Five states set new highs last week for coronavirus infections recorded in a single day, according to the COVID Tracking Project and state health departments. Only one state — North Dakota — surpassed a record set the previous week.

Why it matters: This is the lowest number of states to see dramatic single-day increases since Axios began tracking weekly highs in June, and marks a continued decrease from late July.

The state of play:

• Aug. 1: No states, although Puerto Rico saw a new high with 1,091 cases.
• Aug. 2: Washington state (1,738)
• Aug 3: North Dakota (183)
• Aug. 4: None
• Aug. 5: None
• Aug 6: None
• Aug 7: Indiana (1,239) and Virginia (2,015)
• Aug 8: Wisconsin (1,185)

The big picture: The U.S. saw infections fall or hold steady in most of the country last week, according to a seven-day average tracked by Axios.

• But, some Midwestern states are seeing more coronavirus tests come back positive — potentially an early indicator of a growing outbreak, Axios' Caitlin Owens and Andrew Witherspoon report.

What they're saying: Although cases are decreasing since surging this summer, the U.S. is still "right in the middle of the first wave" of the pandemic, NIAID director Anthony Fauci told JAMA Network on Aug. 3.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include COVID Tracking Project (CTP) data, in addition to data taken directly from state health departments. CTP began reporting non-resident cases as part of Alaska's total case count on July 16.

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