COVID Map Exhibits 9 States The place Optimistic Exams Are Rising

The very best charges of individuals testing constructive for COVID-19 are in Texas and the states that encompass it, in line with knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

About 15 p.c of COVID checks within the U.S. have been constructive within the week ending August 26, the newest week of federal knowledge, up 1.4 p.c from the earlier week.

5 states—Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas—had the best check positivity at 20.8 p.c, in line with CDC knowledge. In Texas, a ban on masks mandates went into impact earlier in September.

These states have been adopted by Nevada, Hawaii, California, and Arizona, which all had 16.1 p.c of checks come again constructive that week.

On the different finish of the spectrum, New York, New Jersey, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have the bottom check positivity at about 9.6 p.c.

Newsweek has contacted the CDC for remark through e mail.

It comes as COVID hospitalizations have been rising amid the latest emergence of two new variants: EG.5 and BA.2.86. There have been greater than 17,000 admissions within the week ending August 26, a rise of 15.7 p.c from the earlier week.

Nonetheless, COVID hospitalizations are thought of low in about 93 p.c of the nation, in line with the CDC. The share of U.S. deaths as a consequence of COVID within the week ending August 26 was 2 p.c.

The numbers present that though the nationwide emergency and federal masks mandates have ended—although some locations have briefly introduced again masking necessities in response to constructive instances—the virus remains to be spreading.

A spokesperson for the CDC informed Newsweek final week that it at the moment has no intention of calling for the return of masks mandates, however did not deny that this would possibly change if instances of latest variants have been to rise considerably.

President Joe Biden was seen sporting a masks for the primary time in months on Tuesday, a day after First Woman Jill Biden examined constructive for COVID.

Biden donned a masks throughout a ceremony honoring Captain Larry Taylor, an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran, however then rapidly took it off to ship remarks.

Earlier on Tuesday, White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had stated Biden, who had examined adverse for the virus earlier within the day, would masks indoors however would possibly take away it when standing at a distance from others.

Nevertheless, Biden was seen interacting carefully with Taylor and shaking his hand whereas not sporting a masks.

Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s actions throughout a press briefing on Wednesday, saying that the president left the ceremony early to restrict his contact with these on the occasion.

She stated Biden had examined adverse for the virus on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and didn’t have any signs.

The CDC tips suggest “a mix of masking, testing, and monitoring for signs,” Jean-Pierre stated. “The president is doing all that he can, after all, in session together with his doctor.”

The CDC advises that those that are uncovered to the coronavirus ought to put on a high-quality masks round others of their dwelling or indoors in public, along with testing and monitoring for signs, for 10 days.