US Coronavirus: Half a million new coronavirus cases since Monday

The United States has reported more than 100,000 infections for the 10th consecutive day, bringing the total to 556,961 since Monday. On Thursday, the country had the largest number of new infections, but it still exceeded 153,000 cases, close to 200,000 cases per day, which is a level that experts predict will soon become a destructive reality.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (Gretchen Whitmer) warned Thursday that the state is in “the most severe area of ​​this pandemic so far.”

She said: “The curve we have flattened? Now, the curve is a straight line and it is straight.”

The overall forecast issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday predicts that by December 5, there will be 282,000 deaths, and 40,000 Americans will die in the next three weeks.

Thanksgiving is less

Officials touted months of public health measures-including facial coverings, social distancing and regular hand washing-might provide much-needed help. According to IHME’s forecast, if 95% of Americans wear masks, more than 17,000 lives could be saved by the end of this year.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS: “If we take simple public health measures, the spike will stabilize and begin to decline.” “This morning” on Friday.

If Americans lower their vigilance, “we will continue to take off,” Fuqi said.

In New Hampshire, Governor Chris Sununu reported that most cases of the new virus came from gatherings where people did not wear masks.

The governor said: “If a family member is not in your immediate family, even if you live in your own house, you and that member may wear masks.” “The virus does not care that it is Uncle Bob.”

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, said during Thanksgiving: “Separation should become the norm.” “While we are grateful, we don’t want to get the virus.”

Research: New mutant virus strains are easier to spread

The researchers now also say that they have found more evidence that the mutant version of the coronavirus that has replaced the old strain is more likely to spread, but it does not appear to be in any danger.

It does not change its physical shape, so whether it is natural or induced by a vaccine, it should be susceptible to the human immune response.

A research team composed of two viral genetic experts-Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. Ralph Baric from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-studied the so-called D614G version of the coronavirus.

The research team’s findings validated previous research, which showed that the new strain was easier to spread, and also supported that this mutation did not make the virus more likely to cause serious illness. The mutation may help the virus reproduce better in the nose and upper respiratory tract, thereby helping its spread.

Officials say that “targeted vaccination” will start in December or January

At the same time, a senior US official said on Thursday that every American who wants to be vaccinated will be able to do so by April.

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said: “At first, in December and January, we will carry out targeted vaccinations. Help from the biggest chains, such as Walgreens and CVS.”

He said that there may be enough vaccines for “all our most vulnerable citizens” in December, followed by January “all of our seniors, our emergency first responders and our medical staff”. .

He said: “By the end of March to the beginning of April, we believe that among all the vaccines we have invested, we have provided enough vaccines for all Americans who wish to be vaccinated.”