The U.S. is expected to surpass the summer peak of deaths from COVID-19 and near early spring levels this coming week, per the COVID Tracking Project.
The big picture: 1,321 people died from the virus on Saturday, as the seven-day average reached 1,100, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached a record high of 69,455 in the U.S., according to the project.
- The country is on track for its worst month of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, after breaking the record number of infections several times in November — including on Friday, when 177,224 people tested positive, per Johns Hopkins.
What they're saying: "Tests are rising, but cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising much faster," the COVID Tracking Project said.
Of note: Since May 25, only August 4 had a higher seven-day average of COVID-19 deaths, the project noted in a Twitter post.
Go deeper: U.S. surgeon general says "pandemic fatigue" behind soaring cases
