Coronavirus cases climb by record for second day in a row with more than 120,000 COVID-19 infections

New U.S. coronavirus cases climb to record 120,000 in a single day – the second day in a row infections have topped 100,000

  • For the second day in a row, more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases were recorded in a single day, according to a Reuters tally 
  • Coronavirus deaths are trending higher but not at the same rate as cases
  • The United States is averaging 850 deaths a day, up from 700 a month ago
  • Six states have reported their highest one-day increases in pandemic deaths: Arkansas, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming
  • Twenty-three states have recorded more cases in the past week than in any other seven-day stretch 

Coronavirus cases in the United States surged by at least 120,276 on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally – the second consecutive daily record rise as the outbreak spreads in every region.

U.S. cases have risen by over 100,000 for three out of the last seven days, putting pressure on hospitals in several states and causing families to rethink their plans for Thanksgiving dinner on November 26.

Twenty out of 50 states reporting record one-day increases on Thursday. 

For the second day in a row, 100,000 new coronavirus cases were recorded in a single day as daily records were broken across the country

Previously, the most states that reported records for new cases in a single day was 16 on October 30, according to Reuters data.

While the spread of the virus is wide, the outbreak is hitting the Midwest particularly hard, based on daily new cases per capita.

Illinois reported nearly 10,000 new cases on Thursday and along with Texas is leading the United States in the most cases reported in the last seven days.

Other Midwestern states with record increases in cases on Thursday were Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Kentucky, Oregon, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah and West Virginia also set records for rises in new infections. 

An aerial view of vehicles queuing at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Madison, Wisconsin

An aerial view of vehicles queuing at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin is among the states that have reported a huge spike in cases

Wisconsin is among the states that have reported a huge spike in cases

Some cities and states have announced new measures such as curfews or reduced gathering sizes to combat the spread of the virus, but the United States has taken no action at the federal level. Seventeen out of 50 states do not require masks.

Many countries in Europe are shutting high-risk businesses and even ordering national or regional lockdowns in the face of a second wave of the virus.

In addition to rising cases, U.S. hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients rose to over 52,500 on Thursday, up for an 11th consecutive day and getting closer to the record of 58,370 set in July.

North Dakota reported only eight free intensive care unit beds in the entire state on Thursday. Hospitalization are a key metric because they are not affected by the amount of testing done.

Coronavirus deaths are trending higher but not at the same rate as cases. The United States is averaging 850 deaths a day, up from 700 a month ago.

In recent days, six states have reported their highest one-day increases in pandemic deaths: Arkansas, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of American life, including a record number of voters mailing in their ballots in Tuesday’s elections.

In the Midwest, detected cases per capita are now well above any other region in any previous period since the pandemic arrived in the United States

In the Midwest, detected cases per capita are now well above any other region in any previous period since the pandemic arrived in the United States

The surge of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has escalated in the past week at a rate that’s alarming some experts

The surge of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has escalated in the past week at a rate that’s alarming some experts

U.S. COVID-19-related deaths have now exceeded 234,000

U.S. COVID-19-related deaths have now exceeded 234,000

Cases of COVID-19 this past week 

Illinois saw 9,935 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 13.4% in 7 days

Texas saw 8,594 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 5.45% in 7 days

Nebraska saw 1,828 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 14% in 7 days

Indiana saw 4,412 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 13.6% in 7 days

Iowa saw 3,992  new cases on Thursday. An increase of 13.7% in 7 days

Michigan saw 6,103 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 14.8% in 7 days

Minnesota saw 3,942 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 15.8% in 7 days

Missouri saw 3,553 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 10.6% in 7 days

North Dakota saw 1,536 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 21.2% in 7 days

Ohio saw 4,961 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 12.6% in 7 days

Wisconsin saw 6,284 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 16.3% in 7 days

Arkansas saw 1,548 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 7% in 7 days

Colorado saw 2,928 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 17.4% in 7 days

Maine saw 183 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 12.3% in 7 days

Kentucky saw 2,268 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 11.6% in 7 days

Oregon saw 790 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 9.2% in 7 days

New Hampshire saw 245 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 9.7% in 7 days

Oklahoma saw 2,101 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 8.1% in 7 days

Rhode Island saw 628 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 10.6% in 7 days

Utah and saw 2,807 new cases on Thursday. An increase of 12.3% in 7 days

West Virginia 560 also set records for rises in new infections 13.1% in 7 days

                                                                                                    Source: COVID Tracking Project