Coronavirus infections in the U.S. are beginning to decline, after a summer of sharp increases, and some of the hardest-hit states are improving significantly.
Yes, but: We're at the stage of this most recent outbreak in which deaths begin to spike. They're closing in on 150,000 and still rising.
Between the lines: Each week, Axios maps the change in new infections compared to the week before, using a seven-day average to minimize distortions.
By the numbers: This week, the U.S. overall saw a 2.8% drop in new infections — within the range we classify as "holding steady."
- An average of 64,448 people were officially diagnosed with COVID-19 infections every day last week.
Two of the worst hotspots in the country, Arizona and Texas, experienced more significant declines in their caseloads: 16% and 21%, respectively.
- Arizona has been getting better for a few weeks now, and though Texas still has a long way to go to make up for the spikes it saw in June and early July, it may be beginning to turn things around.
- But California and Florida — the other major summer hotspots — have shown little improvement after weeks of deterioration.
What's next: With deaths still on the rise, cases holding steady at close to 65,000 per day and testing unable to keep up with demand, the U.S. is still in a bad place, and still lacks a coherent strategy to contain the virus.
- But, for now at least, the virus' spread is holding steady overall, rather than continuing to accelerate.
