As always, we continue to update the Inside Medicine Covid metrics dashboard every week. Last week, we published our first 50-state readout on wastewater levels—the best proxy for case counts these days. This week, we are looking at Covid-19 hospitalization trends in all 50 states.
Covid hospitalization data goes back to July of 2020, much further back than wastewater data. So these numbers cover more of the pandemic.
A couple of points to consider as you read the hospitalization data:
What counts as a Covid hospitalizations has changed over time. That is, whether hospitalizations that are “for versus with” Covid count has changed in some places. So take that into consideration. That said, as I’ve written many times, most so-called “incidental” Covid hospitalizations are hardly incidental. They are Covid “tip-overs.” Someone hospitalized for a mild heart attack who tests positive for Covid is less likely to have had that event if not for the infection. (The extent to which the virus sets off a “ticking time bomb” is impossible to measure, but it’s more significant than many realize.)
Nowadays, Covid testing is not strictly required at the time of hospital admission in most places. (In fact, in my hospital, they took the Covid test off of our main testing screen; talk about a small work environment change that will lead to a big behavioral change). As a result, many cases that fall into the tip-over category are likely getting missed now. That’s dangerous because hospital spread is another problem which many underestimate. All told, the more recent hospitalization data likely represent low-end estimates.
How to read the data.
Start date: This is how far back the hospitalization data for that state goes back.
New weekly hospitalizations: The actual number of new Covid positive patients hospitalized in the most recent week of data.
Current Week Ranking: Out of all the weeks we have data for, how does this one rank? How does the current level compare to the worst ever peak in this state. Example: 8% means that this week has 8% of the hospitalizations as the worst week the state ever had during the pandemic. (Note: this is different from percentile, which we use for our wastewater readout.)
Trend: How does the most recent week of data compare to the one directly prior. “Worse” means that levels are higher than last week. “Better” means levels are lower.
Last Time This High: Before the current week’s data, when were things last this bad? If this week is better than last week, the answer will always be last week (naturally). But, if this week is worse than last week, we’ll tell you how far you’d have to go to find levels as high as they are now.
All-Time High (Worst): When was this state’s hospitalization level highest (since the data start date, anyway).
All-Time Low (Best): When was this state’s hospitalization level lowest (since the data start date, anyway).
Wastewater Trend: How do coronavirus wastewater levels (i.e., a proxy for case loads) in the area compare to the previous week?
Overall outlook (data through September 30th, 2023).
Hospitalizations are down overall this week. Covid-19-associated hospitalizations appear to be falling now, after a September 9th local peak. We see this in a majority of US states (27 out of 51 jurisdictions; that is 50 states plus Washington D.C.) That’s good news! On average, US states are at around 14% of their all-time hospitalization peaks. Yes, there might be some lag, but we doubt if much will change when we get the next tranche of data at the end of this week.
Case counts (wastewater) are down overall this week. Coronavirus wastewater levels are down in a majority of US states (35 out of 51 jurisdictions; that is 50 states plus Washington D.C.). That’s also good news.
The fact that wastewater went down in seven more states than hospitalizations could be a good sign, as hospitalizations trail wastewater (i.e., cases) by several days, and sometimes more. It’s possible that hospitalizations will drop again next week. But we’ll see. On to the data…
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Covid-19 hospitalizations (and wastewater trend) outlook by state, as of October 10, 2023 (data through September 30, 2023):
Alabama:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 323
Current Week Ranking: 134th worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/22/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/09/21
All-Time Low (Best): 07/29/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Arkansas:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 183
Current Week Ranking: 111th worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/29/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
California:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 2174
Current Week Ranking: 111th worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/09/21
All-Time Low (Best): 04/16/22
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Colorado:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 323
Current Week Ranking: 102nd worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 03/04/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Connecticut:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 261
Current Week Ranking: 97th worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/08/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/03/21
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Delaware:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 72
Current Week Ranking: 106th worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 03/18/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 08/08/20
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
District of Columbia:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 64
Current Week Ranking: 112th worst of 165 weeks, 11% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/01/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/10/21
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Florida:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 1332
Current Week Ranking: 135th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 08/14/21
All-Time Low (Best): 05/20/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Georgia:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 528
Current Week Ranking: 128th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/03/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Hawaii:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 90
Current Week Ranking: 99th worst of 165 weeks, 22% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 08/29/20
All-Time Low (Best): 03/06/21
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Idaho:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 126
Current Week Ranking: 78th worst of 165 weeks, 20% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 12/31/22
All-Time High (Worst): 09/25/21
All-Time Low (Best): 04/02/22
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Illinois:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 583
Current Week Ranking: 133rd worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/08/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/15/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Indiana:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 399
Current Week Ranking: 118th worst of 165 weeks, 12% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Iowa:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 148
Current Week Ranking: 128th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Kansas:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 116
Current Week Ranking: 134th worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/24/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Kentucky:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 278
Current Week Ranking: 131st worst of 165 weeks, 7% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 09/16/23
All-Time High (Worst): 09/11/21
All-Time Low (Best): 06/17/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Louisiana:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 186
Current Week Ranking: 142nd worst of 165 weeks, 6% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 08/14/21
All-Time Low (Best): 06/24/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Maine:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 302
Current Week Ranking: 2nd worst of 165 weeks, 93% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 12/11/21
All-Time High (Worst): 12/11/21
All-Time Low (Best): 09/26/20
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Maryland:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 320
Current Week Ranking: 115th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/08/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Massachusetts:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 546
Current Week Ranking: 86th worst of 165 weeks, 18% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 03/04/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/03/21
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Michigan:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 566
Current Week Ranking: 118th worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/08/23
All-Time High (Worst): 04/17/21
