As the holiday season approaches and the respiratory viral season takes hold, several states are witnessing a rise in COVID-19-related deaths. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that, as of November 11, eight states have reported increases in coronavirus fatalities. These states include Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Michigan, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The percentage of increase varies, with Colorado seeing a minimal 0.1 percent rise, while Maryland has experienced a more substantial 3 percent increase in COVID-19 deaths. This concerning trend underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, urging continued vigilance and public health measures to mitigate the impact.
Both Colorado and Maryland were the only two states where the percentage of deaths in the past week caused by COVID-19 were in the yellow range, meaning they fell within 4 to 5.9 percent of deaths. Maine nearly fell within this category at 4 percent. As the holiday season
Last month, the CDC’s Respiratory Disease Season Outlook projected the U.S. would likely see a similar amount of hospitalizations as it did last winter. Whether hospitalizations end up being somewhat higher or lower than projected, they will likely be higher than before the pandemic.
The majority of the country is experiencing minimal or low rates of emergency department (ED) visits in which people are testing positive for the virus. ED visits, however, did rise by 7.1 percent in the most recently recorded week.