States with some of the strictest orders to contain the spread of COVID-19 are seeing a surge in new cases, according to an analysis by NPR.
Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island were listed as “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 was 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.
On April 6, Dr. Anthony Fauci told MSNBC he is confused by the 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,” Fauci said.
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 Joe Biden called re-openings “Neanderthal thinking.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan made a startling admission during an interview on MSNBC on April 15.
“We’ve got some of the strongest protocols in the country, and yet, this virus has come raging back,” said Whitmer.
In the interview, Whitmer is sitting in front of a prominently displayed pillow with Fauci’s image on it.
-Staff reports