Conflicting Messages and Covid-19 Chaos in the US: A Complex Situation

Strategic Insights -

California's divergent governmental responses are exemplified in the Southern California oceanside city of Manhattan Beach, where residents are encouraged to shop and engage in outdoor activities while the state is under a broad shutdown order to slow record-breaking coronavirus cases. Mayor Suzanne Hadley stated that the city's approach is to aid local businesses while meeting the stipulations of the order, by repurposing city-owned patio areas as public seating areas for downtown shoppers. In contrast, the city's largest county, Los Angeles, has a disproportionately high number of California's coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. County Health Director Barbara Ferrer emphasized the need for residents to follow the orders to stay home except for essential needs and not mingle with people outside their households, warning of catastrophic consequences, including overwhelmed hospitals and severely ill patients unable to receive necessary care.

Key Takeaways:

  • California is under a broad shutdown order, including an overnight curfew, to try to stem record-breaking coronavirus cases that threaten to overwhelm the hospital system.
  • The state and county health officials are urging residents to stay home and only mingle with those in their household, but the order allows all retailers to remain open with 20% capacity and encourages people to get outside to exercise.
  • Manhattan Beach repurposed city-owned patio areas as public seating areas for downtown shoppers, allowing residents to engage in allowed activities such as shopping and eating takeout while relaxing and watching the sunset.
  • Los Angeles County, with 10 million residents, has disproportionately large numbers of California's coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
  • County Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned of catastrophic consequences if people do not follow the orders to stay home and not mingle with people outside their households, including overwhelmed hospitals and severely ill patients unable to receive necessary care.
  • The shutdown order, which took effect last weekend, has had a minimal effect on daily life, with many residents continuing to go out and engage in activities even as the state prepares further emergency hospital beds to cope with the Covid surge.
  • The FDA vaccine advisory committee meeting voted to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for distribution, with the FDA expected to follow the committee's recommendations, allowing for the vaccination of healthcare workers and nursing home residents within days.

Statistics:

  • 220 deaths were reported in California on Thursday, setting a one-day record.
  • The US reported 224,452 new coronavirus cases yesterday, with 2,768 further deaths.
  • The total death toll has now passed 290,000.
  • At least 200 hospitals across the US were at full capacity last week.
  • Over 90% of ICU beds were occupied in a third of all hospitals.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • CNN
  • Washington Post
  • Time Magazine