In the United States, 1.35 million new cases of covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, according to Reuters estimates, the highest daily number of cases ever recorded in the country and worldwide, as the highly contagious Omicron strain is spreading rapidly.
The previous record in the US was 1.03 million and was recorded on January 3. Large numbers of infections are often reported on Mondays because they include cases that were not reported by state authorities on weekends.
The seven-day average has tripled in two weeks to more than 700,000 daily new cases.
At the same time in the USA there is a record number of hospitalizations due to covid-19, with the number of patients being treated having doubled in three weeks.
More than 136,604 people are currently being treated with covid-19, surpassing the previous record of 132,051 announced last January.
Although Omicron appears to cause milder illness, health experts warn that just the large number of infections will put pressure on hospitals, some of which have already postponed non-emergency surgeries as they find it difficult to manage and treat large numbers of patients. and severe staff shortages.
The sharp rise in cases is also causing problems in schools, with many absences of teachers, staff and bus drivers.
Chicago city authorities canceled classes for a fourth day in a row as they failed to reach a compromise with teachers on school protection measures.
The city of New York has suspended the operation of three subway lines as a large number of employees have fallen ill, while the business plans for the return of employees to the offices have been overturned.
An average of 1,700 deaths from covid-19 are recorded each day, a level similar to that observed earlier in the winter.
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