CDC, US COVID-19 Cases Reach Nearly 2 Months Decline

HEALTHCARE

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the daily average of new COVID-19 cases in the United States has nearly halved over the past two months. Since the recent COVID-19 peak of around 130,000 average daily COVID-19 infections in July 2022, the number of cases has declined to around 67,000 as of September 8, 2022.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have also decreased, even though experts warn that the numbers remain at some unacceptable levels. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US CDC, said the seven-day average daily deaths are still high, which is well above the average of around 200 deaths per day. 

The combination of waning COVID-19 immunity, and cold weather on the horizon that will see more people heading indoors can send infections right back up, with the downward trend of COVID-19 cases reversing as early as next month.

The government of the United States is pushing updated COVID-19 booster shots, which target the Omicron COVID-19 variants as a way to tackle the expected increases. This week Ashish Jha, COVID-19 response coordinator for the US government, said this marks an important shift in their fight against the COVID-19 virus.

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He said it marks their ability to make COVID-19 vaccines a more routine part of their lives as they continue to drive down severe illness and deaths, and protect the people of the United States into winter and fall.