Coronavirus news, updates, hotspots and information for 3-15-2021

This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 15th, 2021. 

The story today, a resurgence of Covid across Europe. In Italy, three-quarters of the population went into a strict lockdown today. A more contagious U.K. variant and a slow vaccine rollout led to a 15% increase in cases last week. The entire country will be on lockdown for the Easter weekend to stop family gatherings. It looks like the Paris region is also headed for a new lockdown as ICU units fill up with variant victims and vaccine supplies are limited. And looking forward, the U.K.’s head of the Office for National Statistics warned they are ‘no doubt’ facing another wave of coronavirus in the Fall. England’s chief medical officer also cautioned the UK will experience another surge. 

But it’s not just Europe. Brazil exceeded 2,000 Covid-related deaths in one day for the first time ever. Wednesday, the country recorded 79,876 new cases, the 3rd highest number in a single day as many ICUs were at more than 90% capacity. And India reported the biggest daily increase in cases this year Sunday. The hardest hit state goes into lockdown today.

In the United States, Duke University issued a quarantine order for all undergraduates effective Saturday night because of an outbreak caused by students who went to recruitment parties. The quarantine will go to at least March 21 with suspension or dismissal from school for flagrant or repeat violators.

Health officials in Ireland recommended temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after four reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. There’s no conclusive link between the vaccine and the cases, but the suspension is being recommended as a precaution and Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic authorities are taking similar steps.

You’ve heard it again and again, proper social distancing to help avoid catching Covid-19 through the air is 6 feet. But a new study out of Massachusetts showed the spread is pretty much the same in classrooms when students are just three feet apart. Reacting, Dr. Anthony Fauci said when the data shows there’s an ability to be three feet apart, the CDC will act accordingly. 

In the United States cases were down 19%, deaths are down 31%, and hospitalizations down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26.  

There are now 7,365,186 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Beaver, UT. Nuckolls, NE. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Otsego, MI. Ida, IA. Fannin, TX. And Bonneville, ID. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. 

There have been 534,877 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 180. New York 98. Texas 79. Virginia 34. Florida and Massachusetts 31. Louisiana 23. Arkansas 19. Illinois 18. And Kentucky 16. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 27.7%, Connecticut at 27.6%, and Alaska at 26.5%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 14.6%, Alabama at 16.7%, and Tennessee at 17%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 9% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,785,269 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 44,120. The United States 36,896. India... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.