There's been renewed media focus on Florida as it grapples with COVID, with record-breaking numbers of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. When it comes to hospitalizations, the country as a whole has taken a similar step back. The Washington Post reports that more than 100,000 people are now hospitalized with the virus, reaching a level not seen since the end of January, which the paper notes was before vaccinations began in full force. Hospitalization rates are highest in the South. Reports of new infections are also similar to January's, with an average number of 150,000 daily cases reported on Wednesday. The silver lining: Deaths aren't coming close to the numbers seen in early 2021, with a daily average of 1,100 on Wednesday, compared to 3,100 in late January. More on the state of COVID in the US, a year and a half into the pandemic: