New Coronavirus Infections in Some Parts of the U.S. Trend Down - The Wall Street Journal

Congregants attend a socially distanced Mass in Los Angeles on Aug. 9.
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

By David Hall

Updated Aug. 10, 2020 6:47 am ET

The U.S. reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly a week, as new infections in some parts of the country trended down.

Fewer than 47,000 new cases were reported in the U.S., while the total number of confirmed cases exceeded five million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The nation’s death toll neared 163,000.

Thirteen states—Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Virginia—have seen their seven-day average of new confirmed cases jump higher than the two-week average as of Aug. 8, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins data. That held true for 44 states a month earlier, reflecting a decline in reported cases in many parts of the country.

Daily reported Covid-19 deaths in the U.S.

Notes: For all 50 states and D.C., U.S. territories and cruises. Some fluctuation in data, such as the June 25 spike, is due to states revising criteria for deaths due to Covid-19. Last updated
Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering

Daily reported Covid-19 cases in the U.S.

Note: For all 50 states and D.C., U.S. territories and cruises. Last updated
Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering

The seven-day average for new cases has been generally trending down for more than two weeks, from more than 67,000 on July 22 to 53,905 on Saturday. Since July 26, the seven-day average has been less than the 14-day average, a signal that case counts have broadly been ticking down. Comparing the one- and two-week averages of new cases helps smooth out anomalies in the data, such as lags in reporting.

Still, the drop in confirmed cases could be tied partly to a drop in testing. In 29 states and the nation’s capital, the seven-day average number of tests per 1,000 people was down Sunday compared with a week earlier, according to Johns Hopkins data. Demand for testing has outstripped supply, even though testing and contact tracing are considered essential by health experts to curb the spread of the virus.

Monitoring the U.S. Outbreak

Confirmed cases by state, ranked by latest full-day count

Daily confirmed cases per 100,000 residents

Note: Trend indicates whether a state had an increase or decrease in total number of cases in the past seven days compared with previous seven days. Last updated
Sources: Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering; the Lancet; Associated Press; U.S. Census

Deaths related to Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, are still trending up in 19 states, including California, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina, according to the Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins data. U.S. deaths appear to be holding steady, with the seven-day daily death tally average at 1,038, compared with a two-week average of 1,089, the analysis shows.

The virus continued to spread in other countries world-wide, pushing the total number of confirmed cases globally close to the 20 million mark, with more than 730,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

More on the Coronavirus

India reported more than 60,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row as the country’s total surpassed 2.2 million, according to the Health Ministry. The country’s death toll rose by more than 1,000 to 44,386.

It is now compulsory to wear a face mask on dozens of Paris’s busiest streets as infection rates climb in and around France’s capital. The order took effect at 8 a.m. Monday, and includes popular streets with open-air markets and numerous bars and cafes. The areas include the banks of the Seine and Canal St. Martin, as well as popular sites such as the narrow streets around Montmartre. More open areas, such as the space around the Eiffel Tower, aren’t included.

The Sacré-Coeur basilica in the Montmartre district of Paris, France, on Aug. 10.
Photo: Michel Euler/Associated Press

Russia reported more than 5,000 new cases Monday, pushing its tally to over 892,000. The confirmed death toll rose to more than 15,000 after 70 people died in the previous 24 hours.

Australia’s Victoria state reported 19 new fatalities, marking its deadliest day of the pandemic so far. The national death toll has now surpassed 300. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said tough lockdown measures appeared to be bringing greater stability as the state recorded 322 new infections, the lowest number in nearly two weeks, although he said it was too soon to say that infections were plateauing. In neighboring New South Wales, two Sydney schools closed after several students tested positive for the virus.

Stay Informed

Get a coronavirus briefing six days a week, and a weekly Health newsletter once the crisis abates: Sign up here.

On Monday, Japan said 1,492 cases were reported nationwide on Sunday, in line with recent days. Meanwhile, a poll by the Yomiuri newspaper brought bad news for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who went ahead with a program to subsidize domestic travel despite a second wave of cases that picked up steam in July.

A market in Jammu, India, on Aug 10.
Photo: Channi Anand/Associated Press

The poll found 85% of respondents believed it was a bad idea to go through with the travel campaign. More than 75% of respondents said Mr. Abe wasn’t showing sufficient leadership in the fight against the coronavirus, while more than half said they didn’t support his cabinet. The Yomiuri didn’t give a margin of error for its poll.

On Sunday, Mr. Abe said he wanted to avoid declaring a state of emergency so he could strike a balance between blocking the spread of the virus and promoting economic recovery.