But as the number of hot spots expanded, so has the number of excess deaths across other parts of the country. South Carolina, among the first states to reopen retail stores, saw deaths reach 1.6 times normal levels in mid-July. Unlike other states in this region, Louisiana saw its excess deaths peak in April — when total deaths reached 1.7 times normal levels. Deaths above normal in the WestIn July, coronavirus deaths in Arizona surged, though new daily cases have since decreased. In California, the first state to issue a stay-at-home order this spring, coronavirus deaths are now climbing, after a reopening that some health officials warned was too fast.

Source: New York Times August 13, 2020 01:41 UTC