US in Presidential Election Turmoil, Daily COVID-19 Cases Reach Record High Nearing 110,000

After Exceeding 100,000 Again Since the 30th of Last Month
Positive Rates Surpass 40% in South Dakota, Iowa, and Others

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the U.S. presidential election vote counting is still underway and all issues are focused on the election results, the United States has recorded a record high number of daily confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). With hospitalized patients surpassing 50,000 for the first time in three months, concerns about a shortage of intensive care unit beds are growing in some states, including North Dakota.

On the 4th (local time), according to the COVID-19 tally by the global statistics site Worldometer, the daily confirmed cases in the U.S. reached 108,389, setting a new record high. This is known to be the highest daily figure worldwide so far. In the U.S., the daily confirmed cases first exceeded 100,000 on the 30th of last month with 101,541 cases, then hovered around 80,000 to 90,000, but on this day, it again recorded a high number close to 110,000.

The cumulative confirmed cases in the U.S. stand at 9,801,355, with cumulative deaths at 239,829. According to foreign media such as CNN, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the U.S. surpassed 50,000, the highest in three months. The positive test rate exceeded 50% in South Dakota, and over 40% in Iowa and Wyoming. These figures far exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) community transmission concern threshold of 5%. In North Dakota, due to the surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, it was reported that only six intensive care unit beds remain available statewide.