A Look at COVID-19 in December

WORLD VIEW WORLD VIEW ✦ The world began the month of December with approximately 63.6 million confirmed cases and 1,477,000 deaths, and ended the month with approximately 83.9 million cases and 1.8 million deaths. This is an increase of roughly 20.3 million cases and 323,000 deaths during December. For comparison, during November, the number of cases increased by 17.6 million and deaths increased by 282,518. ARIZONA VIEW ARIZONA VIEW https://bit.ly/38lOjOo, https://bloom.bg/3pP92QG

✦ The United States began the month of USA VIEW December with approximately 13.7 million confirmed cases and 270,000 deaths, and ended it with

USA VIEW approximately 19.7 million cases and 336,779 deaths: an increase of roughly 6 million cases and 67,000 deaths during December. For comparison, in November those numbers were 4.55 million new cases and 38,000 GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW deaths, and in October, there were 1.85 million new new cases and 24,000 deaths. ✦ On December 3, the U.S. recorded more than 3,100 COVID deaths in one day, making it the worst day for the country since the pandemic began. The highest daily death toll during the spring surge was 2,752. The country set another record two weeks later, on December 17, with 3,656 people dying in a single day. https://nyti.ms/38iM2DF, https://nbcnews.to/3bc01NH

✦ December 11, experts estimated that COVID-19 will cause more deaths than 9/11 or Pearl Harbor every day for the next 60 to 90 days. On 9/11 nearly 3,000 people died, and at Pearl Harbor about 2,400 people were killed. https://wapo.st/3omNzOS

✦ By December 21, an American was dying every 33 seconds of COVID-19, according to the Washington Post. https://wapo.st/35daKn6

✦ December 26, US case numbers passed 19 million, which means at least 1 in every 17 people has been infected. And with a death toll of 332,000, one in every 1,000 Americans has died. Dr. Fauci described the current surge in cases as a surge “that has just gotten out of control in many respects.” https://bloom.bg/3pWMzRK, https://nyti. ms/38m8c8a, https://wapo.st/3s2wjk0, https://cbsn.ws/3oyf8oc, https://bit.ly/2MFKE5T, https://cnn.it/38i7J71

✦ December was devastating in Arizona. The state

ARIZONA VIEW began December with about 337,139 confirmed cases and 6,687 deaths, and ended it with an estimated 520,207 cases and 8,864 deaths: an increase of roughly 183,068 cases and 2,177 deaths during December. In November, those numbers had been 91,193 cases and 521 deaths.

✦ During the month, Arizona’s Rt ranged between 1.04 and 1.22. For five days in December USA VIEW (the 11th through 13th, the 16th, and the 17th), Arizona was the top state in the nation for rate of spread. https://bit.ly/3bcSiib

GILA COUNTY GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ According to numbers from AZDHHS, Gila County began the month of December with 3,076 confirmed cases and 93 deaths, and ended it with a total of about 4,517 cases and approximately 135 deaths: an increase of 1,441 cases and 42 deaths during December. In November, the number of deaths was 17 and the number of new cases was 1,087.

✦ A new coronavirus began to spread quickly in the United Kingdom in mid December. This new variant spreads much more easily than the original one, but thankfully is not considered to be more deadly. https://bloom.bg/2JTu1mc

✦ Around the world, the holiday season was tamped down by the pandemic. The Netherlands ARIZONA VIEW was under a strict five-week lockdown. The rules were eased slightly to allow household to have three instead of the usual two guests. People in the United Kingdom could travel and get together between December 23 and 27 – but there was a limit to three households for “Christmas bubbles.” Italy was under a nationwide curfew and partial lockdown. https://bbc. ARIZONA VIEW in/3oy8ZbC

USA VIEW ✦ December 2, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, USA VIEW warned that the coming winter could be “the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.” He said “December and January and February are going to be GLOBE-MIAMI VIEWGLOBE-MIAMI VIEW rough times” and estimated that deaths from COVID could come “close to 450,000” by February, without a large number of Americans embracing social distancing and masks. According to the White House coronavirus task force, “we are in a very dangerous place” and “the COVID risk to all Americans is at a historic high.” https://nyti.ms/3rYebb3, https:// cnn.it/3beWu0Z

✦ Despite the worsening pandemic numbers, the CDC actually shortened its 14-day coronavirus quarantine guidance, hoping it would boost compliance. The CDC reduced its recommendation to a 7-day or 10-day quarantine, depending on a person’s test results and symptoms. A CDC official said, “Reducing the length of quarantine may make it easier for people to take this critical public health action by reducing the economic hardship associated with a longer period, especially if they cannot work during that time.”

