This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 26th, 2020.

The U.S. has seen its highest ever number of new COVID-19 cases in the past two days, as close aides to the Vice President have tested positive. Hospitalizations are also rising and have hit a two-month high. El Paso, Texas asked residents to stay home for two weeks as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in that area tripled.

Europe reported more than 1.3 million new cases this past week, its highest single week count ever. The Spanish Prime Minister declared a national state of emergency yesterday, with a nighttime curfew and possible travel restrictions between regions. Italy imposed the harshest new measures since its lockdown in the spring. And the President of Poland and Prime Minister of Bulgaria have tested positive.

New York Sunday became the fourth state to surpass half a million coronavirus cases amid a nationwide surge. 80% more cases in the past four weeks compared to the previous four weeks. Still, although the state has reported 2,000 new daily cases twice recently, that’s far from their record of 12,847 new cases April 10.

When it comes to superspreader events, it appears to be weddings that are earning that moniker. Party and event planners say business is picking up. Weddings are slowly resuming across the country. Website The Knot says 52% of couples were postponing in April but that has dropped to 35%. Minnesota last week identified 77 cases directly linked to one wedding in late August. And in Maine, there were 178 cases and eight deaths linked to an August 7 wedding and reception last week.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Okfuskee, OK. Faulk, SD. Harding, SD. Oglala Lakota, SD. Carter, MT. Menominee, WI. Sheridan, KS. And the Kusilvak Census Area, AK.

There are 2,886,171 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Colorado, and Alabama. There are now only 3 states with a retransmission rate below 1. They are Mississippi, Florida, and Maine.

There’ve been a total 225,215 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.65%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Missouri 95. Texas 40. Tennessee 31. Massachusetts 25. Illinois 24. Minnesota 21. Louisiana 17. Arkansas 15. North Carolina 13. And California and Indiana 12.  

Globally, there are now over 10 million active cases, at 10,268,529.

There are 372,220 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 October 23.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 60,889. France 52,010. India 45,158. Italy 21,273. And the UK 19,790.

There have now been 1,152,773 deaths worldwide. Flat over 14 days.  

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