Americans are dying faster of Covid than at any time since epidemic started: Seven-day average death toll is HIGHER than the April peak with 2,237 victims a day

The current seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths in the United States has now surpassed what it was during the initial April peak - as America suffered its deadliest week since April with 15,658 deaths.

The US recorded 1,404 deaths and 192,299 new coronavirus cases yesterday, while the number of people currently hospitalized reached a record 102,148. 

Deaths across the country, which have been rising rapidly since last month, are now currently averaging 2,200 per day. During the initial peak of the virus in April, the highest seven-day rolling average was just over 2,000.  

In the last week, 15,658 Americans have died from COVID-19 - making it the deadliest week in the pandemic since April. 

The number of new cases has surpassed 200,000 every day in the last seven days with more than 1 million cases reported in the first week of December alone.

Infections surpassed the 15 million mark on Tuesday. More than 284,000 Americans have now died of the virus.  

Deaths across the country, which have been rising rapidly since last month, are now currently averaging 2,200 per day. During the initial peak of the virus in April, the highest seven-day rolling average was just over 2,000. The US recorded 1,404 deaths yesterday

In the last week, every state apart from Utah and Montana have reported an increase in deaths compared to the previous seven days. South Carolina saw a 204 percent increase in deaths with 213 new fatalities. Vermont's death toll spiked by 200 percent with 12 new deaths in the last week. The Dakotas, however, continue to record the most deaths per 100,000 across the country

While fatalities surged back in April during the initial peak, they did not rise at the same rates when infections started surging across the Sun Belt states in summer.

Fatalities, which are a lagging indicator and can rise weeks after cases are diagnosed, remained below an average of 1,000 per day until a month ago when hospitals - mostly in the Midwest - warned they were reaching capacity. 

Hospitalizations have consistently set single-day highs since late October and are currently rising in 31 states compared to 14 days ago, according to the COVID Tracking Project.  

In the last week, every state apart from Utah and Montana have reported an increase in deaths compared to the previous seven days, according to a Reuters tally of state and county reports. 

South Carolina saw a 204 percent increase in deaths with 213 new fatalities. Vermont's death toll spiked by 200 percent with 12 new deaths in the last week. 

The Dakotas, however, continue to record the most deaths per 100,000 across the country.  

In the last week, South Dakota recorded an average of 2.7 deaths per 100,000 and North Dakota followed with 1.8 deaths, according to CDC data.  

Rhode Island is currently the worst affected state across the country with an average of 110 cases per 100,000 people in the last week, the CDC data shows. 

It is the first time in several weeks that a non-Midwestern state has not topped the list.

Indiana follows with 103 cases, Nebraska with 99 cases and South Dakota with 98 cases. 

Based on yesterday's data alone, Connecticut had the highest number of cases per capita with 2,280 infections per one million, a COVID Tracking Project analysis found.  

The number of new cases has surpassed 200,000 every day in the last seven days. The US recorded 192,299 new coronavirus cases yesterday 

The number of people currently hospitalized reached a record 102,148. Hospitalizations have consistently set single-day highs since late October and are currently rising in 31 states compared to 14 days ago

More than half the United States - or 31 states - have experienced an increase in hospitalizations over the last two weeks, according to the COVID Tracking Project 

Government and health officials have warned that cases and deaths will rise further in the coming weeks and months due to people traveling and gathering with family – against the advice of health experts. 

Dr Anthony Fauci said yesterday that 'the middle of January could be a really dark time' because the Thanksgiving surge will be compounded by Christmas.

Across the country, 10.5 percent of tests came back positive for the virus, up from 9.8 percent the prior week, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project.

Out of 50 states, 34 had a positive test rate of 10 percent or higher. The highest rates were Iowa and Idaho at 52 percent and South Dakota at 50 percent.

The World Health Organization considers positive test rates above 5 percent concerning because it suggests there are more cases in the community that have not yet been uncovered.

