Topline
In a grim milestone, 83,010 new coronavirus cases were reported nationwide Friday, according to The COVID Tracking Project, the most on record as hospitalizations and deaths continue to spike.
A medical worker takes a nasal swab sample from a student to test for Covid-19 at the Brooklyn … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
That breaks the old record of 76,842 cases reported on July 17, according to The COVID Tracking Project, which gathers data from state and local reporting agencies.
The number of Americans currently hospitalized with Covid-19 has also been rising rapidly, reaching 41,485 on Friday, the highest level since Aug. 20.
Deaths declined slightly to 916 Friday, after back-to-back days of more than 1,000, but the seven-day average for deaths continued to climb.
Testing also reached an all-time high, with states reporting 1.3 million tests Friday.
What To Watch For
The U.S. is now in the midst of its third major coronavirus spike. Health experts warn this could be the worst surge yet, due to a combination of outbreaks in schools, cold weather and flu season.
Key Background
Despite the worsening trend in the pandemic, states across the U.S. are continuing to reopen. According toUSA Today, 35 states are loosening restrictions, while just five are putting new restrictions in place. The Midwest appears to be the worst-hit region in the current surge, but most states across the Northeast are also dealing with their largest increases since the spring.
Tangent
President Donald Trump said during Thursday night’s presidential debate that Covid is “going away,” and that the U.S. has “rounded the corner,” a line he’s repeatedly said, even though it’s at odds with the data and the judgments of public health experts.
Further Reading
Trump Has Said U.S. Is ‘Rounding The Turn’ On Coronavirus 28 Of The Last 46 Days (Forbes)
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Source: Forbes – Business
