"What does covid look like for California, Florida, New York, and Wisconsin?"
--Maya MAstropasqua, 6th grade
What does a state that handles Covid well look like? Is it measured by a decrease in Covid cases? Or a decrease in Covid deaths? Both? Is there a mask mandate? Are there anti-mask protests? Are schools open? What does covid look like for California, Florida, New York, and Wisconsin?
According to a recent New York Times article, California’s covid cases have slowly grown, spiking around July and August with almost 10,000 cases. They went back down in September and then peaked again towards the end of November and stayed in the high zone, reaching almost 50,000 cases daily in December and January. Until July, covid deaths stayed under 100. In July there was a small increase making the daily deaths a little above 100. By November things had calmed down a bit, before spiking in January reaching 400 and 500 deaths daily. In February and March, the numbers have been very up and down.
According to a recent New York Times article, California’s covid cases have slowly grown, spiking around July and August with almost 10,000 cases. They went back down in September and then peaked again towards the end of November and stayed in the high zone, reaching almost 50,000 cases daily in December and January. Until July, covid deaths stayed under 100. In July there was a small increase making the daily deaths a little above 100. By November things had calmed down a bit, before spiking in January reaching 400 and 500 deaths daily. In February and March, the numbers have been very up and down.
Califorina Daily Covid Cases California Daily Covid Deaths
The same New York Times article tells us that in Florida cases started out fairly low but then spiked in July and some of August reaching about 10,000 cases each day, sometimes a little less. Things went back down in September but not as low as before. In December, January, and some of February cases went back up to around 10,000. As of late February and early March cases are going down. From March 2020 to mid-July covid deaths averaged at about 30 per day. Deaths went up to around 100 per day until October. In November deaths went to under 100, and then from December to early March deaths went back up to 100.
The same New York Times article tells us that in Florida cases started out fairly low but then spiked in July and some of August reaching about 10,000 cases each day, sometimes a little less. Things went back down in September but not as low as before. In December, January, and some of February cases went back up to around 10,000. As of late February and early March cases are going down. From March 2020 to mid-July covid deaths averaged at about 30 per day. Deaths went up to around 100 per day until October. In November deaths went to under 100, and then from December to early March deaths went back up to 100.
Florida Daily Covid Cases Florida Daily Covid Deaths
Later, the Times reports that the daily cases and deaths in New York on the New York Times spiked in March 2020. By mid-April, cases averaged at 9,000 each day. In June, things went down and stayed there until November when cases started going back up. In January, cases reached an average of 15,000. In February and early March of 2021, cases have started going down a bit. Like the cases, New York’s covid deaths went up right away hitting almost 1,000 in April. In May cases started going back down and by July, average cases were 10 or 20 each day. There was another spike in December, the deaths about 100 per day, and is still there as of early March.
Later, the Times reports that the daily cases and deaths in New York on the New York Times spiked in March 2020. By mid-April, cases averaged at 9,000 each day. In June, things went down and stayed there until November when cases started going back up. In January, cases reached an average of 15,000. In February and early March of 2021, cases have started going down a bit. Like the cases, New York’s covid deaths went up right away hitting almost 1,000 in April. In May cases started going back down and by July, average cases were 10 or 20 each day. There was another spike in December, the deaths about 100 per day, and is still there as of early March.
New York Daily Covid Cases New York Daily Covid Deaths
Wisconsin covid cases stayed pretty low compared to the other states, (probably due to the smaller population) varying from about 100 to 900 cases from March to August, a few days hitting 1,000 cases in August. There was a slow increase in cases in September and October ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 new cases per day. In November, Wisconsin saw their biggest amount of cases since the pandemic began: 8,510. The cases then went down to around 4,000 cases at the beginning of December. At the very end of December, there were around little under 1,000. Another small spike happened in January at a few thousand cases. In February cases went down to just a few hundred in early March. In Wisconsin deaths per day were under 20 from March to mid-October. In the last half of October, the deaths started climbing up to 30-40 each day on average. In November the deaths ranged from 40-50. In December and January, the covid death toll was at 50-60 per day occasionally dipping down to the 40s or 30s. In February and early March covid deaths per day went down in the 20s and 10s on average.
