A quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the US have been recorded this month alone as daily infections and deaths continue to rise and hosp...
A quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the US have been recorded this month alone as daily infections and deaths continue to rise and hospitalizations hit record highs.
The US has so far in November recorded more than 3 million COVID-19 cases, which accounts for a quarter of the 12 million infections tallied so far throughout the pandemic.
There were 142,732 new cases reported yesterday and hospitalizations surged to a record 83,870 across the country.
The daily death toll was at 919 yesterday - marking the first time in six days that fatalities haven't topped 1,400. There is often a lag in weekend reporting, which can account for low numbers at the beginning of each week.
The rolling seven-day average for deaths is currently 1,500, which is the highest since mid-May during the initial peak of the virus.
Some health experts have warned that deaths, which are a lagging indicator and can rise weeks after cases, will top 2,000 per day in the coming weeks.
More than 256,000 Americans have now died of COVID-19 since the pandemic first broke out.
There were 142,732 new cases reported yesterday. The US has so far in November recorded more than 3 million COVID-19 cases, which accounts for a quarter of the 12 million infections tallied so far
The daily death toll was at 919 - marking the first time in six days fatalities haven't topped 1,400. There is often a lag in weekend reporting, which can account for low numbers at the beginning of each week
It comes as US surgeon general Jerome Adams warned today that the country is currently 'at a dire point' due to the rising infections, deaths and hospitalizations.
'Cases, positivity, hospitalizations, deaths - we are seeing more Americans negatively impacted than ever before. But I also want Americans to understand that we've never had more reason for hope, thanks to science,' he told ABC's Good Morning America.
'We're going to have people, the vulnerable, start to be vaccinated in mere weeks. So I'm asking Americans, I'm begging you, hold on just a little bit longer, keep Thanksgiving and the celebrations small and smart this year.'
When asked about the reluctance of some Americans to get vaccinated given how quickly the shots have been created, Adams insisted that no safety corners had been cut.
'Normal studies only have about 5,000 people in them before a vaccine is approved. These studies have 30,000 to 60,000. These vaccines at the point of being administered to the American public will have more data than any other vaccine in history,' he said.
'I will be in line to get it when they tell me I can get it - that's how much confidence I have that this will be safe. What I'd hate for us to have is a vaccine that could end this pandemic but people don't trust it.'
Hospitalizations surged to yet another record high with 83,870 patients across the country yesterday
With a vaccine on the horizon, Dr Anthony Fauci warned the situation could get worse before getting better if people fail to take precautions in the coming holiday season.
He urged Americans to look at the bigger picture before they travel or make plans for the holidays.
'I think the people in this country need to realistically do a risk-benefit assessment,' Fauci told NBC's Meet the Press.
US surgeon general Jerome Adams warned today that the country is currently 'at a dire point' due to the rising infections, deaths and hospitalizations
'Do you really want to get a crowd of 10, 15, 20 people, many of whom are coming in from places where they have gone from crowded airports, to planes, getting into the house?' he said.
It comes as more than three million people were screened at TSA checkpoints across the country over the weekend.
The TSA said it screened 1.047 million passengers across the country on Sunday, which is the highest number of travelers since mid-March.
The CDC issued guidance late last week strongly recommending that Americans do not travel during the Thanksgiving holiday to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as cases, hospitalizations and death spike across the country.
The Midwest continues to experience one of the most dramatic increases in cases per capita.
North Dakota, Wyoming and South Dakota are currently the top three worst-affected states in the country for infections.
North Dakota has had the most new infections per capita in the last week with 167 infections per 100,000 people, according to CDC data.
Wyoming ranks second with 136 cases per 100,000 and South Dakota is third with 130 infections per capita.
Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Iowa, New Mexico and Utah have all had more than 100 cases per 100,000 people in the last week.
North Dakota has had the most new infections per capita in the last week with 167 infections per 100,000 people, according to CDC data
Wyoming is currently ranked the second worst state in the country with 136 cases per 100,000
South Dakota is now third with 130 infections per capita
South Dakota has recorded the most deaths per capita with 2.5 fatalities per 100,000 people in the last week.
North Dakota follows behind with 2 deaths per 100,000 people.
While the Midwest is currently hardest hit in this wave, the virus is more widespread nationally.
The initial wave in the spring mostly affected the Northeast, while the summer surge mostly occurred across the Sunbelt states.
White House COVID-19 task force coordinator Dr Deborah Birx warned last week that while there have been improvements in treatments that means less people who are hospitalized are dying, tens of thousands of people will likely die before vaccines can become widely available.
'This is more cases, more rapidly, than what we have seen before,' she said at a briefing.
'This is really a call to action to every American to increase their vigilance.'
The out-of-control surge is leading governors and mayors across the country to issue mask mandates, limit the size of private and public gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving, ban indoor restaurant dining, close gyms or restrict the hours and capacity of bars, stores and other businesses.
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