The U.S. is expected to surpass the summer peak of deaths from COVID-19 and near early spring levels this coming week, per the COVID Tracking Project.
The big picture: 1,321 people died from the virus on Saturday, as the seven-day average reached 1,100, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached a record high of 69,455 in the U.S., according to the project.
- The country is on track for its worst month of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, after breaking the record number of infections several times in November including on Friday, when 177,224 people tested positive, per Johns Hopkins.
What they’re saying: “Tests are rising, but cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising much faster,” the COVID Tracking Project said.
Of note: Since May 25, only August 4 had a higher seven-day average of COVID-19 deaths, the project noted in a Twitter post.
Go deeper: U.S. surgeon general says “pandemic fatigue” behind soaring cases