COVID Map Shows US States Where Cases Are Highest and Rising

A COVID-19 map from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows where new cases and hospitalizations are rising in states throughout the country.

Overall, data from the CDC showed that across the U.S., COVID-19 testing positivity, hospitalizations and deaths declined for the week of October 29 to November 4, but some states saw a rise.

In August and September, many health officials across the nation warned of a possible rise in new cases during the upcoming winter months, which coincides with what the CDC calls respiratory season.

"Fall and winter are a time when viruses that cause respiratory disease usually circulate more heavily in the community," the CDC said in September. "Before COVID-19, two viruses, flu and RSV, were the main causes of severe respiratory disease during this time of year. Although some people have mild symptoms when they catch flu or RSV, others get sick enough to be hospitalized.

"Some seasons are more severe than others based on strains of the viruses circulating and our immunity to these viruses. One measure of the severity of a season is how many people are sick enough to be hospitalized, because this can stress the healthcare system."

The CDC map shows that Nebraska saw the largest increase in new COVID-19 hospitalizations with a 57.3 percent rise from the previous week. Other states such as Texas, New Mexico and Kansas saw a 20 percent increase or greater in new hospitalizations compared to the previous week.

The map shows Alabama having a 19.1 percent increase, while Mississippi and Wyoming had increases of 17.2 percent and 17.9 percent, respectively.

For COVID-19 testing positivity, the CDC's map classifies different regions by number and shows that Region 9, which consists of California, Arizona and Nevada, has seen the highest rise among all other states. This region has seen a 7.1 percent rise in COVID-19 testing positivity for the week ending on November 4, when compared to the prior week.

Newsweek reached out to the CDC via email for comment.

Overall, for the week ending on November 4, CDC data shows that there has been more than 14,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations. The data also shows that this is an 8 percent decline in new hospital admissions from the previous week.

"CDC expects this year will be similar to last year in terms of the total number of hospitalizations from COVID-19, RSV, and flu," the CDC said in September. "As with last year, the total number of hospitalizations this year is expected to be higher than what we as a nation experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic."