This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for September 29th, 2020.

It was announced the U.S. government will start distributing millions of rapid coronavirus tests to states this week. The idea is for governors to use them to reopen schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Tests will go to states based on population and can be used however governors see fit.

India’s confirmed coronavirus tally reached 6 million on Monday. New infections in India are currently being reported faster than anywhere else in the world. The world’s second-most populous country is expected to become the worst-hit country in coming weeks, surpassing the U.S.

Spain’s health minister pleaded for the third time in four days for tougher restrictions in Madrid. Regional officials are pushing back. The health minister says data shows Madrid “has community transmission and the pandemic is not under control.”

Organizations including the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced agreements to make sure affordable, quality rapid tests are made available to low and middle-income countries. The tests being discussed provide results in 15–30 minutes.

There were worries when Florida pushed to open in person schooling in August. But a USA Today analysis shows the case count there between ages 5 and 17 actually went down from then through late September.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Woodward, OK. Anderson, TX. Roosevelt, MT. Edwards, TX. Emmons, ND. Logan, ND. Concho, TX. Frio, TX. Lavaca, TX. And Lyman, SD.

There are 2,542,167 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: Florida, California, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Alabama, Texas, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Utah, and Iowa.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Wyoming, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, and Idaho. While the lowest retransmission is found in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, and Maine.

There’ve been a total 205,031 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.92%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 62. California 34. Arkansas 21. Georgia and Louisiana 15. New York and Missouri 14. Illinois and Virginia 13. And Tennessee with 12.

Globally, there are 7,665,264 active cases.

There are 248,590 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 332,905 on September 25th.

The five countries with the most new cases: India 69,671. United States 37,418. Brazil 16,018. Argentina 11,807. And Russia 8,135.

There have now been over 1 million deaths worldwide. Down 9% over 14 days. 

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