Studies offer hope for US schools with more COVID-19 shots

Officials provided new hope Friday for the safety and well-being of American schoolchildren. Already full, Gulf Coast hospitals were prepared for the worst scenario: a major hurricane that causes severe injuries to the uninsured.

TheEditor
TheEditor
27 August 2021 Friday 17:43
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Studies offer hope for US schools with more COVID-19 shots

According to the Biden administration, half of U.S. teenagers aged 12-17 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. The inoculation rate for teens is increasing faster than any other age group.

At a briefing, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients stated that "we have now reached a major milestone." This is a significant milestone as millions of children return to school.

California's new studies have provided additional evidence that schools can be opened safely if they follow the correct precautions.

Officials said that a study of COVID-19 case numbers from the peak winter pandemic in Los Angeles County revealed that the rates of cases among children and teens was about 3 1/2 times lower when schools followed federal guidelines on testing, mask wearing and physical distancing.

Marin County, north San Francisco, also found that an unvaccinated teacher returned to school after showing symptoms, but she did not wear a mask. This led to 26 additional infections in May.

"Most places where we are experiencing surges and epidemics are in areas that aren't implementing our current guidance," stated Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She spoke about the findings during a briefing.

According to new numbers, more than 3100 coronavirus cases were reported in Arkansas public schools by students and workers. Most youths are in districts that require masks. After a judge temporarily blocked Arkansas' state law banning mask mandates, the mandates were created. Arkansas ranks fifth in the nation for new virus cases per head, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

Randall Cobb, facilities director, stated that Ida, a dangerous hurricane, was predicted to hit the northern Gulf Coast on Sunday. Workers at Singing River Gulfport will have to raise floodgates to keep the rising waters out of the hospital, which is full of COVID-19-infected patients.

He said that the hospital was short-staffed due to the pandemic, and that it also anticipates receiving a flood of patients with ailments that usually follow a hurricane, such as broken bones, heart attacks and breathing problems.

It's going to get bad. Cobb stated, "It's going to really be bad."

The hospital is located just a few miles away from the coast and has enough generator fuel, food, and other supplies to run it for at least 96 hour. It will also help anyone with a life-threatening, serious condition. Officials tried to make it clear that those with less severe medical conditions should contact emergency management or special-needs shelters.

"It is very stressful because it's almost too late if you haven't thought of everything. Cobb stated that patients rely on Cobb for medical care and the availability of the facility.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, approximately 1,100 Americans are currently dying each day from COVID-19, the highest number since mid-March. According to CDC data, 85,000 people were admitted to hospital with the disease in the United States this week. This is the highest number since the early February post-holiday surge.

This is due to the contagious delta variant, which is spread among those who have not been vaccinated. Doctors have appealed to their patients to inoculate themselves in areas with low vaccination rates to save overburdened hospitals. Federal teams have been deployed to Alabama, where they are helping exhausted workers and filling the staffing gap caused by COVID-19 exposure and COVID-19 infection.

Idaho is one of the least vaccined states. Intensive care units in Idaho are closing down. One 330-bed hospital, Kootenai, has converted classrooms into patient care spaces.

One classroom was converted into a treatment area for up to 21 coronavirus patients. They don't require the specialized monitoring of intensive care units. In the hopes of preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations, other classrooms were converted into treatment areas.

Idaho is also looking for people who have health care skills, or simply want to help out to join the state's Medical Reserve Corps. Retired health workers can apply for temporary license renewals. Others can assist with data entry and contact tracing.