U.S. shatters record for single-day COVID-19 infections

Lines at testing lines are long, hospitals near the breaking point - NBC's Sam Brock reports from Miami

MIAMI, Fla (NBC News) - The United States just broke its record for single-day COVID-19 infections with nearly a half million, and 10% of those infections were right here in the Sunshine State.

Florida broke its record Wednesday with 40,900 infections. The state has seen an 800% increase in just the past couple of weeks.

Testing lines, such a big part of the story right now. In Miami, the lines you see behind e are still long, but not the fever-pitch levels we saw a week ago.

Nationally right now, there are some encouraging signs that Omicron is not as severe as Delta.

Federally, we've seen a 60% increase in COVID-19 cases this week, but a 14% uptick in hospitalizations. Deaths have actually dropped 7%.

But, if you use Miami as a bell weather, the largest public health care provider, Jackson Health, has a hospital census right now of about 300 COVID patients, and that has tripled since ten days ago.

And, 250 of the 300 patients are unvaccinated, the vast majority of the remainder are transplant patients. Which is to say, that if you are health and vaccinated and boosted, the likelihood you're going to end up in the hospital is really small.

One final note here, the FDA has approved a couple more over-the-counter testing kits, so those folks that are searching frantically to find a testing kit. There will be two more options heading to a store shelf in the near year.