Four updates:
1. Surveillance: Nationwide, the percentage of laboratory specimens testing positive for COVID-19 decreased slightly after four weeks of increase. Three of 10 HHS are reporting a higher percentage of positive specimens and more outpatient visits for COVID-19 than in March and April.
2. Mortality: About 5.5 percent of deaths nationwide were attributed to flu, pneumonia or COVID-19 in the week ending July 4, down from 6.9 percent a week prior. This percentage marked the 11th week of decline.
3. Hospitalizations: The cumulative hospitalization rate for all age groups increased to 107.2 hospitalizations per 100,000 population.
4. Outpatient activity: Emergency department and outpatient visits for symptoms related to COVID-19 remained below baseline nationwide. Seven regions saw an increase in visits for COVID-19-like symptoms — the same as a week prior.
More articles on public health:
Nurse inspires apparel company to give every American a free face mask
NYC reports zero COVID-19 deaths; Florida sees 15K cases in 1 day — 6 updates
CDC wants closer look at swine flu strain in China, studying possible vaccine
