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
-
DVLA plans dedicated hospital for drivers as Jomoro office construction begins
7 minutes -
NAFCO to hold maiden AGM this year – CEO hints
8 minutes -
Upper West Regional Minister prioritises processing to address maize glut challenge
14 minutes -
Analysis: Scrutinizing Ghana Publishing Company’s Profitability
18 minutes -
Pomadze multipurpose poultry farm on course – Vice President
23 minutes -
Ghana to plug $127bn revenue leakages with new AI customs tool
30 minutes -
Cedi’s record performance in 2025 is a shared national gain – First Deputy Governor
37 minutes -
Ghana’s economy continues stronger performance – GSS
38 minutes -
Gold for Reserves losses should be in the national budget – IMF
41 minutes -
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie pays courtesy call on Vice President Opoku-Agyemang
46 minutes -
Stand up in unison against corruption – Ameer of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission to Ghanaians
53 minutes -
Benny Bonsu named among 50 Most Influential African Women in Sport
1 hour -
SFAN secures micro grant from British Council Ghana to train 100 creative entrepreneurs
1 hour -
NPA pushes back on proposals to scrap Fuel Price Floor Policy
1 hour -
Stanbic Bank, Asere-Amartse chiefs deliver sustainable water solution to St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School
2 hours
