The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the United States surpassed 100,000 – an all-time high – as the pandemic rages on and strains health care systems.
A record 100,226 Americans were in hospital with Covid-19 as of Wednesday, according to data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project, the latest in a weeks-long streak of record-setting daily figures.
The US reported almost 200,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and 2,733 deaths from the virus.
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, meanwhile warned that the death toll could reach 450,000 by February.
“The reality is, December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they’re going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation,” Redfield said during a talk at the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Officials in some states, including California, have warned of shortages of hospital beds and staff.
LouAnn Woodward, who leads Mississippi’s largest hospital system, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), tweeted that beds were full.
“As of 6:46 am today, UMMC’s bed status is -31 beds, which means that 31 people are admitted but waiting for a bed to become available. Who will be #32 or #33 or #34?” she wrote.
Daily new coronavirus cases, which had dipped from record highs as Thanksgiving muddled reporting, rose to more than 180,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The US also saw the most Covid-19-related fatalities since mid-April, with 2,597 people dying on Tuesday, the Baltimore-based university said. The figure is nearing April’s record of 2,607 daily deaths.
While vaccines are within sight, health experts expect gatherings at Thanksgiving and other holidays to further fuel the widespread surge.
US health authorities on Wednesday warned people to avoid travel during the Christmas holidays at the end of this month.
Vanguard
