COVID Updates for Travel Nurses: August 11, 2021

The Delta variant is driving another wave of COVID-19, especially in the South. The New York Times COVID case map shows that for the first time since February, the US is averaging more than 100,000 cases of COVID every day again.

Hospitalizations, deaths and infection rates have all increased in the past several weeks. With fall and school starts on the horizon, travel nurses expect some lucrative assignments in COVID-hit areas once again.

Here’s more COVID updates for travel nurses this week.

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

What’s Happening with COVID-19 Right Now

According to the CDC, COVID-19 cases have increased by over 33% in the past 7 days. However, the current case count is still 64% lower than the peak in Jan 2021.

Here’s some quick data points about the numbers:

• 8.9% of test are positive
• There are 4 circulating variants in the U.S., with Delta accounting for around 93% of all cases
• To date, the U.S. has seen a total of 35,824,258 cases of COVID
• The death toll from COVID now stands at 614,856 in the U.S

The states with the highest current COVID infections are (in order): Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi and Texas.

Additionally, the following states indicate high transmission rates: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

What’s Happening in Hospitals Right Now

According to ABC News, 8,900 people are being admitted to the hospital for COVID every day. The CDC also reports that hospitalizations from COVID have been on the rise. This week’s average has increased about 40% from the previous week.

COVID is affecting more children in this wave, although the data is still showing that overall, the risk for children getting seriously ill is low. Hospilizations rates for children under the age of 4 have tripled, but the number is still only .6 per 100,000.

So far, breakthrough cases that are occurring in vaccinated people are still also mild. Areas with low vaccination rates continue to also have the highest hospitalization rates for COVID.

The New York Times COVID case map shows that the South is the hardest hit.

Florida’s hospitalization rate is comparable to what it was last summer. Louisiana has reached a crisis, with non-emergency procedures once again delayed to care for COVID patients.

Overall, there are a ton of travel nursing positions available right now, including many positions offering more than $5k per week.

Here’s a sampling of some of the travel nursing positions currently available:

• Idaho, Cardiovascular ICU: $6.8k/week
• California, L & D: $6.8k/week
• New York, ER: $6k/week
• California, MICU/ICU: $5.9k/week
• Michigan, Cardiac Cath Lab: $5.9k/week
• Virgina, OR: $5.8k/week
• Pennsylvania, ER: $5.7k/week
• Massachusetts, L&D: $5.4k/week
• Rhode Island, Med/Surg/Telemetry: $5.3k/week
• Rhode Island, L&D: $5.3k/week
• Texas, MICU/ICU: $5.3k/week
• Missouri, OR: $5.2k/week
• Idaho, ER, Cardiovascular, ICU: $5.2k/week
• Massachusetts, OR: $5.1k/week
• Alabama, MICU/ICU: $5.1k/week

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

What’s Happening with the Vaccine

According to the CDC, 166.7 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated. That translates to:

• 58.8% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose
• 50.2% are fully vaccinated

Vaccination rates, in general, have increased slightly since our last update. Some areas, however, have seen significant increases in vaccination rates.

As of right now, the CDC and FDA are maintaining their stance that COVID vaccine boosters are not needed, although they are continuing to gather research and data if that will change in the future. Moderna, on the other hand, says people will need a booster shot in the fall.

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