(Reuters) – New cases of COVID-19 in the United States increased by nearly 50,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters count, marking the largest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic.
A large mask hangs from a lion statue outside the main branch of the New York Public Library in the Manhattan district of New York City, USA, July 1, 2020. REUTERS / Lucas Jackson
The registry follows a warning from the government’s top infectious disease expert that the number could soon double to 100,000 cases per day if Americans don’t join together to take the necessary steps to stop the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks when they can’t practice. social activities. distancing
In the first week of June, the United States added about 22,000 new cases of coronavirus each day. But as the month progressed, hot spots began to emerge through the Sun Belt. In the last seven days of June, new daily infections nearly doubled to 42,000 nationwide.
Brazil is the only other country that reports more than 50,000 new cases in one day. The United States reported at least 49,286 cases on Tuesday.
More than half of the new cases in the United States each day come from Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, where 30% of the country’s population lives. The four states plus 10 others saw new cases more than double in June.
The daily increase in new cases could reach 100,000 unless a national effort was made to stop the rapidly spreading virus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a Senate committee on Tuesday. from USA
“We cannot focus only on those areas that are having the increase. It puts the whole country at risk, “said Fauci.
The increase in cases is not just the result of more tests. Hospitalizations are also skyrocketing.
Nationwide, 7% of coronavirus diagnostic tests tested positive last week, compared to 5% the previous week, according to a Reuters analysis. Arizona’s positivity rate was 24% last week, Florida’s was 16%. Nevada, South Carolina and Texas were all 15%, according to the analysis.
(Open tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR in an external browser for a Reuters interactive)
Some of the recent increases date back to the festive celebrations of Memorial Day in late May. Health experts are concerned about Independence Day celebrations this weekend, when Americans traditionally flock to beaches and camps to see fireworks.
Written by Lisa Shumaker; editing by Jane Wardell, Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler
.
