States Submit Orders for COVID-19 Vaccine as Hospitals Face Breaking Point in Virus Surge

By Madelaine D. First Posted: Dec 05, 2020 11:35 AM EST

The deadline for states to submit orders for the COVID-19 vaccine ended on Friday.

Many states had reported record COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths, while hospitals were pushed to the breaking point.

States Place Orders for COVID-19 Vaccine as Infections Push t Breaking Point

(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Hard Hit Imperial County Struggles With Surge In COVID-19 Cases In California EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 21: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Clinicians care for a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at El Centro Regional Medical Center in hard-hit Imperial County on July 21, 2020 in El Centro, California. Imperial County currently suffers from the highest death rate and near-highest infection rate from COVID-19 in California. The rural county, which is 85 percent Latino, borders Mexico and Arizona and endures high poverty rates and air pollution while also being medically underserved. In California, Latinos make up about 39 percent of the population but account for 55 percent of confirmed coronavirus cases amid the pandemic.

According to the COVID Tracking Project, the number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 hit an all-time high on Thursday with 100,667.

The AP News reported that the figure has more than doubled for the past month with new daily COVID-19 cases averaging 210,000 and deaths with an average of 1,800 daily.

More than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Arizona for the second straight day on Friday as the number of vacant intensive care unit beds fell below 10 percent. Hospital officials said the outbreak would exceed hospital capacity this month.

The state's health director said Friday that Arizona expects to get enough COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of the year, inoculating over 383,000 health care workers and long-term care facility residents.

Teachers and other essential workers are next in line, followed by older Arizona residents or persons at higher risk of COVID-19 severe cases.

Meanwhile, Nevada recorded 48 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday. Cases and deaths continued to rise more than a week following new restrictions implemented on businesses. One Nevada hospital treated COVID-19 patients in an auxiliary unit in the parking garage as the hospital was so full.

On Friday, the state officials said they expect to receive 164,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses this month.

North Carolina had 5,600 new confirmed cases and 2,100 hospitalizations. The state waits for almost 85,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses of Pfizer, and they could receive them as early as December 15.

Limited numbers of healthcare workers, mostly from large hospitals, are at the first line to receive the vaccine. Officials said they would prioritize those who are at the highest risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

More hospitals and local health departments will receive future doses, followed by nursing home staff and residents.

Health officials worry that the pandemic will worsen before getting better due to the delayed effects from Thanksgiving when millions of Americans neglected restrictions and warnings to stay home and celebrate with household members only.

CDC Urges People to Wear Mask Indoors When In Public Spaces

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended "universal mask use" in all indoor settings for the first time as America shatters records for COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths before the holiday season.

The CDC encouraged mask-wearing in public spaces for months. The new guidance was published on Friday, urging people to wear masks anywhere outside their homes, as per the Washington Post.

In its weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report, the CDC warned that the U.S. entered "a phase of high-level transmission" as cold weather and the ongoing holiday season pushed Americans indoors.

The federal agency said that the correct and consistent use of face masks is crucial to avoid contracting the virus.