Coronavirus Watch: New infections on the rise in most states

New infections are rising again in most states for the first time in two months, and deaths are up in about half of U.S. states, a Paste BN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data reveals.

Reporter Mike Stucka found that, in the week ending Wednesday, case counts were higher in 29 states than the previous week. A month ago, cases were rising in just 12 states.

Vermont, an early leader in vaccinations, is now seeing record case numbers.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order that bans schools from imposing mask mandates cannot be enforced because it violates federal law by putting students with disabilities at greater risk. 
• Colorado is expected to expand hospital capacity and staffing amid a surge in hospitalizations that could break records, Gov. Jared Polis said.
• COVID-19 deaths across Europe jumped 10% in the first week of November from the previous week, the WHO said.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 46.8 million COVID-19 cases and 759,500 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 251.7 million cases and more than 5 million deaths. About 67% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 58% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among U.S. adults, 81% have received at least one shot, and about 70% are fully vaccinated.

Tracking the pandemic: See the numbers in your area here. See where cases are rising here. See vaccination rates here. And here, compare vaccinations rates worldwide and see which countries are using which vaccines.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck