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 Since the pandemic started, over 217,000 people have died in the
United States. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/3k2EHvB)
The United States reported 60,000 new infections on Wednesday, the
highest since Aug. 14, with rising cases in every region, especially
the Midwest.
Health experts have long warned that colder temperatures driving
people inside could promote the spread of the virus. They have not
pinpointed the reason for the rise but point to fatigue with
COVID-19 precautions and students returning to schools and colleges.
According to a Reuters analysis, 25 states have so far set records
for increases in new cases in October. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2SFLb7o)
All Midwest and Northeast states have reported more cases in the
past four weeks than in the prior four weeks, with the number of new
cases doubling in states like Wisconsin, South Dakota and New
Hampshire.
In the Midwest, daily new cases hit a record on Wednesday with over
22,000 new infections. The positive test rate tops 30% in South
Dakota and 20% in Idaho and Wisconsin.
Ten states on Thursday reported record increases in new cases,
including Wisconsin with 4,000 new cases. "Our numbers are high and
they're growing rapidly," state Health Secretary-Designate Andrea
Palm told a news conference.
“We have now surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 patients who are in the
hospital. In some regions of our state, our ICU beds are 90% or more
full. Over the course of the past six weeks, our average daily
deaths have more than tripled," Palm added.
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California remains the state with the most total cases followed by Texas,
Florida, New York and Georgia. Those five states account for over 40% of all
reported COVID-19 cases in the nation.
With both cases and positive test rates rising in recent weeks, New York City
has closed businesses and schools in neighborhood hot spots despite protests
from a small contingent of Orthodox Jews.
In addition to rising cases, hospitals in several states are straining to handle
an influx of patients.
In the Midwest, COVID-19 hospitalizations hit a record high for a tenth day in a
row on Wednesday. Nationally, the United States reported nearly 37,000
hospitalizations, the highest since Aug. 28.
Wisconsin, which reported record hospitalization on Wednesday, has opened a
field hospital outside of Milwaukee to handle COVID-19 patients.
(Reporting by Anurag Maan, Shaina Ahluwalia and Chaithra J in Bengaluru; Editing
by Lisa Shumaker)
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