✦ Throughout December, Congress politicked over aid proposals and failed to deliver a stimulus/relief package until the end of the month. First, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a $908 billion proposal, which Mitch McConnell immediately rejected. The Trump administration proposed a $916 billion package, which included $300 per week unemployment supplements but no individual stimulus payments. By the middle of the month, Congress and the White House were in talks over a $900 billion deal that would provide $600 direct payments, enhanced federal unemployment insurance, roughly $300 billion in PPP loans, funds for testing and vaccine distribution, and relief for hospitals – but no new money for state or local governments. They came to an agreement on the 21st, and the Senate approved the package on the 22nd, but Donald Trump refused to sign it, saying he wanted to increase the amount of the direct stimulus checks to $2,000. Trump finally signed off on the package on the 29th. By then, however, two unemployment programs had expired, leaving 14 million unemployed Americans to face delays in benefits. Meanwhile, the House passed a bill to increase stimulus payments to $2,000, but Mitch McConnell blocked it – suggesting that the Senate would consider larger payments later.

✦ According to the Washington Post, 54 million Americans are facing hunger in 2020 – 45% more than in 2019. As they run out of stimulus funds, many are turning to shoplifting for food. https://wapo.st/3noTKjY

✦ In December, Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer Jenna Ellis, and California Republican senator Devin Nunes all tested positive for the coronavirus. https://bit.ly/3pULMAL, https:// cnn.it/2JOCabq, https://bit.ly/3pTp2kM WORLD VIEW

✦ December 2, The Arizona Medical Association warned that the health care system could soon become overwhelmed. On December 4, only 9% of ICU beds statewide were available.

✦ Amid increased spread of COVID-19, Arizona cities, counties and organizations took steps to reduce the spread. Tucson imposed a three-week curfew. Pima County also enacted a nighttime curfew. The Phoenix City Council canceled sporting events at city USA VIEW fields and parks. Playgrounds and grass areas remained open for use. Tempe re-closed its gyms and fitness centers and called off sports tournaments. The University of Arizona started requiring visitors to campus to get tested before their visit. Maricopa County suspended civil jury trails through February. Mesa public schools decided to return to online learning for two weeks in January. GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ In better news, MLB told managers to plan on spring training starting on time in February. https://bit.ly/35hg4G7

HEALTHCARE IMPACTS

✦ December 9, the DHHS reported that more than a third of USA VIEW Americans were living in areas where hospitals had fewer than 15% of intensive care beds available. In areas in the Midwest, South, and Southwest, one in ten people lived in places where intensive care beds were full or very close to full. https://nyti.ms/3onpuaH

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ To help reduce spread, the CDC recommended “universal mask use” when people are away from their homes, meaning that people should mask up in all public places when indoors. The CDC said people should also wear masks at home whenever a member of the household might have been exposed to the virus. https://wapo.st/3olAMfw

✦ The promise of a vaccine coming soon brought hope. During December, states began making plans for injecting vaccines into people’s arms. Because initial supplies would be limited, state governments had to make decisions about who would get the vaccine in what order. The CDC issued guidelines to put nursing home residents and health care workers first.

