Another Record: US Reports 82,600 New COVID Cases

The Washington Post reports:

America on Friday hit its highest daily number of coronavirus case since the pandemic began, recording at least 82,600 new infections. The rising numbers put the nation on the precipice of what could be its worst stretch to date with some hospitals in the West and Midwest already overwhelmed and deaths counts beginning to rise.

The current surge is considerably more widespread than the waves from last summer and spring. The unprecedented geographic spread of the current surge makes it more dangerous, with experts warning it could lead to dire shortages of medical staff and supplies.

Already, hospitals are reporting shortfalls of basic drugs needed to treat covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The high case numbers of recent days have stoked concerns because the country has not even hit the stretch of holidays and cold weather, which experts have long warned will send cases soaring even higher.

82,600 new #coronavirus cases today…a record. This would not have happened if we had someone at the helm, instead of hiding on his golf course doing nothing. https://t.co/QvjmQ6rR5o

— Robert Gaustad (@RMGaustad) October 23, 2020