Seven states are reporting new highs for current coronavirus hospitalizations, according to data tracked by The Washington Post — Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas — as the number of infections continues to climb across the South and West. More than 800 covid-19 deaths were reported in the United States on Tuesday, the first time fatalities have increased since June 7. Texas and California on Tuesday eclipsed 5,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus over a 24-hour span — records in those states. Arizona, Nevada and Missouri also logged new single-day highs. Overall, 33 states and U.S. territories now have a rolling average of new cases that is higher than last week.
While the United States appeared to have curbed the outbreak in May, leading many states to lift restrictions on social and economic activity, the virus is moving into rural areas and other places that it had not initially penetrated deeply.
The virus is also renewing its surge in states that opened up early to ease the devastating effect of the restrictions on local economies.
Florida, one of the first states to reopen, on Wednesday experienced a record increase of more than 5,500 new cases. Oklahoma, which never ordered a statewide lockdown, posted record new cases on Wednesday, the sixth time it has shattered that record.
On Tuesday, Arizona, California, Mississippi and Nevada had record rises. Texas set an all-time high on Monday.
The surge in cases nationwide on Tuesday was the highest since a record of 36,426 new infections on April 24.
The New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area has lowered its infection rate after locking down much of its economy.
