COVID-19 Update: Case Rates and Potential New Variants
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It’s now been over two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while case numbers are declining, it’s important to still be aware of new developments. Keeping updated on the latest information can help you stay safe from illness. Read on below to learn about all the newest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including current case rates and other important statistics.
Current case rates
As of April 11, the daily average for new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. hovers just under 29,000. This figure indicates significant recovery from the recent Omicron strain, as average new daily case numbers haven’t been this low since June of last year before the Omicron variant emerged.
The highest average new daily case rate so far in the pandemic was during the week of January 15th this year, when there were an average 806,000 new cases every single day. This rate was widely due to the appearance of the Omicron variant which resists the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Hospitalization and death numbers
The daily average for new hospital admissions in the U.S. related to COVID-19 is currently 1,355. This number hasn’t been this low since before the pandemic started in January of 2020, so this news is encouraging.
As far as deaths from the virus in the U.S. go, the current daily average is 500. Just like the infection and hospitalization rates, this figure has come down significantly from where it was earlier in the pandemic. At one point in January 2021, the average number of COVID-related deaths per day in the U.S. was 3,420.
Potential new variants
The CDC is currently keeping watch on twelve COVID-19 variants and looking for developments that could potentially be dangerous. These variants are split into four classes: “Variants being monitored,” “Variants of interest,” “Variants of concern,” and “Variants of high consequence.”
Ten of the currently monitored variants don’t seem to pose a significant risk, so they’re in the “Variants being monitored” category. The other two variants, Delta and Omicron, are the only ones that have been classified as “Variants of concern” over the course of the pandemic.
The vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine is continuing to be researched and improved upon, and it’s possible that a second booster or fourth total shot will be recommended sometime in the near future. The current vaccine initially didn’t function well against the Omicron variant, and if one of the other variants being monitored evolves into something worse, it could cause another spike in case numbers.
For now, however, the experts are not recommending a second booster shot for the general public, and vaccination with one booster has proven effective at mitigating serious cases of COVID-19.
How to stay updated on new developments
The best resource to help you stay updated on new developments regarding the coronavirus is the official website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).