US Single Day Record of COVID-19 Cases Reaches 63,200

For the second time this week, the US has broken its record for new daily infections as coronavirus cases keep surging in the country and outbreaks continue across the South and West. The new record sits at 63,247 new cases in a 24-hour period, like California, Florida, and Texas collectively reported close to half of the new infections, data from Hopkins shows.  

More Than 60,000 In 24 Hours

The average number of new cases per day for the last seven days is 53,699 – a record average, which is up 17.6% compared to a week prior, as the seven-day average keeps going up with every day passed for more than two weeks now, according to CNBC’s analysis of data collected by the Johns Hopkins University. 

White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci previously warned on June 30 that cases could surpass 100,000 per day, confirming his words once again on Wednesday, adding that the US is “not in total control” of the pandemic, suggesting that states who are having a serious problem should consider shutting down. Fauci, however, also believes that lawmakers should constantly update their coronavirus measures based on the situation and information available on the virus. 

The average growth of daily cases in 36 states and the District of Columbia is at least 5%, a CNBC analysis shows, with coronavirus-related hospitalizations also being up roughly the same percentage points in 25 states. 

The rise cases are most likely due to the huge increase in testing, which went from over 174,000 tests per day through April to more than 650,000 daily in July, more and more tests are coming out positive, which is an indicator that the virus hasn’t slowed down its spread. 

So far, the COVID-19 death toll remains comparatively low, despite Fauci warning of a so-called “death lag”- describing the time it would take for severe patients to get ill enough to pass away from the virus, which could be several weeks. 

Meanwhile, researchers are still trying to determine what long-term health consequences contracting COVID-19 brings, with some believing that it could cause long-term respiratory harm, as well as damage to other organs.