COVID-19 | US Hospitalizations could reach 32,800 per day by Sept 1

Five states have intensive care units over 90% full.

The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.

More than 622,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 59.4% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mask mandate for US travel extended into January

The mask mandate for travelers on planes, trains, and buses will be extended into January, according to a Department of Homeland Security source.

Hospitalizations could reach 32,800 per day by Sept. 1: Forecast

The U.S. could see as many as 32,800 hospitalizations per day by Sept. 13, according to the COVID-19 Forecast Hub at U Mass Amherst, which is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The low end of the forecast is 9,000 per day.

Currently, more than 11,249 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 each day in the U.S., up from a daily average of 8,300 last week.

These forecasts suggest Florida, Louisiana, and Texas hospitalizations may improve in the coming weeks while other states, like California and New York, may see more hospitalizations.

Most Florida hospitals expect ‘critical staff shortages

Three out of every four Florida hospitals “expect to face critical staff shortages” in the next week as hospitalizations likely continue to rise, Florida Hospital Association President and CEO Mary Mayhew said in a statement Tuesday.

“Half of our hospitals will no longer accept transfer patients from other facilities,” Mayhew added.

Hard-hit Florida currently has 16,521 COVID-19 patients in hospitals and just 14.2% of hospital beds available, according to federal data.

Alabama ICUs 99% full

Five states have intensive care units over 90% full: Alabama (99.31%), Florida (91.63%), Georgia (91.03%), Mississippi (91.26%), and Texas (91.38%), according to federal data.

Nationally, about 75% of adult ICU beds are occupied.

Florida has the nation’s highest case rate, followed by Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Hawaii, Missouri, Georgia, and Kentucky, according to federal data.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 88,000 Americans were hospitalized with COVID-19, marking the highest number since Feb. 1, according to federal data.

The U.S. is recording about 500 COVID-19 deaths per day, which is nearly a 131% jump in the last month.

Cases among Kentucky kids jump 400% in 1 month

COVID-19 cases among Kentucky children jumped 400% in the last month as a record number of kids have been admitted to hospitals, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday.

“Kentucky’s case numbers and positivity rate have continued to rise rapidly after record lows for the past year were recorded for both metrics in June,” the governor’s office said.

Kentucky’s positivity rate stands at 12.4%.

As of Sunday, there were only 17 Kentucky counties where at least 50% of residents had at least one vaccine dose, the governor’s office said.

Chicago Marathon will require vaccination or a negative COVID test

The 35,000 runners at this year’s Chicago Marathon must provide proof of vaccination or a negative test administered within 72 hours.

The marathon is set to take place Sunday, Oct. 10.