One more COVID patient has died in Lincoln County and 28 deaths have been reported statewide a day after the U.S. recorded more than 3,100 virus fatalities in a single day.

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 2,168 new cases of the virus Thursday, raising the statewide total to 159,036 cases and 3,879 deaths.

Lincoln County has recorded 2,008 cases and 67 deaths to date.

More than 100,000 Americans are hospitalized for COVID-19 and new cases have begun topping 200,000 daily, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they are going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation,” CDC head Dr. Robert Redfield said Wednesday.