For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the United States reported more than 100,000 coronavirus infections in a single day, according to a count by NBC News, Telemundo's sister network.
Medical experts warn that the surge in cases could lead to an even bigger spike in hospitalizations in a few weeks than has been seen so far.
In the last 24 hours, 110,186 people have contracted COVID-19
, after at least 19 states reported more cases in the past week than in any other.
The cases are expected to continue to increase tonight, as local authorities continue to report the information.
Wisconsin and North Dakota lead the nation's per capita infection rate, but states like Minnesota, Indiana, and Maine also report record cases, a sign that the pandemic has spread across the country.
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Nov. 3, 202000: 22
The latest record had been set last Friday, with more than 98,000 cases.
The current figure represents an increase of 1.16% compared to the last 24 hours.
Deaths are also on the rise
, 15% above average with 846 deaths each day.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci warned in the summer that this was a scenario that could arise, if the pandemic could not be controlled in time.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we get to 100,000 cases a day if this doesn't change," the nation's leading infectious disease expert said during a June 30 Senate hearing.
"There will be a lot of pain now
,
" Fauci said this week during an interview with The Washington Post newspaper in which he repeated his warning.
During the first peak of the pandemic in late April, which affected northeastern states like New York and New Jersey, death rates were higher.
Up to 2,000 people died a day from complications related to COVID-19.
At that time, the disease was not known as much as it is now or how to treat it and
in the first months one out of every four patients who was admitted to a hospital died
.
Invasive treatments with artificial respirators and induced comas were favored, but now doctors prefer to provide oxygen to patients and treat them with drugs such as the steroid dexamethasone, which reduces inflammation.
As a result, death rates have decreased.
The demographic characteristics of the infected population have also changed.
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In the first wave, most of the infections occurred among people over 65, the most vulnerable, along with obese people and those with pre-existing diseases.
Now,
people under 40 years of age account for the majority of cases
and while they are less likely to become seriously ill, a percentage of them may develop severe symptoms, in addition to transmitting the disease to more vulnerable people.
Currently, the average daily cases of COVID-19 in the last week is around 89,000.
It's the highest point you've ever been to.
This third wave of the coronavirus occurs when the cold season begins
, something that worries experts because that is when flu cases and hospitalizations also increase.
There are currently about 52,000 patients admitted to health centers, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
In comparison, at the peaks of the first and second waves, there were about 60,000 people hospitalized.
With information from NBC News and The Associated Press.
