The pace of the Coronavirus outbreak accelerated again on Thursday, as the United States for the first time recorded nearly 90,000 new cases in a single day, as states in the Midwest and Plains continued to record dramatic increases in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Records fell for one day not only nationwide, but also in North Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, and Iowa, which also had a record high for virus hospitalizations, as 33 different states reported over 1,000 new cases Thursday, with the U.S. total at 89,940 according to figures kept by the Washington Post.
Also, South Dakota reported a record 19 deaths - a figure which would be equal to Florida reporting well over 400 deaths in a single day.
Buckle up, this is a bad news day for #COVID19 in Minnesota.
— David Montgomery (@dhmontgomery) October 29, 2020
To start, a new record number of newly reported cases — 2,872, smashing the old record of 2,297 from two weeks ago.
MN is now *averaging* 2,000 cases per day. pic.twitter.com/ovupWtCPG1
“The situation in Iowa is critical,” said UIHC epidemiologist on the surge of new cases driving record-breaking hospitalizations. “We have to change the way we’re doing things, otherwise we’re going to continue to suffer the consequences.”
— Michaela Ramm (@Michaela_Ramm) October 29, 2020
My latest: https://t.co/JVPhKRAxgf
On the campaign trail, President Trump continued to portray Joe Biden as weak on the virus, mocking Biden for a reduced campaign schedule.
“Now they try and say it’s because of COVID. They say the fact that he has nobody at all show up is because of COVID,” the President said during a stop in Tampa.
Democrats have raised questions about the President drawing thousands and thousands of people at rallies, and whether that’s contributing to the virus outbreak.
In North Carolina, health officials announced Thursday that two people who attended a Trump rally last week had tested positive, trying to get the word out to people at the event.
NEW: Two people who attended to Trump rally at the Gaston Municipal Airport have tested positive for COVID-19 according to county health officials. "Anyone who was in attendance at the rally is encouraged to monitor their symptoms and seek testing if needed." pic.twitter.com/aVQOOZgpzp
— David Hodges (@hodgesreporting) October 29, 2020
The test positivity extremes in the US that we've not seen in the US pandemic just went to new heights, while testing further decreased
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 29, 2020
Wyoming 55.2%
South Dakota 46.2%
Idaho 35.5%
Iowa 28.7%
Alabama 28.2%
Wisconsin 27.7%
Kansas 27.6%
Nebraska 22.0%
via https://t.co/BpmBybV8U5
Biden meanwhile continued to accuse the President of not doing enough to stem the spread of the virus.
“You have my word, if I have the honor of serving as your President, I will do everything in my power to defeat COVID-19,” Biden said.