Daily COVID-19 cases in the US are the highest they've been in two months as infections and hospitalizations spike in the Midwest - as CDC forecast predicts up to 20k more deaths this month even though fatalities are still declining

The number of daily coronavirus cases are the now the highest they have been in two months as infections continue to spike in Midwestern states.

More than 56,000 new cases were reported across the country on Thursday, which is the highest daily spike in infections since the first week of August.

The average number of cases is now more than 45,000 per day after rising steadily since mid-September. 

There has also been an uptick in hospitalizations across the country since late September.  

Deaths, however, are still trending downwards with an average of 680 Americans dying per day. The number of deaths across the country have, on average, been on a downward trajectory now for almost two months. 

Deaths are a lagging indicator and can potentially rise several weeks after cases increase. 

More than 56,000 new cases were reported across the country on Thursday, which is the highest daily spike in infections since the first week of August

Deaths, however, are still trending downwards with an average of 680 Americans dying per day. The number of deaths across the country have, on average, been on a downward trajectory now for almost two months

More than 212,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus and there have been 7.58 million confirmed infections nationwide.

A forecast from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting there could be another 20,000 deaths by the end of the month. 

The CDC's national ensemble forecast, which uses 41 different independent models to create its own prediction, suggests the death toll could rise to a between 224,000 to 233,000 by October 31. 

The majority of cases across the country have seen an uptick in cases this month with surges mostly occurring in the Midwest and West. 

The Midwest continues to deal with the highest number of new cases per capita with Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota reporting the largest number of new cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks.  

Those three states, as well as Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming, all reported record numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients this week. 

Wisconsin has become the latest hotspot in the country with the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths surging to record highs in the last month.

Governor Tony Evers has now activated a 530-bed field hospital just outside Milwaukee as the ongoing surge in COVID-19 infections threatens to overwhelm hospitals.     

A forecast from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting there could be another 20,000 deaths by the end of the month. The CDC's national ensemble forecast, which uses 41 different independent models to create its own prediction, suggests the death toll could rise to a between 224,000 to 233,000 by October 31

The Midwest continues to deal with the highest number of new cases per capita with Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota reporting the largest number of new cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks

Health experts have attributed Wisconsin's spike to the reopening of colleges and K-12 schools across the state, as well as general fatigue over wearing masks and socially distancing.

People aged between 18-24 make up the majority of the case count in last month, state data shows.  

A handful of Midwestern states are also seeing positive test rates that are either near or more than 20 percent, according to John Hopkins data. 

Idaho's positivity rate is currently 24 percent, South Dakota's is 20 percent and Wisconsin is at 19.4 percent. 

The World Health Organization has said any rate above five percent is concerning. 

Several states in the Northeast are now seeing cases increase after managing to lower the spread following the spring surge. 

New Jersey officials say they are bracing for a second wave after recording 1,301 new cases on Thursday - the highest daily toll since May. 

The positivity rate in New Jersey, which is currently at 2.3 percent, remains relatively low compared to the Midwestern states seeing spikes. 

New York, the initial epicenter of the US outbreak, has also seen an uptick in cases this month. 

The increase promoted Gov Andrew Cuomo to shut down hundreds of businesses and schools in some New York City neighborhoods on Thursday where cases have spiked.  

Several states in the Northeast are now seeing cases increase after managing to lower the spread following the spring surge. New Jersey officials say they are bracing for a second wave after recording 1,301 new cases on Thursday - the highest daily toll since May