COVID Updates for Travel Nurses: October 20, 2021

In the U.S., we have more good COVID news: Case counts have continued to fall, now decreasing about 20% from a peak four weeks ago, according to an analysis by USA Today.

In fact, about a quarter of the country’s population lives in areas considered to have low transmission. Many experts are cautiously proclaiming this wave –– propelled by the Delta variant –– over.

Here’s what travel nurses need to know about COVID-19 right now.

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 fourth week in a row.

Here are some quick data points about the numbers:

Cases are down 12.5% from the previous week tracked
Percent positivity of tests is 5.7%
The Delta variant still accounts for the majority of all cases
To date, the U.S. has seen a total of 44,979,605 cases of COVID
The death toll from COVID has officially broken the 700K mark, standing at 726,206 deaths and making this pandemic the deadliest in U.S. history

The weekly death rate for COVID-19 has also decreased significantly and is down 13.4%, with an average of 1,241 deaths per day.

What’s happening in hospitals right now

Hospitalizations across all age groups have continued to fall, down about 8.8% from the previously tracked week.

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 their data:

There are half as many new cases of COVID currently as there were in the start of September
The Southern states, which once led in case counts with record-breaking infections, hospitalizations, and deaths over the summer as Delta raged, now have the lowest numbers in the entire country
There has been some uptick in cases in Midwestern states, most notably, Minnesota, which recently called in the National Guard to help with staffing
Alaska has finally stabilized after leading the country for weeks in cases and hospitalizations. The highest case counts in the country now belong to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming

If you’re looking to travel to a hard-hit area or are 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 20, 2021

Idaho, Cardiovascular ICU, MICU/SICU: $8K/week
California, L&D: $7.9K/week
California, MICU/SICU, ER, NICU Level II, Stepdown-Peds: $7.8K/week
Washington DC, OR, CVOR: $7.7K/week
Washington DC, MICU/SICU, ER: $7.4K/week
Indiana, L&D: $7.2K/week
New Jersey, L&D, ICU, ER, MICU/SICU, CCU, Med/Surg/Telemetry: $7.1K/week
California, PICU: $7.1K/week
Pennsylvania, Stepdown, Med/Surg: $7K/week
Indiana, Med/Surg, Telemetry: $7.1K/week
Michigan, NICU Level III, Med/Surg: $6.9K/week
New York, PICU: $6.9K/week
California, NICU Level III: $6.9K/week
Missouri, ER: $6.9K/week
Michigan, Telemetry, Med/Surg: $6.9K/week
California, ER, L&D, OR: $6.7K/week
Illinois, ER: $6.7K/week
California, ICU, General MICU/SICU: $6.6K/week
Missouri, Stepdown: $6.6K/week
North Dakota, Telemetry, Med/Surg: $6.6K/week
Idaho, Med/Surg: $6.6K/week
California, ER, Coronary ICU: $6.5K/week
Massachusetts, L&D, ER: $6.5K/week
Wisconsin, ER: $6.4K/week
Washington, PACU: $6.4K/week
California, General MICU/SICU: $6.4K/week
New York, PICU, Med/Surg: $6.4K/week
Minnesota, ER, Peds, PICU, NICU Level III, Pediatric CICU: $6.3K/week
Illinois, L&D: $6.3K/week
Montana, Postpartum, Mother and Baby: $6.2K/week
New York, Pediatrics: $6.2K/week
Massachusetts, Telemetry: $6.2K/week
Montana, PICU: $6.1K/week
Illinois, Med/Surg, Telemetry: $6.1K/week
Michigan, ER: $6.1K/week
Oregon, General MICU/SICU, ER: $6.1K/week
New Mexico, Telemetry, ER, L&D: $6.1K/week
North Dakota: $6.1K/week
Idaho, MICU/SICU: $6.1K/week
Illinois, L&D: $6.1K/week
Massachusetts, Med/Surg: $6.1K/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

On Wednesday morning, the White House announced plans to roll out COVID-19 vaccine administration for kids ages 5-11, pending FDA authorization, which may come as early as next week.

“Today the Biden Administration is announcing a plan to ensure that, if a vaccine is authorized for children ages 5-11, it is quickly distributed and made conveniently and equitably available to families across the country,” the news release says.

There are 28 million children who fall in that age group. The statement included plans to work closely with pediatric offices, rural health departments, pharmacies and urgent care clinics to administer the vaccines. The administration also announced a partnership with the Children’s Hospital Association to set up even more vaccination sites throughout the rest of the year.

Vaccine numbers for people aged 12+ have increased since our last update. According to the CDC, a total of 189.5 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated. At this point:

66% of the U.S. population have had at least one dose
57.1% of Americans are fully vaccinated

The CDC has also started to track booster doses. According to the CDC, about 5.8% of people in the U.S. have received a booster dose.

The FDA is expected to give authorization for mixed dose boosters as early as this week, meaning that you can get a different type of booster from the original type of COVID-19 vaccine you received. If you’re on the fence about a booster, the CDC recommends boosters for those who are:

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

Most hospitals, healthcare facilities, and local health departments have started offering booster doses to people who fall under those guidelines. 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.