Several US states, many of them in the Midwest, reported record single-day increases in Covid-19 infections, further evidence that the pandemic is accelerating anew as cooler weather takes hold in many parts of the country.

Indiana, North Dakota, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Ohio posted daily records on Thursday, according to a Reuters analysis, while Florida reported more than 5,500 new cases, its highest single-day increase since August 15.

Twenty-eight states have reported their daily record high of Covid-19 cases in the month of October alone.

Along with spikes in cases and deaths, the number of Covid-19 patients in US hospitals climbed to a two-month high. There are now over 40,000 hospitalised coronavirus patients across the country, up 33 per cent from October 1, according to a Reuters analysis.