Coronavirus news, updates, hotspots and information for 3-31-2021

This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 31st, 2021.   Little doubt now the U.S. is getting hit with a fourth wave of COVID-19, but those showing up in hospitals look a lot different this time. It’s people under 60 accounting for most new cases. Health experts are saying that’s actually good news, as it shows the vaccines given to seniors are working. More than 73% of people 65+ has received at least one dose of vaccine, and nearly half are fully vaccinated.   We told you yesterday about the early release of the World Health Organization’s study with China practically absolving China of any negligent role in the outbreak. Now, the U.S. and 13 other countries say that report lacked access to complete data. One of the team’s investigators has admitted China refused to provide raw data on early COVID-19 cases.   A reporter in Brazil says, “We have people dying because of lack of oxygen, people are literally suffocating. There are no medications for intubation, there are no ICU beds. The situation is completely out of control.” Yesterday, Brazil registered a daily record of Covid deaths, more than 3,700.   On the flip side, what is England doing right? London recorded zero daily deaths from Covid-19 for the first time in over six months. The country as a whole recorded 19 deaths. This as England's "stay at home" order was lifted Monday and restrictions were eased.   In Concord, NC, a parent’s worst nightmare. An elementary school had 95 students quarantined after 17 kids tested positive in a surge of cases. The school will undergo a deep cleaning to be ready to open after spring break April 13.   In the United States cases were up 18%, deaths are down 29%, and hospitalizations down 4% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending up since March 22.    There are now 6,946,220 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Virginia, Florida, and Maryland.   The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bacon, GA. Lewis, MO. Marion, MO. Dimmit, TX. Webster, NE. Hitchcock, NE. Kingsbury, SD. Shelby, MO. Big Horn, MT. And St. Clair, MI.   The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, and Connecticut.   There have been 550,952 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.   The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 110. California 101. Florida 96. New Jersey 82. New York 60. Michigan 52. Pennsylvania 33. Tennessee 28. Georgia 25. And Arizona, Virginia, and Kentucky with 23.   The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 37.5%, Connecticut 34.4%, and South Dakota at 34.3%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Alabama at 22.7%, Georgia at 23.1%, and Mississippi at 24.3%.   Globally, cases were up 32% and deaths up 14% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.     There are now 22,057,591 active cases around the world.   The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 86,704. The United States 62,459. India 53,158. Turkey 37,303. And France 30,702.   There have now been 2,801,858 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.   For the latest updates, subscribe for free to Coronavirus 411 on your podcast app or ask your smart speaker to play the Coronavirus 411 podcast.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.