Flattening curves

Here’s a look at some metro areas where charts show hopeful signs of a flattening curve and, like the Bay Area, have lower weekly case rates than the U.S. average. Testing capacity has varied greatly across states and regions, but these regions appear to have avoided worstcase scenarios.

Los Angeles issued its own stayhome order on March 19, the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the most farreaching shelterinplace order in the nation. Los Angeles County has the largest concentration of cases in the state and accounts for nearly half of the deaths in the state so far. But its weekly case rate shows signs of leveling off.

In Texas, the Houston area (Harris County) reported its first two coronavirus cases on March 5, and perhaps benefited from the virus arriving later than in other major urban areas. Houston’s largest event, the Houston Rodeo, was shut down on March 11 after pressure from community members. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a stayhome order on March 24, and public health leaders have said the data

show a flattening curve.

Washington state is home to the country’s first known coronavirus case, announced on Jan. 21. Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statewide stayhome order on March 23, and law enforcement has been strict to enforce the measure. The SeattleTacoma area was the nation’s first epicenter, but on Tuesday Inslee said case data look hopeful and announced a road map for reopening Washington’s economy.

The Phoenix area (Maricopa County) reported one of the first U.S. cases in late January, but it wasn’t until March 3 when the next case arrived. The governor’s stayhome order went into effect on March 31, and public health leaders there recently announced the growth rate of hospitalizations was slowing, pointing to a flattened curve.