Yesterday 8:05 PM
Amid a record-breaking surge, the U.S. is now averaging more COVID-19 cases per day than at any other point in the pandemic, according to new data updated on Wednesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal data shows the nation is now reporting an average of more than 277,000 new cases a day, shattering the previous record of 250,000 cases per day from last January.
“These numbers are absolutely staggering, especially considering we are two years into the pandemic,” said John Brownstein, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor.
The record average comes after the U.S. reported two consecutive days of more than 430,000 new cases, following soaring demand for tests and a backlog of holiday reporting data.
MORE: Breakthrough COVID-19 infections and deaths rose during delta, but far outpaced by the unvaccinated
Over the last month, the U.S. daily case average has tripled, and the nation has reported more than 1.9 million new cases in the last week alone — an average of about three Americans testing positive for COVID-19 every second.
“The combination of the most transmissible variant to date alongside holiday travel and gatherings is a recipe for record-breaking case counts,” Brownstein said, referring to the omicron variant. “These numbers are likely to be a significant undercount given the shortages in testing and the absence of home test results in official counts.”
Although the significantly high case total is due, in large part, to the country’s latest surge, a number of factors, including data backlogs from the holiday weekend, and a surge in testing demand, may artificially increase the totals.
In addition, more than 30 states are not reporting consistently over the holiday stretch, which can also significantly skew data.
However, on Tuesday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told NPR in an interview that given the shortage in COVID-19 tests right now, ultimately, the official number of positive cases is likely undercounted.
The nation’s latest surge is widespread, with every state in the country currently experiencing high community transmission. In June, no states were reporting high community transmission.
Healthcare workers treat a patient on the Covid-19 ICU floor of the University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass., Bloomberg via Getty Images©
On Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News’ Whit Johnson that it is difficult to know exactly when the country’s latest surge will peak, given the fact that so many Americans remain unvaccinated.
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better — that’s for sure. We don’t expect things to turn around in a few days to a week. It likely will take much longer than that, but that’s unpredictable,” Fauci said.
At this time, 89 million Americans remain completely unvaccinated, and less than a third of fully vaccinated people have been boosted.
17,390 new COVID cases reported, 74.1% of residents vaccinated Jan. 3, 2022
by: Alexis Loya
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 17.1 million vaccine doses have been administered in Pennsylvania. 74.1% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
17,390 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Sunday, bringing the state total to 2,094,614 known cases since the start of the pandemic, according to the COVID Alert PA app.
84 new deaths were identified by the Pennsylvania death registry, bringing the total to 36,799 deaths attributed to COVID-19. 5 new deaths were identified in our central region. CDC recommends shorter COVID isolation, quarantine for all
There are 5,629 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 1,004 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. More data is available here.
Our central region shows 443 new cases since Sunday, bringing our total to 135,097 known COVID-19 cases.
In school-age children (5-18 years old) a total of 345 COVID-19 cases were reported in our central region for the week of Dec. 15-21.
Vaccine highlights
Statewide data representing the 66 counties within the Department of Health’s vaccine jurisdiction:Pennsylvania’s vaccine dashboard was updated to more accurately reflect the number of people who are partially and fully vaccinated and account for the additional doses administered to residents in each county outside of Philadelphia. Demographic data associated with the vaccinations was also updated. The updates are part of the Department of Health’s continuous work to improve the quality of data and statistical reporting to ensure the public has the most accurate and up-to-date information. For state-to-state comparisons, refer to the CDC vaccine data tracker.Vaccine providers have administered 17,095,211 total vaccine doses, including 2,410,659 additional doses (which includes additional shots for immunocompromised individuals and booster shots).
6,937,824 people are fully vaccinated.
The Department of Health continues to urge Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule and regulations, including healthcare, local business and workplace guidance. For the protection of themselves and others, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask when in public. CDC also recommends all individuals wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
People pick up COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits at the Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Neighborhood Library in Washington, Dec. 29, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images©
Hospitalizations are also on the rise, according to federal data, albeit about two-thirds
the levels experienced last winter. Across the country, more than 84,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 — up by 40,000 patients in the last seven weeks. On average, more than 9,400 Americans are being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 every day, up by nearly 20% in the last week.
MORE: What the CDC’s latest COVID-19 quarantine recommendations mean for you
With increased demand in testing and a renewed strain on the hospital system, the federal government has deployed surge teams to help to support the national COVID-19 response, from vaccinations, to testing, to clinical care.
More than 13,000 National Guard members have been activated in 48 states to support the nation’s COVID-19 response, including vaccinations, testing and clinical care.
There are 6,058,444 individuals who have tested negative to date.
