Health care workers are 'tapped out' amid coronavirus fall surge, Wisconsin doctor says

Dr. Carlos del Rio, an Emory University infectious disease expert, said Friday he’s more concerned about capacity at hospitals than he is about the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Stuff we can buy, but staff we cannot make up,” he said. “So I worry about our nurses. I worry about our health care providers. I worry about simply not having enough of them.”

As of Friday, at least 10.6 million cases and more than 243,000 deaths in the US have been recorded, according to Johns Hopkins.

In Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced a statewide “two-week freeze” Friday. The freeze limits social gatherings to a maximum of six people, closes restaurants and bars for in-person dining and limits capacity of faith-based gatherings to a maximum of 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors. Retail and grocery stores will also be limited to 75% capacity while gyms, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and event venues will be closed.

“I know it’s hard and I know everybody is weary but we are trying to stop this ferocious virus from spreading,” Brown said.

‘Less is more this Thanksgiving’

Public health measures touted by officials for months — including face coverings, social distancing and regular hand washing — could provide much needed help. More than 17,000 lives could be saved by the end of the year if 95% of Americans wore face masks, according to projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations in Seattle.

“If we do the things that are simple public health measures, that soaring will level and start to come down,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CBS “This Morning” on Friday.

If Americans lower their guard, “We’ll continue to soar,” Fauci said, advising people to wear their masks at Thanksgiving gatherings as much as possible.

“Separation should be the norm” this Thanksgiving, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, said Thursday. “We don’t want to give the virus while we’re giving thanks.”

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday that starting Saturday at 10 p.m. public and private gatherings of different households are banned. Bars must close by 10 p.m., and restaurants can offer only takeout after 10 p.m. All youth recreational sports will also be banned for the time being, he said.

Scott said there will be no enforcement of the ban on multi-household gatherings. But he hopes residents will abide by an honor system. If these gatherings still happen and produce outbreaks, more stringent enforcement could occur, he said.

He announced an additional 84 new Covid-19 cases Thursday, compared to an average of 25 cases per day last week. No additional deaths were reported, Scott said.

Illinois reported more than 15,000 cases for a new record, and its highest number of hospitalizations.

In Wisconsin, “It’s well above what we can tolerate right now and still save lives,” Prevea Health President and CEO Dr. Ashok Rai told affiliate WBAY. “From a health care standpoint, we’re tapped out.”

NYC mayor wants state to reconsider curfew

As bars, restaurants, and gyms prepare for the first night with a 10 p.m. state-mandated curfew, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the closure of these establishments needs to be “reassessed.”

“Even though the state makes the ultimate decisions here on the industry issues, I’m very cognizant of the fact that we have to keep people’s livelihoods in mind here,” he said Friday morning on WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show.”

De Blasio suggested that holiday travel will have more impact on shaping further response to the pandemic. “We talk about restaurants or gyms, but much more decisive will be if we can successfully limit travel and limit indoor gatherings” during the holidays.

De Blasio also said the city’s schools could be shut down “as early as Monday,” citing rising Covid-19 case numbers.

New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza issued a letter to principals asking them to be prepared for a brief time of fully remote learning, system-wide.

Study: New, mutant virus strain spreads more easily

Researchers also now say they’ve found more evidence that a mutant version of the coronavirus that has overtaken an older strain to spread across much of the world is more easily transmitted — but does not appear to be any more dangerous.

And it hasn’t changed its physical shape so should be just as vulnerable to the body’s immune response whether natural or induced by a vaccine.

The team’s findings validate earlier studies that showed the new strain spreads more easily and also supports evidence the mutation hasn’t made the virus more likely to cause severe disease. The mutation might help the virus thrive better in the nose and upper respiratory tract, which would help it spread.

‘Targeted vaccinations’ to start December or January, official says

Meanwhile, a top US official said Thursday every American who wants to get a vaccine will be able to do so by April.

“Initially, in December and January, we’re going to be having very targeted vaccinations, also helped in large part by some of our largest chains, like Walgreens and CVS,” US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told CNN.

There will likely be enough vaccines for “all of our most vulnerable citizens” to get vaccinated in December, he said, followed by “all of our senior citizens, as well as our emergency first responders and our health care workers” in January.