Not only are coronavirus cases continuing to surge in the United States, but countries around the globe are also seeing an increase in cases after largely bringing the virus under control.
As more Covid-19 records get broken, debates on whether to send children back to school or to shut down the economy again are coming to a head. Researchers are projecting up to 175,000 deaths caused by the virus by August 15, according to an ensemble forecast published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Florida, California, Hawaii and Oregon have reported record-breaking numbers of new cases since Friday. Texas, already dealing with an influx of virus cases and deaths, is now dealing with a disaster declaration in 32 counties after Hurricane Hanna made landfall Saturday evening.
States that lifted coronavirus restrictions are reversing course as cases surge and hospitals fill up across the Sun Belt, reports the Washington Post. The alarming spread “puts the entire country at risk,” Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-diseases expert, told a Senate panel June 30.
Beaches that opened on Memorial Day shut back down by the Fourth of July. Masks are now required in many states and on all airlines. Now, many states are mandating that face masks be worn, while many school districts and universities are rethinking school openings this fall.
Letter to the president
Because of the current situation in the country today, over 150 prominent medical experts, scientists, teachers, nurses and other experts have signed a letter urging leaders to shut the country down and start over to contain the rampant spread of the virus.
“The best thing for the nation is not to reopen as quickly as possible, it’s to save as many lives as possible,” they wrote in the letter, which was sent last week to the Trump administration, leading members of Congress and state governors.
The letter came just after an unpublished document prepared for the White House coronavirus task force recommended that 18 states in the coronavirus “red zone” for cases should roll back reopening measures amid surging cases.
The “red zone” is defined in the 359-page report as “those core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) and counties that during the last week reported both new cases above 100 per 100,000 population, and a diagnostic test positivity result above 10 percent.” The 18 states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
Basically, things do not look real good around the country. Today, it was learned the Miami Marlins’ home opening game against the Baltimore Orioles tonight has been canceled due to a number of players and staff testing positive for Covid-19, according to multiple reports.
Google will extend its remote work policy until at least July 2021, according to a person familiar with the matter. A Google spokesperson on Monday confirmed the company’s plans, citing an internal memo by CEO Sundar Pichai.
This still leaves us with the question of whether we keep the country open for the sake of the economy, or close it back down and try it again, following the right protocols to assure success?
