How The U.S. Surpassed 30,000 COVID-19 Cases
A gloved patron buying eggs at a farmers market on March 21, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. While many stores are closed and enforcing new capacity limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor farmers markets are still open for people to buy food. (Maxim Elramsisy / The Corsair)
In an effort to contain the global virus COVID-19, measures have been increasing in the U.S. almost every day and the numbers of the people infected are swelling. People are now being consumed by fear not only for their lives, but also for their financial situations.
As of today, more than 30,000 cases have been counted for the U.S. at the Johns Hopkins University and Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.
COVID-19 a global outbreak; when and where it started and the constant efforts to contain it.
An outbreak of respiratory illness that was caused by a new strain of COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), began from Wuhan, China; it was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019 and has since been spreading internationally.
The first case in the U.S. was confirmed by CDC on January 21 and since then the number of cases has been increasing.
On January 30, WHO’s international concern of COVID-19, declared it as a Public Health Emergency, and “The international community [had] asked for $675 million to help protect states with weaker health systems.”
By March 11, more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths were counted, according to a statement from WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In the U.S. 47 states had reported 1,645 people infected by March 12, according to the White House proclamation.
In an effort to decompress the tension that endangered the Healthcare system, President Trump issued a proclamation on March 13, that declared COVID-19 a National Emergency.
By March 16, WHO professed COVID-19 as a pandemic, thus, a “global health and societal emergency that requir[ed] effective immediate action by governments, individuals and businesses,” added to the efforts to contain this virus.
Data reported by WHO on March 19 highlighted that worldwide COVID-19 definite cases exceeded 200 000, as it took “over three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases, and only 12 days to reach the next 100,000.”
Currently all 50 states in the U.S. have confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and US Virgin Islands, while health laboratories are looking for the virus that causes COVID-19, according to CDC.
According to the Worldometer, COVID-19 surpassed 20,000 confirmed cases as of March 21, and the virus has been reported spreading in care facilities according to CDC’s investigation that began back in February.
Santa Monica Pier is deserted two days after it was closed to the public because of the Coronavirus pandemic, in Santa Monica, California, on Wednesday, March 18th 2020. (Marco Pallotti/The Corsair)
Borders shut down, gatherings limit went from 50 to 10 and people were lining up for toilet-paper, food and guns.
Traveling restrictions were implemented on March 11 throughout the nation as President Trump announced his 30-day ban from Europe, that only allowed U.S. citizens to enter the country from specific airports that could pre-screen travelers according to NPR.
By March 16, the White House called for social distancing measures that were supported by an open letter from scientists and physicians of infectious diseases, that would prompt school and business closures, along with the creation of additional testing centers.
Many school’s began transitioning classes to remote learning, among them Santa Monica College (SMC), while by the end of the week the food industry was limited to only take-out orders and gatherings were decreased to a maximum of 10 people.
Therefore, many theme parks such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm closed, along with Santa Monica Pier and the Los Angeles Zoo according to ABC. Moreover, the NBA suspended its season, along with Major League Soccer and Baseball.
While people have been adding to their inventories toilet-paper, food supplies and water, however, others have been standing in long lines to buy guns and ammunition, according to NPR.
Ammo reported an increase in sales at a press release on March 6, as they "noticed an unprecedented 276% sales surge that continued through the end of last week and the weekend, as the virus was declared a pandemic."
On March 19, California Governor Gavin Newsom implemented an Executive Order for all people in the State of California to remain home. The "Stay at Home Order" went into effect immediately and it will continue indefinitely.
In order to protect the public health, the borders between the U.S. Mexico and Canada closed for unnecessary traveling across both the southern and northern borders, according to the White House briefing on March 20.
People wait in line in front of a gun store in Culver City, California on March 16, 2020. Businesses selling guns, marijuana, cigarettes and liquor have seen a major increase in business as people anticipate closures for the COVID-19 pandemic. (Maxim Elramsisy / The Corsair)
Economic Effects: Americans on Furlough, Stocks fall amidst COVID-19 and the Coronavirus Emergency Aid Package to the rescue.
Americans have been getting laid off due to the COVID-19 measures, that increase day by day and have turned to the Employment Development Department (EDD) for financial assistance.
The week of March 14, “there were 281,000 new claims,” which marked one of the highest points on initial claims. However, COVID-19 left some people unpaid, since they may not qualify for unemployment, according to Marketplace.
“I found out that we’re on temporary furlough, which basically means our positions are suspended until it is safe to work again. I don’t qualify for unemployment benefits because I haven’t been working anywhere longer than 6 months,” said SMC student Morgan Spillman, Journalism major, who will remain unpaid for the time spent away from work.
After an unstable week, many stocks fell especially the Dow that dropped below “20,000 on Wednesday, erasing nearly all of the gains made during the Trump presidency,” while the New York Stock Exchange has for now closed its trading according to Marketplace.
President Trump announced free testing for people who need it on March 17 amid this economic uncertainty during the White House briefing, and said they were “also committed to getting small businesses the support that they need.”
On March 18, President Trump signed the coronavirus emergency aid relief into law that aimed to expand paid leave, unemployment benefits and family and medical leave according to Congress.
Lastly, a risk assessment, the symptoms of COVID-19, how does it spread and what to do to protect yourself.
The highest risk of severe illness lays within people with underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, and there is a possibility of this virus spreading into large numbers of people according to CDC.
Fever, fatigue and dry cough, along with aches are symptoms that have been reported. “These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually,” according to CDC, while most people have recovered without special treatment.
COVID-19 spreads from one person to another when they cough, or exhale as droplets may land on surfaces, according to CDC as people may touch these surfaces and then touch their face. “People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets,” thus, the implementation of social distancing.
“The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms,” therefore it is possible according to CDC.
In order to protect yourself stay up to date with CDC’s and WHO’s information that are available.
Maintain social distance (at least 3 feet/1 meter), wash your hands with soap and alcohol, and avoid touching your face, along with following official orders and guidelines in your area.
For further information please visit:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/