Reopening and limited pullback of restrictions continued across much of the country even as reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. climbed by 34,500 in the past 24 hours to 1,110,100, an increase of 3.2 percent. After dipping below 3 percent for a couple days, the rate of reported infections appears to have recovered to previous levels.
Deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, however, have dropped below 2,000. The death toll has now reached 64,897, after an increase of 1,788 or 2.8 percent.
As you can see illustrated in the opening graphic from syracuse.com, the state is definitely on the downward slope of the curve in reported cases, total hospitalized, and deaths per day.
As we reported on April 29, the New York Times reported that there were 22 states with increasing case load, 20 that had leveled off and 11 where COVID-19 cases were decreasing. Today, the numbers are 19 increasing, 21 steady, and 14 decreasing.
Globally, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to 3.364 million, an increase of 86,000 or 2.6 percent. Global deaths have climbed by more than 5,200 to 239,236. As always, these are reported numbers
Reopening Continues
A number of states relaxed restrictions on May 1st, allowing some business to reopen. In general, states in the North East and West Coast, where the virus has hit hardest, remain closed, probably for good reason. States with a large outbreak in one area and low or no cases in others, remain the subject of much debate and some protests.
While the stay-home orders forces everyone to stay home, relaxing those orders forces no one to leave their house or endanger themselves. Those that are against reopening or are fearful that they might catch the coronavirus should simply stay home.
The news cycle has shifted from reporting on COVID-19 to covering the reopening and protests. Here are a few particularly interesting articles:
- COVID-19: Seven facts that tell us Illinoisans can and must get back to work – Wirepoints
- It’s not just mom and pop retailers that are reopening. Macy’s to Begin Reopening Stores on Monday.
- Reopening America – One of many state-by-state recaps on where we stand on reopening.
To put today’s numbers in perspective, you can compare them with yesterday or look back a week ago.
