Five of the 10 HHS surveillance regions saw the percentage of specimens testing positive for COVID-19 increase in the week ending July 4, with the Southeast, South Central and South West/West Coast regions reporting the largest jumps, according to the CDC's weekly COVIDView report.
Four updates:
1. Surveillance: Nationwide, the percentage of laboratory specimens testing positive for COVID-19 decreased slightly after four weeks of increase. Three of 10 HHS are reporting a higher percentage of positive specimens and more outpatient visits for COVID-19 than in March and April.
2. Mortality: About 5.5 percent of deaths nationwide were attributed to flu, pneumonia or COVID-19 in the week ending July 4, down from 6.9 percent a week prior. This percentage marked the 11th week of decline.
3. Hospitalizations: The cumulative hospitalization rate for all age groups increased to 107.2 hospitalizations per 100,000 population.
4. Outpatient activity: Emergency department and outpatient visits for symptoms related to COVID-19 remained below baseline nationwide. Seven regions saw an increase in visits for COVID-19-like symptoms — the same as a week prior.