More than 50,000 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the United States, the highest total since Aug. 7.
Hospitalizations have been rising since Oct. 1, especially in the Midwest. Total hospitalizations reached 50,340 on Tuesday. Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and New Mexico all reported record high hospitalizations this week. North and South Dakota continue to lead the nation in new COVID-19 cases per capita, according to COVID Tracking Project data.
Midwestern states have felt the third surge in the pandemic most acutely, but governors are reluctant to enact tighter restrictions. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has recommended but not mandated mask use despite pressure from mayors to make masks mandatory in public places.
In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem has said she will not enact further restrictions despite the sharp increase in new cases.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, meanwhile, revised safety guidelines last month to decrease the limit on indoor gatherings from 75% of the venue’s total capacity to 50% capacity, with groups restricted to eight people.
To date, more than 9.3 million coronavirus infections and over 232,000 deaths have been confirmed in the U.S.