Wisconsin covid cases stayed pretty low compared to the other states, (probably due to the smaller population) varying from about 100 to 900 cases from March to August, a few days hitting 1,000 cases in August. There was a slow increase in cases in September and October ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 new cases per day. In November, Wisconsin saw their biggest amount of cases since the pandemic began: 8,510. The cases then went down to around 4,000 cases at the beginning of December. At the very end of December, there were around little under 1,000. Another small spike happened in January at a few thousand cases. In February cases went down to just a few hundred in early March. In Wisconsin deaths per day were under 20 from March to mid-October. In the last half of October, the deaths started climbing up to 30-40 each day on average. In November the deaths ranged from 40-50. In December and January, the covid death toll was at 50-60 per day occasionally dipping down to the 40s or 30s. In February and early March covid deaths per day went down in the 20s and 10s on average.
Wisconsin Daily Covid Cases Wisconisn Daily Covid Deaths
Health officials have told us to continue to wear masks to stop the covid spread. It’s up to the states whether or not they’re going to have a mask mandate. An article on AARP by Andy Markowitz, “State-by-State Guide to Face Mask Requirements” takes you through each state and whether or not they have a mask mandate. California, for one, does have a mask mandate. The article reads, “Californians have been required since June 18 to mask up in “most settings outside the home.” Florida, however, doesn’t have a mask mandate. “Florida recommends but does not require face coverings for the general public,” Markowitz writes. The article then explains that some cities and counties have put rules in place regarding mask-wearing.
New York does have a mask mandate. “New York has had a mask requirement since April 17. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's order applies to anyone over age 2 who can “medically tolerate a face covering,” the article states. Wisconsin also has a mandate for masks, “Gov. Tony Evers issued a new mask mandate Feb. 4 after state lawmakers voted to strike down his prior public health emergency orders.” Markowitz writes.
An article on CNN called, “Where schools are reopening in the US,” walks through each state, providing information on whether or not they’re reopening. Looking at California, the article says California schools are in partial closure. “Gov. Gavin Newsom is encouraging schools to reopen for in-person instruction in early spring, but they must meet key thresholds in health metrics set out by the state,” it reports.
Florida schools, on the other hand, are ordered open. “On Nov. 30, state Superintendent Richard Corcoran issued an emergency order requiring all school districts and charter boards to keep brick-and-mortar schools open five days a week in spring 2021.”
When it comes to schools, New York doesn’t have any kind of order in effect. “Decisions about whether schools will remain open or whether they would close will be made by local school district officials,” the article states. Lastly, Wisconsin schools opening is up to the district. The article says, “Districts decide whether to offer full in-person instruction, stick to remote learning, or go with a hybrid model.”
According to a Wikipedia article titled, “2020–2021 United States anti-lockdown protests,” in California, there have been protests from April to January. “On April 20, hundreds of protesters marched or drove around the California State Capitol in Sacramento,” the article reads, “On May 1, about 100 cars draped in American Flags and signs reading "Open Our Country" Those are just to name a few. Out of the four states researched for this article, California has had the most protests.
In Florida, the article cites some protests.“Anti-lockdown protesters marched from the Governor's Mansion to the Old Capitol Building in Tallahassee to demand that the state allow businesses to go back to work” and “On May 11, a group of 20 to 30 protesters did squats and sit-up exercises outside the courthouse in Clearwater to call for the reopening of gyms.” As far as this article tells us, those were the only covid related protests.
On April 20, and May 1 there were protests in New York. “On April 22, scores of cars and trucks blared their horns near Albany's Capitol Park in a protest called ‘Operation Gridlock: Reopen NY,’”the article tells us. “On May 1, hundreds protested in Commack, Long Island.] Most protesters ignored social-distancing protocols, but no arrests were made, according to Suffolk County police.”
