The number of new coronaviruses in the United States increased 10% last week, due to an increase in southern states.
New viruses have skyrocketed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
Some of those states have recently begun ramping up testing, possibly in part explaining why the number of cases has increased. But southern states have also reported an increase in their hospitalization rates, a sign that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the region.
Some public-health experts have attributed the South’s escalating outbreak to states relaxing their lockdown restrictions.
“The explanation why we’re seeing an increase in cases here in Houston is because of the decisions our governor has made to aggressively open the economy,” Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency room doctor in Houston, told Business Insider.
But several Southern governors told Business Insider that this is not a new lockdown circular.
“There is this false narrative that there are two parallel paths: either we protect other people’s health or we protect their economic resources, as if those two universes operate in two other universes,” Carrie Henning-Smith, assistant provost at the University of Minnesota. . Rural Health Research Center, he said. “But we can’t have a functioning economy if we don’t stay like other people and stay physically fit. “
A study from the University of California, Berkeley, published in Nature earlier this month, estimates that coronavirus lockdowns and public health measures in the United States prevented about 60 million infections between March 3 and April 6. Similar studies have also found that lockdown measures have saved lives around the world. world.
Here’s how Southern states are responding their rising case counts.
The weekly average of new coronavirus cases in Alabama has increased 97% from last week, according to data from Pantheon Macronomics. Daily hospitalizations in the state also hit a record high on Saturday, surpassing 1,000. But Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, does foresee any additional restrictions.
“As Governor Ivey has said publicly many times, you cannot live without a livelihood,” a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement to the Adviser. “She urges all Alabamians to do their part as we continually work to combat this virus and regain the balance and momentum we had just a few months ago. ”
Montgomery, Alabama, made headlines in May when Mayor Steven Reed said there were only a “handful” of intensive care unit beds left to treat COVID-19 patients. A city doctor told local NBC partner WSFA on Sunday that most Alabamians were social distancing and wearing masks in public.
“Hospitals are struggling a lot. We are at full capacity; it’s actually hard,” said Dr. David Thrasher. “And it’s not because we’re doing more testing; It’s not because there’s an epidemic in a nursing home. The community is quite prevalent, and it is going to be a problem. “
As of Sunday, Arizona’s infection rate reached 60. 5 cases per 100,000 residents, nearly five times higher than New York’s infection rate (12. 5 cases per 100,000 residents). Arizona’s average coronavirus hospitalizations also increased 49% between May 26 and June 9. But Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, has no plans to reinstate the blockade.
“We are not contemplating any further closures,” Ducey’s workplace said in a statement to Business Insider on Monday. “Anyone who wants physical care has access to it, and we continue to focus on expanding testing and contact tracing and educating the public about measures to curb the spread. “
Arkansas never imposed a stay-at-home order, but it temporarily closed salons, gyms, restaurants and entertainment venues. The state reported its number of new coronavirus cases in a single day on Friday: more than 730. Arkansas has also seen a 74% increase in average coronavirus hospitalizations since Memorial Day weekend, ABC News reported.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, said the recent backlog of cases has spread to three counties: Washington, Benton and Lee.
“Our knowledge shows that there is no correlation with the increase in cases in the three counties and the lifting of restrictions,” Hutchinson said in a statement to Business Insider on Monday. “Our technique is to expand testing, tracing and isolating cases. “
If the US tests enough people, uses contact tracers to track down who was exposed to people with the disease, and gets them to isolate, many public-health experts have concluded that states wouldn’t have to totally lock down again. But Harvard researchers estimated that would mean testing 20 million Americans per day. The US is testing only about 500,000 people per day, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Florida on Tuesday showed its highest total number of new coronavirus cases: more than 2,700. As of Monday, the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the state had nearly doubled since May 4. More than 12,000 Florida citizens have been hospitalized due to the virus.
“Florida is actively seeking COVID-positive Americans to provide immediate care and touch tracing to help prevent a broader spread of the disease,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said in a statement to Business Insider. “This competitive testing strategy is proving to be a success and will continue. “
In Miami, Mayor Francis Suarez said he would impose a new stay-at-home order for now, but that the city would continue to reopen bars and nightclubs as planned.
Mississippi was one of the first states to lift its stay-at-home order on April 27. The state’s weekly average of new coronavirus cases increased 27% from last week, according to data from Pantheon Macronomics.
Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, told Business Insider that “anything is possible” when it comes to a momentary stay-at-home order, but a lockdown is expected.
“It is exceptionally unlikely that we would choose to close our economy moving forward,” Reeves said. “We have to ensure that we protect the lives of Mississippians but also the livelihoods.”
North Carolina reported its highest single-day count of new coronavirus cases on Friday: more than 1,700. Daily hospitalizations have also steadily risen there in the past month.
“If we have to come home, we will,” Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, told NPR on Thursday. “I hope we don’t have to do that. I think there are things we can do before we get there, but yes, we are concerned. “
At a news conference Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said his priority is getting young people back to school in August.
“We also need to continue to take steps to ease restrictions and revive the economy, but we may not do so until our trends and signals tell us it’s time to do so,” Cooper said. North Carolinians, he added, “can play a vital role in our ability to move those numbers in the right direction. “
The weekly average of new coronavirus cases in South Carolina has increased 86% from last week, according to data from Pantheon Macronomics. On Friday, the state reported 803 new coronavirus cases, its highest single-day figure yet. South Carolina is among the last states to consider a stay-at-home order and the first to reopen in early May.
“If the solution was to shut down all businesses, then the businesses that did would be fine, but that’s not the case,” Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said at a news conference Wednesday. “That’s not the answer. “
He added: “It’s up to other people what kind of precautions deserve to be followed. “
Texas recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus hospitalizations on Monday: more than 2,300. The state also reported more than 2,600 new positive tests on Tuesday — its highest single-day count to date.
In an interview with the local KYTX news station on Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said he was “concerned but not alarmed” by the spike in positive cases. There’s “no real need to ratchet back the opening of businesses in the state,” he added.
But officials in Harris County, where cases and hospitalizations have risen in recent weeks, have said some other round of closures is possible.
“I’m growing increasingly concerned that we may be approaching the precipice — the precipice of a disaster,” Lina Hidalgo, the Harris County judge, told CBS News on Friday. “The numbers we’re seeing are very significant.”
On Monday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler announced that the city would extend its stay-at-home order through August 15 to prevent cases from piling up.
“Make no mistake, we are going to see more hospitalizations and deaths,” Adler told local ABC partner KVUE. “We want the governor to enforce mask wearing and social distancing if we want to continue reopening the economy without overwhelming hospitals. “
Morgan McFall-Johnsen and Hilary Brueck contributed reporting.
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