COVID testing.Photo: Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg via GettyOn Wednesday, the United States reported its single highest number of dailyCOVID-19cases since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago.According toThe New York Times, the record shattering COVID-19 daily case total exceeded 488,000 on Wednesday. The news outlet added that the 301,000 seven-day average of new daily cases reported the same day was also a milestone.The case numbers may be even higher since many people aretaking at-home testsand not necessarily reporting positive cases to public health departments.The surge in cases nationwide is being attributed toomicron, the new variant of COVID-19, known to be highly contagious. The variant has spiraled out of control since it wasfirst discoveredin the US early this month.A report in theWashington PostTuesday, pointed out that the new strain appears to have lower rates ofhospitalization.“What is absolutely clear is there is lower rate of hospitalization with our omicron patients in our hospital system,” James Musser, chair of pathology and genomic medicine at the Houston Methodist hospital system, told thePost.“That does not necessarily mean that this variant is quote-unquote ‘less virulent.’ The jury’s still out on that. What we know now is that … if you are immunized and, more importantly, if you are boosted, you’re going to stay out of substantial trouble.“Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty ImagesHealth experts are warning infections could continue rising after the holidays and throughout January.“January is going to be a really, really hard month. And people should just brace themselves for a month where lots of people are going to get infected,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health perCNN.As cases hit an all time high this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended shorter isolation and quarantine times for asymptomatic individuals.According to theAssociated Press, under the new CDC guidance the number of days initially suggested to quarantine was cut in half from 10 to five days for asymptomatic Americans who contract the virus.The guidance was issued as the CDC noted people are the most infectious two days before developing symptoms and three days after experiencing them.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
COVID testing.Photo: Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg via Getty
On Wednesday, the United States reported its single highest number of dailyCOVID-19cases since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago.According toThe New York Times, the record shattering COVID-19 daily case total exceeded 488,000 on Wednesday. The news outlet added that the 301,000 seven-day average of new daily cases reported the same day was also a milestone.The case numbers may be even higher since many people aretaking at-home testsand not necessarily reporting positive cases to public health departments.The surge in cases nationwide is being attributed toomicron, the new variant of COVID-19, known to be highly contagious. The variant has spiraled out of control since it wasfirst discoveredin the US early this month.A report in theWashington PostTuesday, pointed out that the new strain appears to have lower rates ofhospitalization.“What is absolutely clear is there is lower rate of hospitalization with our omicron patients in our hospital system,” James Musser, chair of pathology and genomic medicine at the Houston Methodist hospital system, told thePost.“That does not necessarily mean that this variant is quote-unquote ‘less virulent.’ The jury’s still out on that. What we know now is that … if you are immunized and, more importantly, if you are boosted, you’re going to stay out of substantial trouble.“Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty ImagesHealth experts are warning infections could continue rising after the holidays and throughout January.“January is going to be a really, really hard month. And people should just brace themselves for a month where lots of people are going to get infected,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health perCNN.As cases hit an all time high this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended shorter isolation and quarantine times for asymptomatic individuals.According to theAssociated Press, under the new CDC guidance the number of days initially suggested to quarantine was cut in half from 10 to five days for asymptomatic Americans who contract the virus.The guidance was issued as the CDC noted people are the most infectious two days before developing symptoms and three days after experiencing them.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
On Wednesday, the United States reported its single highest number of dailyCOVID-19cases since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago.
According toThe New York Times, the record shattering COVID-19 daily case total exceeded 488,000 on Wednesday. The news outlet added that the 301,000 seven-day average of new daily cases reported the same day was also a milestone.
The case numbers may be even higher since many people aretaking at-home testsand not necessarily reporting positive cases to public health departments.
The surge in cases nationwide is being attributed toomicron, the new variant of COVID-19, known to be highly contagious. The variant has spiraled out of control since it wasfirst discoveredin the US early this month.
A report in theWashington PostTuesday, pointed out that the new strain appears to have lower rates ofhospitalization.
“What is absolutely clear is there is lower rate of hospitalization with our omicron patients in our hospital system,” James Musser, chair of pathology and genomic medicine at the Houston Methodist hospital system, told thePost.
“That does not necessarily mean that this variant is quote-unquote ‘less virulent.’ The jury’s still out on that. What we know now is that … if you are immunized and, more importantly, if you are boosted, you’re going to stay out of substantial trouble.”
Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images
Health experts are warning infections could continue rising after the holidays and throughout January.
“January is going to be a really, really hard month. And people should just brace themselves for a month where lots of people are going to get infected,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health perCNN.
As cases hit an all time high this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended shorter isolation and quarantine times for asymptomatic individuals.
According to theAssociated Press, under the new CDC guidance the number of days initially suggested to quarantine was cut in half from 10 to five days for asymptomatic Americans who contract the virus.
The guidance was issued as the CDC noted people are the most infectious two days before developing symptoms and three days after experiencing them.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
