Some parts of the U. S. are experiencing a surge in COVID-19 infections, and some hospital governments are recommending mandatory mask wearing.
A data map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows where the hardest-hit areas of the country are, with the Midwest and Northeast showing notable case counts.
The flu season, when respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 rise in the winter, has led to some hospitals in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Washington D.C. bringing in mask mandates.
The data shows that, on average, the worst-affected area is known as ‘Region Seven,’ consisting of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Region Seven has seen 18.3 percent of COVID-19 tests coming back positive in the week leading up to December 23. There was a minor rise in positivity of 0.1 percent.
The scenario is “Region Five,” made up of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, where positivity rates dropped to 0. 1%, but 14. 8% of tests conducted were positive.
Massachusetts’ largest physical care system, Mass General Brigham, said masks will be placed for all physical care in direct contact with patients until the rate of COVID-19 drops sufficiently.
The staff at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D. C. must wear a mask at work, The Hill reported, as did NYC Health Hospitals.
Newsweek contacted MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and Mass General Brigham for comment via email.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued an advisory on Dec. 14 that physical care facilities deserve to “intensify mitigation efforts to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses. “
A non-mandatory advice from Yolo County, California, advises Americans to wear masks “in crowded indoor spaces. “
Aimee Sisson, Yolo County public health officer, said: “Our wastewater monitoring program is currently detecting high COVID-19 and RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] levels. I recommend that everybody in the community take steps to protect themselves from infection, including wearing a high-quality mask when indoors around others.”
Another CDC map showing the rate of hospital admissions shows the highest rates in U. S. counties. From Idaho to New England to South Texas.
The most recent data from the CDC indicates that about 7. 36% of the U. S. territory has peak levels of hospitalizations per 100,000 people. That figure rose to just over 1% in the week to Dec. 23.
It is difficult to assess data on COVID-19 hospitalizations in some counties, due to low populations in some areas. In Idaho, new hospital admissions in Lemhi County dropped by one-third in the week to Dec. 23, but there were two cases per 100,000 residents.
Lemhi County has an estimated population of around 8,000. On the CDC map, there is still a peak COVID-19 hospitalization rate consistent with 100,000 people.
Benjamin Lynch is a journalist for Newsweek in London, UK. He focuses on U. S. politics and domestic affairs and reports on issues such as executions to death, U. S. foreign policy, and the most recent developments in Congress, among others. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, Benjamin worked as a journalist in the United States, around the world, and in the United Kingdom for the Daily Mirror and reported extensively on topics such as the plight of Afghan refugees and cases of prisoners on death row.
Benjamin had previously worked at the Daily Star and renowned free speech magazine Index on Censorship after graduating from Liverpool John Moores University. You can get in touch with Benjamin by emailing [email protected] and follow him on X @ben_lynch99.
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