COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surge in 14 U.S. States, CDC Data Shows
New maps produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revealed a substantial increase in coronavirus hospitalizations in 14 U.S. states in the latest recorded week compared to the previous seven days. The data, which was released on Friday, shows that while there were 16,239 new admissions with the virus across the U.S. in the week ending November 11—an overall rise of 8.6 percent on the previous seven days—these increases have been higher in the upper Midwest, parts of the South Atlantic, and southern Mountain regions.
Health officials had anticipated these upticks as colder weather tends to lead to an increased spread in viruses and other infections while immunity is lower. Additionally, a 2020 study suggested that the COVID virus could remain active for longer in cold, dry conditions. A CDC spokesperson previously told Newsweek that October usually marked the “typical start of the respiratory virus season” and said hospitalization rates “could increase” heading into the winter months.
CDC data shows that Vermont had seen the greatest rise in hospitalizations, up by 70 percent on the previous week, with Iowa and Alaska seeing increases of 60 percent. Other states, including Montana, Minnesota, Hawaii, the Virginias, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington D.C., also saw increases of over 20 percent.
While some states saw substantial decreases, including Florida and Massachusetts, nationwide, there has been a 1.8 percent rise in the number of patients occupying intensive-care unit beds with COVID-19, representing the worst cases that usually require ventilation.
Localized rises through the summer prompted some private institutions, hospital operators, and colleges to reintroduce mask requirements for staff and visitors at their sites. However, many of these institutions have since relaxed their mask mandates, though some hospitals in New Jersey later brought them back in response to infection rates.
Despite the magnitude of the rises in some states, it is important to note that they represent a relatively low number of hospital admissions. For example, in Vermont, there were just 43 hospitalizations in a week, out of a total of 6,609 since August 2020.
The latest data comes as the United States continues to navigate the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant in efforts to curb the spread of the virus.