Some big cities drop in- person learning as virus cases surge

School systems in Detroit, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and suburban Minneapolis are giving up on in- person classes, and some governors are reimposing restrictions on bars and restaurants or getting more serious about masks, as the coast- to- coast resurgence of the coronavirus sends deaths, hospitalizations and new infections soaring.

The crisis deepened at hospitals, with the situation so bad in North Dakota that the governor this week said nurses who test positive but have no symptoms can still work. Idaho clinics struggled to handle the deluge of phone calls from patients. And one of Utah’s biggest hospital systems is bringing in nearly 200 traveling nurses, some from New York City.

The virus is blamed for more than 242,000 deaths and over 10.5 million infections in the U. S. Deaths per day in the U. S. have soared more than 40% over the past two weeks, from an average of about 790 to more than 1,100 as of Wednesday, the highest level in three months.

That is still well below the peak of about 2,200 deaths per day in late April, in what may reflect the availability of better treatments and the increased share of cases among young people, who are more likely than older ones to survive a bout with COVID- 19.

But new cases per day in the U. S. have rocketed more than 70% over the past two weeks, reaching an average of about 127,000.

Federal courthouse proceedings suspended in Chicago, Rockford

U. S. District Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer announced Thursday that in- person proceedings are being suspended at the federal courthouses in Chicago and Rockford.

The clerk’s offices in the Northern District of Illinois will also close to the public on Friday afternoon, Pallmeyer wrote in a letter detailing the new restrictions. Starting Monday, all civil proceedings will be held either by phone or video, Pallmeyer said. Jury trials will remain suspended until after Jan. 19.