States that have had some of the strictest orders to contain the coronavirus are seeing a surge in new cases of COVID-19, according to an analysis by NPR.
Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Delaware were listed as the “red,” the highest level where “unchecked community spread” for COVID-19 exists. Michigan was at the top of the list with 6,697 new cases per day; its two-week trend, up 88 percent. Coming in second, New York’s two-week trend jumped 58 percent with 7,584 new cases per day.
There were several anomalies in the April 8 NPR analysis. California, considered to have the strictest lockdown measures by Wallethub, was reported as a “yellow” level, “potential for community spread” state with 2,683 new cases a day. Texas and Florida, states that removed all to nearly most containment measures showed case growth, but reopening has only been a few weeks out. On April 5, Texas reported fewer than 1,000 new cases per day, the lowest since June 2020.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN he’s been confused by a recent drop in cases in Texas. “You may see a lag and a delay because often, you have to wait a few weeks before you see the effect of what you’re doing right now.”
When Texas and Mississippi announced complete reopening in early March, Fauci told CNN “I don’t know why they’re doing it, but from a public-health standpoint, it’s ill-advised.” President Biden called re-openings “Neanderthal thinking.”
-Staff reports