In Wisconsin, “Several thousand people gathered at the state capitol in Madison on April 24 to protest the state's "Safer at Home" rules.” That protest actually resulted in 72 positive covid tests.
In my opinion, there isn’t necessarily a “best way” to handle covid for every single state. A lot of it seems to just be luck. From what I saw, it seems like the entire country could have the same rules, and still have certain states that have way more cases and deaths than the others. Although, I do think that there is a “best way” to handle covid for each individual person, following the worldwide guidelines. Social distance, wear a mask, and washing your hands can literally save your life and the people around you.
Health officials have told us to continue to wear masks to stop the covid spread. It’s up to the states whether or not they’re going to have a mask mandate. An article on AARP by Andy Markowitz, “State-by-State Guide to Face Mask Requirements” takes you through each state and whether or not they have a mask mandate. California, for one, does have a mask mandate. The article reads, “Californians have been required since June 18 to mask up in “most settings outside the home.” Florida, however, doesn’t have a mask mandate. “Florida recommends but does not require face coverings for the general public,” Markowitz writes. The article then explains that some cities and counties have put rules in place regarding mask-wearing.
New York does have a mask mandate. “New York has had a mask requirement since April 17. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's order applies to anyone over age 2 who can “medically tolerate a face covering,” the article states. Wisconsin also has a mandate for masks, “Gov. Tony Evers issued a new mask mandate Feb. 4 after state lawmakers voted to strike down his prior public health emergency orders.” Markowitz writes.
An article on CNN called, “Where schools are reopening in the US,” walks through each state, providing information on whether or not they’re reopening. Looking at California, the article says California schools are in partial closure. “Gov. Gavin Newsom is encouraging schools to reopen for in-person instruction in early spring, but they must meet key thresholds in health metrics set out by the state,” it reports.
Florida schools, on the other hand, are ordered open. “On Nov. 30, state Superintendent Richard Corcoran issued an emergency order requiring all school districts and charter boards to keep brick-and-mortar schools open five days a week in spring 2021.”
When it comes to schools, New York doesn’t have any kind of order in effect. “Decisions about whether schools will remain open or whether they would close will be made by local school district officials,” the article states. Lastly, Wisconsin schools opening is up to the district. The article says, “Districts decide whether to offer full in-person instruction, stick to remote learning, or go with a hybrid model.”
According to a Wikipedia article titled, “2020–2021 United States anti-lockdown protests,” in California, there have been protests from April to January. “On April 20, hundreds of protesters marched or drove around the California State Capitol in Sacramento,” the article reads, “On May 1, about 100 cars draped in American Flags and signs reading "Open Our Country" Those are just to name a few. Out of the four states researched for this article, California has had the most protests.
In Florida, the article cites some protests.“Anti-lockdown protesters marched from the Governor's Mansion to the Old Capitol Building in Tallahassee to demand that the state allow businesses to go back to work” and “On May 11, a group of 20 to 30 protesters did squats and sit-up exercises outside the courthouse in Clearwater to call for the reopening of gyms.” As far as this article tells us, those were the only covid related protests.
On April 20, and May 1 there were protests in New York. “On April 22, scores of cars and trucks blared their horns near Albany's Capitol Park in a protest called ‘Operation Gridlock: Reopen NY,’”the article tells us. “On May 1, hundreds protested in Commack, Long Island.] Most protesters ignored social-distancing protocols, but no arrests were made, according to Suffolk County police.”
In Wisconsin, “Several thousand people gathered at the state capitol in Madison on April 24 to protest the state's "Safer at Home" rules.” That protest actually resulted in 72 positive covid tests.
In my opinion, there isn’t necessarily a “best way” to handle covid for every single state. A lot of it seems to just be luck. From what I saw, it seems like the entire country could have the same rules, and still have certain states that have way more cases and deaths than the others. Although, I do think that there is a “best way” to handle covid for each individual person, following the worldwide guidelines. Social distance, wear a mask, and washing your hands can literally save your life and the people around you.
