August 2, 2021 US coronavirus news

There are “no more beds left” at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, which is Louisiana's largest hospital, Chief Medical Officer Katy O’Neal said at a news conference Monday.

Currently there are 23 patients waiting for a transfer into the Baton Rouge hospital for an intensive care unit bed.

“We have almost 800 beds, we have 713 people admitted today, and no one diagnosis should take up one quarter of your hospital,” O’Neal said, noting that there are at least 155 Covid-19 patients at the hospital today. “We no longer think we're giving adequate care to anybody, because these are the darkest days of the pandemic.”

“You have people with chest pain sitting in an ER right now, where their families sit in the waiting room and they are wringing their hands and they're calling everybody they know,” O’Neal added. “Because there are no more beds left. Those 23 patients are a glimpse of what we have been doing for the last two weeks while we have been trying to get everybody vaccinated. And it's not helping enough, because it's not happening fast enough.”

Vaccination rates are increasing in states with high case rates, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday.  

“In the states with the highest case rates, daily vaccination rates have more than doubled,” Zients said in a White House Covid-19 Response Team briefing. 

He added: “Louisiana has seen a 302% increase in the average number of newly vaccinated per day, Mississippi 250%, Alabama 215%, and Arkansas 206%.”

Zients said this increase means people are understanding the risks of going unvaccinated.

“This increase in vaccination rates in states that have been lagging is a positive trend. Americans are seeing the risk and impact of being unvaccinated and responding with action. And that's what it's going to take to get us out of this pandemic.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the White House is still “forging ahead” after meeting its goal to get 70% of US adults with at least one Covid-19 shot about one month late, arguing that the milestone is still a  “significant step.”                                   

When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Psaki during the press briefing for President Biden’s reaction to hitting the goal, Psaki said, “It was a goal he set – we set as an administration because we believe in bold, ambitious goals.”

“I would say it’s a significant step that we have hit 70% of people in this country, of adults, who are vaccinated. That’s a good sign. It will help protect communities. It will help protect families and save more lives. But we’ve said from the beginning, even as we set this goal, our work would not be done even when we reached it. And so we’re forging ahead,” she continued.

Louisiana expects Covid-19 hospitalizations to reach its highest level in the pandemic on Tuesday, the state's health officer said.

There were at least 1,984 Covid-19 patients hospitalized throughout the state on Monday, Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter said.

“I have every shred of confidence, unless something miraculous happens, that tomorrow we will have the largest number of hospitalized Covid patients throughout Louisiana than at any point prior in the pandemic,” Kanter said.

As of Monday, Louisiana was averaging at 8.2 new Covid-19 cases per day, per 100,000 residents, the highest point it has been in the state at any point in the pandemic, according to Kanter.

The state health officer urged residents to take Gov. John Bel Edwards’ new mask order seriously. 

The University of Tennessee issued a mandate Monday requiring indoor mask wearing for faculty and students on much of the Knoxville campus. They'll be required in classrooms, labs and indoor academic events. 

UT issued the following statement: 

TV talk show host Montel Williams, who recently contracted and recovered from coronavirus, said he believes the vaccine is the only thing that kept him out of the hospital. 

"Had I not gotten [the vaccine], I might not be talking to you today," said Williams, speaking today on CNN.

Williams, who has multiple sclerosis, said he and his family have exercised the utmost caution throughout the pandemic. He believes he contracted the virus after encountering an unmasked man who appeared ill at a testing site.

"I looked him in the face ... he looked like he was a little sick," said Williams. "...I texted my wife at that moment and said 'you can't believe that some butthead walked in here where it said 'no entry no mask' without a mask on.'" 

"How dare you step in on another person," said Williams on the interaction. "The rules are out there... stay away from another person, especially if you think you are sick."

Williams went on to urge all Americans who are not yet vaccinated yet to get the shots now, for themselves and for their fellow Americans.

"If you care anything about another human being, then get the vaccination," he said. "...Be selfish.... be ignorant. Think about only yourself."

President Biden and members of his Covid-19 response team wore masks in a picture of their Monday meeting in the Oval Office. 

The picture was released on the President's Twitter.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added 16 destinations to its very high Covid-19 risk level on Monday, including Greece, Ireland, and the US Virgin Islands.

According to the CDC, a designation of “very high” means people should avoid travel, and those traveling to these destinations should be fully vaccinated first. 

Direct travel of non-citizens from both Ireland and Greece to the United States has been suspended since Jan. 25, 2021, under an executive order limiting travel from multiple countries.

Among other movements on the travel list, Puerto Rico, a US territory, was upgraded from moderate risk to high risk. The CDC currently designates the United States as high risk.

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has tested positive for Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated and has experienced “flu-like symptoms,” he announced Monday. 

He wrote in a follow-up tweet: “I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms. I will be quarantining for ten days. I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now. My symptoms would be far worse.” 

Read the tweets: