The number of new Covid-19 cases in the United States has surpassed 100,000 for the first time in two months, following the Thanksgiving holiday travel of millions of Americans.
Johns Hopkins University data shows that the seven-day moving average number of new cases is 121,437 as of Saturday (JHU). Before this week, the United States had not seen more than 100,000 cases per day since early October.
The death toll from Covid-19 is also on the rise, with an average of 1,651 people dying from the virus every day for the past seven days as of Saturday, according to JHU data. The number of deaths on a daily basis hasn’t been this high in over a month.
Most new cases in the United States are still caused by the Delta variant, but as of Saturday, US health officials had discovered a new Omicron coronavirus variant in at least 16 different states, according to reports.
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It was discovered in California on Wednesday, and by the weekend it had spread to 14 other states: Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland; Massachusetts; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Utah; and Wisconsin.
Officials are concerned about the Omicron variant because it appears to be more contagious than the original strain, and the large number of mutations it carries could reduce the effectiveness of current vaccines. Omicron’s severity and transmissibility are being studied by scientists, but the process could take weeks, officials say.
Still, the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Thursday that the country is better prepared to deal with the newly discovered variant than it was at the beginning of the pandemic.
“As a result of our increased knowledge, we are in a very different place than we were a year ago. Vaccines are available for purchase. What we need to do to get through this winter is to make sure that we’re doubling down on our vaccination strategy, which has far more tests available “CNN spoke with Murthy.
In spite of the new variant’s complexity, Surgeon General Dr. Thomas Frieden stressed the importance of mitigating measures such as masks and hand hygiene in conjunction with physical distance to provide some protection.
More than two-thirds of those vaccinated in the United States have received a booster vaccine, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For the foreseeable future, Delta continues to be the world’s dominant strain.
According to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, 99.9 percent of coronavirus cases are still infected with the Delta variant, even though the Omicron variant has the potential to become the dominant strain in the US.
“There are a few things we can do to protect ourselves from Delta, and those are to get the vaccine, get the booster if you’re eligible, and keep up the masking. The Omicron variant is very likely to be vulnerable to these “Sanjay Gupta’s CNN chief medical correspondent, Walensky informed him.
Delta variant swept across the country in early summer, shifting public perception as vaccines became more widely available. The variation is still a hot topic in various parts of the country.
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According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 59,000 Americans have been hospitalized with Covid-19. Hospitalizations have been rising steadily for the past three weeks.
According to the WHO, the Delta strain has surpassed all other strains in the majority of countries and is now the most prevalent worldwide.
CDC former acting director Dr. Richard Besser told CNN earlier this week: “Even if the Omicron strain does not turn out to be any worse, we are losing close to 1,000 people every day from the Delta variant, and that in and of itself is a reason for people to get boosted.”
Beginning Monday, new restrictions on travel will take effect.
Before embarking on a holiday travel plan this season, make sure you’ve been vaccinated and updated, Dr. Anthony Fauci said this week.
For those in a vaccinated situation: “Just as I said, and I’ll say it again,” said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at a CNN Global Town Hall.
The Biden administration announced Thursday that for international travelers, proof of a negative Covid-19 test within one day of departure for the US will be required as of Monday. It used to be possible to take a test up to three days ahead of time before traveling to the United States.
There is no vaccination required for domestic or international air travel for American citizens, but all foreign nationals must be fully vaccinated before entering the United States.
A vaccine requirement for domestic travel remains an option for the future, according to the White House this week.
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