Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, indicated on Tuesday that a significant increase in COVID-19 illnesses over the holiday season is unlikely.
According to STAT News, Jha stated, “We are in a very different position and we will remain in a different place.” We have reached a position where, in my opinion, there shouldn’t be any restrictions on people’s activities if they have access to therapies and are up to date on their vaccinations. I’m very much continuing to live my life as I did in 2019.
The World Health Organization issued a statement earlier this fall advising people to get vaccinated before an increase in COVID-19 infections, and health experts have been warning for months about an impending spike in COVID-19 infections moving into the winter season.
COVID-According to a statistics tracker maintained by The New York Times, the number of 19 cases and hospitalizations have climbed, but only somewhat, and they continue to be significantly lower than levels reported at this time last year.
According to the data tracker, by mid-November of last year, there were approximately 80,000 new cases each day in the U.S. and 3 persons per 100,000 were being hospitalised to hospitals with the virus. About 40,000 new cases are reported each day this week, and 2.2 per 100,000 individuals are being admitted to hospitals.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predicts that by February 2023, there would be between 53,000 and 70,000 new cases reported each day in the United States. Daily cases peaked at almost 800,000 in mid-January 2022, according to the Times’ data tracker. The University of Washington’s estimates are predicated on the assumption that vaccination and booster rates will remain high.
Officials in charge of public health are still urging people to get COVID-19 shots and boosters. Numerous studies demonstrate that immunisation and masking reduce the severity of illnesses as well as the virus’s propagation.
