CHN’s COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship October 30, 2020

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October 30, 2020

COVID-19 Hardship

October 30, 2020

The COVID, COVID is everywhere edition. Covid-19 cases are soaring. On Oct. 28, 81,457 new infections were reported in the U.S. — the highest number so far in the U.S. Today we will surpass a cumulative total of nine million cases. Rural counties and small metro areas are seeing the worst growth, but infections also are rising rapidly in and around major cities like Chicago and Milwaukee. Hospitalizations are soaring – up an estimated 46 percent over the past month. Wisconsin just opened a field hospital to handle the overflow. North Dakota is so overwhelmed that it was forced to end most contact tracing. Cases have reached record levels in more than 20 states. 

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration alternates between declaring victory and throwing in the towel. President Trump says “We’re rounding the turn” in our battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy ranked “ending the Covid-19 pandemic” as among the Administration’s top first-term accomplishments. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows blurted “We are not going to control the pandemic,” and placed all bets on a vaccine. (It would take up too much space to refute all of the President’s recent comments regarding COVID-19; thankfully, the Washington Post has done this for us.) And while the Administration has failed miserably to contain or even address the pandemic, deadlines loom. A CDC moratorium on evictions ends in roughly nine weeks – so does the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (jobless benefits for gig workers). 

The pandemic has not ended. But the Senate has gone without joining in negotiations over a response to the need. Key senators need to hear from you. Scroll down for sample tweets.

Finally, rumor has it that there’s an election in four days. Whatever the outcome, the lame duck Congress will return (the Senate the week of November 9, the House the week after). As families are pushed closer to the eviction/shutoff/hunger cliff, Congress and the Trump Administration, lame or not, have a moral responsibility to act.

 

9 million/ 229,000

The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. Tweet this.

46%

The estimated increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past month, raising fears about the ability of regional health centers to respond to overwhelming demand. Tweet this.

39%

The increase in COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin in just two weeks, as of October 28. Tweet this.

2 in 5

A whopping 40 percent of Latinx registered voters say they know someone who has died of COVID-19. Tweet this.

$24 billion

The estimated amount of past-due debt Americans owe on their utility bills, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, which warns that amount could almost double by March. Tweet this.

Nearly half 

 49 percent of Latinx registered voters say COVID-19 is the most important issue this election. Other key issues: health care costs (32%), jobs and wages (28%), racism and discrimination (25%), and immigration reform/protecting immigrants’ rights (22%)

41%

 

The increase in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. over a seven-day period from Oct. 22 to Oct. 29 compared to two weeks earlier — an average of 75,561 a day. On Oct. 28, that figure reached 81,457.

35%

The percentage of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes and other long-term health facilities. More than 22,000 such facilities have reported COVID-19 infections. 

252,000

The number of people infected in America’s jails and prisons as of Oct. 29. At least 1,450 inmates and correctional officers have died.

214,000

The number of cases linked to colleges and universities as of Oct. 29.

 

Tweet to key Senators: it’s very important that Senators hear our concern, click links below to tweet:

Example tweet message and accompanying graphic to Senator Collins of Maine:

.@SenatorCollins, #DoYourJob and pass a robust #COVIDRelief package NOW. Families are still facing many hardships. The people cannot wait any longer. 63,000 adults in Maine are not having enough to eat- that’s 7% of all ME adults (@uscensusbureau)

Click the link below to send a similar tweet to:

AK: Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan

AZ: Senator McSally

CO: Senator Gardner

FL: Senator Rubio, Senator Scott

GA: Senator Perdue, Senator Loeffler

IA: Senator Ernst, Senator Grassley

KY: Senator McConnell

KS: Senator Moran

LA: Senator Cassidy, Senator Kennedy

ME: Senator Collins

MO: Senator Blunt, Senator Hawley

MT: Senator Daines

NC: Senator Tillis

OH: Senator Portman

SC: Senator Graham

TN: Senator Alexander

UT: Senator Romney