The new COVID-19 hotspots: Alabama, Wisconsin, California and Arkansas are among 22 states who have seen a surge in daily cases in the last two weeks as the US gradually reopens

• States including Alabama, California, Wisconsin and Arkansas continue to see an increase in coronavirus cases despite lockdowns lifting
• Alabama has seen a 60 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days
• The state hit a record high this week in its seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases
• It comes after the state's bars and entertainment venues could open from May 11 
• Wisconsin has also seen a 47 percent increase in cases   
• Its stay-at-home order was deemed unconstitutional earlier this month by the state Supreme Court 
• Former hotspots New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut have seen more than a 30 percent decrease in cases in the past two weeks
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By FRANCES MULRANEY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM- 30 May 2020 

New coronavirus hotspots are emerging in Alabama, California, Wisconsin and Arkansas as 22 states continue to see a surge in cases despite the easing of lockdowns and the reopening of businesses.

Alabama has seen a 60 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days, according to data compiled by COVID Exit Strategy, with a 40 percent increase in cases in Arkansas and North Carolina.

Wisconsin has also seen a 47 percent increase after its stay-at-home orders were deemed 'unconstitutional' by the state Supreme Court on May 13.

States that were former hotspots, including U.S. outbreak epicenter New York, have had drastic dips in their number of cases with New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut all down over 30 percent in the past 14 days.

It comes as more areas begin to ease their coronavirus lockdowns and confirmed cases nationwide reach over 1.7million. 

Alabama, California , Wisconsin and Arkansas are emerging as the latest coronavirus hotspots while former hotspots, including U.S. outbreak epicenter New York, are improving

New hotspots are emerging with the states in blue showing an increase in their coronavirus cases over the past 14 days. Those in red are former hotspots where cases are dropping

People line up to get into a restaurant in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Its stay-at-home order was deemed unconstitutional earlier this month by the state Supreme Court but it has since seen a 47 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days

Alabama is emerging as one of the worst hit new hotspots with a 60 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days.

Cases have now reached an all-time high nearly two weeks after the state reopened.

According to AL.com, the state hit a record high this week in its seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases.

New cases also topped 400 on Thursday for the fifth time in the last seven days.

'We've had this week a couple of the highest days we've seen in number of cases, and that's certainly concerning to us,' said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

'Some of that can reflect increases in numbers of tests being performed,' he said, 'but I certainly don't think that accounts for all of it.

'I think we continue to have disease transmission at a community level throughout many parts of the state, in addition to some hot spots.'

The rise in cases has come since the state's bars and entertainment venues could open from May 11.

There are currently 17,359 cases in Alabama and have been 618 deaths.

This graph from Alabama Department of Public Health shows the drastic spike in new daily cases in the state over the past week just two weeks after it began to reopen from lockdowns

The above graph from the Department of Health Services in Wisconsin shows how cases continue to grow in the state along the bottom line, how new daily cases are also growing despite the state Supreme Court deeming its stay-at-home order 'unconstitutional' on May 13

The number of positive cases is also continuing to rise in California where there has been a 25 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days, according to COVID Exit Strategy

Wisconsin is close behind with a 47 percent increase in cases in the past two weeks.

The state recorded its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases and deaths Wednesday, two weeks after the state's Supreme Court struck down its stay-at-home order.

The state reported 599 new confirmed cases and 22 deaths on Wednesday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The previous record for new cases was 528, reported last week on May 20.

Yet Wednesday's record came as the state significantly increased testing this week.

An unprecedented 9,371 results came in on Wednesday, followed by 10,114 on Thursday.

On May 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov Tony Evers' extended Safer at Home order, calling it unconstitutional.

Almost immediately after, patrons packed together inside several bars, dancing and banging on the bar tops.

But, over the last several days, cases have continued to rise. There are currently 18,230 cases in the state and there have been 588 deaths. 

Arkansas is among the 10 states in the U.S. that have not seen a single improvement in cases of coronavirus, according to Axios.

In fact, the average number of new cases has spiked 66 percent from 108.4 new coronavirus cases per week to 179.6 per week.

On Thursday, the health department reported 261 new cases, the largest-single day increase in community since reporting began.

Gov Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, said he doesn't believe the spike was due to Memorial Day celebrations or businesses reopening.

'There is a second wave...it's a combination of expanded information through testing with the spread of the virus in northwest Arkansas,' he said.

Arkansas is one of the few states that never issued stay-at-home orders leading some residents to be cavalier in their actions.

It has 7,013 coronavirus cases and its death toll stands at 133 people.

In California, there has been a 25 percent increase in coronavirus cases in the past 14 days while North Carolina is reporting one of the highest rises in cases with an increase of 40 percent in the past two weeks.

As of Friday, there are 26,488 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

While in West Virginia, the average of new cases between May 19 and May 26 had shot up 150 percent from 19.7 per week to 49.3 per week. 

And in Virginia there was a 15 percent increase in cases brought on by two of the worst days of new daily cases this week. 

New cases reported on May 25 and May 27 in the state far exceeded the numbers seen at any point before this in its outbreak and its seven-day average of new cases continues to grow higher. 

On May 25 and May 27, Virginia reported record highs of new coronavirus cases in the state

In contrast, some of the states that were once the hardest hit are seeing a marked decrease in their number of cases.

New York, once the world's coronavirus epicenter has had a 33 percent decrease in coronavirus cases in the past two weeks.

Neighboring hard-hit states Connecticut and Massachusetts were down 36 percent and 41 percent respectively. 

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