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(Reuters) – The United States set a one-day record for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday with at least 102,591 new infections and as hospitals in several states reported a rising tide of patients, according to a Reuters tally.
Nine states reported record increases in cases in one day on Wednesday: Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.
The pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of American life, including a record number of voters who sent their ballots by mail in Tuesday’s presidential election, the outcome of which has yet to be decided.
In addition to the increase in cases, on Tuesday hospitalizations exceeded 50,000 for the first time in three months. North Dakota reported just six free intensive care unit beds statewide on Wednesday, when it was one of 14 states that reported record levels of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Hospitalization is a key metric because it is not affected by the number of tests performed.
The proportion of tests that are positive is greater than 50% in South Dakota and greater than 40% in Iowa and Wyoming. The World Health Organization says that rates of more than 5% are concerning because they indicate undetected community transmission. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR)
Deaths from coronavirus are trending higher, but not at the same rate as cases. The United States averages 850 deaths a day, up from 700 a month ago.
The outbreak is hitting the Midwest the hardest, based on new cases per capita in recent weeks.
Illinois has reported 48,579 cases in the past seven days, more than any other state. Texas, which has twice the number of residents, reported 47,932 cases and both California and Florida reported about 30,000 new cases each.
The previous US record for new cases in one day was 100,233 on October 30, the highest ever reported by any country in the world.
(Written by Lisa Shumaker; Edited by Daniel Wallis)
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