COVID-19 top stories - July 2, 2020
Preventable prison outbreak gets worse; partygoers keep spreading disease; Surgeon General appeals for individual action to stop COVID spread.
There’s a lot to report even apart from a review of the numbers. Please note that I’m not planning an update tomorrow, but I’ll keep an eye out for major developments.
The horrible outbreak at San Quentin State Prison near San Francisco keeps getting worse, and some inmates have gone on a hunger strike to protest poor treatment. Marin County health director Matt Willis revealed in a video report that that prison officials rejected the county’s COVID-19 advice — multiple times. The prison, built in 1852, houses about 3,500 men, most of whom are medium-security inmates. As of today, more than 1,300 San Quentin inmates have been confirmed infected with COVID-19. (Disclosure: I volunteer to support the journalism program at San Quentin, so I know how vulnerable many of these people are.)
The federal government published a video of Surgeon General Jerome Adams giving the kind of direct message about COVID-19 that many of us wish we would hear from the White House. In the video, Adams says that individuals must follow health guidelines if we want to get back to school, work or worship.
So much for planning: 40 San Francisco Bay area school officials are isolated after being exposed to COVID-19 at an in-person meeting held to plan safe reopening of schools.
Authorities in many states are confronting the realities of multiple “super spreader” events, especially parties and family gatherings and including ones where people attended even though they know they have COVID-19. One example: in Texas, health officials are bracing for a surge of cases among 300 teens who attended a June 20 party in Lakeway. Some who attended knew they may have had COVID-19 but went anyway. In California, a man posted a sad video the day before he died. According to news reports, he went to a barbecue also attended by a friend who knew they had COVID-19 but didn’t tell anyone.
Arizona had a smaller number of new cases reported Wednesday, although hospitalizations continue to rise and the variance appears to be a data timing issue more than actual case count difference. Most significantly, Arizona hospitals report they are near 90% of their capacity for both ICU and non-ICU patients.
In New York, authorities are grappling with partygoers who refuse to cooperate with contact tracers. The people attended a party hosted by a person who had symptoms at the time of the party.
The World Health Organization cautions nations resuming air travel to remain vigilant and maintain screening of people both departing and arriving. The warning was issued as more than a dozen countries in Africa open up their airports. WHO notes that the countries had achieved good control of COVID-19 but new cases could easily spur new outbreaks.
As we mark the six-month point of the pandemic, New York physician Craig Spencer made these observations yesterday:
That’s it for today. Not planning to send an update tomorrow (Friday, July 3.) Please keep those faces covered when you are near anyone you don’t live with — and no large gatherings! Here’s to staying safe.