CDC updates weekly COVID-19 stats

Editor's Note:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 8 updated it weekly surveillance summary of COVID-19 activity in the US for week 18.

Among the updates:

• The percentage of specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 decreased at public health, commercial, and clinical laboratories. Labs have confirmed 832,238 positive specimens out of 4,882,263 specimens tested nationwide since March 1.
• The percentage of deaths attributed to influenza, pneumonia, or COVID-19 decreased from 21.0% to 10.6%, but remained above baseline. This is the third week of a stable or declining percentage of deaths.
• The cumulative hospitalization rate for all age groups is 50.3 per 100,000 population. The highest rates are in those 65 years and older (162.2 per 100,000) and 50 to 64 years (679.0 per 100,000).
• The percentage of outpatient and emergency department visits for COVID-19 or influenza-like illness (ILI) decreased, and ILI are now below baseline for the second consecutive week and in all 10 surveillance regions.