9 charts reveal how outbreaks in US coronavirus hot spots have progressed daily since the beginning of March

A skateboarder wearing a mask rides down the boardwalk on April 02, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida.Cliff Hawkins/Getty

• The US has reported more than 788,000 coronavirus cases and 42,000 deaths — more than any country in the world.
• Some states, such as New York, may have seen daily death rates peak, while others, like Florida, still anticipate a surge of cases in the coming weeks.
• Public health experts say early and aggressive social-distancing measures have helped slow the spread of the virus, but warn of an infectious resurgence if states lift their lockdowns too early.
• Here's how the virus has spread in nine states with high numbers of cases since the beginning of March.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US has experienced a larger outbreak of coronavirus cases than any other country, reporting more than 788,000 coronavirus cases and 42,000 deaths, but experts have predicted that some states are approaching — or have already hit — their peaks.

States like New York and California, which saw their first cases sooner and proactively implemented statewide lockdowns, are beginning to see daily death counts and hospitalizations flatten or even decline. As of Friday, 16,967 New Yorkers were hospitalized with COVID-19, down 349 from Thursday and, marking the fifth straight day where hospitalizations dropped.

However, states like Florida and Massachusetts may not see their peak until after May 2, according to a model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IMHE).

Predicting the arrival of state's "peak" depends on what's being measured — cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are common indicators of how the virus is spreading. Some models also account for how well people adhere to social-distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, which create wide ranges in timing.

So while case and death counts in some states offer some hope, experts warn that a flattened curve could spring up again where lockdowns end too soon. Manhattan internist Holly Phillips told Business Insider that areas under lockdown and seeing peak surges, like New York City, should still be prepared for at least another four to eight weeks of social distancing.

The following charts illustrate how the virus has spread since March 1 across nine states that are hot spots for coronavirus outbreaks: California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Read the original article on Business Insider