1 million daily cases: Why does the US fail to curb omicron? | COVID-19 Update

The United States reported more than 1 million new COVID-19 cases on Monday setting a global record, according to data from John Hopkins University. The country saw a daily rise of 1,080,211 in infections after the long New Year's weekend. While the number of infections tends to be higher on Mondays due to delays in weekend tallying, the latest figure is nearly double that of the previous Monday. The previous daily high was registered at 590,576 on December 30. Government modeling has found that the omicron variant — the most transmissible strain yet — accounts for about 59% of all active cases in the US in the week ending December 25. During the current omicron-driven wave, the rolling average over seven days — which experts see as more reliable — was 486,000 cases per day as of Monday evening, the university said.

The country's top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci called the spike in infections an "almost a vertical increase," and warned that the peak may be only weeks away. While early data suggests omicron is less severe than previous coronavirus variants, Fauci warned hospitalizations could surge because of how quickly it spreads. Authorities hope to avoid mass disruption while at the same time protecting public health. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut the recommended COVID-19 isolation period from 10 days to five.

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[gurametsadashvili]

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[catemccool]

Another thing that has been straining the health system since the Pandemic started. Fewer jobs offer paid leave.

[frankt]

In the US, there is a saying... records are meant to be broken. Boy, we've certainly lived up to it.

[professorstaceycamp]

As an American it is so frustrating to see my fellow citizens not trying to protect one another.

[kaninma]

So finally people in the USA are right that they are number one in something. This is awful.

[MeBeCreepy]

God this pandemic has revealed how broken the US is when it comes to caring for its own people

[jackiegrant]

It’s now moving faster than our governments can think!!

[jessicah]

The US cares about keeping businesses open and appeasing anti-vaxers and anti-maskers. That is more important than public health. Simple as that.

[MiggsMultiple]

This never ends....There's already reports of a new strain in France 'IHU', 12 cases confirmed with potentially 50 mutations.

Happy New Year

[drsuzuki]

America is still number #1. New world record!🇺🇸

[TurtleChad]

The US keeps finding new ways to disappoint me

[rosaliabonayog]

Be vaccinated and wear mask..keepsafe.God speed.

[augustoliver]

The end of a super power. Crumbled from within. 😞

[Pranaya_Razzaq]

When america is struggling, my home country seems to winning the battle (Indonesia)

[hokeypokeypots]

Yay!! We're number one again!! USA! USA! 🇺🇸🇺🇸. 🤣🤣

[jennycamitchell]

Just stay home people if your sick why keep going to these testing sights. If sick just stay home that’s what people have always done .

[nikolasrasmussen]

Ones again no 1, that's what I love about the US, always aiming for that gold medal :-)

[rhysholdaway]

Professor William Shatner! They should have signed off the interview with "live long and prosper". 🖖

[jinfrank]

It’s not “US failed to” it’s “US didn’t even bother trying”

[momofighter]

Covid is here forever!! Time to go to Mars!