Eight states have combined totals that make up approximately 51% of US Covid patients now
Eight states, many of which have lagged the national average for vaccinations, have Covid-19 patients that account for at least 15% of their overall hospitalizations: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Texas, according to a CNN analysis of data from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Of all Covid-19 hospitalizations, these eight states’ combined totals make up approximately 51% of patients, though the states account for only around 24% of the nation’s population, according to Census data.
“In the past week, Florida has had more Covid cases than all 30 states with the lowest case rates combined. And Florida and Texas alone have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country,” White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday during a White House briefing.
Mississippi on Friday reported 5,023 new cases, a daily record, the state Department of Health said. Of the new cases, 98% of those are in unvaccinated people, the state’s dashboard shows.
“Hospital emergency rooms are inundated with patients with symptoms of Covid-19,” according to Brevard County Emergency Director John Scott. All three hospital systems in the county are over capacity and continue to deal with a surge in patients, which creates safety concerns for other emergencies such as traffic crash-related trauma patients or heart attack victims.
In Wisconsin, Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary in the state’s health department, warned Thursday that the state could experience a crisis similar to the one happening now in Florida.
“With this surge, we’re a few weeks behind our Southern states. What we’re seeing happen in Florida could happen. Wisconsin has a similar vaccination rate to Florida, and Covid-19 cases are reaching an all-time high in Florida, and their health care systems are overwhelmed,” Van Dijk said.
“We find ourselves in a situation that we hoped was in the past — we risk our hospital systems being overwhelmed, again, just as they were last November.”
FDA authorizes 3rd dose to immunocompromised
Health officials continue to stress that widespread vaccinations are needed to temper the effects of the surge in the weeks ahead.
About three-quarters of all reported breakthrough cases were among seniors age 65 or older. Of the people who died, 1 in 5 passed away from something other than Covid-19, even though they had a breakthrough case of the virus, according to the CDC.
“The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease,” Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement. “After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines.”
Mask mandate push and pull continues
Broward County School Board Chair Rosalind Osgood responded Friday on CNN to a question about reports that three of the educators were unvaccinated.
“I was also told they were unvaccinated,” she said.
The district is using money to encourage staff members to get vaccinated.
Broward County has had 138 employees test positive for Covid-19 since August 1, according to the system’s Covid dashboard, which was updated on Thursday.
About 15% of students in Lee and Hillsborough counties in Florida have exercised their ability to “opt out” of wearing a mask in schools. according to the school districts.
Lee County Public Schools, with a total student enrollment of 89,193, reported 1,646 teachers and students in quarantine on Thursday because of potential exposure to Covid-19.
“I didn’t make this decision without extensive consideration of all factors, but I am convinced this action is the best path forward given the ever-changing environment we currently face,” Reeves said of the state’s emergency extension.
CNN’s Rebekah Riess, Lauren Mascarenhas, Deidre McPhillips, Christina Maxouris, Gregory Lemos, Hannah Sarisohn, Abbey Clark and Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report.