Also in the news:
►Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have a creative solution for the scarcity of COVID testing at a time of high demand — telling residents not to get tested unless they’re symptomatic. “If you don’t have symptoms, you are not a case,” Ladapo said, even though the CDC and the World Health Organization have said infected people without symptoms can spread the virus.
►How long to isolate after a positive coronavirus test? When is the best time to test after symptoms start? How long does it take to recover from COVID-19? What over-the-counter medications should I take? Here are answers to some common questions as the virus continues to evolve.
►Pandemic-caused shortages of airline workers combined with a winter storm that hit the mid-Atlantic on Monday were again causing thousands of flight delays and cancellations Tuesday, according to FlightAware.
►The omicron variant accounted for more than 95% of all new cases in the week that ended Saturday, the CDC says. That is up from 77% the previous week
►New infections reported globally are up 83% over the previous week.
The world is now reporting more than 11 million cases a week.
Today’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 57 million confirmed COVID-19 cases – or one for every six people in the country – and more than 829,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 294 million cases and 5.4 million deaths. More than 206.5 million Americans – 62% – are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
What we’re reading: In anticipation of steep challenges reopening schools amid an omicron-driven surge of COVID-19 infections, districts plan to ramp up coronavirus testing when classes resume in January. Leaders are still scrambling to work out the details – leaving big questions about safety and logistics.Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY’s free Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group.
Cost of highly coveted at-home tests jumps at major outlets.
Until the federal government makes free at-home tests for COVID-19 available at some point this month, the kits will be pricier than before at some of the nation’s most popular outlets, if they can be found at all.
Walmart, Kroger and Amazon had deals with the Biden administration to sell the coveted tests at cost, but the agreements have expired, so the prices have been adjusted up.
The two-test Abbott BinaxNOW kits at Walmart went from $14 through the holidays to $19.88 on Tuesday. The price at Kroger jumped to $23.99. For many people that may still be a worthwhile expense, considering some outlets are limiting the number of kits that can be purchased amid heavy demand. — Kelly Tyko
Israeli trial shows big protection boost from fourth vaccine dose.
While many Americans are lining up for a third COVID vaccine shot, Israelis may soon be moving on to a fourth.
Such a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine produces a fivefold increase in antibodies, according to a trial conducted on Israeli medical workers whose protection had waned, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Israel, which has been at the forefront of COVID vaccinations, on Monday became the first country to offer fourth doses to certain groups. Health officials said research shows protection from a third shot starts to diminish after three or four months, and they want the nation to be prepared for the expected omicron wave.
Hospitalizations a truer measure of omicron impact, some experts say.
The astonishing rise in COVID-19 infections prompted by the omicron variant — with a daily average of 480,000 — might not be quite as meaningful as with previous strains of the coronavirus. Because omicron is believed to cause less-severe disease than the delta variant, a more accurate measure of its impact might be hospitalizations, some experts believe.
Presidential medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci is among them, telling ABC on Sunday that because many of the omicron infections produce few if any symptoms, “it is much more relevant to focus on the hospitalizations as opposed to the total number of cases.”
Hospital admissions averaged 14,800 per day last week, up 63% from the week before but short of the peak of 16,500 per day a year ago, when the vast majority of the U.S. was unvaccinated.
It should be noted that a large number of infections, even if asymptomatic, can have an enormous economic and societal effect because of the need for those who contract the virus to isolate themselves and the high risk they could transmit it to others if they don’t.
Teacher vote today could shut down Chicago schools tomorrow.
Chicago teachers were expected to vote Tuesday on whether they want to switch to remote learning because of the surge in COVID-19 cases, according to a teacher’s union spokesperson. The school district has ordered teachers back to their classrooms. Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said classes, in-person and remote, will be canceled for 330,000 students at least for Wednesday if teachers vote for remote learning. He said students are safer in schools, and noted that restaurants and other public places remain open.
“The commitment I have to families is that I have to have a plan that prioritizes them, their children,” Martinez said.
Chicago has reported record numbers of new cases in recent days, and hospitalizations are up 22% from the week prior, according to city data.
Maryland declares state of emergency; hospitalizations hit record.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a 30-day state of emergency Tuesday and mobilized 1,000 members of the National Guard to assist state and local health officials with the pandemic response. Maryland reached a record high 3,057 hospitalizations, up more than 500% in less than two months. The newest projections show that COVID-19 hospitalizations could reach more than 5,000 – more than double the previous peak, Hogan said.
“The truth is that the next four to six weeks will be the most challenging of the entire pandemic,” he said.
CDC: Get the Pfizer booster 5 months after the second jab.
The CDC on Tuesday updated its recommendation for when many people can receive a booster shot, shortening the interval from six months to five months after the second shot for people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The booster interval recommendation for people who received the J&J vaccine (two months) or the Moderna vaccine (six months), has not changed.
