Hospitalizations have increased in 45 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico over the last two weeks, according to data compiled by The New York Times. The only states where they have gone down are Maryland, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Florida, Missouri and Texas account for about 34 percent of all new cases nationwide.
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About a fifth of all national cases over the past two weeks have originated in Florida, which has emerged as a microcosm of the nation’s mounting Covid worries. The state has the fourth-highest hospitalization rate, behind Nevada, Missouri and Arkansas.
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The governor and state lawmakers enacted legislation this year prohibiting local officials from instituting public health mandates, a move that county and city mayors have said leaves them unable to do much to confront the new virus uptick.
