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Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today | Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today |
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This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. | This is the Coronavirus Briefing, an informed guide to the global outbreak. Sign up here to get the briefing by email. |
Early in the outbreak, California emerged as a leader in fighting the spread of the coronavirus. It was the first state to impose a stay-at-home order, and its swift response is thought to have prevented 1.7 million coronavirus cases in the state. | Early in the outbreak, California emerged as a leader in fighting the spread of the coronavirus. It was the first state to impose a stay-at-home order, and its swift response is thought to have prevented 1.7 million coronavirus cases in the state. |
For months it seemed that California — considered especially vulnerable to the virus because of its large, globe-trotting population — was weathering the storm relatively well. | For months it seemed that California — considered especially vulnerable to the virus because of its large, globe-trotting population — was weathering the storm relatively well. |
But over the last week, things have changed. The state’s case count has exploded, reaching 200,000 infections. Gov. Gavin Newsom has rolled back reopening plans. And officials in Los Angeles County are projecting that they may run out of hospital beds in two to three weeks. | But over the last week, things have changed. The state’s case count has exploded, reaching 200,000 infections. Gov. Gavin Newsom has rolled back reopening plans. And officials in Los Angeles County are projecting that they may run out of hospital beds in two to three weeks. |
Now Californians are asking themselves, what went wrong? | Now Californians are asking themselves, what went wrong? |
The turn, some say, may have come Memorial Day weekend, when cooped-up residents responded to the state’s reopening by getting out and socializing. According to an analysis by The Los Angeles Times, coronavirus hospitalizations in the state began accelerating around June 15 — which, given the incubation period of the virus, points to holiday barbecues, beach trips and graduation parties as potential culprits. | The turn, some say, may have come Memorial Day weekend, when cooped-up residents responded to the state’s reopening by getting out and socializing. According to an analysis by The Los Angeles Times, coronavirus hospitalizations in the state began accelerating around June 15 — which, given the incubation period of the virus, points to holiday barbecues, beach trips and graduation parties as potential culprits. |
The Los Angeles Times also noted that Californians, unlike New Yorkers, had not yet felt the trauma of having their hospitals overloaded with patients, so many saw reopening as a license to return to life as it was before the pandemic. | The Los Angeles Times also noted that Californians, unlike New Yorkers, had not yet felt the trauma of having their hospitals overloaded with patients, so many saw reopening as a license to return to life as it was before the pandemic. |
Our colleague Jill Cowan, who writes the California Today newsletter, told us that a complex patchwork of rules that can change from county to county was also to blame. | Our colleague Jill Cowan, who writes the California Today newsletter, told us that a complex patchwork of rules that can change from county to county was also to blame. |
“State and local officials would say that, recently, people have been letting their guard down, and they’ve been gathering with family members and they’ve been going to bars and restaurants,” Jill told us. “But a lot of people are then saying, ‘Well, why did you let restaurants and bars reopen?’” | “State and local officials would say that, recently, people have been letting their guard down, and they’ve been gathering with family members and they’ve been going to bars and restaurants,” Jill told us. “But a lot of people are then saying, ‘Well, why did you let restaurants and bars reopen?’” |
“It’s very confusing and it’s very complicated,” she added. “And so for regular Californians, I think it’s been tough to navigate what you shouldn’t do — even if you can.” | “It’s very confusing and it’s very complicated,” she added. “And so for regular Californians, I think it’s been tough to navigate what you shouldn’t do — even if you can.” |
Many severely ill patients have developed a terrifying condition that causes nightmarish visions and can have long-lasting consequences. Known as hospital delirium, the phenomenon, which was observed mostly in older people before the pandemic, has struck Covid-19 patients of all ages. | Many severely ill patients have developed a terrifying condition that causes nightmarish visions and can have long-lasting consequences. Known as hospital delirium, the phenomenon, which was observed mostly in older people before the pandemic, has struck Covid-19 patients of all ages. |
Reports suggest that about two-thirds to three-quarters of virus patients who end up in intensive-care units, even for relatively short stays, have experienced the condition. Their hospitalization often provides the perfect combination of elements: long stints on ventilators, heavy sedatives, poor sleep, minimal social interaction. | Reports suggest that about two-thirds to three-quarters of virus patients who end up in intensive-care units, even for relatively short stays, have experienced the condition. Their hospitalization often provides the perfect combination of elements: long stints on ventilators, heavy sedatives, poor sleep, minimal social interaction. |
Delirium takes two forms — hyperactive, which leads to paranoid hallucinations and agitation, and hypoactive, which causes internalized visions and confusion. Some people experience both. | Delirium takes two forms — hyperactive, which leads to paranoid hallucinations and agitation, and hypoactive, which causes internalized visions and confusion. Some people experience both. |
Recovered virus patients have described thinking they were being abducted or burned alive. Even after their visions go away, the condition can slow the healing process and increase the risk of depression or post-traumatic stress. Older patients can also develop dementia sooner than they otherwise would have, and even die earlier. | Recovered virus patients have described thinking they were being abducted or burned alive. Even after their visions go away, the condition can slow the healing process and increase the risk of depression or post-traumatic stress. Older patients can also develop dementia sooner than they otherwise would have, and even die earlier. |
Another troubling development: Immunologists believe the coronavirus may be responsible for depleting disease-fighting T cells, similar to how H.I.V. operates. If that’s the case, protection against the virus could be fleeting, and a cocktail of antiviral drugs may be needed to control it. | Another troubling development: Immunologists believe the coronavirus may be responsible for depleting disease-fighting T cells, similar to how H.I.V. operates. If that’s the case, protection against the virus could be fleeting, and a cocktail of antiviral drugs may be needed to control it. |
Cellphones, chargers, canes, hearing aids, glasses, clothing, shoes, wallets, Bibles, jewelry: Across New York, hospital workers have had to figure out what to do with the thousands of items left behind by patients who have died from the coronavirus. | Cellphones, chargers, canes, hearing aids, glasses, clothing, shoes, wallets, Bibles, jewelry: Across New York, hospital workers have had to figure out what to do with the thousands of items left behind by patients who have died from the coronavirus. |
Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. | Here’s a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. |
Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. | Let us know how you’re dealing with the outbreak. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. |
Sign up here to get the briefing by email. | Sign up here to get the briefing by email. |