16 states across the US broke a grim record on Friday, reporting their highest total of people hospitalized for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.<br />Business Insider reports that since last fall, cases of COVID-19 have surged nationwide, particularly following the end of the holiday season.<br />Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia were hit hardest.<br />Record hospitalizations were also seen this week in Arizona, California, Delaware, and Maine.<br />The US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines at the end of 2020.<br />However, a slow rollout means it will be many months before all who want a vaccination are immunized.
