As daily case numbers fall, the United States finds itself on the downside of our second national hump of the coronavirus pandemic, as shown in this week’s I4DI COVID-19 Weekly Watch. While experts insist we are still in the first wave, the decline in cases is further proof that we will be able to beat this virus as long as we take the proper precautions (mask wearing, social distancing, quarantine, isolation). With summer coming to a close, we finally see the situation improving in many states that were hit hard these past few months- California, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona- all seeing a marked decrease in daily cases as compared to the previous 7 days. However, despite this positive news, states like Louisiana, with populations more vulnerable than the national average, must take steps to support their citizens where COVID-19 has unfortunately wreaked havoc. 

Here are a few highlights from this week’s infographic, as of August 24:

1 in 58 Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 (compared to 1 in 70 on August 2).

1 in 1,856 Americans have died of COVID-19.

Coronavirus cases have decreased by 8% over the past week, nationally. In two summer hotspots, California and Texas, cases have fallen 20% and 28%, respectively, in the past week.

Louisiana has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, adjusted for population, in the U.S. (1 in 33).

Last week, 430 Arizonans were in the ICU. This week, 345.

This week, 24,477 more Floridians tested positive for COVID-19.

While only 1/3 of the population of Louisiana identifies as Black or African American, about 1/2 of the individuals who have died from COVID-19 are Black or African American.