COVID tightens grip on US as hospitalizations hit two-month peak

The number of COVID-19 patients in US hospitals has hit a two-month peak as the nation is contending with a surge in virus infections ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

40,264 Americans were hospitalized on Wednesday, a 36% rise in coronavirus patients over the past four weeks.

16 US states, including the Midwest states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, have reported their highest daily numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 since the pandemic started.

Ohio reported 2,366 new cases of Wednesday, the highest number in a day since the pandemic began, the state's Department of Health said.

On Friday, the US recorded 69,478 new cases, the highest single-day total since July and the fifth-highest single-day total since the start of COVID- 19.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said, “Folks, please stay home. Help us protect our communities from this highly contagious virus and avoid further strain on our hospitals.”

Wisconsin is a pivotal battleground state in the Nov. 3 election between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has warned the state’s healthcare resources might not be enough if coronavirus cases continue to rise at the current pace.

New Mexico experienced "its worst week for COVID-19 infections" last week, health officials said, with a new rate of spread and new case rate among the highest in the US.

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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday new restrictive measures, saying, "As colder weather approaches and flu season is upon us, we're going to see the rippling effects of these current unfortunate trends."

"The massive surge of cases in our neighboring states will continue to have a spillover effect. There is no easy fix for the effects of this virus on our economy and our public health," Pritzker added.

At least 221,247 Americans have died and 8,282,666 have been infected in the US as of Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

US health expert warned that we're a week away from a "rapid acceleration" of the virus numbers. Another top doctor told CNN Wednesday it is going to be a difficult winter.

Dr. Peter Hotez told CNN's Brianna Keilar, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said this pandemic will not go on forever. Things will get better with the arrivals of vaccines and therapeutics next year but "this is going to be a horrible winter, unfortunately."

President Donald Trump's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which inflicted severe damage on the US economy and thrown tens of millions out of work, is a key issue in the election as he trails behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls.

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