US Daily COVID-19 Cases Surpass Delta Surge, Hospitalizations Lower

The United States’ daily COVID-19 case numbers reached near-record levels due to the spread of the Omicron variant, surpassing the earlier Delta surge. But hospitalizations so far have remained relatively low, as researches have suggested the new strain presents milder symptoms. As of Dec. 22, about 243,817 new COVID-19 cases were reported across the country, according to the most recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some officials believe the peak of the Delta surge came sometime in late August or early September. CDC data shows that about 198,000 cases were reported during Delta’s peak on Sept. 1. Around 64,000 Americans were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Christmas, or Dec. 25, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That represents an increase of about 3 percent from the prior week when around 62,000 people were hospitalized on Dec. 18. However, it’s …  » Read full article