Coronavirus updates: State reports over 49,000 new cases, 468 new deaths

In the first week of 2021, U.S. states and territories reported more cases than at any point in the pandemic so far, according to ABC News’ analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project.

Cases are on the rise in every region of the country. The CDC reports that New Jersey leads the nation with the highest average of daily cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, followed Arizona, Rhode Island, Arkansas and California.

In New York, daily cases are nearly 50% higher than they were during the spring surge.

The U.S. surpassed 132,000 patients in hospitals this week -- meaning more people were hospitalized than during the peak of the spring and summer surges combined.

Arizona, Nevada and Alabama currently hold the highest hospitalizations rates per million people in the country.

Thursday marked the nation's deadliest day on record with 4,085 deaths, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Now, one in every 905 Americans has died from the virus.

In the last week, the seven-day average of daily deaths increased by 18.6%.

ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report.

President-elect Joe Biden will move to release more vaccine doses when he takes office, a departure from the current policy.

“He supports releasing available doses immediately, and believes the government should stop holding back vaccine supply so we can get more shots in Americans' arms now,” Biden transition spokesperson TJ Ducklo said in a statement. “He will share additional details next week on how his Administration will begin releasing available doses when he assumes office.”

Transition officials have faith that the manufacturers that can produce enough vaccines to ensure people can get their second dose in a timely manner while also getting more people their first dose, according to one official.

ABC News also obtained a letter from a group of eight Democratic governors to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Operation Warp Speed Chief Operating Officer Gen. Gus Perna. “Our states are ready to work around the clock to ramp up distribution, get more shots in arms, and save more American lives.”

“General Perna, as you have stated before, ‘a vaccine sitting on a shelf is not effective.’ We couldn’t agree with you more,” the governors wrote in part. “That’s why we are asking for your help now.”

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

New York City’s police commissioner, Dermot Shea, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is “doing well,” NYPD spokesman Rich Esposito told ABC News.

Shea is at home and “running the department remotely,” he said.

Esposito said the commissioner regularly attends functions and is in close contact with people all the time. 

“He takes extensive precautions, but the COVID rate is increasing in the city,” he said.

So far this month, 463 NYPD members have tested positive for COVID-19. The police union and the mayor have been pushing the governor to allow police officers to get earlier access to the vaccine, calling it a matter of public safety.

ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.

World Health Organization experts said the administration of the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine can be extended to up to six weeks apart, The Associated Press reported.

It is still recommended that the doses be administered 21 to 28 days apart.