Brutal truth about US COVID-19 cases surging again

COVID-19 cases are “exploding” again in a number of US states this week and experts say a brutal truth can no longer be ignored.

A worrying trend is being seen in 20 US states where recent gains against the coronavirus have been flipped and cases are again surging.

New positive cases of COVID-19 in the past seven days were a staggering 52 per cent higher in Michigan than they were the previous seven days.

In Pennsylvania, new infections were 25 per cent higher over the most recent seven day period and in Minnesota and Indiana infections were 28 and 27 per cent higher respectively.

More than a dozen other states saw spikes well above recent seven-day averages that have authorities and experts worried big mistakes are being made in the rush to reopen.

The New York Times reports that Michigan is “in the throes of a coronavirus outbreak that is one of the largest and most alarming in the country” as “infection levels … exploded in recent weeks, in big cities and rural stretches alike”.

Experts are worried US states are reopening too soon after beginning vaccination roll-outs. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

One of the most respected minds in the health science, Harvard-educated epidemiologist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding, wrote today that the US is in danger of repeating a mistake Chile made when it reopened “carelessly and haphazardly after just beginning to vaccinate”.

“Let’s not be Chile,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Chile made a critical mistake — its government eased restrictions on travel, business and schools much too early, creating a false sense of confidence that pandemic was over. This always been my fear.

“I’ve said many times before this was my biggest fear, more than even mutations. That the moment we start vaccinating, political leaders will get pressure to immediately reopen before enough people been vaccinated. And political pressure will build more and more.

“Especially after vaccinating elderly, the pressure on politicians will be so great that they would then swing the doors open to celebrate their vaccine program success and try to capitalise on immediate reopening euphoria politically.”

Dr Feigl-Ding wrote that US states are giving the public “the sense the pandemic is basically over”.

People line up to enter Yankee Stadium for opening day of the MLB season. President Joe Biden has urged clubs not to allow fans back at full capacity. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

“Basically this euphoria and false sense of success will cause people to potentially become EVEN MORE RECKLESS and cavalier in their personal behaviours — which may lead people to spread the virus more among those unvaccinated & recently vaccinated with incomplete protection yet,” he wrote.

Michigan health officer Ann Hepfer told the Times she was “racked by worries” about authorities using vaccine rates to justify relaxing social distancing and mask-wearing restrictions.

“It makes me shudder,” she said. “I never thought we would see this at this time. I thought we would be over the hump.”

The publication reports that “a broader relaxing of mask wearing, social distancing and other strategies many weeks before substantial portion of population is vaccinated” is partly behind the surge in cases in Michigan, but so too is the highly-contagious P1 variant of the virus, which was discovered in the state this week.

Americans have seen many changes in the last week. On Thursday, for the first time October 2019, New Yorkers returned to Yankee Stadium for the return of the Major League Baseball season, though the 54,000 seat venue will only be 20 per cent full.

New York saw a 7 per cent spike in new cases this week compared to last week with more than 7600 new cases a day.

US President Joe Biden warned sports teams against allowing fans back into stadiums at full capacity and without aggressive restrictions.

People line up in cars to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

He said teams are making a mistake if they ignore the science and allow fans back into stadiums at full capacity.

Biden said the Texas Rangers are not being “responsible” by allowing 100 per cent capacity at Globe Life Field on Major League Baseball’s opening day on Thursday, following a decision by the National Football League earlier this week to play games beginning in early September at full capacity.

“Well, that’s a decision they made. I think it’s a mistake,” Biden said of the Rangers filling their 40,300 seat stadium.

“They should listen to Dr. (Anthony) Fauci, the scientists and the experts. But I think it’s not responsible.”

Biden made his comments as part of an interview with US sports broadcaster ESPN which aired Wednesday night.

He also emphasised the importance of wearing masks and continuing to follow restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed over 550,000 Americans so far.

The state of Texas has seen almost 50,000 people die — more than Canada and Sweden combined.

“In terms of it being responsible (for stadiums to open at full capacity) — you see what’s happening in Europe now when they lifted the mandates. I don’t know why we don’t just follow the science and beat this,” Biden said.

— with AFP