COVID ebbs in some East Coast hot spots, rises elsewhere
Cases are declining in a few big cities in the eastern United States that felt the earliest impact from the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, but surges are still building in other regions of the country, pushing some hospitals and workplaces to the brink.Meanwhile in Europe, the pace of COVID-19 activity is still picking up in several countries, with the United Kingdom today describing a clearer picture of hospitalizations in young kids.US trends reflect mixed pictureCases are starting to fall in Cleveland; Newark, New Jersey; and Washington, DC, according to a New York Times analysis.
Relatively rapid Omicron declines were seen internationally in locations hit early by the virus, including South Africa and now the United Kingdom.New York, for example, reported about 60,000 cases yesterday, down sharply from levels that topped 80,000 cases a day just 2 weeks ago, according to state officials.However, experts have said there is much uncertainty about how the situation will play out in the United States, given the high numbers of people who are unvaccinated or haven't received all of their recommended doses.There are also early signs that COVID-19 activity may be leveling off or falling in Chicago, New York, Puerto Rico, and in some Colorado ski resort towns, according to the Times.Meanwhile, worsening COVID-19 surges in other states are putting severe pressure on health systems.
Health and Human Services (HHS) data show that 19 states have less than 15% capacity left in their intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
Four states—Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, and New Hampshire—are down to 10%.Robust case rises in many places continue to fuel worker shortages and are impacting schools.
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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