The United States is seeing increases in new infections across the country. Both the left and the right are using “pandemic fatigue” to bolster their arguments.
Summary
The United States recently reached 8 million coronavirus cases while European nations are also facing their own surge.
- The number of new cases in the United States is the highest since July, with only two states seeing decreases of new infections.
- Unlike the original outbreak in the spring, this swell in cases is spread across the country, rather than in pockets.
- According to data compiled by The Washington Post, twenty states have recently reported record weekly average new infections.
- Since infection rates are high and spread across the country, it is likely to be worse than April-May. Causing increase in hospitalizations, with some states having “nearly run out of hospital beds.”
- The substantial uptick in new cases is causing states to implement new restrictions, and prompting additional warnings from infectious disease experts for the upcoming holiday season.
- The rash of new cases and concerns for a major outbreak come as Pfizer closed the door on the likelihood of a vaccine before the election.
- The New York Times ascribes the sharp increase in coronavirus cases to “pandemic fatigue”, saying “a rising sense of apathy” is combining with the new caseloads to create a “dangerous” situation where the increases are occurring.
- Politico framed the race for a vaccine falling short of a pre-election deadline a “self-inflicted defeat” for President Trump, while Mother Jones writes the Trump White House is “wholly uncommitted” to handling the coronavirus pandemic.
- In an interview with conservative outlet The Federalist, Doctors William Briggs and Jay Richard contend that in a historical context, the coronavirus is “unremarkable” and that lockdowns have had “no effect to help flatten” the curve.
- At a campaign rally with President Trump, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson said “People are learning to live with Covid”, giving voice to the “pandemic fatigue” described by the New York Times.
- President Trump has blamed “politics” at the Federal Drug Administration for slowing down progress and approval of a vaccine.
Return to Freespoke 
© Dallas Gerber, 2020
