The U.S. hit another coronavirus milestone late Wednesday when the death toll exceeded 250,000.
According to NBC News, the US coronavirus death rate has increased 42% since early October to an average of 1,167 deaths per week. The news comes a year and a day after the world’s first coronavirus infection was reported in Wuhan, China.
Cases have increased in all 50 states plus Washington DC in the past week, but the largest increase has been in the Midwest and the Great Plains. North and South Dakota had the most new coronavirus infections, hospitalizations, and deaths when adjusted for population. Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Idaho are not far behind.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) has largely joined President Donald Trump on the coronavirus, questioning the use of face masks and refusing to impose restrictions. Now the virus has a grip on the state and has averaged 1,440 new cases per day for the past seven days.
Jodi Doering, a nurse in a South Dakota emergency room, told CNN people dying in her hospital that they still reject the virus.
“You don’t want to believe that COVID is real,” Doering said. “Her last dying words are, ‘This can’t happen. It’s not real. ‘”
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has resisted a mask mandate since the pandemic began, but things in the state are getting out of hand. Initially, Burgum ordered health care workers infected with the virus but asymptomatic to continue reporting for work – and working in coronavirus units.
On November 13, Burgum signed an executive order establishing a mask mandate and a 10 p.m. curfew for all bars and restaurants in the state. According to the Great Forks Herald, the state had withdrawn three major health offerings this summer because the state had not put restrictions and refused.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon urged residents to be accountable and protect themselves from any restrictions being imposed. In October he said, “It’s up to us.” However, this plan failed. According to the state’s Department of Health, the number of coronavirus admissions, overall hospital availability, and overall ICU bed availability are “worrying.”
Twelve counties in the state now have mask mandates.
Rural areas aren’t the only ones struggling with the virus. After a spring that killed more than 500 people a day, the state’s positivity rate in New York City was below 2% for most of the summer. However, the quota has now reached 3% and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that public schools will be closed and all students will study remotely at least until the end of the month.
While all 50 states are fighting the virus, the federal leadership is not helping. President Trump has said nothing about the rising numbers and has instead focused on holding on to his rapidly fading hopes for re-election despite the fact that he and a healthy section of his workforce contracted the virus. In the meantime, President-elect Joe Biden sits on the sidelines, putting a team together and making plans he can’t yet implement.
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