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 HHS data.
Of all Covid-19 hospitalizations, these eight states’ combined totals make up approximately 51% of patients, despite accounting for only around 24% of the nation’s population, according to Census data.
“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 accident-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 healthcare 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 third dose to immunocompromised
Health officials continue to stress that widespread vaccinations are needed to temper the effects of the surge in the weeks ahead.
Of the more than 164 million people in the US fully vaccinated as of August 2, fewer than 0.001% of those individuals — 1,507 people — died from Covid-19.
About three-quarters of all reported breakthrough cases were among seniors age 65 or older. Of the people who died, one in five 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
With the school year getting underway, the debate over mask mandates among parents, educators and political leadership continues nationwide, as children under the age of 12 are not yet eligible for Covid-19 vaccines.
In Florida, approximately 15% of students in Lee and Hillsborough counties 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 and Abbey Clark contributed to this report.