Page 14 - AHATA Oct 24 2020

A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 24 OctOber 2020
Some hospitals in crisis as U.S. nears high for COVID-19 cases

had reached 99% capac-
ity.
Kootenai is the third-most
populous county in con-
servative Idaho.
The state is experienc-
ing its largest coronavirus
spike since the pandemic
began, with new cases
increasing statewide by
46.5% percent over the past
two weeks. Gov. Brad Little,
a Republican, has declined
to take steps such as requir-
ing masks statewide to slow
the virus' spread.
Dr. Joshua Kern, vice presi-
dent of St. Luke's in the
Magic Valley region that
includes Twin Falls and Jer-
ome, said Thursday during
a virtual press conference
that he and other medical
professionals are scared.
"The purpose of any inter-
vention around coronavi-
rus has been to prevent the
hospitals from being over-
whelmed, and here I am
today saying the hospital
is being overwhelmed," he
Salt Lake County Health Department public health nurse Lee Cherie Booth performs a coronavirus test outside the Salt Lake County said,
Health Department on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Salt Lake City. "Frankly there's nowhere
Associated Press
to send them," he added.
Continued from Front ies are reining in nightlife essential travel is banned but also everyone else they "Boise hospitals are very
as part of the increasingly and non-essential business- come into contact with full, most of the hospitals
"But today we stand on drastic measures under- es must close. when they leave," said Pino. in this area are experienc-
the brink. If Utahans do not taken to slow the spread The tribe posted on its Twit- "We will continue to see ing similar issues. Salt Lake's
take serious steps to limit of the pandemic. French ter page that there were consequences if we don't hospitals have full ICUs.
group gatherings and wear authorities said the country 391 active COVID-19 cases act super-responsibly." There's not really a cavalry
masks, our healthcare pro- had recorded over 1 mil- as of Thursday on the res- ___ to come. We're it."
viders will not have the abil- lion confirmed coronavirus ervation, which has about TEXAS __
ity to provide quality care cases since the start of the 20,000 residents. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott NEW JERSEY and CON-
for everyone who needs it." pandemic, becoming the The lockdown comes as is sending more medical re- NECTICUT
By public health order, second country in Western South Dakota surpassed inforcements to the El Paso For a while, as new COV-
masks are required in 21 Europe after Spain to reach 9,000 active coronavirus area in response to a surge ID-19 cases surged in the
counties, said Herbert, urg- that number. The head of cases on Thursday and re- of coronavirus infections. Midwest and elsewhere,
ing Utah residents to wear the World Health Organiza- ported an all-time high of The Texas Department of the level of new cases re-
one whenever they are tion warned that countries 973 new cases in one day. State Health Services and mained low in the North-
around someone outside in the Northern Hemisphere ___ the Texas Division of Emer- east, which had been hit
their immediate household. are at a "critical juncture" FLORIDA gency Management will hard earlier in the pandem-
The seven-day rolling av- as cases and deaths con- The top health official in provide more medical per- ic. Several states, includ-
erage for new daily COV- tinue to rise. one of Florida's most popu- sonnel and equipment this ing New Jersey and Con-
ID-19 cases in the U.S. sur- "The next few months are lous counties discouraged week. necticut, imposed 14-day
passed 61,140 Thursday, going to be very tough parents from hosting birth- El Paso County reported quarantine requirements
compared with 44,647 two and some countries are on day parties for their chil- 3,750 new coronavirus in- for travelers arriving from
weeks ago. The record was a dangerous track," said dren, no matter the size. fections this week, includ- dozens of states with higher
reached July 22 when the WHO director-general Te- Dr. Raul Pino, a state health ing 1,161 on Thursday. That rates of positive tests.
rolling average was 67,293 dros Adhanom Ghebreye- officer in Orange County, number accounts for 17.5% This week, however, rates in
in the midst of a summer sus at a press briefing on said half of the 30 attend- of the 21,321 cases report- New Jersey and Connecti-
outbreak driven largely by Friday. ees at a recent Sweet 16 ed this week by the state's cut rose to the point where
surges of the virus in Florida, Some of the latest develop- party in the Orlando area 254 counties. they qualify for their own
Texas, Arizona and Cali- ments in the United States: came down with the virus. ___ quarantine restrictions.
fornia. The U.S. recorded SOUTH DAKOTA Last month, an Orange IDAHO After some confusion, the
71,671 new cases Thursday, In South Dakota, the Ogla- County high school closed Even as the health-care Democratic governors of
with several states setting la Sioux Tribe ordered a for two weeks after stu- situation worsened in north- New Jersey, Connecticut
records across the Midwest one-week lockdown of the dents who had attended a ern Idaho, a regional health and New York, where rates
and West. Pine Ridge Indian Reserva- birthday party tested posi- board voted to repeal a lo- remain lower, decided to
The U.S. surge mirrors a tion in response to a surging tive. cal mask mandate. It act- keep their travel rules in
similarly widespread spike number of COVID-19 cases "Those parties will not only ed moments after hearing place, but not add each
in Europe, where Rome, in the state. Through the affect those people par- how the Kootenai Health other to their quarantine
Paris and other major cit- morning of Oct. 30, all non- ticipating in that activity, hospital in Coeur d'Alene lists.q