States with a quarter of the US population see a record increase in COVID-19 deaths for the second day

(Reuters) – California, Florida and Texas reported record increases in COVID-19 deaths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, as the total deaths exceeded 150,000, according to a Reuters count.

California had 185 deaths in the last 24 hours and Florida reported 217 new deaths. Texas had at least 311 deaths with some counties still to be reported. Only two other states, New York and New Jersey, have reported more than 300 deaths in a single day.

Deaths in the United States increased by at least 1,367 on Wednesday, and some counties and states have yet to report it, the highest number since May 27. Cases increased by 62,000 to a total of 4.4 million.

The three states, the most populous in the country representing 27% of the U.S. population, have the largest outbreaks, dwarfing the previous epicenters of New York and New Jersey.

Coronavirus deaths are on the rise in 27 states, compared to 23 states a week ago, according to a Reuters analysis of deaths in the past two weeks compared to the previous two weeks.

Cases continue to increase in large numbers in California, Florida, and Texas.

California reported more than 11,600 new cases Wednesday, totaling more than 485,000, the highest in the nation. Florida ranks second with 451,000 cases, followed by Texas with approximately 420,000.

North Carolina also had a record increase in deaths on Wednesday, increasing by 42, according to a Reuters count of county data. The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was also a record.

Total deaths in the US surpassed 150,000 on Wednesday, the highest level in the world and increased at the fastest rate since early June. (Graphic: tmsnrt.rs/2P87LUu)

Nationwide, COVID-19 deaths have increased for three weeks in a row, while the number of new cases week after week recently fell for the first time since June.