COVID-19 cases rising in 39 states - 9 months into the pandemic: 'We are overwhelmed'

COVID-19 cases rising in 39 states - 9 months into the pandemic: 'We are overwhelmed' Nine states are setting new records for infections, particularly in Wisconsin and Kentucky, as the US surpasses 7.5 million cases. John Bacon and Mike Stucka USA TODAY

U.S. coronavirus cases surpassed 7.5 million on Wednesday with most states seeing a rise in cases – nine months into the pandemic – and a startling nine states setting ominous, seven-day records for infections.

A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Tuesday shows Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming all set state records in the seven-day period. In all, 39 states reported more coronavirus cases in the last week than they had in the week before.

More than 210,000 Americans have died, and Wisconsin and Hawaii reported record numbers of deaths in their states for a seven-day period.

President Donald Trump's assertion that Americans need not worry because "some really great drugs and knowledge" have been developed under his administration has prompted dismay for many in the medical community. ...

In Wisconsin, which set 7-day records for new cases and deaths, indoor bar and restaurants are capped at 25% of capacity starting Thursday. The state is struggling with some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, and Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, ordered the limits despite repeated legal challenges from Republicans to such measures. ...

In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear extended the statewide mask mandate for another 30 days and said the state would be "stepping up the enforcement." Businesses that serve customers not wearing masks face the possibility of being fined and shut down for a period of time, Beshear said.

The state has now seen 74,194 positive cases since the start of the pandemic, including record weekly totals three weeks in a row....

Cases in the United States have been rising for the last three weeks, the USA TODAY analysis revealed. The country has been adding about 44,000 cases per day lately, more than double the low seen in June and halfway between that mark and the worst of the July's devastating peak.

Deaths, which generally lag case trends, were higher in 25 of the states. And a review of COVID Tracking Project data suggests testing positivity was higher in 35 states than it was the week before. ...