The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened infection risks in the hospital setting, causing some facilities to experience outbreaks among patients and staff.

Eleanor Slater Hospital in Burrillville, R.I., has suspended all visitation for 14 days after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 in the facility's Zambarano Unit, according to WPRI 12.

New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals and the City University of New York announced Oct. 26 an expanded partnership to place recent nursing school graduates throughout the system's hospitals. 

Here are 22 COVID-19-related research findings covered by Becker's Hospital Review since Sept. 10:

Hospital leaders are grappling with multiple challenges that affect their nursing workforce. Surmounting these challenges begins with identifying where problems stem from and applying intelligent solutions.

The future of public health lies in looking at past attitudes and practices, and encompassing individuals who don't necessarily work in healthcare, wrote Ed Yong for The Atlantic Oct. 23. 

A sexually transmitted disease known as donovanosis, rarely seen in the U.S., is making headlines this week after some physicians in the U.K. reported an apparent rise in cases, reports The Washington Post.

Alaska is still reporting the highest rate of COVID-19 cases per capita, above all other regions in the U.S., according to state and local health agency data cited by The New York Times

On October 16, 2021, the medical field celebrated the 175th anniversary of anesthesiology.

Significant changes are needed on a global scale to not only end the COVID-19 pandemic, but also prevent a future one, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board said in its annual report released Oct. 26.

Arizona has caught up to New York in COVID-19 deaths per capita, leading experts to worry the state could be heading for a deeper crisis as winter approaches, The Washington Post reported Oct. 25.

Daily U.S. COVID-19 cases are expected to decline by about 20 percent, on average, over the next three weeks, according to CDC forecast models cited by The New York Times.

Health officials in New York City say high vaccination rates and some immunity from prior infections have made COVID-19 more manageable, and they anticipate the virus will soon enter an endemic-level phase, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 26. 

Vermont has the highest percentage of its population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration data tracker.

Here are the rates of positive COVID-19 tests in each state, along with the number of new cases most recently reported and number of tests conducted per 100,000 people. 

As of October 26, more than 737,000 people in the U.S. had died after contracting COVID-19, according to The New York Times.

New daily COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the U.S. have decreased 19 percent over the last two weeks, though nine states are still seeing hospitalization rates trend upward, according to data tracked by The New York Times.

New Mexico has administered the highest percentage of COVID-19 vaccines it has received, according to the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration data tracker.

National Nurses United released a letter Oct. 21 calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the proposed sale of five Steward Health Care hospitals in Salt Lake City to HCA Healthcare, citing concerns about increases in prices and decline in quality care. 

Hospitals nationwide are trying to address nurse shortages by hiring new graduates. However, becoming a nurse has become more challenging, narrowing the pipeline for new nurses, NPR reported Oct. 25.