Our weekly update is published. The United States set a new weekly record for reported cases, breaking 500K for the first time in the pandemic. We see no evidence that any state in the current surge has reached its peak and begun to decline. https://covidtracking.com/blog/weekly-update-oct-29

The rise in cases cannot be attributed to an increase in tests; 47 of the 50 states, along with D.C., have seen cases rise faster than reported tests since October 1. 25 states have set records for new cases this week.

The average number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 rose to 42,621, an increase of about 40% from one month ago. Given the current trends, and what the past has taught us, we should expect deaths to continue to rise in the coming weeks.

In some states with worsening outbreaks, the virus has already arrived in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities: Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have posted record high numbers of COVID-19 cases in these facilities this week.

Less than 1% of the US population lives in long-term care facilities, but deaths among these residents account for 41% of all COVID-19 deaths in the US, and were not restricted to the spring outbreaks. More in our long-term care tracker: https://covidtracking.com/data/longtermcare