How did the media cover the rise in COVID-19 cases?
The coronavirus hit the U.S in early March infecting and killing many Americans. In an effort to control the spread of the virus states across the country enforced strict lockdowns. These lockdowns forced the closing of schools, businesses, and implemented strict curfews for citizens.
Although many Americans and even members of the government were unhappy about the lockdown, it did a lot to curb the growing number of COVID-19 cases. By June the number of COVID cases in the U.S had dropped. With cases low, the government began to relax the strict regulations. Schools and businesses began to open again, and curfews were removed.
However as citizens started to get comfortable and returned to their normal lives, cases began to rise
rapidly in July and were higher than before.
BBC News wrote a very informative article detailing where cases are rising and examining possible factors that could be contributing to the high number of COVID cases in the U.S. The article is entitled “Coronavirus: Why are Infections rising again in US?”
The story included a chart that showed the trend of U.S COVID cases from March to October. This chart makes it possible for readers to see how much COVID cases in the U.S have grown since the virus started. It is explained that the heights confirmed coronavirus cases were in July and August. Although views can see the cases slowly falling in September and October, they are informed that the country was reporting more than 400,000 confirmed cases each day back in those months.
The author connects the opening of schools and the change in weather to the increasing coronavirus cases. A study by the U.S Center for Disease Control was mentioned. From that study, readers learned that data from early August to early September showed a 55% increase in cases for those between the age of 18–22. Readers are told that this was the time schools started to open. With this in mind readers can draw an informed conclusion that the opening of schools and the rise in COVID cases do correlate.
The author also mentions a quote from Dr. Anthony Fauci the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, in which he warns Americans that the winter would be difficult. It is then explained that this would be because as the temperatures drop people would be forced to go indoors, where the virus is more likely to spread. Readers are also told that viruses are more likely to services in cold weather. Readers are given a credible source and a very important fact that they may have not known.
This article clearly details the growth in America’s COVID cases. Reliable sources were used and data showed exactly when cases were growing. The author also did a good job of providing probable reasons for the rise in coronavirus cases.
In an article by ABC news titled “ US administers 1st doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine,” the audience is informed that on December 14th healthcare workers around the country became the first to revive the long-awaited Pfizer vaccine. We learn that the vaccine is said to be 95% effective at preventing symptoms of COVID. This information is something readers should know as they possibly consider taking the vaccine.
Sandra Lindsay, the first health care worker to revive the vaccine, was quoted. She suggested others take the vaccine for their safety and the safety of others. Lindsay said, “if I contract COVID, I don’t know how it would impact or those who I come in contact with, so I encourage everyone to take the vaccine.”
This is a great addition to the article because Lindsay represents those who are at the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus, she is also the first person to revive the vaccine. Lindsay is someone readers should hear from.
Another piece of information that was very instrumental in the article is the total confirmed COVID cases in the U.S. The audience learned that there are 16 million cases in the U.S, and the author breaks this down further by saying that as of December 13th “211,494, hospitalizations, 106,656, and deaths, 2,427” were reported as the seven day average cases.
Overall both these articles did a good job of detailing the current state of the pandemic in the U.S. Together they give a great understanding of when the cases began to rise for the second time and where the country is currently.