch up to some degree, thereās reason to hope that the lag could now be longer and slower than it was in the spring https://trib.al/gftrYsK
But a lower death count is no justification for states to reopen their economies without caution.
It also isnāt a reason to suggest, as the White House appears to be doing, that Americans should just get used to living with Covid-19 https://trib.al/gftrYsK
It also isnāt a reason to suggest, as the White House appears to be doing, that Americans should just get used to living with Covid-19 https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Why do fatalities lag behind cases? Covid-19 is a rather slow-going illness. It takes time to:
Develop an infection
Require hospitalization
Have an acute infection result in death https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Develop an infectionRequire hospitalizationHave an acute infection result in death https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Also, deaths arenāt always reported in a timely manner, so you can see why fatalities are slow to rise and fall.
Note that at the moment, the U.S. is less than a month into a sustained increase in cases https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Note that at the moment, the U.S. is less than a month into a sustained increase in cases https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Death tolls are rising in hot-spot states such as:
Arizona
Florida
Texas
But those deaths have been balanced so far by declining figures in initially hard-hit states https://trib.al/gftrYsK
ArizonaFloridaTexasBut those deaths have been balanced so far by declining figures in initially hard-hit states https://trib.al/gftrYsK
California is an unusual case.
Its case numbers are rising, yet its death count is still flat. This may be evidence that fewer of those people most likely to die from Covid-19 are now contracting the virus https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Its case numbers are rising, yet its death count is still flat. This may be evidence that fewer of those people most likely to die from Covid-19 are now contracting the virus https://trib.al/gftrYsK
This possibility is reinforced by data from several other states showing that Covid cases are skewing younger.
Such an age shift means that more people arriving at the hospital have a better chance of surviving https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Such an age shift means that more people arriving at the hospital have a better chance of surviving https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Because hospitals are less crowded, patients of all ages are getting better treatment. Advanced care is also helping people recover from severe illness:
Remdesivir
Dexamethasone (a steroid)
Proning (having patients lie on their stomachs) https://trib.al/gftrYsK
RemdesivirDexamethasone (a steroid)Proning (having patients lie on their stomachs) https://trib.al/gftrYsK
But a lower average death count ā say, 500 a day ā is still tragic.
If the U.S. continues to add 50,000-plus new cases a day, the number of deaths will rise. Rampant case growth will inevitably breach measures that lead to better outcomes https://trib.al/gftrYsK
If the U.S. continues to add 50,000-plus new cases a day, the number of deaths will rise. Rampant case growth will inevitably breach measures that lead to better outcomes https://trib.al/gftrYsK
If current trends continue, the virus will inevitably spread to more older Americans.
As hospitals in hot spots fill up, the crowding will lead to more deaths ā from Covid-19 as well as other illnesses for which people cannot get care https://trib.al/gftrYsK
As hospitals in hot spots fill up, the crowding will lead to more deaths ā from Covid-19 as well as other illnesses for which people cannot get care https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Death isnāt the only concern raised by rising infection rates. Covid-19 may also cause significant harm to those who survive:
Long-lasting organ damage
Weakening from ventilators
These painful consequences are not included in the data we see https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Long-lasting organ damageWeakening from ventilatorsThese painful consequences are not included in the data we see https://trib.al/gftrYsK
Covid patients probably have a better chance of survival now than they did in March.
But thatās no reason to allow infections to keep soaring https://trib.al/gftrYsK
But thatās no reason to allow infections to keep soaring https://trib.al/gftrYsK
