COVID Updates for Travel Nurses: October 13, 2021

The U.S. seems to be embracing a definite move toward optimism as COVID cases continue to fall. Yesterday, the U.S. announced it would open its borders from Canada and Mexico to those who are fully vaccinated for the first time since the pandemic began.

There has also been some renewed interest in determining the exact origins of the COVID-19 virus. The W.H.O announced a new task force, the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, that will try, once again, to find the truth. To date, scientists have not been able to discover the virus in bats, and China has been notoriously uncooperative with investigations.

An opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal on October 5th expressed that there is very strong evidence for the lab leak theory that was initially dismissed by China and some health leaders. The hope is that a greater understanding of the pandemic will help to prevent another

For now, here are COVID updates and COVID travel nurse job listings that travel nurses need to know.

Interested in assignments in COVID-impacted areas? Start here.

What’s happening with COVID-19 right now

According to the CDC’s weekly data, COVID cases have decreased again for the third week in a row.

Here are some quick data points about the numbers:

Cases are down 11.6% from the previous week tracked
Percent positivity of tests is 6.1%
The Delta variant is still accounting for the majority of all cases
To date, the U.S. has seen a total of 44,401,209 cases of COVID
The death toll from COVID has officially broken the 700K mark, standing at 714,243 deaths

Despite the grim total, the weekly death rate for COVID-19 has decreased significantly and is down 8.4%, with an average of 1,431 deaths per day.

What’s happening in hospitals right now

Just like last week, hospitalizations in all age groups have decreased. Hospitalizations have decreased by about 13.2% from the previously tracked week. The CDC runs about a week behind in official reported numbers, but overall, numbers are declining across the board, so that’s great news.

The New York Times COVID map and tracker continues to give a helpful snapshot of what’s happening with COVID around the country. According to its data:

Overall, COVID cases are on the decline nationwide.
Cases in Southern states that were hit hard in late summer, like Florida, have “plummeted.”
There has been some uptick in cases in Midwestern states, most notably, Minnesota.
Alaska is experiencing an outbreak and is leading the country in cases per capita.

If you’re looking to travel to a hard-hit area or just wondering what kind of rates for travel nursing jobs are available right now, below is a sampling of some of the current travel nursing positions available.

Current COVID-19 travel nursing jobs for October 13, 2021

Idaho, Cardiovascular ICU, MICU/SICU: $8K/week
California, L&D: $7.9K/week
California, MICU/SICU, ER, NICU Level II, Step Down-Peds: $7.8K/week
Washington DC, OR: $7.7K/week
Missouri, L&D: $7.2K/week
Indiana, L&D, General MICU/SICU: $7.2K/week
New Jersey, L&D, ICU, ER, MICU/SICU, Med/Surg/Telemetry: $7.1K/week
Illinois, Med/Surg/Telemetry, OR: $7.1K/week
California, PICU: $7.1K/week
North Dakota, Med/Surg: $7.1K/week
Indiana, Med/Surg, Telemetry: $7.1K/week
California, ER, ICU/MICU/SICU: $7K/week
Michigan, NICU Level III, Med/Surg, Telemetry: $6.9K/week
Illinois, ER: $6.7K/week
Missouri, Stepdown: $6.6K/week
Idaho, Med/Surg: $6.6K/week
Massachusetes, L&D, ER: $6.5K/week
Washington, PACU: $6.4K/week
New York, PICU, Med/Surg: $6.4K/week
Minnesota, ER, Peds, PICU, NICU Level III, Pediatric CICU: $6.3K/week
Massachusetes, L&D: $6.3K/week
Montana, Postpartum, Mother and Baby: $6.2K/week
North Carolina, ER: $6.1K/week

Speak with a recruiter about available assignments in COVID-impacted areas today.

What’s happening with the vaccine

Vaccine numbers haven’t really changed since our last update. According to the CDC, a total of 187.7 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated. There are now:

65% of the U.S. population with at least one dose
56% fully vaccinated Americans

The CDC has also started to track who has received their booster doses. According to the CDC, about 4.6% of people in the U.S. have received a booster dose, up about 1.5% from last week.

The CDC recommends that you should receive a booster dose if you are:

over the age of 65
over the age of 18 and at high risk due to underlying medical conditions
are a healthcare worker or other worker exposed to COVID regularly

Most hospitals, healthcare facilities, and local health departments have started offering booster doses to people who fall under those guidelines, and some hospitals are even requiring staff to get boosters. If you’re interested in receiving a booster dose, be sure to talk to your doctor about whether you qualify and where to receive one.