COVID-19 cases hit record-high in the U.S and deaths surge 300%: Florida releases data dump which shows there were more than 150,000 new infections in a week as hospitals in the state buckle under pressure
The United States reported a record-high number of coronavirus cases on Friday as Florida recorded more than 150,000 cases in this week's data dump and the number of deaths surged 300 percent in a single day.
According to figures compiled by the widely-respected Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. reported 319,456 new COVID cases, raising the overall count of nationwide cases to more than 37.7 million.
Nearly half of those cases were reported in Florida, which is seeing a 19.8 percent positivity rate among tested individuals. The state, which only releases COVID data once a week, reported 150,118 cases.
The U.S. reported 2,677 new deaths on Friday, after reporting only 908 deaths on Thursday. Florida accounted for 346 of those deaths.
Florida, which is widely considered the current pandemic epicenter, is seeing a larger portion of COVID deaths in its younger population. According to the SunSentinel, 36 percent of the state's deaths occurred in the under-65 population.
Officials say some of the deceased were as young as 20 and had no underlying conditions.
The middle-aged population, people ages 50 to 74, also makes up a large share of Florida's COVID-19 deaths.
'When the pandemic started, we had an indication of who was coming in — people larger in size, or with diabetes, or older than a certain age. We knew when they came in they might end up in ICU,' Jennifer Pacheco, assistant vice president of critical care at Boca Rotan Regional Hospital, told the newspaper.
Florida reported 150,118 new COVID cases on Friday, a positivity rate of 19.8 percent. The state only releases COVID data once a week
Florida also reported 346 deaths on Friday. 99 percent of the state's deaths are among unvaccinated individuals
'This time, we're not seeing that. We are seeing younger people, and we cannot predict who will come into the ICU and end up on ventilators. It's very concerning.'
However, the common theme amongst victims, is lack of vaccination. 99 percent of Florida's deaths are among unvaccinated individuals.
Only 47 percent of Floridians are fully vaccinated against COVID and about 57 percent of the state's eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Children are now making up a larger portion of Florida's coronavirus cases but, as of August 12, the state has only reported 10 COVID deaths among people under age 16.
Louisiana and Mississippi, which are currently coronavirus hotspots, saw case increases on Friday of 5,922 and 5,048 respectively. Both states also reported rising deaths tolls, citing 67 and 54 COVID fatalities.
Louisiana and Mississippi, which are currently coronavirus hotspots, saw case increases on Friday of 5,922 and 5,048 respectively. Both states also reported rising deaths tolls, citing 67 and 54 COVID fatalities (Pictured: COVID testing in Mississippi on April 29, 2021)
Mississippi health leader Dr. Thomas Dobbs (pictured during a news briefing on Aug. 13, 2021) said the pandemic is the worst it has ever been in the state
Earlier this week Mississippi's top doctor said the pandemic is the worst it has ever been in the state.
'We're seeing higher and higher numbers of not just cases but hospitalizations, people in intensive care units, life support. And sadly, as we've seen, additional deaths are going to follow. Without a doubt we have surpassed our previous peaks by a substantial margin, and we expect to see that continue,' Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Wednesday, according to Yahoo News.
'We are clearly at the worst part of the pandemic that we've seen throughout, and it's continued to worsen.'
Mississippi's hospitals have run out of beds and the state has reported that thousands of children have tested positive for COVID after returning to the classroom.
The state has also ranked second nationwide for both the most cases and the most deaths per 100,000 people in the last seven days. Mississippi has also ranked third in hospitalizations.
Mississippi reported 5,048 new COVID cases on Friday, raising the state's total to more than 406,000 cases
Mississippi also reported 54 new fatalities on Friday, raising the overall death toll to 7,991
Dr. Paul Byers, the state epidemiologist, announced Tuesday that 20,000 students -- approximately 4.5 percent of the public school population -- had been placed in quarantine after more than 4,500 youths and nearly 1,000 educators had tested positive for the virus.
Byers also argued that 'rapid increase' in cases is 'putting a lot of the pressure' on the state's hospital networks. Earlier this week there were only six ICU beds available in the entire state and over 200 patients in emergency rooms waiting for beds.
The epidemiologist believes that hospitalizations and fatalities are going to continue to rise statewide.
'We're having so many cases that are occurring so quickly, and when you have a lot of cases, that's going to translate into a lot of hospitalizations and, unfortunately, a lot of deaths,' he said.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (pictured at the University of Louisiana Campus vaccination site on Aug. 19, 2021) said COVID cases are continuing to surge in schools, noting that 2,444 students tested positive for COVID between August 9 through 15
Similarly, in Louisiana, COVID cases are continuing to surge in schools, 4WWL reported.
While Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday that the state's COVID numbers 'decreased very slightly' in the last three days, hospitalizations and cases in educational settings remain high.
'We cannot keep our schools open or our kids safe without masks,' Edwards said during a Friday news briefing. 'There is a very significant burden in this population. Transmission is very high.'
He noted that 2,444 students tested positive for COVID between August 9 through 15, which is higher than any week in the first two months of the 20-21 school year or the 19-20 academic year.
Louisiana reported 5,922 new COVID cases on Friday, raising the state's total to 649,915. The state also reported 67 deaths and 2,999 hospitalizations
23,000 'close contacts' have missed school due to coronavirus exposure.
Additionally, about 1,668 or 28 percent of Louisiana's newly reported cases on Friday were children.
Louisiana has seen a decreases in COVID hospitalizations, dropping from the state's 3,022 hospitalization peak to a total of 2,999 reported Friday.
However, officials say this number is still too high.
'We still have far too many people in the hospital in Louisiana, but this is a tiny piece of hopeful news,' the governor's office said. This is the first time in five days the state's hospitalizations were below 3,000.
91 percent of Louisiana's hospitalized patients have not been vaccinated.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and the White House have acknowledged the nation's rising case count, attributing it the Delta variant
Dr. Anthony Fauci and the White House have acknowledged the nation's rising case count, attributing it the Delta variant.
'The threat of COVID-19 and its variants, including the highly transmissible Delta variant, remains real,' Fauci said Friday.
'But we are prepared and have the tools needed to keep our communities safe. This is no time to let our guard down. Together, with science and facts, we can do this.'
Officials continue to encourage Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine and take precautions, such as mask wearing and social distancing, in an effort to prevent further spread.
1.024 million Americans were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday, with Georgia reporting the highest vaccination numbers at 120,750,000 people.
169.6 million people or 52 percent of the U.S. population are fully vaccinated against the virus.
The ten states with the lowest vaccination rates are Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, Idaho, Louisiana, Arkansas, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and North Dakota.
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