Coronavirus map shows the 22 hotspots where cases could explode as eight states lift lockdowns – The US Sun

OMINOUS maps show the 22 spots around the US where coronavirus cases could be set to explode as eight states ease lockdown restrictions.

The maps were made by monitoring social media posts in which locals talked about having tested positive, experienced symptoms, or been exposed to the coronavirus.

The study, conducted by data firm Dataminr, identified a rise in posts in 22 metropolitan areas in which significant outbreaks are yet to be seen.

The areas were spread across Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The company says that a March 30 study identified similar spikes in 14 states, and that all 14 saw a rise in cases within a week of publication.

Those findings align with CDC warnings that COVID-19 symptoms are most likely to appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The population in the county within a city and the time gap between social media and case spikes for those hot spots are:

Nashville, TN - 700,000 - 12 day gap

Atlanta, GA - 1.1million - 7 day gap

Columbus, OH - 1.4 million - 10 day gap

Houston, TX - 4.7 million - 8 day gap

Indianapolis, IN - 965,000 - 13 day gap

Miami, FL - 2.7 million - 10 day gap

Columbia, SC - 415,800 - 13 day gap

Detroit, MI - 1.75 million - 6 day gap

The study comes as a number of states, including some of those highlighted as potential hotspots, began to lift their lockdowns.

Those to have begun easing restrictions are Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Many have relaxed restrictions on movement and allowed some businesses to reopen, though social distancing guidelines remain in force.

In the week since the study concluded, figures independent from the analysis show that infections have already begun to spike in many of the 22 areas.

Georgia

In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is pushing one of the most aggressive reopening plans in the US. Barbershops, gyms and nail salons were allowed to reopen Friday and dine-in restaurant service and movie screenings were freed to resume Monday - despite warnings that, without sufficient testing, the state could see a surge in infections.

States that are reopening

Montana: From May 4

Missouri: May 4

Maine: From May 1

Ohio: From May 1

Iowa: May 1

Alabama: From April 30

Minnesota: From April 27

Mississippi: From April 27

Tennessee: From April 27

Colorado: From April 27

Michigan: From April 24

Alaska: From April 24

Georgia: From April 24

Oklahoma: From April 24

South Carolina: From April 20

Texas: From April 20

Two areas in Georgia were analyzed as hotspots.

In Chatham County, infections increased by 32 in the past week. The week prior saw 25 new infections.

Clarke County saw an increase of 26 infections last week and 14 new cases the week before.

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South Carolina

In South Carolina's Charleston County, infections jumped 35 in the last week and 50 the week prior.

Greenville County in South Carolina recorded 144 new infections last week and 117 cases the week before.

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Ohio

In Lucas County in Ohio, infections spiked by 313 last week compared to the 257 cases the week before.

Ohio has seen 17,303 cases and around a thousand deaths, but is planning to reopen on May 1.

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Indiana

Indiana's St. Joseph County recorded 160 new infections last week and 169 a week earlier.

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Tennesee

Exponential growth in social media clusters occurred 12 days prior to exponential growth in COVID-19 case count in Nashville's Hamilton County.

Florida

Florida, a place renowned for its elderly population, currently has over 33 thousand cases.

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Public health authorities have warned that increasing human interactions and economic activity may spark a new surge of infections just as social distancing measures appear to be bringing coronavirus outbreaks under control.

Stay-at-home orders issued by governors across the US and subsequent decisions to slowly reopen state economies have turned into highly charged political issues in recent weeks as the shutdowns have hammered the nation's economy.

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