Covid-19: record level of hospitalizations in certain American states

In Florida or Texas, the number of hospitalizations has reached record levels. REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson

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The United States has seen a rebound in new cases of coronavirus. In recent days, the number of hospitalizations has reached a record level, especially in the south of the country such as Florida and Texas. But, for the governors of the states concerned (Democrats and Republicans), there is no question of implementing sanitary measures again.

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If the situation is under control in certain states like New York, New Jersey or even Illinois, it remains worrying in certain states of the South American. Florida and Alabama, for example, have reported a record level of hospitalizations in recent days.

In Texas , hospitalizations for coronavirus patients have been increasing daily for more than a week. US Vice President Mike Pence advised the governors of each state to respond to rising cases with the argument that there are more tests. Municipalities are pressing the authorities of the largest state in the United States (behind Alaska), with a population of nearly 30 million, to take coercive measures. But the executive refuses and puts on the accountability of individuals, reports our correspondent in Houston , Thomas Harms .

“  We are here to inform the Texans of the abundance of hospital beds to treat Texans who are positive for Covid-19. Each individual in Texas has the unique ability and responsibility not to catch Covid-19, says Governor Greg Abbott. Just by following the precautionary measures: wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance.  "

Simple recommendations

Several municipalities like Austin or Dallas, which are experiencing a peak in hospitalizations, want to go further. Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweeted, "  Stay home, work safe  ." But it can only be a recommendation and not an order. "  The state (of Texas) has exercised its right of first refusal and at this stage, I can only make recommendations to the population," he regrets. And recognize that what is happening is that people do not wear masks and do not practice physical distancing in the right way.  On Tuesday, 2,518 Texans were hospitalized because of the Covid-19. Two hundred more than the day before.

The attitude of American communities worries some experts who expect that cases of new infections will continue to climb. "  The White House, like the Republican Party, now no longer talks about the crisis except from an economic rather than a health perspective ," warns Sarah Rozenblum, public health specialist and doctoral student at the University of Michigan. As if the health situation was now under control, the indicators are looking good and allowed to reopen the economy, like what France is doing, for example. Which is not the case. "

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  • Coronavirus
  • United States
  • Health and Medicine

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