✦ On the 3rd, the White House claimed credit for having as many as 40 million vaccine doses ready by the end of the year. During the month, the process of authorizing progressed for two vaccines. The vaccine from Pfizer was found to be 95% effective and to have fairly mild side effects, including sore arms, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, and chills that typically resolved within one to two days. In December, the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine, another vaccine from Moderna, and the first non-prescription home COVID test. The Moderna test was found to be 94.5% effective and helped to reduce asymptomatic transmission. Both vaccines require two doses, so 10 million doses, for example, treat 5 million people. https://bloom.bg/2XjK9jP, https://nyti.ms/396AjaK, https:// abcn.ws/3s0lRJM, https://n.pr/3bm08q5

✦ On the 14th, health care workers received the first shots of the Pfizer vaccine. Initial shipments of the vaccine were sent to hundreds of locations around the country. https:// nyti.ms/2MAoeTn, https://wapo.st/35h5MWw

✦ By the 23rd, the United States had acquired 400 million doses of vaccine, enough for 200 million people, for the first three months of 2021. However, in contrast to the administration’s claim that 20 million people would receive the vaccine by the end of the ✦ The ongoing COVID wave, which started the week

ARIZONA VIEW of November 6, caused increased hospitalizations and brought some hospitals to the brink. December 7, only 7% to 8% of ICU beds were open statewide. December 15, Valleywise Health said all of its ICU beds were full. By December 18, Arizona’s hospitals hit record occupancy, with 92% of beds (not just ICU beds) filled. Half of beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients. Arizona hospitals remained nearly at capacity through https://bit.ly/2Xnr9AV ✦ In response, some hospitals, including Banner Health and Tucson Medical center, canceled all elective surgeries. And many hospitals activated diversions, meaning that diversion at the same time. https://bit.ly/38pfzfj, https://bit.ly/3bn4NYu ✦ Amid the surge, Pima County’s Health Department experienced an outbreak. Among others, its director, Dr. Theresa Cullen, tested positive for COVID-19. https://bit.ly/2LoZe15 ✦ Gov. Ducey announced that all Arizonans would be able to get the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. The first doses of vaccine arrived in Arizona on December 14, according to Maricopa County Public Health. The county received about 18,000 doses, enough to treat 9,000 people. https://bit.ly/2LqOHCm, https://bit.ly/3onbXzI, https://bit. ly/392lZQs 42,000 doses. No explanation was given, and other states reported that they also received less vaccine than they expected. https://bit.ly/2Xnr9AV

ARIZONA VIEW

✦ Data released in December showed that almost 8 million USA VIEW Americans had fallen into poverty since June. In November, the poverty rate reached 11.7%, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous June. The federal poverty line is $26,200 for a family of four. More than one in every nine Americans lives in poverty now. https://wapo. st/35eQ0eG Recession. https://wapo.st/2L7w0Uw WORLD VIEW ✦ As unemployment numbers come in, they show

ARIZONA VIEW that as the rest of the country’s employment rates ticked up during the fall, the situation in Gila County deteriorated. Nationally, the unemployment rate decreased from 6.6% in October to 6.4% in November. Arizona’s unemployment rate rose from 6.6% in September to 7.7% in October. Gila County’s unemployment rate also reached 7.7% in October. It had been 6.3% in September. (Payson Roundup) https://bit.ly/35gAQG2 year, by the 23rd, only 1 million had received their first dose. https://on.wsj.com/3s119JR, https://politi.co/35kiwf8, https://cnb.cx/3hNektl WORLD VIEW GILA COUNTY ✦ Gila County’s health care workers started receiving vaccinations Christmas week. The vaccine was the one produced by Moderna, which was supposed to be 95% effective and have few side effects. Front-line health care workers were first in line,

USA VIEW at least December 20, with only 7% of beds available on that date. https://bit.ly/35gPe0I, https://bit.ly/3onyFHZ, https://bit.ly/2LuaeKh, https://bit.ly/2LoZe15, https://bit.ly/3saIxHA,

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW they had a backlog of patients and were sending new patients (except those needing walk-in emergency care) to other hospitals. On December 28, ten Valley hospitals were on diversion. Diversion is not unusual in normal times, but it is unusual to have so many on

✦ However, Arizona ended up receiving less vaccine than it had been promised. Instead of receiving 70,200 doses for the week of December 20, the state received fewer than WORLD VIEW

GLOBE-MIAMI VIEW ✦ Government officials now predict that the U.S. economy will have shrunk by 2.4% in 2020, and GDP will be about the same as 2009, which was the worst year of the Great

and nursing home residents and staff came next. https://bit.ly/3rYVCUf