Friday, May 29, 2020

No Coronavirus Spike in States That Lifted Lockdowns Early, ABC Reports

As states across America lift their coronavirus lockdowns, some fear that COVID-19 cases will spike.

The lockdowns were meant to "Slow the spread" and "Flatten the curve," so won't allowing Americans to go back to their normal lives result in more infections?

According to ABC News reporter Ariel Mitropoulos, states that lifted the lockdowns early did not experience a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations, deaths, or the percentage of people testing positive.

"JUST IN: [ABC News] looked at 21 states that eased restrictions May 4 or earlier & found no major increase in hospitalizations, deaths or % of people testing positive in any of them. via ," ABC News lead medical reporter Eric Strauss tweeted.

Most of these states lifted lockdowns in part because the spread of the coronavirus was already under control in those states.

This report should give Americans confidence that easing the lockdowns - outside of extreme hotspots like the New York City area - is not as dangerous as naysayers suggest.

Even Arkansas, which never entered a lockdown, had a very mild "Second spike," with fewer than 100 hospitalizations.


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