Topline
With more than 55,000 new coronavirus infections counted nationwide on Friday, the U.S. recorded the most new cases in a 24-hour period since mid-August, as four states set records for the most cases detected in a single day.
A medical professional administers a Covid-19 test at a free COVID-19 testing site in Dedham, MA ... [+]
Key Facts
A Johns Hopkins University tally showed 55,054 new cases were recorded by health authorities Friday.
It’s the highest figure since August 14, when Johns Hopkins University counted 64,350 new daily infections as new cases slowed down from a peak in July.
Four states reported all-time highs for new coronavirus cases counted in a 24-hour period Friday: Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin and Utah, according to Reuters.
On Saturday, the news agency reported Minnesota once again broke its one-day record for new daily cases, along with Montana and South Dakota.
The U.S. as a whole reached a grim record Friday as it reached 7 million total confirmed coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic, as it continues to be the hardest-hit country in the world.
Earlier this week, the U.S. marked its 200,000th death from the virus, though experts say the totals for cases and fatalities are likely much higher than the official reported figures because not every infected person is tested.
Key Background
While parts of the East and West coasts of the U.S. were battered by coronavirus early on in the pandemic, the virus is rapidly spreading throughout the Midwest and other interior states as society reopens and residents eschew face masks, according to a report from the Associated Press. The coronavirus pandemic continues to be politicized as the race to the White House heats up before Election Day. President Donald Trump has continuously downplayed the severity of the pandemic. A handful of coronavirus vaccine candidates are in development, though Trump and health experts disagree on a realistic timeline for an approved vaccine to be widely distributed. The Trump administration has been accused of seeking to fasttrack a vaccine without appropriate checks for safety in order to get a leg up on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who is leading in the polls. Experts say vaccination is the world’s best bet to return to a semblance of normalcy.
Further Reading
US reports highest new case total for a single day since mid-August (CNN)
Four U.S. states including Wisconsin report record one-day increases in COVID-19 cases (Reuters)
Virus cases rise in US heartland, home to anti-mask feelings (Associated Press)
As U.S. Reaches 7 Million Covid-19 Cases, These States Have The Most New Infections (Forbes)
