US coronavirus cases rise for more than a week to an average of 40,000 a day

The number of coronavirus cases across the United States have been rising for more than a week as about half of states see an uptick in infections but daily deaths continue to decline nationally. 

The average number of COVID-19 cases per day was at just over 40,000 on Sunday.

Cases, on average, had been trending downwards nationally since July when about 70,000 infections were being reported daily.  

The national infection rate started increasing just over a week ago and almost half of states are still seeing an uptick. 

Deaths, however, have been trending downwards across the country with an average of 780 people currently dying per day. 

It comes as the overall death toll neared 200,000 on Monday.

Currently, more than 199,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and there have been more than 6.79 million confirmed cases. 

The uptick in cases comes after health officials had warned there could be increases following the Labor Day weekend. 

About 24 states have seen an increase in new cases in the past week.  

North Dakota, Wisconsin, Utah, Arkansas and Montana have all reported record single-day spikes in cases in the last few days. 

In North Dakota, cases surged by a record 507 infections on September 18 and now total more than 17,900.

Cases in Montana spiked by 292 on September 19, bringing the state’s total to over 10,200.

Wisconsin has continued to have record daily cases with the highest being on September 18 when more than 2,500 were recorded. The state now has more than 107,000 cases in total.

Utah recorded a record daily surge of more than 1,000 cases on September 18, bringing the state’s total to nearly 64,000.

Infections in Arkansas spiked by 1,600 on Sunday, bringing the state’s total to more than 75,700.

Prior to the Labor Day holiday weekend, health officials had warned that any potential increase would likely set the stage for what is to come in the fall.

While deaths are declining nationally, fatalities related to COVID-19 are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after new cases.

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting that deaths will rise to more 378,000 by the end of the year. 

The model forecasts that more than 114,000 lives could be saved if the majority of Americans wore masks but epidemiologists have already warned that mask-wearing is already declining across the country.

The death rate projected by the IHME model, which has been cited by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, would more than triple the current death rate of some 850 per day.

Health officials are still keeping tabs on any potential surges from the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, a Missouri biker festival that drew about 125,000 people over the weekend has sparked fears that the event may become a ‘super spreader’ for the coronavirus after photos showed many maskless participants. 

The 14th Annual BikeFest Lake of the Ozarks took place from September 16-20.

According to the event’s website, there were more than 300 bars and restaurants involved in the festivities. 

Last week’s biker festival comes just a month after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that was held in South Dakota. 

As the push for a vaccine continues, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidance on Monday, warning that COVID-19 could spread through airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air and travel beyond six feet. 

The agency previously said the virus mainly spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets when a sick person coughs, sneezes or talks. 

The updated guidance, posted on the agency’s website on Friday, also recommended that people use air purifiers to reduce airborne germs indoors to avoid the disease from spreading.