The CDC also is now recommending that moderately or severely immunocompromised
5- to 11-year-olds receive an additional primary dose of the vaccine 28 days after their second shot. Only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children 5-11. The recommendations follow similar decisions announced Monday by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Today’s recommendations allow for more people to get a boost of protection as we face #Omicron & ensure that vulnerable children can get an additional dose for protection against #COVID19,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky Tweeted.
Judge backs Navy sailors who challenged military vaccine mandate.
A federal judge in Texas has issued a preliminary injunction banning the Pentagon from punishing 35 Navy Seals and sailors who refused to get vaccinated saying it violated their religious freedoms. The Pentagon has mandated vaccination for all active-duty troops. Thousands of military members have requested religious exemptions, but none have been granted. Judge Reed O’Connor, appointed by President George W. Bush, wrote that the loss of religious liberties “outweighs any forthcoming harm” to the military.
“Our nation asks the men and women in our military to serve, suffer, and sacrifice,” O’Connor wrote. “But we do not ask them to lay aside their citizenry and give up the very rights they have sworn to protect.”
Hospitalizations fueled by omicron variant surge rising sharply.
The United States again has more than 100,000 COVID-19 patients in hospital beds, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data shows. Hospitals on Monday reported 102,486 patients in hospital beds, up about 26% from a week earlier. About as many people are in hospital beds now as when the delta variant peaked in mostly southern states in September. The federal database shows about 142,000 COVID-19 patients were in hospital beds in January 2021.
Hospitals also said in the latest week they had admitted about 152,000 COVID-19 patients, up 46.5% from the previous week. About 19,000 COIVD-19 patients are in intensive-care beds, up 8.6% from the previous week.
Experts say the omicron variant sweeping the nation might be milder than earlier versions of the coronavirus, so a lower percentage of infected people could require hospitalization. But hospital beds are filling up because so many more people are getting infected than ever before.
Vaccination is key. (NOT SURE I BELIEVE THAT).
The hospitalization rate for adults 18 years and older from September through November was about nine times higher in unvaccinated people than those who were vaccinated, the CDC reported. – Mike Stucka
COVID-19 cases, test shortages are closing schools across the country.
A majority of schools opened in-person Monday for their spring semester start, but a growing number have shifted abruptly to remote learning again amid the omicron-fueled surge in COVID-19 infections and subsequent staffing shortages.
Public and scientific sentiment is on the side of in-person learning, and parent groups nationwide called Monday for schools to stay open. But districts in and around Detroit, Atlanta, Newark, New Jersey and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as individual schools elsewhere, nonetheless reverted to virtual learning for days or weeks, mostly because of staff shortages due to illness or quarantine.
Some districts that aimed to increase rapid testing for COVID-19 as a layered mitigation tactic are also struggling to secure the necessary supplies.
“There definitely is a problem right now with testing supplies, and that certainly does impact mitigation,” Linda Mendonca, president of the National Association of School Nurses, said Monday. – Erin Richards, USA TODAY
First “Flurona” case in Israel.
Meanwhile, in Israel, a 31-year-old pregnant woman has contracted corona and the seasonal flu virus at the same time. It is the world’s first registered “Flurona” case, a neologism composed of flu and corona. The pregnant woman has been revaccinated
and is only mildly ill, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Because Israel has seen a sharp increase in flu infections in recent weeks, the Health Ministry is investigating the case to see if “Flurona” is causing more severe illness.
Israel has seen a particularly dramatic increase in severe flu cases this winter.
According to the Times of Israel, nearly 2,000 people had to be hospitalized with
influenza by the end of 2021. Health authorities fear that with such a strong flu wave,
there could be many more cases of double infections coming.
Read more here.
Majority of Canadians – including the vaccinated – oppose vaccine mandates | True North (tnc.news)
‘It Sucks’: Lisa Boothe, Who Bragged About Not Getting Vaccinated as Middle Finger to Biden, Gets Covid
‘They seem to be stumbling badly on all fronts’: CDC slashes omicron new-case estimates
Let Omicron Spell the End of the Pandemic—and the COVID Shaming | Opinion
Video: Thompson: There are ‘three circles of risk’ from Covid-19 (CNN)
3 omicron variant symptoms you won’t get from the common cold (msn.com)
Didn’t the Korean War end in 1953? The short answer is no (msn.com)
How Alcohol Affects Your COVID Booster Shot, Experts Say (msn.com)
Here’s How You Can Catch COVID Even If You’re Vaccinated (msn.com)
U.S. Covid cases climb to highest on record (msn.com)
Why I cried when I found out I had Covid (Opinion) – CNN