Peter Wells in New York
The US is still experiencing mitigating trends in cases and hospitalizations, with trends for both measures to the lowest levels in weeks.
States reported an additional 144,047 infections, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project on Tuesday, which was the smallest increase in cases since Dec. 25.
In the past week, the US has averaged 197,930 cases per day. This is the first time the rate has been below 200,000 – and the lowest was – since figures reported on 1 January to 31 December. About a week ago, the U.S. averaged a record 244,707 cases per day.
Infection rates seem to have dropped in a majority of countries. Only four states – Virginia, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Maine – fell an average of seven days, which was higher on Tuesday compared to a week ago, according to a Financial Times analysis of CTP data.
This is the least number of countries with increasing infections since the beginning of March 2020.
A toddler attends class behind a Plexiglas shield in Chicago
The data show that the trend in hospital admissions is similar. North Dakota, Idaho, Utah, New York and Kansas are the only states with more patients in the hospital than they had seven days ago. This is the least number of states with increasing hospitalizations since March 23.
Overall, the number of people currently being treated in coronavirus in U.S. hospitals dropped to a 17-day low of 123,820 on Monday. The score is 6.5 percent lower than a high on January 6th.
Authorities attributed a further 2141 deaths to coronavirus, compared to a five-week low Monday of 1,395. The U.S. averaged 2,997 deaths a day last week, the first time in 11 days it was less than 3,000.
Since the onset of the pandemic, the U.S. has confirmed 392,428 deaths, according to CTP, although Johns Hopkins University, which uses a different method, revealed Tuesday that the count was 400,000 higher.
In addition to the emerging signs of a worsening pandemic in the US, the latest figures are likely to be lower than expected on a typical Tuesday due to delays in reporting over the public holiday weekend.