Omicron Driving Record Case Numbers

NEW YORK CITY - DECEMBER 23: People wait in line as city workers hand out take-home Covid-19 test kits in lower Manhattan on December 23, 2021 in New York City. New York City is handing out thousands of the kits, which include two tests per box, in order to lesson the surge of people and long lines at testing sites. New York City has once again seen COVID-19 case numbers rise as the new omicron variant has become the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., accounting for 73 percent of new cases. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Another day, another grim COVID-19 record.

The U.S. reported 488,000 new COVID infections on Wednesday, according to The New York Times, a pandemic high. The previous record was established the day before. (Monday’s tally was the largest, but included cases from over the weekend.)

The seven-day average of new infections hit 301,000 on Wednesday, also a record.

The steep rise in Covid-19 cases fuelled by the fast-moving Omicron coronavirus variant is unprecedented, one expert says, as the US records its highest rate of daily infections since the onset of the pandemic https://t.co/QjVMlsxKKB
— CNN (@CNN) December 30, 2021

“In the past week,” writes The Times “more than two million cases have been reported nationally, and 15 states and territories reported more cases than in any other seven-day period.”

“Record caseloads are being reported in a long list of U.S. cities where vaccination rates are relatively high, including New York, Washington, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta and Detroit,” The Times adds, explaining that population density – and the availability of tests – are likely behind the elevated urban numbers.

The increase in cases is largely driven by the omicron variant.

“In a few short weeks, omicron has rapidly increased across the country, and we expect it will continue to circulate in the coming weeks,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday at a White House Covid-19 briefing.

While the omicron variant is clearly more transmissible, evidence is emerging that it is also less severe than previous strains.

Walensky said that hospitalizations are “comparatively low,” even though they’ve ticked up 14% over the last week. Total cases have surged 60% in that same time period.

Omicron cases are on the rise, but it’s clear that vaccines and boosters are making a difference. Vaccines and boosters help prevent severe illness and death — if you haven’t already, go get your vaccine and booster. pic.twitter.com/w6KL27VKrL
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 30, 2021

“All indications point to a lesser severity of omicron versus delta,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s leading infectious disease expert, said on Wednesday.

But Fauci noted that “we should not become complacent,” because the “extremely high volume” of omicron cases can overwhelm hospitals and push the healthcare system to the breaking point.

Fauci added that “The risk of severe disease from any circulating variant, including Omicron is much, much higher for the unvaccinated.”

According to the CDC, the unvaccinated “are 17 times more likely” to be hospitalized with Covid-19 than the vaccinated.