Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday – CBC
Ecuador will administer 3rd vaccine dose to people with weak immune systems
Aug 18, 2021
Mississippi, one of the least-vaccinated states in the U.S., has opened its second field hospital to treat a surge of coronavirus patients.
The Christian charity relief group Samaritan’s Purse arrived in Jackson, Miss., with more than 50 medical professionals, setting up tents with 32 beds in a garage at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Recently, an emergency field hospital with federal backing was set up elsewhere on the medical centre campus.
Health officials say the surging delta variant is overwhelming the state’s hospital system. On July 27, some 726 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus. By Aug. 16, that figure stood at 1,623. The latest report from state health officials said 36 per cent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. According to the latest report, 41 per cent of people in the state aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated.
Mississippi’s State Health Officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said this wave is impacting younger, unvaccinated people just as schools are resuming. More children are hospitalized, and one died last week.
State epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said about 20,000 Mississippi students are currently quarantined for COVID-19 exposure — 4.5 per cent of the public school population.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-covid19-canada-world-august18-2021-1.6144576