All-Time Low (Best): 07/22/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Minnesota:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 260
Current Week Ranking: 117th worst of 165 weeks, 16% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/01/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Mississippi:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 97
Current Week Ranking: 125th worst of 165 weeks, 7% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 04/09/22
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Missouri:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 426
Current Week Ranking: 118th worst of 165 weeks, 14% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/16/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Montana:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 122
Current Week Ranking: 77th worst of 165 weeks, 15% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 03/18/23
All-Time High (Worst): 10/09/21
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Nebraska:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 91
Current Week Ranking: 116th worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/08/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Nevada:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 181
Current Week Ranking: 109th worst of 165 weeks, 11% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 01/21/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/15/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
New Hampshire:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 76
Current Week Ranking: 104th worst of 165 weeks, 18% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 09/19/20
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
New Jersey:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 618
Current Week Ranking: 101st worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 02/25/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/08/22
All-Time Low (Best): 08/08/20
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
New Mexico:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 88
Current Week Ranking: 126th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 05/06/23
All-Time High (Worst): 12/05/20
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
New York:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 1751
Current Week Ranking: 96th worst of 165 weeks, 15% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 02/18/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/08/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/24/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
North Carolina:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 558
Current Week Ranking: 116th worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/29/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
North Dakota:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 36
Current Week Ranking: 122nd worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/01/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 06/24/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Ohio:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 608
Current Week Ranking: 125th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/24/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Oklahoma:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 164
Current Week Ranking: 132nd worst of 165 weeks, 5% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/29/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Oregon:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 293
Current Week Ranking: 61st worst of 165 weeks, 31% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 12/31/22
All-Time High (Worst): 01/29/22
All-Time Low (Best): 09/12/20
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Pennsylvania:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 706
Current Week Ranking: 112th worst of 165 weeks, 11% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Rhode Island:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 71
Current Week Ranking: 75th worst of 165 weeks, 16% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 02/18/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/26/21
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
South Carolina:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 271
Current Week Ranking: 113th worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 05/20/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
South Dakota:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 38
Current Week Ranking: 104th worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 04/22/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Tennessee:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 377
Current Week Ranking: 129th worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 09/16/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/15/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Texas:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 1143
Current Week Ranking: 115th worst of 165 weeks, 10% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Utah:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 177
Current Week Ranking: 120th worst of 165 weeks, 16% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 05/06/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Vermont:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 27
Current Week Ranking: 105th worst of 165 weeks, 14% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 05/20/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 09/26/20
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Virginia:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 342
Current Week Ranking: 113th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/15/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Washington:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 322
Current Week Ranking: 86th worst of 165 weeks, 13% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 09/16/23
All-Time High (Worst): 12/31/22
All-Time Low (Best): 06/10/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
West Virginia:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 163
Current Week Ranking: 101st worst of 165 weeks, 14% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 01/22/22
All-Time Low (Best): 07/01/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Wisconsin:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 296
Current Week Ranking: 117th worst of 165 weeks, 8% of peak
Trend: Worse than last week
Last Time This High: 09/16/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/08/23
Wastewater Trend: Worse than last week
Wyoming:
Start Date: Data since 08/08/2020
New Weekly Hospitalizations: 31
Current Week Ranking: 115th worst of 165 weeks, 9% of peak
Trend: Better than last week
Last Time This High: 09/23/23
All-Time High (Worst): 11/21/20
All-Time Low (Best): 07/15/23
Wastewater Trend: Better than last week
Thanks to Benjy Renton for coding and curating our dashboard!
Partners, the owner of multiple hospitals in MA is the state’s largest employer, and it always pains me when management chooses not to lead by example such as eliminating masking and now Covid testing. I looked at the mix of the Board of Directors of Partners and the majority, as would be expected is comprised of attorneys from the Bay States’ most prominent legal firms and the members of the financial sector with a nod to the medical profession. Recently, a young friend of ours did the unexpected. He had gotten his undergraduate degree from Harvard, then obtained an MBA paid for by the consulting firm for whom he worked. Then, he left the usines world and obtained a medical degree, then accepted a job working at a COE hospital only to quit medicine altogether after reaching his goal. That sort of shocked us because he’d worked so hard and put together an impressive resume in the medical field. But, he explained that due to the seniority factor of the medical field, it would be years before he moved into senior management. So, he accepted an exciting job offer with a hedge fund evaluating medical start-up companies. He has the ability to acquire equity in growing new businesses and interact with young people who are expanding their experiences. I worry that the same management that makes decisions to abandon masking and Covid testing at the hospitals caring for us is losing the brightest minds.
It’s no longer Partners-- it’s Mass General Brigham-- a rebranding that cost 4 million and caused layoffs. (A family member works in HR at MGB.)
Taking COVID tests off the EPIC test page is a deliberate effort to discourage testing. Who made that decision??
In Rhode Island, our largest healthcare system-- Lifespan-- never gives ED patients their COVID results prior to discharge, and the bloated note makes it hard to find that it’s pending. I just had a very high risk patient who wasn’t told she was COVID positive in a timely manner and not offered treatment-- she’s one of many. If you don’t look, you don’t find...
I see a specialist at MGB in a clinic that only treats immune compromised patients: my physician doesn’t mask, some support staff do. I’m not pleased. My clinic just strongly recommended masks again. And we’re not the Mecca.