Thursday October 22, 2020 was the first time in 3 months with more than 70,000 new cases of the Coronavirus.

According to John Hopkins Thursday was the highest date for new infections since July 24th and the day with the fourth highest total ever, at 71,671. At least 12 states saw their highest seven-day averages of new daily cases. Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming being some of the reported ones.

Over 41,000 people were hospitalized across the country according to Covid Tracking Program. This hospitalization level is the highest since August 20th. Since the beginning of October hospitalization has increased 33%. Eight states reported record high hospitalization rates. These states included: Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

On Thursday 856 people died of the coronavirus. It is predicted that 140,000 Americans will die from the virus throughout the next three months by the University of Washington´s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. They also say the fall/winter surge has begun and will worsen in the next month’s peaking in January.

Many states will impose social distancing laws again and places like New Orleans say that you can face a $500 fine for not wearing a mask. The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, said “”There are already laws on the books…It’s just a matter of taking that step to enforce, based on our police officers’ discretion.”