US infection cases are rising, deaths are declining; California. Maryland. Texas

The new Corona virus spread in New York City and was transmitted through Mardi Gras a year ago. It was in April when many of those infected with the COVID-19 virus died, 61,016 in all.

In January and February of this year, the United States reported the equivalent of the tally of April. And also this past May, June, July and more. In just two months in 2021, the United States reported more deaths than in the first deadly six months of the pandemic: 160,209 people, according to USA Today’s analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.

There are signs of hope and anxiety.

In the last week of February, the United States reported about 471,000 new cases and 14,082 deaths. These numbers are still devastating, but they are nearly half the rate of new cases in the last week of January, and about two-thirds of the death toll.

More than 49.7 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to US TODAY analysis of CDC data on the last day of February. Many of those shots went to people most at risk of death or serious illness.

But America’s rapid decline in the number of cases from its peak in January has stalled. On Sunday, for the first time in more than a month, at least 29 states reported a spike in cases. Coronavirus variants continue to spread rapidly across the United States, and are able to spread more easily, avoiding some treatments and immunities, or both.

On the last day in January, the United States learned of 471 cases of variant. On the last day in February, that number was 2,463.

– Mike Stuka

Also in the news:

In an effort to protect communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic, California officials said the state will implement a plan to allocate 40% of its supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to residents of low-income areas.

Government. Larry Hogan released further plans Thursday to distribute COVID-19 vaccines more equitably to disadvantaged parts of Maryland, after leaders of the state’s largest black population criticized major disparities in the release of vaccinations for minorities.

Oklahoma Employment Security said on Thursday that unemployment payments since the start of the coronavirus pandemic a year ago in Oklahoma have exceeded payments over the past 10 years combined by about $ 1.5 billion.

Traffic accident deaths in the United States increased for the first time in four years in 2020, as closures caused by the coronavirus opened roads and led to more reckless driving, according to a report from the nonprofit National Safety Council.

📈 Today’s numbers: The United States has more than 28.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and 520,200 deaths, According to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global totals: More than 115.5 million cases and 2.56 million deaths. More than 109.9 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the United States and approximately 82.57 million doses. According to the CDC.

📘 What we read: President Joe Biden said this week that there will be enough COVID-19 vaccine for every adult in the United States by May, nearly two months earlier than his administration predicted last month. Some health experts wouldn’t be surprised if that was earlier. Read the full story.

USA TODAY tracks COVID-19 news. Keep updating this page for the latest updates. do you want more? Subscribe to the Coronavirus Watch newsletter To get updates in your inbox and Join our Facebook group.

Texans who have lost loved ones to COVID have been affected by the state’s decision to lift its mask mandate

Local officials and health experts have criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement on Tuesday that it is time to “open Texas”, as they said it was too early to be relaxed with coronavirus restrictions as only 7% of the state’s entire population had been vaccinated against the virus.

But the announcement struck Delia Ramos, and others have lost their husbands, parents, or friends to the virus – in some cases, causing them to question whether the deaths of their loved ones meant nothing.

People who think it is “inappropriate to wear a mask” seem to bypass all “people who have gone missing” due to the virus, as well as doctors and nurses who work long hours and teachers are afraid to go to work for fear of exposure, said Ramos, 39.

She will continue to wear her mask “with honor.”

She said, “I do not want the other children to grow up without a father, and my son must, unfortunately, grow up without a father.” Read the full story.

– Shannon star Abaddie, Corpus Christi Color Times

9 great monkeys receive COVID-19 vaccines at the San Diego Zoo

Officials said on Thursday that the San Diego Zoo has vaccinated nine great monkeys against the Corona virus, after a group of gorillas were infected at a safari park.

Four orangutans and five bonobos received injections of COVID-19 in January and February. Three bonobos and gorillas are also expected to receive the vaccine, which is experimental.

The vaccines came in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in January at the Safari Park Zoo. Officials said in January that eight Western gorillas had contracted the virus, possibly through exposure to a park ranger who had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, although employees were working masks at all times around the gorillas.

Rich white Florida residents get vaccines that target rural minorities

In Palm Beach County, Florida, where former President Donald Trump now lives, people in wealthy white areas are getting a large share of COVID-19 vaccines intended for rural black and Latino communities.