COVID Hotspots: CDC Identifies Surge in Hospitalizations in Top US States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified fifteen counties in the US as Covid-19 hotspots with a high level of hospital admissions. Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing since July, reaching 17,418 in the week beginning August 26. The highest rates of Covid-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population were reported in Grant County, North Dakota, and various counties in Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and Montana. While the numbers are not as high as during the peak of the pandemic, the CDC warns of increasing Covid-19 spikes and the potential return of mask recommendations this winter.