The US continued to report more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases a day over the holiday weekend, as experts warned that widespread Thanksgiving travel could fuel a surge in coming weeks. The number of new cases reported in the US topped 200,000 for the first time on Friday, according to John Hopkins University. Since January, when the first US infections were reported, more than 13 million cases have been recorded, and more than 265,000 people have died. The news came as the number of hospitalizations in the US reached a record high. According to the COVID-19 Tracking Project, 93,238 patients were in hospital on Sunday, a steady climb from 47,531 at the start of November, straining workers and resources as winter approaches. In Rhode Island, hospitals reached COVID-19 capacity on Monday, the same day a two-week pause meant to control the rise in new cases took effect.

Under restrictions announced earlier in November by the Democratic governor, Gina Raimondo, some businesses will be required to shut down for two weeks while others are restricted. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy said he was re-tightening the limit on outdoor gatherings to 25 people, effective December 7th, with exceptions for funerals, memorials, weddings, religious and political activities such as protests. Despite dire warnings from authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions traveled over the weekend, as Thanksgiving drew to a close.

“We knew Thanksgiving would cause a spike in cases and warned that the level of infection in the US would not all of a sudden turn around,” Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.”

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