Research institute IHME also predicts that the number of daily COVID-19 cases could peak at 1 million on Inauguration Day - January 20. However, if states start to implement more lockdowns that number could drop to 448,000 with a rapid vaccine rollout. It could dip even further to about 290,000 if everyone wore a mask.  

The IHME model also predicts that deaths during the pandemic will rise to more than 538,000 by April 1, 2021.

It comes as alarming new red wave maps created by US government health officials show how surging COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have engulfed the United States in the last four months. 

The data, which was included in the most recent White House task force situation report sent weekly to states, tracks the number of new COVID-19 admissions per 100 inpatient beds across the country and deaths per 100,000.  

The report, leaked by the Center for Public Integrity on Tuesday, shows that 32 states were in varying 'red zones' for hospital admissions last week. 

Every state, apart from Hawaii, last week had at least one county that admitted more than 26 coronavirus patients per 100 beds. 

The red wave was considerably less three month earlier when the majority of counties in each state were seeing about two patients per 100 beds being admitted.  

The hospitalization data, which was included in the most recent White House task force situation report sent weekly to states, tracks the number of new COVID-19 admissions per 100 inpatient beds across the country. The report shows that 32 states were in varying 'red zones' for hospital admissions last week

The red wave was considerably less three month earlier when the majority of counties in each state were seeing about two patients per 100 beds being admitted

The hardest hit states for deaths last week were in the Midwest with South Dakota and North Dakota topping the list. The majority of counties across the country are seeing between 2.1 to 9.9 fatalities per 100,000

Deaths across the country have been rising rapidly since last month. While fatalities surged back in April during the initial peak, they did not rise at the same rates when infections started surging across the Sun Belt states in summer

For cases, the entire country is blanketed in red, which indicates that at least some counties in every state are reporting more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents

The maps show how the virus has spread across the country since the Northeast was the hardest hit in the spring. The summer surge targeted mostly Sunbelt states before spreading to the Midwest in the fall

According to the report, Maryland's counties had the most patients per 100 beds in the country last week. The state was followed by Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.  

It is the first time hospital metrics have been included in the government report. 

In the report's recommendations for states, the task force noted it was including the new hospital bed metrics so 'every state can see in pictures the significant increase in new hospitalizations for COVID-19'.  

The White House report also includes map data on deaths and cases last week per 100,000 people.  

For cases, the entire country is blanketed in red, which indicates that at least some counties in every state are reporting more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents. 

In terms of deaths, the majority of counties across the country are seeing between 2.1 to 9.9 fatalities per 100,000. The hardest hit states for deaths last week were in the Midwest with South Dakota and North Dakota topping the list.   

The task force warned in its report that the current fall to winter surge continued to spread rapidly across the country. 

'This surge is the most rapid increase in cases; the widest spread of transmission, with more than 2,000 counties in COVID red zones; and the longest duration of rapid increased, now entering its 8th week, that we have experienced,' the report said.   

Rhode Island is currently the worst affected state across the country with an average of 110 cases per 100,000 people in the last week. It is the first time in several weeks that a non-Midwestern state has not topped the list

Indiana is ranked second with an average of 103 cases per 100,000 in the last week. The state has recorded 1.2 deaths per 100,000 in the past week, which is the eighth highest state 

Nebraska has the third highest cases and deaths per capita in the country. The state recorded an average of 99 cases per 100,000 in the last week and 1.6 deaths

South Dakota recorded 98.6 cases per 100,000 in the last week. The state currently has the highest deaths per capita with 2.7 deaths per 100,000 in the last week

Utah recorded 97.6 cases per 100,000 in the last week. While deaths are rising across the state, Utah's deaths per capita are low compared to others with 0.3 fatalities per 100,000 in the last week

New Mexico recorded 1.4 deaths per 100,000 in the last week and 86.4 cases per capita 

North Dakota is second behind South Dakota with highest deaths per capita. The state recorded 1.8 deaths per 100,000 in the last week. While cases are decreasing, North Dakota is still seeing 76.9 cases per capita

Iowa has the fourth highest deaths per capita in the current. The state recorded 1.4 deaths per 100,000 in the last week and 74.1 cases per capita