Experts warn about “virus blizzards” as Omicron rages in the United States
Warnings are given as vacation trips increase, New Year’s celebrations continue, and when the school is working on returning students to the classroom after winter vacation.
Since early 2020, about 825,600 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States, and data show that the latest wave of hospitalizations is being caused by unvaccinated people. (Reuters)
U.S. health experts say the increasing wave of Covid-19 cases caused by Omicron variants can affect hospitals, schools, and other departments in daily life, causing serious turmoil in the coming weeks. I urged Americans to prepare for it.
Thursday’s warning came when the United States reached a record high for Covid-19 cases. Meanwhile, federal officials have reportedly issued more travel warnings and are preparing to allow booster shots for 12-15 year olds next week.
According to Reuters data, a record number of new infections were reported in the United States on an average of seven days for two consecutive days, with more than 290,000 new infections reported daily.
According to the aggregate, at least 18 states and Puerto Rico have set pandemic records for new cases. Record hospitalizations were also seen in Maryland, Ohio and Washington, DC, with a 27% increase in overall hospitalizations for Covid-19 in the United States.
With more holiday trips, more New Year celebrations, and when the school is working on returning students to the classroom after winter vacation, it will surge.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, told MSNBC that “the number of cases will increase dramatically in this country and it will be difficult to maintain daily life.”
“Next month will be a virus blizzard,” he said. “This will put pressure on society as a whole,” he said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief executive officer of infectious diseases across the country, said on Wednesday that cases are likely to increase throughout January.
He and other US health officials said Omicron appears to be less serious, according to early data, but continues to push vaccinations, masks, and physical distance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued new guidelines to reduce quarantine and quarantine periods. This has been criticized by some disease professionals and healthcare professionals.
read more: Omicron replaces Delta to become the dominant Covid version in the United States
Increased hospitalization
According to media reports, US health regulators were scheduled to approve a third vaccination between the ages of 12 and 15 next week. Boosters are already approved for ages 16 and up.
With a lack of testing and breakthrough cases, experts warn that the surge will confuse hospitals, emergency services, schools and retailers, among others, in the coming weeks.
“We really have to be careful not to overlook Omicron,” Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease expert at Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN.
According to Hotez, health care workers are no longer infected with Covid-19 itself, resulting in higher hospitalizations and fewer effective treatments. “We are in a very serious time.”
Already since early 2020, 825,663 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States, and data show that the latest wave of hospitalizations is being triggered by unvaccinated people.
President Joe Biden announced this month a new plan to fight Omicron, including federal reinforcements and further testing of hospitals. But some experts say it’s too little, too late.
But so far, despite some economists warning, the economy appears to be stable and Thursday’s US equities hit a record high.
Airline travel has been severely disrupted, businesses have been closed and events have been canceled in some hit areas, but other means of activity, such as holiday sales, have been held up.
The labor market also maintains that position. The Ministry of Labor said Thursday that new claims for state unemployment allowances fell to the lowest pandemic levels last week.
Impact on the education system
However, cruise operators were hit on Thursday after the CDC warned people to avoid them amid increasing outbreaks on board.
Schools are also imminent on how to deal with the surge, and the Washington and New York systems have vowed to continue more testing.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday that “we can’t close our city again” and will fight Covid-19, leaving the country’s most populous city open to business. The plan was revealed.
US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona acknowledged staffing issues but urged schools to keep their children in the classroom.
Unlike last year’s shutdown, “there are better tools now. They need to stay open,” he told MSNBC, and federal funding continues to be used to enhance staffing and testing. He added that it is possible.
Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers Union, individually stated that MSNBC schools should remain open, but in some areas this is not possible and remote options are needed. There may be cases.
Some US universities have already moved their next semester online or delayed their direct return.
Experts say it will need to be thawed after January as the undertesting deficiency will be alleviated and recently approved medicines will be more widely available.
read more: Top Health Official: U.S. “Fails” in Fight to Suppress Covid
Source: Reuters
https://www.trtworld.com/americas/experts-warn-of-viral-blizzard-as-omicron-rages-in-us-53159?utm_source=other&utm_medium=rss Experts warn about “virus blizzards” as Omicron rages in the United States
