COVID-19 Daily Case Average Rises 13.3% While Hospitalizations Continue Declining
AI SummaryABC News4h agoUnited States
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β’The U.S. daily COVID-19 case average increased by 13.3% over the past week, though hospitalizations continue to decline according to federal data.
β’About 48,000 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, representing a decrease of nearly 104,000 patients over the past eight weeks, with hospital admissions down 11.7% weekly.
β’Alaska has the highest infection rate in the nation, followed by Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming, while Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii report the lowest rates.
β’More than 80% of American adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, with 70% fully vaccinated.
β’ President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite access to treatments for patients with serious mental illness.
β’ The FDA is accelerating its review process for mental health therapies in response to the directive.
β’ This policy shift aims to reduce barriers to treatment approval and expand therapeutic options for affected patients.
β’ A multiyear international campaign is underway to repair damage to childhood immunization efforts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
β’ The initiative focuses on restoring vaccination rates that declined during the pandemic period across multiple countries.
β’ Public health experts view this effort as critical to preventing resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in vulnerable pediatric populations.
β’ The Trump administration will require all 50 states to explain their plans to revalidate Medicaid providers as part of a national escalation of anti-fraud efforts, announced by Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday.
β’ This marks a significant expansion from previous anti-fraud initiatives that have largely focused on specific states rather than a nationwide mandate.
β’ The move aims to strengthen program integrity and reduce fraudulent claims across the Medicaid system.
β’ President Trump signed an executive order directing federal regulators to fast-track FDA review of psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and ibogaine for treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
β’ The order allocates $50 million in federal funds to states implementing or developing psychedelic treatment programs as part of a federal-state partnership initiative.
β’ Trump highlighted that over 14 million American adults have serious mental illness, with approximately 8 million on prescription medication, framing psychedelics as addressing a national mental health crisis including suicide prevention.
β’ The FDA announced it will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelic drugs next week, marking the first time the agency has fast-tracked any psychedelics for review under Trump's executive order on mental health reform.
β’ The vouchers can compress FDA review timelines from several months to just weeks, according to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, if the drugs align with national priorities.
β’ Trump's order directs $50 million in federal funding to states developing psychedelic treatment programs and establishes a federal-state partnership for technical assistance and data sharing.
β’ The FDA announced the first ibogaine investigational new drug application as part of Trump's mental health executive order accelerating psychedelic drug approvals and research pathways.
β’ HHS will coordinate with the FDA and DEA to expedite research approval and clinical trial access for emerging mental health treatments under strict medical supervision and scientific oversight.
β’ The initiative specifically targets treatment-resistant conditions and addresses mental health needs among veterans and patients who have not responded to conventional therapies.
β’ President issues executive order on April 18, 2026, to speed medical treatments for serious mental illness using psychedelic drugs including ibogaine compounds.
β’ Order highlights clinical studies showing potential for patients with persistent conditions unresponsive to standard therapies.
β’ Directs federal agencies to prioritize research, approvals, and access to innovative mental health interventions nationwide.
β’ President Donald Trump announced Dr. Jennifer Shuford, Texas' top public health official and infectious disease physician, as his nominee for CDC chief medical officer on Thursday via Truth Social.
β’ Shuford oversaw the country's largest measles outbreak in 30 years; other nominees include Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, Sean Slovenski as deputy director and COO, and Dr. Sara Brenner as senior counselor to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
β’ The appointments aim to reshape CDC leadership amid ongoing public health challenges in the US.
β’ CDC data indicates 71 per 100,000 emergency room visits for tick bites in the most recent week, highest in Northeast followed by Midwest, Southeast, West, and South Central.
β’ Rising tick activity signals increased Lyme disease and other vector-borne risks as warmer weather extends season.
β’ Public health experts warn of prevention needs amid Northeast ER surge.
β’ CDC data shows 3.6 million US births in 2025, a 1% decline from 2024, with fertility rate at 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15-44, down 23% since 2007.
β’ Trump administration downplays contraception in Title X grants, mentioning it once as overprescribed with side effects, amid efforts to reverse birth decline.
β’ High maternal mortality of 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, with 4 in 5 pregnancy deaths preventable, contrasts lower risks of contraception.
β’ CDC reports rotavirus circulating at high levels nationwide, with 73.8% of US children vaccinated against the highly contagious virus causing severe diarrhea in infants.
β’ Health experts attribute the late-season surge to vaccine hesitancy, noting the Trump administration's past efforts to remove rotavirus vaccine from childhood schedules.
β’ Cases are life-threatening for kids, prompting warnings as emergency room visits remain elevated beyond typical seasonal peaks.