Coronavirus: Nearly half a million Americans test positive for Covid in the last week

Latest coronavirus spike triggers lockdowns in affected states

New data suggests that almost half a million people in the US have contracted the coronavirus in the last seven days.  

Reuters first reported the number, which was drawn from publicly available coronavirus data.  

Last week, more than 5,600 people died from the coronavirus, and hospitalisations increased 13 per cent.  

As predicted by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the World Health Organisation, coronavirus numbers are climbing in the US as we move deeper into fall.  

Several regions in the Midwest have set records for number of new cases in recent weeks, including Illinois, where more than 31,000 new cases have been reported in the last seven days.  

Illinois has the most new infections of any state other than Texas.  

The resurgence of the virus has prompted state leaders to fall back on lockdown procedures to stem its spread.

In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker announced new restrictions in six of the state's 11 regions.  

The restrictions will suspend indoor dining in bars and restaurants, and gatherings will limited to 25 people.  

Similarly, Governor Brad Little of Idaho announced on Monday that indoor gatherings of more than 50 people would be prohibited, and any outdoor gatherings had to be capped at 25 per cent capacity.  

As the weather gets colder, more people are seeking indoor social activities. Health experts warn that it's these social events - small get togethers with friends and family - that are driving the latest surge in cases.  

In Texas, which has seen the most new cases of any state, El Paso has been particularly hard-hit.  

Cases are increasing rapidly and hospitals are filling up with patients in the city.  

Dr Ogechika Alozie, an infectious disease specialist in El Paso, told Reuters that he was seeing all manner of patients - not just those 65 and older with comorbidities.  

"We are seeing all sorts of patients. The narrative historically has been the above-65, those with multiple co-morbidities. But we're seeing 20-year-olds. We're seeing 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds," Dr Alozie said. "There's that exhaustion, but again, we buckle up and we take care of the patients."