“This wave of autumn / winter has been almost double the rate of increase in cases compared to spring and summer. This acceleration and epidemiological data suggest the possibility that some strains of the US COVID-19 virus may have evolved to a more transmissible virus, “say reports sent to states dated January 10 and obtained by CNN.
The report continued: “Given this possibility, and the presence of the UK variant that is already spreading in our communities and may be 50% more transmissible, we must be ready and mitigate a much faster transmission.”
Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped an item included in the January 3 task force state reports that suggested there was an “American variant” of the coronavirus, a misperception that started in a link with governors, a government official told CNN.
But the official made it very clear that US health officials have not determined that an American variant of the virus exists. There has been discussion about whether health officials in the United States should investigate whether such a variant exists and make that identification, but, so far, the authority has warned that such identification has not occurred.
After the holiday season and reports of unstable data, the reports said the US is now seeing “a clear continuation of the high rate of spread before the holiday, as measured by increased test positivity, increased cases, increased rates of hospitalization and increased fatalities “
There is a “total resurgence” of viral spread in “almost all metropolitan areas”, say the reports, calling for “aggressive action”. The task force outlined measures including the use of “two- or three-layer, tight-fitting” masks, “strict physical distance” and more proactive testing of young adults.
This week’s reports raised concerns about “California’s continued and significant deterioration through the Sunbelt and rising to the southeast, mid-Atlantic and northeast” – essentially the entire continental US.
And as the country is lagging behind in vaccine administration, the task force emphasized the need to “put (vaccines) into action now”, noting that “active and aggressive immunization in the face of this increase would save lives”.
Rhode Island is the state with the highest number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants this week, followed by Arizona, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Utah, California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Arkansas and North Carolina in the top 10.
Oklahoma has the highest test positivity rate this week, over 25.1%, followed by Utah, Nevada, Virginia, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Texas, all with test positivity rates between 20.1% and 25.0%.
Arizona has the highest number of admissions per 100 hospital beds available, followed by Arkansas, Maryland, Georgia, Oklahoma, California, South Carolina, Kentucky, District of Columbia and Alabama.
And Rhode Island ranks first in new deaths per 100,000, followed by Rhode Island, Arizona, West Virginia, Tennessee, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Kansas, Connecticut and Michigan.