As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to grapple the whole United States, governors are tightening facemask rules, social distancing orders, and other restrictions.
On Thursday, the nation recorded more than 121,880 new COVID-19 cases, a 1-day record, and the second day in a row the number has topped 100,000, per the COVID Tracking Project.
Just a week ago, the nation’s officials reported 90,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 1 day.
The United States has crossed the 10 million mark for the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic started, with over 242,000 deaths so far.
The number of cases is rising in nearly all states of the nation. Missouri, Ohio, Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and New Mexico have been hitting record highs for 7-day hospitalizations, per the COVID Tracking Project.
During the last week, over 50,000 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus, while more than 53,000 people were hospitalized on Thursday.
On Thursday, Maine hit a record with 183 new cases in a day, prompting Governor Janet Mills to issue an executive order advising people to wear facemasks in public in almost all circumstances.
In a new release, Mills said, “We have recorded yet another day of record-high case numbers. This deadly and dangerous virus is spreading all across our state.”
“Protect your family. Protect a health care worker. Protect the elderly. Wear your face covering. Save lives. It is that simple,” the Maine governor added.
In Rhode Island, new rules will go into effect from Sunday, requiring restaurants and bars to close at 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. In addition, a stay-at-home order is in effect.
Movie theaters and worship houses have been limited to 50% capacity, while outdoor venues are limited to 66% capacity.
The Rhode Island website says, “Masks are required any time you’re near people who don’t live with you, including at the gym.”
On Thursday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said that private social gatherings indoors and outdoors have now been limited to 10 people. He also recommended a statewide curfew.
Earlier, Lamont ordered restaurants and bars to close by 9:30 p.m. and went back to a 50% capacity.
The state says, “Everyone wear a mask whenever you leave home and wear a mask INSIDE your home if someone from outside your household is visiting.”
COVID-19 is still a major problem on college campuses and workplaces. Health experts say that the rise in cases has partly come from students returning to campus.
A survey by the New York Times has found that over a quarter-million infections were reported at about 1,600 colleges and universities. More than 80 college students have died since the pandemic began in January.
The survey found that Texas colleges have reported a higher number of cases, with over 20,000 at 83 schools, followed by Florida reporting 13,000 cases at 87 schools and Ohio reporting about 12,000 cases at 59 schools. The article originally appeared on Medscape Medical News.
