Audio By Carbonatix
Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota have recently reported record one-day increases in new cases while Montana and Idaho are seeing record numbers of currently hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
Nationally, metrics on new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and the positivity rates of tests are all declining, but there are emerging hotspots in the Midwest.
Many of the new cases in Iowa are in the counties that are home to the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which are holding some in-person classes.
Colleges and universities around the country have seen outbreaks after students returned to campus, forcing some to switch to online-only learning.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said his state was sending a “SWAT team” to a State University of New York (SUNY) campus in Oneonta in upstate New York to contain a Covid-19 outbreak.
Fall classes, which started last week at the college, were suspended for two weeks after more than 100 people tested positive for the virus, about 3% of the total student and faculty population, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said.
“We have had reports of several large parties of our students at Oneonta last week, and unfortunately because of those larger gatherings, there were several students who were symptomatic of Covid,” Malatras said.
Across the Midwest, infections have also risen after an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota drew more than 365,000 people from across the country from Aug. 7 to 16.
The South Dakota health department said 88 cases have been traced to the rally.
More than eight months into the pandemic, the United States continues to struggle with testing. The number of people tested has fallen in recent weeks.
Many health officials and at least 33 states have rejected the new Covid-19 testing guidance issued by the Trump administration last week that said those exposed to the virus and without symptoms may not need testing.
Public health officials believe the United States needs to test more frequently to find asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers to slow the spread of the disease.
While the United States has the most recorded infections in the world, it ranks tenth based on cases per capita, with Brazil, Peru and Chile having higher rates of infection, according to a Reuters tally.
The United States also has the most deaths in the world at nearly 183,000 and ranks 11th for deaths per capita, exceeded by Sweden, Brazil, Italy, Chile, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Peru.
Latest Stories
-
NACOC to launch licensing for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation
2 minutes -
NACOC to begin licensing for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation
8 minutes -
It’s easier to move from GH₵100k to GH₵1m than from zero to GH₵100k- Ecobank Development Corporation MD
12 minutes -
Between faith and rights: A nuanced strategic view on the debate over an Islamic widow’s political ambition
24 minutes -
At worst, Baba Jamal should have been fined – Vitus Azeem
30 minutes -
Gender Minister visits the 31st December Women’s Day Care Centre and the Makola clinic
32 minutes -
Ayawaso East NDC primary: Why feed people for votes? Are they your children? – Kofi Kapito
37 minutes -
Ziavi Traditional Area begins funeral rites for Togbega Ayim Kwaku IV
45 minutes -
Photos: Mahama swears in Presidential Advisory Group on Economy
46 minutes -
Ghana intensifies boundary pillar construction with Côte d’Ivoire
47 minutes -
NHIA settles December–January claims worth GH¢400m for service providers
51 minutes -
Mahama warns economic advisers of ‘rough road ahead’ amid debt distress
52 minutes -
EC engages political parties in preparatory meeting for March 3 Ayawaso East by-election
55 minutes -
Forgiveness key to restoring broken relationships – Rev. Daniel Annan
56 minutes -
Joy Prime partners ALM for 2026 African Leadership Awards in Accra
1 hour
