US more than doubles highest number of monthly COVID-19 cases

The U.S. more than doubled its highest number of monthly new COVID-19 cases in November, according to data from NBC News. 

As of 9 a.m. on Monday, the country has confirmed more than 4.2 million coronavirus cases this month, easily topping the record from October of almost 1.95 million, according to NBC News’s count. Before the fall, July had the most confirmed new cases with almost 1.93 million. 

Throughout the month, the U.S. has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, documenting at least 100,000 cases per day since Nov. 4. The day following Thanksgiving, the country surpassed 13 million total confirmed cases throughout the pandemic — six days after reaching 12 million cases. 

The country has also seen record coronavirus-related hospitalization statistics this month, with more than 93,000 people currently hospitalized, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Hospitalizations first reached the 90,000 threshold on Black Friday. 

US coronavirus cases by month in 2020:

March: 186,200
April: 883,199
May: 723,166
June: 845,736
July: 1,926,970
August: 1,479,756
September: 1,215,901
October: 1,940,522
November: 4,252,822

(As of 9 a.m. ET Nov. 30, 2020)

— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 30, 2020

November also saw the most COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. since May, with 35,983 deaths. More coronavirus deaths were recorded in April and May, 58,960 and 42,099, respectively. 

US coronavirus deaths by month in 2020, according to @NBCNews count:

March: 3,768
April: 58,960
May: 42,099
June: 23,416
July: 26,164
August: 30,234
September: 23,341
October: 23,691
November: 35,983

(As of 9 a.m. ET Nov. 30, 2020)

— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 30, 2020

As of Monday, the U.S. has counted more than 13.4 million COVID-19 cases and at least 267,596 deaths. 

Public health experts have warned that the colder months would lead to a spike in cases as people move their gatherings indoors, particularly during the holiday season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation a week before Thanksgiving urging people not to spend the holiday with those who do not live in their immediate household.

But millions of people boarded flights last week, and 1.18 million traveled through U.S. airports on Sunday — the most on any day since March, when the pandemic depleted travel. Health experts expect Thanksgiving gatherings to lead to even greater spikes of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the country.