Hospitals across US busiest in 6 months

NEW YORK - Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations resulting from the virus have hit a six-month high in the United States, fueled by the rapid spread of the Delta variant across swathes of the country with low vaccination rates.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases have averaged 100,000 for three days in a row, up 35 percent over the past week, according to a Reuters tally of public health data. Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas reported the most new cases in the past week, based on population.

Despite the surge in infections, neighboring Canada on Monday reopened its long southern border to vaccinated US citizens wanting to travel for everything from shopping to vacations. Visitors must also show proof they have tested negative for COVID-19, among other conditions. The US has not reciprocated the gesture.

On the southern side of the border, the soaring infections in the US have brought a 40 percent jump in hospitalizations from COVID-19. Deaths, a lagging indicator, have registered an 18 percent uptick in the past week.

The intensifying spread of the pandemic has led to the cancellation of some large high-profile events. One notable exception is an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, which has been proceeding as planned.

Florida set a single-day record with 28,317 cases on Sunday, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations in Florida have been at record highs for eight days in a row, according to the Reuters analysis.

Younger patients

The number of children hospitalized with COVID-19 is rising across the country, a trend health experts attribute to the Delta variant being more likely to infect children than the original Alpha strain.

With the virus once again upending people's lives after a brief summer lull in the US, the push to vaccinate those still reluctant has gained fresh momentum.

In the latest development, the Pentagon on Monday said that it will seek US President Joe Biden's approval to require military personnel to get vaccinated by the middle of September.

In Australia, the state of New South Wales saw another disastrous day with a record daily high of 356 new local cases and four deaths on Tuesday.

What is more concerning is that around a third of the new locally acquired infections were among people moving about in communities while infectious.

Among the four deaths, three cases were linked to the current outbreak triggered by the Delta variant and one case got infected overseas, the state authorities said.

Despite the steady climb in local transmissions, the state government is reluctant to further tighten restrictions. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would not take "any strategies that aren't going to work".

Agencies - Xinhua