US - SouthWest

COVID: Updated CDC map reveals infection rates across US The latest data reveals that COVID-19 rates are rising in the U.S. compared to the previous week. Newsweek

The percentage of emergency department visits that were diagnosed as COVID has remained largely unchanged in recent weeks, at 0.6 percent—with the highest rates located in the Southwest: New Mexico at 1.8 percent and Arizona at 1.5 percent.

Deaths from COVID are highest in North Carolina, with 1.4 percent of deaths attributed to the virus.

California, Michigan, New York and Florida also have higher than average rates of COVID-related deaths, ranging from 1.2 percent in California to 0.6 percent in Florida.

...

COVID update: Map shows highest US rates as new variant spreads The new KP.3.1.1 accounts for more than 1 in 3 cases as it continues to spread across the country, with some states more affected than others. Newsweek

...

New data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the highest rates of infection are found in five Southern/Southwestern states, with nearly 1 in 4 COVID tests coming out positive across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. ...

Climate change is ending the Sun Belt boom For decades, Americans streamed from North to South. No more. AOL Staff AOL

...

Since the widespread adoption of air conditioning in the 1970s, Americans have moved in droves from cold northern climes to sunny southern ones. That has led to booming populations in states such as Florida, Texas and Arizona, and a shift in economic activity from north to south.