Fall Surge Picks Up: Positivity Rates, Hospitalizations Rise In Many States

Reuters: Positive COVID-19 Test Rates Top 25% In Some U.S. Midwest States
The number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 is topping 25% in several states in the U.S. Midwest as cases and hospitalizations also surge in the region, according to a Reuters analysis. North Dakota’s positive test rate has averaged 30% over the past seven days compared with 6% the prior week. The positivity rate has risen to 26% in South Dakota, up from 17% the previous week, according to the analysis using testing data from The COVID Tracking Project. Minnesota and Montana are averaging 7% of tests coming back positive, but Montana’s positivity rate rose on Sunday to 20%, according to the analysis. The World Health Organization considers rates above 5% concerning because it suggests there are more cases in the community that have not yet been uncovered. (Shumaker, 9/27)

NPR: COVID-19 Daily Cases On The Rise In Nearly Half Of U.S. States
Daily cases were largely on a downward trend through August and early September from highs in July, but are now going up again.According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Tracker, the U.S. reported more than 55,000 new cases on Friday. In total, the U.S. has more than 7,074,000 infections with 204,000 dead as a result of COVID-19.Overall, about two-dozen states and territories reported an upward trend in new infections, with some states setting and breaking records in days. (Slotkin, 9/26)

Reuters: Four U.S. States Including Wisconsin Report Record One-Day Increases In COVID-19 Cases
Four U.S. states reported record one-day increases in new COVID-19 cases on Friday as the nation surpassed the grim milestone of over 7 million total infections, according to a Reuters tally. Wisconsin, one of the states where cases are rising the fastest, reported 2,629 new infections, surpassing its previous record set last Friday, according to the tally. Minnesota, Oregon and Utah also reported record increases in cases on Friday. (Maan Shumaker, 9/25)

The Atlantic: Wisconsin Is On The Brink Of A Major Outbreak
In New York, the decisive moment came in March. In Arizona and other Sun Belt states, it struck as the spring turned to summer. In every state that has so far seen a large spike of COVID-19 cases, there has been a moment when the early signs of an uptick are detectable—but a monstrous outbreak is not yet assured. Can a state realize what’s happening, and stop a surge in time? Wisconsin is about to find out. In the past week, Wisconsin has crashed through its own coronavirus records, reporting more cases and more COVID-19 hospitalizations than it has at any time since the pandemic began, according to the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic. It now ranks among the top states in new cases per capita, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is reporting more new cases, in absolute terms, than all states but California, Texas, and Florida. (Meyer, 9/26)

Salt Lake Tribune: Coronavirus In Utah: State Above 1,000 New Cases For Fourth Straight Day; Five New Deaths Reported
COVID-19 continues to tick off myriad dubious milestones. And the state of Utah continues to contribute to the problem. As the world approaches 1 million coronavirus deaths, and the United States surpasses 7 million cases and 204,000 deaths, the Beehive State on Sunday reported its fourth consecutive day of more than 1,000 new cases. (Walden, 9/27)

The Salt Lake Tribune: As Utah’s COVID-19 Cases Spike, Gov. Gary Herbert Praises The State’s Economic Response 
As Utah’s coronavirus cases continue to spike — reaching an all-time high Thursday — Gov. Gary Herbert praised the state’s “balanced” approach to addressing the health effects of the pandemic while also protecting the economy. “On balance, we’ve done a pretty good job,” he said at his televised monthly news conference with PBS Utah.Nearly 450 people in the state have lost their lives to the coronavirus, and the case rate spiked to 1,198 on Thursday. But the governor noted that Utah has one of the lowest mortality rates in the nation at 0.7% and an overall death rate of 14 people per 100,000. (Stevens, 9/25)

CNN: New York City's Spike In Cases Shows The Virus Is Still 'A Force To Be Reckoned With,' Governor Says
As cases spike in parts of New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that Covid-19 "remains a force to be reckoned with throughout the country." "I urge New Yorkers to keep wearing masks, socially distancing and washing their hands, and local governments must continue to enforce state public health guidance," Cuomo said in a statement. "By staying vigilant and smart, we can beat COVID together." (Holcombe, 9/28)

Idaho Statesman: Cases Of COVID-19 Continue To Spike In Madison County, Idaho 
Madison County in eastern Idaho has become a hotbed of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Madison added 29 new cases on Sunday, according to the Eastern Idaho Public Health District, and now has 620 total. The county added 73 new cases Friday, and 235 in the past seven days. Only lightly populated Camas County has a higher rate of cases per capita over the past 14 days, though it has only reported 23 cases in that time. (Counts, 9/27)

And worldwide, total coronavirus deaths close in on 1 million —

The Wall Street Journal: Global Coronavirus Death Toll On Cusp Of One Million
The U.S. reported 36,919 new coronavirus cases Sunday as the world-wide death toll approached one million. India, meanwhile, became the second country after the U.S. to have reported more than six million cases nationally. (Martin, 9/28)

AP: India’s Confirmed Coronavirus Tally Reaches 6 Million Cases
India’s confirmed coronavirus tally reached 6 million cases on Monday, keeping the country second to the United States in number of reported cases since the pandemic began. The Health Ministry reported 82,170 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, driving the overall tally to 6,074,703. At least 1,039 deaths were also recorded in the same period, taking total fatalities up to 95,542. (9/28)