Coronavirus cases increase to a peak that surpasses July peak in the US

By Maia Irvin 

On October 16, new coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose higher than they have since July with a pronounced surge in Midwest states, according to news sources. 

NPR reported on Monday that the U.S. is climbing toward a new peak in cases that could be worse than the peak from this summer. On October 16, the U.S. reported almost 70,000 new cases in one day, which is a 30% increase from the two previous weeks, NPR reported. 

Rates in cases are increasing across 29 states and territories, National Geographic reported. Most of those states are from the Midwest and Great Plains, according to NPR. 

NPR reported North Dakota and South Dakota have rates of new infections per capita that surpass all other states. According to The Washington Post, this trend could be correlated to the Sturgis motorcycle gathering from mid-September. 

About 500,000 people attended the gathering in South Dakota, and some experts believe it contributed to the new outbreak, the Post reported. More than 330 cases and one death were directly linked to the gathering, according to the Post. 

NPR reported other possible factors contributing to this increase include increased congregation indoors, university students returning to campus and general tiredness of pandemic precautions. 



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