The Johns Hopkins COVID Dashboard for Saturday, October 31, at 5:24 a.m.:

Worldwide cases:  45,731,600      Worldwide deaths:  1,191,087

U.S. cases: 9,055,410   U.S. deaths:  229,818

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 539,150  in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by 7,687.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 100,375 cases in the last 24 hours.  That is the highest daily case count increase since the pandemic started.  In the last day,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 1,010.

The last 24-hour case count increase is startling, pointing out that the virus is widespread and growing.      Several states have seen increased hospitalizations.  According to a story by National Public Radio (NPR), a federal report which is not widely circulated shows  “cities where hospitals are filling up, including the metro areas of Atlanta, Minneapolis and Baltimore, where in-patient hospital beds are over 80% full. It also lists specific hospitals reaching max capacity, including facilities in Tampa, Birmingham and New York that are at over 95% ICU capacity and at risk of running out of intensive care beds.”

Dr. Debra Birx on Friday, talking to the nation’s Governors in a regular briefing, said one out of every three counties in the country is considered a COVID hotspot.  She urged the Governors to require mask-wearing.   Health officials say that in the absence of a vaccine, and even after a vaccine is available but before there a large number of people with immunity, masks are the best way to stem the tide of the virus.

Health officials also note that doctors and hospitals do not make extra money for attributing deaths to COVID-19.

For the latest Hawaii update, click here.