A man receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a healthcare worker at Tropical Park in Miami, Florida on December 16, 2021. / CFP
A man receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a healthcare worker at Tropical Park in Miami, Florida on December 16, 2021. / CFP
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Health experts warned of a “viral blizzard” in the US, as the new Omicron variant is rapidly spreading across the country and has already been found in at least 41 states.
In recent weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations has skyrocketed in the country, with many parts experiencing high levels of community transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). from USA
The current seven-day daily average for COVID-19 cases is about 122,000, up 1.5 percent from the previous week, according to the latest CDC data, which also showed that the seven-day daily death average was from about 1,180, an 8.2 percent increase from the prior week.
The data showed that the United States currently records about 7,800 new hospital admissions per day, a 4.4 percent increase from the previous week.
The Omicron variant, which is arguably more contagious than the Delta variant, has been found in at least 41 US states as of Friday, since the country’s first case was discovered in California on Dec. 1.
There is a gap of two to three weeks between the collection of samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing and the production and analysis of sequence data, so it is likely that more US infections will be detected. starting late November in the next few days, according to the CDC.
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The exterior of the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital South Nassau in Long Beach, New York, November 25, 2021. / CFP
The exterior of the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital South Nassau in Long Beach, New York, November 25, 2021. / CFP
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Leading US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said the Omicron variant would be dominant in the US, given its doubling time. He said Friday that there is “almost” no protection against the Omicron variant without receiving the booster shot.
“The more people are vaccinated, the less severe the Omicron outbreak will be,” the COVID-19 White House said. “160,000 unvaccinated people have already lost their lives unnecessarily since June, and that number will continue to rise until unvaccinated action is taken. Response Coordinator Jeff Zents on Friday.
Despite the growing interest in Omicron, Delta continues to be the main alternative circulating in the United States. For the week ending Dec. 11, the delta variant accounted for 96.7 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in circulation, according to the CDC.
The onslaught of vacation travel has already started amid concerns about Omicron. The US Transportation Security Administration has predicted that 21 million Americans will fly between December 23 and January 3.
“As we approach the holiday season, when so many are reunited with their loved ones, I would once again encourage you to take advantage of the proven prevention strategies that keep everyone safe: getting vaccinated and boosted, masquerading in indoor public spaces, and physical distancing ”. said the director of the Center for Disease Control, Rochelle Walinsky: “Hand washing, ventilation improvement and the slow transmission test.”
(Contributed by Xinhua News Agency)
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